Ovaltine Cafe - Vancouver

Good classic diner food. Grace, the owner is beautiful. Yes, you have to suck it, that there are really regrettable people on the street, but they don't have people. Prices are very reasonable. I had the Haus Burger and it was very good (and huge! . Others in our group also said that their food was good.

Classic Chinese immigrant cafe... going here is like a time machine that dates back to the 60s. Site of many TV shows and movies. Eating is nothing to write about or Instagram home. It is the old time nostalgia charm . current owner is a new immigrants from...Beijing China, who has committed to keeping the Chinatown vibe as long as possible. I come to practice my broken Chinese language skills with her often.

The Ovaltine Cafe is a luminous oasis in the sea of misery. The café is located on one of the worst blocks of Vancouver's East Hastings, since 1942 or so and retains original cabins and counters. Maybe you need to park some homeless people on site, but it's worth it. Nothing beautiful, a simple breakfast and sandwich/burger menu. I had horned beef hash and eggs to a reasonable $9.00 and returned the next day for a cheeseburger and onion rings $10.00. It was used as a location for several movies and TV shows. The owner is very pleasant and proud of her business. Also a chance to see some of the last remaining neons in this neighborhood. East Hastings is not for the weak heart.

Ovaltine Cafe is a trip back to time and I love the trip. Do not expect an extraordinary culinary experience here, but with the expectations in check-cafee and breakfast are just good. Service in my experience was always very good and I always type generous... to show my appreciation and since the regular clientele from this area do not have the money to splash around, I feel that someone working here could use a good tip. Over the years, the Ovaltine Cafe has been used as a set location for so many TV shows and movies. Recently I watched The Man at High Castle and they used the Ovaltine Cafe and The Smile Diner, another old guilt. It was tried to bring the cafe to the hipster area, but the ovaltine remains only the comfortable old self. I'd be very sad if it ever goes away. Don't let the street population throw you away. Many drug addicts and homeless people in the area/on the streets, but I have lived in the area for over 30 years and never had a problem. Just remember that this is the poorest part of the city and many levels of government have misunderstood the area, basically with decades of refusal and renewal and the creation of a ghetto by the concentration of social housing in the neighborhood.

I recall the Ovaltine Cafe being on Hastings Street since forever when the original owner Bill Wong could always be found beside the cash register. Way back when lunch typically consisted of veal cutlets (included was a bowl of homemade soup with a basket of...soda crackers). Today's repast was fish chips with a cup of hot java. The neighborhood then was in the tough part of town but I think today's Main Hastings is a lot seedier.