In case you needed to hear an echo of everyone else here, the hospitality of the staff here is on another level. Our first time there and you truly feel like you're just catching up with an old friend. In such a quirky place with ample amount of signage assuring you that you're in the right place and pointing you where to go. Head up a few stairs and turn the corner to be greeted by a neat little diner. The food was fantastic, extremely well portioned and priced! Definitely check it out, if not to at least say you had breakfast at a lumber yard!

This is an amazing place for breakfast, and lunch. The place located in the middle of the factories places, and we need to go upstairs and feel like home. The restaurant is hidden in the area, and this is spectaular place, and with delicious foods. The omelette is very delicious and with the hash brown which flattered down like a sheet. The eggs just cooked perfectly, and the hash brown is thin and tasty It is recommended to go for eating!!!

The food here was amazing but what was even better was the hospitality and service from Jimmy. Although this was my family's first time there (and not last time) Jimmy made us feel like family. Did I mention the food was amazing too? 😁😋 If you're ever in the Vancouver area and need a great start to your day, this is the place!!!

We got there right when it opened before it got busy. The owner came to chat with us and tell us his story. What an amazing experience, and delicious home cooked food. We will be back again for sure. It takes a little courage to get through the lumber yard without thinking you’re in the wrong place. Keep going, it’s well worth it.

Have been waiting to try this place for a while. The breakfast was top of the line. Everything tastes amazing, from coffee, greens, pancakes, steak, sausages, and even the maple syrup. We can tell the owner has committed to high standards and quest for perfection from their selection of quality ingredients. We loved the ambiance and the hospitality of the owner and the chef. They made us feel most welcomed. This was one-of-a-kind dining experience for us.

I work just across the street and this is our go to for lunch. We love their Chow Mein, Chicken Wings, Fried Rice among many others. The place is small so don’t expect a huge restaurant. The owners man the place and they are all very hospitable. Everything is good from price to service. The cost is a bit high though where it feels like dining in a nice restaurant. Given the high inflation rate, the amount should be tolerable.

After hearing so much about Northern Cafe, my anticipation was high as I finally made a reservation to dine at this much-acclaimed establishment. The decision to reserve a table proved to be wise; we were seated almost immediately upon arrival, avoiding the long wait times that had deterred us during a previous attempt to dine here. Don't be fooled by it's surprising location or the state of the building (which might seem to some as if it were about to collapse at any moment). Inside is something you won't find anywhere else in Vancouver! The atmosphere at Northern Cafe is inviting, reflecting its family-run ethos. The menu offers a variety of comfort food options, and we opted for burgers and a side of poutine. The food was exceptional—each bite of the burger was a blend of flavors and textures, and the poutine was a delightful mix of crispy fries, cheese, and well-balanced gravy. What stood out, even more, was the service. The staff were attentive and courteous, enhancing the overall dining experience. It's evident why this establishment has garnered such high praise and even topped lists of the best places to eat in Canada. A particularly charming touch was the inclusion of watermelon slices with our meal. It added a refreshing contrast to the hearty fare and demonstrated the restaurant's attention to detail. Another delightful aspect was the handwritten reviews by children displayed on the wall, which actually helped us make our menu choices. Northern Cafe lives up to its reputation. The combination of delicious food, excellent service, and a welcoming atmosphere makes it a must-visit. Making a reservation is highly recommended!

Love the charming and quirky location. Of course one of the best cafes I’ve ever been to is above a working lumber yard. This place gets busy fast and once you’ve dined here you’ll understand why. We arrived 7 minutes after opening and within 5 minutes the line was out the door and in the lumber yard. The service is wonderful and the breakfast food is classic greasy spoon diner fare. Important detail when it comes to payment, they only accept local debit cards and Canadian currency. This left us paying via PayPal! It was unexpected yet quite convenient. Love this place!

Fluffiest pancakes ever! You can't leave this place without trying the pancakes. I love how simple the food is but the quality is top notch! We'll definitely come back to work our way around the whole menu. We had a very pleasant experience. Thanks to Chef Raymond and his family for making us feel at home!

I've been wanting to visit this place for a while now, and today I was in the neighborhood and saw that it was opening at 7, so I got there just before they opened, and it was still dark. I saw them going into the cafe and many of the employees of the supply store they are located at. Had no idea it was at a lumber and hardware supply warehouse, surrounded by many other commercial warehouses, such a great surprise, which just makes it that much better. Absolutely loved the atmosphere and the owners. Very friendly older couple and their son run this awesome famiky owned cafe. Awesome home cooked breakfast, amazing friendly and relaxed service, and unbelievable atmosphere. When I got there, I was the only one, but I still loved it so much. The old school diner style furniture and music were awesome. I got the pancake with blueberries, sunny side up eggs, and sausage, which were all very good. Loved their old small glass coffee maker and the mugs. The son who was serving was very nice and friendly....he me told me that this place has been around since the 1940s and his parents got this place 15 years ago have been in the business for so long after they retired, wanted to have a slow and small place and now this place is exploded and is crazy busy ...which I find very funny and awesome. Will definitely come back to try their burgers and Chinese food.

The food is amazing. I've never actually been impressed by brunch food, but this was a different level. Similar type of food but made better! Ham Egg Bennys and the crispy hashbrowns made me want to order seconds. We will need to try the wontons and burgers next time.

This place is a jewel in Vancouver. From the very unexpected entrance, to the warmth of the staff to the amazing food. Everything you need to have a beautiful experience. No fancy coffee drinks that are replaced for an absolutely amazing food experience. Everything is cooked to perfection, from fresh ingredients never frozen. The flavors are an experience. That are accompanied by the smiles of every staff member. The place is cozy and comfortable. The house wonton soup is really great, a mix of flavors and expertly served. The hash browns the best! Don’t forget your cash or debit, your credit cards are not welcome here :)

Fantastic hidden Gem of a cafe. Fluffy pancakes with butter and syrup. Eggs just the way you want. Loaded meat omelette, and I mean it! it's LOADED with meat. Great staff! friendly, polite and welcoming. So glad I stopped by the area. Parking inside and outside. Will come back later for sure to try the burgers and Chinese food.

Don’t let the outside scare you away. This is definitely a hole in the wall kind of diner. The inside is really clean. The food is pretty decent. They make their own womtons! This diner offers western brunch and Chinese food. Family operated business and super friendly owner. Will definitely return to try the Philly steak and the clubhouse sandwiches.

Cool mom and pop cafe tucked away in a building supply yard. Great variety of dishes from all day breakfast (mind you they close at 3pm), classic burgers, and even Asian food. Lovely service where they can chat you up and answer your questions.

This restaurant is a hidden gem in this industrial region. All the food is delicious, especially the hand-shredded hash. All the servers here are friendly and helpful, and most of them know Cantonese too. Just be aware that it does not accept credit cards here, but it is okay to pay by PayPal or even e-Transfer.

If you are desperate for comfort, then this friendly family run cafe will brighten your day! The hash brown is a must have, thin and crispy. The pork chop sandwich was tasty, as the meat was well marinated and juicy. Brighten my day especially in this awful rainy weather!

I keep coming back to this cozy place for breakfast/lunch. I LOVE their shredded hash browns 🥰. The family who runs this restaurant is super friendly! I brought my parents to eat the other day, and the owner came over to chat with us. Thank you for sharing your story with us, it made our visit super memorable.

Staff was polite and very helpful. It was my first time eating at Northern Cafe and I tried the Deluxe Burger with a small poutine while my friend tried the Steak”n” Egg. We also shared a bowl on wonton soup and my friend had a cup of coffee. (Our bill was ~$57 after tip). The portion was good and the quality of the meal was satisfactory. We were both very happy with our food. I have no feedback from my visit and would recommend this place to anyone. Of note, you can expect to wait to be seated as the establishment is small and can be busy, but they offer text notification which was nice.

Had a great time eating here, family run restaurant. Food was amazing. Potato hash was my favorite. Great job Northern Cafe! Will definitely be coming back and try the rest of the menu. Thank you for the great service!

Reviews speak for themselves! If you haven’t come here yet, you gotta. Waiter was also a very cool dude. Definitely a regular spot for me now!

If I could live next to Northern Café just to eat their breakfast every day, I would. Honestly my go to for a wholesome meal. Their pot stickers are so good, and the eggs are always cooked to perfection. The breakfast sausages are my favourite, and I always get an extra side order of it (sometimes a double). Portion sizes are great, so you will always feel full after a meal. The owners are the best. They remember you even if you went only once before! It can get pretty busy, so try going before the rush, otherwise you could be waiting a while. I love eating here so much, my phone's lock screen was a photo of their breakfast for 2 years. It's not just about the food, but the overall experience!

Perfect place for comfort food, home cooking and amazing service. Raymond creates a great environment to relax and enjoy and feel at home. Perfect example of “don’t judge a book by its cover.” Have come here every Tuesday since the first time we tried it and have always been happy. Just a heads up: cash and debit only :)

This place is probably one of the best hidden breakfast spots in all of Vancouver! Everything was excellent, the poached eggs were perfectly done and the sausage and bacon were fantastic as well. To top it off the owner and master chef includes a small dish of his own homemade egg salad which was phenomenal. It's so cool that this cafe is quite literally hidden in a lumber yard, if you have the opportunity to go you gotta check this place out! It will be my new go to spot when visiting Vancouver.

The location is quite cool with a decent amount of parking outside. I can't imagine how this place is during rush hour because it's small and tight and the low ceiling doesn't help at all but cool. I ordered the northern deluxe burger and my wife got the wonton noodle soup. I thought the burger was good, but IMO a little expensive especially for a cash only business, which I'm not a fan of. Unfortunately my wife did not like the wonton noodle soup. I blame social media for over hyping it. The Service was amazing!! it's expected from a family owned business! The service alone is enough to support this restaurant. I still highly recommend this place! You can't go wrong with the burger and BRING CASH!

Definitely one of a kind and one of a few left in the city! The food: solid staples and honestly, you cannot go wrong with anything here. The owners and staff were lovely despite being very busy! Even though the wait can be long (approx 45mins), I think the experience in the end was worth it! Truly a gem and I hope it is here for many years to come!

Interesting experience feel like back to the 70s $17 for steak sandwich was quite decent 6 Oz so no complain $3.5 coffee with unlimited refill and the coffee is not bad itself The boss is from Hong Kong and he came to greet us and he has been running this restaurant for 15 years very friendly No parking directly in front of the building need to park outside but at least it’s free parking Long Q outside the restaurant we waited about 45 mins on a Monday morning Staffs are super friendly About 15 narrow steps up quite slippery on a rainy day

Warm feeling when entering this cafe. Main reason include we have breakfast with my elder son. Another reason is it is in a factory/warehouse/wood store region, just like the small restaurant located in factory area of my mother town. Place is normal, meals are ok, prices are acceptable, but customers seem non-stoped. There must be an attractive point about it. Come and try, see if you have the same feeling as mine.

I love this place. It’s a hole in the wall for sure, but it actually is amazing. The menu may seem like typical diner fare and Chinese chop suey style items, however, from the ingredients to the way the food is made is certainly anything but typical. Even their burgers are made with AAA sirloin beef. Overall, everything I’ve tried here (both breakfast and lunch items) in my multiple times visiting have been very yummy. Don’t be fooled by its industrial surroundings and the wobbly stairs leading to the diner, this place is truly a hidden gem and is worth the hype. But make sure you have some time to wait, there is usually a wait time even outside the usual meal time rush.

This place is the hidden gem of South East Vancouver it's been here for 49 years in a little 50s style diner above northwest building supplies. This little place has been voted the #3 Restaraunt In Canada. If you love amazing diner food in a unassuming little place this is it. Raymond and his Dad Jimmy are actually both Executive Chefs and you can tell. It's also the friendliest diner around you feel like family as soon as you walk in. If you love Pancakes Jimmy is the Pancake master of the universe, I've taken countless people and they all say that's the best pancake I've ever had. My love is the Beef Dip, the boys get there early and slow roast their own beef everyday and they hand cut their fries.

Finally got to try this little gem on a holiday Monday. We waited 1.5 hrs but it was worth the wait. This place is the perfect example of an unpretentious, no fuss family run restaurant that focuses on delicious comfort food. The staff were warm, welcoming and attentive.