The most anticipated opening of the winter has finally set a date.
After teasing the project back in August, Season 11 Top Chef Canada winner Chanthy Yen is officially opening the doors to TOUK this week.
The restaurant will begin its soft opening on Alberni Street this Friday, December 19th.
They take over the previous Archer unit.
This is a massive moment for Vancouver’s food scene.
It marks the country’s first-ever “contemporary Cambodian” restaurant.
For Chanthy, this is a deeply personal homecoming after years of cooking in Montreal and serving as the personal chef to the Prime Minister.
The name TOUK, which means “boat” in Khmer, represents passage, memory, and heritage.
“I’ve always dreamed of a space where I could celebrate Cambodian cuisine in a way that feels authentic to me,” Chanthy said in a statement.
“TOUK is about honoring my roots while pushing the boundaries of what Cambodian food can be in today’s culinary landscape.”
He has teamed up with heavy hitters Dave Loeuy of Song and Terrence Feng of Kin Kao to make it happen.
The menu is designed to push boundaries while honoring his roots.
You will finally be able to taste his “Top Chef” winning dish.
That is the Pan-roasted Wild Boar Tomahawk served with a Cambodian Mole.
Other standout items include “Babor,” a delicate rice porridge layered with snow crab, egg yolk, and Kampot pepper foam.
They are also serving “Coquilles Mee Katang,” which pairs East Coast scallops with wide noodles and sea urchin butter.
The drinks program is equally ambitious.
It is led by Tara Davies, who was named Vancouver Magazine’s Bartender of the Year for 2025.
Her cocktail list draws inspiration from the spices and aromatics of different Cambodian provinces.
Inside, TOUK will span nearly 2,300 sq. ft, with 50 seats in the main dining room, five at the bar, and a second-level standing bar called LOOLAA designed for up to 20 guests.
If you want to get in early, there are some specific rules to follow.
From December 19th to the 21st, the restaurant will operate on a first-come, first-served basis.
Reservations will officially open for dates starting December 26th.
The team also announced a special 5-course New Year’s Eve tasting menu to ring in 2026.
TOUK joins a wave of recently opened food spots in Vancouver like Onigiri-Ya Downtown, Slo Coffee Downtown, and Goldie’s Fraser.
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: 1152 Alberni St, Vancouver, BC