Wa-Bagel: Japanese-style bagel shop set to open in Vancouver

Mar 28 2023, 4:30 pm

Hot on the heels of opening its new Japanese-style curry spot, Wa! Curry, Aburi Restaurants Canada is launching something new: Wa-Bagel.

Set to serve us bites that embody “Tokyo-meets-New York,” we’re told the bagels from the new name will be chewy, airy, and delicious.

Wa-Bagel will be setting up shop at 666 Burrard Street in downtown Vancouver later this spring.

Dished is told this style of bagel shop is a Canadian first. The new destination will offer both sweet and savoury bagels in an array of flavours and fillings.

ā€œJapanese-style bagels are my favourite type of bagel because they are more light and smaller in-size, often with a filling, similar to another Japanese snack-favourite, the onigiri,ā€ explains Seigo Nakamura, founder and CEO of Aburi Restaurants Canada.

ā€œThey are becoming more and more popular in Japan, and there is really nothing like it in Canada yet. I thought it would be a great idea to introduce something new to the Canadian market. There are so many different kinds of flavours. Have you ever had a mochi cheese bagel or a lemon peel and azuki bean bagel? They are delicious!ā€

The bagels here will be made with Canadian flour and koji-based yeast. There will be 14 flavours of bagels and bagel sandwiches at the launch.

Think red bean paste and cream cheese, sweet potato and black sesame, Aburi Marketā€™s fresh-cut salmon lox & scallion cream cheese, and bacon with miso and cheese, to name a few.

For sips expect coffee, tea, and more.

Wa-Bagel

Wa-Bagel

Wa-Bagel

Wa-Bagel

Wa-Bagel Head Baker Yukiko Iikura actually founded her own popular bagel shop in Japan named Kepo Bagels.

ā€œI love baking and I also love chewy-textured things and WA-BAGELā€™s dough features the texture and aroma of mochi,ā€ explains Iikura.

ā€œIn Japan, we use many different types of flavours and fillings for our bagels, and weā€™ll definitely be using some very Canadian-inspired ingredients in some of our options. Iā€™m very excited as Canada has some of the best flour in the world, and weā€™ll get to use it in our bagels.ā€

Wa-Bagel

Seigo Nakamura and Yukiko Iikura at her Kepo Bagels in Japan

Wa-Bagel’s interior will be created by Japanese interior designer, Takahiro Ibe, who is aiming for “a unique bagel kitchen meets ‘urban’ forest feel.”

The 1,887 sq ft spot will launch as a counter service destination offering takeout and delivery options.

Folks looking to dine in can always take their food across the hallway and find a spot in the buildingā€™s communal concourse as well.

We’ll keep you posted on an exact opening date! In the meantime, check out our huge list of new Vancouver restaurants set to open soon.

Wa-Bagel

Address: 666 Burrard Street, Vancouver

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