Eaters Gotta Eat: Where Boulevard Wine Director Ashwan Luckheenarain Goes for Korean Seafood Pancakes and Vietnamese Frog Legs

Ashwan Luckheenarain is currently the Wine Director at Michelin Guide recommended (and winner of Best Seafood Restaurant at the 2024 Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards) Boulevard Kitchen and Oyster Bar, downtown on Burrard. He’s been pouring on the Vancouver food scene for a while, though, as a sommelier at Cómo Taperia, the auténtica Spanish spot on Main, and before that at the highly regarded L’Abbatoir in Gastown. Here’s where Luckheenarain goes for a bite when he’s off the clock.

 

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Haraheri

888 Nelson St.

With a dearth of good patios in this city, Luckheenarain wonders why this Japanese Izakaya-style restaurant downtown doesn’t get more love. “They have this huge patio, it’s surrounded by buildings, but it’s a beautiful view.” Come for the sightlines, stay for the bento boxes. Luckheenarain has a particular fondness for their roasted cha-shu duck breast with seared miso mayonnaise. “It’s so fun.”

Linh Cafe

1428 Granville St.

For French-influenced Vietnamese, Luckheenarain hits this Granville Street spot. “They do a crazy good pho, but a lot of their dishes are influenced by French cooking.” He calls out Argentine prawns sauteed in garlic and butter, chicken liver with a creamy dijon mustard sauce, foie gras, and of course, frog legs.

Chupito

2450 Yukon St.

“Chef Maria Ponce is just incredible with all the dishes. They’re pretty simple, but so tasty.” If you go, be sure to get his favourite cocktail, Guanajuato, concocted by Vanmag’s 2025 Bartender of the Year Tara Davies. It almost sounds healthy, if that’s your thing: tequila and mezcal mixed with apricot, lime, ginger and turmeric. Luckheenarain describes it as “a play on a margarita with apricot flavours.”

Ama/Bar Bravo Double Feature

3980 Fraser St.; 4194 Fraser St.

These two are within a couple of blocks of each other on Fraser Street, so why not hit a double? If you’re running Luckheenarain’s playbook, start at the Japanese-inspired cocktail bar Ama. Try not to fill up on sushi and tartare, then head due south for dinner at Bravo. Known for its seafood, Luckheenarain’s favourites at Bravo are their Tofino King Salmon, and oysters on the half shell (mostly for the fixin’s, like their house-fermented hot sauce). “Every dish has so much work getting put into it,” he says admiringly.

Sushi Hil

3330 Main St.

Luckheenarain’s fave sushi spot on Main Street, Sushi Hil, was opened in 2022 by Chef Hilary Nguy and quickly earned a nod from Michelin Guide. That doesn’t seem to have impacted their prices much, the quality-to-spend ratio is what Luckheenarain appreciates about this spot. “Every time I’ve been there, the food has been 10 out of 10, and Chef Hil is just so wonderful with all the ingredients they use.” From the opulent seared foie gras or Wagyu A1 sushi, to (comparatively) humbler crab or tuna, Luckheenarain always leaves feeling like he got a deal.

 

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Guu on Thurlow

838 Thurlow St.

There are a few Guu locations around Vancouver (and one in Toronto). Luckheenarain’s go-to is the original on Thurlow. They’re always changing the daily sheet, which means he can go back regularly and get something fresh and seasonal, while still relying on their classics, like the kimchi udon. “It’s probably one of the best udon for 17 bucks you can get,” he says. “They put a little fish roe on it, you mix it all together; beautiful.”

Superbaba

2419 Main St.

Having spent so much time working at Cómo, Luckheenarain found it hard to avoid this celebrated Middle Eastern gem located at irresistible proximity just across Main Street and down a block, between 8th and Broadway. He did not try too hard to avoid the siren call of their chicken wrap (add falafel [obviously] and whatever else you’re feeling). “It gets sloppy at the end, but it’s worth it. It’s a proper lunch.” For a less napkin-forward experience, the rice bowl works.

 

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Yook Korean BBQ

2408 Nanaimo St.

Recently on the hunt for a solid seafood pancake, Luckheenarain stumbled across Yook Korean BBQ in East Vancouver. He can only attest to the takeout experience, but the seafood pancake absolutely delivered, and was delivered packed with fruits de mer. Not a one-trick pony, Luckheenarain also shouted out Yook’s spicy chicken and rice dish, Spicy Dakgalbi Dupbap.