It’s no secret that the restaurant industry has been hit HARD by the pandemic and post-pandemic economic downturn…
It has been basically a constant barrage of bad news for restaurant owners.
And it has become the reason that many beloved restaurants permanently close their doors.
Below we’ve compiled a list of 15+ Vancouver restaurants and food spots that are on their way out or have closed recently:
🧋 A longtime Richmond bubble tea and dessert spot is shutting down after 21 years – If you grew up in Richmond, there’s a decent chance your first Ferrero Rocher bubble drink came from Bubble Queen Cafe.
🌮 A West End Mexican restaurant got its lease terminated for unpaid rent – Los Chavos, the Denman Street spot known for birria tacos and chilaquiles, closes after under 3 years.
☕ Another stall at the Amazing Brentwood food court is closing – Soon Coffee shuts down May 31, with its beans moving to Monogram Coffee.
🍕 A North Shore pizzeria just quietly pulled out of its Vancouver expansion – Alberello scrapped its planned Denman Street expansion, and the unit is back on the market.
🥢 A West End Korean-Chinese restaurant quietly shut down after 8 years – Joongwon on Robson Street, which reopened just last year, is now closed and being replaced by a Hong Kong cart noodle shop.
🥣 A longtime Richmond food court stall has shut down after 15+ years – Taikoo Yummy, the HK-style stall in Pacific Plaza, quietly closed with the owner retiring.
🫕 Richmond’s OG DIY malatang spot has quietly shut down after nearly 6 years – Grandma Liu closed at Union Square, with all related JOJO Pot locations now shuttered too.
🐑 A Northern Chinese lamb spot on Kingsway has quietly shut down after 8 years – Fortune Lamb Dining is gone, with a new Uyghur restaurant already taking over the space as of late April.
🥞 Vancouver’s iconic crêpe shop shuts down after 20+ years, quietly reopens nearby – Cafe Crepe has closed its neon-signed Granville and Robson flagship, though a new location at 672 Granville is now open.
🍖 A Downtown BBQ and bar quietly shut down after just 5 months – Eldoria has closed on Robson, with signage already replaced by a new Korean street pub called Solo Pocha.
🍱 A 4.5-star food court Japanese don stall in Richmond is gone after 3 years – Katte has quietly closed inside Lansdowne Centre, with the unit already cleared out.
🍜 A Malaysian restaurant closes after less than a year – Sedap Plus shut down in the former Tropika space on Cambie as a new tenant prepares to move in.
🧋 Robson loses a Taiwanese bubble tea spot after 18 months – Lattea quietly shut its downtown location, leaving the brand with just its Richmond flagship.
🥐 Swiss Bakery closes its UBC spot after two years – Swiss Bakery is officially done on campus, but the Mount Pleasant shop and catering side are still running.
🔥 Richmond food street staple closes – Golden Time BBQ has shuttered, with a new Korean BBQ spot taking over.
🧋 Longtime Joyce Street bbt shop closes – Sunflower Bubble Tea has shut down after 20 years; a Korean concept is coming.
🍦 Popular gelato shop closes at Brentwood – Bella Gelateria has permanently closed its Burnaby mall location after three years of operation.
🍱 Richmond Japanese staple shuts doors – Ajishou Japanese Restaurant has permanently closed its Garden City Plaza location after 8 years.
🥣 Burgoo closes North Vancouver location – The Lower Lonsdale comfort food staple has permanently closed its doors after 20 years.
🧋 Burnaby bubble tea shop quietly closes – Lattea at Crystal Mall has shuttered, joining several recent food closures in the area.
🥩 West End steakhouse closing already – Handson Steak and Frites is shutting its Denman Street doors on April 12th.
🍜 Richmond food court stall quietly shuts down – Haoyijia in Aberdeen Centre has permanently closed following its recent for-sale listing.
🥪 Famed cheesesteak shop closes – American Cheesesteak Co has shut its Metrotown location after 10 years, planning a future relocation.
🔥 Beloved Burnaby skewer spot closes – After 7 years, Roadside Spicy Pot has officially shut down its Kingsway location.
🔥 Popular Robson hot pot shuts down – Liu Yi Shou has quietly closed and chained its doors, with the space now listed for sale.
🐷 Tonkatsu spot closes at Brentwood – Saboten has permanently closed its TABLES food court stall after five years.
🍞 Purebread Kitsilano shuts its doors – The West 4th location has officially closed after less than two years in business.
🧇 Burnaby Korean street food gem closes – Kim’s Korean Waffles shuts for the season for six months.
☕️ Broadway cafe to shut down – Lumiere Cafe is closing its West Broadway location on March 28 for a reset.
🍜 Robson hand-pulled noodle shop closes – Noodle Arts has shut after 8 years, though a new concept is teased.
🍜 West End Vietnamese spot closes – Family-owned Pho Q&M has permanently shut down its Denman Street location after four years.
🇹🇭 Burnaby Thai staple closes after 20 years – Green Basil is retiring, with Yin Ji Chang Fen already replacing the space.
🔥 Burnaby K-BBQ staple closes – Arisu on North Road has shut down after a decade, being replaced by Sizzle AYCE.
🍲 Global Malatang chain exits BC – YGF Malatang in Richmond has permanently closed its doors after six years on Ackroyd Road.
🍝 Farewell to an Italian gem – Bacaro, the Michelin-recommended Italian eatery in Coal Harbour, closes its doors.
🌱 Yaletown’s longtime Plant-Based Spot Bids Adieu – MeeT’s Yaletown location closing March 28 after 8 years.
🍜 Richmond food court favorite retires after 15+ years – Taikoo Yummy Food to close April 28.
☕️ Trees Coffee Davie quietly closes – Organic Bites takes over with new coffee and wellness menu.
😱 Richmond soup curry spot closes doors – Garaku’s lease terminated due to $53K in missed rent.
🧋 MACU Tea Richmond closure shocker – Third location shutting down, leaving fans puzzled and disappointed.
🚪 Richmond’s beloved Manzo Izakaya closes – After 26 years, Manzo Izakaya says farewell on Alexandra Road.
⛩ Burnaby sushi spot closes – Sushi Toki shutters after three years; Fortune Katsu moving in.
🍞 Sandwich shop says goodbye – Richmond’s beloved Smokehouse Sandwich Co. closed after 12 memorable years.
😢 UBC’s beloved Lebanese eatery closes – Jamjar Canteen has permanently closed its UBC location.
🔪 Beloved Richmond sushi restaurant bids farewell – Seto Japanese Restaurant closes after 29 years on Alexandra Road.
😢 Main Street landmark Goldilocks bids farewell after 18 years – Iconic Filipino bakery closes March 15; Burnaby branch remains open.
🔒 Richmond coffee shop closure – My Coffee in Lansdowne Centre closes after 15 years due to lease non-renewal.
🏗️ Darby’s Kitsilano home demolished – Landmark pub’s 45-year location makes way for redevelopment.
😢 Vancouver taco staple shutting down all locations – Gringo is closing all three spots by mid-March, citing ongoing challenges.
🧋MACU Tea closes 2 locations suddenly – Burnaby and Robson spots shut pre-mango season, with Richmond staying open.
😔 Taiwanese beef noodle chain closes in Richmond – Chef Hung ends 16-year run at Aberdeen Centre.
🍔 Vancouver favourite bids farewell – Rice Burger in West Point Grey closes after nine years.
🔒 Chinese yogurt chain closes Kerrisdale store – Hey! I Am Yogost shutters amid shrinking Vancouver presence.
Without sounding too doom and gloom…know for a fact that the world keeps revolving regardless.
All we can do is cherish the memories we’ve made at these food spots and understand that change is inevitable. Want to see what changes are coming up?
Check out our list of new Vancouver restaurants that recently opened and are opening soon.