Joe Fortes
30 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/vancouver, r/askvan, r/Seafood30 comments cited below
The comments cited below are a sample of the full tally across 19 threads.
What people say, in short
Most people who name Joe Fortes recommend it, and many praise its seafood tower, with one calling it the original and definitive version in Vancouver. Many also point to the oysters, with one suggesting the patio for eating them, and several recommend the afternoon happy hour for discounted oysters. Several single out the calamari. One diner who has not been in a while finds the food dull and much like what is available elsewhere, another found the happy hour decent but that was a few years back, and one diner is not keen on the mains.
Address
Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House, 777 Thurlow St, Vancouver, BC V6E 3V5, Canada
At a glance
- Signature dishes
- Seafood tower, Oysters, Calamari
- Best for
- Budget
Nearby on this map
Other places on this map closest to Joe Fortes, 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/101Leapinglizard in r/vancouver · Dec 2023taste
Rates Joe Fortes calamari the highest score on their list.
- Recommendsu/afewkoalas in r/vancouver · Dec 2023taste
Calls Joe Fortes' calamari an intense experience, unlike any squid they'd had before.
- Recommendsu/poonknits in r/askvan · May 2025
Thinks the seafood tower could suit the partner; calls it a long-standing classic with local history.
- Recommendsu/fuckyduck in r/askvan · Dec 2025
Surprised Joe Fortes was buried so far down the thread.
- Recommendsu/Significant-Text3412 in r/askvan · Sep 2025taste
Praises the seafood on the menu and says the place belongs on any Vancouver seafood list.
- Recommendsu/PeachyPaws79 in r/askvan · Mar 2026price
Recommends going to Joe Fortes during happy hour for discounted oysters.
- Recommendsu/sundaybanking21 in r/askvan · Dec 2025taste
Calls Joe Fortes the original and top seafood tower, often copied but never matched.
- Recommendsu/Ok-Economist6694 in r/askvan · Dec 2025taste
Says the Joe Fortes tower was better than another one they tried.
Show all 30 cited comments
- Caveatu/Atron84 in r/askvan · May 2025taste
Finds the food dull and little different from options elsewhere; says it has been a while.
- Recommendsu/simoniousmonk in r/askvan · Jan 2025taste
Recommends it for both its atmosphere and its seafood.
- Recommendsu/scarlettceleste in r/askvan · Dec 2025
Urges ordering the happy hour tower.
- Recommendsu/Professional-Power57 in r/askvan · Feb 2025value
Says Joe Fortes also has cheaper happy-hour oysters.
- Recommendsu/Burn_n_Turn in r/askvan · Aug 2026taste
Prefers Joe Fortes, mainly for its tomato remoulade served alongside.
- Recommendsu/prfctlyfittingshorts in r/askvan · Mar 2025taste
Recommends it for an indulgent seafood meal: oysters, lobster and shellfish dishes, with wine.
- Recommendsu/LLindor268 in r/askvan · Mar 2025
Suggests Joe Fortes as the place to go for seafood.
- Mixedu/Ramulus14 in r/askvan · Oct 2026
Thought the happy hour was decent, but that visit happened a few years back.
- Recommendsu/frumbledown in r/askvan · Nov 2025taste
Tentatively offers this as a chowder option; the commenter is not much of a soup fan.
- Recommendsu/Solograve in r/askvan · Aug 2026
Names Joe Fortes as their pick in reply to the calamari question.
- Recommendsu/satnamsun in r/askvan · Aug 2026
Says Joe Fortes is their favourite, in reply to the calamari question.
- Recommendsu/missbazb in r/askvan · Jun 2026ambience
Suggests this restaurant's patio as a good place to eat oysters.
- Recommendsu/Glad_Performer_7531 in r/askvan · Dec 2025taste
Praises Joe Fortes' tower and says the restaurant is great overall and busy nightly.
- Recommendsu/Theweekendatbernies in r/Seafood · Jun 2025
Says the pictured oysters came from this place, calls it a top seafood spot, and notes a daily afternoon happy hour.
- Recommendsu/Acrobatic_Original_5 in r/askvan · Jul 2024
Agrees the parent's Joe Fortes suggestion is the right answer.
- Recommendsu/WatchesandHuskies in r/askvan · Oct 2026price
Advises against choosing oysters for low price and recommends Joe Fortes.
- Recommendsu/Yvrhunter69 in r/askvan · Oct 2026
Lists Joe Fortes among good happy-hour spots for oysters.
- Recommendsu/FlakyNight6245 in r/askvan · Jan 2026value
Misses the after-hours oyster special there; the mains don't appeal to them.
- Recommendsu/Crumpler72 in r/askvan · Dec 2025
Agrees with recommending Joe Fortes when asked for the best seafood tower.
- Recommendsu/songsforthedeaf07 in r/askvan · Dec 2025
Answers the best-tower question by naming Joe Fortes.
- Recommendsu/Thogotian in r/askvan · Mar 2025value
Suggests Joe Fortes for affordable happy-hour seafood.
- Recommendsu/ImageLegitimate8225 in r/askvan · Mar 2025taste
Recommends Joe Fortes for its oysters and the overall dining experience.
More maps in Vancouver, Canada
Did this page answer your question?
Freshness
Details last checked 14 Nov 2026. Recommendations reflect what people said at the time; confirm current details before you go.