With so many restaurants in Vancouver — let alone Metro Vancouver– it can be difficult to truly stand out. Whether it’s one of many Italian restaurants opening in the area, a new sushi spot, or an international chain making its debut in the city, there can be a lot of overlap when it comes to similar types of cuisine. However, sometimes a restaurant manages to stand out from the crowd, and one of those is Peya.
Opened in March 2025, Peya is a relatively new restaurant to join the Vancouver food scene. The restaurant is led by co-owners Ashwani Dabas and Kevin Day, who are also the team behind The Ellis. Here, Dabas has brought together two cuisines that he loves all under one roof: French and Indian.
“While I was doing my bachelor’s and master’s, everything that we studied was French,” explained Dabas when we stopped by to check out the restaurant. He grew to love these French dishes and cuisines, but he also loved the spices and curries from his Indian background.
But what exactly does it mean to serve a fusion of French and Indian cuisine? That’s what we were there to find out.
What is French-Indian cuisine?
One of the heavy hitters on the menu is the Cornish Hen, Peya’s take on the classic butter chicken.
“We brine it for 24 hours, marinate it for 48 hours, and then cook it in the tandoor,” explained Dabas. “It’s a small bird, so it kind of works out perfectly as a butter chicken.”
Another secret to Peya’s butter chicken is, surprisingly, the lack of butter and cream in the sauce. Instead, he explained he used stock to give it a richer flavour as well as roasted red peppers and tomatoes.
When we heard that there was very little butter in this butter chicken, naturally, we were skeptical. But one bite from this dish and all our worries washed away.
Peya’s Cornish Hen (Marco Ovies/Dished)
This hit all the same notes we love from a classic butter chicken; rich and creamy, with a slight smoky flavour to it (presumably from the smoked red pepper and tomatoes, which complemented the charred meat cooked in the tandoor). Dabas was absolutely right about that Cornish hen; it packed some real flavour.
Plus, we didn’t leave the meal with that heavy feeling we sometimes get when enjoying butter chicken.
Another item that piqued our interest after speaking with Dabas was the Fig and Goat Cheese Samosa.
“This is one of our best-selling dishes,” said Dabas, adding that during Peya’s soft open, they sold out of it nearly daily.
When you hear the word samosa, you’d typically think of the whole wheat dough with potatoes and peas. Here at Peya, you’ll find something much different.
Dabas uses layers of filo pastry and brown butter infused with curry leaves to make this dish. As for the filling, you’ll find a mixture of goat cheese and figs. The samosas are then served with a mint chutney and creme fraiche on top, for a perfect blend of sweet and savoury.
Is it your traditional samosa? Definitely not. But is it totally delicious? 100 per cent.
Marco Ovies/Dished
Fusion, right down to the decor
While the food definitely shines, it’s hard not to notice the work that went into the interior of the restaurant as well.
Dabas explained that the restaurant was split into three different sections, each influenced by French bistros and Indian heritage.
Our personal favourite was the indoor veranda-inspired area, which Dabas said was a nod to the traditional Indian veranda, where conversations flow and meals are shared. With the very short patio season in Vancouver, we have a feeling this will be a popular spot come the colder and wetter months.
Marco Ovies/Dished
“We wanted to capture that essence and bring it indoors, creating a space that feels open, inviting, and filled with natural light. It’s designed to encourage lingering, whether over a long meal, a quiet cup of chai, or an evening cocktail,” Dabas said.
There really isn’t a bad seat in Peya. Whether you’re sitting in one of the elevated booths or chilling by the bar to grab a Sassi Lassi (a twist on the classic Indian lassi blending mescal with St-Germain, Alphonso mango, passion fruit, and yogurt), rest assured that you’ll be able to snag the perfect Instagram pic of your meal.
Marco Ovies/Dished
This all goes to say, if you’re looking to spice up your next meal, whether that be date night, a family gathering, or just a solo meal, Peya just might be the place to do it. Plus, Dabas teased that a tasting menu would be launching soon, which we’ll be keeping a close eye on.
Peya is currently open Tuesday to Sunday from 3 to 10 p.m.
Address: 2101 East Hastings, Vancouver
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Dining and Cooking