The Bay Area's culinary scene is taking a hit with the closure of Lion Dance Cafe, a revered Singaporean restaurant in Oakland known for its vegan dishes with a twist. Owners C-Y Chia and Shane Stanbridge have announced on Instagram that the establishment at 380 17th St. will be shutting down for good on April 27, opting to close due to personal reasons, mainly to be nearer to Chia’s family in Singapore, according to a statement obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle.

Having established a loyal patronage through their pop-up S+M Vegan since 2020, the culinary pair went on to clinch several accolades, including semifinalists for the James Beard Foundation’s best chefs in California, recognition in the Michelin Guide, as well as 'The Bold Italic’s' Best New Restaurant and Best Chef awards; despite such successes, the owners made clear that their decision to close was not due to financial turmoil. In a candid disclosure shared on Facebook, they related how the cafe had hosted countless personal milestones ranging from first dates to weddings, and stressed their gratitude towards their customers and team.

Renowned for a vibrant, technicolor dining room and innovative cuisine combining Singaporean, Chinese, and Italian influences, the restaurant had altered its service model several times in response to economic challenges, experimenting with takeout-only, reservations, and a return to walk-in service, as per the owners’ comments to the San Francisco Chronicle. Chronicle associate restaurant critic Cesar Hernandez hailed Lion Dance as "revolutionary," noting their cuisine proves "cooking with meat can be a crutch; frankly, if all vegan food was this good, we might never crave meat again."

The announcement emphasized that while this chapter for Lion Dance Cafe is closing, fans should keep following on Instagram at @stormnowcreative, formerly smveganchefs, for future updates yet this closure marks the end of an impactful presence in the Bay Area dining scene, one that captured hearts with its soul-warming laksa and distinctive shaobing. Customers with gift cards and those hoping to revel in flavors like pandan nian gao or stash laksa in their freezers have until April’s end to savor the vegan offerings that transcended traditional expectations of plant-based cuisine according to their Facebook post.