Chinese Pacific Northwest cooking on Commercial Drive
Our Story
Haisan is derived from the Cantonese words for ocean (æµ·) and mountain (å±±). The name captures the heart of our approach: celebrating Chinese heritage and Pacific Northwest culture as one shared, local identity. Cantonese families have called Vancouver home for many generations, embracing both dim sum and Nanaimo bars. At Haisan we cook for them and for anyone curious about what this food becomes when expressed through care, craft, and ceremony.
The Dining Room
Thirty seats and an open kitchen. The ocean nearby and the mountains in view. The room takes its textures from the landscape: fir and ash millwork, hand-dyed wool curtains, leather seats, and kokedama on Steven's hand-shaped ceramics. Every detail is there for the meal: acoustic panelling keeps a full room easy to talk in and each table sits in its own soft light.
Chef Steven Che
Born in Macau and raised in Vancouver, Steven trained at a three-Michelin-star restaurant in Oslo and a three-hatted restaurant in Adelaide. Returning home, he applied his fine-dining background to build a sourdough pizza shop in East Vancouver focused on feeding the community, Just Pizza. He was named Rising Star Chef of the Year at the 2024 Chinese Restaurant Awards and won the 2026 Garland Canada Culinary Competition. At Haisan, his hand is in every detail: he shapes the ceramics on every table and hosts every service with his team.