Vancouver’s food scene is about to get a whole lot more flavourful.
Fresh off the buzz surrounding TOUK, celebrated Top Chef Canada winner Chanthy Yen is launching his newest concept, Mee Bar, at the highly anticipated Time Out Market Vancouver at Oakridge Park this week.
Opening May 28, Mee Bar is a contemporary Cambodian noodle bar inspired by the vibrant street food culture of Cambodia, built around comforting bowls of noodles, bold Southeast Asian flavours, char-grilled meats, and highly snackable small plates.
And honestly? The menu sounds dangerously good.
Highlights include Kampot Chicken Wings, crispy Taro Rolls, housemade Cambodian sausages, and Mee Katang—stir-fried wide rice noodles layered with grilled steak, cabbage, fried egg, and truffle butter. There’s also Nom Banh Chok, Cambodia’s beloved rice noodle curry, alongside rice bowls, baguette sandwiches, house pickles, and deeply savoury broths designed for maximum comfort.
The name “Mee” itself references noodles across many Asian cultures, and the concept feels deeply personal to Yen, who has become known for blending Cambodian culinary storytelling with contemporary dining formats.
“With Mee Bar, I wanted to create something approachable and energetic while still honouring the flavours and memories I grew up with,” says Yen.
The opening also marks Yen’s second collaboration with Time Out Market following the success of his Montréal concept, further cementing him as one of Canada’s most exciting chefs right now.
For those unfamiliar with Yen’s résumé: beyond winning Top Chef Canada, the Cambodian-Canadian chef has trained under internationally renowned culinary figures, led multiple Michelin-recommended kitchens, and earned widespread acclaim for restaurants including the Bib Gourmand-awarded Nightshade.
To celebrate the launch, Mee Bar will offer complimentary grilled beef skewers to the first 100 guests on Friday, alongside a social media giveaway for a $50 gift card.
In other words: come hungry. —Noa Nichol
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