A new "globally inspired" restaurant has just opened in Vancouver's Chinatown at 160 East Pender Street.

Sai Woo is run by restaurateur Salli Pateman (formerly at Section 3) with executive chef Douglas Chang (who has cooked at West and Bambudda) at the helm.

“The menu is about mixing influences from travels in the best food cities in the world, and my Canadian, Chinese and Jamaican roots,” says chef Chang in a news release. “Dishes are meant to be familiar yet nostalgic, with nods to our Chinatown neighbourhood and Vancouver’s region and history. The food also reflects a lightness and sense of humour, with modern spins on old favourites.”

Chang's dishes include baked sablefish with lotus root and burdock broth, and house-made pasta with ham and peas, sake broth, and yellow chives. Sharing plates include wings glazed with soy and Coke, and jerk chicken with with sunchokes and greens.

Small plates start at $5, and most large platters come in under $30.

Bar manager Justin Anello (formerly at West) makes his syrups in-house from fruits, herbs, and teas sourced from Chinatown markets. Cocktails include the Sai Woo Sour with Bombay Sapphire gin, Benedictine liqueur, ginger, and lemon. The Smoking Gun cocktail is served with a billow of smoke.

For non-alcoholic options, the restaurant also serves locally made ginger beer, tea shots with matcha and kombucha, and kombucha from Kitsilano's O5 Rare Tea Bar on tap.

Sai Woo is open from 5 p.m. to midnight Tuesday through Sunday; in about a month, it will open on Mondays as well.