Kitsilano’s West 4th strip just lost its second restaurant in a matter of weeks.
This time, at least, there was a goodbye post.
Don, the upscale Asian fusion spot at 2186 West 4th Avenue, announced on Instagram on August 3 that it has closed after three years in the neighbourhood.
“After an incredible journey, Don has officially closed its doors, successfully bringing this chapter to a close,” the farewell post reads.
Only days earlier, the account had told followers the closure was temporary.
No reason was given for making it permanent.
In a comment under the post, the team wrote it was proud to have ended this chapter at the right time.
The comment section filled with regulars within hours, including one mourning that they never got to have the pot pie again.
There is one odd wrinkle for anyone trying to look the restaurant up.
The Instagram handle has oddly been changed to iliz.foodie_, though the account still lists Don at Kitsilano’s name, address, and a bio that now reads “This chapter has come to an end.”
Don opened in February 2023 in the former Glory Juice space, and its backstory was more interesting than the average neighbourhood opening.
It came from Victor He, a co-founder of local poke chain Pokey Okey, trading scoops of poke for plated Asian tapas.
He trained at Vancouver’s Northwest Culinary Academy, spent two years cooking in Seoul, then worked in Shanghai under Alvin Leung, the Michelin-starred chef known as the Demon Chef.
The menu ran curated Asian tapas alongside donburi, udon, and soba, paired with imported Asian beers and wines.
The room was designed by the founders themselves, pitched as both luxurious and inviting.
And the reviews were on its side.
The restaurant’s own site displayed 4.8 stars on Google, 4.6 on Yelp, and 4.7 on OpenTable.
None of that turned out to be enough to keep the doors open past year three.
The timing stings for the block.
The announcement landed one day after we reported that Simpatico, the Greek restaurant a few doors up, had quietly ended its 57-year run.
Two rooms on the same stretch, gone in the same week of headlines.
West 4th has been trading long-tenured restaurants for turnover at a pace regulars have started to notice, and the vacancies are stacking up faster than the replacements.
What happens to the Don space next has not been announced.
Don joins other recent Vancouver closures including Lucy’s Eastside Diner, Osetra, and Trocadero.
For more new and upcoming food spots in Metro Vancouver, take a peek at our tracker here, and subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.
Address: 2186 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver BC