Vancouver is the polar opposite of the image most people have of Canada. There are no fur-lined hats with earflaps and no flannel shirts here. There isn’t even that much snow. Vancouver is a coastal metropolis that has become an international city. The diverse population is reflected in its cuisine. You’d be hard-pressed to find another city where so many different cooking styles have made their way out of the immigrant neighborhoods where they started and into the mainstream.

Because the city has proved open to new tastes, some of the world’s best chefs have decided to call Vancouver home. If you want to find out what new restaurant will be opening in Las Vegas a couple years down the road, visit Vancouver’s most popular eateries. It is in these establishments that “the next best thing” is honed.

Vancouver boasts a large Asian population. This means some of the best Dim Sum spreads in the Western Hemisphere. Its proximity to the Pacific also means you’ll find some mighty fresh sushi (Vancouver might as well be called Sushi City because of the sheer amount of venues dedicated to the art of raw fish. And…can’t forget the sweet and spicy Thai curry and hearty (and also quite spicy) Indian curry.

European cuisine is also present, though not as noticeable amidst the glut of sushi bars. Vancouver has some great Mediterranean restaurants. Greek and Italian joints range from family run, sixteen table bistros to massive commercial places. So, when a craving for ravioli or hummus hits, you won’t need to panic.

Of course, every style of cooking can boast some of the freshest seafood you’re likely to find. Fried, steamed, floating in a bowl of broth and noodles, raw, it’s all here. If you don’t mind braving the choppy Pacific, you can even head out on a chartered boat to catch your own. Even if you’re unlucky, you’ll know that you can head back to shore to drown your sorrows in a plate of sushi and a cup of sake.