There's a new Asian street food spot opening in Vancouver this fall

There’s something brand new in the works for the soon-to-be-shuttered Merchant’s Workshop space, and it sounds like it’s going to be dope.

Ugly Dumpling, a new concept from owner Chef Darren Gee (Le Crocodile, Farmers Apprentice, Kinome), is taking over the 1590 Commercial Drive spot and it will open as soon as September.

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Patrons can expect a menu with dishes like roasted new potato and farm eggs, tomato and shiso salad, cucumber noodles and Xo sauce, grilled saba and Takana tartar, morel mushroom and rice, and of course, daily dumplings.

For drinks, there will be a beverage program that will evolve around Chef Darren Gee’s menu including sake, sherry, wine, seasonal craft beer, along with housemade kombucha and soda.

The inspiration for the name of this new East Van joint comes from food that is real and honest in its form.

“Food doesn’t need to look pretty to taste good, it’s more about the quality of the ingredients and execution by the chefs,” the Ugly Dumpling team tells Daily Hive via phone. “These are honest foods that we call ‘staff meal’ what we cook for ourselves and for the restaurant staff every day.”

Ugly Dumpling will be hosting a collaboration dinner with Merchant’s Workshop this Sunday, August 12, we’ll keep you posted on an opening date for this exciting new addition to The Drive.

Ugly Dumpling

Address: 1590 Commercial Drive, Vancouver