Premium Grill at Kook Korean BBQ

Ethiopian stews by hand, a live Friday band, and the kind of injera-sharing that requires getting very comfortable very quickly.

Kang's Kitchen upgraded every table with a grill and overhead exhaust so cooking dinner together is now part of the date.

Where Pondicherry's centuries-old French-Indian love affair lands in Hastings-Sunrise, with a coconut tequila chaser.

Vancouver's original Korean fried chicken house since 2011: soy-garlic, cold beer, and a kitchen that runs till 1am.

A Richmond Korean izakaya running to 2am on weekends, because someone had to do it, and spicy chicken-cheese demanded a late-night home.

All-you-can-eat yakiniku where you grill prime beef together on a two-hour clock, and 13,000 reviewers agree it was worth the lineup.

Chef Hawksworth's two-storey heritage hall for wood-fired pizza, buttermilk fried chicken, and the share-everything format that actually works.

A low-lit East Hastings room where Pacific Northwest cooking gets a Japanese edit and the natural wine list has its own devoted regulars.

Tabletop grills, marinated galbi and a running argument about who's hogging the grill: Insadong is North Road's best date sport.

Coquitlam's tiny family-run Korean spot with a 4.7 and a tableside bibimbap ritual that keeps people coming back every week.

Vancouver Foodie Tours runs a two hour progressive meal through the market: cheese, charcuterie, candied salmon, chocolate truffles and a honey-dip donut finish.

The West End Korean spot where even soju-skeptics order the yogurt bottle and come back for late-night all-you-can-eat wings.

Butter chicken poutine, paneer tacos and spiced cocktails in Surrey's slickest Indian lounge, open until 3am.

The only dinner where eating with your hands from the same plate is not just allowed, it's the whole point.