Mary in Vancity

Some traditions are worth braving the Vancouver weather for. Street Food City is one of them. Every January, the north plaza of the Vancouver Art Gallery fills with the smell of grilling meat, butter hitting hot pans, and dough crisping in oil. People line up under umbrellas, holding steaming bowls and sandwiches, and nobody complains about the drizzle because the food always makes it worthwhile.

Now in its 14th year, Street Food City is back from Thursday January 22 to Sunday January 25 at šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énk Square, the north plaza of the Vancouver Art Gallery on West Georgia between Hornby and Howe Streets. It runs 11 am to 3 pm on Thursday and Friday and 11 am to 5 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Easy enough to swing by on lunch break or make a full afternoon of it.

This year’s lineup reads like a greatest hits reel of the food truck scene with trucks rotating across the four days so each visit feels a little different:

• @cazba.restaurant Persian flavours on wheels bringing grilled kebabs and rich, herb-forward dishes.
• Disco Cheetah Korean-inspired bowls and bold street eats (follow for local sightings).
• Dos Amigos Tex–Mex favourites rolling through the plaza.
• Green Coast Coffee Coffee, espresso and warming drinks to keep your fingers from freezing.
• Indish Indian street flavours done right.
• Kampong Malaysian tastes and aromatic street favourites.
• Mom’s Grilled Cheese Vancouver’s beloved grilled cheese truck comfort food.
• Reel Mac and Cheese Gourmet mac and cheese that’s pure nostalgia with a twist.
• Shameless Buns Filipino-inspired eats with attitude and heart.
• Slavic Rolls Sweet and savoury rolled delights (follow their feed for event posts).
• Super Thai Classic Thai street flavours.
• The Mad Greek Souvlaki wraps and Greek favourites.
• Via Tevere Wood-fired pizzas and Italian street classics.

Each truck is a local small business that feeds Vancouver all year long — and Street Food City brings them together in one joyful place where you can sample a dozen cuisines in a single stroll.

The plaza itself turns into a mini village. DJs from TableTutors bring the soundtrack. There’s a tented eating area so you can sit and graze even if the sky is grey. Families arrive with kids in tow, office crews wander in, and curious passersby end up staying longer than planned because it feels good to be surrounded by people eating food that makes them happy.

Getting there is simple. Transit is the easiest: take any downtown bus that runs along Georgia Street or hop off at the Canada Line Vancouver City Centre station and walk a couple of blocks. If you’re driving, there are pay parking spots nearby, but downtown traffic can be busy: transit or an Evo Car Share drop-off is a friendlier option for a lunch or afternoon visit.

Street Food City is one of the most accessible ways to experience the Dine Out Vancouver Festival. Approachable prices. Diverse cuisines. A central plaza buzzing with people who came ready to taste something new.

Bring a coat and an appetite. The best part of winter eating in Vancouver is waiting at the plaza knowing something delicious is just around the corner.