1. Satay King
Satays
Burrard and Davie
Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays
Not even the exceptional peanut sauce could save my unevenly cooked chicken. Generous side portions of rice and salad became the main event.
Value: $6.50 for a skewer (chicken, pork or chicken shwarma), rice (brown rice at no extra cost) and salad.
Service: Extremely friendly but slow.
Walk-and-eat factor: Picnic table or desk required.
Take-away thought: A royal welcome and noble effort but the chicken wasn't fit for a king.
2. Panda Fresh Bakery
Stuffed croissants
Pacific and Drake
Hours: Weekdays: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; weekends: noon to 8 p.m.
The croissants, baked onsite, are the main event. The mashed potato and gravy stuffing, not so much. A far better filling is the Japanese Matcha Green Tea ice cream.
Value: Half-croissants are a bargain at $3. $5-$6 for full order.
Service: Snappy
Walk-and-eat factor: Careful nibbling while you stroll.
Take-away thought: Sweet deal for a sweet treat.
3. Poke'm
Beef, chicken, fish, tofu balls
Robson and Hornby
Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. in good weather
Delectable sauces - the Vietnamese peanut sauce is a standout - smother meat, chicken and fish balls that leave much to be desired, in texture and taste.
Value: $3.75 for four large or six small balls with sauce; $7 for two sets of balls.
Service: Fast and friendly.
Walk-and-eat factor: The toothpick-like utensil makes it easy to walk and munch.
Take-away thought: Great sauce; shame about the balls.
4. Roaming Dragon
Asian cuisine
West Georgia and Burrard
Hours: 11:30 am to 3 p.m. Mon.-Fri., Sat. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Trout Lake farmers' market)l; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Kitsilano farmers' market)
The Korean short-rib tacos are a knockout entry. Duck confit salad a delight, too.
Value: Great taste costs - $15 for three items, or $6 each.
Service: Wireless payment makes for sizzling service.
Walk-and-eat factor: Take your chopsticks to your desk.
Take-away thought: No value meals here, but lots of taste.
5. The (Re-Up) BBQ
Southern BBQ
West Georgia and Hornby
Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mon.-Fri.
Is pork addictive? Yep, if it's this delectable pulled-pork sandwich, with crunchy coleslaw and delightfully vinegary handmade BBQ sauce.
Value: $9 for a sandwich, and homemade iced tea.
Service: Efficient, and needs to be with big lineups.
Walk-and-eat factor: Stroll, if you're unafraid of drips.
Take-away thought: The songbook is limited to just one option, but the tune is sublime.
6. Kimono Kei Crepes
Sweet and savoury crepes
Granville and West Georgia
Hours: Noon to 8 p.m., Mon.-Sat.
Savoury crepes are disappointingly slight (tuna, sausage, lettuce and a drizzle of mustard) but the sweet entries are a great sugar high - try the strawberry cheesecake.
Value: $6.75 for a crepe, a light meal.
Service: Slow, with cook-to-order crepes.
Walk-and-eat factor: Walk, or even run … paper wrapping protects all.
Take-away thought: Save the savoury and go for the sweet spot.
7. Licious Living
Healthy Food
Granville and Georgia
Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Fri.
Sandwiches feature high-quality, if somewhat skimpy, ingredients such as real, not processed, chicken and cheddar. Veggie toppings include peppers and caramelized onions. Baked goods and smoothies (go for Very Berry) too.
Value: $10 for a sandwich/smoothie combo.
Service: Very fast (everything's pre-packaged) and over-the-top friendly.
Walk-and-eat factor: A not-brimming sandwich makes for great portability.
Take-away thought: Watching your waistline? The wrappers provide a calorie count.
8. Ragazzi Pizza Co.
Pizza
Burrard and Pender
Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; phone orders as of 9 a.m. (604-377-9797)
Thin-crust pizza packed with fresh toppings, baked just right on-site in the truck.
Value: $3 for a slice or $6.71 (including tax) for two slices and a drink; 17-inch pizzas from $15.45-$22.45.
Service: Warming up your slice takes about five minutes.
Walk-and-eat factor: The closed boxes are a tad awkward but keep the pizza warm.
Take-away thought: My new favourite lunch spot.
9. Chinese Skewer King
Grilled skewers
Burrard and West Hastings
Hours: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Mon.-Fri.
This is street food in its purest form: grilled, spicy and on a stick. Pork skewers are a highlight, if only because the veggie version is rarely on offer.
Value: $5.50 for two skewers, bread and a pop, but upsize if you're hungry.
Service: One-person operation, long wait.
Walk-and-eat factor: One hand on a stick does the trick.
Take-away thought: Great snack, insubstantial meal.
10. Dim Sum Express
Dim sum, noodles
Near Canada Place
Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Mon.-Sat.
Great dim sum means variety, and sampling fun; neither is on offer here. A limited menu is executed tolerably well - pork dumplings are a highlight. Noodles are not.
Value: $6.99 for a combo, but light on veggies.
Service: Warmed dumplings make for express service.
Walk-and-eat factor: Find a bench, and a table.
Take-away thought: Dim sum devotees will be disappointed.
11. Lemon Sea
Lemonade and crepes
Beach and Chilco
Hours: Noon to 7 p.m. in nice weather.
Savoury crepes are anything but: a slice of processed cheese, iceberg lettuce, ham or canned tuna and way too much mayo. Sweet crepes drown in canned whipped cream. They squeeze in some real lemon juice, but the lemonade tastes store-bought.
Value: Crepes $4-$5.75; Lemonade $3-$6.
Service: Extremely slow.
Walk-and-eat factor: Bring a bib.
Take-away thought: Skip the crepes, and savour the view instead.