Shira Blustein

Shira Blustein’s journey from musician to celebrated restaurateur is as dynamic as her approach to food. Before founding her first restaurant, Shira toured extensively through Europe and North America as a member of punk and indie rock bands. As a vegetarian on the road, she encountered the full spectrum of culinary experiences—from discovering fresh, lovingly made street food to struggling with uninspired vegetarian options. These experiences ignited Shira’s passion to create a dining experience where vegetables take centre stage, celebrated for their inherent creativity and uniqueness. 

In 2012, Shira realized her vision by opening The Acorn, a vegetable-forward restaurant in Vancouver that quickly gained international acclaim. The Acorn’s commitment to showcasing British Columbia’s local farms, foragers, and wineries in a zero-waste setting earned it a place among the world’s best plant-based restaurants, including being named the Number 1 best vegan restaurant in the world by Big Seven Travel. The  Acorn was honoured with a Michelin Recommend, further cementing its status as a must-visit dining destination. 

Building on the success of The Acorn, Shira opened The Arbor in 2016, a casual sister restaurant that brought creative vegetarian comfort food to Vancouver’s Main Street.  The Arbor quickly became a beloved neighbourhood spot, serving the community until its recent closure in 2024. 

Shira’s influence extends beyond her restaurants. She is also the co-author of a celebrated cookbook that captures the essence of the Acorn’s culinary philosophy,  bringing their vegetable-driven creations to home kitchens around the world. 

In 2024, Shira expanded her culinary footprint with the opening of Lila Restaurant in  Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant neighbourhood. A collaboration with Chef Meeru Dhalwala of Vij's. With this new venture, Shira and Meeru continue to push the boundaries of what sustainable dining can be. 

When she is not busy running her restaurants, Shira is lovingly parenting her two young daughters, crafting restaurant plates at the ceramics studio, and playing keyboards in several Vancouver bands.