Diaspora Directory: Nigerians in Vancouver — Where to Eat, Shop, Worship & Connect.

Diaspora Directory: Nigerians in Vancouver — Where to Eat, Shop, Worship & Connect.

Your friendly, bookmark-worthy starter pack for food, faith, hair, community, jobs, transit, and more.

If you’ve just landed in Metro Vancouver (Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, New West) and you’re wondering “Where do I find Nigerian food? Who can braid my hair? .Where’s community?” this is for you. We’ve rounded up trusted, Nigerian-friendly (and broader African) places to make daily life easy from week one. Save it, share it, and add your own finds in the comments.

Tip: Greater Vancouver is spread out. Many Nigerian hubs (groceries, salons, churches) cluster around Surrey and East Vancouver. Plan for transit time and invest in a Compass Card early. Government of Br

Food & Groceries

Stock your pantry with Nigerian staples (garri, egusi, palm oil, suya spice):

  • African General Market (Vancouver – Kingsway) – Long-time African grocer; call ahead for hard-to-find items. africanamarket.ca • 3543 Kingsway, Vancouver. MapQuest 
  • African Breese (Kitsilano / North Van) – SA-leaning but carries many African staples; shop online or in-store. africanbreese.com • 3654 W 4th Ave, Vancouver; North Van location too. African Breese+2MapQuest+2 
  • African Superstore (Surrey – near Gateway SkyTrain) – Big selection of West African groceries. 10761 King George Blvd, Surrey. MapQuest 
  • Beauty 4 Ashes / African Market (Surrey) – Groceries, beauty & fashion under one roof. africanmarket.ca • 10671 King George Blvd, Surrey. africanmarket.ca+2YellowPages.ca+2 

Restaurants & Caterers

From suya to jollof—eat out or get trays for parties:

  • VanSuya (Vancouver) – Suya, jollof, shawarma, soups & fufu; order ahead. vansuya.com VanSuya 
  • Aboki Grill (Vancouver – takeout/delivery) – Jollof, grilled fish, meat pies, zobo—Afro-fusion comfort. nigeriancuisinevancouver.com+1 
  • Alebi African Cuisine (Delta/Surrey border) – Nigerian classics; easy to reach from Surrey. alebiafricancuisinebc.com • 8699 120 St, Delta. alebiafricancuisinebc.com 
  • Taste of Africa (Surrey) – Order ahead for homestyle plates. online menu (availability varies). tasteofafrica.zomi.menu 
  • GoLocal Catering (Vancouver) – Trays of jollof, moi-moi, egusi, ogbono for events. golocalcatering.ca GoLocal Catering+Takeout 

Note: Much of Vancouver’s African dining scene is Ethiopian/East African; still great for stews & injera when you need a quick fix. Check city roundups to explore. Vancouver Magazine

Hair, Braids & Barbers

Natural hair care pros who “get” your texture:

  • Mashia Braids (Vancouver/Surrey) – Knotless, cornrows, locs—book online/DM. mashiabraids.ca • @mashia_braids Mashia Braids+1 
  • Afro Hair Studio (Commercial Drive & Granville) – Products + installs; long-running salon. @afrohairstudio Instagram 
  • Mou Jam Beauty (Surrey – City Centre) – Cuts, braids, beauty services. moujambeauty.ca • #3-13634 104 Ave, Surrey. moujambeauty.ca
  • Africa Barber Shop (Surrey) – Classic fades and line-ups; late hours. africabarbershop.com • 13532 106 Ave, Surrey. Africa Barber Shop+1 

Faith & Fellowship

Find a spiritual home with strong Nigerian presence:

  • RCCG Rose of Sharon (Vancouver) – Active parish with downtown gatherings. rccgros.com • @rccg_rose_of_sharon rccgros.com+1
  • RCCG Glory Chapel / Ark of God (Surrey/Delta) – Multiple RCCG parishes across Metro Van. rccgcanada.org (parish directory) • @glorychapelsurrey rccgcanada.org+1
  • Al-Jamia Masjid (Vancouver) – BC’s historic first mosque; central location. info & history • 655 W 8th Ave, Vancouver. Pakistan-Canada Association+1 
  • Surrey Jamea Masjid (Surrey) – Large community hub with programs. surrey.thebcma.com • 12407 72 Ave, Surrey. surrey.thebcma.com+1 

Community & Culture

Plug into Black/African networks for business, art & belonging:

  • Nigerian Canadian Association of BC (NCABC) – Community, events, newcomer support. ncabc.org ncabc.org 
  • Black Business Association of BC (BBABC) – Workshops, trade & a Black business directory. blackbusinessbc.ca Black Business Association of BC 
  • Hogan’s Alley Society – Heart of Black Vancouver heritage & advocacy. hogansalleysociety.org Hogan's Alley Society 
  • African Descent Society BC – Hosts cultural festivals & programs. adsbc.org adsbc.org 
  • Nigerian Students’ Associations (UBC/SFU) – Campus community & mentorship. @ubcnsa • @sfunigerians (check Instagram for latest). ISSofBC+1 

Free or low-cost help to settle and find work:

  • ISSofBC – Employment, language, settlement services (multiple offices). issbc.org Vancouver Primary Care Network 
  • MOSAIC – Immigration & newcomer programs across Metro Van. mosaicbc.org WelcomeBC 
  • City of Vancouver – Newcomer Services – Local guides & referrals. vancouver.ca/people-programs/newcomer-services.aspx UBC Students 
  • WorkBC Centres (Midtown East/West) – Resume help, training funds, job leads. workbccentre-vancouvermidtown-east.ca • Midtown West. WorkBC Centre+1 

Daily Life (Transit, Library, Health)

  • Transit – Compass Card: Tap-in/out on bus, SkyTrain, SeaBus; buy/reload online or at stations. translink.ca/compass-card Government of British Columbia 
  • Library – Vancouver Public Library (Central): Free card (with ID/proof of address), study areas, newcomer resources. vpl.ca/librarycard • Central Branch: 350 W Georgia St. vpl.ca+1 
  • Healthcare – MSP: Apply for BC Medical Services Plan as soon as you’re eligible (waiting periods apply). gov.bc.ca/msp REACH Community Health Centre 
  • Utilities – BC Hydro (Electricity): Set up service before move-in to avoid delays. bchydro.com/moving Government of British Columbia
  • Driver’s Licence/ID – ICBC: Knowledge & road tests; exchange foreign licences where eligible. icbc.com/driver-licensing Vancouver Coastal Health 

Nightlife & Events (Afrobeats, Festivals)

  • Afrobeats in Vancouver – Parties & live shows pop up weekly—search by date. Eventbrite: “Afrobeats Vancouver” (filter by month). Eventbrite 
  • Summer Afro Music & Arts at The Shipyards (North Van) – Family-friendly music/dance market (seasonal). Local listings & festival pages. Lower Lonsdale – North Vancouver+1 

Money: Send without stress

Paying rent, supporting family, or splitting bills across borders? Paper keeps your transfers simple, secure, and transparent so you can focus on settling in, not on hidden fees. Send without stress. Download Paper to enjoy the best rates.

FAQ for new arrivals

  1. Where do Nigerians usually live?

Many newcomers start in Surrey (more space, many Nigerian/African shops) or East Vancouver/Burnaby (quicker access to Vancouver proper). Use transit time and your campus/office location to guide your search. (See transit & Compass Card tips above.) Government of British Columbia

  1. Can I find Nigerian ingredients easily?

Yes—start with African General Market (Vancouver), African Superstore/Beauty 4 Ashes (Surrey), and African Breese (kits/North Van + online). Call or DM stores for specific brands (e.g., Peak milk, Simi palm oil, fufu flours). African Breese+3MapQuest+3MapQuest+3

  1. Any go-to salons/barbers?

Mashia Braids, Afro Hair Studio, Mou Jam Beauty, Africa Barber Shop are popular picks—book ahead for weekends. Africa Barber Shop+3Mashia Braids+3Instagram+3

  1. Where can I meet community fast?

Follow NCABC, BBABC, Hogan’s Alley Society, and your campus NSA pages; say hi at events and volunteer—doors open quickly here. ISSofBC+3ncabc.org+3Black Business Association of BC+3

Read more