Ekaose Mon-John Nwadiani’s dreams became a reality when he opened the doors to his new Nigerian restaurant, VanSuya, in November.
Opening day at the Whalley resturant (10767 King George Blvd) was “very emotional,” Nwadiani said.
He is the owner and founder and had been running VanSuya out of a commissary kitchen in Vancouver for several years without any bank loans and it had been a struggle.
“I have been sacrificing my pockets,” Nwadiani said. “Then, when I had the opportunity to make a speech that day, I broke into tears because it was really emotional.” He recalled all that he had to go through to get to that day.
Nwadiani loved food growing up in Nigeria but never learned how to cook, despite his mom’s efforts to teach him.
Before he moved to Canada in 2017 to start his master’s degree in business administration, his mom tried again to teach him, but he was convinced he would find a girlfriend who could cook for him.
“I came here, and I couldn’t find anybody. It literally felt like I was the only black person in the city,” he added.
He really missed Nigerian food, though, and his friends echoed that.
So he decided to learn how to cook—asking his mom for recipes along the way.
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, he asked himself how can he bring the community together.
“And I thought about food,” Nwadiani said. “And that’s how I started VanSuya here, just to be able to bring the community together through food.”
“Our mission is to be able to bring that home feeling, like a home far away from home.”
“I feel so happy when I see people come in and say ‘Oh, this feels like I’m in Lagos’, or ‘I’m back home’, right because it reminds them of home”
He started the business in his basement in April 2020. “We started doing weekend deliveries to people’s houses; I would cook, I would get in my car, I’d go deliver to people.”
Nwadiani loved this time because he was able to meet the customers directly and hear feedback. But to reach more customers, the company decided to move on to the food apps.
“My dream has always been to have this physical space because we have such good food.”
So when that dream became a reality on November 25, it felt a bit surreal, Nwadiani added.
“We wanted everyone to come and see how it is when you go to Lagos, or you go to Nigeria; the good food, the good vibes, good music and good people.”
The fine-dining Afro-Fusion restaurant features Nigeran staples like jollof rice and suya, which is where part of the name comes from.
Suya is smoked meat on a skewer and is often sold by street vendors. “In Nigeria, in every block you go, there’s a barbecue guy sitting down on the streets,” Nwadiani said.
“It was a signature dish that when your parents go out and bring for you, you’re super excited,” he added.
“Our menu is a celebration of the rich and diverse flavors of Nigerian cuisine, expertly crafted to bring you an authentic dining experience,” reads a post on VanSuya’s website. “From perfectly grilled suya to mouthwatering stews and delicacies, each dish is a testament to our commitment to quality and tradition.”
“People technically think our food is very spicy, but we’ve tried not to make it spicy because we want everybody to enjoy the meal right, but if people want the spicy, we definitely will make it happen for you.”
Nwadiani recommends making a reservation, as operating hours may vary.
To make a reservation or to learn more, visit vansuya.ca.