It's only been a few weeks since Canada's sole Menya Itto franchise ladled up its last bowl of ramen at 1479 Robson St and already the restaurant space's next chapter is about to begin.
Locally-based chain Big Way Hot Pot - which has been growing its location roster in a big way - is set to move in.
In fact, they've not merely moved in - they are ready to open the doors to the public right away.
Big Way announced on social media Friday (Dec. 20) the new West End location will soft open on Sunday, Dec. 22.
Additionally, the chain shared updates on more of its forthcoming locations. One of them, in Coquitlam at 2660-2929 Barnet Hwy, soft opens on Monday.
Big Way Hot Pot updates opening plans for several more locations
A location at UBC (2155 Allison Rd #222) has been nearing completion for much of the second half of this year; the company has now shared it is aiming to be open in January or February.
Big Way Hot Pot locations are also expected to open in more Metro Vancouver communities, including, North Vancouver, Langley (March 2025), and Burnaby's Lougheed (April 2025) and Gilmore (May 2025) areas. The brand is looking across the water to Victoria for a new spot by the summer and has several locations in the works for the Greater Toronto Area; a Scarborough, Ont. location should be open next month.
The chain is also expanding into the United States with a pair of locations planned for the Los Angeles area. The first, in Rowland Heights, opens in January, with one in Monterey Park in March.
Big Way launched in 2021 and now will have nine locations in Metro Vancouver (in Burnaby, Vancouver, New Westminster and Richmond) with the West End and Coquitlam restaurants.
Concept is a build-your-own hot pot experience with 100 ingredient options
Big Way's build-your-own hot pot concept finds guests loading up their bowls from a massive ingredient wall, featuring about 100 components, from noodles and veggies to seafood and meats. Diners then move to the till where the order is weighed and sent to the kitchen with a choice of 10 specialty broths.
Guests can assemble their own condiment dishes from the sauce bar while waiting for their steaming bowl of customized soup to land on their table. To finish: soft serve ice cream.
Menya Itto wrapped up its two-and-a-half-year run at 1479 Robson St on Nov. 15. The space was previously a second outpost of Ramen Koika, and, before that, served as the longtime home of the original Hapa Izakaya.
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