Back in May, we gave you a heads-up about CHÉN, a new Vietnamese restaurant opening in Burnaby Heights that promised to bring the soulful warmth of Hanoi-style cooking to the neighbourhood.
Well, it’s here and based on the crowd we saw during our visit, Burnaby locals are already loving it!
CHÉN officially soft opened in late June, taking over the former Sushi UOmo space on Hastings.
Owner Minh Luu previously shared with Noms Magazine that the idea behind CHÉN was born from a craving far deeper than food.
Originally from Hanoi, Minh arrived in Vancouver as an international student more than 10 years ago.
After studying, graduating, and building her life here, she realized there was something she wanted to give back to the city: the warmth of traditional Northern Vietnamese cooking, served with nostalgia and care.
“I wanted to bring the warmth of traditional family meals, the street flavors of Hanoi, and a sense of nostalgia for anyone who’s ever missed home. At Chén, we don’t just cook food — we cook memories,” Minh shared.
And on a sunny afternoon, we stopped by (as we always do – anonymously) to check it out ourselves.
Even with the sun blazing outside, the place was packed, with tables full and a small wait at the door.
Inside, the space feels like you’ve stepped into a memory.
Warm wood tones, bamboo pendant lights, nostalgic Đông Hồ art prints, and a giant mural of a flower-covered Hanoi storefront wrap around the cozy 1,500 sq. ft dining room.
Even the bowls and plates are custom-selected from the famous Bát Tràng pottery village, bringing an authenticity that feels deeply personal.
CHÉN’s menu is massive and reads more like a love letter to Northern Vietnamese cuisine than your typical pho joint.
There’s everything from chicken noodle soups to rice plates and vegetarian options.
But what sets it apart is the lesser-seen dishes – things like turmeric-laced soups, Hanoi-style pork parcels, and fermented shrimp paste platters that speak directly to those who’ve missed the flavours of home.
We opted for one of their signature dishes, the Bún Nem, which comes with Hanoi-style vermicelli noodles and crispy crab parcels.
And yes, we had to try their egg coffee – which was less sweet than others we’ve tried in the city.
We chatted briefly with one of the servers, who told us the place has been slammed since opening and it shows.
Based on our experience and from what we saw on the online reviews, the service is on the slowside.
But since they’re still in soft open phase, it isn’t that surprising. So have that in mind when going in.
They now join other new Burnaby openings like Benzo Café, Hafu Dessert, and 88 Town in bringing fresh energy to the food scene here.
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: 4280 Hastings St, Burnaby, BC