Brooklyn Dumpling Shop secures two locations in Metro Vancouver

A popular New York dumpling restaurant that is entirely takeout, waiterless and automated is gearing up to debut its first location in Vancouver.

Brooklyn Dumpling Shop will open its inaugural Vancouver outpost of its “zero human interaction” style dim dum dining experience at 488 Robson St, a representative tells VIA via email.

The franchise takes over the space from Food Republic, which opened in April 2023 and offered a “high-tech food court” service, bringing four restaurant brands into one space with multiple automated features, including a salad-making robot. (Operator NextGen Kitchens did not respond to a request for information about its closure.)

In late 2022, Brooklyn Dumpling Shop signed an international multi-unit deal to bring the popular dumpling concept to Vancouver.

The brand, led by founder Stratis Morfogen – whose family started in the restaurant industry with diners – partnered with global franchise company Fransmart to grow BDS.

Brooklyn Dumpling Shop’s first Canadian location opened in Calgary in February. A second location in Calgary is already nearing its opening date.

In addition to the Robson Street location, Brooklyn Dumpling Shop has secured a space at 4190 Lougheed Hwy in Burnaby in a new retail development.

Modern ‘vending machine’ has self-serve dumplings, side dishes and desserts

This is how the Brooklyn Dumpling Shop works: where the dishes are essentially set up in “lockers” that you open after you pay to pick up your selection. The model is a modernization of the “vending machine,” the famous self-serve cafeterias that were wildly popular in Philadelphia and New York City in the early 20th century.

Brooklyn Dumpling Shop burst onto the scene in mid-2020 and first made waves by announcing that the future of dining could be contactless – especially in light of lockdowns and health-based restrictions. The first location debuted about a year later in New York’s Manhattan (not actually Brooklyn) and was praised for its 24-hour supply of dumplings in a variety of flavors, including cheeseburger, Reuben, and even peanut butter and jelly dessert dumplings. .

Vancouver can probably expect popular BDS dim sum flavors (and more) along with an array of potstickers with or without broth, peanut noodles, waffle fries and ice cream cups. They also sell mix-and-match meal combinations and kids’ meals.

Opening the Dumpling Shop locations in Vancouver and Burnaby Brooklyn will depend on permits and construction timelines, but the franchisee representative says they hope to open later this year.

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