Where to find the tastiest meatballs in Vancouver
Though not as fancy or complicated as some of their beefy brethren, meatballs are a classic meal choice or a snack worth savouring. When you're craving a satisfying globe of meaty goodness, check out the meatballs on the menus at these Vancouver restaurants.
Italian Kitchen
860 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1X9Italian Kitchen prides itself on its Old World charm and New World vibe, and their signature meatballs are a shining example of these intersecting values. Classic beef meatballs are topped with a roasted garlic and tomato sauce and further elevated when accompanied by the truffled spaghetti made with truffle cream and herbed ricotta. It’s an ideal comfort dish that feels right at home in this relaxed, contemporary downtown dining space.
Ask For Luigi
305 Alexander St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1C4This intimate trattoria is a cozy place to gather for a filling and flavourful Italian meal. Order a serving of Luigi's signature meatballs – served family-style – and watch the meaty morsels quickly disappear. These all-beef Sicilian meatballs are just like Nona used to make – provided she was an accomplished chef who ground her own beef and turned it into melt-in-your-mouth, medium-rare balls of perfection.
Trattoria Italian Kitchen
1850 4th Avenue W, Vancouver, BC V6J 1M3Vancouverites can't get enough of the signature beef meatballs at Trattoria, the bustling sister restaurant to Italian Kitchen. So much so, the restaurant even hosts its own annual meatball-eating contest. The prize? A year's worth of spaghetti and meatballs of course! A family-friendly spot, this Kitsilano dining room offers free kids' meals with adult entrees on Monday nights.
Meat & Bread
370 Cambie St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2N3Craving a monumental meatball sandwich? Head to this hip Gastown spot specializing in, as the simple name suggests, meat and bread. Serving expertly prepared meals made with high quality ingredients, Meat and Bread has become a go-to lunchtime destination for sandwich purists. Don't be discouraged if there’s a lineup; the efficient service keeps the queue moving. Meatballs are combined with Grana Padano cheese, spicy sambal chilli sauce and gremolata (chopped herbs) for a satisfying sandwich experience.
The Old Spaghetti Factory
53 Water St, Vancouver, BC V6B 1A1Located in historic Gastown, this popular franchise slings spaghetti and hand-rolled meatballs with their signature Italian marinara sauce, all topped with fresh Parmesan cheese. It’s an affordable family-friendly spot and offers good value in what can be a pricy dining area. All meals at The Old Spaghetti Factory include bread, your choice of minestrone soup or green salad, Italian spumoni ice cream, and tea or coffee. There’s also a separate children's menu for little ones.
Wonder Meatball Inc
3461 Fraser St, Vancouver, BC V5V 4C3For an authentic taste of Taiwan in the comfort of your own home, pick up a package of meatballs from the Wonder Meatball store on Fraser Street. Fresh, high quality ingredients and traditional flavours are used to create these authentic Taiwanese delicacies. Flavours include pork, pork and mushroom, beef, or beef tendon. Meatballs are produced in a local processing factory and sold throughout the Lower Mainland.
Copper Chimney
567 Hornby St, Vancouver, BC V6C 2E8For those craving something other than the traditional Italian spaghetti and meatballs, behold the Mumbai spiced lamb meatballs at Copper Chimney. Bursting with fragrant flavours and Indian spices, these marvelous mouthfuls are served with Roma tomato sauce and potato dumplings. Enjoy, but try to save room for the hand-made spiced chai macarons.
Via Tevere Pizzeria Napoletana
1190 Victoria Dr, Vancouver, BC V5L 4G5The expertly prepared Neapolitan cuisine at this popular Vancouver restaurant wins over diners with its pure and simple flavours. Hand-stretched, wood-fired pizzas are the headliners, but don’t overlook the moist and flavourful home-style meatballs. Served in a savoury tomato sauce, these meatballs might be the best-kept secret on the menu.
