Food trails are among the best ways to simultaneously get to know the restaurant scene in a destination, while also experiencing the local cuisine (including ingredients, cooking methods, and the people behind the food). The Surrey Spice Trail in Surrey, British Columbia takes all of that a step further by celebrating the many world cultures that come together in the city, creating a delicious melting pot locals and visitors can enjoy. Real Food Traveler partnered with Discover Surrey to bring you this article to help you plan your steps along the trail.
Save this article to Pinterest to help you plan your visit along the Surrey Spice Trail in British Columbia. Photos courtesy Discover Surrey. Graphic by RealFoodTraveler.com.
Hungry for more? Dive into the Louisiana Oyster Trail.
What to Know Before You Go on the Surrey Spice Trail
Surrey, British Columbia is known for its multicultural population and cuisine. To honor and celebrate both, Discover Surrey created the Surrey Spice Trail, providing diners with delicious ways to experience cuisine that’s local to Surrey – by way of the cuisine that’s local to the countries from which the restaurateurs have come!
“The Spice Trail for Surrey BC was launched in July 2021 after in-room dining restrictions were lifted due to Covid-19 with 30 partners. We just increased the partners to 76 in March 2022 which is about 10% of the restaurants in Surrey,” explains Ange Chew, Executive Director, Discover Surrey. “The trail is a diverse mix of local hole-in-the wall favourites to our high-end dining opportunities – cuisines range from Indian to Colombian to Ghanian, Korean, Afghani, Caribbean, Vietnamese, and more.”
Options from Afghan Kitchen on the Surrey Spice Trail. Photo by Ange Chew, courtesy Discover Surrey.
Here’s what you need to know to take it in and make the most of the Surrey Spice Trail.
Following the Trail:
More than 30 restaurants, cafes, and retail stores show off their specialties with a self-guided tour that makes its way through Surrey’s six neighborhoods, including North Surrey, Fleetwood, Guildford, Newton, South Surrey, and Cloverdale.
Within those neighborhoods, the tour is organized by ethnicity, dietary options, and culinary style. Some of the highlights you will experience include:
- Southern India – Kerala Kitchen: Beef Ularthiyathu (dry roast) and dosa (Indian style crepes)
- Northern India – Apna Chaat House: Golgappa and Sev puri (street snacks)
- Caribbean – Di Reggae Café: Jamaican patties and Oxtail stew
- Malaysian – Meks Delight: Thai red curry and Teh tarik (pulled tea)
- Nepalese – Spice of Nepal: Gorkha spinach chicken and Chicken momos jhol (dumplings)
- Afghani – Afghan Kitchen: Mantu (dumplings) and the lamb shank
Options from Huong Viet. Photo by Michel Chicoine.
Hungry for more? Follow the Olive Trail in Jordan.
How the Surrey Spice Trail works:
Start by visiting the Spice Trail website to plan your route and to read the blog post available for each restaurant which suggests which dishes to try at that spot.
Discover Surrey’s Ange Chew offers these suggestions: “In some of the neighbourhoods, like Newton, South Surrey, and North Surrey you are able to walk to a group of restaurants. In South Surrey, you are able to walk to the Afghan Kitchen, Curry Lounge, Woo Korean BBQ and My Shanti – all within a couple of the local upscale malls; in North Surrey, people are able to walk from the Central Surrey Skytrain station to the Dominion Bar + Kitchen in the Civic Hotel then head north to Union Latinos and the Stanley Market which are next to each other, then further north you can try Guacamole Mexican Grill the Taste of Africa and Doni Korean and a few more blocks north is Di Reggae and Shogun Sushi – this area is more gritty and a mix of local hole in the walls that offer take out only and dine in options; and in Newton – there are groupings but you will need to drive from location to location since this is spread out west to east.”
If diners are unsure where to go or what to order when they get there, one option is to join one of the two Chew on This Tasty Tours that are offered on the Spice Trail. The self-guided food tours handle the reservations, curating the menu, placing the food orders, and paying the tab at the end. Diners just show up at the appointed place and time as listed on their itinerary and enjoy.
When doing the self-guided tour, Chew recommends hitting up 3-4 restaurants in each of the six neighborhoods. Or pick 3-4 and expand your reach across all of Surrey, mixing things up between eating such as with an urban forest walk, a stop for some craft beer or local wine, or perhaps a walk along the beach!
You’ll find a wide variety of prices along the Surrey Spice Trail, from inexpensive to pricier. “It’s a mix of hole-in-the-walls, family-owned restaurants, and fine dining experiences,” says Chew. “So there’s something for everyone’s budget. You can order one dish or try a few – it’s up to you.”
If a visitor is going to be in Surrey for 4-7 days (or longer!), Chew recommends trying restaurants in each of the neighborhoods but, she says, Surrey also offers “west coast” dining experiences like fish & chips on the beach, local seafood, or craft beer at places not on the Trail. Those include Washington Ave. Grill, Cotto de Mare, Tap, Vault, Hawthorne Beer Market.
Chaska Indian Restaurant is also on the Surrey Spice Trail. Photo by Paris Spence-Lange.
Tips for making the most of the Surrey Spice Trail:
- Start by using The Spice Trail interactive map, filtering by neighborhood and type of cuisine. You’ll be able to contact the restaurants directly to book a table.
- To learn more about each restaurant, tap on its map pin to read blog-style descriptions of the restaurants and hear the story straight from the people who make the experiences unique. See photos of dishes, recommendations, tips.
- Chat with the owners and staff of each place to get to know them a bit because the people who create the food are all part of your culinary travel, Surrey Spice Trail experience!
- Share photos and impressions about each stop on social media which not only helps spread the word about the Trail but it also supports these small businesses, which is so important these days.
Hungry for more? Enjoy something sweet on the Moravian Cookie Trail.
Plan your trip to Surrey:
To learn more about the Surrey Spice Trail, visit the website, here. There, you’ll also be able to start planning your trip to Surrey, British Columbia, including other things to do and see (when you aren’t eating!).
RealFoodTraveler.com uses Expedia.com and Hotels.com to help plan trips. As members of their affiliate networks, we may receive a small commission for travel booked through our links to those sites. However, that doesn’t change your search or payment results or experiences in any way. It’s just a means to support the running of our site.
Keep this article about the Surrey Spice Trail handy on your Pinterest page so you don’t forget it. Photo courtesy Discover Surrey.
0 Comments