Fat Mao Noodles in Vancouver offers the perfect antidote to the city's rainiest days. This beloved soup noodles spot has a secret that keeps locals and celebrities coming back for more.
The Ultimate Comfort Food
Chef Angus An, the mastermind behind Fat Mao Noodles, knows that soup noodles are the ultimate comfort food. 'I've never met someone who doesn't like it, especially in Vancouver. It rains so much. I'm always craving a good bowl of soup noodles,' he says.
An leads the local restaurant group Full House Hospitality, which includes Michelin-recommended Maenam, Longtail Kitchen, Sainam, Sen Pad Thai, and Fat Mao Noodles. The cuisine focuses on Thailand and Southeast Asian flavours, but at Fat Mao, authentic Thai-style soup noodles are the specialty.
What Makes Fat Mao Special
Fat Mao is comfort, delicious, and irresistible, according to An. The two locations in Vancouver—Chinatown at 217 East Georgia St. and downtown at 983 Helmcken St.—are known for generous servings of fresh noodles in steaming hot broth. Fat Mao was named Best Casual Restaurant by Vancouver Magazine in 2025 and earned second-best status in the same category this year.
'I want guests to expect what they would expect from noodle shops in Thailand,' An explains. 'Little holes in the wall, that's why Fat Maos are always really tiny, that serve really authentic, flavourful soup noodles.'
Celebrity Sightings
The restaurant has become such a local gem that celebrities have been known to stop by, including singer Sam Smith in 2023. 'I think someone at Rogers Arena must love Fat Mao, because we do get a lot of people that, after they rehearse, they come down. And Sam Smith was one of them. He waited in line just like everyone else and really fell in love with the noodles,' An recalls. 'He was super-nice.'
The Menu
Fat Mao offers a selection of noodles including chewy flat Shanghai wide noodles, clear riche sheet noodles, wonton noodles, and more. The menu centres around six Thai soups garnished with green onions, cilantro, and other accoutrements. One of the most popular dishes is Khao Soi Chicken, rooted from Chiang Mai. It features braised chicken thighs in Khao Soi curry with light coconut broth, served with wonton noodles and crispy wonton noodles.
'It hits on many, many different notes,' An says. 'It's got the braised chicken that's nice and tender. It's got a really light coconut-flavoured curry broth that's very soothing and comforting for a lot of people. It's not too rich, so it's both popular in the winter as well as the summer.'
Whether you're a local or a visitor, Fat Mao Noodles offers a warm, comforting experience that captures the essence of Thai street food in the heart of Vancouver.
