Sometimes, the premise of this column can feel a little bittersweet. We gladly usher in new restaurants that give us the possibility of expanding our palates with new tastes and nascent concepts by emerging and established chefs and kitchen teams, while simultaneously mourning the loss of some of our city’s most beloved food joints. This month, we’re glad to report it’s all good news as a crop of restaurants made their debut in the city, while some existing favourites simply changed course.

Restaurants That Made a Pivot

Les Faux Bourgeois

From the outside, not much will change with Fraserhood’s 18-year-strong French bistro, Les Faux Bourgeois (affectionately just called “Les Faux” by its most-devoted patrons) when it tucks under the wing of Gaia House—the folks behind Restaurant Awards’ Best Mediterranean finalists Nammos Estiatorio and Selene Aegean Bistro and Ama Raw Bar (also a Restaurant Awards 2026 finalist in Readers’ Choice categories Best Cocktail Bar and Best Fraserhood). The restaurant will plan to close for just under a week later this spring for a kitchen refresh, but founder Andreas Seppelt stays on as front-of-house, while co-chefs David Cassese (Sat Bains, Joe Beef, Alo) and Brent Thornton (Elem, Good Thief, Is That French) and beverage director Dylan Riches debut a few new bistro-style dishes and drinks. Think: beef tartare, escargot and pate en croute, and truffle martinis and elderflower pastis.

“Les Faux Bourgeois has always held a strong identity and our role is not to reinvent it, but to steward it’s legacy while still bringing something fresh and new to the table,” said Gaia House co-founder Yianni Kerasiotis, alongside his brother Petro.

663 E 15th Ave.

Glowbal

 

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Downtown’s Glowbal is the crux of Glowbal Group—the hospitality group behind Coast, Riley’s, Black and Blue and Restaurant Awards Fine Dining finalist Five Sails—where new executive chef Jitin Kapoor has just debuted his new direction for the restaurant. Expect an uptick of dishes like a seafood tower, crab fritters and caviar and bone marrow as well as a prime rib served tableside from the world-travelling chef (he’s helmed a Michelin-starred kitchen at sea).

590 W Georgia St.

Lucia

Open since last summer, Mount Pleasant’s modern Italian joint is bringing on chef Marquella Uhrig to the kitchen. She’s “a familiar face in Vancouver’s Italian dining scene, having come from Fred’s Ambleside, Savio Volpe and most recently as sous chef at Guisti,” says a release. She’ll soon be refreshing the menu at the Main Street haunt (which is currently known for its pizzas and pastas, including a lamb ragu malfadine).

3124 Main St.

Restaurants That Have Opened Lately

Touski

From the folks at Say Hey Café and Deli come day-to-night bistro and wine bar concept, Touski. Settling in Chinatown, the spot is opened by co-chefs Lina Caschetto and Neil Hillbrandt and will feature menu items that are, well, whatever they want. The name Touski is short for “tout ce qui reste,” a French saying that loosely means “everything there is.” In short, they’ll be cooking what’s available and in the fridge instead of off painstakingly planned-out menus, but the cuisine happens to lean French and English.

154 E Pender St.

READ MORE: Say Hey Cafe Owner Lina Caschetto’s Top Eats Around Town

Acuyo

 

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Not too far from modern Cambodian newcomer, Touk, is Acuyo, a quietly opened Mexican restaurant on Alberni Street. Here, classic Mexican coastal dishes like octopus zarandeado and a shareable spicy aguachile with fresh shrimp cured in lime are on the menu. Think: zingy bites brightened by citrus and sea salt, layered with vibrant pops of serrano chilies.⁠ The spot’s official grand opening is on May 15, when it will release its new menu, featuring a renewed culinary take on Mexico’s classic dishes.

Cockney Kings

 

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This long-time, family-owned fish and chips joint is somewhat of a legend for those of us who grew up in ‘burbs (having had roots in New Westminster and Burnaby), serving up simple plates of fish and chips, unfussy fried oysters and the only seafood chowder to ever heal a hangover (fact-checking note: experiential but not scientifically proven). It now has a second Vancouver location (the first to come to the city is rightfully placed in Kitsilano) on Main, bringing that home-cooked style sea fare to Mount Pleasant.

4360 Main St.

Ray’s

 

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From the dining group behind El Furniture Warehouse (with locations on Granville Street and in Whistler), Ray’s elevates the casual eats with a new spot in Yaletown. The 270-seater dining room is a funky casual chic with a flamingo design motif that runs throughout its branding. Bites that wow include the prawn ceviche (a zippy fresh prawn, lime and avocado mix served with house-made corn chips), the General Wow chicken smothered in a sweet chili glaze and a handful of comforting pasta dishes, like the truffle spaghetti and meatballs. While the restaurant lives in Yaletown, its prices lean refreshingly casual.

1131 Mainland St.

LooLaa

At this point, we know Touk is going to be packed at any given time, so you’d better come with a reservation. That said, sometimes you just want to duck into a great place and get a bite and a thoughtful cocktail, and that’s where LooLaa comes in. Set on the second floor of Top Chef Canada runner-up chef Chanthy Yen’s upscale Cambodian restaurant is snack and cocktail bar, LooLaa, a more relaxed, cocktail-forward experience for those who want pre-dinner drinks and small bites, or a deeper exploration of Touk’s curated cocktail program, by Restaurant Awards 2025 bartender of the year, Tara Davies, of course.

1152 Alberni St.

Violeté

While we hinted at the opening of Violeté in last month’s column, the spot is now officially open. From the folks behind Havana, The Flamingo Room and Vancouver Urban Winery, this new Commercial Drive star is serving up Spanish and Italian influenced dishes like a whole branzino (an entire fish—head, bones et al—cooked on a plancha until both sides are golden); risotto nero with squid ink and bagna cauda with bitter leaves. The dishes here stun, and so, too, does the dining room, awash in bright, natural tones and featuring European-style columns.

1380 Commercial Dr.