Where to Eat and Celebrate During Steveston’s Spot Prawn Season
If you love fresh seafood, you probably know that spot prawn season is short. Steveston’s Spot Prawn and Seafood Celebration runs until June 14, 2026. It’s the perfect excuse to visit Richmond’s historic waterfront and enjoy the local catch.
How to Buy Off the Docks
Buying prawns directly from the boats at Fisherman’s Wharf is the classic Steveston experience. You can buy the live catch right from vendors like Prawns on the Spot, Steveston Spot Prawns and Seafood, Black Heart, and Judy N. Lines get long fast. Plan to arrive early and bring cash to speed up the line.
Celebrate Spot Prawn Day
If you want to make a whole day of it, aim for Saturday, June 6. That’s Spot Prawn Day, when the boardwalk between Fisherman’s Wharf and the Gulf of Georgia Cannery turns into a giant festival. Events run from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. You’ll find live music, circus acts, and a culinary stage where local chefs share their cooking secrets.
Families will find plenty to do at the Kids Zone. Artist Paula Nishikawara leads a session where you can try Gyotaku, a traditional Japanese method of printing ink designs using actual fish. You can also celebrate World Ocean Day at the Cannery with free museum admission and interactive booths. If you stay through Sunday, June 7, check out the book launch for Fish Tales: Cannery Community Cooking at the Cannery’s Boiler House Theatre.
Where to Dine Out
You don’t have to cook the prawns yourself to enjoy the harvest. Local restaurants are running a Dine About promotion until June 14 featuring special seafood dishes.
For a classic preparation, Blue Canoe offers spot prawns with Pernod, tarragon, and feta for $27.95, or a full pound of grilled prawns with a bottle of Pinot Gris for $99. If you prefer something warm and cozy, Steveston Built serves a rich spot prawn bisque finished with cream for $22. Catch Kitchen + Bar offers a sizzling skillet of prawns sautéed in butter, garlic, herbs, and white wine.
You can also explore different culinary styles across the neighbourhood. CHJ Bistro serves an authentic Taiwanese vermicelli dish with local prawns for $26. Little Mexico Cantina offers a fresh spot prawn ceviche with lime and mango for $20. Even the airport is joining in. Globe @ YVR serves grilled spot prawns with a tangy nam jim dressing topped with crushed peanuts for $28.
If you want to try other local seafood, Breakfast Table Steveston serves a smoked sablefish benedict with poached eggs and house-made béarnaise sauce. You can also grab a crispy Korean fish burger with snapper, gochujang, and kimchi mayo at O’Hare’s GastroPub for $24.99.
This local tradition only happens once a year, and those sweet spot prawns disappear fast. Plan a trip to Steveston before June 14 to grab a table or buy some fresh seafood straight from the docks. That easily solves your weekend dinner plans.
