Map: Where to find Taste of the Tri-Cities festival eateries

On the heels of the Dine Out Vancouver and Greater Vancouver Hot Chocolate festivals comes a Tri-City-only food and drink feast.

Starting today, Feb. 16, and running for a month, residents and visitors to Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody can choose 76 local eateries to get deals and set menus on unique fare and beverages.

Organized by the Tri-Local Collective, the 2024 Taste of the Tri-Cities festival features 40 eateries new to the campaign, including big names like The Boathouse Port Moody and Cactus Club's two Coquitlam locations (see map and list of businesses below).

Also new to the line-up is Haan Korean BBQ in Coquitlam (780-3025 Lougheed Hwy.) whose owner, Keith Hong, took part in the Dine Out Vancouver Festival when he had a Yaletown restaurant about a decade ago.

For Taste of the Tri-Cities, he’s offering a $70 set menu that includes meat, rice and soup options for festival diners, until March 10.

"[The fest] helps us because January and February are the slow months,” Hong said. “It’s good to get more people through the doors.”

Created in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a $70,000 federal grant, Tri-Local began with a handful of eateries; the festival paused the following year, but returned in 2023 with 50 businesses to promote.

Now, for its third year, “it’s our best yet,” said Chloe Wan, the director of strategy for the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce, which is part of Tri-Local with:

Tri-City News
Tourism Coquitlam
City of Port Coquitlam
City of Port Moody
Austin Heights BIA
Downtown Port Coquitlam BIA

Wan said the Taste of the Tri-Cities festival is a great way for customers to sample multi-cultural cuisines that are new to them, as well as to bring awareness to the many restaurant choices available in the region.

And the festival is also good way to get out with the family, Hong said, as many meals can be made less spicy or without marinade, for example.

Wan encouraged festival-goers to follow the @trilocalnow handle on the Instagram social media platform to check out upcoming giveaways.

“Tourism Coquitlam and the City of Coquitlam are proud partners in the Taste of the Tri Cities and love the partnership of Tri-Local participants coming together to give our small businesses a much-needed promotional boost,” Eric Kalnins, Coquitlam’s manager of economic development, told the Tri-City News.

“Small businesses such as restaurants, cafés and breweries are at the heart of our local economy and reflect our cultural diversity in their cuisine and offerings. We encourage everyone to check out our local businesses and invite your friends and family to the Taste of the Tri-Cities.”

Jennifer McKinnon, executive director of the Downtown PoCo BIA, said the festival is a great initiative to be a part of.

“The Taste of the Tri-Cities promotes the local food and restaurant industry, boosts tourism and economic growth and encourages residents to explore and support their own community,” she said.

Added Lisa Landry, CEO of the Austin Heights BIA: "The Austin Heights BIA is thrilled to be a partner of the 2024 Taste of the Tri-Cities. This scrumptious event is a wonderful opportunity to support and showcase the unique and diverse group of restaurants, pubs and cafes throughout the Tri-Cities. We invite everyone to treat themselves — and their taste buds — and enjoy this delicious culinary experience."