🍦 Last Chance For Ice Cream Fest Items!

PRESENTED BY

Gooooodmorning there!

Welcome to the Aug 1st edition of Noms Mag weekly rundown!

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

• 🇻🇳 Viet spot to try

• 🍦 Last chance for Ice Cream Fest items

• 🐶 Big Way for Doggos

• 🫣 Richmond spot shut down by health officials

• 👀 A packed long weekend of events

Let’s dive into this week’s rundown!

🇻🇳 DON’T SLEEP ON THIS KINGSWAY VIETNAMESE SPOT

Looking for Vietnamese comfort food that packs some serious flavour? You’ll find it at Hai Chi Em on Kingsway.

Here, they go beyond just your usual Pho. Think crispy turmeric crepes, pomelo salad, and buttery garlic wings - all in a sleek, plant-filled space run by siblings who grew up on their mom’s cooking.

🍦ICE CREAM FEST FINAL WEEKEND LEFT

We’re now to the last few days of the Vancouver Ice Cream Festival!

This means it is a LAST CHANCE to try before the festival items before they are gone!

AND you’ll want to check how your Festival Passport and Festival Missions are doing. Are you close to completing one of the tiers? Did you submit your mission online?

Plus, thanks to the folks at Tourism Burnaby and Tourism Richmond, we’ve partnered up with them to further feature and support our Burnaby and Richmond vendors.

🌟NEW & COMING SOON FOOD SPOTS

1.🦑 New Japanese seafood restaurant by ex-Miku chef - Blue Coast to open in Joyce-Collingwood this August!

2.🥢 Richmond food court favourite opens new Singaporean breakfast stall - Malaya Kitchen offers kaya toast and Soto Chicken sets at Pacific Plaza.

3.🍢 New AYCE skewer & hot pot spot in Burnaby - The Meat Up opens their sleek location with endless feast options.

4.🍖 Retro cafe opens in Richmond - ManTung Cafe debuts with BBQ rice plates and Southeast Asian comfort food.

5.🍝 New Italian eatery opens in The Stack - Nook brings handmade pasta and pizza to Coal Harbour with 107 seats.

6.🐶 First dog hot pot and poke bar opens in Richmond - Chew Chew creates a unique pet dining experience in Steveston.

7.🇻🇳 Pho chain expands with a new location - Pho 37 spotted on Commercial Drive at former Fish Counter site.

8.🐟 Sea House is back with noodles - Noople opens on Kingsway, reviving Vancouver’s beloved fish and chips.

9.🍖 Juicy Pork Hock Spot Set to Open in Richmond - Yummy Pork stall to serve Longjiang-style braised pork hock rice at Parker Place.

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

🪦CLOSED & CLOSING SOON FOOD SPOTS

1.☹️ Richmond closes Fuzhou-style restaurant - Mr. Fu's shut down for health violations and lease termination.

2.💔 Downtown Café closes quietly after a decade - Take Five Cafe's Granville location has shut down, marking an end of an era.

3.🔄 Fish & Chips spot relocating - The Fish Counter on Commercial Drive closes with plans to reopen elsewhere soon.

4.🇲🇾 Malaysian culinary staple waves goodbye after 21 years - Penang Bistro on Fraser St. closes July 31.

5.🔴 Affordable Richmond stall quietly closes - Cherry's Tofu House vacates Aberdeen Centre, possible Middle Eastern BBQ coming.

6.🚫 Downtown Korean Convenience Chain Shutters - Grab n Go closes all four Vancouver locations.

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

📰 QUICK FOOD + LOCAL NEWS BITES

1.🔥 Award-winning Thai restaurant closes temporarily due to fire - Kin Kao Song on East Broadway suffered damage but hopes to reopen soon.

2.🏮 Beloved Chinese eatery moves location - Shoom relocating to Victoria Drive for dim sum and dinner service.

3.🔥 Iconic Horseshoe Bay lookout destroyed - Popular photo spot in West Vancouver burned down, cause unknown.

4.💼 New West City Hall cafeteria controversy unveiled - Taxpayer-funded bistro allegedly lost $350K in three years.

5.🚨 Costco recalls Basmati rice - Kirkland Basmati Rice (Western Canada) recalled for insect presence; return for refund.

💰 DEALS THAT MATTER

1.🍦 Rollz Grand Opening - Free ice cream for first 50 patrons; August 2nd; 50% off all orders rest of day at 2685 Main St, Vancouver

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

3.🍦 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 LONGGG WEEKEND

1.🍦[FESTIVAL] Vancouver Ice Cream Festival 2025 (until Aug 4) - 30+ popular ice cream and dessert spots offering unique limited time items; around Metro Vancouver

2.🇯🇵 [FESTIVAL] Powell Street Festival (Aug 2-3) - Japanese Canadian art, culture, food, and performances; @ Oppenheimer Park and Paueru Gai, Vancouver; FREE

3.🏳️‍🌈 [FESTIVAL] Vancouver Pride Parade & Pride Festival (August 3) - colourful floats, music, and art celebrating love and diversity; @ various venues

4.🎌 [EVENT] Anime Revolution (Aug 1 - 3) - celebrate Japan pop culture and animation with creative outlets; @ Vancouver Convention Centre; TICKETED

5.🥧 [POP UP] Aussie Delights Pop-Up (Aug 4) - Aussie meat pies, sausage rolls, themed pastries, and ceramics; @ The Federal Store, Vancouver; 9 am - 3 pm

6.🥯 [POP UP] It’s Bagel Day Pop-Up (Aug 4) - anniversary celebration with sourdough bagels and special treats; @ Merci Boulangerie

👉NEXT WEEK+

7.🎶 [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

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

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

10.🕯️ [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

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

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

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

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

15.🎌 [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 long weekend :)

-Jason