White Spot
Family of 4
$55-75 CAD (~$40-55 USD)
Duration
45 minutes to 1 hour
Best Ages
All ages
About
White Spot is a Vancouver institution that's been feeding families since 1928. It's not a fancy restaurant, and it doesn't try to be. What it is: a reliable, welcoming, family-friendly chain where kids eat happily and parents don't stress — and that's exactly why generations of BC families keep coming back.
The Pirate Pak is the main event for kids. Since the 1960s, White Spot's children's meal has been served in a cardboard pirate ship. Inside: Kennebec fries, creamy coleslaw, a choice of entree (burger, chicken strips, grilled cheese, mac and cheese, or fish), a soft drink, a scoop of premium ice cream, and a chocolate gold coin wrapped in foil.
Kids eat out of a pirate ship. There is no competitor for this level of kid meal theater, and the meal itself is genuinely decent food — not just reheated frozen nuggets.
For adults, White Spot is known for the Legendary Burger with their proprietary Triple O sauce, which has a devoted following. Milkshakes are thick and classic. The menu covers burgers, sandwiches, salads, pasta, and breakfast — something for everyone. Portions are generous and prices are reasonable for a sit-down restaurant.
The restaurants themselves are designed for families. Spacious booths contain squirming children. High chairs and booster seats are plentiful. Staff are experienced with the chaos that comes with feeding kids. The noise level is family-appropriate — you won't get dirty looks for a toddler having a moment.
With over 50 locations across British Columbia, there's almost always a White Spot near wherever you are in the Vancouver area. Popular locations for families include the ones on West Broadway (Kitsilano), Kingsway, and Marine Drive.
White Spot also hosts an annual Pirate Pak Day charity event where adults can order Pirate Paks, with proceeds going to the Zajac Ranch for Children — a fun family participation event.
For families visiting Vancouver, White Spot is the local equivalent of a hometown diner — unpretentious, affordable, and genuinely kid-focused. It's the restaurant your kids will remember and ask to go back to, entirely because of that pirate ship.
Age Suitability
Parent Logistics
Stroller-Friendly
Yes
Nursing / Changing
partial
Kid Meals
Available
Setting
Indoor
Rainy Day
Great option!
Plan Your Visit
Best Time to Visit
Anytime — White Spot is consistently family-friendly from breakfast through dinner. Weekend brunch is popular and may have short waits.
Wait Times
5-15 minutes on weekend evenings; walk-in friendly most times
Nearby Food
White Spot has 50+ locations across the Vancouver area, so alternatives depend on which location you visit. The Kitsilano location on West Broadway is surrounded by family restaurants, ice cream shops, and cafes.
Why Kids Love It
White Spot is Vancouver's homegrown family restaurant chain, and the Pirate Pak is the reason every BC kid has a loyalty to this place. The iconic kids' meal comes in a pirate ship-shaped cardboard boat, loaded with fries, coleslaw, their choice of entree (burger, chicken strips, grilled cheese, mac and cheese), a soft drink, a scoop of ice cream, and a chocolate gold coin. Kids literally eat out of a pirate ship.
It's been this way since the 1960s, and three generations of Vancouver families have grown up on Pirate Paks. Beyond the kids' meal, White Spot does reliable burgers, milkshakes, and comfort food — their 'Legendary' burger with Triple O sauce is a Vancouver staple. The restaurants are spacious, well-lit, with booths that contain small children, and staff who genuinely don't mind the noise.
Multiple locations mean there's always one nearby.
Pro Tips from Parents
- The Pirate Pak is the whole point — kids eat from a pirate ship boat
- Over 50 locations in BC, so there's always one near wherever you are
- The Triple O burger with their signature sauce is the adult move
- Breakfast is served at most locations and is great value
- Pirate Pak Day (annual charity event) is fun — adults can order Pirate Paks too
What to Bring
- Nothing special — it's a full-service restaurant
- A bib for toddlers tackling their first Pirate Pak
- An appetite for their famously generous portions
- The expectation that your kids will talk about the pirate ship for days
- Room for ice cream — it comes with the Pirate Pak
Cost Info
Estimated Cost (Family of 4)
$55-75 CAD (~$40-55 USD)
Tips to Save
- The Pirate Pak kids' meal is all-inclusive and fairly priced.
- Breakfast is the best-value meal.
- Multiple locations across Vancouver — pick the one nearest your activities.
- Milkshakes are shareable.