If you thought the Vancouver food scene was just about Michelin stars and new openings, 2025 proved otherwise.
It was a year defined by extreme highs and devastating loss.
From the bizarre to the heartbreaking, these are the 13 stories that made 2025 a year we won’t soon forget.
1. A Prime Ministerial Pastry Stop
In a surprise visit that turned heads in Chinatown, Prime Minister Mark Carney stopped by the legendary New Town Bakery in November.
Accompanied by local MPs, he was spotted chatting with staff and leaving with a large bag of their famous steamed buns, proving that even world leaders can’t resist a good siopao when they’re in town.
2. K-Pop Royalty in West Van
Blinks went into a frenzy in August when Blackpink’s Jennie was spotted casually dining at West Vancouver’s Isetta Cafe.
Clips of the global superstar enjoying the patio at the mid-century modern bistro circulated wildly on TikTok, turning the quiet spot into an instant pilgrimage site for K-Pop fans.
3. The “Big Way Baes” Sponsorship
In a peak Vancouver moment, a local recreational volleyball team jokingly asked Big Way Hot Pot for a sponsorship and actually got it.
After “shooting their shot” via DM, the team (aptly named the “Big Way Baes”) received full branded kits, meal vouchers, and merchandise, proving that sometimes your post-game craving really can pay off.
4. Big Way’s Grand Opening Flood
Imagine spending months renovating a restaurant, only to have it rain indoors on day one.
That’s exactly what happened at Big Way Hot Pot’s Lougheed location in August.
During the grand opening dinner rush, a sprinkler malfunction drenched the dining room and kitchen, forcing an immediate closure.
Thankfully, they cleaned up quickly and were back to serving Labubu giveaways within days.
5. Gunfire Targets Bollywood Star’s Cafe… Twice
In a disturbing sequence of events, Kap’s Cafe, tied to Indian superstar Kapil Sharma, was targeted by gunfire not once, but twice within a single month this summer.
The targeted attacks left the Surrey community on edge and police investigating potential links to extortion rings.
Miraculously, staff inside during both incidents escaped unharmed.
6. Daan Go’s Double Robbery Nightmare
In a heartbreaking blow to Masterchef Canada winner Christopher Siu, his Richmond bakery Daan Go Cake Lab was robbed not once, but twice in a single morning.
Thieves broke in at 4 AM to steal cash and iPads, then audaciously returned an hour later to clear out the rest—including a box of cocoa butter.
The incident caused over $10,000 in losses, compounding a tough month of equipment failures for the beloved dessert spot.
7. The Viral Lion Dance Crash
In the most wholesome “crash” of the year, the Chau Luen Athletics lion dance team surprised customers at Tutto Belle Il Gelato by joining their “Dance for Gelato” challenge.
The team showed up in full costume, performing acrobatics through the tiny shop before unrolling a banner that read “HOPE YOU GET RICH.”
It was the ultimate mic drop for a social media challenge, and yes, they definitely earned their free gelato.
8. Farewell to Mama Lee
The city lost a true culinary matriarch this summer with the passing of Betty Lee, the beloved founder of Mamalee.
Known for serving what many consider Vancouver’s best Hainanese chicken rice, Betty’s story was one of incredible resilience, overcoming a paralyzing car accident to build a restaurant legacy that felt like home to thousands.
Her warmth and fighting spirit will be deeply missed, though her children continue to carry the torch at their Kitsilano and Chinatown locations.
9. The Tragic Passing of “The Lunch Lady”
In May, the global culinary world lost a legend.
Nguyen Thi Thanh (best known as “The Lunch Lady”), who gained international fame after feeding Anthony Bourdain in Saigon, passed away suddenly after arriving in Toronto for the opening of her new restaurant.
Her Vancouver outpost, which has earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand three years running, remains a tribute to her legacy, serving the same rotating noodle soups that made her a street food icon.
10. The Great Bourbon Ban
In a bold political move that hit liquor cabinets hard, the BC government pulled American spirits from shelves in February.
Responding to new U.S. tariffs, iconic brands like Jack Daniels and Bacardi were removed from BC Liquor Stores, leaving empty shelves and “Buy Canadian” signs in their place.
It was a trade war that forced locals to swap their Tennessee Whiskey for BC craft spirits overnight.
12. Coquitlam’s “K-Town” Inferno
A devastating fire and suspected explosion in January ripped through a popular North Road strip mall, leaving a gaping hole in Coquitlam’s Korean food scene.
The blaze gutted beloved staples like Kimbap Cheonguk and Cafe Blanc, blowing out storefronts and forcing these family-run gems to close indefinitely while the community rallies to support them.
Almost 12 months since the explosion, the shops have yet to reopen.
13. Gastronomy’s “Big Yikes” Eviction
In one of the year’s messiest closures, award-winning Gastown restaurant Gastronomy didn’t just close, it was evicted.
A termination notice posted on the door revealed the modern Italian spot owed over $300,000 in rent (that’s two years’ worth!) and allegedly failed to pay staff before locking the doors.
It was a shocking end for a place that had just won “Best New Restaurant” awards a year prior.
Looking back, 2025 was a reminder that Vancouver’s food scene is about so much more than just what’s on the plate.
As we turn the page to 2026, we’re hoping for fewer heartbreaks, more happy endings.
Here’s to a wild, delicious, and slightly less chaotic year ahead.
For more new and upcoming food spots in Metro Vancouver, take a peek at our tracker here, and subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.