Restaurant

Northern Cafe

Name: Northern Cafe
Address: 1640 E Kent Avenue S, Vancouver, BC, V5P 2S7, CA
Telephone: (778) 532-6240
Price range: moderate

Breakfast•Vancouver•moderate

Northern Cafe is one of the best breakfast restaurants in Vancouver for brunch, especially if you want a strong option in Vancouver.

Editorial review•May 5, 2026

Northern Cafe has occupied a lumberyard building in South Vancouver since 1949, which makes it one of the city's more improbable breakfast institutions — vintage decor, an industrial address that keeps the tourist foot traffic low, and a community following that reportedly predates most of its current regulars. When the Mah family took over in 2008, Chef Raymond Mah brought professional training and family heritage into a kitchen that already carried decades of neighborhood loyalty. That combination is what Vancouver Magazine apparently recognized with a Best Brunch nod in 2025: a room where diner comfort food and East-meets-West sensibility share the menu without either side apologizing for being there. The menu's range is the point. The Pork and Shrimp Wontons are house-made and, according to consistent reporting from diners, carry the kind of depth associated with generational recipes — not a throwaway breakfast side but something the kitchen clearly takes seriously. The Smoked Salmon Benny centers Pacific Northwest sourcing without performing it, leaning on a regional ingredient that makes sense at a Vancouver brunch table. The Northern Deluxe Burger — AAA sirloin, bacon, cheddar, sautéed mushrooms — signals that the kitchen isn't interested in staying in one lane, and diners seem to respect that range rather than find it unfocused. At price level two, the value proposition here is straightforward for a weekend morning in Vancouver, where brunch bills can climb fast. The South Vancouver location means the room tends to run on regulars rather than passersby, which shapes the atmosphere accordingly. Weekend lineups are well-documented and reportedly real — arriving early is the consistent practical advice from people who have made the trip. Lead with the wontons.

Priya Sharma, Dining Editor

Methodology•Vancouver guides•Editorial team

breakfast dinner brunch cafe

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Taste ID

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Rating (Google) 9.8

9,020 reviews

Vancouver

At a glance

The fastest read on whether this place fits tonight.

9.8

Rating

Based on 9020 reviews

Best used for

brunch and dinner

Price and pace

moderate

Neighborhood

Vancouver · 1640 E Kent Avenue S, Vancouver, BC V5P 2S7, Canada

Price

moderate

Google rating

9.8 from 9,020 reviews

Phone

(778) 532-6240

Photos of Northern Cafe

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Northern Cafe on video

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What to order

Signature dishes at Northern Cafe

Pork and Shrimp Wontons

Smoked Salmon Benny

Northern Deluxe Burger

Why go

What makes Northern Cafe worth the move

Northern Cafe is a reliable breakfast choice in Vancouver when you want something that tends to land well. Pork and Shrimp Wontons and Smoked Salmon Benny also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.8 rating across 9,020 Google reviews.

What to know fast

Public rating

9.8 from 9,020 Google reviews

Best used for

brunch and dinner

Style

Breakfast in Vancouver

Spend

moderate

Best for

breakfast dinner brunch cafe

Know before you go

Google rating: 9.8 from 9,020 reviews

Price point: moderate

Popular dishes: Pork and Shrimp Wontons, Smoked Salmon Benny, Northern Deluxe Burger

Website linked on this page

TastyPals Reviews

What diners are saying

0 diner reviews · reviewed by Priya Sharma for Northern Cafe

Google snapshot

9.8 from 9,020 reviews

TastyPals notes

Editorial review by Priya Sharma

Let's clear up the obvious first: Mr.

Plan the visit

Quick details

Visit Website Menu Directions

Address: 1640 E Kent Avenue S, Vancouver, BC V5P 2S7, Canada
Phone: (778) 532-6240
Price: moderate
TastyPals score: Coming soon
Google rating: 9.8 (9,020 reviews)
Cuisine: Breakfast
Neighborhood: Vancouver

Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does Northern Cafe serve?

Northern Cafe is a Breakfast restaurant located in Vancouver, Vancouver. Northern Cafe has occupied a lumberyard building in South Vancouver since 1949, which makes it one of the city's more improbable breakfast institutions — vintage decor, an industrial address that keeps the tourist foot traffic low, and a…

What is Northern Cafe best for?

Northern Cafe is best for breakfast, dinner, brunch, cafe. Northern Cafe is a reliable breakfast choice in Vancouver when you want something that tends to land well. Pork and Shrimp Wontons and Smoked Salmon Benny also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.8 rating across 9,020 Google reviews.

How much does it cost to eat at Northern Cafe?

Northern Cafe is in the moderate price range (moderate). Google rating: 9.8 from 9,020 reviews

What should I order at Northern Cafe?

Start with Pork and Shrimp Wontons, Smoked Salmon Benny and Northern Deluxe Burger. These dishes are shown from TastyPals notes or restaurant data on this page.

Is Northern Cafe worth visiting?

Northern Cafe holds a 9.8 Google rating from 9,020 reviews. Northern Cafe is a reliable breakfast choice in Vancouver when you want something that tends to land well. Pork and Shrimp Wontons and Smoked Salmon Benny also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.8 rating across 9,020 Google reviews.

Where is Northern Cafe located?

Northern Cafe is located at 1640 E Kent Avenue S, Vancouver, BC V5P 2S7, Canada. Directions are available via Google Maps.

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