Fans of one of Vancouver's most popular independent cafés (or the Cowdog-curious) won't have to wait much longer to check out the coffee and matcha shop's new second location.
That's because the owners have made short work of the new Kitsilano space and have revealed they will be in soft open mode on Saturday, May 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Joe Lee co-owns Cowdog with his partner, Ryan Leenstra, and has been hinting on his popular TikTok account that Cowdog was on the hunt for a new location.
The business owners shared the news online April 15 they got the keys to what will be their second location.
Lee also been candid online about the operations side of the business, often posting videos breaking down revenue and replying to questions and feedback from guests, including why the Oak Street coffee and matcha hot spot doesn't have a bathroom (it's so small, it's not permitted by Vancouver Coastal Health).
Since sharing the new location news, Lee also announced a bold mission: to open the second Cowdog in 30 days.
@cowdog.coffee kitsilano! whos ready for over priced matchas and 30 min line ups?!!!! 🙋🏻♂️ but hey at least we’ll have a washroom here #vancouver ♬ original sound - daniel
The second Cowdog is located at 1927 W 4th Ave in the former Freshii space. In his "Day One" video, Lee explains they are beginning by taking down all the white shiplap on the walls, with plans to remove the salad franchise's white subway tile.
And, yes: the Kits location of Cowdog will have a washroom for customers.
One of the reasons why turning a former salad shop into Cowdog has been possible in such a short time is because the use permit from the prior business to the new one is the same. Lee and Leenstra have also been doing a lot of the renovation work themselves.
Cowdog got its start as a pop-up concept operating out of Mount Pleasant's Dear Gus wine bar on select mornings. Last summer, Cowdog shifted operations to its own brick-and-mortar, a tiny space on Oak Street with limited seating and a chronic line out the door.
The wildly popular coffee biz is known not just for its meticulously made beverages but also for its no tipping policy (balanced by a living wage for its employees) and its pricing, specifically that they do not impose an additional charge for customers who wish to have non-dairy milk.
The small café menu includes coffee and matcha drinks, including seasonal and limited-run specials. They're well-known for their Strawberry Matcha, with a house-made base of roasted strawberry puree and their own line of Dew matcha powder.
Follow @cowdog.coffee on Instagram and @cowdog.coffee on TikTok (and co-owner Joe Lee on TikTok) for more updates.
Video: Checking out Cowdog, the Vancouver café known for its matcha drinks
@forkingawesomevia Finally made it to Cowdog’s new permanent cafe space on Oak! The drinks were fantastic, and I love that they pay a living wage so there’s no tipping. Plus, you can swap dairy for oat milk at no extra charge. 🐮🐶🍵@cowdog #forkingawesome #vancouverbc ♬ Gypsy - Fleetwood Mac
This article was originally published April 16, 2025 and has been updated.
🍽 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.
