Favourite New Restaurants That Opened in 2022.
January 03 2023, Mercedes-Benz Vancouver
This past year, Vancouverites were treated to a number of new restaurants that tantalized us with locally-grown, handmade fare that—let’s face it—we simply cannot recreate at home. To celebrate a new year of foodie discovery, here are a few of our favourite grand-openings from 2022.
Impostori Trattoria
Neighbourhood: South Granville
Instagram: @impostori_trattoria
Italian is the name of the game at Impostori on South Granville, the latest restaurant from industry veteran Andrey Durbach. Dinner service finds handmade pastas being whisked out of the kitchen—pappardelle with rabbit ragu, pumpkin ravioli—as well as meaty secondi-like veal scallopini and osso bucco, while the bar turns out excellent negronis, spritzes, and vino to accompany.
Impostori Trattoria
Hanai
Neighbourhood: Commercial Drive
Instagram: @hanaivancouver
“Upscale Hawaiian” with a home-spun twist is what you’ll find at the explosively tasty Hanai on Commercial Drive. The friendly neighbourhood restaurant features an ever-changing menu—but everyone recommends going for the Ohana family-style tasting menu.
At any given time it could feature delicacies like fried sunchokes, crispy spelt, Fanny Bay clams with shiitake dashi broth, roasted beet salad with daikon, and at least one item featuring Hawaii’s beloved Spam.
Hanai
Wild Blue
Neighbourhood: Whistler
Instagram: @wildbluerestaurant
Elevated Pacific Northwest Cuisine is what you’ll find at Whistler’s new Wild Blue, the much-anticipated venture between Chef Alex Chen, restaurant director Neil Henderson, Toptable Group founder Jack Evrensel, and Executive Chef Derek Bendig.
As the name alludes, seafood is an perfect choice here—from the multi-tiered seafood platters to fresh oysters and caviar—as is the selection of steak and frites (choose from six different cuts, including Wagyu).
Wild Blue
Novella Coffee Bar
Neighbourhood: Mount Pleasant
Instagram: @novella_coffeebar
Ever had sea buckthorn with your breakfast yogurt? Maybe it’s time to start. From the culinary minds of Bar Susu and Published on Main comes Novella, another inventive Main Street spot that serves much more than caffeine. Hearty breakfast sandwiches, baked goods, house-made sodas, French omelettes, and a prix fixe dinner menu to come later in 2023.
Novella Coffee Bar
Monarca Cocina Mexicana
Neighbourhood: Gastown
Instagram: @monarcavancouver
Chef Francisco Higareda brings expertly crafted Mexican fare and standout cocktails to his stunning restaurant, Monarca, in the heart of Gastown. Order the cheesy queso con chorizo and tostada mixta (marinated prawns, octopus, and scallops) to start off your meal, then dive into the you-can’t-go-wrong selection of entrees cooked with authenticity, spice, and flavour to write home about.
Monarca Cocina Mexicana
Folke
Neighbourhood: Kitslano
Instagram: @folkerestaurant
Broadway’s newest share-plate style vegan restaurant, Folke, is all about hospitality: it also includes tipping in its pricing model, thereby creating a sustainable solution for their valued team. All ingredients are sourced thoughtfully, the food is excellent, and simple menu listings like “dumplings”, “ramen”, “beets” and “bread” are filled with flavour, texture, and thought. Chef and co-owner Colin Uyeda knows his stuff: his resume includes Kissa Tanto and Galiano Island’s famed Pilgrimme.
Folke
Suyo
Neighbourhood: Mount Pleasant
Instagram: @suyorestaurant
Suyo is a South American Indigenous word that means homeland, and it traces back to founding chef Ricardo Valverde’s roots in Peru. You can taste the attention to detail and heritage in all of the dishes, which includes delicious ceviche, steamed branzino fish with quinoa tabbouleh, and duck confit with cilantro-beer rice—and so much more.
Suyo
Wild Thing
Neighbourhood: Mount Pleasant
Instagram: @wildthingonmain
Wild Thing Snack Bar on Powell has a new sister resto, the eponymous Wild Thing on Main Street. Vegetarian and vegan fare prevails, but they do have some carnivorous items, too. Inventive and playful is on the menu at either spot: think mushroom pecan pate, stick-to-your-ribs vegetarian tourtiere, or a play on a vegan Big Mac. Go for dinner, go back the next day for brunch.
Wild Thing
This spring, book a table at a new restaurant and enjoy all the culinary flavours that our city has to offer.
Searching for more foodie destinations? Check out our 10 must-try restaurants.
