Vancouver has lost another longtime food spot as Bao Down has officially closed its doors.
A Noms Mag community member shared an Instagram story from the restaurant announcing that their last day of operation was August 27, marking the end of the brand’s nearly decade-long run in the city.
Bao Down first opened in 2015 in Gastown, introducing Asian steamed buns with a West Coast twist.
The creative fillings and playful style made it an instant success, leading to rapid expansion.
Just a year later, the team opened a second Gastown location with a modern Filipino snack bar concept, and by 2016 they had added the gastro bar restaurant in Olympic Village.
Over time, the brand’s multiple locations began to close, leaving only the Olympic Village spot.
After the pandemic, the restaurant operated as a bit of a hybrid space, with several other brands cycling through the same kitchen.
We even remember visiting when the space hosted a special ramen pop-up.
Now, Bao Down has quietly shut down for good, closing the chapter on a once-buzzy name in Vancouver’s dining scene.
The closure also adds to the steady turnover happening in Olympic Village, which has recently seen the arrival of Jay Nok and Mon Paris as well as the closure of Gusto.
Bao Down now joins a growing list of longtime Vancouver restaurants that have disappeared this year, including Pizzeria Farina, Penang Bistro, and Kibune Sushi Restaurant.
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Address: 115 W 2nd Ave, Vancouver, BC V5Y 1B8