Are you looking to shake up your family’s eating out experiences? Tired of visiting, or ordering from, the same restaurants over and over again? Why not try taking the family on a multicultural dining adventure by visiting some of White Rock’s global cuisine restaurants. You might be surprised to find out that your picky eaters actually love brown stew fish, dal makhni or pad thai.
Here are some of White Rock’s global cuisine restaurants, and some of our suggestions for kid-friendly dishes. And don’t be shy to ask for recommendations, you may discover your new favourite dish!
Thai
Leela Thai Restaurant | 1558 George Street
Thai cuisine highlights sweet, salty, spicy or sour and presentation is an important part of the dining experience. The recently reopened (and relocated) Leela Thai Restaurant serves flavourful Thai cuisine in a casual, welcoming environment.
Menu suggestions:
Mee Grob – crispy rice noodles with prawns, pineapple, tofu and sweet & sour sauce)
Chicken satay – marinated skewers of chicken served with peanut sauce)
Pad Thai – pan-fried rice noodles in homemade tamarind sauce with eggs, tofu bean sprouts, green onions, carrots and topped with ground peanuts.
Lebanese
Mashawee Lebanese Grill | 1558 Johnston Road
Spiced, but not spicy, Lebanese food is all about Mediterranean flavours and fresh, healthy ingredients. A relative newcomer to White Rock, Mashawee Lebanese Grill is a bright, modern restaurant located in the uptown neighbourhood.
Menu Suggestions:
Falafel – deep-fried balls made of a mixture of chickpeas, fresh herbs, and spices, hummus & pita.
Chicken Arabi style – a skewer of shish tawouk, served in tanour bread, which is similar to a pita.
Indian
Cilantro Indian Cuisine | 14945 Marine Drive
Tandoori Flare | 1357 Johnston Road
Verandah Cafe by the Beach | 15782 Marine Drive, #3B
White Rock Indian Flavours | 15240 Russell Avenue
Though it is the first dish that often comes to mind, Indian cuisine is so much more than your basic butter chicken. Simple, yet delicious, Indian dishes pack a flavour punch with exotic spice blends (not always spicy) and fresh ingredients, that vary from region to region.
Menu Suggestions:
Chicken tandoori – roasted chicken marinated in yoghurt and spices
Malai kofta – cheese croquettes in tomatoes and cream sauce
Biriyani – basmati rice and spices cooked with beef, chicken or prawn
Vietnamese
Five Corners Vietnamese | 15180 Buena Vista Avenue
Pho 777 | 15230 Russell Avenue
Spicy, sour, salty, sweet and bitter are the basic flavours that come together to create the distinctive flavour of Vietnamese food, and White Rock’s Vietnamese restaurants serve up healthy, fresh dishes full of flavour.
Menu suggestions:
Salad (or Summer) Rolls – rice paper rolls filled with rice noodles, fresh veggies and prawns. Served with peanut dipping sauce
Pho – flavourful noodle soup served with sliced meat,
Chuoi Chien – banana fried in batter and served with vanilla or coconut ice cream.
Jamaican
PGs Jamaican Restaurant | 1387 Johnston Road
The menu at PG’s Jamaican Restaurant is full of authentic, home-cooked Jamaican cuisine. Small and cozy, the restaurant has a casual island vibe, and on Friday nights they host a “grill & chill” evening complete with a live DJ.
Menu suggestions:
Jamaican patties – flaky pastries stuffed with seasoned ground beef, curry, onions and peppers
Curry chicken – tender chunks of boneless chicken curried and stewed in herbs and spices, served with steamed veggies, coconut rice and peas.
Jerk – meat marinated in a spicy seasoning highlighted by allspice and scotch bonnet peppers. It’s delicious, but might be best suited to the more adventurous palates.
Japanese
Kappa Japanese Restaurant | 1450 George Street
Nami Sushi | 15169 Roper Avenue
Taka’s Sushi | 15208 Pacific Avenue
Fresh flavours and harmonious ingredients are a cornerstone of Japanese cuisine. From stunning sushi platters to flavourful noodle bowls and teriyaki dishes, every bite is perfectly composed.
Menu suggestions:
Udon noodle bowls – thick noodles served in a flavourful broth
Teriyaki Chicken and Chicken Katsu
Sushi – Tamago (Japanese rolled omelette on rice), smoked salmon, ebi (prawn)
Mexican
Alebrijes Kitchen + Bar | 15077 Marine Drive
Primos Mexican Grill | 15069 Marine Drive
Zapoteca Mexican Grill | 15495 Marine Drive
Mexican food is so much more than tacos … though we do love tacos! Dishes highlight the many different regional influences, showcasing rich, complex sauces, spicy salsas, perfectly roasted meats and don’t forget the tequila (for the adults, of course)!
Menu suggestions:
Taquitos – filled, rolled and deep-fried corn tortillas
Quesadilla – tortilla filled with cheese and meat
Tacos – so many different varieties to try
Fajitas – there’s a fun factor with fajitas as they are often served deconstructed (and sizzling) for you to put together yourself.
Chinese
The Bund Shanghai Cuisine + Bar | 15057 Marine Drive
Dining Wok Shanghai | 15246 Russell Avenue
Penang Schezuan | 15228 Russell Avenue
Silver Dragon | 1564 George Street
White Rock’s Chinese food restaurants are authentic and delicious. You’ll find familiar favourites like chowmein, wonton soup and kung pao chicken as well as regional specialities like Sichuan style boiled fish or Gado-Gado a Malaysian style salad made with curry sauce.
Menu suggestions:
Chowmein – egg noodles, stir-fried veggies and protein of your choice
Mongolian beef – stirfry of thinly sliced beef in soy ginger sauce
Fried rice with chicken, pork or vegetables
Egg rolls – deep-fried roll of shredded cabbage and pork
South American
Abraxas Kitchen | 15081 Marine Drive
Due to the ethnic fusion of South America, the cuisine of the region has many influences including Native American, African, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. White Rock’s newest restaurant, Abraxas Kitchen brings a menu of dishes with influences from Uruguay to brazil with a twist of classic French.
Menu suggestions:
Empanadas – pockets of dough stuffed with spiced beef or cheese
Asado del Gaucho – Argentinian style grilled short ribs
Picanha – flavorful steak that is skewered, grilled and sliced
Carioca – Brazilian style carrot cake