Brunch on the West Coast is a hearty tradition, and these Vancouver restaurants know how to live up to the hype with their incredible eggs Benedict dishes. Topped with savoury meats (or fresh veggies) and covered in creamy hollandaise sauce, these crowd-pleasing breakfast Bennies are worth waking up for. [Photo credit: iStock.com/ Nicole S. Young]
Like a new favourite band you don’t quite want everyone to know about, Salade De Fruits is bafflingly accessible for weekend brunches: there aren’t queues out the door, but there should be. This hidden gem just off South Granville specializes in traditional French cooking. As you’d expect, their eggs Benny with accompanying herbed potatoes is wipe-the-plate-clean delicious. For a truly decadent experience, choose the lobster eggs Benny served on a buttery croissant. Oh là là!
It’s close to impossible to enter this downtown haunt without your mood elevating. The colourful, Mediterranean restaurant feels like a transplant from a small coastal town in Italy. The cooking is similar. Scoozis’ breakfast menu is fairly traditional and exquisitely delivered. Available daily until 2:00 pm, the smoked salmon eggs Benny includes a healthy serving of beautifully smoked fish, with sides of fruit and potatoes. Alternatively, opt for a traditional Bennie with learn ham or a veggie-friendly Florentine version.
A staple in Kitsilano and one of the city’s favourite brunch spots, the pink walls and vintage paraphernalia of Sophie’s Cosmic Café make it a feast for both your taste buds and eyes. With an extensive daytime menu to choose from – including a bunch of deliciously healthy choices – there’s something for everyone. The Florentine eggs Benny includes enough spinach to satisfy Popeye and is drizzled with one of the best made-from-scratch hollandaise sauces in the city.
Firmly set in the 50s with its traditional diner decor and Elvis Presley statues, Sunshine Diner is so adorably kitsch you may just want to start singing Unchained Melody at your booth. The surroundings don’t detract from the hearty food – in style and portions. Their eggs Bennies are miniature towers of flavourful ingredients, served alongside a bowl of potatoes and fruit. It’s enough to make anyone say “Uh-huh-huh.”
Bandidas is about as versatile as its food is colourful. Perfect for large gatherings or first dates, the vegetarian Mexican restaurant is beloved for its creative tacos and interesting cocktails. Don’t overlook their brunch options, however, which combine breakfast dishes with the fiery and fresh flavours of Mexico. Try the Hicks eggs Benny with guacamole and salsa, or Sherman’s Benny with goat cheese and caramelized onions.
The new kid on the brunch block, Yolk’s flagship location on East Hastings has already hatched a second spot on Broadway and a food truck serving the downtown core each day. With a name like Yolk’s, this restaurant better be able to deliver perfectly cooked poached eggs; and they do. Hungry breakfast patrons design their own eggs Benny dishes with a cute choose-your-own-adventure flowchart – select smoked bacon, honey ham or Portobello mushroom before moving on to your preferred sauce and sides.