Eating my way through Vancouver’s time out market

After a long wait, Time Out Market Vancouver is finally open! 51,000 square feet of food and drink featuring Vancouver’s hit restaurants, tucked inside the brand-new Oakridge Park development at Cambie and West 41st. Twenty kitchens, multiple bars, and some of the biggest names in the Vancouver food scene under one roof.

I went solo, which meant one stomach and a very long wish list. Seven vendors later, I have thoughts, a final bill, and a full list of tips so your visit goes more smoothly than mine.

What Is Time Out Market Vancouver?

If you have never been to a Time Out Market, the idea is simple. Instead of a random food court lineup, the vendors are curated. These are established Vancouver restaurants and chefs, from Michelin-recognized spots like Lunch Lady and Barnacle by Bar Bravo to Vikram Vij’s Peacock, plus rising local favourites.

For someone like me, coming from a smaller community in British Columbia, this is the appeal. So many of the places I have always wanted to try in Vancouver are spread across different neighbourhoods, and I never manage to hit them all in one trip, if at all. Here you can work through a list of Japanese, Indian, Chinese, Mexican, and Vietnamese food in a single afternoon without moving your car. I loved the downtown Grand Central Market in Los Angeles when we visited, but this was my first time checking out a Time Out Market.

What I Ate

Boba Run

Most of these locations were fairly new to be since I am not a Vancouver local. I asked many what I should order for my first time and for me they recommended a Korean strawberry milk. I added the coconut jelly for some added adventure, unsure if I’d like the texture as I normally don’t enjoy boba pearls. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would go back to taste more!

Santo Taco

I asked the counter what a first-timer should order and went with their pick, a classic birria with consommé. The heat is that warming kind that sits in the back of your throat, and the meat was tender and rich. My only disappointment is that the tortilla came apart fast. Is it Los Angeles level? No, but honestly, what is. The flavour was absolutely there, but I’m not sure I could recommend it as a “must-try” spot.

Blnd Tiger

I am located in the Okanagan and dim sum isn’t at the level of Richmond but frankly, Richmond is the best outside of Asia.
So I love a good dumpling when I can find it and Blnd Tiger’s are fantastic! Jam-packed with filling, the wrapper still had that slight chew you want in a dumpling. If dumplings are your thing, you also need our Richmond Public Market food tour.

Barnacle by Bar Bravo

I should have ordered the lobster corn dog. But being alone, I only had so much room in my stomach. A half dozen split between East Coast and BC oysters. The BC ones are always lovely with a signature saltiness and brine, and it was fun to compare them side by side with the East Coast ones. I found the Eastern oysters too milky for my taste though. And the wait for 6 shucked oysters was unreasonable.

Vikram Vij’s Peacock

Do not skip this one. Shockingly, there was barely a line, and the prices were a touch friendlier than elsewhere in the market. My dish was a perfect balance of Indian spices, creaminess, and crunch. The peas held their bite, nothing went soggy under the sauce, and the chickpeas, cubed beets, and red onion added layer after layer of texture. One of my favourite stops of the day.

Beaucoup Creamery

I chose the Basilique which consisted of sweet tomato gelee and olive oil. Unfortunately, the tomato did not really come through and it leaned more strawberry-forward, but the olive oil added this surprising earthiness, and the sea salt pulled the sweetness together beautifully. For $12.50 I expected it to be more of a flavourful adventure on the palate ut the soft serve was of higher quality. On a hot day it was melting faster than I could eat it. Let me know if you tried the butter one.

Beaucoup Bakery

My last stop was a sneaky bitter espresso yuzu tonic, chocolate chip cookie, and Cardamom Kouign Amann (a croissant caramelized in the shape of a mini sticky bun) for the drive home, and they were worth every bite. What I really wanted was a box of Mello donuts to go, but more on that below.

Final tally for seven vendors: $149 with taxes and tip. Not cheap. Small bites run about $8 to $12, and plates go from $20 to $42 if you want premium ingredients. But for the chance to sample this much of the Vancouver food scene in one afternoon, I would spend it again but maybe with a more focused approach.

My Tips for Visiting Time Out Market Vancouver

Arrive when it opens at 11 am. I got there right at open and had time to wander before it filled up. By the lunch hour it was packed and lines were forming everywhere. There is free 3-hour parking in the parkade.

Head to your must-try stops immediately. And bring people. The more in your party, the better. You can cover more ground, try more without waste, and split up the waiting. You get labelled buzzers so you know when your food is ready, and the large tables with lazy susans are a nice touch for sharing.

Do not skip Peacock. Vikram Vij’s spot had barely any line and slightly better prices. Easily one of the best value stops in the market.

Be prepared to wait. Expect 15 to 20 minutes even when there is no visible line, and much longer at high-demand spots like Lunch Lady and Mello. I skipped the Lunch Lady line entirely. A place that good deserves a dedicated restaurant visit and its own video, so that is coming later.

Mello donuts sell out! When I went back for a box to go, they were gone, with a restocking time of 2 pm, and people started lining up at 1:15 to guarantee theirs. Plan accordingly.

Find the free water station at the back of the market at Time Out Express. Possibly the only free thing in the building, so use it.

They really perfected the outdoor space. There is seating everywhere, indoors and out, and you can even take your food to go and sit on the grass. It was such a nice escape from the hectic interior, even with some construction noise, since the development is not quite finished.

The market sits inside a luxury mall, the kind with Dior and Prada. I had a newbie security guard trail me around until another guard told him I was fine, and I got a few looks for not wearing designer labels while walking in the mall. I was there for the food and a comfortable drive home, so not exactly wearing my best, but certainly not a slob!

Is Time Out Market Vancouver Worth It?

Yes, with caveats. This is a great spot if you are unfamiliar with the Vancouver food scene, if you want to try a lot of things with a group, or for a fun date night. It is not a budget outing, and the waits are real. But as someone from a smaller BC community, having this much of Vancouver’s food scene in one place, a short detour on my way out of town, is pretty special.

Have you visited Time Out Market Vancouver yet? Tell me in the comments if you loved it or hated it, and what I need to order on my next trip.