The one constant about Vancouver's restaurant scene is that it's always changing. Doors closing one day can mean a fresh opportunity for someone else to open up the restaurant of their dreams - or expand their empire. While there's a lot to be said about dining out at your favourite familiar spots, when you're in the mood to try some place new, there's always plenty to choose from in the city.
We've rounded up 10 of the freshest new restaurant openings in Vancouver. Put these just-opened spots on your must-try list this fall.
Fiorino
This is a new destination in Chinatown for Italian fare, specifically eats inspired by street food in Florence, Italy. The day-to-night spot offers casual lunch fare centred on simple sandwich made using schiacciata, a bread similar to focaccia, that the owner grew up enjoying in Italy. Following aperitivo (drinks and snacks) time, dinner stars pasta, salads, share plates, and a gnocchi dish we hear is to die for.
Address: 212 E Georgia St
Nancy Go Yaya
This project from the same top-notch team as Vancouver's acclaimed Bao Bei and Kissa Tanto is all about Singaporean comfort eats, like laksa, nasi goreng, and kaya toast. While the restaurant currently offers daytime service only, Nancy Go Yaya is aiming to feature a nighttime wine bar experience soon.
Address: 265 E Pender St
Röosh
If you blinked, you missed Country Roads BBQ taking up residence in place of Peckinpah in Gastown. Now the address is home to Röosh, a restaurant that celebrates Swiss comfort eats, like rosti (pan-fried potatoes) and fondue.
Address: 2 Water St
Laboratory Sous Vide Cuisine
For something a little different, check out Laboratory in downtown. The restaurant, which serves lunch and dinner daily, is centred on foods made using sous vide, a technique of cooking ingredients in a water circulator that have been vacuum-sealed in bags. The result is dishes finished quickly and made with less cooking oil or butter.
Address: 575 W Georgia St
Ça Marche Crêperie
A new spot for authentic French crêpes has just opened in Vancouver. Situated along the growing "restaurant row" at the Vancouver House development, Ça Marche comes from the team behind Kitsilano's enduring Au Comptoir French bistro. Here you'll find a menu of savoury (i.e. smoked salmon, Parisian ham, or eggplant) buckwheat crêpes or sweet (i.e. Suzette, banana, or spiced honey) traditional crêpes. The restaurant is open Wednesday through Monday from 5 to 10 p.m.
Address: 1471 Continental St
Skewers Souvlaki
The doors are set to open Nov. 10 at Skewers, a Greek offering in historic Gastown (in the ex-Sardine Can spot) that is all about souvlaki - aka skewered meat. Enjoy the meat served up on a platter with golden fries, or in a wrap, gyro-style, with all the sauces and trimming.
Address: 26 Powell St
Kin Kao Song
The sibling spot to Commercial Drive's popular Kin Kao is up and running, serving up their take on classic Thai dishes plus natural wines in a modern space. Look for snacks, starters, and mains rich in bold Thai flavours. Walk-ins only and no take-out yet; dinner available Thursday through Monday from 5 to 10 p.m.
Address: 317 E Broadway
The Drive Canteen
The folks behind Vancouver's wildly popular DL Chicken, Downlow Burgers, and Vennie's Subs have been at again - this time they have created the ultimate convenience store hangout of your dreams, complete with collectible sneakers and urban art. They're making "choose your own adventure" loaded nachos, specialty hot dogs, and stocking local and big brand snacks of all kinds, including their own line of corn nuts. Grab-and-go options include fast and affordable cold bites like noodles, spicy pickles, and things like house-made pizza pops to warm up at home. Once they get up and running they are going give Starbies a run for its money with coffee drinks, plus soft serve and shakes, slushies, and the most mind-blowing array of non-alcoholic bevvies under one roof.
Address: 1111 Commercial Dr
Cofu
This new spot for pressed sushi at Granville Island is hoping to show Vancouver something they've never seen before. "Cofu offers pressed sushi that allows customers to customize the type of rice and the combination of ingredients and sauces," explains the business. The result is a menu with a dazzling array of options in meat, seafood, and vegetable categories, along with French-inspired sauces. The food is colourful and the menu gives customers a lot of choices to customize their sushi experience, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free.
Address: 1833 Anderson St.
District Eleven
There's a new place to go for late-night Asian fusion eats in Vancouver. Called District Eleven, the restaurant "run by cooks" is the next chapter for the business that had many loyal customers in its previous iteration as Pho Pho You in New West. Pho Pho You sadly was destroyed by fire, but the team was buoyed by a crowdfunding campaign and is making a fresh start. The official grand opening is set for Nov. 11.
Address: 4063 Main St
