⭐️ 10+ New & Closing: Japanese Donut Chain Opening In Vancouver

Gooooodmorning there!

Here’s your April 17th 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

Start here: Fresh Drops 👇

👀 FRESH DROPS

Spots opened or are opening soon

🍩 Popular Japanese "raw" donut shop hits Kingsway - Truffle Donut is replacing Ikoi Donut, offering airy, melt-in-your-mouth "nama" treats.

🍜 Beloved French-Vietnamese cafe reveals noodle bar - Linh Noodle Bar is coming soon to the former Bacaro space in Vancouver House.

🧋 Anticipated tea brand to hit Richmond - Molly Tea opens its first BC location at Union Square on April 18.

🐑 Happy Lamb takes over Food Street - Replacing the stalled Bellwether project, Happy Lamb is opening a new "Hot Pot & Grill" concept in Richmond.

☕️ Local coffee chain takes over former Starbucks - Pallet Coffee is opening its 8th cafe near Olympic Village station this June.

🇭🇰 Beloved HK cafe expanding to Richmond - Cafe Gloucester is bringing its massive all-day menu to the former Little Karp unit.

🥗 Montreal's cult-favourite salad chain coming - Mandy’s Gourmet Salads is opening two locations in Kitsilano and Coal Harbour.

🌮 Tacofino to open massive Tofino location - Iconic taco brand expands with a second permanent shop and expanded menu this spring.

🥣 Luxury yogurt shop opens in Richmond - Yogurie soft opens on Buswell Street, serving $22 cold-brew Greek yogurt bowls with premium fruit.

👉 See more Fresh Drops here.

🌸 Cherry Blossom Food Fest Keepings Blooming!

Get your spring outfits ready!

The 3rd annual Vancouver Cherry Blossom Food Festival is officially back until May 3 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 like previous festivals, the Passport and Mission activities return! Yes, that means every festival item purchase will grant you stamps and entries to the tiered sweepstake and prize pool!

The Gacha Machine that we debuted in Fall Food Fest is also here!

Purchase 2 festival items, and you get a coin to play the gacha machine. Inside the machine are various prizes like branded buttons, free festival items, and a rare prize!

But there are only 2 gacha machines, which will be rotating between the vendors every single week.

From Apr 17 - 23, you can find the machine at La Saison and Elephant Garden!

💔 HEARTBREAKS

Spots that closed or are closing soon

🔥 Richmond food street staple closes - Golden Time BBQ has shuttered, with a new Korean BBQ spot taking over.

🧋 Longtime Joyce Street boba shop closes - Sunflower Bubble Tea has shut down after 20 years as the owners retire.

🍱 Richmond Japanese staple shuts down - Ajishou Japanese Restaurant has permanently closed its Garden City Plaza location after eight years.

🧋 Burnaby bubble tea shop quietly closes - Lattea at Crystal Mall has shut down, joining several recent Kingsway-area closures.

👉 See all recent Heartbreaks here.

💰 DEALS DESK

Money-saving food deals

🍜 Kinton Ramen Coquitlam hosts 50% off sale - Celebrate their grand opening this Saturday, April 18, with half-price ramen bowls all day.

🍨 Passione Gelato 7th Anniversary Bash — BOGO scoops and $10 pints to celebrate seven years; April 18 & 19 only; first 50 guests buying 4 pints get 20% off for 6 months.

🥖 BOGO Deals at Bánh Mì Très Bon — Buy one get one free favorites or free drinks; available daily; BOGO offer valid 3–5PM only.

🧋 20% Off Spring Specials at CoCo Bubble Tea — Refreshing matcha and fruit tea deals starting at $6; available until April 30; valid at 15 select locations.

🌯 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

⚠️ Massive 7-Eleven sandwich recall - CFIA recalls 16 products, including the Japanese egg sandwich, over Listeria concerns.

☕️ Vancouver cafes land on top 100 list — Nemesis Coffee ranks 4th in North America, while Kitsilano’s Cowdog takes the 80th spot.

🧋 $50 bubble tea on Marketplace - A Richmond listing for a month-old MACU Tea drink surfaces following recent local closures.

🥟 Seth Rogen spotted at local dim sum - The Vancouver native visited Michelin-rated Little Bird Dim Sum for craft beer and traditional bites.

⭐ K-Pop star's favorite Drive spots - Jackson Wang spotted at Nomo Nomo and The Lunch Lady.

🗓️ THE BULLETIN BOARD

Our curated events calendar

🌸 [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

🛒 [POP UP] Made in 604 Pop-Up Market (April 18 - 19) - pet-friendly market with 50+ local small businesses and handmade goods; @ Heritage Hall; FREE

🛍️ [POP UP] Portobello West Spring Market (April 18 - 19) - seasonal market featuring 69+ local makers of fashion, jewelry, and art; @ 181 Roundhouse Mews; TICKETED

🥧 [POP UP] Coyote’s Cafe Pop Up (April 4 - 26) - nostalgic Aussie diner serving meat pies and Melbourne-style specialty coffee; @ 1945 Manitoba St

🗓️ Check out more events happening in Metro Vancouver here.