Tiramisu fans in the city will be excited about this one.
A tiny new dessert counter fully dedicated to the Italian classic has quietly opened along Kingsway in Burnaby, and it goes by the name Tiramisu Republic.
The shop is the work of Italian founder Riccardo, who has spent over 11 years in Vancouver and more than 25 years in hospitality, having launched restaurants and delis in other parts of the world before this one.
Riccardo shared with Noms Magazine that the concept is deliberately narrow.
“We keep it simple, we focus on tiramisù, but we do it in different flavors,” he shared.
“Everything is made to be creamy, balanced, and not too sweet, so you can actually enjoy it without feeling too heavy.”
Six flavours are rotating through the counter on opening, all made in house daily on site.
On a recent visit, we picked up the mango and the matcha, expecting the usual heavy and dense tiramisu experience, and were pleasantly surprised at how light both tasted.
Ricardo’s wife explained that those two flavours happen to be made without eggs, which changes the texture and keeps them from sitting heavy.
For anyone walking in cold, the founder pointed to a clear starting order.
“If it’s your first time, you should definitely try the classic,” Riccardo told us.
“Then maybe go for pistachio or matcha if you feel like trying something a bit different, those are always super popular.”
The full launch lineup is Classic, Pistachio, Matcha, Mango, Nutella, and Salted Caramel, with more on the way.
They shared that seasonal drops are coming in the next few months, including a lychee tiramisu, plus a new multi-flavour pack for people who cannot commit to just one.
The shop itself is genuinely tiny, at roughly 500 square feet with about 10 seats max, leaning into what Riccardo described as a minimal but cozy aesthetic that keeps the focus on the product in the counter.
The main counter puts all six tiramisus on display in a neat row, and there is limited window seating for anyone who wants to eat in instead of taking the boxes home.
Ricardo told us he picked this corner of Burnaby on purpose.
“I’ve always been attracted to that part of Burnaby for its diverse and evolving food scene,” Riccardo said.
“While it is strongly rooted in Asian cuisine, it offers a unique openness to new ideas and fusion concepts.”
That openness has translated to quick demand.
Riccardo mentioned that in the first days of opening, the shop kept selling out way faster than expected, which the team has read as a sign that the narrow concept is clicking with locals.
Tiramisu Republic joins a busy stretch of recent Burnaby openings, including Alfa Tea, Oakberry Metrotown, and Fortune Katsu.
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Address: 4611 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC V5H 2B3