Inspired by the wildly popular Netflix series Squid Game, a Vancouver restaurant is hoping to entertain and thrill diners - without deadly consequences - ahead of Halloween.
Chinatown's Sai Woo is hosting a series of Squid Game-themed dinners from October 28 through Halloween night.
The restaurant's chef is Korean-Canadian Han Seung-min, whose own childhood nostalgia is in part fuelling the event.
“I played these games growing up as a kid in Korea,” says the chef, adding: “It will be a unique way to enjoy Halloween this year."
Though you won't have to suit up and survive a potentially fatal round of "Red Light, Green Light," and there's no cash prize at stake, you can come in costume and enjoy the staff dressed on theme. Between courses, you can try your hand at some games, like the one where you try to cut a shape out of the dalgona, or honeycomb, candy.
During the evening, patrons will be given numbers and be called out to take centre stage and play Ddakji - a game that will be played with two tiles. The goal is to slam your tile into one on the ground, causing it to flip onto its other side - but in what organizers say is a "non-lethal" atmosphere.
When it comes to food and drink, there will be a six-course traditional Korean meal along with craft cocktails.
There are three seatings nightly at 5, 7:15, and 9:30 p.m. Reservations can be made online or by calling 604-568-1117.
More Squid Game Halloween treats in Vancouver
A few other Vancouver food businesses are tapping into the Squid Game zeitgeist for the spooky season.
On Oct 30 and 31 at Gastown's Boba Run, every customer that purchases a dalgona (aka Honeycomb) beverage will get a free Squid Game-themed dalgona cookie, while quantities last. The staff will also be dressed up as Squid Game authority figures and encourage customers to come dressed up and ready to take some selfies. Boba Run's Honeycomb Dalgona Latte features Korean honeycomb toffee crumbs served over your choice of milk. The toffee melts and oozes into your drink creating a rich "caramelly" flavour. You can also add a shot of espresso, matcha, hojicha, or genmaicha for an extra caffeine kick.
Over at Buttermere Patisserie, the French-Asian bakery, they've also been getting creative with their homage to Squid Game with a pair of cakes. Both visual representations of the gripping series, The Masked cake, a sesame hazelnut praline cake, features the shapes presented on the players’ invitations and the game guard masks while the Player’s Casket cake, a twisted take on a traditional tiramisu, directly displays the eventual fate of all but one player – death. Buttermere’s Halloween treats are available for pre-order on Buttermere’s website for delivery or pick up on October 29, 30, and 31. Delivery is available within the Greater Vancouver Regional District and pick-up can be arranged at either Buttermere Café or Torafuku during regular business hours.
Looking for more tempting Halloween treats in and around Vancouver? We've got you covered:
