No matter what year it is, Vancouver diners are savvy and ready to sink their teeth into anything.
That’s evident to us here at Dished as we keep a close eye on what’s opening, and what you are loving after launches. It’s safe to say no matter the reason or the season, the folks in this neck of the woods just love to eat and drink, plain and simple.
Exploring what’s new when it comes to dining is a hobby and passion for many of us. Whether it’s a famous (and often overhyped) international chain, something new and experimental from a local team of seasoned professionals, or an unexpected entry from an industry newcomer, it’s never a dull moment in Vancouver’s food scene.
As we prepare to close the menu on our eating adventures in 2024 and look to the next 365 days of devouring, one clear question comes to mind: where are we most excited to dine in 2025?
While this selection is inevitably ever-evolving, we’ve gathered some of the most anticipated Vancouver restaurant openings of 2025 to watch out for.
There have been some murmurs on Reddit that the beloved chain Din Tai Fung pulled out of its first Canadian location, but don’t panic. Dished has confirmed that the 1132 Alberni Street Vancouver outpost will be going full “steam” ahead in 2025.
Founded in 1972, Din Tai Fung now has more than 170 locations in 14 countries around the globe. The eatery is famously known for its Xiao Long Bao, Spicy Wontons, Cucumber Salad, and its signature spicy sauce.
The XLB is a staple menu item that made the brand famous in the ’70s. Each dumpling is handcrafted using an 18-fold process to ensure “the perfect marriage of delicate skin with a rich, savoury filling,” this is often referred to as the “golden ratio.”
On top of those tasty eats, the restaurant boasts many Michelin nods around the globe too.
River Rock Casino
Let’s continue the trend of talking big names. Since Fogo de Chão at The Post never made it to launch, we’ve turned our attention to another prominent name in meat: Gordon Ramsay Steak.
Set to launch at Richmond’s River Rock Casino Resort, this will be the second concept to arrive in Metro Vancouver from the famous chef, known for his incredible catchphrases like “idiot sandwich” and more importantly, his steadily growing empire of restaurant chains all over the globe and now, here in BC.
The TV personality and acclaimed culinary figure launched one of his more casual restaurants, Gordon Ramsay Burger, at the Great Canadian Casino Vancouver in Coquitlam last December.
Gordon Ramsay Steak specializes in dry-aged meats and aims to offer a modern take on the classic American steakhouse experience.
The original 2014-opened Time Out Market in Lisbon, Portugal. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
Another big incoming that can’t be ignored is Oakridge Park’s Time Out Market. When it was first announced back in 2022 it was poised to be the world’s largest.
Time Out Market’s first Canadian location opened in downtown Montreal at the Eaton Centre, the Vancouver destination will be the second in the country. Guests can expect 60,000 sq ft featuring 17 live cooking kitchens, bars, coffee spots, and more spread across two levels. This includes 900+ seats with indoor and outdoor dining options.
This market concept first opened in 2014 in Lisbon, Portugal, in a historic market hall.
After becoming a hot spot destination in that city, Time Out launched additional market locations in Miami, New York, Boston, Montreal, Chicago, and Dubai in the years following.
Brooklyn Dumpling Shop in Calgary, Alberta (Charlie Hart/Daily Hive)
To wrap up the topic of notable international names entering Vancouver, it’s worth mentioning the viral automat dumpling franchise taking social media by storm, Brooklyn Dumpling Shop, is still set to launch in downtown Vancouver.
Founded in 2021 by NYC restaurateur Stratis Morfogen, Brooklyn Dumpling Shop offers 32 unique flavours of dumplings all day via a contactless ordering system.
This means customers can get food from state-of-the-art, temperature-controlled food lockers anytime they want – it’s like a vending machine, but for dumplings.
Think of flavours like Mac & Cheese, Pepperoni Pizza, and Korean Rib-Eye dumplings.
Brooklyn Dumpling Shop will launch at 488 Robson Street, the former location of Food Republic, a short-lived digital food hall concept.
General Manager Bobby Kongsilp and Executive Chef Bumpen “Jay Nok” Khangrang will lead the team for Jay Nok.
Now, let’s get into some upcoming and local buzz-worthy openings.
The Wentworth Hospitality Group, aka the folks behind much-loved dining destinations Tableau Bar Bistro, Homer St. Cafe & Bar, and Maxine’s Cafe & Bar, have something else up their sleeves: Folietta. The new venture will focus on regional Italian fare and will be located in East Vancouver at 1480 Nanaimo Street (within Amacon’s latest development, The Grant).
If you were a fan of Burrard Street’s Sala Thai, you are in for a treat, as the family behind the Vancouver dining staple is cooking up something awesome in Olympic Village, Jay Nok Modern Thai. Aiming to honour Sala Thai’s legacy while forging an “entirely new path,” the restaurant promises a lively lunch and dinner service once it opens its doors.
The June Team (Juno Kim)
The talented professionals behind The Keefer Bar are bringing us June, or June on Cambie as it’s sometimes called. This joint will be a new brasserie-inspired concept located at 3305 Cambie Street.
Most recently, the team behind Michelin-starred St. Lawrence shared plans for a new spot called Chez Céline, coined as “a French affair coming to Fraserhood.”
These are just some of the places we’ll be watching closely and we look forward to checking them out when they launch, along with all the other Vancouver restaurant openings on our radar.
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