Rabbit Rabbit Wine Bar/Instagram
This year, Victoria’s food scene has gone through some big changes. While we said bittersweet goodbyes to beloved spots like Bear and Joey, Little Jumbo, and Chorizo and Co., the city has also welcomed a wave of exciting new openings. From innovative restaurants and cozy coffee shops to creative pop-ups and second locations of local favourites, there’s plenty to look forward to. Here’s a roundup of some of the must-visit new spots that are making waves in Victoria’s ever-evolving food landscape.
A stylish new bistro opened its doors in Quadra Village this summer. Inspired by Dock Lunch, a previously beloved bistro situated in Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant neighbourhood that fostered a tightly knit neighbourhood community, Emmaline’s main focus is bringing that neighbourhood bistro energy back to Victoria.
The restaurant emphasizes locally sourced ingredients and the menu typically changes seasonally to highlight the freshest local produce, seafood, and meats. For food, guests can expect an eclectic menu of Italian, American and Brazilian influences with items like lasagne bolognese, tomato pies, American-style layer cakes, and more. While the fixed menu is small, Emmaline’s offer features like gingery baked wings, Cilbir (Turkish eggs), verde migas with steak and eggs (Tex Mex), Moroccan chicken, and they have a brunch menu available on weekends.
The bistro is welcoming and relatively small, which allows for a more personal dining experience.
Address: 2571 Quadra St.
Kinu is a contemporary Indian restaurant located in Uptown Shopping Centre, brought to Victoria by the same owners of the well-known Indian restaurant Sizzling Tandoor. Kinu offers an elevated dining experience that blends traditional Indian flavours with global influences, focusing on Indian tapas-style dishes, bringing a modern and innovative twist to classic recipes and ensuring a diverse and flavourful experience. Guests can expect an emphasis on fresh, natural ingredients and the rich, aromatic spices that define Indian cuisine. Signature dishes include Kinu chicken (an Indo-Chinese inspired take on orange chicken), pakora gnocchi, whipped cheese with naan, and more.
The restaurant's ambiance is thoughtfully designed, combining elegance with a casual, approachable vibe, making it an ideal spot for both special occasions and relaxed meals.
Address: #123-600 Uptown Blvd.
OEB Breakfast Co., the popular Canadian brunch chain, brought its creative breakfast offerings to Victoria in early 2024. OEB offers a diverse menu featuring unique dishes like breakfast poutines, truffled lobster crêpes, shakshuka, alongside more adventurous options like gnocchi breakfast carbonara and Korean bulgogi bennies. The menu highlights locally sourced, high-quality ingredients and bold flavour combinations. Alongside its innovative dishes, the restaurant boasts an exciting drink menu with options like beermosas, sangria, specialty coffees, and smoothies, adding to the vibrant brunch experience.
The Victoria location maintains OEB's reputation for bright, inviting spaces and attentive service.
Address: 856 Yates St.
The highly anticipated restaurant in Esquimalt, Janevca Kitchen and Lounge, officially opened its doors in October, offering a 130-seat dining room and a 40-seat lounge.
The kitchen is led by executive chef Andrea Alridge, a former finalist on the cooking competition show Top Chef Canada, with experience leading renowned Vancouver restaurants like Osteria Savio Volpe and CinCin Ristorante. Alridge has crafted a family-style menu that blends international flavours with wood-fired cooking techniques. Signature dishes like the scallop crudo with pyanggang sauce paying tribute to Alridge’s Filipino background, and a wood-grilled bone-in pork chop with pickapeppa sauce is inspired by a favourite childhood dish.
The restaurant is housed in the historic Rosemead House, a building with over a century of history in Esquimalt. The dining room embraces its storied past while celebrating its coastal surroundings. Expansive wrap-around windows and two patios invite guests to soak in the stunning views of the nearby coastline and neighbourhood. The design, led by the Aragon team, is a masterclass in blending old-world charm with modern elegance. Live edge tables and antique furniture pieces, hand-selected by owner Lenny Moy in England, bring warmth and character to the space.
For a more intimate experience, the lounge offers a front-row seat to the bustling kitchen, where wood-fired artisans craft each dish with precision. Whether you’re there for a special occasion, a casual dinner, or a drink in the lounge, Janevca Kitchen and Lounge promises a dining experience as rich in history as it is in flavour.
Address: 429 Lampson St.
Rabbit Rabbit Wine Bar, a highly anticipated restaurant located in the former Saveur restaurant location just opened its doors earlier this month. Inspired by the metaphor of "falling down the rabbit hole," Rabbit Rabbit aims to take guests on an enjoyable and unpredictable journey. The interior design, as noted in Scout Magazine, subtly nods to Alice in Wonderland, creating a whimsical yet sophisticated atmosphere.
The menu features inventive dishes that blend European influences with local ingredients, offering both small plates and shareable options. The food program was created by chef Billy Nguyen, runner-up on season nine of Top Chef Canada. Guests can enjoy filet-o-fish baos, roasted carrots, cured nori wrapped salmon, mackerel escabeche, pappardelle, and more exciting and unique dishes.
Address: 658 Herald St.
A new breakfast restaurant opened in November and it is already very popular among foodies and coffee lovers. The restaurant is a collaboration between Victoria favourites The Ruby, Jones Bar B Que, Discovery Coffee, and Yonni’s Donuts, partnering for Victoria’s newest restaurant: The Breakfast Shop.
The restaurant combines comfortable classic concepts with scratch techniques and high-quality ingredients. From making their own brioche bun to grinding their own meat for their breakfast sausage, The Breakfast Shop’s backbone ingredient is the simple egg.
The menu includes breakfast sandwiches, breakfast bowls, lunch sandwiches, coffee, lattes, cappuccinos, tea, and they even have a kids menu. Whether you’re in the mood for a classic breakfast or craving something more indulgent like their loaded breakfast poutines or decadent waffles, this spot has got you covered. The Breakfast Shop is also a fantastic choice for anyone on the go, offering quick service for those in need of a speedy morning pick-me-up.
An eight-seater omakase restaurant on Courtney Street offering a one-of-a-kind dinner experience, where the chef selects and prepares a multi-course meal, right in front of guests.
The restaurant is run by chef Clark Park, a highly-esteemed chef with previous experience working at reputable places like Miku, Yua Bistro and Marilena Cafe. The menu is defined by his mastered blend of traditional Japanese flavours with modern cooking techniques that use fresh, seasonal ingredients to take guests on a rich culinary journey.
The restaurant offers three different omakase menus:
Edition Omakase serves eight courses, including sashimi, nigiri, aburi oshi sushi, grilled fish, a handroll, and more.
The Harmony Omakase is the same menu plus sake pairings.
The Elegant Chef's Collection menu is a grand 10-12 course dinner including dessert.
Address: 610 Courtney St.
Founded in Ontario, Odd Burger is renowned for its entirely plant-based menu, offering a healthier and more sustainable alternative to traditional fast food. The Victoria restaurant was the first to open in BC, opening in May this year. The menu includes a variety of vegan options such as burgers, chick'un (a vegan version of chicken) offerings, wraps, salads, shakes, soft serve, and sundaes. Its Pulled Jack burger is a take on a pulled pork sandwich, substituting meat for pulled jackfruit cooked in a smoky barbecue sauce. Odd Burger also has a range of gluten-friendly options available.
Address: 790 Fisgard St.
Other restaurants that have opened this year include Rudi, Saxe Point Public House, Pinhalla, Colwood Pizza Co., Ootaya Sushi, Taisho, Chipotle, Uni Japanese, and Jacks on the Water. Victoria also got new locations of Floyd’s Diner, Burger Crush, Hey Happy Coffee, Original Pho, Rhino Coffee, and Roast. Do you have a favourite yet? Let us know by emailing us at info@tastingvictoria.com.
