Chef behind Just Pizza to open Chinese Pacific Northwest fine dining restaurant in Vancouver
Chef Steven Che, the same chef behind one of Vancouver’s top pizzerias, Just Pizza, is preparing to open a new fine dining restaurant on Commercial Drive this fall.
Called Haisan, the restaurant will feature a sixteen-course menu that’s shaped by Steven’s training in renowned kitchens across the globe.
“Our menu is Chinese Pacific Northwest — one point of view, cooked the way I already think about food,” said Che. “Haisan cooks for the families who’ve lived this integration for generations, and for anyone curious what it becomes at this level of craft.”
Beef Siu Mai with dried mandarin peel, beef tallow, and black vinegar (David Karuhije)
The inspiration from Haisan comes from Che’s experiences as a Chinese immigrant living in Vancouver.
“While working at top restaurants in Norway and Australia, I saw chefs showcase their
culture and personal history at the highest level, and I wanted to do the very same thing with my own heritage here at home.”
The menu is designed to bring together childhood flavours that Che grew up loving, while also showcasing the ingredients that our coast has to offer.
Quail stuffed with pork, chestnut, and shiitake with charred bok choy and hawthorn quail demi-glace (David Karuhije)
Every detail at the thirty-seat restaurant is handmade, right down to the ceramics at the table that Che shaped himself.
“The space is designed to capture the natural calm of the Pacific Northwest – the cozy feeling where the mountains meet the ocean,” said Che. “We want to leave guests well-fed, delighted, and completely taken care of from the first pour to the final bite, and Haisan is intentionally designed to celebrate rigorous culinary craft with warm hospitality.”
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Born in Macau and raised in Vancouver, Che has been working in hospitality since the age of thirteen. Since then, he has trained in some of the world’s most rigorous kitchens, including a three-Michelin-star restaurant in Norway and a three-hatted restaurant in Australia. He was named Rising Star Chef of the Year at the 2024 Chinese Restaurant Awards and won the 2026 Garland Canada Culinary Competition.
In 2024, he also opened the acclaimed Just Pizza, a shop built around handcrafted sourdough pizza that has become renowned for its monthly featured pizzas alongside elevated classics on the menu like Cumin Lamb and Filipino Breakfast.
Toasted Barley Gelato with sesame rosette, coffee molasses, and brown butter (David Karuhije)
Haisan is expected to open its doors this fall.
Haisan
Address: 2892 Commercial Dr., Vancouver
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