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 updated•Jul 28, 2026

Northern Cafe has occupied a lumberyard building in South Vancouver, 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

In our guides:6 Best Brunch Spots in Vancouver8 Best Burgers in Vancouver

Methodology•Vancouver guides•Editorial team•Report outdated information

Brunch breakfastlocal

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Taste ID

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Taste Score 9.1/10

Rating (Google) 9.8

9,020 reviews

Vancouver

At a glance

The fastest read on whether this place fits tonight.

9.1/10

Taste Score

Google 9.8 from 9,020 reviews

Best for

Brunch and breakfast

Price and pace

moderate

Neighborhood

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

Price

moderate

Taste Score

9.1/10

Phone

(778) 532-6240

Inside the restaurant

Photos of Northern Cafe

1 photo

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TastyPals Editorial Pick

TastyPals Editors

“Northern Cafe is worth putting on the shortlist for Pork and Shrimp Wontons and Smoked Salmon Benny—the two orders to build a first visit around.”

Dish highlight

Pork and Shrimp Wontons

As featured in6 Best Brunch Spots in Vancouver →

Menu and ordering

Northern Cafe menu: what to order

Start with the dishes below, drawn from the restaurant details and TastyPals notes available on this page. Northern Cafe is listed in the moderate price range. Menus, availability, and prices can change, so confirm current details before visiting.

Pork and Shrimp Wontons

Smoked Salmon Benny

Northern Deluxe Burger

Check the current menu

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 for

Brunch and breakfast

Style

Breakfast in Vancouver

Spend

moderate

Best for

Brunch breakfast local

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

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Google snapshot

9.8 from 9,020 reviews

TastyPals notes

Editorial review by Priya Sharma

No diner notes for Northern Cafe yet.

GOYO sits on Lonsdale Avenue in North Vancouver doing something the North Shore has historically undersupplied: a Korean café that treats dessert as the main event rather than an afterthought to a rice bowl.

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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: 9.1/10
Google rating: 9.8 (9,020 reviews)
Cuisine: Breakfast
Neighborhood: Vancouver

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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, 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.

What is Northern Cafe best for?

Northern Cafe is best for brunch, breakfast, local. 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.

Explore more in Vancouver

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