The owner of Vancouver's iconic donut and fried chicken shop shares her favourite local restaurants
When a space has been open since 1987, they tend to know the area pretty well. That’s definitely the case when it comes to Molika Chhuon, co-owner of the iconic Vancouver Duffin’s Donuts.
Chhuon is one of three sisters who operate the donut and sandwich shop. She grew up working in the store for her parents, starting by folding boxes and moving up from there to eventually handling customers and cooking in the kitchen.
“I’ve just been continuing the family legacy with my sisters,” said Chhuon with a smile when we stopped by for a visit.
Marco Ovies/Dished
After decades of working here, and also its original location, 33rd and Main Street, slinging donuts, tortas, and fried chicken, Chhuon has naturally gotten to know the area quite well. And when someone has the street cred that goes with operating one of Vancouver’s most loved establishments, Chhuon’s opinions on food tend to have some weight behind them. So it was no surprise when she mentioned heavy-hitter Phnom Penh as her first spot.
“We’re Cambodian, so we know they make great Cambodian food,” she said.
Phnom Penh has always been a hot pick when it comes to dining in the city, if not specifically for its signature wings. Sweet, savoury, and all sorts of delicious, many have tried to replicate these wings to no avail.
And it’s not just Chhuon (and us) who are fans of the restaurant. Many celebrities make sure to visit the spot during their travels to the city, most recently being Jimmy O. Yang.
In a similar vein, another spot that Chhuon made sure to mention is the longstanding Maxim’s Bakery, a staple for those living in and around Vancouver.
“I grew up with it, so it’s very sentimental to me,” she told us.
The bakery, which has grown to operate numerous locations throughout Metro Vancouver (and shows no signs of stopping), is best known for its array of Hong Kong-style baked goods. Personally, we’re a fan of its Sausage Buns, the perfect combination of salty and sweet that reminds us of childhood. But we didn’t get to hear Chhuon’s favourite item as she was raring to go with her next recommendation, one that some may not consider a restaurant at all.
“I like T&T,” she said. “I don’t know if you would say that’s a food spot, but I love the snack aisle and going through it and buying a bunch of snacks for movie nights. Oh, and their dim sum!”
But just because Chhuon knows where all the heavy hitters are doesn’t mean she’s ignoring some of the lesser-known spots. Specifically, she shouted out her favourite sushi spot called Sushi S in Burnaby.
And while we’re still on the topic of Burnaby, this is also home to Chhuon’s favourite pizza restaurant, one that has been around longer than Duffin’s Donuts.
Viva Sue Pizza, which opened its doors in 1986, has been serving classic pies for nearly 40 years now. For a spot to last that long, you know it needs to be good. Plus, a recommendation from someone like Chhuon never hurts either.
But the secret to staying in business for that long, at least according to Chhuon, is about one thing: heart.
“You have to really care about the community,” said Chhuon. “I think, if you have a lot of heart in what you do, you’ll continue to thrive.”
And if heart and love for the community are the keys to success, then we think Duffin’s will be around for much, much longer.
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