PINK ELEPHANT CAFE & URBAN THAI BISTRO: Two New Restaurants for Dunbar Story by Sarah Gordon
photos by Sandra Steier and submitted
When one door closes, two doors open. Desmond Chen has once again expanded his restaurant portfolio, and this time Dunbar is the lucky neighbourhood to gain two new dining establishments. When Q Coffee was for sale, Desmond saw an opportunity to expand into the community with Pink Elephant Cafe and Urban Thai Bistro. He saw potential with all the new construction taking place in the area as well as a shortage of vibrant restaurants in Dunbar South. Pink Elephant Cafe is a cheerful space with blush pink and grey décor. It opened for business in late July 2021 and welcomes customers daily from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. 8
Desmond was aware that former Q Coffee customers were huge fans of the locally roasted coffee beans. He says, “Why change something that’s doing well?” His vision was to improve the overall experience—he reimagined the floor plan to become two separate restaurants with a shared kitchen. Desmond says, “There has been tremendous response from Dunbar and neighbouring Kerrisdale residents, construction workers, bus drivers, UBC students, and kids’ sports teams. People stop in to take home quick dinners, parents pick up coffee by the jug for hockey parents, and golfers like to grab their lunch before a round or for post-golf dinners.”
November 15, 2021 - February 15, 2022
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