Counter-service spots are a rarity in Vancouver's financial district, but chef Felix Zhou decided to buck the trend when he launched his new restaurant concept in the fall of 2016. The well-known local chef trusted that a casual, counter-style eatery would stand out among the neighbourhood's big-name chain restaurants and high-end dining rooms. “Some people thought we were crazy,” he chuckles. His gamble paid off and people have been flocking to Heritage Asian Eatery ever since it opened its doors.
Felix started his foray into the culinary arts in high school. He quickly proved to be a natural and received a scholarship for the culinary program at Vancouver Community College. After graduation, he landed a job at the acclaimed West Restaurant, where he honed his skills under the tutelage of David Hawksworth. “West was really where I learned how to respect food and how to execute it at the highest standards,” Felix recalls. “I took David’s attention to detail as the foundation for my career.”
The rising culinary star later went on to wow diners at a number of notable restaurants at home and abroad. Felix served as executive chef for The Parker Restaurant, Big Trouble Chinatown and Beach Bay Cafe in Vancouver, and worked in the kitchens at two Michelin-starred restaurants in London, England: Roganic and Galvin La Chapelle.
In 2016, Felix teamed up with two industry veterans – restaurateur Natasha Romero and businessman Paul Zhang – to develop a new restaurant concept. Together, they launched Heritage Asian Eatery in September 2016, bringing fast, affordable and deliciously vibrant Asian cuisine to Coal Harbour.
