Standing inside the soon-to-be-opened Heritage Restaurant & Bar at 4242 Main Street, it’s clear that with this new location, co-owners Paul Zhang and Jimmy Lam are kicking things up a notch.

Offering quick, inventive and really, really tasty takes on Asian comfort food (think bao buns and rice bowls), Heritage Asian Eatery started on Pender Street in Vancouver’s ‘Financial District’ in 2016. In 2019 the restaurant expanded to a second location at Broadway and Cambie. While the fast, casual service and delicious food built them a faithful following, Heritage’s Broadway location closed in January 2023 due to the Broadway Subway line construction’s never-ending and business-debilitating disruptions.

Now, by blending their signature flavours and honest, approachable charm with a more upscale, full-service approach, Heritage Restaurant & Bar is taking the foundation of the popular brand and shifting gears to offer diners an elevated experience. From the sprawling bar to the custom wok range, everything is designed to merge old-school Chinese flavours with modern sophistication. As the team walked me through the space, they were excited to explain the evolution of their concept.

The Room

The team picked up keys to the 2,500 sqft, 82-seat address (previously Alphabet City) in April. Construction began in June, so that the design team (North Vancouver-based Moor Interior Design) had adequate time to reimagine the space.

On my tour earlier this week, the room looked to be 90% complete. The custom wok station and tanks for live crab and lobster were already in place; the walls painted (emerald green walls with gold accents); burnished brass light fixtures and rich textiles were installed; and a large, custom wall feature depicting cranes wading in a bamboo-studded pond was complete. With its semi-open kitchen and curved 50-foot-long bar, the restaurant successfully blends style with function, making it as appealing for a casual drink and a snack as it will be for family dinners and special occasions.

Given that the ends of the restaurant’s horseshoe-shaped bar point backwards into the dining room, with its arch located at the entry, one of the first faces that guests see when entering the space will belong to the bartender. Understanding the importance of this role, Zhang and Lam have brought on industry vet Derek Granton (Elisa, Bao Bei, Chambar) who, according to my conversations with him, is more-than-excited about the opportunity to operate a bar at the heart of a restaurant.

The Drinks

Granton’s vision for the bar is a focused selection of creative cocktails designed to complement Chinese flavours. (One standout that I’m especially excited for is the ‘Ume Drop’: sake, ginger, and lime, topped with Dageraad wit beer and house-made plum bitters.) The menu will also feature a tight lineup of classic cocktails; a mix of local and international wines; and craft beers, including a special collaboration with Vancouver’s Slow Hand Beer Company. For non-alcoholic options, expect kombucha and inventive alcohol-free concoctions.

In addition to his excitement about the beverages, Granton’s enthusiasm for the architecture of the bar itself is also worth noting. He likes the fact that the bar will allow for casual dining or a quick drink, with some seats providing guests with a view into the kitchen. Granton seems genuinely stoked to use the sight lines provided by the shape of the open bar to connect with diners in every corner of the room.

The Food

The menu at Heritage Restaurant & Bar will focus on integrating locally sourced ingredients with bold, playful takes on traditional Chinese dishes, all served à la carte. Although the plan is to import favourite classics from the original Pender Street location – like Chinese BBQ, dim sum, and bao – there will also be some serious star power added into the mix. We’re talking: Peking Duck made with birds from the Fraser Valley, served with handmade crepes and hoisin; Dungeness Crab with steamed ginger and shallot; Nova Scotia Lobster, drizzled with house-made kombu butter; Cucumber and Wood Ear Mushroom Salad; Crispy Eggplant with sweet and sour dressing; Manila Clams with homemade xo sauce on vermicelli and Crispy Egg Yolk Squid.

The Story

Co-owner and Chef Jimmy Lam is a Vancouver native who grew up in Strathcona. Lam left the city to work in restaurants in Toronto and Sydney, before returning to his hometown in 2018. During my visit to the impending restaurant, our conversation turned to how the city of his youth has changed over the years. “When I was a kid, Chinatown, Main Street and Richmond were the go-to spots for ‘destination’ Chinese restaurants, and Main Street was where we celebrated as a family,” says Chef Lam. “I remember so many great places; but when I returned to Vancouver in 2018, it felt like they’d disappeared. After Long’s Noodle House burned down in 2023, only Sun Sui Wah remained. I’m excited to bring back some of those ‘special occasion’ dishes to this neighbourhood.”

Heritage Restaurant & Bar

Neighbourhood: Main Street

4242 Main St.

(Opening soon)

604-559-6058

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