As summer draws to a close and a fresh season awaits, the temptation to try a new restaurant remains constant. Luckily, Vancouver always comes through, as openings happen at all points on the calendar. The last few weeks have brought several worthy additions to the city's always-exciting dining scene, and with a few debuts planned for September, this month is looking quite delicious.
Here are some new Vancouver restaurants to put on your list for September 2022.
Suyo
Named for a South American Indigenous term for "homeland," Vancouver chef Ricardo Valverde and a talented team have just opened the doors to this modern Peruvian gem. Situated in the old Slickity Jim's spot on Main Street, Suyo's menu showcases the bright, bold flavours and global influences of Peruvian cuisine with dishes like ceviche, lomo saltado, and more. Look for stellar drinks by Max Curzon-Price from the bar and a lively, cozy dining room.
Mount Pleasant Vintage & Provisions
The doors are finally open at this quirky restaurant concept built into a restored heritage house in the evolving part of Mount Pleasant that borders Olympic Village. The heritage house is the 1901-built Coulter House, which has had many occupants over the decades, chiefly operating as the "6th Avenue Grocery" into the late 1970s. The restaurant is the project of Vancouver restaurant vet Cameron Bogue and promises food made using a live-fire grill, plus cocktails and a lot of chill vibes.
Okeya Kyujiro
This premium omakase (chef's choice) sushi restaurant - considered the first of its kind in Montreal - has expanded west and has just opened a new location in Yaletown. Okeya Kyujiro offers an exclusive reservation-only dining experience for a select few nightly, serving fresh, seasonal sushi imported from Japan and around the world. The "multi-sensory" dining experience is akin to theatre, specifically "washoku," a Japanese term for a deep-rooted practice of preparing and serving food.
Afuri Ramen
After months of anticipation, Afuri Ramen opened its first restaurant location in Vancouver in the second half of August - the chain entered the Canadian market with a Richmond outpost a couple of years back. In addition to Afuri's signature chicken-based Yuzu Shio ramen, the Vancouver location also boasts a couple of exclusive dishes, like a Wagyu Shoyu Ramen and a zingy Tantan Mazamen - a soup-less ramen. They've also got a rare Suntory Whisky highball tap and they're making their own soft drinks, like a Strawberry Calpico.
Karma Indian Bistro
This new Indian restaurant in Kits is described as a "casual bistro" with cocktails and happy hour specials to boot. In the kitchen, a chef with 25 years of cooking experience from India, Germany and Canada. Must-tries, we're told, include Lamb Briyani, Chilli Chicken, and Butter Chicken with Garlic Basil Naan. Karma is also focused on its drinks program, with happy hour from 3 to 5 p.m.
- Read more: New casual Indian bistro with cocktails, happy hour, and 'awesome vibes' opens in Vancouver
Bamboo World Kitchen - West Broadway
The first Bamboo World Kitchen opened in Feb. 2022 in South Granville, followed by the second outpost, located along West Broadway steps from Vancouver General Hospital, this August. The restaurant is all about fresh, sustainable, globally-influenced bowls, salads, and wraps. The concept puts emphasis on layers of flavours in dishes that can be easily customized for a variety of dietary needs, like vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free. Plus, with the menu's range, repeat customers can try different items and avoid flavour monotony.
The Batch
Ever pass by the old Plaza of Nations site from Expo 86 and wonder how in the heck have they not developed that land in the last thirty-something years? Well, we can't answer that succinctly, but we can share that a fun shipping container pop-up bar with food is now using the space for a patio-style temporary dining experience. Get there before the weather turns!
Deville Coffee - 745 Thurlow and 333 Seymour
The Calgary wave of coffee chains adding Vancouver outposts got underway at the tail-end of July with the debut of the first two of four planned downtown locations of Deville. Calgarians who know and love Deville appreciate the chain's brewed coffee and espresso drinks, as well as their breakfast fare and pastries - locally, you can find a selection of donuts from Lee's at the Seymour Street/Waterfront cafe (it's a stop on the city's new Underground Donut Tour).
Steamworks Mount Pleasant
Steamworks is now up and running at the base of the Aspen, a 145-unit new build on Main Street in Mount Pleasant. The brewpub restaurant - the company's "first employee-owned location" occupies ground-floor retail space and boasts a spacious patio that will overlook a forthcoming new green space.The location features 20 Steamworks taps and another 10 for dedicated and rotating guest pours. Open daily from noon, customers will find a full kitchen and bar, and, as soon as some "supply chain hurdles" are overcome, the brewpub's full tap selection.
Bisou Bakehouse
The West End has a new destination for French baked goods in a cafe setting. The bakery began with a single location in North Vancouver but has just added one at 1190 Bidwell. Look for tempting sweet and savoury items, including croissants, cheesecake, tarts, and whole cakes, plus a beverage program.
Opening soon
Fat Mao 2.0
Send noods! Chef Angus An's beloved Chinatown noodle shop, Fat Mao, now has a sibling in downtown on Helmcken between Burrard and Hornby and it officially opens on Tuesday, Sept. 6. In addition to core signature dishes like Fat Mao's Khao Soi, diners can also enjoy a new Albacore tuna ceviche, braised beef brisket noodles served with Asian celery and fried garlic, and Nam Ngaio, a Northern-style tender pork-rib noodle soup with pork-blood cake and tomato broth. As a sweet bonus, the downtown Fat Mao will also serve shaved ice with rotating flavours, like Thai tea.
Archer Dining
We're still awaiting word that this contemporary PacNW restaurant is ready to welcome diners, though we've heard it could be within this month. Fingers crossed it's soon, because we've been on the lookout for this debut since earlier this summer. Diners are promised "a journey through the coasts and waters of the Pacific Northwest, highlighting the bounty of the region’s talented farmers, fisherfolk, and producers" with the Archer menu, which will pay tribute to "the diverse cultures and flavours of Canada," according to a media release.
- Read more: New Pacific Northwest-inspired 'immersive culinary destination' restaurant coming to Vancouver
Jollibee - Cambie & Broadway
Ready for more fast food madness? Beloved for their Filipino-style spaghetti, crispy fried chicken, burgers, and peach mango pies, Jollibee is all about American-style fast-food fused with Filipino flavours and influences. They opened their first Vancouver location in February, and their second outpost in the city was aiming to be open this summer, but that hasn't happened, so here's hoping we'll be able to check them out this month.
Hazukido
Could the doors open this month for Vancouver's first location of this Taiwanese chain that specializes in French-Japanese croissants and croissant-dough treats? That would be pretty awesome. They haven't specified an opening date, but we're keeping an eye on the space (the ex-Copper Branch) in Yaletown just in case the aroma of butter and sugar kicks in outside 280 Nelson St.
Pelicana Chicken - Robson
It could be this month that Vancouver's first location (within the city itself) of this popular Korean fried chicken chain gets down to frying. Since landing in B.C. with a freshman location in Burnaby in late 2020, Pelicana has also added an outpost in Victoria and has announced plans to open in Coquitlam and Surrey, along with this one on Robson in the old Big G "giant" fried chicken spot. The company touts “Korea’s unique chicken flavours” and the “signature yan-nyum chicken” – a sweet and spicy sauce developed by Pelicana.
