Metro Vancouver Restaurant News thread

[jollyburger]

Lucky Taco in the River District is for sale (opened 2024)

https://restaurantbusinessbroker.ca/rest...ct-crossing-vancouver-v5s-0e3.108464481/

[RedArbutus]

Gooseneck spread too thin between all the Bufalas. They have a habit of closing expansions down don't they? First Bells & Whistles on Dunbar, now this.

[kikin]

walked by the Asian restaurant being worked on on Seymour by Robson and the door was open and it looks big and fancy and getting relatively close to complete, looks like a complete redo of the interior was done. It feels like these projects in the area are in rush mode, perhaps to be open for the expected summer rush season.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by kikin

walked by the Asian restaurant being worked on on Seymour by Robson and the door was open and it looks big and fancy and getting relatively close to complete, looks like a complete redo of the interior was done. It feels like these projects in the area are in rush mode, perhaps to be open for the expected summer rush season.

Is that in the Capitol?
That was a really skinny awkward space when it was the deli.

******************

Toronto’s Basil Box to Shut Down All Locations by May 14

Toronto-based fast-casual chain Basil Box will shut down all of its remaining locations across Canada, with operations scheduled to cease by May 14, 2026, according to a company announcement issued on May 4.

https://retail-insider.com/retail-inside...ox-to-shut-down-all-locations-by-may-14/

[SpongeG]

Vancouver approves 6-month delivery robot pilot program
Robots already operating in cities like L.A., though opposition councillor and professor say guardrails needed
Akshay Kulkarni · CBC News · Posted: May 07, 2026



Vancouver councillors have voted to approve a six-month pilot program that would see food delivery robots on some neighbourhood sidewalks starting this fall.

Serve Robotics, a U.S.-based company, will run the program in the downtown and Kitsilano neighbourhoods — with the firm's robots already operating in U.S. cities like Los Angeles.

Those in favour of the robots say that they would reduce emissions, given they're electrically powered, and help the city embrace innovation and new technology.

An opposition councillor and a business professor, however, say there needs to be proper oversight of the robots — especially when it comes to their impact on pedestrians, existing delivery workers and people with disabilities.

...

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/delivery-robot-pilot-program-vancouver-9.7190729

[whatnext]

Why do we need robot food delivery in a “15 minute city”? Laughable how much food delivery you see in the downtown core.

[SpongeG]

Ranmen Danbo is opening on Main Street

Vancouver’s Top Japanese Ramen Chain Is Finally Opening on Main Street

https://nomsmagazine.com/new-ramen-danbo-main-street/

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Why do we need robot food delivery in a “15 minute city”? Laughable how much food delivery you see in the downtown core.

You can fight market force or just accept them. That's what "the customer is always right" means.

I'd take these robots over the average ubereats bozo on the sidewalk any day.

[kikin]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Why do we need robot food delivery in a “15 minute city”? Laughable how much food delivery you see in the downtown core.

lots of people live like hikikomori in the city, I often see a neighbor have food delivery dropped in front of his door and sitting there for a while so doesn't seem he wants to even be bothered to greet the delivery let alone actually go outside to get food

[SeymourDrake]

I hope these delivery Robots are a thousand pounds and fire proof.

[giallo]

They somehow work in SF and LA without getting completely destroyed, so there's hope, I suppose.

[Glow Fun City]

Originally Posted by giallo

They somehow work in SF and LA without getting completely destroyed, so there's hope, I suppose.

Robots taking away people’s employment doesn’t make me very hopeful.

[giallo]

Originally Posted by Glow Fun City

Robots taking away people’s employment doesn’t make me very hopeful.

There's that, too, but that's a global issue that isn't going away. Automation is, unfortunately, considered progress and good business. The shareholders love it. Just wait until self-driving vehicles obliterate employment in the shipping/transportation industry. That's around the corner.

[Glow Fun City]

Just what Cambie near Oakridge needs… one more bubble tea place! There is one right next to it and another across the street


Photo by me this morning

[jollyburger]

Not sure if it's new but the restaurant in the Royal Centre pavilion is a Moxie's

[SpongeG]

has anyone been to this place?

At this sleek Vancouver café and cocktail spot, a stylish nostalgia reigns
Jess Reno, founder of Nemesis Coffee, currently ranked Canada’s No. 1 coffee shop on the World’s Best Coffee Bars list, unveils his next move: Bam Bam

By Charlotte Boates
published 3 days ago



A new all-day café has sprung up in Vancouver’s downtown, with a space inspired by North American nostalgia. Behind the interiors is Vancouver-based McKinley Studios, who took inspiration from the 1990s – baseball clubhouses, early record shops, and varsity iconography – for the 2,800 square-foot space. McKinley Studios worked collaboratively on the interior design with owner Jess Reno, who previously founded the award-winning Nemesis Coffee (ranked the top coffee shop in Canada by the World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops 2026 list).

...

https://www.wallpaper.com/travel/restaurants/bam-bam-vancouver-canada-review

[kikin]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

has anyone been to this place?

...

huge article I looked over and still have no idea where it is located exactly other than the vague "downtown", did I miss the address somewhere in all that?

[kikin]

I noticed this very nice looking brand new restaurant on the corner of Pender and Richards so decided to give it a try and was really impressed.

I found out after that it is part of a popular chain across Canada.

The food was fast and outstanding and a good deal, the shwarma I got for $5 was super garlicky and full of flavour. The decor inside is clean and nice and bright and well designed.

The location is interesting, I think in the next 5 years this area is going to be better and better but for now it is a little in between things, but I guess they will also do really well with ubereats/doordash. I'll probably go out of my way a few blocks to pick up food there again.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by kikin

huge article I looked over and still have no idea where it is located exactly other than the vague "downtown", did I miss the address somewhere in all that?

It's in the Sandman underneath Moxie's/Shark Club.

It was packed when I went. Those huge silver chairs might look cool but take up a lot of space while not seating a lot of people. We got ours to go and sat outside on the adirondack chairs at The Post!

[SpongeG]

Dunkin is going to come back to Canada, I remember we had one store at Station Square, I think it was operated separately from the ones out east. I wonder if this re-entering will bring them to BC? They plan to have 600 locations, 200 of those in Quebec.

Dunkin’ Donuts coming back to Canada with hundreds of locations

By Adriana Fallico Global News
Posted May 12, 2026 9:55 am
Updated May 12, 2026

Foodtastic, one of Canada’s leading restaurant operators, announced it signed a master franchising agreement with Dunkin’ Donuts’ parent company, Inspire Brands, to expand across Canada on Tuesday.

Foodtastic will have “exclusive rights to develop the Dunkin’ brand nationally through both corporate and franchise-operated locations” under the new agreement.

Dunkin’ was a well-known brand in Quebec in the 1990s, but the restaurant chain declined and officially left the Canadian market in 2018.

https://globalnews.ca/news/11845123/dunkin-donuts-coming-back-to-canada/