🍣 New Inari Sushi Spot Opens In Vancouver

Gooooodmorning there!

Welcome to the June 27th edition of Noms Mag weekly rundown!

Mr. Sun has been HIDING even though we kicked off the Vancouver Ice Cream Festival last week. BUT next week’s forecast looks to be brighter and hotter!

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

• 🧐 New food hall coming to Richmond

• 🍣 New inari sushi spot by Kimbap Cheonguk?!

• 👀 A packed week of events

Let’s dive into this week’s rundown!

🍦ICE CREAM FEST IS ONGOING

The Vancouver Ice Cream Festival is BACK from June 20 - Aug 4, for its third year!

Yup, that means you can beat the summer heat with over 60+ unique and limited-time ice cream and frozen desserts crafted by some of the top food spots in the city.

Some popular items from this week:

1. Mister’s Ube Ice Cream Donut

2. Broye Cafe’s Labubu Fantasy

3. Little Pisces’ Mango Sticky Rice

4. La Saison’s Sushi Semifreddo

5. Elephant Garden’s Mango Coconut Sticky Rice Sundae

This year, we’re also partnering up with Translink and Evo Car Share. That means you’ll be rewarded for taking the bus/skytrain or Evo to the festival!

Doesn’t that sound sweeeet?!

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 Inari Sushi Spot Opens - Red Wasabi debuts in Yaletown by Kimbap Cheonguk & Sushi Tree team.

2.🥙 Pokey Okey returns - New Richmond food hall to host Pokey Okey and two Japanese concepts.

3.🌾 Vietnamese cafe coming to Metrotown - 2025 Cafe will serve bánh cuốn and Vietnamese coffee.

4.🇵🇭 Filipino flair arrives in East Vancouver - Halina, a modern Filipino kitchen, soft opened on Hastings.

5.☕️ Whistler cafe expanding in Vancouver - Forecast Coffee opens a new location in the Hastings-Sunrise neighborhood this weekend.

6.🐔 70-Year-Old Roast Chicken Brand to Launch in Richmond - Huabaogang brings Daokou-style roast chicken to Union Square.

7.🗺️ New Korean Chinese spot opens quietly in Burnaby - 88 Town offers diverse flavours on Kingsway.

8.🇯🇵 Sake Maki returns to Commercial Drive - Beloved Japanese spot revives with affordable bento boxes and sushi combos.

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

🪦CLOSED & CLOSING SOON FOOD SPOTS

1.🕔 Richmond eats shut doors after 2 months - Lucky J closes at Union Square amidst high turnover.

2.💔 Downtown’s tanghulu trend fizzes out - SugarCoat's Robson unit closed and up for lease.

3.🍣 Kerrisdale sushi gem closes after 8 years - Jiu Jiang shuts down due to lease expiration.

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

💰 DEALS THAT MATTER

1.🍛 $10 Katsu Curry Deal at Ebiten - comforting katsu curry for $10 instead of $15.95; available June 28th after 5 PM; follow @ebiten_robson for access

2.🚲 Broadway Buzz Mobi Bike x Translink Deals - campaign aimed to bring business back to the Broadway Corridor by incentiving Mobi members. Deal include:

• Menya RAIZO – 50% off a bowl of ramen

• Henry's Camera – 50% Off In-Store Photo Printing

• Aidan’s Cafe – 10% off

• Kamei on Broadway – Discount 10% OFF the bill

Keep in mind that the Mobi by Rogers promo code BIKETOBROADWAY should be presented to redeem these offers as part of the Broadway Buzz campaign, running from June 1st, 2025, to August 31st, 2025.

3.🍲 Kids Eat Free at ChochoHotpot - Children 12 and under enjoy a free hotpot meal; available until July 20; valid at Burnaby and Richmond locations, reservation recommended.

4.🍇 Free Açaí Bowls at 123Dough Organic Cafe - First 30 guests snag a free 12 oz açaí bowl; giveaway starts June 28 at 9 AM; 50% off after, while supplies last!

5.🍦 McDonald’s Summer Deals - $1 small fountain drink, iced coffee or vanilla cone returns; $2 small fruit splash beverage or sundae; in app offer only

6.🔥 Kokoro Happy Hour Offers Free Treats - Members enjoy free snacks during Happy Hour; times vary by location; specials include Karaage, Gyoza, Ice Cream, Takoyaki, and drinks!

7.🔥 Kohaku Happy Hour Freebies - Free treats during Members Only Happy Hour at Kohaku Tendon; available Downtown and Metrotown: Mon-Fri, 2-6PM, Brentwood: Mon-Fri, 2-9:30PM; daily specials include Karaage, Ice Cream, Takoyaki, and drinks!

🗓️ EVENTS TO KNOW ABOUT

👉THIS WEEKEND

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

2.🛍️ [POP UP] Portobello West June Summer Market (June 28) - curated selection from 39 BC artists and designers; @ VanDusen Botanical Garden Floral Hall, Vancouver; 10am to 5pm; FREE

3.🎭 [EVENT] Kitsilano Showboat Performances (until Aug 17) - live multicultural entertainment at a scenic beach venue; @ Kitsilano Beach, Vancouver; 7:00 PM; Canada Day starts 2:45 PM; FREE

4.🎭 [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

5.🌸 [EVENT] Gastown in Bloom (June 29 - August 17) - vibrant outdoor flower market transforming Gastown's cobblestone streets; @ Maple Tree Square, 107 Carrall S; 10AM – 6PM; FREE

👉NEXT WEEK+

6.🇨🇦 [EVENT] Canada Together (July 1) - celebrate diversity with music, food trucks, and exhibits; @ Canada Place, Vancouver; 11am - 6pm; FREE

7.🎉 [EVENT] StreetFest on Central (Jul 1) - Canada Day street party with headline performer MAGIC!; @ Central Burnaby; starts at 6:30 pm & fireworks show at 10:15 pm; FREE

8.🇨🇦 [EVENT] Canada Day in Coquitlam (July 1) - largest celebration in Tri-Cities with multicultural activities; @ Town Centre Park, Coquitlam; 12 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.; Fireworks at 10pm; FREE

9.🍁 [FESTIVAL] Steveston Salmon Festival (July 1) - parade, live music, family activities, and iconic Salmon Bake; @ Steveston; FREE

10.🎬 [EVENT] Summer Movie Nights (Thursdays, July 3 - August 14) - Free iconic outdoor movie series; @ šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square (Vancouver Art Gallery Plaza); starts at 5 PM; FREE

11.🎬 [EVENT] Summer Movie Nights (Thursdays, July 3 - August 14) - Free iconic outdoor movie series; @ šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square (Vancouver Art Gallery Plaza); starts at 5 PM; FREE

12.🚀 [EVENT] Summer Market at Metropolis (July 3 - 6) - space-themed market with 15+ food vendors, entertainment, and activities; @ Metropolis at Metrotown’s Outdoor South Plaza; July 3-5: 2pm-10pm, July 6: 2pm-8pm; FREE

13.🎆 [FESTIVAL] Honda Celebration of Light (July 19, 23, 26) - spectacular fireworks festival with top pyrotechnic teams; @ Vancouver, Canada; TICKETED

👉ONGOING

🌙 [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

🗓️ Check out more events happening in Metro Vancouver here.

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

-Jason