Satoshi Yonemori: Bar Manager, June

Yonemori spent time behind many a bar (The Diamond, Grapes and Soda—where he was our 2018 Bartender of the Year—and The Keefer) before joining the star-bar-trio at June on Cambie. Now, along with beverage director Amber Bruce and head bartender Riley Maggs, Yonemori is busy brainstorming new creations for June and its sumptuous underground speakeasy, Lala. When the bar manager and father of three gets a chance to eat out, here’s where he hits.

Oku Izakaya

“The best karaage in town,” says Yonemori of this Gastown izakaya joint. “If I have a day off, or if I have chef friends in town, I always go here.” He orders the hand-rolled temaki sushi—served open-faced, taco-like, on nori—and the pork belly. “If you go, sit at the bar to watch [owner Takeshi Hasegawa] do his magic.”

2 Water St. okuizakayabar.com

Pax Romana

“A chef I really respect is Justin Song-Ell, who used to be at Elephant and now does a pop-up at Pax Romana on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.” Yonemori describes his friend as a superchef who often has 20 different items on his menu, all cooked from scratch. A recent highlight? Fingerling potato salad with house-made albacore kasabushi.

1670 Commercial Dr. paxromana.ca

Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen

One of the most popular Vietnamese soup noodle spots in town, the Victoria Drive location of Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen is a fam-fave. “I have three kids, so we can be a bit messy. The servers are great: you never have to ask for side plates or high chairs, they just bring it all over right away. I get the #24: fish cake pho with lots of dill.”

5155 Victoria Dr. bunchacahoangyen.com

Noah’s Cafe

This Japanese-Western fusion bistro, run by Yonemori’s friend Cliff Chi, has a menu that’s downright mouthwatering. “They make a great housemade pasta with lots of sea urchin in it,” he says, describing the uni creme pasta with prawns and truffle oil. “He’s also known for this omelette hayashi rice, where the omelette is served on top of this hashed beef stew.”

1096 Denman St. noahscafe604.com

Cultivate Tea

“I love the room, and [owner Jude Wang] is so sweet. I met him back when he was making a really clean kombucha, with no vinegar flavour; I remember I just kept going back and asking questions. Now, I’ll book ahead and do a tea tasting,” he says. “The vibe at Cultivate gives me the same feeling I get from Niwa—so clean and calm.”

2208 Main St. cultivatetea.com

Balance Botanical and Quidditas Health

To craft housemade liquors and infusions, Yonemori stocks up at these hidden-gem bulk shops, with jars of teas, herbs, spices and roots lining the shelves. “They have the unusual things I need, things like dried artichoke, gentian root, wormwood and devil’s club.”

Balance Botanical
4341 Main St. balancebotanicals

Quidditas Health
1906 Commercial Dr.

Lina Caschetto: Chef/owner, Touski and Say Hey Cafe

Caschetto spent seven years working in restaurants in France before opening the sandwich shop of your dreams—Say Hey Cafe and Deli—in Chinatown, and then, earlier this year, neighbourhood bistro Touski. When she’s not behind the counter or in the kitchen, you can find the chef/owner channelling her contagious energy and culinary expertise into foodie collabs and popups around town. (Colleagues in France used to call her “the Flying Chef” because she was everywhere, all the time, doing everything.)

Magari by Oca

There’s always a line at Magari by Oca, the reimagined fresh pasta resto previously known as Oca Pastificio. “I was heartbroken by the loss of Greg [Dilabio, the late chef and co-owner],” says Caschetto. “It’s incredible to see the team’s resilience and what they’ve been able to continue to create, on such a high level.” Her tip: avoid the lines by going later, around 8:30 or 9 p.m. “We’ll get a few plates of pasta, maybe a negroni. Eating out doesn’t have to be about breaking the bank. It should be about feeling nourished—not just with food, with the vibe and experience, too.”

1260 Commercial Dr. @magari_by_oca

Duffin’s Donuts

Ah, this old classic—the (sometimes) 24-hour icon of our times, Duffin’s. “We love getting their spicy chicken and I usually get it with rice and a side of gravy,” laughs Caschetto.

1391 E 41st Ave. duffinsdonuts.ca

The Patty Shop

This tiny Jamaican patty shop on the west side is an epic quick-stop snack spot. “The spicy beef is my favourite patty of all time—I could eat a thousand! But the curry chicken is very good too.”

4019 Macdonald St. 604-738-2144

Merci Boulangerie

Although Caschetto and baker/owner Natalie Cumberbirch lived and worked in Paris restaurants around the same time, they never met until they were both back in Vancouver. “The focaccia is good; the baguettes are excellent. Having lived in France for so long, it’s really hard to find good bread here.”

2879 Commercial Dr. merciboulangerie.com

Ramen Danbo

Yes, there’s always a lineup, but it’s worth it. “It’s one of the only ramen spots where I eat the whole thing. All the broth, all the noodles, everything. It’s so delicious, I can’t stop.” She goes for a spicy bowl of Original Rekka ramen, which gets its heat from a Japanese chili pepper powder.

1833 W 4th Ave. ramendanbo.com

Hawker’s Delight

For Singaporean-Malaysian cuisine, this Main Street staple is her go-to. “I remember someone taking me back in the day and I had their chicken curry—I’d never eaten anything like that before. It was mind-blowing. I’m a big fan of their nasi goreng: the flavour hits just the way I want it to. I also love the stuffed tofu puff dish with bean sprout, cucumber and peanut sauce.”

4127 Main St. @hawkersdelightdeli 

33 Acres

“It’s always a vibe there!” says Caschetto of our 2024 Readers’ Choice for Best Brewery. “Their beer is my favourite and I love that they have popcorn and chips and dip. The staff are all so nice; I really appreciate that. It’s like Cheers. Everyone knows your name.” Caschetto’s sip of choice: 33 Acres of Sunshine French Blanche.

15 W 8th Ave. 33acresbrewing.com

Annabelle’s

Owned by Annabelle Choi, this cult favourite bakery is mere steps away from Say Hey and Touski—which is “life-changing” for Caschetto’s teams, she says. “I love a little hojicha latte with oat milk and a plain croissant. And Annabelle is starting to ramp up gelato; her flavours are amazing and unconventional. For example, she made one for the Light Up Chinatown festival one year that was plum blossom and Scottish shortbread.” Umm, yum.

620 Quebec St. annabellechoistudio.com

 

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