As someone who loves a dining experience, it can be easy to fall back on my usual favourites. There’s a great comfort in the familiarity of a restaurant’s food and atmosphere, making it difficult to expand outside of that culinary comfort zone. However, this is your sign to step out of that and jump into the unknown! I dined at five unique restaurants in Victoria for the first time, and all of them quickly became new local favourites. Could they be yours, too?
1. Varsha Indian Kitchen
Location: 1600 Government St, Victoria, BC V8W 1Z3
What I ordered: Varsha’s Naan Bread and the Palak Curry with paneer.
If you’ve been craving Indian food, then look no further: Varsha has got you covered! This local, family-owned establishment in Chinatown has food as rich as the history surrounding the restaurant, as it is located in the same building that once held one of Victoria’s oldest theatres. The Varsha naan bread shareable appetizer came with 3 different types of dipping sauces that were all equally delicious. The portion of my palak paneer was very generous, with naan bread roughly the size of a football (though that costs extra). They also provide Canadian meals with an Indian-style influence, like the Butter Chicken Poutine. Keep note that Happy Hour is from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m., with different cocktail features as well!
2. Chimac Korean Pub & Fried Chicken
Location: 512 Yates St, Victoria, BC V8W 1K8
What I ordered: Boneless Snowy and Garlic Soy chicken.
Attention all chicken lovers! For those who frequent downtown Victoria, you’ve probably passed this place a hundred times. Chimac sits unassumingly on a corner on Yates Street. Once inside, I was greeted with a cozy, warm atmosphere that helped combat the unforgiving December chill. Chimac takes traditional Korean-fried chicken and gives it a twist with yummy flavours like honey mustard, sweet and sour, and garlic soy. The chicken itself was crunchy and flavourful, and the “Half” portions that we ordered were gigantic. If you don’t want to take home leftovers, I’d recommend going for the “Small” size (though the chicken makes for great takeaway!).
3. Flying Otter Grill
Location: 950 Wharf St, Victoria, BC V8W 1T3
What I ordered: New England Clam Chowder, Grilled Pesto Chicken Burger, Red Sangria, and the Deep-Fried Cheesecake.
This restaurant has the best view by far, sitting right on the water next to the Harbour Air Terminal with docked boats and seagulls. The atmosphere was relaxed, and the service was very attentive, with warm and comforting meals to really seal the deal. The New England chowder has ruined any future seafood chowders for me. Not to mention the deep-fried cheesecake with a cinnamon sugar crust, and a giant scoop of vanilla ice cream on top that still appears in my dreams every night. You’ll be immediately hooked if you eat here. The Flying Otter has great daily deals too, like Wing Wednesdays and Pasta Saturdays. There’s also a Happy Hour from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.!
4. AsUsual Cafe
Location: 2510 Estevan Ave, Victoria, BC V8R 5Z2
What I ordered: Thai milk tea with pearls; Red bean milk tea with pearls.
Once you walk into AsUsual Cafe, you’ll immediately notice that the interior is bursting with personality. The walls are adorned with posters, figurines, and collectibles from different movies and anime, like Demon Slayer and Spirited Away. This locally-owned cafe’s expansive menu may be the source of some anxiety for indecisive people…not to mention their seasonal monthly specials, making it even harder to choose. My advice: go multiple times! The bubble tea was delicious, and I haven’t even conquered their food menu yet, which looks just as enticing as the drinks. AsUsual Cafe is what happens when passion, love, and commitment come together to create a unique dining experience that will have you going back for more—just like I did.
5. Taisho
Location: 230 Cook St, Victoria, BC V8V 3X3
What I ordered: Mozza stick, Pork Gyoza, Philly roll, and the Zero Roll.
Sushi is my favourite food, so as you can imagine, the stakes were quite high when I walked into Taisho. The expansive menu had enough to make me dizzy with excitement (for the easily overwhelmed, I recommend looking at the menu in advance). Both the appetizers and special rolls exceeded my expectations, like the seaweed-wrapped mozzarella sticks and the tempura-style Zero roll. Everything tasted fresh and was well-prepared. The service experience was kind and inviting, and our food came quickly after we ordered. If you’re not a sushi-obsessed maniac such as myself, Taisho has a wide variety of Japanese cuisines, such as rice bowls, salads, and ramen. If you’re dining on a budget, Happy Hour is from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. until close!
Hopefully, I’ve provided at least one prospective restaurant that you can add to your bucket list! Victoria has a rich local food scene that will have something for everybody. The list I’ve compiled has a variety of Indian food, fried chicken, bar food, a bubble tea cafe, and Japanese food, which will surely spark your interest, no matter what kind of cuisine you’re interested in. As I continue my exploration for new and delicious local food, make sure to check out these lovely establishments in the meantime. Happy eating!