Good Thief — Restaurant in Vancouver

A Night to Remember at Good Thief

Stepping into Good Thief feels like stepping into another world… one wrapped in warm dim light, thoughtful design, and an atmosphere that instantly quiets your mind and awakens your senses. The decor is breathtaking! Moody, elevated, and transportive. It’s the kind of place that makes you forget where you are, in the best way possible.

Our server, Alex, was the kind of host that transforms a meal into a memory. After chatting with us briefly, she curated a bespoke tasting menu that reflected such care and intuition.. it felt deeply personal. Every dish that came out was a masterpiece, each one better than the last. Alex presented every plate and drink with intention, highlighting the dedication, thought, and passion poured into every element of the experience. Thank you, Alex. You made our night unforgettable!

Let’s talk about the food: The Oysters were unlike anything we’ve ever tasted. A true umami bomb, delicate yet bold.. it’s hard to put into words how beautifully they woke up our palates. The Grilled Octopus was perfectly charred, with a melt-in-your-mouth tenderness and just the right amount of brightness. The Scallops & Pomelo? Divine. The acidity of the pomelo balanced the richness of the scallops in the most unexpected and delightful way. And the Garlic Noodles.. silky, fragrant, and addictively savory. A comfort dish elevated to art! The Feature dishes that night: Grilled Spot Prawns and Steak with Ant Salt, were showstoppers. The prawns were smoky, succulent, and perfectly seasoned. And the steak? The ant salt gave it this earthy, citrusy edge that left us speechless!

We’ve never experienced food that made us feel emotional. But that’s exactly what this meal did. Each bite told a story, and we were completely captivated. 😧

To end our evening, we shared the Banana Cake 2.0, and wow. It was so different, and so delicious. The cake itself had a warm, spiced depth.. comforting yet exciting and when paired with the cool, creamy gelato, it was pure magic! A perfect ending to an unforgettable meal.

And then.. the drinks.

We got the Savoie Spritz, TAC, Pom Pom Punch, Breakfast of Gods, Nhau or Never, Phở Đặc Biệt, and the Cà Phê Cà Pháo. Each cocktail was a symphony, complex, layered, and unapologetically bold.

The Phở Đặc Biệt was shocking in the best way.. spicy, savory, and completely transportive.

These aren’t just cocktails, they’re experiences. Hands down, the best drinks we’ve ever had. The bar is on another level entirely.

To say Good Thief is just a restaurant would be a disservice. It’s a journey. From the dreamy decor to the cohesive, thoughtful service, from the kitchen’s impeccable execution to the bar’s inventive brilliance, this place is nothing short of magic. We walked away feeling seen, fed, and inspired.

This is where you go to fall in love with dining again.

Good Thief is the place to be.

Edit:

We came to celebrate our anniversary after our original plans didn’t quite hit the spot.. and we’re so glad we ended up at Good Thief. Walked in last minute and sat at the bar, which turned out to be exactly where you want to be in a place like this. The vibe, the people, the energy.. everything was just right.

Kait was incredibly kind, and it was nice seeing Alex (our server from a previous visit) again. Joel took amazing care of us from start to finish, even treated us to a glass of bubbly to celebrate! And yes, he was kind enough to include our third-wheel friend too (LOL).

We went with the tasting menu again, it never disappoints. Highly recommend for a special night, or honestly, any night you want to...

Visited twice for dinner (once with a group of friends, once with another chef), and it’s my new favourite spot.

Love the decor (those lanterns, that colour palette, that retro vibe, all the plants!) and attention to detail/service. Their front of house team is friendly, knowledgeable, and includes some of the most talented bartenders in town. I’ve tried the spirit-free versions of a few drinks, also love the Edenvale non-alc sparkling wine.

And the food is so strong! They regularly have feature items in addition to what’s on the menu. There are small bites and larger dishes for sharing, all with bold flavours, vibrant colours, elegant plating, also, I’m a slut for edible flower petals and micro herbs.

If you’re an oyster person, DO NOT MISS OUT on the Fanny Bay sunseekers with chili fish sauce/coconut foam/lime juice, they are incredible.

Seafood lovers also have to try the whelk on crispy black rice (punchy marinade, so good) and BC sidestripe shrimp crudo (with tamarind, pomelo, mango, radish, and spicy nasturtium). These dishes are so bright and fun.

They have rotating yakitori skewers available! We tried the steak and pork belly (marinated in a green herb sauce). Grilled food on a stick is one of those things that sounds simple but when done well is truly special.

Their fries (pommes frites) are dusted in lime salt, showered in crispy lime leaves, and served with a herbaceous, rich, (mild) green chili aioli.

The beet salad with fermented plums, herb vinaigrette, puffed sesame rice crackers, and chili salt was earthy, sweet, and fresh.

Their seasonal zucchini dish (back in summer) was glorious. A big pile of shaved zuke on top of roasted squash, with herbs, bread crumbs, and a lemongrass butter sauce.

We tried frog legs both times out of curiosity and everyone ended up loving them: crispy, sticky with chili fish sauce caramel, garnished with freshly torn mint and tiny bits of chopped cilantro stems. Deeply savoury and fresh at the same time. They taste like wings.

THE OXTAIL is so tender and that glaze? With that silky carrot purée? And the braised daikon? Write your family about it.

We had the steak with bone marrow butter, pho chimmichurri (spicy, herbal, umami, warm spices, rich, and so many layers of depth!), and dipped the fries in it, truly dreamy.

They used to have a roasted Cornish (half) hen available that was perfectly roasted, super juicy, and served with an Asian herb and pickle salad. None of my friends wanted to try it when we ordered, and then they all ended up attacking it with forks when it arrived because it looked and smelled so good.

They also have rotating desserts and features! Their almondine cake with mung bean crema, ginger granita, peanuts, condensed milk ice cream, and sea salt looks minimal and clean but has complex flavours and texture. I want to lie down and eat a pan of those little cakes.

The little bowls of fried taro/lotus chips and pickles to welcome every table are such a thoughtful and generous touch.

We definitely ate a bunch of other things too, and I will keep bringing friends here when we want to try adventurous food and exciting drinks in a beautiful room with attentive service.

This place is truly unique, and their approach to food and drinks is a little mind- and genre-bending in a special way. It’s an experience! Good Thief has only been open for 3 months, can’t wait to see how it...

I was excited to try Good Thief, especially since it shares owners with Anh and Chi, where I’ve had great experiences for years. Unfortunately, my first visit was disappointing due to poor service.

Our server, Christina, was unapproachable, inattentive, and lacked warmth. Despite multiple attempts to get her attention, she repeatedly walked past us without acknowledgment. When I finally locked eyes with her, she coldly held up her index finger and mouthed “in a minute” without a smile. It felt so dismissive and unwelcoming that I started questioning whether we had upset her or if we were even welcome there.

When we inquired about vegetarian options, she interrupted sharply: “Is it vegan or vegetarian? Which is it?” She rushed through the menu without care, and when I tried to order mid-way, she abruptly asked, “Do you want me to continue or no?” in a way that felt aggressive and unnecessary. My friends and I didn’t just feel unwelcome, we felt genuinely uncomfortable being served by her.

We had originally planned to order more food, but after that experience, none of us wanted to spend any more money there. The only exception was the Cà Phê Cà Pháo (coffee martini), which was actually very good, so we ordered one more of that before leaving.

I understand people have off days, and I try to give the benefit of the doubt. But if that was the case, she genuinely seemed like she didn’t want to be there at all. The cold, dismissive attitude felt completely out of place in a high-end setting.

I asked the manager for a different server, and we were reassigned to Mike, who was friendly, professional, and everything Christina wasn’t. While he improved our experience, the damage was done.

Given the premium pricing ($25+ per cocktail) and Anh & Chi’s great reputation, I expected much better service. Sadly, this experience left a lasting negative impression, and I hope management addresses...