A fire Sunday evening (July 27) in the building that houses Michelin Guide-endorsed modern Thai restaurant Song by Kin Kao has forced the business to close temporarily.
Song, located at 317 E Broadway in Mount Pleasant, confirmed the news and closure late Sunday night with a PSA posted to the restaurant's Instagram account.
"We are heartbroken to announce we will be closed till further notice due to a fire situation in our building this evening," share the owners.
"We are happy to report everyone is safe and the building is very much intact. We hope the damage [is] minor and process is swift so we can get back to making killer Thai food for you all!"
Neighbouring business Pulp Fiction Books, on Main Street, shared some images from the scene on social media, noting that at the time East Broadway was closed in the area due the firefighting operation.
Song, a sibling to Commercial Drive's popular Kin Kao, opened in November 2021. In October 2023, it landed on the inaugural Michelin Guide list of Vancouver restaurants in the "Bib Gourmand" category, signalling great value, and has remained on the list in each of the ensuing years.
The restaurant is know for its "approachable but unique-to-Vancouver Thai food," as Song co-owner Terrence Feng told V.I.A. in 2021. Diners can opt for the set menu, served family style and offered at $75 per person, or the a la carte menu, with dishes like Crispy Taro Rolls, Green Curry Beef, Crab Fried Rice, Pad Thai, and fresh oysters.
The building Song is in is nearly a century old, which, according to a 2022 Sun review, caused the restaurant owners much grief as they worked to get the business open.
Before Song, the same space was the former home of popular Twin Peaks-inspired vegetarian bar-restaurant The Black Lodge, which had moved in back in 2017. It also housed Trinity Church's Heartwood Community Café, and café-meets-social justice hub Rhizome.
Fundraising campaign launched for restaurant staff
In the aftermath of Sunday night's blaze, Feng launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds to support the Song staff.
"While we’re incredibly grateful that no one was physically hurt, our team—our family—is now facing an uncertain and difficult time," Feng writes, adding that the employees are "the heart and soul" of the restaurant.
Feng also points out that those invaluable team members "are now without work and, in many cases, without a safety net."
"Your support, in any amount, will help carry them through the coming weeks as we begin the road to reopening," continues the restaurant owner, noting that "100% of the donations will go directly to our team to help with essential expenses like rent, groceries, and transportation while we work through the damage and rebuild."
"We’ll get through this together—and we can’t wait to see you again soon," he concludes.
So far, the campaign has raised over $9,000 towards its $11,000 goal.
This article was originally published on July 28, 2025 and has been updated.
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