Follow The Spice Trail In Surrey, B.C.

Think the drive from Vancouver (or elsewhere in the Lower Mainland) out to Surrey for a meal isn’t worth the trouble? Think again. The city, which is multicultural to its core and set to become B.C.’s largest municipality any day now, is a place to feast, and feast well, with restaurants (from so-called mom-and-pop shops to modern mid-range to fine dining) you simply won’t find anywhere else. And, though it may best be known for its South Asian offerings, eateries with Latino, Vietnamese, Caribbean roots are widely available, too—and authentically delicious, to boot. The best way to navigate Surrey’s many flavourful options? The Spice Trail, with near 30 current members and at least 30 more coming on board soon (all are listed on Discover Surrey’s website, and can be searched by neighbourhood or by cuisine). From arepas to banh mi to naan, we came, we saw, we ate—and we’ll be back for seconds soon. —Noa Nichol

afghan kitchen. “Mum’s recipes” make up this restaurant’s menu, with food so good, it was featured on the Food Network’s You Gotta Eat Here! Be like host John Catucci and try the Mantu: steamed minced beef dumplings topped with split peas, tomato sauce and yogurt.

chacha’s tandoor & grill. Set to become a popular franchise, grab a bottle of Thums Up, a can of WhiteClaw or a thick, booze-free mango mimosa and get the Delhi-style gol gappay shots: puffed crackers stuffed with potatoes, chickpeas and chutneys, downed with a shot of mint water.

clove. If you want to photograph your food before you eat it, this is the place to go. Clove serves elegant, elevated Indian cuisine in a stunning setting. Try the avocado and chickpea chaat: a palate-cleansing combination of sweet, salty, crunchy, spicy and savoury ingredients.

di reggae cafe. If you missed your Jamaican vacation this year, restaurateur Richie Husset has your ticket. Keeping real Caribbean cuisine alive, he serves up perfectly golden Jamaican patties, rice and peas, oxtail, curry goat and rum cake that taste like, well, just like home.

guacamole mexican grill. This all-female kitchen serves up in savoury tamales, hearty tortilla soup, slow-cooked birria beef and Salvadoran pupusas: corn tortillas stuffed with cheese, chicken, chorizo and other delights, and served with pickled cabbage and red salsa.

gulberg tandoor. Though you can dine in this Halal restaurant, in-the-know customers head straight for the freezer to grab pre-made frozen meals under the owners’ Barakah Eats label, including butter chicken, channa masala and veggie biryani with varying levels of spice to heat and serve at home.

kerala kitchen. Food from India’s coastal southern state of Kerala is the mainstay here, so expect lots of coconut-based dishes. Order the mammoth crispy plain dosa with coconut chutney and the soupy, silky, sumptuous Kerala vegetable curry.

k.g cioffee & banh mi. Cash only, this unassuming strip-mall café doubles as a local hangout for casual card players. Ask for a bursting-with-flavour bahn mi sandwich on some of the lightest, fluffiest baguette bread we’ve ever tasted. Wash it down with a soursop or avocado smoothie.

meks delight. At this Malaysian and Thai restaurant, regulars know to order the red curry, with chicken, onion, peppers, bamboo shoots, basil and lime leaves, the four-piece curry puff and, to drink, The Tarik—pulled tea, made from a mixture that’s poured back and forth repeatedly between two vessels from a height, giving it a thick frothy top.

mr. tonkatsu. If you’re crazy about katsu—breaded and deep-fried pork, chicken or shrimp—this Japanese restaurant is a must. You may even get to make your own condiment, using a mortar and pestle to grind toasted sesame seeds at your table into a paste, then adding your creation to a provided dipping sauce.

spice of nepal. From staple foods like Dal Bhat (rice and lentils) and Momo (dumplings, 28 types of them in total) to fusion-style dishes (butter chicken poutine, anyone?) and oodles of noodles, this hidden gem is well worth seeking out.

union latino’s food. The arepas at this unassuming eatery are out of this world (and just $4 apiece), but the best plan is to order the Tray Paisa, with beans, rice, beef, sausage, pork rind, egg, avocado, ripe plantain and arepas; it’s Colombia’s national dish.

discoversurreybc.com