4 Specialty Waffle Shops in Vancouver — Which One to Try, Liège-Style or Brussels-Style?

Text and photos by /Papa Seahorse

Waffle, a type of griddle cake made from a batter of flour, eggs, milk, and sugar, and then baked between two iron plates to create its signature crispy grid pattern. It originated in France in the 10th century, spread to the Netherlands, and eventually flourished in Belgium.

Since it was popularized in Belgium, the two major types of waffles carry distinctly Belgian names: Brussels-style and Liège-style. The former is larger in size with a crisp texture, while the latter has a denser body, is smaller, and exudes the aroma of vanilla and caramel, making it a favorite among food connoisseurs. Whether crispy or dense, both are deeply grid-patterned, elegantly curved, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, bursting with milky flavor.

Beyond these two Belgian-style waffles, different countries have developed their own variations. Toppings come in countless varieties, offering a spectrum of flavors—even incorporating vegetables and meats for more diverse taste experiences. Over the decades, waffles have evolved from a breakfast staple into a trendy sweet snack. In Europe and North America, you can enjoy a waffle breakfast at upscale restaurants, or grab a steaming, generously filled waffle as a light meal or coffee pairing at dessert shops, kiosks, or food trucks in malls.

Vancouverites are also big fans of waffles, and it’s rare to find a waffle shop without a line. Let Papa Seahorse take you to a few local eateries famous for their waffles and introduce their special offerings.

Cafe Medina

This top breakfast spot in Vancouver, even on weekdays, requires a wait of 40 to 50 minutes just to get a seat. Liège-style waffles sit temptingly in the glass display case by the entrance, golden-brown and mouthwatering for those waiting in line.

When your waffle arrives on a porcelain plate, the presentation is surprisingly simple—just a light dusting of powdered sugar and a small side of dipping sauces. Eleven flavors including Chocolate Lavender, Cranberry Caramel, Yogurt, and Pistachio Dark Chocolate... you’ll want to try them all.

The slightly crispy yet elastic waffle dipped in sea salt caramel blends milky sweetness with varying degrees of salty and sweet flavors, making you forget the long wait—and the not-so-cheap price (CAD $3.5 per waffle, $1 per sauce), which definitely takes a bite out of your wallet.

Address: 780 Richards Street, Vancouver
Website: http://www.medinacafe.com

Patisserie Lebeau

Unless you know where to look, you’d be hard-pressed to find this waffle shop nestled among luxury car showrooms, with an exterior that looks like a factory. Owner Oliver Lebeau, born and raised in Belgium, has run his Vancouver waffle shop for 14 years and is considered a pioneer of the city’s waffle culture.

The shop mainly serves Liège-style waffles. But what it’s most famous for is its holiday waffle special—a Brussels-style waffle used as bread, stuffed with chicken, ham, tuna, cheese, and more, turning it into a waffle sandwich. This innovation was unique in Vancouver at the time, soon imitated by other waffle joints, and ultimately elevated waffles to more complex culinary levels.

Address: 1728 West 2nd Avenue, Vancouver
Website: http://www.grababetterwaffle.com

Nero Belgian Waffle Bar (Click here for the full food review)

Who or what is Nero? None other than Emperor Nero himself. Once a tyrant infamous for burning cities and massacres, he’s now reincarnated as a popular waffle shop in downtown Vancouver. The space is tiny, with only four cramped tables. But don’t let the size fool you—the food is anything but. With both Belgian-style waffles on offer, whichever one you choose, the moment it’s served, the visual surprise is as striking as seeing Emperor Nero himself.

Fruity is covered with strawberries, kiwi, and blueberries until the waffle itself is barely visible; Mocha features a scoop of vanilla ice cream atop the waffle, two espresso-flavored whipped cream balls, all brushed with thin 60% chocolate sauce. Tonyn’s waffle is piled high with tuna salad, garnished with boiled egg and green onions; Heaven lives up to its name with a Liège-style waffle layered thickly with strawberry slices, topped with a magically piped dollop of whipped cream. This is a visual waffle art gallery—anyone who’s been there would agree.

Address: 1703 Robson Street, Vancouver
Website: http://www.nerowaffles.ca

Miura Waffle Milk Bar (Click here for the full food review)

You can probably guess the owner’s nationality from the restaurant’s name. That’s right, young and handsome chef Dennis Miura is a Japanese-Canadian who has always loved waffles. To realize his dream of opening a waffle shop, he blended Eastern ingredients to create many surprisingly delicious flavors.

These waffle sandwiches have names with strong Japanese flair: “Sando” actually comes from the Japanese loanword for “sandwich,” pronounced in a Kansai dialect as サンドウィッチ (Sandowicchi).

Sweet lovers shouldn’t miss this shop’s unique creation: Teri-Vani Sando. A soft, warm waffle is filled with vanilla ice cream coated in whipped cream, drizzled with Japanese teriyaki sauce—sweet, salty, and irresistibly charming.

The savory options are equally exciting: Wasabi Salmon and Garlic Chicken are already rising stars in the waffle world. And if those still don’t wow your taste buds, try HOISIN (hoisin pork sausage, cilantro, pickled radish & carrot) or the shop’s signature BULGOGI (beef, egg sauce, kimchi & bulgogi sauce). The former is pork marinated in hoisin sauce with tangy-sweet pickles reminiscent of Taiwanese-style kimchi, refreshing and crunchy; the latter is Korean BBQ beef with kimchi, fully capturing the bold flavors of Korea.

Address: 2521 Main Street, Vancouver
Website: http://www.miurawafflemilkbar.ca

Egg Waffle — Hong Kong style waffle

Also known as “egg waffle,” it’s a Hong Kong invention popular in cha chaan tengs and dessert stalls in malls. Still baked with an iron mold, it ditches the European grid pattern for a continuous, oval-shaped waffle resembling a cluster of quail eggs. Eaten by peeling off each piece by hand, it adds an extra layer of fun.

In fact, Taiwan has long had its own waffle culture too—the smell of egg puffs wafts from street vendors’ stalls and can be detected from five or six meters away. Even after a full meal, it’s hard not to stop for a freshly baked, hot, milky, crispy-soft puff to enjoy on the go.

How long has it been since you last had a waffle?

Papa Seahorse
A Gemini man born under the air sign, he worked as a senior marketing and PR executive for multinational corporations before the age of 45. After turning 45, he moved to Canada. Now, he plays the role of a father to two teenage sons amid the foreign springs of cherry blossoms, summers of sunshine, autumns of red leaves, and winters of rain and snow, while documenting his life and observations in Vancouver.
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