⭐️ 10+ New & Closing: Japanese Curry Chain Gets Lease Terminated

In Partnership with Tourism Burnaby

👀 Plan Your Burnaby Food Adventure

It’s that time of the year! Bite of Burnaby is officially back from March 1 to 31.

This year is the biggest yet, with a whopping 75+ restaurants doing prix-fixe menus and limited-time offers.

There are 16+ ticketed events too, so you can eat, learn, and try something new!

Gooooodmorning there!

Here’s your March 13th local guide to what’s new, what’s gone, and what to do this week across Vancouver, Burnaby, and Richmond.

This week in 30 seconds
🥟 Fresh Drops: the newest openings
💔 Heartbreaks: the spots that said goodbye
💸 Deals Desk: discounts worth actually leaving the house for
📌 The Bulletin Board: your event plans

Sunbreak Plan (aka if the weather is finally cooperating)

Pick 1 Fresh Drop, grab 1 deal, then lock in 1 Bulletin Board event.
That’s a full clear.

Start here: Fresh Drops 👇

👀 FRESH DROPS

Spots opened or are opening soon

🍔 Smash hit burger spot expands to Fraser Street - Between 2 Buns opens as a dual-concept space with Egg and Co.

🍩 Popular North Shore donut and fried chicken shop opens in Vancouver - Cream Pony takes over former Cartems space on Main Street.

☕️ Zero-waste cafe launches second location - Nomad Coffee opens in Kitsilano with free coffee for BYOC.

🥟 New handmade dumpling shop opens in Burnaby - Baohaus offers 20+ dumpling flavors on Kingsway.

🎶 Music-inspired cafe to take over Yaletown space - Octave Cafe brings harmony to former Matchstick Coffee location.

🍬 Sweet takeover in Yaletown - BC's largest candy store, Ricardo's Kandy Korner, to open in the former Juice Truck location.

☕️ theVenti Coffee expands in Davie Village - Korean chain opens its second downtown Vancouver location, serving oversized, affordable drinks.

👉 See more Fresh Drops here.

💔 HEARTBREAKS

Spots that closed or are closing soon

😱 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.

💔 Beloved Richmond seafood restaurant closes for family reasons - Little Karp shuts its doors after heartfelt decision by owner.

⛩ 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.

😢 Vancouver taco staple shutting down all locations - Gringo is closing all three spots by mid-March, citing ongoing challenges.

😢 Main Street landmark Goldilocks bids farewell after 18 years - Iconic Filipino bakery closes March 15; Burnaby branch remains open.

👉 See all recent Heartbreaks here.

🌸 Cherry Blossom Food Fest Returns!

Get your spring outfits ready!

The 3rd annual Vancouver Cherry Blossom Food Festival is officially back this March 20th and it is our biggest yet!

This spring, we’re featuring 27 vendors and over 70 spring themed items for you to try!

Vendors include: Beaucoup Bakery, Matcha Cafe Maiko, Trafiq, Whisk Matcha Cafe, Fufu Pancake, and more!

You can check the full vendor and item line up at the official festival site.

And ofcourse, everyone’s favourite festival passport and missions are returning. But this spring, we’re bringing the gacha machine activity that we debuted in Fall!

💰 DEALS DESK

Money-saving food deals

☕️ Free Coffee at Nomad Coffee Kitsilano - Celebrate their opening with a free drink; March 14 only, BYOC (Bring Your Own Cup); first 200 guests, one drink per person, excludes pour-over coffee

🔥 Celebrate March Birthdays at Haidilao - Booking your special "Birthday Celebration" in March? Enjoy a festive setup, a birthday song, and an iconic Marbled Beef Cake on us; book at least one day in advance; available from March 13 – March 27;

🍜 $15 Spring Break Ramen Deal at Beest Vancouver - Choose a signature mazemen with 1 oz roast beef and a side, including a small don or 2 pieces of karaage chicken; available until March 27, weekdays only from 2:00 PM – 5:30 PM; dine-in only, membership bonus includes a FREE noodle upgrade!

🌯 Cheap Monday at Budgies Burritos - Enjoy $10 burritos and $3 beers every Monday; helps support local amidst Broadway closure

🗞️ FOOD NEWS

Things that happened around Metro Vancouver

😱 Richmond BBQ spot shuts down - Mr. Beigai BBQ closed due to pest infestation and unsanitary conditions.

🍨 New food court sundae coming to Costco Canada - Caramel Brownie Sundae arriving soon nationwide.

📕 4 Best Bite of Burnaby Menus in Edmonds & Market Crossing Areas

📖 5 Best Bite of Burnaby Menus in The Heights in 2026

📚 5 Best Metrotown Bite of Burnaby Menus To Check Out in 2026

🗓️ THE BULLETIN BOARD

Our curated events calendar

🍽️ [FESTIVAL] Bite of Burnaby (Mar 1 - 31) - dining celebration featuring diverse global cuisines; @ Burnaby, various locations; TICKETED

🌸 [FESTIVAL] Vancouver Cherry Blossom Food Festival (Mar 20 - May 3) - Month-long self-guided festival with cherry blossom-inspired food from 27 vendors; @ across Metro Vancouver; FREE

🎌 [FESTIVAL] Genkikuma Fest (March 14 - 29) - marketplace with Japanese themed items, games, and prizes; @ Lansdowne Centre, Richmond; 10AM – 7PM (FRI & SAT until 8PM); FREE ENTRY

🎻 [FESTIVAL] CelticFest Vancouver (Mar 13 - 15) - celebrate Celtic heritage with music, dancing, and markets; @ Metro Vancouver; TICKETED

🦸‍♂️ [EVENT] Vancouver Comic & Toy Show (Mar 14 - 15) - over 400 tables of collectibles and cosplay fun; @ 2901 E Hastings St, Vancouver; TICKETED

🥖 [POP UP] Bread Window (Mar 7 - 28) - enjoy fresh focaccia and wine every Saturday; @ 417 Industrial Ave, Vancouver;

🥧 [POP UP] Coyote’s Cafe Pop Up (Mar 7 - 29) - Aussie meat pies and Melbourne-style coffee in a nostalgic diner; @ Laura’s Coffee Shop, Vancouver;

🌷 [EVENT] Spring at the Farm (Mar 27 - Apr 12) - magical spring experience with baby animals, tulip forest, and more; @ Maan Farms Abbotsford; TICKETED

🗓️ Check out more events happening in Metro Vancouver here.