BAR ASRA || Vancouver’s New Culinary Gem Redefines Fusion with Unexpected Pairings and Story-Driven Plates
The city’s buzzing South Granville neighbourhood is set to welcome a new dining gem: Bar Asra, a globally inspired restaurant and cocktail bar where unexpected flavours meet impeccable craft and vibrant energy.
Recently opened on April 15, Bar Asra invites curious palates and adventurous spirits to experience its exciting and experimental menu.
Bar Asra is a dedication to creativity and innovation, co-owned by renowned chefs Kanwardeep Ahluwalia and Baldeep Singh, who bring a wealth of international culinary experience and a shared love of boundary-pushing cuisine. Their menu draws from far-reaching traditions and is rooted in thoughtful technique, seasonal spontaneity, and a deep curiosity for underused and under-celebrated ingredients. The menu weaves together stories of migration, memory, and imagination, with dishes that reinterpret the familiar through fresh flavours.
The experimental menu includes dishes such ahi tuna crudo with jasmine rice truffle, a bright and punchy adaptation of the Thai Nam Khao salad, using local seafood and citrus for a flavour bomb that honours both tradition and place. The murtabak with jalapeño and cheese reimagines classic Yemeni street food, while the lamb quiche, wrapped in a Ceylon paratha shell and paired with a mangetout and goat cheese salad, pays tribute to the culinary blending that followed the Ottoman migration to the Indian subcontinent. To finish, the signature honey butter toast with fresh strawberries pairs crisp bites with a silky sweetness for the right touch of indulgence.
“Bar Asra is a reflection of our travels, our roots and our desire to create something that feels both personal and shared,” says Kanwardeep Ahluwalia, Executive Chef and Co-Owner. “We want to celebrate the connection between cultures, ingredients and people, and we invite guests to join us on this journey of exploration.”
At Bar Asra, hospitality is at the heart of the experience. Guided by General Manager Johann Hart, the team sees service as an extension of the storytelling behind each dish, inviting guests to feel welcomed and connected through food, flavour, and shared discovery.
The cocktail program is led by Bar Manager Mathew Locke and also pulls on global influence, from a white port and tonic highball reimagined in the Porto Spritz, to the silky, tart, and refreshing Tokyo Silk made with calpico and nigori sake. Bar Asra’s interior reflects a modern, organic aesthetic that evokes Vancouver’s natural beauty with lush foliage amongst a mix of cozy booths, communal tables, and intimate bar seating.
At Bar Asra, the best seat in the house isn’t defined by the view—it’s wherever curiosity is met with flavour. From first sip to final bite, this is a dinner party where the whole world is invited.
