Wild Sockeye, Street Vibes & Summer Heat: 7 Seas at Khatsahlano 2025

By James Heras

It’s Loud. It’s Local. It’s Back.

Something special happens on West 4th every July — the sun shows up early, the bands crank up the volume, and the neighbourhood spills into the street like it’s been waiting all year. That’s Khatsahlano.

And this year, on Saturday, July 5th, 7 Seas Fish Market is bringing the flame.

We’ll be right where we belong — in the heart of Kitsilano — grilling wild sockeye salmon sliders just in front of our shop. No gimmicks. No shortcuts. Just honest seafood, caught off our coast, prepped in-house, and served hot off the grill.

If you’ve walked the Khatsahlano street party before, you know the feeling: music echoing off storefronts, lineups curling around the block, the smell of something incredible in the air. That’s not a food truck — that’s us. Look for the blue banner, the smoke rising, and a team that’s been doing this for generations.

📍 2328 West 4th Avenue — we’ll be set up right outside.

Come early. We start grilling with the first song, and once they’re gone… they’re gone.

What’s Cooking at the 7 Seas Tent

Let’s get right to the good stuff.

We’re serving up wild sockeye salmon sliders — grilled fresh on-site, topped with our house-made tartar, and tucked into a toasted bun that knows exactly what to do. It’s the kind of bite that hits all the right notes: smoky, flaky, savoury, and just a little bit indulgent.

And because no slider is complete without backup, we’ve also got some local favourites:

• Hardbite Chips – crunchy, kettle-cooked, BC-made
• Ice-Cold Beverages – perfect for a sunny July stroll

Everything we’re serving is made with care — no mystery meat, no mass production, and absolutely nothing we wouldn’t eat ourselves. Just real West Coast seafood, from a crew that knows fish better than anyone on the block.

Grab it while it’s hot. Then grab another one.

Not Your Average Festival Food

Let’s be honest — most street food isn’t built to last. It’s fast, it’s fried, and it’s usually forgettable by the time you hit the next tent.

This isn’t that.

Our sliders start with wild BC sockeye salmon, caught off the coast, hand-trimmed by our team, and grilled right there on the street. No reheating. No prefab patties. Just fresh, flake-apart fillets, seasoned and seared the way seafood’s supposed to be.

We don’t outsource. We don’t cut corners. And we definitely don’t do bland.

At 7 Seas, we’ve been doing this since 1966 — long before food trucks, hashtags, or “locally sourced” became a trend. We’re Ocean Wise partners, family-run, and proud to serve food that speaks for itself.

Because when the fish is wild, and the prep is honest? All you need is a grill and a good crowd.

If you’re searching for the best wild salmon sliders in Vancouver this summer, you won’t find anything fresher than what we’re grilling up in Kits.

West 4th Comes Alive — Why Khatsahlano Rocks

There’s something electric about this street when Khatsahlano hits.

One minute it’s your everyday Kits stroll — the next, it’s a full-blown festival. Live music pouring from every corner, patios stretched out past the sidewalk, and that buzz in the air that only comes from tens of thousands of people showing up to celebrate their city.

We’ve been part of this neighbourhood for decades, and there’s nothing quite like seeing West 4th transformed into one giant block party — it’s Vancouver, unfiltered and fully turned up.

And we’re not just watching from the sidelines. We’re on the pavement, smoke rising from the grill, feeding the crowd with something that tastes like it belongs here.

So, when you’re walking down the street and you catch a whiff of wild salmon in the air?
That’s us. Come say hi.

Why We Show Up — and Why You Should Too

We don’t show up to Khatsahlano just to sell sliders. We show up because this street is home.

7 Seas Fish Market has been part of Kitsilano since 1966. We’ve watched families grow up here, seen neighbours come and go, and served seafood to generations of locals who know that quality doesn’t need to shout. Events like this? They remind us why we do what we do.

This isn’t just a food tent. It’s an invitation.

An invitation to eat something wild and real. To stop for a minute, grab a slider, and talk to the folks who’ve been cutting fish behind that counter for years. It’s a chance to taste the coast, support the neighbourhood, and feel the kind of small-business pride that never goes out of season.

So come find us. We’ll be the ones in blue aprons, flipping fillets, sharing stories, and serving Kits — just like we always have.

“Grilling at Khats is always our favourite day of the summer — people are excited, the fish is sizzling, and the energy on the street is unreal.”
— Ben, 7 Seas Team

Come Early — These Sliders Sell Out

We’re not trying to rush you — but if you’ve been to Khatsahlano before, you already know the deal.

By mid-afternoon, the music’s still going, the crowd’s still growing… but the good stuff? It starts disappearing fast. And that includes our sliders.

Last year, we sold out by 3PM. Not because we didn’t prep — but because once people got a bite of that wild sockeye, word spread fast.

So, if you want in, don’t wait until the sun starts setting.

• 📍 You’ll find us right outside our shop at 2328 West 4th Avenue
• 🔥 We’ll be grilling from the first song until the last slider’s served
• ⏱️ First come, first served — no reservations, just good timing

Grab a friend, bring your appetite, and swing by before the line wraps around the block.

Join Us on the Street

We’ll have the grill hot, the drinks cold, and the good vibes ready.

Whether you’re a long-time regular or just wandering in with the music, we’d love to see you. Come grab a slider, hang out for a bit, and taste what we’re all about — wild, local, honest seafood served right where it belongs: in the heart of Kits.

• 📍 Khatsahlano Street Party — Saturday, July 5th, 2025
• 📍 Outside 7 Seas Fish Market – 2328 West 4th Avenue
• 🕘 We’ll be grilling all day — or until we sell out

📸 Don’t forget to tag us in your slider photos: @7seasfishmarket

We’ll be out there doing what we do best.
Come say hi.

🔗 Learn more about this year’s Khatsahlano Street Party at khatsahlano.ca

The Shop’s Still Open

Oh — and while you’re here?

Our full shop will be open all day long.

If you want to grab some halibut for the BBQ, seafood to take home, or just see what’s fresh behind the counter — come on in. We’re right behind the tent, still cutting fish, still serving the city.

• 📍 7 Seas Fish Market – 2328 West 4th Avenue
• 🕘 Open 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM, even during the party

Get your slider, then grab dinner too.