😋 What is happening in Victoria's food scene this week?

Good morning foodies, 

There’s some exciting news from the food scene this week. Today we are happy to share that Blue Nile African restaurant is reopening at the end of the month in a new location downtown. Dine Around & Stay in Town starts tonight with a gala and you can find special menus at participating restaurants starting tomorrow. 

With Lunar New Year coming up on Jan. 29, marking the beginning of the Year of the Snake, we thought it would be interesting to share a little bit more about the Best Chinese restaurants voted by readers. Make sure to check out the deals section at the bottom of today’s edition to learn more about a Victoria restaurant offering $8.88 ramen bowls that day. 

😍 5 spots to try right now

🌶 Salsa Gonzalez: A local small-batch condiment company specializing in hot sauce, pickles, preserves, and more. Shop online or find them at local stores.

🥐 Fol Epi: Organic pastries and bread in Vic West at 398 Harbour.

🥢 Sura Korean: Offering an authentic Korean BBQ experience where you can grill right at the table at 1696 Douglas.

🍜 Raku Ramen: Hand-crafted ramen from traditional Japanese techniques and a broth simmered for eight hours, this new spot brings a taste of Japan to the city.

🍳 The Village Restaurant: Neighbourhood brunch joint with locations in Estevan, Royal Oak, and Gordon Head.  

Know a great place we should add here? Reply back and let us know!

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Dine Around menus we are excited to check out this year

We have compiled a roundup of some exciting limited-time menus that you need to try during the event. From fine-dining experiences to award-winning restaurants, Dine Around and Stay in Town covers all the bases, including breakfast, brunch and lunch. 

Check them out.  

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FEATURED

Blue Nile East African Restaurant will reopen at the end of the month at a new downtown location

The beloved Blue Nile Restaurant is making its highly anticipated return. It closed its doors last June after its lease ended, following nearly 20 years of serving the Esquimalt community. Now, it’s set to reopen on Jan. 28 in its new location downtown.

Learn more about the new location.

SPONSORED BY DESTINATION GREATER VICTORIA AND THE BCRFA VICTORIA BRANCH

Dine Around and Stay in Town 2025 returns tomorrow!

That's right... Dine Around and Stay in Town Victoria spans January 24 - February 9!

This year is seeing the highest participation in Dine Around history, with nearly 60 participating restaurants and 100+ menus. For 17 days, eateries highlight their best dishes through three-course menus at deliciously low prices.

🗞️ News

Here are the Best Chinese Restaurants according to readers. 

Victoria’s Macaloney's Island Distillery wins Canadian Whisky of the Year at the 2025 Canadian Whisky Awards. 

Bimi Express Market had their grand opening last week. The shop specializes in providing fresh, express meals, and a variety of Asian snacks and groceries at 888 Fort St. 

Peckish Cafe in Fairfield expanded its location and now has indoor seating. 

Langford restaurant owner says he lost $30K in Uber Eats orders. The restaurant couldn't find sales deposits from the delivery service orders going back to April. After they got CTV involved, the delivery company conducted an investigation and it appears someone was fraudulently using a restaurant account and tried to change the banking info. [CTV]

Plan a trip to Vancouver this winter to explore the world of wine at the Vancouver International Wine Festival, February 22-March 2.*

*Sponsored Listing

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🗓️ Events

Dine Around Gala: Head over to Crystal Gardens tonight to kick off the event with a gala featuring mouthwatering bites and sips from over 50 local restaurants and beverage purveyors with live entertainment, socializing and fun. 

Trivia Night: Test your knowledge and grab a drink at Swift Beer every Tuesday. 

Open Mic Night: Visit Green Cuisine this Friday for a fun night of poetry reading, storytelling, acoustic music, and more. 

Vegan Buffet Dinner and Silent Auction: Enjoy a variety of delightful vegan dishes, including dessert, along with a silent auction featuring local gift baskets, gift cards, and more at MeeT on Blanshard this Saturday. Tickets are $60.

Cake Decoration Workshop: Visit Flourish BeauTea in Langford on Wednesday, Jan. 29 for a fun and creative evening learning new techniques, meeting fellow cake enthusiasts, and unleashing your inner artist. 

Wondering what else is happening in Victoria? We share a curated list of events (not just food ones) in our sister publication This Week in Vic every Tuesday. Sign up for free.

 💸 Deals

• $9.50 enchiladas at Adrianna’s Whole Enchilada from 11am-2pm, Wed.-Fri.

• Free ice cream at LailaLaila Hot Pot Restaurant with any meal purchase. 

• $8.88 bowls at Ghost Ramen on Jan. 29. (Tan tan ramen, miso tonkotsu ramen, and ghost pho ga)

• $10 small burrito + canned beverage at Mucho Burrito 

• 50% off chicken wings with purchase of any beverage at Stonehouse Pub on Wednesdays. 

🧑‍💻 Jobs

• Kitchen staff at Prima Strada

• Manager at Bard and Banker

• Cooks at Maiiz Nixtamal

• Restaurant manager at Lure 

• Assistant manager at Ramen Arashi 

📸 Post of the week

Mesa Familiar in Fernwood recently introduced a brunch menu on Saturdays and Sundays and it looks great! Pictured is the breakfast burrito with house-made chorizo, green sauce and tomatillo salsa on a 12’ flour tortilla. 

That’s it!

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