Heritage Asian Eatery is open and it's killing the breakfast and lunch game

Sep 29 2016, 1:02 am

You’re not going to find any basic breakfast foods at Heritage Asian Eatery – in fact – you’re not going to find any basic foods here at all.

Chef Felix Zhou’s new Asian-inspired breakfast and lunch counter-service restaurant is open in Vancouver’s Financial District at 1108 West Pender Street – the perfect place for his first entrepreneurial endeavour.

“I was instantly sold by the address right away, 1108, because that’s my wife’s birthday,” says Zhou.

Chef Zhou has ample experience in executive positions at other establishments such as Big Trouble Chinatown, the Beach Bay Café, and The Parker Restaurant. He’s joined forces with Heritage co-owners and culinary industry vets Paul Zhang and Natasha Romero to bring Vancouver delicious far east flavours in a casual dining setting.

“There’s not really any Asian cuisine around here, so it works. We work with flavours that we remember from when we were kids, and then we change it and plate it in a modern way,” says Zhou.

One glance at the menu and you’ll be drooling. Between the selection of breakfast crepes, breakfast bowls, salads, sides, baos, and lunch bowls you’ll be headed to Heritage during its 8am to 8pm weekday opening hours frequently.

Heritage Asian Chorizo Sausage and Shiitake Mushrooms Baos (Hanna McLean/Daily Hive)

Heritage Cotechino Sausage and Shiitake Mushrooms Baos (Hanna McLean/Daily Hive)

Heritage specializes in creating food with Asian flavours using locally sourced ingredients to create a modern take on traditional classics. Chef Zhou isn’t worried about perfect presentation or plating – he’s more concerned that guests enjoy the flavour that he’s carefully crafted in the innovative dishes, like the breakfast Heritage Duck Crepe.

“When someone mentions Asian breakfast the first thing you think of is Congee. That’s not what we do here. We do crepes, it’s a take on peking duck but we make the crepe slightly bigger. It’s like an Asian breakfast wrap, we make a very thin omelette wrapped with whatever – protein, sauce – and then we steam it so it’s like a hot, soft wrap full of sauces,” says Zhou.

Heritage’s bao buns are outsourced from a Mom and Pop shop in Vancouver, where Zhou worked to testing batches with the owners until they manifested the perfect tasting bao recipe – not too sweet, and not too bland.

Along with stellar culinary creations the 1,600 square-foot space offers sit-in and take-out menus to guests as well as a bar menu featuring import beer and select BC wines.

Heritage Wings (Hanna McLean/Daily Hive)

Five Spice Chicken Wings (Hanna McLean/Daily Hive)

Before Heritage took over the space, 1108 was a law office, so the team was in charge of a complete kitchen build, something that allowed the owners to make heritage exactly how they imagined it. Reclaimed wood and a polished concrete floors serve as the backdrop for this urban eatery, one that has already become a hub for hungry businesspeople and locals passing by. The restaurant is also available for private events and functions, and it can host stand-up receptions and sit-down dinners for 60 people comfortably.

Keep and eye out for Zhou’s ‘Grocery List’, a series of one-off events where the chef has the freedom to get creative, sourcing seasonal produce and ingredients to give attendees a unique culinary experience with undetermined dishes and courses.

Heritage Eggplant (Hanna McLean/Daily Hive)

Marinated Eggplant (Hanna McLean/Daily Hive)

Did we mention they are also starting a weekend brunch in the near future? This is just one of the many reasons to head to Heritage.

Heritage Asian Eatery

Address: 1108 West Pender Street, Vancouver
Hours: Breakfast 8 to 11am, Lunch/Dinner 11am to 8pm
Phone: 778-737-1108
Facebook: Heritage Asian Eatery

Hanna McLeanHanna McLean

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