Vancouver’s dining scene is constantly evolving, with new restaurants adding their distinct voices to the city’s culinary conversation. As 2025 unfolds, a fresh lineup of openings is set to offer inventive menus, unique perspectives, and exciting spaces to explore.
That said, there are a few spots to watch for that don't quite fit the bill for this particular list; additional locations of existing restaurants, for example, aren't the emphasis here (like Nook's much-anticipated downtown branch, or the watched-for Per Se Social Corner number two in Coal Harbour). We're narrowing it down to some new-to-Vancouver concepts to keep tabs on in the new year.
From thoughtful reinterpretations of tradition to innovative approaches to global flavours, these new establishments are poised to bring something new - and noteworthy - to the table.
Here are the forthcoming new Vancouver restaurants we are most excited to (hopefully) welcome in 2025.
Jay Nok Modern Thai
Jay Nok Modern Thai is set to open in early 2025 at 127 W 2nd Ave in Olympic Village (in the ex-Flying Pig space), bringing a new chapter for the Kongslip family, who operated the beloved SalaThai for 38 years. Led by Sam and Joy Kongslip’s son Bobby, along with daughter-in-law and Executive Chef Bumpen “Jay Nok” Khangrang, the restaurant will combine Thai street food traditions with a fresh, contemporary vision.
The space will transform throughout the day, offering fast-casual lunches and evolving into a lively social spot with cocktails and shared plates by night. With its roots in family, tradition, and a love of Thai cuisine, Jay Nok plans to carry forward the legacy of SalaThai in a way designed to resonate with today’s diners.
June
The team behind Vancouver's globally acclaimed Keefer Bar are hard at work making sure June, a restaurant and cocktail bar, is a dream destination.
June is at 3305 Cambie St (in the former Biercraft), but the plan is to ensure it feels like an entirely different - and remarkable - place. The space will have "cozy warmth" and touches reflective of nature, according to June's social media. The 150-seat space has been completely gutted and redesigned by acclaimed Mexico City-based architect Héctor Esrawe.
There's no shortage of talent here, with Chef Connor Sperling leading the culinary team and award-winning mixologist Amber Bruce leading the bar.
“A warm welcoming environment. The food will always be good. The drinks will always be good. These are the baseline standards, but ensuring guests have a personal, memorable experience each and every time will be the ongoing goal," reads a social media post from June published in late November 2024.
Folietta
Folietta, an Italian ristorante and bar from Wentworth Hospitality Group, is set to open in early 2025 at 1480 Nanaimo St in East Vancouver’s Grandview-Woodlands neighbourhood.
Known for spots like Tableau and Homer St. Cafe, Wentworth is pivoting from French to modern Italian cuisine for this new venture. Led by Executive Chef Bobby Milheron and Chef de Cuisine Imtiaaz Patel, the menu will highlight regional Italian dishes, including house-made pasta, Bistecca Fiorentina, and veal chop Parmigiana, alongside a dedicated kids’ menu.
The 130-seat space, designed by Ste Marie, will feature an open kitchen, four dining areas, and a semi-enclosed patio. Folietta will also offer a robust bar program with Italian-inspired cocktails, negronis on tap, Amaro Shave Ice, and a curated selection of Italian wines and spirits led by General Manager Miguel Arrais.
Set in The Grant, a new mixed-use development, Folietta aims to be a neighbourhood favourite for everything from afternoon aperitivos to weekend brunch.
Chez Celine
Details are light out the gate, but just ahead of the Christmas holidays, the team behind Vancouver's acclaimed St. Lawrence revealed they are at work on a French concept called Chez Celine.
Chez Celine will move into the Fraserhood with a planned spring 2025 opening. Chef/owner J-C Poirier specified Fraser at 27th in response to a comment on Instagram, which means it's very likely the forthcoming French spot is taking over where Say Mercy! was up until early November.
Given the pedigrees of the folks involved and how dynamic the food scene is in that zone (neighbours include Masayoshi, Bar Bravo, Zab Bite, and Nammos Estiatorio, to name a few), this is certainly one to watch for the new year.
Toptable Group concept in Kitsilano
In October 2022, the Browns Socialhouse at 2296 W 4th Ave in Vancouver's Kitsilano neighbourhood closed its doors permanently after 16 years at that location.
There have been extensive renovations underway for the past several months in the corner space, and this fall, rumblings were abound that the new tenant in the space is Vancouver-based Toptable, the prestigious restaurant group owned by the Aquilinis (they own the Canucks, among other things).
Locally, Toptable operates several high-profile restaurants, including Elisa, Blue Water, and Cin Cin, as well as patisserie-café Thierry.
Additionally, they own the award-winning Marilena in Victoria, and have two New York City concepts, Oceans and Carlotto.
Specifically, the chatter has been that the ex-Browns was earmarked as a Vancouver outpost of Toptable's popular Whistler all-day café, Provisions. (And by "chatter," we mean job listings, a business license application in that name, and lots of reliable folks saying as much online and in our inbox).
All that said, a rep for Toptable would not confirm that it was going to be Provisions, noting that while the space is in Toptable's hands, they may change or adjust the concept before opening up.
Regardless of what the final concept will be, it stands to reason that it will be worth a look, given Toptable's track record,
Saijo Kushiyaki & Handroll
Vancouver will be home to the first location of this concept under the Jinya umbrella (as in the U.S.-based ramen folks).
Saijo's roots stem from one of its enduring L.A. restaurants, Robata Jinya, which has been serving up Japanese charcoal-grilled skewers alongside sushi bar selections there since 2010.
The restaurant has been in development at 2036 W 4th Ave in Kitsilano since the fall of 2023. V.I.A. has reached out repeatedly to Jinya's representatives for updates and has not received a response. The restaurant website says Saijo is "coming soon" in 2025.
Din Tai Fung - Vancouver
True, this is a major chain with over 170 locations worldwide, but the Vancouver branch will be the first in Canada, which makes the debut particularly noteworthy.
The Vancouver Din Tai Fung has been in the works for 1132 Alberni St since summer 2023 (we'd be hoping for a 2024 launch sooner or later) but as 2025 gets underway, the location is still "coming soon."
Din Tai Fung is best known for its Xiao Long Bao (XLB), aka soup dumplings, which they have, according to its legions of fans, mastered to perfection.
The menu also features popular starters like its cucumber salad; assorted dumplings, wontons, and buns; noodle dishes, including wok-fried and with soup; milk tea; vegetable sides; and dessert dumplings.
Aureliana
Gastown will welcome Aureliana in 2025, bringing a retro-inspired dining concept to 156 W Hastings St. The space had previously been a location of the popular budget-friendly El Furniture Warehouse. The Canadian chain closed that location in 2023 after a decade.
While details are scarce, the restaurant's Instagram hints at a nostalgic atmosphere with nods to the 80s and 90s, featuring neon lights and classic tunes. The website adds to the mystery, showcasing a waitress in 60s diner attire holding a hamburger.
With its vintage theme and prime location, Aureliana could be a fun addition to Vancouver’s dining scene.
Time Out Market Vancouver
In the works for over two years now, the upscale food court featuring a curated selection of more upscale, contemporary, and locally-rooted dining options set up marketplace style will occupy a sprawling space inside the Oakridge mall redevelopment.
Time Out operates several of these markets globally. In Montreal, the Time Out Market is on a mezzanine level of the Eaton Centre in the downtown area. It's got dim lights, pulsing music, a bar, mocktail and treat stands, and stalls showcasing local restaurants and chefs. It's a bit of a sensory overwhelm but a major draw. Guests can mix and match eats from various counters (buzzers are issued to retrieve orders) and seating is self-serve, food court style.
FWIW: I found the Montreal one had great food but the vibe was a bit too chaotic and clubby, to be honest, so while I'm curious about Vancouver's, I'm also apprehensive.
Initially, Time Out Vancouver was to have been two storeys within Oakridge, but plans have scaled back since the 2022 project announcement. As of nearly a year ago, no details about the specific food vendors were available.
It will be interesting to see who gets on board and picks up a sublease stall in the market. The opening is projected for 2025, according to TIme Out Market Vancouver's Instagram account.
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