Asian-inspired afternoon tea set at Food by Fanta in Langley, BC. This one-of-a-kind Thai-themed tea experience offers a refreshingly different take on the traditional afternoon tea format.
For this outing, I traded in my mom hat and headed out for a fun girls' day with some of my fellow mom friends. Langley is about 50 kilometres southeast of Vancouver, sitting at the eastern edge of Metro Vancouver where the suburbs give way to open farmland and a slower, more relaxed pace of life. It's a bit of a drive, but the moment we arrived in its quaint downtown core, it already felt like we had escaped to a completely different world. That feeling was magnified in the best possible way when we entered Food by Fanta.
The Asian-inspired food and tea treats were unlike anything I've come across in a Vancouver afternoon tea set, and the staff were warm and friendly throughout. For a couple blissful hours, the combination of the location away from the city, the lush and romantic restaurant decor, and the extraordinary food completely transported me and my girlfriends to a totally different place. If you're someone who loves afternoon tea but is craving something outside the traditional British-style format, this is absolutely the place for you. I highly recommend it for the adventurous tea lover looking for something truly novel in Metro Vancouver.
Until our next tea date.
XOXO, Mimi
Notable Points:
- A unique Asian/Thai-inspired afternoon tea set — unlike anything else in Metro Vancouver
- Mid-price point at $59/person, in line with the current Vancouver market average
- Worth the drive for the escape - a different city, a different vibe, a different world
- Warm, friendly, and attentive staff throughout
- Small but thoughtfully curated tea selection with a distinctly Asian influence
The Vibe
The restaurant itself is tucked along a street-level strip in downtown Langley - you can spot the elegant "Fanta" signage from the sidewalk even amid the surrounding construction. Stepping inside, you're first welcomed by a serene, greenhouse-like hallway lined with lush tropical plants, softly lit by wall sconces and flooded with natural light from a skylight above. It feels less like a restaurant entrance and more like a secret garden passage.
The dining room itself is an absolute vision: cascading garlands of pink florals and trailing greenery hang dramatically from the ceiling, ornate candelabras stand tall beside marble-topped tables set with mismatched vintage china, and oversized windows frame large-leafed tropical plants that lend the whole space a lush, romantic atmosphere. Do note that the space is quite intimate and cozy, so I would strongly recommend making a reservation in advance and it may not be the most comfortable fit for very large groups.
The Tea
The Fanta High Tea menu features a small, curated selection of nine teas spanning black, green, white, oolong, and herbal varieties — a thoughtful lineup that leans heavily into fragrant, floral, and fruit-forward blends with a distinctly Asian influence.
I was drawn to the Saint – Valentin, a romantic black tea with hints of rose petals, raspberries, and strawberries. As someone who loves adding cream to their tea, a black tea was the natural choice. I really enjoyed my pick - it had a fragrant floral rose aroma. Rich and full-bodied, it paired beautifully with a touch of cream.
I also had a sip of my girlfriend's The Blanc Marco Polo - a light, clean white tea with exotic Tibetan fruits and florals that acted as a wonderful palate cleanser between bites. Each of us received our own unique vintage-inspired teapot for our individual tea, which was such a charming and personal touch that really elevated the whole experience.
The Food
The food at Food by Fanta is where things get really exciting. The entire spread is Asian-inspired, with a strong Thai influence throughout, making it a truly unique offering in Metro Vancouver's afternoon tea scene. Everything arrived together in an impressive display: a beautiful gold-handled three-tiered vintage stand holding the savories and sweets, accompanied by separate plates of pastries, scones and other finger foods, all presented on mismatched floral vintage china that added to the charm.
The Savories
The savories were all pretty good across the board, with the star of the show being the Miang Kham - a traditional Thai one-bite wrap that blends hot, sour, salty, and sweet flavours from ginger, pomelo, pineapple, lime, peanuts, herbs, and dried shrimp, all wrapped in a betel leaf and topped with a sweet and savoury Miang sauce. It was an absolute flavour bomb. That was just one example of the other Asian-inspired finger foods offering a truly unique experience that you won't find at any other tea set in the city.
The Cucumber & Eggs Sandwich also caught my eye for its presentation -served on a striking pink-coloured bread that made it one of the more visually memorable bites of the afternoon. The remaining savories, including the Tong Muan Sod crepe, Kratong Tong Tuna Tartar, and Singapore Famous Chicken Wrap, were all enjoyable and well-executed without any major standouts.
The Scones
The scones here are Blueberry Mint - a fun and creative twist on the classic. That said, they were a touch on the dry side and served at room temperature rather than warmed, which is always a bit of a miss for me. They're not the main attraction here, and honestly, that's perfectly fine, the Asian-inspired sweets more than make up for it. They were served with strawberry jam and herb butter on the side.
The Sweets
This is where Food by Fanta truly shines. The sweets were all very nicely executed and I found myself preferring them over the savories entirely. My absolute favourite was the Coconut Milk Mango Sticky Rice Panna Cotta - a brilliant reimagining of the classic Thai dessert in panna cotta form, bursting with tropical mango flavour and beautifully presented with vibrant pink and purple sticky rice. It was my first time having mango panna cotta and it absolutely won me over.
A very close second was the Taro Sago - creamy, smooth, and light yet rich, with a strong coconut flavour, a mouthwatering hint of salt, and chunks of taro that gave it a wonderfully satisfying texture. The remaining sweets including the delicate golden Thong Ek egg yolk flowers, the Cheesecake Tamarind Caramel Sauce, and the Thai Young Coconut Cake were all thoughtfully prepared and rounded out the spread beautifully.
The Pastries
The pastry selection includes a Padanus Brioche - a pandan-infused bun served with sweet pineapple and strawberry jam - and the Cheesy Shokupan Homemade Bread, a cheesy garlic bread layered with three different melty cheeses. Like the scones, the brioche leaned a touch on the dry side.
The Tea Ware
One of the more delightful details of the Fanta High Tea experience is the tea ware. The table is dressed with an eclectic mix of vintage, mismatched china - each teacup, saucer, and teapot with its own unique pattern and character, lending the whole setting a charming, collected-over-time feel.
The food is presented on classic three-tiered trays, elegant in their gold detailing and florally patterned plates. What really sets Food by Fanta apart, however, are the miniature traditional Thai-style woven baskets used to serve some of the savories - a thoughtful nod to the restaurant's Thai roots that ties the whole aesthetic together beautifully. Every element of the table feels intentional and adds to the sense that you've been transported somewhere truly special.
Alcoholic Beverages: Wine, beer, and cocktails can be ordered additionally, along with regular lunch menu items
Fanta High Tea Set: $59/person | $39 for kids under 12
Hours: Every Friday to Sunday, 12:30 pm – 4:30 pm Please mention "Fanta High Tea" when making a reservation. Advanced reservations are required.
Address: 102 – 20542 Fraser Highway, Langley, BC V3A 4G2
T: (604) 530-6803
W: foodbyfanta.com
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