😭 5 Longtime Vancouver Restaurants Announce Closures

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🌮CRAVE THE HEIGHTS IS BACK

For 10 delicious days (Sept 11 to 20), Burnaby Heights transforms into a dining playground with 20+ restaurants, cafes, and food spots offering exclusive menus, bold new dishes, and special deals.

Think three course tasting menu at Siam le Bien, seafood laksa pot at Green and Oak, 15% off karaage and gyoza at Ramen Butcher, and a banana pudding sundae at Crema. This is the perfect chance to try a mix of returning favourites you already love and discover new flavours that might become your next go to.

This year’s lineup welcomes fresh faces like RENS Café, Sabrosito, and Nuvola, joining long standing community staples to create a menu that truly reflects the diversity of the Heights.

Plus, the neighbourhood will come alive with local music and two community dance nights at Heights Fountain Square on Sept 11 & 20.

Gooooodmorning there!

Welcome to the Sept 12th edition of Noms Mag weekly rundown!

I don’t know WHAT kind of energy September is giving, but it isn’t it. Multiple longtime Metro Vancouver restaurants have announced closures or just quietly shut down.

These are spots with 10, 39, and 50 years of legacy…sad times.

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

• 🍹 New dining cocktail bar coming to The Drive

• ☕️ Cute new Richmond cafe opens

• 🪦 Multiple longtime spots announce closure

• 👀 Some great deals!

Let’s dive into this week’s rundown!

🌟NEW & COMING SOON FOOD SPOTS

1.🍣 New "Japanese-ish" dining bar opening next week - Nomo Nomo brings Tokyo vibes to Commercial Drive.

2.☕️ Popular café expanding downtown - Slo Coffee brings wabi-sabi design and artisanal drinks to Granville Street.

3.🫕 New self-serve hot pot opens in Richmond’s Union Square - U Town offers over 120 customizable ingredients.

4.🇻🇳 Pho cravings on Commercial Drive have a new home - Pho 37 opens second Vancouver location with 15% off this week.

5.🍰 Bold flavour explosion with Eni Desserts - Pastry chef Celine Yeung debuts playful new desserts in Vancouver.

6.🍰 New hidden warehouse café opens in Richmond - Oui Patisserie serves cloud-like cakes and modern vibes.

7.🇹🇭 New Thai eatery set for The Drive - SUD SOI brings authentic Issan and Lanna cuisine this October.

8.☕️ Affordable Korean coffee chain debuts in Downtown Vancouver - Popular South Korean chain theVenti opens its first Vancouver location with budget-friendly oversized drinks.

9.🍕 Italian slice revival on Main Street - Mortadella brings classic sandwiches and pizzas to former Pizzeria Farina spot.

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

🪦CLOSED & CLOSING SOON FOOD SPOTS

1.🦢 Vancouver's landmark Chinese icon to close after 50 years - Flamingo Chinese Restaurant bids farewell on September 28th.

2.🔒 Richmond Centre's White Spot bids farewell - Longtime location closing September 14 after 20+ years.

3.☹️ Mr. Red Cafe closes after 10 years - Popular award-winning Vancouver Vietnamese eatery quietly shutters its last location.

4.🚪 Richmond dessert shop on 'reset time' - Milkcow's Richmond location has quietly closed, searching for a new spot.

5.🔒 Richmond favourite Cherry's Food House to close - After seven years, doors shut on Sept 14.

6.🍕 Longtime Vancouver pizzeria quietly shutters - After 39 years, Lombardo’s on Commercial Drive closes its doors.

7.🥟 Quiet closure in Richmond - A Bao Time closes after one year near Richmond-Brighouse Station.

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

💰 DEALS THAT MATTER

1.🥞 $1 Traditional Breakfast at IKEA - This Saturday only! IKEA Family members can enjoy a $1 breakfast while supporting the Breakfast Club of Canada; available until 11 AM; valid at all IKEA Canada locations, including Richmond.

2.🍜 15% Off at Pho 37 - Enjoy 15% off your entire meal all week at the new Commercial Drive location; vibrant decor with traditional Vietnamese touches; ends soon, dine-in only

3.🍵 Parfait Paradise at Nana's Green Tea - Enjoy $5 off Matcha and Hojicha Shiratama Parfaits; available now until September 15; the perfect back-to-school treat!

4.🍜 $10 Ramen Rush at Beest - Enjoy favorites like Shoyu, Spicy Miso, and more for $10 until Sept 28; includes 150g noodles + signature roast beef

5.🎉 Boston Pizza Kids Card - Donate $5, get 5 FREE Kids Meals; valid until June 30, 2026; dine-in only, conditions apply

6.🧁 25% Off Drink with Pastry Purchase at La Saison - Celebrate Back to School with 25% off on any drink for each pastry or cake purchase. Offer valid from September 1st to 30th

🗓️ EVENTS TO KNOW ABOUT

👉THIS WEEKEND

1.🚲 [FESTIVAL] Car Free Day on Main Street (Sept 14) - vibrant street festival with local vendors and artists; @ Main Street (10th to 30th ave); 12 PM - 7 PM; FREE

2.🎈 [FESTIVAL] North Shore Kids Fest (Sep 14) - vibrant day of kids' performances and activities; @ The Shipyards, North Van; 12-6 PM; FREE

👉NEXT WEEK+

3.🚀 [EVENT] After Dark: Actually, It Is Rocket Science (Sep 18) - night with LEGO® astronaut selfies, debate aliens, rare artifacts; @ Science World Vancouver; 6-10 PM; TICKETED

4.☕️ [EVENT] Vancouver Coffee Crawl (Sept 19-21) - self-guided cafe exploration with bingo prizes, concluding with a latte art competition; @ various cafes around Vancouver; FREE

5.🍷 [EVENT] Mount Pleasant Block Party (Sept 20) - pop-up wine bar, Italian eats, craft beer, and live vinyl DJs; @ 11th & Kingsway, Mount Pleasant; 12-5PM; FREE

6.🐉 [FESTIVAL] Fire Dragon Festival (Sept 19 - 20) - cultural celebration with performances and dragon dancing workshops; @ Chinatown, Vancouver; 7pm; FREE

7.🌊 [FESTIVAL] RiverFest 2025 (Sept 20, 27-28) - celebrate BC Rivers Day with exhibits, workshops, and parades; @ Fraser River Discovery Centre; FREE

8.🍁 [FESTIVAL] Fall Food Fest 2025 (Oct 3 - Nov 9) - 15+ Metro Vancouver cafes, bakeries and food spots offering limited time fall-inspired drinks and bites; self guided around Metro Vancouver

👉ONGOING

🍽️ [FESTIVAL] Crave The Heights (Sept 11 - 20) - dine-out event with special menus & live performances; @ Burnaby Heights

🎉 [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