Battle Royale with Cheese

TACOFINO has become a major part of Vancouver and British Columbia's food scene. With an original truck in Tofino and new locations in the Greater Vancouver Regional District popping up everywhere, their varied menus and semi-famous fish tacos make Tacofino an interesting case study in our Sizzlin' Summer Series. Luckily, we have many Tacofino thoughts! Tune in for some oral science on t...

LA TAQUERIA and its upscale counterpart LA MEZCALERIA have been staples of Vancouver's taco scene for over a decade. But the word to describe that decade?  Change. Can a franchise with proper branding and goals of being a sit-down restaurant establishment still maintain their "real ones know" appeal? Our sizzlin' summer series continues with a ranking of Taqueria and (crucially...

Summer taco time continues with SAL Y LIMON! We compare our previous experience at CHANCHO to another perennial local fave and talk about how Sal Y Limon has become a go-to takeout option over the past few years. How does their Commercial Drive location stack up against the original spot? Have we tried their airport location? What led to us having potentially the worst margarita experience of our...

Is CHANCHO Vancouver's best taco restaurant? After one trip and a luxurious bath in their quesabirria, we're hard pressed to think of anything better. Join us on the first episode of our summer project as Jill and Brian set out to review Vancouver's hottest taco spots and pit them against each other, BATTLE ROYALE style. CHANCHO is up first, and will meet SAL Y LIMON, LA TAQUERIA an...

Anh and Chi is a Bibendum-approved top-tier Vietnamese restaurant in Vancouver, and if you're reading this, you should close your podcast app and just go. But if you MUST hear our takes, we won't fight you. We heap praise upon praise upon praise like so many vermicelli noodles, talk about their miraculous (and for one of us, diet-changing) fish sauce chicken wings, and get a little gross...

The debate rages: What IS Vancouver's BEST sushi restaurant? Miku, Minami and Tojo's win their fair-share of awards, but only one has Royale Court status: KISHIMOTO. Learn about our long history with this Commercial Drive gem, Kishimoto's amazing commitment to presentation, high quality sushi, and just the right amount of fun gimmicks - smoked oshizushi, anyone? Hit our DMs and let...

McDonald's! It's simply some of Vancouver's (or any city's) finest dining. In honour of Jill's birthday, we sit under the golden arches to review her all time fave restaurant and share some great McDonald's opinions from listeners. "I'm lovin' it!" is what you'll say as soon as you press play on this very episode. And remember: Nothing can kil...

Welcome to the ROYALE TIER. Or is it Royale Tiere? Either way, we introduce a delightful new concept for the show before reviewing another of Vancouver's 2022 Michelin star recipients: AnnaLena . Minor spoilers: We're in love. Enjoy this detailed review of AnnaLena's "Chapter 62" tasting menu, plus a bonus serving of Hawaii talk and a return trip to Downlow Chicken. Have q...

Jill and Brian review THE LUNCH LADY, one of Vancouver's most popular restaurants! You might know the Lunch Lady, Nguyễn Thi Thanh, from a 2009 episode of Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations that visited her restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, but did you know the restaurant bearing her moniker is actually an official partnership? In this ep your hosts cover Hollywood's biggest...

Jamjar Canteen is a popular Lebanese chain dating back to the long ago era of 2014 - but how does it fare against Vancouver's other popular Lebanese restaurants like Nuba? How full will two people be if they order the $72 Taste of Lebanon platter? And just  how great  is their great fried Cauliflower? Find out as Battle Royale with Cheese brings you the DEFINITIVE Jamjar Canteen review. Next...

With busy schedules and travel, your two beautiful and talented hosts haven't been able to get together for a meal lately. But that doesn't mean we weren't snarfing and guzzing on our own! For the first time we cover not just one, not just two, but SEVERAL notable Vancouver restaurants - Cozy up to this buffet of takes and hear us talk about: - The joys of recent home cooking - Jill...

We already talked the chicken, but Downlow Burgers has become a Vancouver staple in its own right - shout out to Doug Stephen, Lindsey Mann and their whole crew. Hear about our experiences dating back to the OG Monday-pop-up days and the joys of their recent efforts (hello Oklahoma Smash), and hear our final thoughts on our first Soby Janoby! Don't forget to rate, review, subscribe and tell f...

BIBENDUM RETURNS. Little Bird Dim Sum + Craft Beer is one of Vancouver's Michelin Bib Gourmand winners, and let us tell you: It's great. In maybe our loosest episode yet, we celebrate the many delicious fried and steamed foods on offer from Little Bird, give a little more love to our book club, and do a check-in / confession on ol' Sobey Janobey (aka dry january). Next episode: Down...

THE BURROW is a Commercial Drive institution, serving up delicious vegetarian Mexican food along with cozy, community-focused good vibes. Jill's been a long time regular, and we're here to say that their nachos are IT. They are ICONIC. They are THE MOMENT.  We also take some time to discuss their recent name change from Bandidas to the Burrow. It's cold outside - face plant into som...

As we start 2023, ELEPHANT is one of Vancouver's hottest restaurants. Of course it's on the MICHELIN guide. And of course, we had to do our first haute cuisine review and bring you the hard hitting food truth you've come to expect from BRWC.  You want the truth? The REAL truth about Elephant? Okay, fine: We loved it! In this ep, learn all about what makes this 18-seat omakase headed...

Send noods to the light! Visiting chef Angus An's FAT MAO NOODLES is like taking a trip to broth heaven. Does this mean it's where good broth goes when it dies? Is it where good people go when they die to be fully submerged in broth? Hard to say. One thing's for sure: their thai noodle soups are incredible, and the roti with curry hits HARD. It's frigid out there - cozy up with...

DownLow Chicken Shack has become a pillar of the East Van community. Launched by Doug Stephen post-Merchant's (RIP), their Nashville-style Hot Chicken almost instantly blew up. Years later, with a second location and multiple fun flavour options, DL Chicken still reigns supreme. We talk about a lovely, cozy, SPICY takeout experience, review our OG sando's and celebrate all that is DL. Bu...

SONG , a new restaurant from Kin Kao, just earned itself a coveted Bib Gourmand spot in Vancouver's MICHELIN guide. But did it deserve... even more? Hear us talk about the best meal we've had on the podcast so far and basically write poetry about Song's delicious wings, tofu, pad thai and more! Plus: You are not ready for the shocking origins of the beast known only as... BIBENDUM....

This Sandwich, That Beer is a blog-turned-Vancouver live event institution that's celebrated our city's craft beer and food scene for years (while also raising money for charities). We've had great times with them in the past, and Battle Royale with Cheese was thrilled to attend its first throwdown since COVID-19! We stan. No choice but to stan. We are forced, as the kids say, to st...

Bardia Ilbeiggi's DELARA doesn't just have a spot in Vancouver's hot new Michelin Guide, it has a spot... in our hearts? Delara is Persian comfort food that had us feeling cozy (COZY!) and kind of into meatballs and halibut as an entree pairing.  A true labour of love, this restaurant is impossible to not root for - we know we'll be back. Next up? We're bringing you even m...

After Cactus Club, we knew there would never be a better time to turn our attention to Van Mag's Silver award winner for Best Chain: JOEY. Imagine our surprise when, similar menu items aside, we found it to be... worse? Like, notably worse. And certainly not on the level of some other friendly Vancouver chains. Come for the explanation of the Earl's/Cactus/JOEY/Browns/Local corporate str...

IT'S. TIME. Did we think we would be reviewing Cactus Club Cafe this soon into the podcast? Listeners, we did not. But our deep dive into the world of Vancouver Magazine's Restaurant Awards has only given us questions, not answers, which brings us to the Gold Medal winner for "Best Chain"  since 2008 , Cactus Club. And boy did you all have some opinions about it! And we were so...

Never tried a dosa? It's only the Indian-cuisine, lentil-and-rice based crepe-style dish that EVERYONE is talking about. Inspired by the 2022 Vanmag Awards, we continued our cozy, comfy Fall vibes by trying their Silver award (and multi-year) winner DOSA CORNER! Next week, we dare to review Vanmag's Gold award winner for "Best Chain." That's right. In only our eighth episo...

It's cozy season. Some would even calling it cuffing season, unless you happen to be down bad or ran through, as the kids would say. We return with an episode dedicated to LUCY'S EASTSIDE DINER, and spend some time celebrating the comfort that a neighbourhood diner can bring. We also spend a lot of time talking about thanksgiving as a holiday, the cornerstone side dishes, and the great q...

Is Superflux everyone in Vancouver's favourite brewery these days? It should be! In this episode we review the great vibes and greater collab beers on offer at Superflux's F*$king Awesome Fest , celebrate the joy of a "no tokens, no fucking around" event, and give detailed thoughts on the TREMENDOUS food at the event from local faves like Anh and Chi, Superflux Cabana, Partypiz...