A Richmond corner that poured bubble tea and stacked bubble waffles for two decades is now filled with bagels and house-made cream cheese instead.
Dear Garden, a fruit-forward cafe from first-time owner Sarah Kim, just opened in the former Bubble Queen space at 8888 Odlin Crescent in Pacific Plaza.
Bubble Queen wrapped its final weekend in late May after 21 years, and this is not the same shop under a new sign.
Dear Garden is a completely different concept that she describes as having fruit as the heart of the menu, with house-made sauces designed to push the flavour of the fruit forward.
It is a clear turn from the bubble tea and bubble waffles the unit was known for, toward bagels, sandwiches, salads, and fresh fruit drinks.
That shows up in cream cheese folded with homemade fruit preserves and sandwiches finished with a signature kiwi mayonnaise.
If she had to send you to one item, it is the smoked salmon bagel with homemade mango cream cheese.
“The sweetness of the mango and the rich flavor of the smoked salmon complement each other beautifully,” Sarah says.
She is also proud of the homemade blueberry cream cheese, the Garden Club Sandwich, and the Smoked Salmon Salad.
The cafe is small, about 650 square feet with roughly 12 to 14 seats.
Sarah calls it “small, cute, and welcoming,” with an open-style salad bar and cozy dining areas meant for slowing down over fresh food with family and friends.
The open-style salad bar anchors the room, a setup aimed at fresh, sit-down plates rather than a quick takeaway counter.
Sarah was born and raised in Korea and moved to Canada in her early twenties, where the mix of cuisines pulled her into food and, eventually, years of traveling in search of new flavours.
She says that grew into a dream of a cafe that celebrates nature, sustainability, and creativity, one she decided three years ago to make real.
Her wish is a simple one, that “every guest who walks through our doors enjoys a truly happy experience,” whether they come for a quick coffee or a long sit with friends.
She also credits the previous Bubble Queen owner for helping her get here, saying she does not think she would be where she is today “without her guidance, encouragement, and generosity.”
Dear Garden joins the list of recently opened food spots in Richmond like Taiwan Bento 101, DollarBOBA, and Pho 19.
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Address: 8888 Odlin Crescent, Richmond, BC