☕ Neighborhood Gem: Laura's Coffee Shop
| Address: | 1945 Manitoba St, Vancouver, BC V5T 3J3 (Lower Mount Pleasant) |
| Items Ordered: | Clubhouse Sandwich with Fries, Pork Cutlet in Curry with Rice |
| Price Range: | $12.99 – $21.99 per item |
| The Verdict: | An irreplaceable piece of living Vancouver history. Perfectly toasted classic diner sandwiches and hearty Chinese comfort food under one roof. |
I am always big on exploring and trying new places in our neighbourhood, so after a doctor's appointment this morning, we decided to grab a quick lunch at Laura's Coffee Shop in Mount Pleasant.
As I was reading up on this spot, I realized it is truly one of the last of its kind in Vancouver.
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| The historic building at 1945 Manitoba Street, home to Laura's Coffee Shop. |
A Piece of Vancouver's Living History
Located at 1945 Manitoba Street, Laura's Coffee Shop is housed inside a historic residential home originally constructed in 1905. In 1926, the building was converted into a retail storefront serving as a neighbourhood grocery and confectionery run by Italian immigrants Domenico and Laura DeFilippo. Following Laura’s passing, her family transformed the space into an "industrial coffee shop" in 1964 and named it in her memory.
These industrial coffee shops were staples of mid-20th-century Vancouver, opening early to feed local factory, waterfront, and trade workers fast, hearty short-order meals. As historic industrial zones continue to transition into modern developments, places like Laura’s stand as rare surviving relics of Vancouver’s working-class heritage. Supporting legacy eateries like this keeps authentic community character and local food culture alive.
Diner Classics Meet Chinese Comfort Food
What makes Laura's menu so unique is its charming combination of classic North American diner fare (ham, eggs, waffles, burgers) alongside beloved Chinese comfort food classics like wonton soup, chow mein, and meat on rice.
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| The whiteboard menu featuring a mix of all-day breakfast, burgers, and Chinese dishes. |
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| Lunch specials whiteboard options. |
I ordered the Clubhouse Sandwich with Fries ($17.99), which comes stacked with ham, bacon, lettuce, egg, tomato, and cheese. It is such an absolute classic. The bread was perfectly toasted—crispy with a satisfying crunch without being too hard. I'd happily come back for this sandwich again (and I honestly kind of wished I didn't have to share it!).
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| Clubhouse Sandwich w/ Fries ($17.99) — perfectly toasted and packed with flavor. |
My husband went for total comfort food and ordered the Pork Cutlet in Curry with Rice ($15.99). I love curry, and this Chinese-style variant is fantastic. It's rich, warm, and topped with tender soft potatoes and carrots over a crispy fried pork cutlet and white rice.
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| Pork Cutlet in Curry w/ Rice ($15.99) featuring tender potatoes and carrots. |
While the pork cutlet curry was delicious, that clubhouse sandwich was the clear highlight of the meal for me. Next time we come back, I definitely want to give their chow mein a try!
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