Ocean Wise menus are increasingly popular at many of our favourite Asian restaurants in Vancouver and we are stoked. With the very real threat and impact of overfishing, it’s important to remember that we all have a role to play in making ocean-friendly choices when enjoying our favourite comfort meals. We’ve shortlisted our top picks below.
What is Ocean Wise?
Ocean Wise is a sustainable seafood program started by Vancouver Aquarium in 2005. The intention of the program is to provide people with more access to sustainable seafood choices while dining out. Ocean Wise is an effort to educate and ensure that ocean life remains abundant for generations to come.
Best Asian Restaurants in Vancouver with Ocean Wise Menus:
YuShang Hot Pot – Excellent service and an astoundingly large menu of premium seafood, meat, and veg items that will most definitely pique your interest and appetite. Unique soup base options include wild matsutake chicken and black truffle fish. Mix your own (unlimited) sauce station is never not fun. 202-950 W Broadway, Vancouver
Dolar Shop – Quality ingredients and an Insta-worthy room showcasing a modern, upscale hot-pot experience. Dolar Shop is located inside Lansdowne Mall, which means, loads of free parking, and post-meal mall laps for digestion. 5300 No 3 Rd, Richmond
Hapa Izakaya – Small share plates, sake, and fun cocktails make this a hot spot for a lively night out with friends. 1193 Hamilton Street, Vancouver
Heritage Asian Eatery – Baos, bowls, noodles, and dumplings – all the tasty comforts. Named winner of the Ocean Wise Sustainable Seafood Award for the 2018 Chinese Restaurant Awards. 1108 West Pender Street and 382 West Broadway, Vancouver
Minami – Food and service that elevate any special occasion, with the energetic ambiance fun for a date night or group dinner. The salmon oshizushi is a signature crowd-pleaser. 1118 Mainland Street, Vancouver
Raw Bar at the Lobby Lounge – A 100% Ocean Wise sushi menu is rare and hard to find. Kudos. 1038 Canada Place, Vancouver
Pink Pearl – A dim sum and Chinese banquet dinner institution in Vancouver for over 40 years. They recently removed shark fin soup from their menu (this is a big deal.) Try the delicious fish maw soup instead! 1132 E Hastings Street, Vancouver
Floata Seafood Restaurant – Another long-time staple for both dim sum and 10-coursers; shark fin has been off the menu for several years now. 1895 E Hastings Street, Vancouver
Pacific Poke, Hula Poke, Pokerrito, and The Poke Guy – With the popularity of poke shops right now in the city, it’s good to have these Ocean Wise options for those casual lunches or light meals.
Special Mentions (Recently Closed):
Sushi Itoga – The quality of fish and incredibly reasonable price points kept this casual sushi spot a downtown local favourite for a decade. (closed February 2019)
Wild Rice – These lovely folks recently shuttered their doors after 17 years of operations but deserve a shout out for being one of the very first Ocean Wise partners – true pioneers of their time. (closed December 2018)
For a full list of Ocean Wise partners in Vancouver, visit the website (you can search by location.)