A no messing around guide to the coolest things to eat, drink and do in Vancouver and beyond. Community. Not clickbait.

The Slick, Pacific Rim-Inspired Restaurant Was a Yaletown Fixture for Five Years

The ever-evolving Restaurant Graveyard series looks back at the countless, long-shuttered establishments that helped to propel Vancouver’s food and drink forward. Full A-Z with maps and photos here. May they never be forgotten!

Opened in the heart of Yaletown in 2007 with Joe Fortes veterans Albert Chee, Darren Gates and chef William Tse running the front and back of houses (2/1 respectively), Goldfish Pacific Kitchen was a professionally-run, West Coast meets Asian restaurant underwritten by pioneering Vancouver restaurateur Bud Kanke (owner of Mulvaney’s, The Cannery, Carlos & Buds, Joe Fortes, etc.). It drew an immediate local crowd and press praise for its seafood-focused menu and its sophisticated modern interior and hidden back patio by Juli Hodgson Design. Its strong cocktail game was developed and executed by talented bartender Lauren Mote, and the basic-to-baller wine list was the responsibility of Nessa Van Bergen. Like many restaurants in the neighbourhood (and across the city) Goldfish Pacific Kitchen suffered during the 2009 Financial Crisis. Kanke stepped up to oversee some major staff changes in 2010 and tried a concept/brand tweak to Goldfish Seafood and Chops in 2011, but the restaurant closed in early 2012. The location has since been home to a popular contemporary Japanese eatery called Minami.

  • Goldfish Pacific Kitchen
  • Goldfish Pacific Kitchen
  • Goldfish Pacific Kitchen
  • Goldfish Pacific Kitchen
  • Goldfish Pacific Kitchen
  • Goldfish Pacific Kitchen
  • Goldfish Pacific Kitchen
  • Goldfish Pacific Kitchen
  • Goldfish Pacific Kitchen
  • Goldfish Pacific Kitchen
  • Goldfish Pacific Kitchen
  • Goldfish Pacific Kitchen
  • Goldfish Pacific Kitchen
  • Goldfish Pacific Kitchen

Goldfish Pacific Kitchen
Neighbourhood: Yaletown
1118 Mainland St.
(Closed)

On Liquor, Licensing and Loopholes, with Keenan Hood of The Keefer

We catch up with The Keefer Bar’s General Manager, Keenan Hood, for a recap on the closing of the Keefer Yard, and the successes of the past couple of years…

The Cozy Prairie Themed Bar Tucked Away on Cordova Street

This cozy, unpretentious Saskatchewan-themed Gastown tavern was a beer- and bourbon-lovers' living room, with a food menu that could have been featured entirely in Scout's 'Comfort Food Guide to Vancouver'.

Remembering the West End’s Charming Ligurian Restaurant and Its Stunning Patio

The 110-seat restaurant and bar specialized in the regional cuisine of Liguria, with seafood dishes figuring highly.

Remembering Master Chef Cafe, One of East Van’s Last Greasy Spoons

A cash-only spot to the end, the friendly Master Chef Cafe was in operation on East Hastings from 1953 until 2014.