Viral American comedian reveals beloved Vancouver restaurant he misses most

Summertime has been a busy season for celebrity sightings at Vancouver restaurants, but for American comedian Steve Hofstetter, there’s one local dining spot that he still misses the most.

Hofstetter, host of Finding Babe Ruth on FS1 and a stand-up comic with over 1.3 million followers on YouTube, is coming to Vancouver on Wednesday, Sept. 23, for a show at the Rio Theatre.

The Laughs executive producer recently revealed some of his favourite things about the city on social media in advance of his performance, including what makes Vancouver special.

“I first performed in Vancouver thirteen years ago to about 75 people, and I loved it,” said Hofstetter on Facebook.

“It had the chillness of Seattle, the walkability of New York, the industry of LA, and the natural beauty of Portland. Actually, it had more of all of those things, rolled into one.”

The comedian who has gone viral with videos of his crowd work and his takedown of hecklers also shared the long-closed Vancouver restaurant that he still pines for.

“A good friend of mine from college had moved there, and he introduced me to the insane views, the phenomenal seafood, and the nerd culture that was the Storm Crow. I know it was a casualty of the pandemic, but I miss that place.”

Storm Crow Tavern in East Vancouver was a self-proclaimed nerd bar known for its games, nerdy decor, and fandom-themed menu.

It closed in 2020 after seven years in operation, with owners thanking patrons for making the Tavern a special place for the “misfits, the geeks, the oddballs and bohemians of Commercial Drive and Vancouver in general.”

Just two years later, Storm Crow Alehouse shut down for good at its West Broadway location.

Those still wanting a taste of the geeky good times can visit Arcana Spirit Lounge, Vancouver’s most occult speakeasy that comes from the same folks who brought us Storm Crow.

Even with the lack of Storm Crow, Hofstetter told his fans that he keeps coming back to Vancouver.

“As my fan base grew, I went from bars to clubs to theatres,” said The Late Late Show alum. “And even though two of my most infamous heckler incidents happened in Vancouver, the response to them is what is much more endemic of the city.

“Both times, the rest of the crowd immediately had my back and stood up to the bigoted bullies.”

While Hofstetter admitted that the city has a “few assholes,” he added that people in Vancouver get it for the most part.

“It is progressive, and educated, and even while police are closing in on you during a sports riot, you still take the time to care for each other,” he said in his post. “The main knock on Vancouver is that it’s insanely expensive – but that’s mainly because so many people want to live there.

“In a week and a half, I’ll be returning to Vancouver for the ninth time. The Rio is my biggest venue there yet, and it’s already close to sold out. While I can’t visit the Storm Crow this time, I can still sip a coffee in Stanley Park in the morning, eat some amazing sushi for lunch, and play to a damn good crowd at night. I can’t wait.”

Another superstar comedian who made a recent visit to Vancouver is Ali Wong, who popped by Chinatown BBQ at 130 East Pender St.

The spot, which is home to authentic traditional Chinese BBQ, shared a photo of Wong in the restaurant on social media, saying, “Life is too short to be wasting meals on bad food.”

The cast of the FX series Shogun was also recently seen dining together at Mnimes Restaurant & Bar by Chef Manos.

“Thank you for the wonderful evening. Everyone loved the food and hospitality,” reads the screenshot posted by the restaurant on its Instagram alongside a photo of the cast at the restaurant.

Steve Hofstetter

When: Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026
Time: 8 p.m.
Where: Rio Theatre — 1660 East Broadway, Vancouver
Tickets: Various prices, purchase online