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Calabash Bistro, Vancouver, BC

Calabash Bistro

4.5
4.5
390 Reviews
CAN$30 and under
Caribbean

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 2 times today
  • Innovative
  • Romantic
  • Great for creative cocktails
The Calabash Bistro in Vancouver, serves up Caribbean cuisine in a creative and unique, environment. The atmosphere is inspiring and artistic, and the menu at Calabash Bistro is a unique combination of West Coast and West Indian flavors.

Start your meal off at Calabash Bistro with a serving of Jamaican patties or jerk wings, and maybe try a mango and goat cheese salad. But make sure to leave room for the main course. Entr�es and staples include oxtail, fried fish, a vegetarian platter and much more. You�ll also find a number of curries and jerked dishes.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    CAN$30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Caribbean, African, Canadian
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Thu 17:00–22:00 Fri, Sat 17:00–02:00
  • Phone number
    (604) 568-5882
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive Chef
    Cullin David
  • Catering
    Calabash can provide all types and sizes of catering, from food to bar to rentals. We can also take care of the music.
  • Private party facilities
    Calabash provides family style set menu's, Canapés, Buffets, live music and fully themed evenings.
  • Area
    Gastown
  • Cross Street
    Pender & Carrall
  • Parking details
    Street parking, public lot at Tinseltown.
  • Public transit
    Number 22 bus, Number 19 bus, Stadium Sky train.
  • Entertainment
    Calabash is a restaurant, with a licensed live music venue.The entertainment features live performances of reggae, hip-hop, funk, and poetry. Local artists are making Calabash an epicenter of the Vancouver music scene. There is a DJ spinning all evening. Music is essential to the Calabash experience where the island sound is bumping all day.The downstairs lounge area of Calabash hosts Foundation Radio, an online radio station that plays roots, reggae, jazz, blues, Motown and funk music. Calabash has created an intimate live venue that Vancouver needs.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Dancing, Delivery, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeaway, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 390 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5
4.5 based on all time ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.4Ambience
  • 3.2Value

NoiseEnergetic

390 Reviews
  1. Richard

    Vancouver

    8 reviews

    4.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on 1 December 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    The food is great there but they ran out of a few items and service was pretty slow tonight. I've been there before and kind of expect it. I love it there though.

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  2. Shelly-Ann

    Toronto

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on 24 November 2024

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 2
    I had to go to another restaurant to eat right after because I was starving after attempting to eat at this spot. Food was awful and seemed stale. Roti on the stacked roti felt like it was 2 days stale. Wings were flavourless and clearly unseasoned. It was a Saturday night and I was expecting a bit of a vibe. 10 mins in they shut off the music. I could hear everyone’s conversations. We had to ask them to turn it back on after it was off for a while. Best thing was the rum punch. Unless you’re going for drinks only I’d avoid this spot. It’s like no one from the Caribbean even works here. 👎🏾

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  3. Chanece

    Vancouver

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on 14 September 2024

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 2
    Food was not good at all. As a Caribbean person I will say the food was lacking spice and flavour. Music was vibes though

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  4. Martin

    VIP

    Vancouver

    2 reviews

    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 24 August 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    Ownership of the restaurant changed last year and the changes are substantial. Food and drinks are still good but nowhere near as good as under the previous owners. Service was abysmal. Our table got food all at different times. Entrees came before appetizers. Appetizers came before drinks. Unfortunately we won’t be returning.

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  5. HeidiH

    Vancouver

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 10 September 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our server was patient and fun, and we were a big, demanding group ;) Love the music and vibe of the dance floor - it’s energetic and inclusive, and seems to attract good folk e.g., I saw a guy bring a very drunk woman a glass of water and it warmed my heart.

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  6. Abar

    Vancouver

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 9 September 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My friends and I had such a great time at Calabash! The food was delicious - we shared the veggie curry (which comes with fragrant rice, a beautiful salad and plantains), a side of roti and the coconut dumplings with mango butter (to die for!). The spicy plantain margaritas were amazing - our server added a special touch for us, so that made us feel pretty special. The staff were all so kind. After we left, we went back for dancing later. They played great music and it was a wholesome, fun vibe. The place is highly secure. We felt very safe inside despite it being in the DTES area.

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  7. OpenTable Diner

    Vancouver

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 2 September 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is the best restaurant in Vancouver. The delicious oxtail positively reacts with your taste buds.

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  8. CarmenR

    Vancouver

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 27 August 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was very tasty and properly spiced; drinks were amazing. Service was friendly and welcoming. Vibe is very positive and energetic, definitely Caribbean vibrations.

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  9. Ally

    Vancouver

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 30 July 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Always the best evening out when I go for dinner and stay for dancing!

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  10. Porsha

    New York City

    5 reviews

    1.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on 30 July 2023

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    This was my second time visiting Calabash while in Vancouver and it was very disappointing. Cold food delivered to table. They expected us to pay full price for dessert items, but they had no ice cream due to not being able to keep it cool. Definitely not real Jamaican cuisine. Truly disappointing and a waste of money. Oh and the view were the homeless eating off the ground outside.

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FAQs

Calabash Bistro offers delivery in partnership with Skip The Dishes and Uber Eats. Calabash Bistro also offers takeaway which you can order by calling the restaurant at (604) 568-5882.

Calabash Bistro is rated 4.5 stars by 390 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 2 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Calabash Bistro

428 Carrall St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2J7

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Pender & Carrall
  • Area
    Gastown
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Thu 17:00–22:00 Fri, Sat 17:00–02:00
  • Price
    CAN$30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Caribbean, African, Canadian
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Street parking, public lot at Tinseltown.
  • Public transit
    Number 22 bus, Number 19 bus, Stadium Sky train.
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Cullin David
  • Entertainment
    Calabash is a restaurant, with a licensed live music venue.The entertainment features live performances of reggae, hip-hop, funk, and poetry. Local artists are making Calabash an epicenter of the Vancouver music scene. There is a DJ spinning all evening. Music is essential to the Calabash experience where the island sound is bumping all day.The downstairs lounge area of Calabash hosts Foundation Radio, an online radio station that plays roots, reggae, jazz, blues, Motown and funk music. Calabash has created an intimate live venue that Vancouver needs.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Dancing, Delivery, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeaway, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (604) 568-5882
  • Catering
    Calabash can provide all types and sizes of catering, from food to bar to rentals. We can also take care of the music.
  • Private party facilities
    Calabash provides family style set menu's, Canapés, Buffets, live music and fully themed evenings.
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