Popina Canteen

When Popina Canteen opened in June 2018, the gourmet counter-service eatery - with an elevated menu and panoramic ocean, mountain and cityscape views - was the first of its kind on Granville Island to be built entirely out of repurposed shipping containers.

Housed on what was once a parking lot on the iconic Vancouver landmark, you can’t miss the collection of pop-art-painted repurposed containers.

The innovative restaurant is a collaboration between four of Vancouver’s finest chefs - Angus An (Maenam, Fat Mao, Longtail Kitchen, Sen Pad Thai, Freebird Chicken Shack); Rob Belcham (Campagnolo, Campagnolo Roma, Monarch Burger); Hamid Salimian (Culinary Team Canada captain, VCC culinary instructor, formerly Diva at the Met); and Joël Watanabe (Kissa Tanto, Bao Bei).

“Angus and I have been friends for years,” says Rob. “We toyed with different restaurant collaborations. Then, he was approached by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), about new leases coming up in its plans to expand the market.”

When the plan morphed into a shipping container-style restaurant, all four celebrated chefs were on board.

“How could we not want to be here,” notes Rob. “Popina is in the most unbelievable spot … this was certainly a passion project for all of us.”