Saan Saan Cafe Brings Nostalgic Hong Kong-Inspired Cuisine to Main Street, Vancouver
Saan Saan Cafe Brings Nostalgic Hong Kong-Inspired Cuisine to Main Street, Vancouver
Family Legacy & Community Focus: Saan Saan Cafe Revitalizes a Historical Vancouver Home
Saan Saan, a new cafe located at 227 Main St, Vancouver, just had a soft launch, offering nostalgic and gluten-free Hong Kong-inspired food. Founded by siblings Eric, Sarena, and Jamie Siu, Saan Saan, named in honour of their mother, is a testament to their shared love of food and family traditions. The cafe space occupies the first floor of a 1904 home, which belonged to their grandparents since the early 1950s.
Eric, the eldest of the three, designed the cafe’s unique Mid-Century and vintage Vancouver Chinatown style, taking inspiration from traditional Cantonese aesthetics from his grandparents' upstairs apartment.
The front entrance is adorned with plants bathed in natural morning sunlight from a wall of windows. A few pieces of furniture and artifacts have been preserved from the house, such as a redwood cabinet with intricate reliefs, tables made from recycled wood from the building, and several framed Cantonese craft pieces displayed near the entrance. The tiled cocktail bar wall is styled with the Siu family's generational memories and tributes to Chinatown, featuring traditional Chinese pottery from the 1960s, and large apothecary jars filled with dried red dates and tea leaves. The back hallway and bathrooms evoke the style of a Wong Kar-Wai movie. The dining room can seat 34 guests, and the team is working on an outdoor area that will accommodate 18 more.
Saan Saan Cafe now runs with a “Weekend Coffee Shop” concept from Friday to Sunday, featuring family-recipe baked goods such as BBQ Pork Turnover, Mushroom Turnover, Apple Turnover, Pineapple Coconut Cookie, and Milk Tea Mochi Brownie. The cafe serves coffee drinks using beans from Agro Roasters, nostalgic tea drinks like Hong Kong Milk Tea, Yuenyeung (a mix of coffee and tea), Iced Shaken Oolong, and mocktails made from cold-brewed tea sourced from Treasure Green Tea Company in Chinatown.
An expanded menu will be revealed in the fall, with more savoury items. Expect delicious, nostalgic, gluten-free Hong Kong-style comfort food without compromising on texture and flavour, and made with fresh, wholesome ingredients. Offerings include salad bowls, gluten-free baked goods, noodle and rice dishes that are tasty and satisfying for everyone, regardless of dietary restrictions
Food has always been a unifying force for the Siu family. The cafe’s location holds special significance, as it hosted family gatherings around their grandparents’ dinner table. Saan Saan allows the siblings to blend design, food, and Vancouver’s history into a shared community experience.
Saan Saan captures the essence of Vancouver’s Chinatown, offering familiar sights, patterns, sounds, and smells that evoke childhood memories. By enjoying Hong Kong-inspired dishes, guests stay connected to the city’s vibrant culture and diversity.
Sourcing from local artisans and suppliers, the cafe supports the community and strives to build meaningful relationships. The cafe provides a communal space for local events. With a welcoming environment, the cafe evokes good memories and a sense of home. The goal is to have fun, be kind, and connect people through food that nourishes and brings joy.
Following Saan Saan Cafe’s soft opening, the community is invited to stay connected and informed by following Saan Saan Cafe on Instagram @saansaancafe. For the latest news, menu highlights, and upcoming events, please visit the Saan Saan Cafe website: saansaan.ca.
