Food News

Breaking: There’s a New Japanese Curry Restaurant Opening in Downtown Vancouver

Wa! Curry comes from the team behind Minami and Miku, and is opening in mid-March 2023.

By Alyssa Hirose /

It’s a good day for lovers of Japanese curry. Aburi Restaurants (the team behind Minami, Miku and North Van’s Aburi Market) has announced a brand-new eatery that celebrates that classic comfort-food dish. And we won’t have to wait long: Wa! Curry is expected to open in mid-March.

vegan keema curry and Iwate A5 wagyu curry stew (stew comes with carrots, potatoes, celery and onions. Photo: Mark Yuen.
Wa! Curry’s Iwate A5 Wagyu curry, vegan keema curry and Iwate A5 wagyu curry stew. Photo: Mark Yuen.

The new restaurant is taking over the former Gyoza Bar space at 622 West Pender St., which pivoted into a commissary kitchen in 2022. The commissary will continue to run in the back of the restaurant, with Wa! Curry standing front and centre.

Wa! Curry’s Iwate A5 Wagyu curry stew stew, which comes with carrots, potatoes, celery and onions) Photo: Mark Yuen.

On the menu of this counter-service, casual space will be three standard curries: Iwate A5 Wagyu curry (from $13), vegan keema curry (keema is a meat substitute made from lentils and walnuts, also from $13) and Iwate A5 Wagyu curry stew (from $17). Patrons can also dress up their curry with toppings like sweet potatoes, pork katsu, Japanese fried chicken and tempeh (from $2.50).

Wa! Curry's add-ons include breaded shrimp fry, pork katsu, scallop fry, yellowtail fry, hamburger steak,Japanese fried chicken, kaisen fry medley, brussels sprouts, potatoes, sweet potatoes and crispy tempeh.
Wa! Curry’s add-ons include breaded shrimp fry, pork katsu, scallop fry, yellowtail fry, hamburger steak, Japanese fried chicken, kaisen fry medley, Brussels sprouts, potatoes, sweet potatoes and crispy tempeh. Photo: Mark Yuen.

Wa! Curry will be open for dine-in, takeout and delivery via Uber Eats. Hours are 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday–so yeah, it’s probably going to be your new favourite no-fuss lunch spot. That sandwich you responsibly packed yourself is sounding worse by the minute.

Alyssa Hirose

Alyssa Hirose

Alyssa Hirose is a Vancouver-based writer, editor, illustrator and comic artist. Her work has been featured in Vancouver magazine, Western Living, BCBusiness, Avenue, Serviette, Geist, BCLiving, Nuvo, Montecristo, The Georgia Straight and more. Her beats are food, travel, arts and culture, style, interior design and anything dog-related. She publishes a daily autobiographical comic on Instagram at @hialyssacomics.