Every year my family and I visit Tofino, and as big foodies, we’ve made it our mission to explore the local food scene. Here is my guide for the best places to eat in beautiful Tofino, BC!
It has become an annual tradition for our family each June to take a trip to Tofino to kick off summer. Unlike previous years, we really chilled out this time and planned little other than our meals. It turned out to be one of our best vacations ever.
You get so few opportunities to go for dinner on a typical vacation (there are only so many nights after all), which is why I now plan and book ahead to make sure that each meal is the best possible experience. As a family of foodies, it’s something we really enjoy and look forward to. If you happen to have the chance to go to Tofino, I hope this shortlist helps make your decision making easier. Because it sucks when everyone is hangry trying to make the call on where to dine, right?
Our Family Guides to Tofino
Tofino holds a special place in our hearts, and years of visiting with our boys has woven core memories into their childhood that will forever be cherished. While it isn’t the easiest place to get to (8 hours of driving plus a 2 ½-hour ferry ride from Kelowna), it’s 100% worth the effort. Tofino is meditation in a destination. While words can’t describe it, I have written a few blogs to share what we have learned and experienced over the years:
- Our Tofino Guide: How to get there, where to stay and play!
- Tofino Family Vacation 2020
- Tofino Family Vacation 2019
Where to Stay in Tofino
We have stayed at a lot of places in Tofino over the years, and by far, our favourite is Pacific Sands Resort. Slam dunk.
This place is so perfect that you don’t even need to leave the resort (of course, you’ll want to check out Tofino, but you could park yourself here for a week and be happy). The rustic luxury resort nestled on the edge of Cox Bay features suites and beach houses with stunning panoramic ocean views and a soft sandy beach.
What is the Best Unit at Pacific Sands?
This is a trick question: they are ALL the best. No joke, the views are all fantastic. My favourite so far? Unit 24, which is a 3-story beach front unit with 2 fireplaces, a full kitchen, laundry, and a hot tub. They think of everything, from raincoats to a fully-stacked kitchen. The only thing I wish we had brought was a set of small speakers to listen to music with.
How to Make a Reservation in Tofino
If you are coming to Tofino during the summer months, you really need to make reservations. We have made the mistake of trying to wing it in the past, and it’s a crash and burn. The food scene is great, so make reservations far in advance to avoid FOMO. Most places used Tock for their reservation system.
7 Best Restaurants in Tofino
These are, at the time of writing this, our favourite restaurants in Tofino:
1. Jeju: This quaint Korean restaurant, tucked away in the heart of Tofino, blew us away the moment we stepped through the door. I can’t remember the last time I was as impressed at a restaurant. I ordered the ginger cocktail, and we almost tried everything on the menu: the kids loved it too! Try the Bulgolgi and splurge on the Galbi short ribs if that’s your kind of thing. The Mandu (dumplings) were also lovely.
2. Wolf in the Fog. Just top-notch. If you’re a fan of epic cocktails, this is your place. I love the creative presentation and unique twist to their drink menu (they had me at the rhubarb ribbon bow shown below), a claim to their fame. Order the Shrimp Rolls that are served on house-made garlic buns with a touch of tarragon and try the Thai Curry Ling Cod if they have it on the menu.
3. The Great Room at Long Beach Lodge: I highly recommend making the time to visit them for breakfast where you can take in the view of the surfers while enjoying delicious coffee and a meal. If they have the Mushroom Hash on the menu, it was a 10/10. If you’re looking for a nibble or a place to enjoy happy hour on a sunny day, look no further than their Sandbar restaurant located just off the beach: it’s a hidden gem.
4. The Shed: Think Cactus Club, but even more chill. We love coming here to sit outside on a sunny day where you can people watch and enjoy their fabulous casual dining menu. I love their Crispy Tofu. Grab an ice cream cone beside the building on the way out if you have a sweet tooth.
5. Surfside: Our buddy Jeff owns this take-out style restaurant located on the property of Pacific Sands, and we are big fans. The fish tacos and fish and chips rival the best we have had, and the seafood is as fresh as it gets. The best part is that you can enjoy your meal with a cold beer or paper glass of wine cozied up to one of the many fire pits surrounded by colourful Adirondack chairs. It’s casual dining at its finest, where you’ll find many of the guests still in salty wetsuits fresh from surfing. Oh, and they have killer breakfast sandwiches!
6. Basic Goodness Pizzeria: True Neopolitan-style pizza with a lovely back-story to the founder, we really loved our dining experience here. While I wish they had a few more wine options on the menu, the pizza was world-class.
7. Tacofino: No list of places to eat in Tofino would be complete without Tacofino. Line ups for this famous food truck are LONG in the summer: just be prepared.
If you are in the mood for fine dining, The Pointe Restaurant provides an elevated and sophisticated experience: I find it less kid-friendly for the record.
We also enjoyed our meal at Toki Doki, a Japanese food truck located right beside the Tofino Brewing Company (we rented bikes at Pacific Sands Tofino Bike Co and rode there). Roar is apparently worth checking out (in the Hotel Zed), as is Pluvio in Uclulet but we simply haven’t dined at either place yet.
How to Get a Ride in Tofino
If you’re visiting Tofino, download the Coastal Rides app first. It’s essentially Uber for the Island. There are cab companies too, but this was the most convenient way to get around.
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