Good Thief

The story

Good Thief: Rebellious Vietnamese Cocktails & Share Plates in Vancouver

The rebellious sibling to Anh and Chi

On Main Street in Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant neighbourhood, Good Thief occupies an intimate 43-seat room that feels like a well-kept secret. It is the daring younger sibling to the acclaimed Anh and Chi, and it shares more than a family resemblance — it shares the Vietnamese tradition of nhậu, the culture of gathering around food, drinks, and banter.

Sibling duo Vincent Nguyễn and Amelie Thuy Nguyễn — the team behind Anh and Chi — conceived Good Thief as a space where timeless Vietnamese flavours are reinterpreted through a modern, global lens. The result is a menu of experimental share plates and luxurious cocktails that draw from travels near and far. The little bites pack a punch, while the drinks spark conversation.

That approach caught the attention of the Michelin guide, which awarded Good Thief a Bib Gourmand in 2026 — a recognition of good quality, good value cooking that sits comfortably alongside the restaurant’s rebellious spirit.

Cocktails as craft

The drink menu is a journey in itself, named after the folkloric figure Trạng Quỳnh. Here, bespoke cocktails are built from ingredients like pandan, calamansi, starfruit, and even phở-spiced tea. Highlights include the “Nhậu or Never” with charred Thai chili and pandan, the savoury “Phở Đặc Biệt” featuring beef and rice noodle, and the playful “Cucumber Salad” with coconut-washed tequila and cotton candy foam. The bar’s extensive agave, amaro, and whisky selections are equally considered, and a late-night happy hour — Sticky Fingers — runs from 9 pm Thursday through Sunday.

Community at the table

Good Thief’s food is contemporary Vietnamese in spirit, but the restaurant’s ethos is rooted in community. Walk-ins are always welcome, and on Fridays and Saturdays the restaurant operates a Reservation by Donation model: guests book a table by donating $10 per person to a local charity, with Good Thief covering all administrative fees. It is a small gesture that reflects the warmth the team brings to the room.

With Chef De Cuisine Jonathan Lee in the kitchen and Bar Manager Vysion Elter behind the cocktails, Good Thief offers a genuinely unexpected take on what Vietnamese food and drink can be — rebellious, refined, and always meant to be shared.