Food News

New Vancouver Restaurant Alert: The Darkside Is Opening in The Union’s Former Digs

The new Asian gastropub will feature kimchi calamari, spicy Dan Dan chicken wings and more. And no, it's not Star Wars-themed.

By Alyssa Hirose /

The Union just announced their permanent closure in late October, and there’s already a new restaurant taking over the space. It’s called The Darkside and it’s brought to you by managing partner Steph Wan and chef Kevin Lin, the folks behind Land and Sea (a finalist in the Best West Coast category of Vanmag‘s 2022 Restaurant Awards).

Managing partner Steph Wan and chef Kevin Lin of The Darkside
Managing partner Steph Wan and chef Kevin Lin of The Darkside.

Despite a similar-sounding name, The Darkside has nothing to do with Dark Table, the Kitsilano restaurant where you eat in the pitch black (and notably, where in 2016 my partner choked on his steak and nearly passed out because no one could see or hear him, which is only a very funny story because he lived to tell the tale). It also has nothing to do with Star Wars. Say what you want about the name, but this team is nailing the food photography.

The Darkside's Duck Mi.
The Darkside’s Duck Mi.
The Darkside's Peanut butter French toast, not available at TOTT but launching in 2023 with the full restaurant.
The Darkside’s Peanut butter French toast, not available at TOTT but launching in 2023 with the full restaurant.

Wan and Lin call The Darkside a “casual Asian gastropub concept,” and the menu looks pretty damn good. Here’s what’s on offer so far:

Little Island Fries (Taiwanese cabbage, chai poh, pork floss)
Fried Dace Taco (black beans, cabbage and cilantro)
Kimchi Calamari (bean sprouts, green onion and gochujang aioli)
Tom Yum brussel sprouts (preserved radish)
Chicken wings (in spicy Dan Dan, Pad Thai and Sweet and Sour flavours)

The fried dace taco with black beans, cabbage and cilantro.
The fried dace taco with black beans, cabbage and cilantro.
General Steph’s chicken wings (spicy!).

Plus, they’ll have specialty cocktails (like a Yin Yang martini with orange pekoe syrup and vanilla-bean-infused evaporated milk) in the evenings.

The Darkside's spicy margarita.
The Darkside’s spicy margarita.

The Darkside doesn’t open until January 2023, but the team is launching a pop-up concept in the space on November 25, featuring a condensed menu. The pop-up is called TOTT. Which must stand for something. My brain went to Too Ot To Tandle but that doesn’t make any sense and also means I probably watch too much reality TV.

General Steph’s chicken wings (spicy!).

TOTT opens November 25, and the hours are 5 pm till late. Watch for The Darkside in 2023 (ominous).