It was supposed to be a big moment for soup curry fans in Metro Vancouver, but it is over.
Garaku Soup Curry, the famous Sapporo-based chain that opened its first Canadian location at Aberdeen Centre in Richmond back in December 2023, has had its lease terminated.
Various Noms Mag community members (Frank, Cheery, and Esther) spotted a notice of termination posted on the restaurant’s door, confirms that the landlord, Fairchild, has ended the lease effective immediately.
The notice states that the tenant failed to pay basic rent, additional rent, and other charges under the lease.
According to the notice, the restaurant owed $25,080 as of January 2026. By March 1, 2026, the total arrears had grown to $53,746.09.
The tenant was given four calendar days to cure the default after receiving notice on January 19 and a final notice on January 23, but did not remedy the situation.
The landlord has required the tenant to vacate the premises by 4 p.m. on Friday, March 6.
Looking back, there were signs that something was off.
Garaku was oddly closed during Aberdeen Centre’s busy Chinese New Year event earlier this year, a period that would have likely filled up the restaurant on its own.
At the time, it seemed unusual. Now it makes more sense.
No announcement has been made on the restaurant’s Instagram or Facebook page.
For those who never got to try it, Garaku was known for its Hokkaido-style soup curry, made with 30 different ingredients, including 21 spices.
The brand was founded in Sapporo in 2007 and has locations across Japan, as well as outposts in Bangkok and Taipei.
The Richmond location was its first in Canada and opened to strong buzz, with lineups during its early days and a limited number of bowls available each day.
It also offered a Canada-exclusive beef brisket soup curry, created from the owner’s mom’s recipe, which reportedly became so popular that the Japan headquarters asked for it.
The closure adds to a growing wave of changes at Aberdeen Centre.
Chef Hung recently closed its Aberdeen location after 16 years.
Meiten, the Japanese katsu spot, quietly shut down after about 2 years.
And Hazukido Cafe Plus is currently listed for sale.
But the unit itself has had a troubled history.
Before Garaku moved in, the same space was occupied by Gram Cafe and Pancakes, the Japanese souffle pancake chain that opened in early 2020.
Gram also had its lease terminated at this unit for unpaid rent, a strikingly similar situation to what has now happened with Garaku.
Garaku now joins other recently closed Richmond food spots like Seto Sushi, My Coffee, and Joyful Congee.
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Address: Unit 1360, 4151 Hazelbridge Way, Richmond, BC V6X 4J7