Metro Vancouver Restaurant News thread

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by giallo

I used to go to Paris Baguette in Seoul when I first moved there. It was close to my apartment, and I didn't know where else to go.

It's a super average coffee and cake chain that does well simply due to the fact that they are absolutely everywhere in South Korea. I wonder how it'll fair in Vancouver after the initial curiosity wears off. In my opinion, Tim Hortons is way better, as crazy as that sounds.

Well it's a franchise so whatever you experienced in Seoul probably won't mesh with what you see with the PB franchises in North America except for the look of their cakes.

[giallo]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Well it's a franchise so whatever you experienced in Seoul probably won't mesh with what you see with the PB franchises in North America except for the look of their cakes.

Maybe. The stuff they're planning to sell at PB Canada looks almost identical to what's being sold in the SK cafes, according to the PB Canada website.

https://parisbaguette.ca/menu/

It's typical East Asian chain coffee shop fare, which, admittedly, I'm not a fan of; plenty of savoury items that are super sweet.

[NewfBC]

Originally Posted by giallo

I used to go to Paris Baguette in Seoul when I first moved there. It was close to my apartment, and I didn't know where else to go.

It's a super average coffee and cake chain that does well simply due to the fact that they are absolutely everywhere in South Korea. I wonder how it'll fair in Vancouver after the initial curiosity wears off. In my opinion, Tim Hortons is way better, as crazy as that sounds.

Yup.. that definitely does sound crazy.

Maybe compared to a Tim Hortons in Dubai or big city China... but compared to a sketch Tim Hortons downtown Vancouver?

LOL

Ron.

[RedArbutus]

Chef behind St. Lawrence is opening a French restaurant called Chez Celine in the old Say Mercy space on Fraser St, slated for the spring.

https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/food-...staurant-chez-celine-fraser-2025-9995460

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by RedArbutus

Chef behind St. Lawrence is opening a French restaurant called Chez Celine in the old Say Mercy space on Fraser St, slated for the spring.

https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/food-...staurant-chez-celine-fraser-2025-9995460

Looking forward to that!

[NewfBC]

Popeyes on W Broadway between Laurel and Willow (in the same building with Tim's) is now open. That was fast! Though I guess they basically had to update the space.

Ron.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Well it's a franchise so whatever you experienced in Seoul probably won't mesh with what you see with the PB franchises in North America except for the look of their cakes.

I was just in Korea last month, there was a Paris Baquette next to where we stayed, I think we got a drink once and a cookie. It was nice, slightly cheaper than here. I went to the PB here in Coquitlam a few days ago around 8 pm and it was full but there was almost nothing available other than some cakes, the rest was sold out.

Bakeries in Korea are on a whole other level, many of them sell just one type of item and people line up for it. I think it was salt bread that we saw a huge lineup at. Salt bread was very popular and you could see it everywhere. Starbucks in Korea was also so much more impressive there, their baked goods were looking really good, they also sold way more merchandise, I got a lamp lol from Starbucks, it was a gift to me. Many of the locations are very big with two levels, drive-thrus, and always seemed to have people inside. We went to a special Paris Baquette on Jeju island that sold many items only available at that location, it is located next door to the largest Starbucks Reserve in Korea.

Salt bread

images.food52.com

I wanted to try this cake at PB

wimg.mk.co.kr/

the Starbucks lamp

kgifts.shop

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

I was just in Korea last month, there was a Paris Baquette next to where we stayed, I think we got a drink once and a cookie. It was nice, slightly cheaper than here. I went to the PB here in Coquitlam a few days ago around 8 pm and it was full but there was almost nothing available other than some cakes, the rest was sold out.

Get the salt bread at Maison Mori on North Road

[giallo]

I went to the PB on Alberni St. during the holiday (to satisfy my and my wife's curiosity), and the items were pretty similar to what I would have eaten between 2018-2021 in Seoul. I'm sure they've changed their menu in South Korea over the last few years, so who knows what they're selling now.

The savoury items were, as predicted, sweet. My curry chicken bread had more sugar than salt.

East Asian-style cafe baked goods are just not my thing.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by giallo

I went to the PB on Alberni St. during the holiday (to satisfy my and my wife's curiosity), and the items were pretty similar to what I would have eaten between 2018-2021 in Seoul. I'm sure they've changed their menu in South Korea over the last few years, so who knows what they're selling now.

The savoury items were, as predicted, sweet. My curry chicken bread had more sugar than salt.

East Asian-style cafe baked goods are just not my thing.

They're building a $167 million dollar factory in Texas to support demand in the US and potentially South America

https://www.wfaa.com/article/money/paris...287-6d51feaa-61ba-4597-be45-4f6e27de8a58

[giallo]

Not surprising, I guess. The prices are reasonable, and sugar sells!

I mean, East Asia consists of over a billion and a half people, and they seem to like it. I spent 20 years between Taiwan, Mainland China, HK and South Korea, and loved everything about the food, but the cafe-style baked goods never grew on me.

[SKYSTHELIMIT]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Get the salt bread at Maison Mori on North Road

They have some nice Salt Bread at Banette Co. at 536 Sixth St in New West as well.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by NewfBC

Popeyes on W Broadway between Laurel and Willow (in the same building with Tim's) is now open. That was fast! Though I guess they basically had to update the space.

Ron.

That was dormant for so long and then it looked like a pretty full scale gut. I guess not as much in the kitchen. It goes to show how fast things can happen if they need to. Can't wait to hit it for lunch.

[Spr0ckets]

Originally Posted by NewfBC

Popeyes on W Broadway between Laurel and Willow (in the same building with Tim's) is now open. That was fast! Though I guess they basically had to update the space.

Ron.

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

That was dormant for so long and then it looked like a pretty full scale gut. I guess not as much in the kitchen. It goes to show how fast things can happen if they need to. Can't wait to hit it for lunch.

I mean, it's a fast food joint replacing another fast food joint that was there before.
They probably use the same sort of systems (mechanical, plumbing, etc...) so there likely wasn't much to change over or build anew from the previous tenants.
Obviously they would install new appliances and refurbish the interiors - but given that this is Popeyes, and considering how sparse,...or "spartan" the interiors of some of their other locations (Granville in Downtown, Metrotown) are in terms of the kinds of decor they use, there likely wasn't that much work that went into those interior fittings either.
They tend to have a more minimalist approach to their interior fittings, but with more orange paint.

That should make it the 3rd or 4th fried chicken joint in that W Broadway area after Jollibee on Cambie,the Hi-Five a couple of blocks from this one, and I believe there's a Korean friend chicken place somewhere in that vicinity as well(?).

In any case, it's always great to have more options, and for the hospital and working crowd that will likely comprise most of their customers, this is a(nother) great addition.
Let's just hope the subway construction doesn't impact their starting foot traffice too much.
Only a couple more years to go until that's done.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Spr0ckets

That should make it the 3rd or 4th fried chicken joint in that W Broadway area after Jollibee on Cambie,the Hi-Five a couple of blocks from this one, and I believe there's a Korean friend chicken place somewhere in that vicinity as well(?).

In any case, it's always great to have more options, and for the hospital and working crowd that will likely comprise most of their customers, this is a(nother) great addition.
Let's just hope the subway construction doesn't impact their starting foot traffice too much.
Only a couple more years to go until that's done.

Chick-fil-A isn't far behind too.. currently in Alberta/Ontario

https://retail-insider.com/bulletin/2025...ng-2025-with-2-new-locations-in-ontario/

[MIPS]

TIL: If you buy a drink before last-call and take it slowly, the restaurant gets in trouble by the Booze Goons.

Vancouver restaurant fined $3K for booze service after hours

...

“The inspectors observed one table in the back of the service area, where two people were seated and appeared to be consuming beverages,” Poole said.

The three then entered.

Poole said the woman had a cocktail glass before her while the male had a beer.

A restaurant employee provided the inspectors with a receipt for the drinks timed at 2:11 a.m.

A notice of noncompliance was issued electronically to the licencee several hours later.

Poole said the licencee provided no submissions in the case.

“I therefore accept the branch evidence,” Poole said. “I find that the licensee had not removed the liquor from the table before 2:30 a.m. on June 2, 2024, which was half an hour after the end of liquor service as required by the licence. I find that liquor was still on the table at 2:42 a.m.”

The $3,000 fine was the minimum penalty, Poole said.
https://www.biv.com/news/economy-law-pol...k-for-booze-service-after-hours-10095013

What the hell is that???

[urbancanadian]

I'm surpsised you posted the article before whatnext got to it. Although he would have added a snarky comment about how hooligans can't control themselves and alcohol should be banned after dinner time. He's probably wetting his pants at the idea of a nightlife establishment getting shut down lol.

[giallo]

It's just so stupid. We have way more pressing issues in the city, and restaurants and bars are struggling enough as it is.

For a 'liberal' city, Vancouver sure is puritanical when it comes to beer, wine and spirits.


Vancouver city council 2025

[jollyburger]

I don't think COV has anything to do with it.

[giallo]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

I don't think COV has anything to do with it.

Doesn't the city get to set its hours of serving? I remember Vancouver experimenting with 3am, and even 4am serving times in the past (specifically on Granville).