⭐️ 10+ New & Closing: Popular Jasmine Tea Brand Announces Opening Date

In Partnership with Bai Bua Thai Restaurant

A Rare Northern Thai Curry Just Landed On Hastings

Bai Bua Thai has been quietly serving authentic Northern Thai food out of a family run kitchen on Hastings since 2015.

As of April 1, they've added Kaeng Hang Le to the permanent menu, a slow-braised pork curry cooked for 3 to 4 hours in ginger, garlic, tamarind, and warm spices.

With a side of rice, this combo is heavenly and highly recommended!

It's the kind of dish you almost never see in Vancouver.

Pair it with their Khao Soi and you've got a full taste of Northern Thailand without leaving East Van.

Gooooodmorning there!

Here’s your April 10th 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

🍵 Popular jasmine tea brand finally opening - Molly Tea launches its first BC location at Richmond's Union Square on April 18.

🧋 New fruit tea brand replaces MACU - Alfa Tea Concept is taking over three former MACU locations, debuting a "Day Tea, Night Bar" flagship downtown.

☕️ No-Tipping Roastery takes over Main Street - Noct. Coffee soft opens April 11-12 at the former Matchstick Coffee space.

🦞 Seafood boil chain heads to Burnaby - Captain’s Boil is bringing its messy, hands-on bags to the new Gilmore Place development.

🥗 Popular salad chain headed to South Flats - Field and Social is opening its 5th location on Great Northern Way this spring.

🥖 Olympic Village gains new banh mi spot - Obanhmi is taking over the former Hon’s Wonton House space with fresh Vietnamese sandwiches.

🐙 Unique takoyaki spot hits City Square - Takogun offers creative toppings like tamago egg salad and creamy mayo mentaiko.

🍜 Richmond’s viral $10 noodle spot opens - Dao Field is now serving affordable, authentic Hunan-style rice noodles across from Richmond Public Market.

🥟 New AYCE dim sum spot opens - Neptune Corner launches in Surrey, offering unlimited dim sum, hot pot, and skewers starting at $23.80.

🍦 Vancouver’s only frozen custard shop going permanent - Lucy’s is opening its first storefront in Strathcona this summer.

👉 See more Fresh Drops here.

🌸 Cherry Blossom Food Fest IS HERE!

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 3 - 9, you can find the machine at Daan Go Cake Lab Richmond & Fufu Pancake!

💔 HEARTBREAKS

Spots that closed or are closing soon

🧋 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.

🔥 Beloved Burnaby skewer spot closes - After 7 years, Roadside Spicy Pot has officially shut down its Kingsway location.

🍱 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.

👉 See all recent Heartbreaks here.

💰 DEALS DESK

Money-saving food deals

🍜 $9.99 Ramen at Kinton Ramen – Celebrate Robson’s 2nd anniversary with $9.99 signature ramen bowls; Saturday, April 11th only; dine-in only; 11 AM to midnight; while supplies last

🥖 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

🍣 Richmond restaurant gets prime visit - Prime Minister Mark Carney stopped by Tsukiji Japanese Restaurant for fresh sashimi and photos.

🍟 McDonald’s K-Pop collab hits Canada - The Netflix-inspired KPop Demon Hunters meals and purple sauce launch nationwide on May 12.

🧀 Hello Fresh issues major cheese recall - Multiple meal kits recalled across Vancouver due to potential Listeria contamination; check your fridge.

🗓️ 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

🏮 [FESTIVAL] Sakura Days Japan Fair (Apr 11 - 12) - celebration of Japanese culture with tea ceremonies, food, and performances; @ 5251 Oak Street, Vancouver; TICKETED

🌸 [FESTIVAL] Richmond Cherry Blossom Festival (Apr 12) - cultural showcases, taiko drumming, and Japanese food vendors at the park; @ 12011 Seventh Ave, Richmond; FREE

🍵 [POP UP] Spring Market (Apr 12) - curated local vendors featuring matcha, unique finds, and early-bird vouchers; @ 3102 Main St, Vancouver; FREE

🎨 [POP UP] Wren Cafe Pop-Up (Apr 12) - creative hangout for designing custom bracelets, necklaces, and phone charms; @ 280 Nelson St, Vancouver; FREE

🌷 [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.