Ok, Vancouver has a wonderful selection of food from around the world.  But we all know there are some things we just can't find here that we wish we could.  

What are the types of cuisine/specific food that you wish you could find in Vancouver?

Perhaps if we are lucky some inspired foodie will open a spot to serve up our desires!

To start, I'd love to find:

1)  Chicago style deep dish stuffed pizza along the lines of this:  yelp.com/biz_photos/JsqK…

2)  Texas style BBQ like this:  yelp.com/biz_photos/qLJU… and yelp.com/biz_photos/qLJU… and yelp.com/biz_photos/qLJU…

3)  NY deli sandwiches like this:  roadfood.com/photos/1379… and roadfood.com/photos/7147…

4)  Kalbi prepared over charcoal like this:  bp2.blogger.com/_JyI4qhR…

What about you?

Fried clams & Lobster Rolls like we had here:    theclamshack.net

Oh wow. Amazing pictures of the Chicago pizza. Mmmmmm

I know I have something to add to this thread, I am just way to hungry this second to think properly.

@Christine - Fried clams and lobster rolls would be great!  I remember having fried clam sandwiches as a kid and loving them!

1. A Swedish restaurant. When I asked a local Swede where to find a Swedish restaurant, she said New York :(
2. Mexican food that I used to take for granted in California. I know that some will find that statement annoying, but you asked :)

@Nadine - I guess Bianco Nero closed a long time ago for Swedish food, eh?  I had heard about it being pretty good way back when.  I don't know what happened to chef Gildo Casadei though - perhaps still around someplace else?  But you can find a bunch of Swedish products around town at places like Dovre (yelp.ca/biz/dovre-import…), Jolly Foods (yelp.ca/biz/jolly-meats-…), and of course you know about Halso (yelp.ca/biz/halso-kondit…).  I guess there is always IKEA as well?!?!?  But yes, we could use a proper place for kldolmar, köttsoppa, and raggmunk. I would have to skip lutfisk though!  

And yes, I'd love to have Mexican food like you took for granted in California too!

Strange that I just stumbled across this post while planning an upcoming trip to Vancouver... and you posted pictures of Salt Lick BBQ! I live about 30 mins away from there, if you want me to bring you some when I visit Canada in September. ;)
But I do believe you can mail order from the Salt Lick website, if you are craving it that badly.

Really kind offer, Chelsea!  Just a bit afraid it won't travel so well through customs!

Marc, as always, you are a wealth of information. I am fairly new to Vancouver so I am not familiar with Bianco Nero. I've bookmarked Dovre & Jolly Foods though so thanks for that. Will have to check them out. Don't blame Lutefisk on the Swedes. I think that dish is the fault of the Norwegians!

I wish there were more authentic West Indian or Jamaican Currie Roti. Like "Blue Water" in Toronto. I drool on the key board just thinking of it.

@Nadine - Hope you find some things you are craving!  Warning about Dovre though - it is mostly wholesale so consider it kind of like going to Costco - things come in big cases mostly.

@Roanna - I've got a spot on my list of places to try that I haven't tried yet that is supposed to have good Jamaican food.  It is called Jamaican Pizza Jerk:  yelp.ca/biz/jamaican-piz…  They supposedly have good roti on Thursdays and do a curry goat on Tuesdays and Fridays and oxtail on Wednesday and Saturday.  I have been meaning to try it for a while.  Have you tried it?  I'd be curious how it is?!?!?!

I sorely miss breakfast tacos, bbq, southern comfort food, chips and queso (NOT nachos), and rice pudding.

Marc, I know you know you've told me to give up on my Mexican cravings until I got home, but I'm a glutton for punishment. I miss it a lot!

Mmmm, getting hungry!

1.  Deep dish pizza is a good one - love those pics too!  My hubby would be thrilled if we could find one.  We have found some decent ones in Edmonton and San Fran, which is a little closer than Chicago anyway :)

2.  A really good steakhouse like CUT in Vegas or Beverly Hills  yelp.com/biz/cut-las-veg…
I have yet to find a great one in GVR.

3.  Basic pita gyros like you buy off the stands or in casual restos in Greece - mmmmm!  They're so good and only like a Euro each with yummy pork, onions and fries.

4.  Montreal style bagels and smoked meat sandwiches like Schwartz's yelp.ca/biz/schwartzs-mo… (God I miss this place but meat doesn't travel well).  Anyone who visits me from Montreal knows that my door is open if they come bearing Montreal style poppy seed bagels :)

hmmm. @Mark D.
Will check it out tonight!

@Tee - you'll be back there soon.  Don't worry!  The breakfast tacos, bbq, southern comfort food, and queso might be good to wait for.  Rice pudding you can find here though.  I know I've seen it at some of the Greek places on Broadway - although can't remember which ones......Maybe someone else can help with that craving?  

@Katie - That deep dish photo is actually of a place in Oakland, CA called Zachary's:  yelp.com/biz/zacharys-ch… Perhaps that is the place you've visited in the Bay Area?  I haven't tried many of the steakhouses here in Vancouver.  I've been to Morton's and it is the same as it is in most cities.  Many people recommend Hy's (yelp.ca/biz/encore-hys-v…).  Have you tried it?  I haven't been there yet.  It definitely isn't Greece, but the fast food version of Gyro's at Opa (yelp.ca/biz/opa-souvlaki…) is actually not too bad.  Have you tried it?  For Montreal bagels the closest thing I've found is Siegel's (yelp.ca/biz/siegels-bage…).  Be sure to go to the one on Cornwall though as the one in Granville Market just doesn't taste the same.  Haven't found a NY bagel anyplace though sadly! Oh, and for smoked meat the two that are decent are Zako's (yelp.ca/biz/zakos-deli-v…) and PHAT (yelp.ca/biz/phat-pretty-…).  Again it isn't exactly like Montreal - but they are close.  Have you tried either?

@Roanna - Can't wait to hear how it is!!!!!!

Wow! I can't believe how hungry and travel buggin' I'm getting with all of these suggestions!
@ Marc - I'm going to try the Gyro's at Opa and hope that they take me back to Athens!
-NY Bagels ...piled high with cream cheese
-Lime Soup
-Tapas, of the free variety that you get in Southern Spain when you order a beer -oh gambas, gambas!
-the "to-go" sushi in Melbourne with a pasty mix of wasabi and soy that lets you walk and eat at the same time
-Not on a day like today - but mulled wine in Prague
-a lemon crepe...wow, I think I need to start filling my piggy bank for a Europe excursion!

@Crystal - Don't get your hopes set too high for Opa.  It is fast food.  It won't take you back to Athens!  But their gyro is decent and hits the spot.  Your other cravings all sound delicious!  

Do you mean the lime soup like in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico?  Or a different type of lime soup?  

For the lemon crepe do you mean the kind with powdered sugar and lemon juice/zest?  As I recall La Bretagne offers those:  yelp.ca/biz/la-bretagne-…

In terms of the to-go sushi if Michi (yelp.ca/biz/michi-sushi-…) would just get its act together and provide fresh product it would fill the bill!  I know you've been there and had a similarly negative reaction to it as mine though.....It would be lovely to have those types they have in Australia and also all over Japan in the basement of department stores!

The only thing I miss regularly is Garlic and Cheese chips in Ireland. best thing to get in a chipper ever. Also curry chips. Oh I'm talking fries :)

There are many other Euro foods I miss... but mostly my chips. A craving (and a bad pint of Guinness) has already sent me back to Dublin once.

Thanks for the suggestions Marc - I'm pretty sure I've been to Opa before but will have to check out the gyros... hubby will thank you if it's anything close!

I will def check out the others you listed for smoked meat and bagels.  Hmmm, the steak is pretty much a lost cause.  I've been to Mortons, Gotham, Hys and a number of the other "good" steak places like Ruth's Chris and really nothing came close.  Hmmm, yelp road trip perhaps?!