Smooch Food: Love Letters to Every Bite

🛍️ Crystal Mall Ground Floor Directory 2026 Most visitors head straight for the second floor food court, but Burnaby's Crystal Mall hides some of its best bites at ground level. Save this quick reference before you go: 📍 Location: 4500 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC (Ground Floor, Outer Perimeter & Market) 💥 Focus: Street-facing eateries, interior concourse shops & market deli stalls 💡 Smooch Insider Tip: Don't limit yourself to the second floor food court! The ground floor and market perimeter are packed with quick-bite gems, fresh bakeries, and takeaway dim sum counters that let you bypass the main crowds. While most visitors head straight upstairs to the second floor food cour...

Happy Sunday morning! Right after finishing 9:30 AM Mass at St. Mary's in Joyce-Collingwood, hubby and I walked over to Kumare Express to kick off our day with a cozy Filipino breakfast. You’ll find a classic turo-turo steam-table counter inside, but the kitchen crew cooks all the breakfast plates fresh to order. Spot Details Find it at: 5183 Joyce St, Vancouver, BC V5R 4G8 What we tried: Bangusilog, Tapsilog, and Pork BBQ Skewers Price tag: $17.95 for each silog breakfast plate Our complete Sunday breakfast spread with Kopiko Blanca coffee mix! Before long, the server brought out our full spread: two runny sunny-side-up eggs per plate, heaps of fragrant garlic sinangag rice, and steaming mugs alongside packets of instant Kopiko Blanca coffee. Crispy Bangusilog, Tender Tapsilog & Smoky Skewers I treated myself to a plate of...

After a wonderful day walking around the bustling Car Free Day festival on Commercial Drive , hubby and I realised we were craving our neighbourhood go-to. Naturally, we just had to wind down with a casual dinner at Mr. Sushi! Since we wanted to try something new from their menu, we both ordered a selection of classic items from their rolls and cones section to share. Quick Spot Details Location: 176 E 2nd Ave, Vancouver, BC V5T 1B5, Canada Featured Items: Kappa roll, Oshinko roll, Salmon and Avocado roll, Tuna and Avocado roll Price: Budget-friendly ($4.75 to $7.50 per order) Verdict: A comforting neighbourhood favourite for casual sushi nights, even if the seasoned sushi rice is on the milder side. Trying the Classic Rolls I decided to keep things light and traditional by ordering the crisp kappa roll ($4.75 for 6 pieces) and the vibrant oshinko roll ($4.75 for 6 pieces). We both ag...

Car Free Day on Commercial Drive is one of Vancouver's best street food events, and the vendor lineup gets better every year. Whether you're looking for quick bites from food carts, discovering pop-up stalls from neighbourhood favourites, or supporting local Commercial Drive staples stepping outside their brick-and-mortar locations, this guide covers all your delicious options. Here's everything you need to know to make the most of your visit. Quick Navigation Food Carts & Trucks (No Storefront) Pop-Up Vendors from Outside Commercial Drive Commercial Drive Storefronts Setting Up Booths Food Carts & Trucks (No Storefront) Mobile vendors bringing their specialties to the street. Alossea Breads Artisanal breads crafted in small batches Loaves Classic Loaf - $9 Brioche Loaf - $12 Alossea Breads brings carefully crafted artisanal loaves to Car Free Day. Their quality bread is perfec...

It is such a beautiful day, and after missing so many festivals this summer, we were definitely not going to skip Car Free Day on Commercial Drive. I am so glad the city chose to fund such a wonderful event. There is something truly magical about watching a busy commercial street close to traffic so people can wander around freely. Event & Spots Summary Location: Commercial Drive, Vancouver, BC Featured Items: Wagyu Smash Burger, Korean BBQ Skewers, Grilled Coalho Cheese Poutine, Plain Cinnamon Buns, Lemon Bomb Muffin Price Range: $3.25 to $24.00 Verdict: An absolute community triumph filled with incredible street food finds and cozy bakery treats! Naturally, we were there for the food. Karavan Premium Meats: Wagyu Smash Burger & Korean BBQ Skewers After walking the stretch, we decided our first meal would be the crispy Wagyu smash burger and sweet-and-savoury Korean BBQ skewers from Karavan Premium Meats. This was actually the first s...