 Cow Bay Cafe and Eagle Bluff B&B, JF Bergeron/Enviro Photo Dining in Northern BC centers around fresh seafood coupled with local produce and game. From the Queen Charlotte Islands to Prince Rupert and Prince George, local restaurants give their own spin on the region’s cuisine. The result? An incredible array of ethnic food, fresh meals, and mouth-watering seafood dishes set against a stunning landscape.
BC North Coast Seafood – From Ocean to TableSome of BC’s best seafood comes straight off the boats of the northcoast: Dungeness crab, Spot prawns, salmon, halibut, and rockcod are among a few of the options. A popular favorite – halibut cheeks – is not to be missed.
Try Dungeness crab cakes served in a posh restaurant, or salmon cooked traditionally – on a cedar plank – while taking in ocean views.
Try a hand at catching dinner - many fishing charters operate out of Prince Rupert and the Queen Charlotte Islands and provide visitors with sport-fishing excursions.
Aboriginal CuisineNorthern BC offers diners the chance to feast on local Aboriginal cuisine. For a unique dining experience, visit the Haida Heritage Center in Skidegate to experience traditional Haida cuisine and food preparation.
Take the dining tour of Pike Island from Prince Rupert and see an archeological site once home to a First Nations tribe, then feast on deliciously cooked salmon in the recreated longhouse.
Make sure to try Aboriginal favourites fried bread, candied salmon, smoked salmon (eaten many ways like the ever-so-popular bagel ‘n’ lox), or the slightly more daring culinary choice - oolichans.
Dining on the Queen Charlotte IslandsVisitors to the Queen Charlotte Islands can savour the freshly prepared food and bask in the ambience of local restaurants, while running on “island time”.
Dine with the locals in Queen Charlotte City, check out a fish restaurant in Old Masset, or stop by an organic coffee shop in Tllel.
Catch and cook fish on the same day - the West Coast Fishing Club runs a cooking school getaway at their “Clubhouse Lodge", near the Queen Charlotte Islands. After a day of fishing, guests can prepare their own westcoast seafood dishes under the guidance of renowned chef David Hawksworth (formerly of West restaurant in Vancouver), and special guest chefs, which has included Vikram Vij (of Vij's and Rangoli.)
Urban Dining in Prince Rupert & Prince GeorgePrince Rupert features trendy, posh restaurants, cozy cafes set on the water, and neighborhood pubs, offering a mix of specialty and ethnic food, sushi, vegetarian fare, and of course mouth-watering seafood. According to one Vancouver Sun reporter, “There is great food at the end of the line in Prince Rupert.”
The Cow Bay Historic Waterfront District in Prince Rupert is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike to chow down. Enjoy delicious clam chowders in a fish-market, try fish ‘n’ chips on a patio overlooking the marina, stop by for sushi prepared in an old fishing net-loft, or pick up coffee and a treat at the local coffee shop on an after dinner stroll. As the largest metropolitan city in Northern BC, Prince George offers diverse culinary choices. From acclaimed French bistros to tea houses featuring fresh baked scones and biscuits, sushi restaurants, and ethnic eateries, it’s all here.
Eat Local, Buy Local – Game & Farmers MarketsBison, moose, and venison are popular game in Northern BC. Try venison on the Queen Charlotte Islands, moose in Smithers or Telkwa, and bison in the cities of Fort St. John, Dawson Creek, and Chetwynd (known as the Peace River Country.)
Check out a farmers market -held all over the region during the summer months - to purchase locally grown and made food, like fresh jams, home-made breads, pies made with Saskatoon berries (a berry commonly found in Northern BC that is similar in size and color to the blueberry), buffalo jerky, and the usual fresh produce.
Festivals & Celebrated Dining
Some of the best cuisine in Northern BC can be sampled during the many summer festivals held across the region each year.
Prince Rupert’s Seafest serves up great Filipino and Aboriginal cuisine, the Nass Valley’s Crabfest boasts of well, crab, and Prince George’s Canada Day in the Park offers food from China and the Ukraine.
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