🇹🇭 Famous Thai Tea Brand Coming To Vancouver

Gooooodmorning there!

Welcome to the Aug 8th edition of Noms Mag weekly rundown!

Here’s what’s in today’s weekly rundown:

• 🇹🇭 Legendary Thai Tea brand opening cafe

• 😱 Richmond food scene popping off

• 🧋Free strawberry matcha lattes

• 🍻 BC craft breweries sound alarm

• 👀 A packed weekend of events

Let’s dive into this week’s rundown!

🌟NEW & COMING SOON FOOD SPOTS

1.🧋 Legendary Thai tea in Vancouver - Cha Tra Mue opening its first Western Canada cafe.

2.🥩 New steakhouse by veteran chef opening in Downtown Vancouver - Handson Steak & Frites to soft open on Aug 8.

3.🍔 New Chinese crispy burger spot opens - Downtown's Mo-Ment brings Chinese-style burgers, noodles, and skewers to Granville.

4.☕️ Calgary coffee chain debuts in new location this week - Analog Coffee's new spot opens on Kingsway on Aug 9th.

5.🍱 Taiwanese Bentos coming to Richmond food court - New Taiwanese lunch box spot, Taiwan Bento 101, opening soon at Aberdeen Centre.

6.🥟 Steamed bun stall arrives at Aberdeen - Shanghai Winning Baozi opens with familiar bun classics in Richmond.

7.🧋 Popular Taiwanese dessert chain returns to Richmond - Meet Fresh quietly reopens in Union Square after its sudden closure.

8.☕️ Vietnamese coffee brand launches in Mount Pleasant - Hanoi Drip opening East Broadway location this week with grand opening event coming soon.

9.🍭 Momo Tanghulu sweetens Richmond - New tanghulu shop bringing Beijing-style candied fruit skewers to Buswell Street.

10🥐 Beloved bakery expands with French alpine flair - Beaucoup Bakery opens third location in Britannia Village next week.

👉 Check out 10 more new restaurants that have opened here.

🪦CLOSED & CLOSING SOON FOOD SPOTS

1.🧋 Richmond's beloved bubble tea spot bids farewell - Pearl Castle at CF Richmond Centre closes after 15 years.

2.🦞 Richmond's crayfish hot spot shutters - Beijing's HuDa Restaurant closes its doors after 1 year.

3.🚗 Richmond hot dog shop now for lease post-crash - Chung Chun's Korean Rice Hot Dog location is officially not reopening.

👉 Or check out 10 more restaurants that have closed recently here.

📰 QUICK FOOD + LOCAL NEWS BITES

1.🚨 BC Craft Breweries in Danger - 20 closures this year; tax reforms urgently needed to save the industry.

2.🧨 Bollywood star’s Surrey café attacked again - Second shooting at Kap’s Café within a month.

3.🚨 Shrimp crackers recalled in BC for egg allergy risk - Two brands found with undeclared egg.

💰 DEALS THAT MATTER

1.🧋 Free Strawberry Matcha Latte @ Bobarun - FREE Strawberry Matcha Latte for first 100 guests to celebrate Bobarun owner’s birthday; August 8, 3 PM; one per guest. Plus, special guest @jeenie.weenie serving boba!

2.🍪 Free Butter Cookies with Your Coffee at Doe Coffee - Enjoy a free Buttercrumbs cookie with any drink purchase; August 9 for the first 100 customers

3.🎉 Happy 1st Birthday at Saan Saan Cafe - Free birthday cookie with every purchase; this weekend only while supplies last; now open 10 – 6PM starting Aug 9th

4.🍜 Cool Off with $12 Ramen at ZUBU! - Enjoy a second bowl of classic ramen for just $12; August 4-15; excl. ZUBU Signature Ramen and toppings.

5.🇯🇵 Win a trip to Japan by drinking matcha - Visit 10+ Vancouver spots, collect raffle tickets, and you could jet off in spring 2026!

6.🍦 Lotus Gelato Deal - Buy 1 scoop, get the 2nd at 50% off; available at Burnaby location; valid from July 12 to August 31; all flavors eligible except Uji Matcha No.5

🗓️ EVENTS TO KNOW ABOUT

👉THIS WEEKEND

1.🍵 [POP UP] Bar Uma Matcha Popup (Aug 8) - Limited matcha drinks and live DJs; @ 157 Alexander Street, 3rd floor; 6-9PM

2.✈️ [FESTIVAL] Abbotsford International Airshow (Aug 8-10) - Spectacular aerobatic performances delighting all ages; @ Abbotsford International Airport; TICKETED

3.🎶 [FESTIVAL] Pleasant Day Festival (Aug 9) - 25+ local acts, food trucks, and music on Main Street; @ Main Street, Vancouver; 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM; FREE

4.🥟 [FESTIVAL] BC Dumpling Festival (Aug 9) - multicultural event celebrating diverse dumplings and arts; @ Town Centre Park, Coquitlam; FREE

5.🥔 [FESTIVAL] Ugly Potato Day by Odd Bunch (Aug 9) - Canada's largest food rescue mission, snacks and sustainability; @ Cloverdale Rodeo & Exhibition Association, Surrey; 10 AM PDT; FREE

6.🎤 [FESTIVAL] Railtown Rooftop Party Featuring The Summerlight Stage (Aug 9) - all-day indie music festival with Canada's top emerging artists; @ Vancouver's Railtown district; all day; FREE

7.🧋 [FESTIVAL] Canada Bubble Tea Festival (Aug 9 - 10) - bubble tea, street food, live entertainment, family fun; @ Swangard Stadium, Burnaby; FREE ADMISSION

👉NEXT WEEK+

8.🕯️ [WORKSHOP] Mix & Matcha Candle Making (Aug 14) - create strawberry matcha candles and enjoy free latte; @ 4501 North Rd #202B, Burnaby; 4:00–5:30 PM; TICKETED

9.🎇 [EVENT] After Dark: Sparks and Rec — Summer Party Edition (Aug 14) - electrifying summer bash with music, science shows, and LED dance; @ Science World; 6pm – 10pm; TICKETED

10.☕ [EVENT] Grand Opening at Trees Coffee Gilmore Station (Aug 15-16) - Free coffee, live music, cheesecake samples, and discounts; @ 4112 Lougheed Hwy, Burnaby / Unit #160; 8 AM - 10 PM; FREE

11.🌞 [FESTIVAL] Ferragosto on The Drive (Aug 16) - Italian summer celebration with music, games, and treats; @ Little Italy Piazza; 2 – 5 PM; FREE

12.🏮 [FESTIVAL] Light Up Chinatown! (Aug 16 & 17) - vibrant outdoor festival with live performances, food stalls, and prizes; @ 500-block Columbia Street; FREE

13.🌀 [EVENT] Cake Social (Aug 20) - summer garden party with delicious cakes and networking; @ Kits, near Alma & 11th; 6:30 pm; TICKETED

14.🕯️ [EVENT] Wick & Chill Candle Workshop (Aug 23) - make your own soy candles with drinks and pastries; @ Tahanan Studio, Vancouver; 12:00 pm; TICKETED

15.🐈 [EVENT] Vancouver Cat Tour (Aug 24) - Explore neighbourhood cats in Mount Pleasant

16.🎌 [FESTIVAL] Nikkei Matsuri (Aug 30 - 31) - family-friendly Japanese festival with performances, food and activities; @ Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre, Burnaby; 11:00am - 7:00pm; TICKETED

16.🚶‍♂️ [FESTIVAL] Car Free Days of Summer (Sept 6 & 14) - Celebrate vibrant communities with local vendors and artists; @ Commercial Drive & Main Street; 12 PM-7 PM

👉ONGOING

☀️ [FESTIVAL] Koolfest: Summer Hot Chocolate Festival (July 19 - August 10) - a celebration of cold drink creations from Greater Vancouver vendors; @ various locations across Vancouver

🌙 [EVENT] Shipyards Night Market (May 16 - Sept 12) - culinary delights, artisan vendors, live music and beer garden; @ Shipbuilder's Square, North Vancouver; Every Friday 3pm - 10pm; FREE

🎉 [FESTIVAL] Richmond Night Market (Apr 25 - Oct 13) - over 600 food options, shopping, and entertainment, plus a zipline; @ 8351 River Road, Richmond; 7pm - 12am Fri/Sat, 7pm - 11pm Sun; TICKETED

🎭 [EVENT] Theatre Under the Stars (June 27 - Aug 16) - features musicals Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Legally Blonde; @ Malkin Bowl Stanley Park; 8pm; TICKETED

🎬 [EVENT] Summer Movie Nights (Thursdays until August 14) - Free iconic outdoor movie series; @ šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square (Vancouver Art Gallery Plaza); starts at 5 PM; FREE

🗓️ Check out more events happening in Metro Vancouver here.

That's all for now! Stay magical and have a delicious weekend :)

-Jason