VANCOUVER — Good Thief has opened in the heart of Vancouver at 3336 Main Street in Mount Pleasant. Good Thief is a re-interpretation of Vietnamese culture and innovative culinary artistry. Building on the success of Vancouver’s award-winning restaurant Anh and Chi, Good Thief emerges as its “rebellious” sibling, where every bite packs a punch and each cocktail ignites a new passion. The restaurant is open for dinner and late-night bites.
The menu takes its inspiration from ingredients, cooking techniques, and dishes from around the world, cleverly marrying them in the spirit of community. Under the creative direction of co-founders Vincent Nguyễn and Amelie Thuy Nguyễn, Good Thief is more than just a place to eat and drink; it’s a destination for lively conversation and cultural exchange.
“If Anh and Chi is the perfect children of a Vietnamese family, then Good Thief is the rebellious younger sibling. Here, rules don’t apply because we celebrate being different,” says Amelie Nguyễn.
Good Thief re-interprets the rich culinary heritage of Vietnam through a contemporary and globally influenced lens, offering a menu of luxurious cocktails and experimental share plates. Guests will find themselves immersed in one of Vietnam’s timeless cultural practices, called “nhậu,” which is the cherished tradition of gathering for food, drink, and conversation in the name of fun and connection. It’s a time and place for clinking glasses to toast each round, lively chatter, and forging connections among family, friends, or even strangers.
The passionate and talented team at Good Thief includes Vincent Nguyễn as owner and head of Operations, Amelie Nguyễn as co-founder and creative director, Ashlee Jarvis as general manager, Ben Kingstone as Beverage director, and Jonathan Lee, formerly of Blue Water Cafe as chef de cuisine. Together, they’ve crafted a menu that merges the best of traditional and modern influences to create something entirely unprecedented in Vancouver.
The food menu, curated by chef Lee, spans small bites to larger share plates, marrying exotic flavours and ingredients, from crispy pomme frites with curry leaf and Thai green chili aioli to sticky frog legs with Me’s (Mom’s) fish sauce glaze. Diners can spoon house-made chawanmushi-style silken tofu with heirloom tomato dashi, shiso, and Thai basil as a plant-based option, or share the Pho-spiced Oxtail crepinette or Brant Lake Wagyu flat iron steak with Vietnamese chimichurri.
Designed by Vancouver’s Ste Marie Studio and branded by Melbourne’s Studio Round, Good Thief’s interior reflects a chic and cheeky homage to 1970s bars in Vietnam. The 40-seater space blends East and West with a nostalgic yet modern and luxurious vibe, adorned with drapery, brass, and playful pops of colour. It invites guests to settle in, loosen up, and enjoy a truly immersive dining experience. The vibrant atmosphere, coupled with the unique design elements, creates a setting that is both fun and sophisticated.
Further, following in Anh and Chi’s philanthropic footsteps, while welcoming walk-in patrons, Good Thief will also incorporate the innovative Reservation by Donation program. This initiative, which has already raised more than $300,000 on behalf of local charities through Anh and Chi, allows guests an option to reserve a table by donating to a charity of their choice. Dollar for dollar goes directly to the chosen charities, as Good Thief covers all administrative costs. Patrons not only enjoy a wonderful dining experience but also support meaningful causes, making their visits to Good Thief even more impactful.
