The end has arrived for a Korean concept operating in a well-known restaurant space in Vancouver's Chinatown, as the owners of Kosoo Pocha at Sai Woo revealed Thursday, Feb. 27 that they had closed the doors a few days prior.
Kosoo Pocha made itself at home at 158 E Pender St in 2023, which was a tough year for Sai Woo, as it faced public backlash in the wake of negative social media coverage about its customer service.
When Sai Woo closed in spring 2023, it had already gone through a couple of identity shifts.
Sai Woo reborn in 2015, beloved neon rooster reappeared in 2017
Sai Woo was initially opened in 2015 by Vancouver restaurateur Salli Pateman, however, in the ensuing years the business underwent several personnel and ownership changes. One of the most striking elements of the business, located in a historic Chinatown building, is its neon sign.
The building opened in 1925 and has been an eatery in some shape or form since that time. Neon signs were all the rage throughout the downtown core up until the 1970s, when they were deemed “light pollution” and removed en masse.
Sai Woo's rooster sign was absent in physical form and from memory. In 2016, Pateman’s friend found a one-second clip from an old parade video from 1958 that showed the Sai Woo at that time, complete with the sign. A four-month search began that saw Pateman contact well-known Vancouver development and business players — Bob Rennie and Jim Pattison among others — and a cash reward was offered up.
Ultimately Troy Hibbs and Surrey-based TDH Experiential Fabricators were tasked with re-creating the rooster based on a one-second video still.
The sign debuted in 2017.
Korean tapas and drinks spot took over in late 2023 at Sai Woo
Kosoo Pocha held onto the sign and the name, to some extent, calling itself "Kosoo Pocha at Sai Woo."
In 2023, a representative for Kosoo Pocha told V.I.A. about its plans for the restaurant: "Our focus is on embracing a more casual and comfortable concept, offering a unique and diverse menu that appeals to a wider audience. We aspire to create an environment where our customers can indulge in delicious food while feeling at ease. This transition represents a new and thrilling challenge for Sai Woo Restaurant, which has maintained its established brand for a considerable period."
Now, however, Kosoo Pocha is handing over the keys to new tenants. It will continue to operate its Kosoo Korean restaurants in Vancouver and Coquitlam.
Owners addressed their "valued customers" in a goodbye notice posted to social media on Feb. 27, 2025.
"Kosoo Pocha at Sai Woo will be closing its doors on February 24th, marking our final day of operation. We are truly grateful for the love and support you have shown us over the past four years. It has been an incredible journey serving you."
Operators then shared that "Sai Woo will transition to a new owner and reopen with a fresh concept" as of March 3.
"We sincerely apologize for not being able to respond to all inquiries regarding events and reservations individually, and we appreciate your understanding," Kosoo Pocha's operators continued, adding: "Thank you for being part of our story, and we look forward to serving you again soon."
🍽 Find more delicious Metro Vancouver food and drink video stories by following V.I.A.'s Forking Awesome on TikTok and Instagram, and signing up for our Forking Awesome newsletter 📬 delivered fresh to your inbox every Thursday.
