Battle Royale with Cheese

Din Tai Fung is one of the most well-regarded chain restaurants in the world, and in 2025, the DTF experience finally arrived in Vancouver, setting up shop in a frankly enormous location on Alberni. One year into operation, your brave hosts set out to see if these world famous Xiao Long Bao could possibly live up to the worldwide hype and talk through their complicated, somewhat muted feelings on a wide swath of the Din Tai Fung menu. May contain peanuts.

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We're doing react content now: What did we think of the 2026 Van Mag Awards? Who was snubbed? Who deserved the w's? Find out in this Battle Royale with Cheese exclusive by pressing play on this podcast. And! We go grab bag mode and share some thoughts about the lovely tasting menu and drinks at Gary's and talk about some favourite eats from recent trips to Mexico City and New York City. 

And! There were a few more food and non-food-related topics. Enjoy, and thanks for listening.

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Nomo Nomo is one of Vancouver's most hyped restaurants, and honestly, it has it all. A creative, tightly focused cocktail program. Incredible izakaya-style snacks. And to top it all off, a rare (for Vancouver) intimate vibe with 26 seats. We won't bury the lede - we loved everything about Nomo Nomo. Listen to find out why, what dish earned a full 5/5 chicken wings, and what Jill and Brian are manifesting for the next year.

Other Vancouver restaurants discussed: Folietta, Selene Aegean Bistro, Pourhouse

Vancouver restaurant review, Japanese restaurant vancouver

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If SAY HEY CAFE, Vancouver's premiere sandwich destination, can't get a bib gourmand designation from Michelin, what are we even doing here. Those tires don't know what's up. We return from hiatus with a love letter to Say Hey, their famous meatball hoagie, chef and owner Lina Caschetto, and the kinds of sandwiches that make life worth living. Are you a Doofer? Do you yearn for the Hot Vickie?

We also chat a little about newcomer KAVITA and city mainstay VIJ'S. One really impressed! One didn't. 

Next restaurant up: NOMO NOMO.

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We're back! And we're here to talk about Bar Bravo, seafood, and quite possibly the best prawns in the world. 

(Thank you for your patience this summer between eps, and we look forward to more eating food and talking about it soon.)

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June has been the talk of Vancouver's dining scene (and probably your social feed) all year. And folks, an exclusive Battle Royale with Cheese report has revealed that it lives up to the hype. Brian and Jill start the show by reacting to some shocking #ImprisonTheNipple politics before diving headfirst into a truly excellent dining experience at June, paying special attention to their revolutionary mini-tini drink program - don't miss the Burnt Gibson. 

Then, after talking our way through our order, we balance June's best-of-the-best energy out by talking about some of our favourite 'worsts'. That thing you hate? Maybe we love it. Listen and find out!

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Inspired by some off-mic conversation about a recent poll of Vancouver's best date night spots, we review AMA RAW BAR and bid a fond farewell to PIZZERIA FARINA and the end of a Vancouver date era (aka, ordering pizza with your cocktails at THE BOXCAR).

Plus, it was recently Vancouver food's BIGGEST NIGHT, so we kick things off with a chat about the 2025 VanMag Award Winners, including ELISA, restaurant of the year. Have a favourite date spot? Go ahead, slide into our DMs and share.

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What's Vancouver's best sandwich? It's a heated subject. For all we know, a group of two or more might be arguing over it while you read this very description. But no matter who your regular fave might be, DANTE ITALIAN SANDWICHES is a fresh loaf that deserves your attention.

Listen in as we review DANTE's sandwiches and celebrate their unique schiacciata bread, (and fail to say it correctly even once!).

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Como Taperia (or ¿CóMO?, as it's often styled), is Vancouver Michelin-guide recommended. It's one of the vibiest spots in town. It's officially recognized as an authentic world ambassador of Spanish cuisine. And it has little fish you can eat right out of a tin. Dear listener, we might be in love.

Enjoy our glowing review of Main Street's premiere tapas spot, including a run down of some truly excellent menu options, their fun soccer (or is it futbol?) touches and why we think Como Taperia deserves to be recognized as one of Vancouver's best. Te amo.

Plus! Brian talks about his wedding food that featured both Mark Singson and Monarch Burger, and Jill waxes poetic (again) about Earnest Ice Cream's Carrot Cake flavour.

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Oui oui, merci! COLLECTIVE GOODS isn't just a french-ish bistro on Vancouver's secret garden-ish Commercial "Street" - they're one of the best-ish restaurants in the city, full stop. No ish about it.

In this ep we talk about their must-try dishes and what about the Collective Goods bistro burger and steak frites had us saying "plus, encore, s'il vous plait". Plus, your hosts play a rousing game of overrated or underrated with some fun food and drink pairings.

NEXT REVIEW: Como Taperia

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