Northern Cafe
16 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/vancouver, r/askvan18 comments cited below
What people say, in short
Many people recommend Northern Cafe for breakfast. One diner calls the hashbrowns stellar, a couple praise the pancakes, and a couple mention the wontons alongside classic diner food. One says the atmosphere alone makes it worth going. Not everyone agrees: one found the pancakes dull and dry and the trip long, and another found it only okay and not worth the line. One warns that the way in passes through a lumber yard with uneven floors.
Address
Northern Cafe, 1640 E Kent Avenue S, Vancouver, BC V5P 2S7, Canada
At a glance
- Signature dishes
- Pancakes
- Best for
- Breakfast
- Opinions divided
- Yes
Nearby on this map
Other places on this map closest to Northern Cafe, as the crow flies.
The evidence
Every point below is paraphrased from a real public comment, ordered by how much the community engaged with it. Caveats and negatives are kept in — follow any link to read the original for yourself.
- Recommendsu/VandwichCommentary in r/vancouver · Dec 2023taste
Praises the hashbrowns as stellar with a satisfying crunch.
- Recommendsu/little-won in r/askvan · Oct 2024
Lists it among greasy-spoon breakfast spots.
- Recommendsu/Feisty_Dirt4191 in r/askvan · Jun 2026
Passes along secondhand praise for Northern Cafe, with no visit claimed.
- Recommendsu/asunyra1 in r/askvan · Oct 2024ambience
Feels the atmosphere alone makes Northern Cafe worth going, and says the same for another restaurant.
- Recommendsu/wendellbudwhite in r/askvan · Jun 2026variety
Backs Northern Cafe for classic diner food plus homemade Chinese dishes in an unusual setting.
- Recommendsu/renzillag in r/askvan · Jun 2026
Picks Northern Cafe as the answer, while calling the other suggestions silly.
- Recommendsu/AdvertisingCheap2377 in r/askvan · Oct 2024
Lists Northern Cafe among breakfast suggestions.
- Mixedu/Trellaine201 in r/askvan · Jun 2026wait time
Visited and found it an interesting spot but only okay, not worth the line.
Show all 18 cited comments
- Recommendsu/oddible in r/askvan · Jun 2026
Calls the earlier suggestion a great recommendation.
- Recommendsu/ghostofdonpedro in r/askvan · May 2026taste
First visit to Northern cafe; praises the pancakes and enjoyed the wontons too.
- Recommendsu/badbadbeef in r/askvan · Nov 2025taste
Favourite breakfast spot; praises the benny's and wontons, but warns of a lumber-yard walk and uneven floors.
- Caveatu/PapiKevinho in r/askvan · Aug 2024taste
Found its pancakes dull and dry, and the trip was long; regrets the suggestion.
- Recommendsu/aphrabane in r/askvan · Nov 2025taste
Visited recently; envied the kids' pancakes and would queue for them.
- Recommendsu/AbheekG in r/askvan · Jun 2025
Strongly recommends Northern Cafe.
- Recommendsu/bavadoo in r/askvan · Jul 2024
Recommends Northern Cafe and agrees it is widely regarded as one of Canada's best.
- Recommendsu/katceyoga in r/askvan · Jul 2024taste
Says the cooking is excellent and the hosts are lovely; wants people to back it.
- Recommendsu/Fickle_Ad_9391 in r/askvan · Oct 2026
Lists Northern cafe among places they like, in reply to the breakfast request.
- Recommendsu/stylezLP in r/askvan · Oct 2025
Names Northern Cafe as a suggestion in reply to the brunch request.
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Freshness
Details last checked 14 Nov 2026. Recommendations reflect what people said at the time; confirm current details before you go.