Embark on Culinary Adventures: 5 Must-Try Solo Dining Experiences Around BC

Dining could be a great way to socialize, but also an excellent opportunity to spend time with yourself. You might catch yourself feeling self-conscious when sitting alone at a restaurant, and you certainly shouldn’t have to feel that way! 

From hidden gems to iconic eateries, here are some spots around the province where you can enjoy your solo dining experience without feeling out of place. Putting food options and ambiance into consideration, this selection of eateries offers something for every solo traveller.

Ramen One

This new ramen joint is Vancouver’s own take on the popular ‘one-person-ramen’ concept, which was originally conceived in Japan. You may be familiar with Ichiran, a ramen chain known for offering one-person booths, which originated from Hakata, Japan.

Ramen One’s take on the solo concept is largely similar to its Japanese counterpart. Ramen One offers individual seating with a removable divider in between each seat, making the space very much solo visitor friendly. Solo travellers, you can slurp your cozy bowl of ramen in the comfort of your own booth. What’s more, you won’t have to break the bank! Ramen One’s signature ramen only costs $10. If you’d like to opt for other options, they also offer five other selections of ramen. Their signature soy milk soup base is used for most of the ramen dishes, including their two vegan options! 

433 W Broadway, Vancouver; Details online. 

Published on Main

A Vancouverite fan favourite–this restaurant has earned itself a Michelin star, as well as a place on every visitor’s to-go list. The interior of the restaurant was inspired by traditional English coffeehouses from the 18th century, and features a large open dining space. Counter-height stools are spread out along the bar, where solo visitors will feel at home while chatting with the bartenders. The laid back ambiance in the space, with candle-lit tables and soft music, makes it a great choice for not only socializing, but also to visit alone.

Published on Main’s dishes are a play on contemporary flavors, with ingredients sourced from local farms and producers. Visitors can expect distinct flavours in their large selection of dishes–from small plates to larger share plates. My personal favourites (with solo portions in consideration) are the bee pollen milk buns and the roasted scallops. 

Did I mention they also have a wide selection of drinks from their bar menu? Published on Main has their own wine program that focuses on low intervention, organic and natural winemaking. Their extensive cocktail menu offers not only innovative options and collaborations with local niche brands, but also favourites that have stood the test of time.

3593 Main Street, Vancouver; Details online.

 

Orchard Room

This Kelowna restaurant serves up a selection of contemporary dishes–from seafood to pasta, visitors will have many options to choose from. Solo travellers can easily down half a dozen oysters with a glass of white wine at the bar seating.

The ambiance at Orchard Room is no short of fun, cozy and intimate. With the funky floral wallpaper and checkered floor tiles, patrons are certainly there for a good time. Solo visitors can choose from their selection of small plates (the coconut prawns sound scrumptious), or even  from their selection of sundaes for the summer season up ahead. They also have a modest selection of cocktails, and if you don’t want anything alcoholic, they make mocktails as well!

269 Lawrence Avenue, Kelowna; Details online.

 

Micro Bar & Bites 

This tapas bar based in Kelowna is small but mighty! The small space creates an intimate atmosphere, where it feels almost as if visitors could be a large group of friends dining together. 

The entire dining space is made up of a large U-shaped bar, where custodians can look across to smile and nod at one another. This design fosters a more casual ambiance, allowing solo diners to blend right in.

Not only is this space ‘micro’, food portions are quite small as well–perfect for the solo visitor. As the name tapas suggests (translation: small plates of food), portions here would work well for just one person. Some options that stand out are the chipotle glazed pork belly and the grilled octopus. 

1500 Water Street, Kelowna; Details online. 

 

Kimbap Cheonguk

This family-owned Korean restaurant is a hidden gem in and of itself. The inconspicuous storefront is tucked away neatly in a North Road strip mall in Coquitlam. As the restaurant’s name suggests (translation: Kimbap Heaven), they specialize in Kimbap, which is not to be confused with Japanese sushi! Kimbap is a Korean dish made from cooked rice, pickled vegetables, fish cakes, and (sometimes) meat rolled in dried sheets of seaweed and served in bite-sized slices. 

This casual restaurant also serves hearty stews and soups, as well as spicy Korean rice cakes. Kimbap Cheonguk is exactly what you’d imagine an Asian family-owned restaurant to be–an intimate space with a simple interior design and excellent food. The laid back vibe in the restaurant allows solo visitors to relax as they enjoy their meal. 

341 North Road A, Coquitlam; Details online.