We love our local Vancouver spots, but it’s hard not to get excited about some of the viral eats coming to the city from around the globe.
Whether it’s tasty noodles, drool-worthy cookies, or your morning coffee, here’s our year-end roundup of all the fantastic international chains that opened in Vancouver this year.
Who could forget the long lines in front of Marugame Udon for the first month (and maybe longer) of it being open?
In February 2024, the chain opened an 80-seat restaurant in Vancouver offering its signature Sanuki-style udon noodles, tempura, and rice bowls for lunch and dinner.
Address: 589 Beatty Street, Vancouver
Talking about lines, we visited Crumbl Cookies a couple of months after opening and still had to wait almost an hour to get our hands on these viral cookies.
For those who don’t know, Crumbl Cookies, which coins itself as having the “world’s best chocolate chip cookie,” is known for its signature and rotating lineup of larger-than-life cookies, all served up in a perfectly pink box.
Address: Clock Tower Centre — 1125 Nicola Avenue, Port Coquitlam
While this was technically a pop-up that has come and gone, for a brief moment in time, Vancouver did have the chance to try % Arabica’s coffee.
Additionally, the chain opened its first BC location in Whistler earlier this year, and it’s gearing up to open a cafe inside CF Richmond Town Centre.
The Waffle Co. opened its very first international chain right here in Metro Vancouver earlier this year.
The chain is best known for its variety of sweet waffles, such as its TWC Special Waffle, which is topped with homemade Nutella, crushed brownie, white chocolate, and vanilla ice cream.
The Waffle Co. also serves mini pancakes in different sweet varieties, as well as french fries, “thick” shakes, and waffle cakes.
Address: 7327 137th Street, Surrey
Marco Ovies/Daily Hive
To finish off the list, the spot that perhaps drew the biggest line in 2024 was the Hello Kitty Cafe.
In May 2024, the cafe opened its first-ever Canadian spot in Vancouver and drew massive lines spanning multiple blocks of fans waiting to get in, some of whom had camped out the night before to make sure they were the first to check it out.
The cafe features two floors filled to the brim with Hello Kitty branding, from the merch to the artwork and even Hello Kitty-shaped eats.
Address: 1274 Robson Street, Vancouver
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