Northern cafe and grill

Made with 3 eggs and American cheese.

It is somewhat hidden above a hardware store in South Vancouver on a lumber yard near the banks of the Fraser River. A narrow staircase can be found at East Kent Avenue South that customers have been climbing for over 60 years so they can plop into red vinyl booths and dig into classic diner eats. The boom has been bolstered by online reviews that started drawing tourists to the tucked-away spot. The Mahs serve classic diner favourites like pancakes and burgers, as well as Asian cuisine including homemade wontons and barbecue pork. And the diner is a true family affair since Jimmy and Connie's son, Raymond Mah, joined the team.

Northern cafe and grill

Just what does it take to be named the absolute top must-try restaurant in all of Canada? If you are the family behind a humble South Vancouver diner that's been around since the baby boom, it certainly takes a lot of heart. And you'll find this beloved breakfast and lunch spot in a most unusual location, to boot. Dating back to , Northern is one of the city's oldest restaurants still in operation, and judging by its enduring popularity, it's easy to see how it has sustained its reputation as a staple for "greasy spoon" eats and a bit of Chinese fare, too. This is a major industrial area, and the very definition of "off the beaten path" as far as urban eateries go; that's because the modest diner is perched on a second level in an old building tucked inside a lumber yard. Once you pick your way gingerly through the dirt and puddles, the scent of fresh-cut lumber gives way to the distinct aroma of breakfast foods on the grill. After hanging a right and pushing open a plain door, the grunts and beeps of lumberyard vehicles fade as Beatles and Sintatra tunes fill the space. Your eyes don't deceive you; the floors are sagging and crooked. The walls are covered in handwritten notes from guests from around the world; from Iowa to South Korea, patrons gush about the great food and congenial service. Jimmy and Connie Mah took over operation of the diner in , and their two sons are part of the team, too. Raymond, a Red Seal-trained chef, is at the stove, while brother Richard works the floor. As the restaurant fills up early one recent Friday morning, the Mahs greet many of the guests with a warm familiarity; it's clear that for many this is a repeat visit. Still, as first-timers, my nine-year-old son and I are made to feel right at home.

Pollo y Queso Empanada Cheesy chicken. Like many Chinese immigrant families, the Mahs have a long history in the restaurant business.

And yet the tottering Chinese Canadian restaurant, with its red vinyl booths and mismatched porcelain mugs, is so busy on a weekday morning that a scattered line forms between pickup trucks and forklifts. The rickety structure of the eatery, which sits above a hardware store, holds the unlikely honour of being the best place to dine in Canada, according to the restaurant review site Yelp. But the Mahs, who initially bought the decrepit Northern Cafe as a way of relieving the boredom of retirement, are also able to draw on the expertise of their son Raymond, a former head chef with stints at a number of hotels, who joined them four years ago. Like many Chinese immigrant families, the Mahs have a long history in the restaurant business. Jimmy emigrated from Hong Kong in his teens in the s, joining his family in Saskatchewan, where both his father and grandfather were working in restaurants.

That's the motto of Northern Cafe, which was recently named the top place to eat in Canada by review site Yelp. A narrow staircase can be found at East Kent Ave. South that customers have been climbing for over 60 years so they can plop into red vinyl booths and dig into classic diner eats. The diner opened in to feed workers in the area. Jimmy Mah and his wife Connie took over the business in The Mahs serve diner favourites like pancakes and burgers, as well as Asian cuisine including homemade wontons and barbecue pork. Son Raymond Mah worked as a chef in Vancouver for nearly two decades before coming over to help his parents. His brother Richard quit a digital marketing job in Japan to join the family business. Someone call Guy Fieri — this B. Inside the Vancouver diner with the best Yelp reviews in Canada.

Northern cafe and grill

Just what does it take to be named the absolute top must-try restaurant in all of Canada? If you are the family behind a humble South Vancouver diner that's been around since the baby boom, it certainly takes a lot of heart. And you'll find this beloved breakfast and lunch spot in a most unusual location, to boot. Dating back to , Northern is one of the city's oldest restaurants still in operation, and judging by its enduring popularity, it's easy to see how it has sustained its reputation as a staple for "greasy spoon" eats and a bit of Chinese fare, too. This is a major industrial area, and the very definition of "off the beaten path" as far as urban eateries go; that's because the modest diner is perched on a second level in an old building tucked inside a lumber yard. Once you pick your way gingerly through the dirt and puddles, the scent of fresh-cut lumber gives way to the distinct aroma of breakfast foods on the grill.

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I am so happy now," said Jimmy Mah. They aren't kidding when they say "our house is your house," on their website - it just feels like a cozy home. Kale and Pork Dumplings 10 pieces. Our Menu Menu and prices subject to change. Popular Items. Country Club Frambuesa Raspberry soda. Hawaiian Empanada Pina, jamon, queso, pineapple, ham, cheese. Home Food and Drink Watch: Eating at Canada's top restaurant - a decades-old family-run diner in an unusual place Have you been? Breakfast Platters With choice of side bacon, sausage, ham. Beef Rolls 6 pieces.

It is somewhat hidden above a hardware store in South Vancouver on a lumber yard near the banks of the Fraser River.

Fried plantain cups stuffed with your choice of meat covered with mozzarella cheese. Photograph: Courtesy Vancouver Northern Cafe. Morir Sonando Cream Juice Chinola o naranja. Kung Pao Chicken Served with a side of rice. Featured Flyer. Side of Maduros. Jimmy Mah said online reviews caught the attention of tourists about five years ago and business has not really slowed down since. Please be aware of the time difference when selecting your order time. There was no problem with the food and the service was really efficient and on time. Chicken Chipotle Press Sandwich. Hawaiian Empanada Pina, jamon, queso, pineapple, ham, cheese. Wings with Fries - Popular. Mozzarella Sticks - Popular.