Mates on Crates Feat. Roger Ma

G’day,

Those in the know, know where to go.

We’re excited to have just launched our latest episode of Mates on Crates, featuring Roger Ma, Executive Chef at Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar in downtown Vancouver. Open since July 2014, the Michelin Guide-recommended seafood restaurant pairs polished fine dining with the breadth and energy of a busy hotel restaurant, from breakfast and weekend brunch to seafood towers, tasting menus and late-night cocktails. Boulevard earned Gold for Fine Dining at the 2026 Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards, where Ma was also named Chef of the Year. Born and raised in Vancouver, Ma joined Boulevard as its opening chef de cuisine and has led the kitchen as executive chef for roughly eight years. His career includes six years at Daniel Boulud’s two-Michelin-starred DANIEL in New York, where he worked his way through every station before becoming corporate sous chef, along with a 2020 Canadian Culinary Championship title. His gift is making it happen under pressure while building the kind of team that can execute at the highest level. It was a pleasure to sit down with Roger to chat about his formative years in New York, Vancouver’s evolution as a dining city, Boulevard’s team-first culture, the restaurant’s new summer menu and all of Roger’s favourite spots.

Each time we do a Mates on Crates interview, our guests share up to twenty of their favourites with us. For each episode, only a handful of those favourites make it into the final two minute cut. In order to highlight all of our guest’s favourites, we are happy to share the full list of favourites right here.

What to get at Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar:

• First Visit: Seafood Tower

• Main: Charcoal-Grilled Loong Kong Chicken

• Pairing: White Burgundy

The FULL LIST of Roger’s Local Favourites:

• Bakery: Banister Provisions at Hero’s Welcome

• Brunch: Seaport City Seafood Restaurant

• Chinese: HK BBQ Master

• Cocktail Bar: Nomo Nomo

• Coffee: Nemesis Coffee

• Dan Dan Noodles: Yuan’s Garden

• Dying to Try: Nero Tondo

• Food Neighbourhood: Fraserhood

• Fried Chicken: L.A. Chicken

• Hidden Gem: Sainam

• Last Meal That Blew Them Away: Yakiniku Jumbo (Tokyo)

• Pasta: Magari by Oca

• Patio: Le Marché St. George

• Pho: Linh Café

• Ramen: Ramen Danbo

• Sushi, Entry: Sashimiya

• Sushi, Mid-Tier: Sushi Hil or Yagoto Sushi

• Sushi, Premium: Sushi Hyun

• Udon: Motonobu Udon

• Wonton Noodles: Max Noodle House

• Outside of Vancouver: Miradoro in Oliver, BC

Thanks for joining us, Roger!

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Watch Roger’s full Mates on Crates Episode below.

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