Metro Vancouver Restaurant News thread

[spm2013]

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[logan5]

Originally Posted by spm2013

Saw two more KFCs (Kingsway, East Broadway) buildings up for sale. Will probably be another defunct chain in Vancouver.

That leaves only Church's for Mt. Pleasant. Church's is kinda gross. We need a Nando's or something.

[memememe76]

There's fried chicken at Duffin's Donuts!

ETA: Nando's does fried chicken? I thought it was more bbq/rotisserie.

[djh]

Weird, eh. Quiznos is so much better than Subway, yet they're disappearing and Subway is booming.

KFC is dying off, yes please replace it with a Nando's. That would be a whole new level of fast food restaurant for Mount Pleasant. Much needed.

[giallo]

KFC is disgusting, and deserves to die. Don't get me wrong, the chicken tastes ok, but I would always feel like absolute crap after eating it. The state they usually have their restaurants in is probably one of the reasons why I would feel that way. It used to be huge in Shanghai when I first moved here, but now that better options have become available for western food, KFCs are starting to shut down in SH too.

It's too bad about a lack of fried chicken options in Vancouver. I can't say I eat it much at all, but when it's done right, it's magnificent.

[Klazu]

Hehe, I feel exactly like you about KFC, giallo. Nowadays I go to KFC only few times a year and always wonder why did I gave it another try.

I haven't tried Church's and didn't know that they used to be old KFC locations. I probably should give them a try, although somehow their restaurants look to me cheap and not very inviting.

I have tried Nando's a couple of times while in Asia, but I keep forgetting that there are a few in Vancouver. Actually there is one even in Downtown and not very far from me on Davie Street. I should probable give it a visit some day to refresh my memories...

[theKB]

I think Belcham and co. should open a friend chicken and burger stand and truly revive those two amazing things from Refuel! Nothing fancy, just a quick service joint!

(I wouldn't be opposed if they had a bone marrow option as well, it was a great workout for the arteries)

[spm2013]

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[Pinion]

I used to go to Nandos all the time but they jacked up their prices to close to regular restaurant levels. The one on Lonsdale is nicely decorated but I'm not gonna choose it over other similarly priced options.

[Vin]

Really agree that Canadian KFC is horrible. Had popcorn chicken the other day at Metrotown's food court and it tasted like fried flour: totally bland/tasteless. Where is KFC's 11 traditional secret herbs and spices for its recipe? Seems more like they only use salt and MSG, at least in Canada. Elsewhere in the world, KFC is truly yummy.

[theKB]

Originally Posted by spm2013

Tim Hortons moving into the Pacific Palisades on Robson

I find that interesting, another great option on robson :kook:

That said are Tim Hortons in downtown Vancouver actually successful? None of them seem to be as busy as the ones in the burbs. I passed by one in Maple Ridge on Dewdney on sunday morning and the drive through lineup filled over into the street and other locations on bigger land seem to have 20-30 cars in queue.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by theKB

I find that interesting, another great option on robson :kook:

That said are Tim Hortons in downtown Vancouver actually successful? None of them seem to be as busy as the ones in the burbs. I passed by one in Maple Ridge on Dewdney on sunday morning and the drive through lineup filled over into the street and other locations on bigger land seem to have 20-30 cars in queue.

They are busier than half of the other mom & pop crap downtown.

[spm2013]

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[SpongeG]

talking about fried chicken mary browns is soooo goood, they have locations all over alberta now i wonder how long till they hit Vancouver.

A&W' chubby chicken is pretty good

KFC in the states is so much better, i really don't like the canadian version its quite gross

[SpongeG]

its weird living away from vancouver now, i don't know if its just alberta but people love love love tim hortons here and they don't like starbucks at all, even though edmonton has a good deal of starbucks people just don't seem to like it the way its so beloved in vancouver

edmonton also has loads of second cups

[spm2013]

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[theKB]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

its weird living away from vancouver now, i don't know if its just alberta but people love love love tim hortons here and they don't like starbucks at all, even though edmonton has a good deal of starbucks people just don't seem to like it the way its so beloved in vancouver

edmonton also has loads of second cups

I think its a perception thing. Also starbucks has been a Vancouver fixture far longer than Tim Hortons has. The first Tim Hortons in Vancouver proper was in East Van (3800 blk E Hastings after a quick google) in June of 1994 and Starbucks opened in 1987 with their first international location in Vancouver. It also took a very long time for Tim Hortons to come into the downtown core. Starbucks already had 7 years of brand loyalty under their belt. Also starbucks being the fancier/more high end/modern option probably helps there too as Vancouverites are very much about image and a starbucks cup looks a heck of a lot more classy than a timmy's one (outside perception)

Also think about the fact that most of the chains such as Tim Hortons are attempting to go after the Starbucks consumer with their espresso drinks etc. But of course unless you like coffee flavoured drinks that will put you into a diabetic coma you probably aren't going to timmy's. Starbucks' baked goods also seem to be better quality.

I do think that the up and coming boutique coffee shops (matchstick, revolver, 49th parallel) along with the up and coming chains (JJ Bean, Artigiano) are definitely stealing some of Starbucks' market share.

[officedweller]

Mahony & Sons Stamps Landing (Monk's) opens August 18th:

https://www.facebook.com/MahonysStampsLanding


https://www.facebook.com/MahonysStampsLanding


http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2014/08/mahony-sons-false-creek-opens-august-18/

[Klazu]

The new restaurant at The Sutton Place Hotel looks nice, although a bit odd addition the the building. Need to give it a try soon.

[spm2013]

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