Victoria Taste Buds

05/01/2026

If you’ve been thinking about going to Barnyard Wine Fair… this is your sign 🍷

On May 23, the Foyer at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre turns into a full-on natural wine playground. One ticket, full access, and a room packed with bottles you won’t usually find in BC.

You’ll be tasting your way through natural, organic, and low-intervention wines from across Canada and beyond, meeting the people behind them, discovering new favourites, and just enjoying a really good, high-energy afternoon.

✨ Expect:
– skin-contact whites, chillable reds + a few wild cards
– small producers doing things differently
– a social, lively atmosphere (this is not a quiet tasting 👀)

🎟️ Tickets are $75 all-in (wine, food samples, gratuities, taxes, everything included)

👉 Use code TASTEBUDS for $15 OFF your ticket
(a little something for my Taste Buds crew 🫶)

Optional add-on:
🍷 Drink Ontario Wine seminar ($35) for a deeper dive

📍 The Foyer at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
📅 May 23, 2026
⚠️ 19+ only, 2 pieces of ID required

Pro tip: eat before you go + plan your ride home!

Who are you bringing? 👇

05/01/2026

Did you know… 👀🍴

We're officially launching Taste Trails on Victoria Taste Buds!!

Think of them as self-guided food + drink routes you can follow around the city, whether you’re planning a day date, catching up with friends, or just want an excuse to try somewhere new.

Each trail will live on the Victoria Taste Buds website (so you can easily pull it up while you’re out exploring), and I’ll also be creating a Highlight Reel for each one so you can quickly see the stops + get a feel for the vibe before you go.

✨ We’re starting with:
🍩 Donut Trail
🌮 Taco Trail
☕ Latte Trail
🌾 Gluten-Free Trail

The goal is to make it super easy (and fun) to discover new spots around Victoria, without overthinking it. Just pick a trail and go 🍴

Now I need your help 👇
What other Taste Trails do you want to see??

Drop your ideas in the comments (bonus points if they’re a little unhinged or niche 😏)

04/18/2026

Did you know one of my go-to happy hours in Victoria also serves some of the best dumplings in town… and you can take them home? 👀🥟

Dumpling Drop is always a yes for me, whether I’m stopping in for a quick bite or fully committing to a dumpling feast (which happens often 😅).

Their menu hits every time 🔥
The Dumps: 5 deep-fried dumplings topped with housemade chili oil, cilantro, and crispy onions (chef’s kiss). Options like :
• Pork Belly
• Classic Vegan
• Weekly rotating specials (always something fun to try 👀)

And don’t skip the sides:
🥢 Rice + chili oil
🥒 Cucumber salad
🍗 Crispy chicken bao
🥬 Yuzu brussel sprouts ( my personal fave)
🍚 Mango sticky rice to finish

🍻 Drinks? They’ve got you covered.
Expect a mix of local and international beers to pair with your dumplings, plus non-alc options so everyone’s included. Whether you’re going for a casual pint or keeping it alcohol-free, there’s something to sip on.

✨ Happy Hour daily from 2–5PM
$12 beer + dumplings 🍺🥟
$14 wine + dumplings 🍷🥟

Also… your freezer is about to level up ⬇️
They’ve got frozen dumplings to go, hand-rolled fresh and frozen so you can cook them at home anytime:
• Pork Belly
• Classic Vegan
• Shrimp & Chive
• Lemongrass Chicken
• Spicy Ginger Beef
• Vegan Triple Mushroom
• Weekly Special

BUY THE CHILI OIL🔥 and don’t skip the Thai Tea Shaft 😍

What makes this spot even more special is the story ❤️
Dumpling Drop started as a way for Tarn and her mom, Toom, to spend time together after Toom lost her job due to Alzheimer’s. What began as Friday dumpling-making for comfort and connection grew through pop-ups and community love into the spot we know today.

And if you’ve met Tarn, you feel that. The care, the passion, and the commitment to community, inclusivity, and accessibility is at the heart of everything they do 🤍

👉🏼 dumplingdrop
📍 556A Pandora Ave
🕦 Open daily 11:30AM–8:00PM

Tag your dumpling crew🥢

04/14/2026

Howl Brewing OPENS THIS WEEK! 🍻
This independently owned nano brewery is all about small-batch, high-quality beer made with local BC ingredients, and their lineup is anything but ordinary.
They’re starting with limited hours Wed, Fri, Sat, so it’s the perfect time to check them out early and try something totally different...

Read More through the link below 👇

There’s a new (and very exciting) spot to add to your Esquimalt brewery rotation 👀🍺 Howl Brewing has officially opened

04/13/2026

I was just casually browsing at Cascadia Liquor 🍻
…and spotted something 👀

Something exciting is coming next week, and trust me, you’re going to want in on this!!

All I can say for now?
✨ It rewards you
✨ It helps you save money

(YES PLEASE!)

If you’re in-store, keep an eye out for the poster and scan the QR code to get early access 👀

👉 Make sure you’re following Cascadia Liquor
👉 Tap the link in their bio to sign up early

Because if you do… you’ll get a little bonus on launch day ✨

Stay tuned 👀



Please drink responsibly 🍻

04/10/2026

We recently stopped by Katsu + Co. and if you’re a fan of crispy, golden, perfectly cooked cutlets, you need to head there ASAP

What we tried:

🥩 Chateaubriand Katsu – insanely tender, rich, and one of the most elevated katsu dishes we’ve had in the city
🧀 Menchi Cheese Katsu – crispy outside, juicy inside, with that perfect cheesy centre
🧀 Cheese Katsu – simple, crunchy, and seriously satisfying

Plus, like traditional katsu spots in Japan, your meal comes with unlimited cabbage, rice, and miso soup 🙌

Next on our list:
🍛 Katsu Curry
🥪 Katsu Sandos

Because if the cutlets are this good… we already know those are going to slap

The vibe
This is the kind of place that feels perfect for Japanese cuisine lovers looking for:
✨ Cozy date nights
✨ Casual dinners with friends
✨ Solo comfort food moments

Everything feels intentional. Everything tastes like it was made with care.

Easy to get to
🚲 Bike-friendly
🚌 On major bus routes
🚶‍♀️ Walkable from downtown
🚗 Street parking + parkades nearby

Victoria is full of incredible restaurants, but places like this stand out because they feel personal. Like passion projects. Like community.

Small space. Big flavour. Crispy perfection.

📍 1005 Langley St, Victoria, BC

👉 Read the full review + see everything we ordered at the link in bio

03/04/2026

Victoria’s Biggest Non-Alcoholic Tasting Event Is Coming to Town

If you’ve been curious about the world of zero-proof drinks, this is the event you won’t want to miss.

Free Spirit Victoria is bringing a massive non-alcoholic wine, beer, and cocktail tasting to the city this spring, and it’s shaping up to be one of the most unique beverage events Victoria has seen.

Taking place Thursday, March 26 from 6:30–8:30 p.m. at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, the evening will showcase dozens of alcohol-free beverages from producers around the world, all under one roof.

If you’ve been curious about the world of zero-proof drinks, this is the event you won’t want to miss. Free

03/04/2026

We recently stopped by Katsu + Co. downtown and finally got the chance to try one of Victoria’s newest spots dedicated to Japanese katsu.

What we love about their approach is that the menu is intentionally small and focused. Instead of doing a bit of everything, they really lean into doing katsu well and it shows in the quality of the cutlets.

On our visit we tried a few different items:
🥩 Chateaubriand Katsu – incredibly tender and rich. It may look small on the plate, but it’s surprisingly filling and easily one of the most luxurious katsu options in the city.
🧀 Menchi Cheese Katsu – crispy on the outside, juicy inside, and packed with melty cheese. Comfort food in the best way.
🧀 Cheese Katsu – golden, crunchy, and seriously satisfying for cheese lovers.

Like many traditional katsu restaurants in Japan, the meal also comes with unlimited cabbage, rice, and miso soup, which makes the experience feel both hearty and authentic.

Next time we’re absolutely going back to try:
🍛 The Katsu Curry
🥪 The Katsu Sandos

👉 You can read the full review and see everything we ordered on the website.

https://victoriatastebuds.ca/2026/03/04/a-cozy-new-katsu-spot-bringing-big-flavour-to-downtown-victoria-%f0%9f%8d%b1/