A Japanese cafe on Vancouver’s Carrall Street is opening a second spot in Gastown, built around Kyoto matcha and Tokyo-style fruit treats.
If you’re into matcha, this is one to keep an eye on.
Aiyaohno Matcha and Fruit Parlour is coming to 214 Abbott Street.
That’s about a six-minute walk from the original Aiyaohno Cafe at 425 Carrall Street, which married owners Bev and Greg opened in 2022.
The couple was inspired by the countryside cafes they kept stumbling across while travelling around Japan.
Greg Uyeda shared with Noms Magazine the details, and the new spot is aiming for sometime in November.
Matcha is right there in the name.
The plan is Uji matcha from Kyoto producers, fruit-focused treats and a pescatarian and vegetarian brunch menu inspired by the fruit parlours of Tokyo.
That lines up with the original cafe, which their website describes as vegetable-focused, with matcha imported directly from Kyoto, plenty of vegan options and some local wild seafood.
The new address comes with family history too.
Greg says the Abbott Street building went up in 1901, around when his great-grandparents came over to Vancouver.
He says the space “would have originally been a part of a discount department store for workers.”
“Which makes me imagine my great grandparents coming to our exact spot to stock up for their journey to work as fruit pickers in the interior,” he says.
He also points to Vancouver’s past as a major hub for Japanese trade and immigration, and says the matcha they’re pouring comes from Kyoto producers dating back to that era.
The owners announced the second location on their Instagram in late September, calling it their “2nd spot coming this fall.”
“Building out Aiyaohno Matcha and Fruit Parlour has been a long and challenging journey for us but we are at the final stretch thanks to so much support from friends and the community,” the couple says.
Until then, they say to come say hi at the original Carrall Street cafe.
Aiyaohno joins other upcoming Vancouver openings like Doe Coffee, Forecast Coffee and Tucci’s.
Address
214 Abbott Street, Vancouver BC
