Maenam
GO HERE: for elegant ingredient-driven Thai food that’s still rooted in tradition. Chef Angus An opened Maenam with his wife, Kate Auewattanakorn, almost a decade ago, and they’re still racking up awards. Simply put, they’ve rewritten the rules of what a Thai restaurant in Vancouver (and beyond) can be.
ORDER THE: addictive grilled Thai sausage and crispy rice salad, tom ka coconut mushroom soup, and the eight-spice lingcod. Don’t forget two orders of the handmade roti with peanut sauce. Bonus: The bright and refreshing cocktails pair exceptionally well with the food.
THE VIBE IS: sophisticated and adult. The contemporary pale-pink space with cork-topped tables is softly lit and encourages quiet conversation.
PRACTICAL STUFF: Open every day, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; and for lunch Tuesday to Saturday, noon to 2 p.m. Reservations are available, as is takeout.
—Lindsay Anderson
