[smoothie.]

Whether it's fine dining, or open late, or a chain, where do you like to repeatedly visit?

Mine's been One Cafe in Richmond. Can't get enough of that milk tea.

[SkinnyPupp]

There's a small chain I like that has a good HK cafe menu, good prices, and decent drinks. I go whenever I want to have baked pork chop for instance

Most local chains eventually get sold to investors and enshitified, but that hasn't happened to this one yet (although the portions do seem smaller lately)

https://i.imgur.com/UZK0T6y.png

https://i.imgur.com/J8NOiCe.png

[radeonboy]

^I'm from the area and never heard of Yuen Long Bistro - and it doesn't look like they have a location in Yuen Long???? :lol

But I'm always down for a baked pork chop on rice, so I'll have to make a trek to one of their locations.

[SkinnyPupp]

^I'm from the area and never heard of Yuen Long Bistro - and it doesn't look like they have a location in Yuen Long???? :lol

But I'm always down for a baked pork chop on rice, so I'll have to make a trek to one of their locations.
I guess it's just named after the area lol

I don't know if it's worth a trek to visit, but for me it's local and I go there pretty often so thought I'd reply. If there's one near you and you feel like that food, it's a good option

Sucks having baked pork chop as a favourite dish now, because so many places have cut down on their portions so you get shitty thin pork chops no matter where you go.

[Vancouver240sx]

For a great date night with the wife
https://maps.app.goo.gl/9u5tiA1iKSDTgHav7
or
https://maps.app.goo.gl/DfG2XC87pUobpH198

Best dinner close to home
https://maps.app.goo.gl/iXqUGHQ5KK5ALkod7

Hipster weekend breakfast
https://maps.app.goo.gl/npV5vgjBdSnqF41r5

Random lunch
https://maps.app.goo.gl/pUaBR3QUy9E6xoSR8

Rich

[Traum]

My favourite is this food court place in Richmond at Empire Center -- Cloud 9 Delicacy / 雲頂閩南美食. It is supposedly a Taiwanese place, but the store keeper lady speaks Canto as well (in addition to Mando, and I would expect her to be able to speak English too).

https://scontent-sea5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/524050725_10161004493751504_3765683685562517286_n. jpg?stp=cp6_dst-jpg_tt6&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=aa7b47&_nc_ohc=MscvFmjDuqsQ7kNvwFvpmPf&_nc_oc=AdnoZPzzlK6W7TSW1o0Tia5ZYOP9LrrjdFE1zF4eNHw txcJS4PVxayaHwlLuWtFs8z0&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-sea5-1.xx&_nc_gid=GKyLN9Vz0e9f4M35AhljFw&oh=00_AfYxtHE5ADK7pjSqLWffykmMyH3cFe2ZNnI8UjGBOjCv Ng&oe=68C6450E

And this is the reason why the place has become my current favourite -- $15 a dish of the above.

They are quite a busy stall, and I would definitely recommend against going during the normal lunch rush. One time I got there on a Sunday slightly after 12pm, and I ended up waiting ~25 min for the popcorn chicken dish. When I go there between 11 - 11:30, the wait time is quite reasonable.

The popcorn chicken is always piping hot when it comes out, and is excellently flavoured -- one of the best I can find in Vancouver, I'd say. The meal is served with 4 side dishes -- marinated hard boiled egg, nappa veggie, (Taiwanese style?) pickle, marinated dried tofu, with rice served in a separate container. The boss lady will give you a paper cup for some self-served tea as well. The portions are very generous, and is enough for 2 people to finish as a normal meal. But if I am feeling hungry, I can totally wolf it all down on my own.

The deep fried porkchop dish is also well flavoured. They typically give 4 large pieces of (bone-in) porkchops.

They also have a deep fried chicken breast option as well, but I never order that since I like popcorn chicken better.

Parking at the plaza is your typical Richmond affair -- that is to say, it is absolute dog shxt, both at the surface lot, as well as the multi-level parkade.

The food court there also has a number of other top notch food stalls, but because of that, the seating there is inadequate for the number of people eating there.

TL;DL
yummy, very generous portions, $15/dish

[bcrdukes]

Off topic but I can never tell if radeonboy lives in Vancouver or HK, or where he is in the world. Carmen Sandiego has nothing on him. :pokerface:

[jACEDesignsLtd]

Pho37 - the Union Square one

My wife loves their sweet chilli chicken wings.

Dunno why the number "37" though

[donk.]

Zakkushi
Sushi california
Vesta grill
Chewies oyster bar (only for oysters)

[radeonboy]

Sucks having baked pork chop as a favourite dish now, because so many places have cut down on their portions so you get shitty thin pork chops no matter where you go.

Yeah I'm arriving at the same conclusion with this dish in Hong Kong. Part of my problem also is how great Vancouver HK (and Asian restaurants are) that it's hard to match what I'm used to when I visit Asian cities. We do pay a big premium for that privilege in Vancouver though.

Off topic but I can never tell if radeonboy lives in Vancouver or HK, or where he is in the world. Carmen Sandiego has nothing on him. :pokerface:

:lol

Getting back on topic, my most recent favorite is Washington Avenue Grill in White Rock. It's nothing fancy, but I like the laid back vibe with a lively atmosphere and a nice sunset backdrop for the summer season.

[punkwax]

WAG is great. Love the glazed back ribs there.

[sonick]

Mackenzie Room
The Magnet

[winson604]

Pho37 - the Union Square one

My wife loves their sweet chilli chicken wings.

Dunno why the number "37" though

I actually came across a random youtube video talking about why all the numbers and it's usually either a significant event in Viet history, lucky number, or an important date in their personal life i.e. when they immigrated to the country. What significance does 37 have though I don't know.

[TypeRNammer]

For anyone that likes Pho noodles, check out Chao Mami in either Burnaby or Granville SkyTrain station.

Between the hours of 2pm and 6pm, you can get pho noodles for $10

[sonick]

I actually came across a random youtube video talking about why all the numbers and it's usually either a significant event in Viet history, lucky number, or an important date in their personal life i.e. when they immigrated to the country. What significance does 37 have though I don't know.

it's just how they identify the shop on a particular streeet by their street address number.

i.e. "Check out the pho place on X street, its #37"

[whitev70r]

Interesting, at Kerrisdale, there is @26 Viet Cafe ... wonder what the importance of that is. So a pho restaurant in Viet located on 26th street?

[sonick]

Interesting, at Kerrisdale, there is @26 Viet Cafe ... wonder what the importance of that is. So a pho restaurant in Viet located on 26th street?

No it's like #26 on whatever street.

Maybe their family's restaurant was #26

[Klondike]

Kyle's Cafe is probably one of the last chop suey style restaurants in East Van

Garlic & Chili in North Burnaby does Calgary style crispy ginger beef

[mikemhg]

Mackenzie Room
The Magnet

Magnet has a great burger.

[sonick]

Magnet has a great burger.

Yea only went for the first time recently. I had the Nashville chicken Sando which was awesome, ppl I was with who love burgers were super impressed by it.

Chef used to run the restaurant Gudrun in Steveston which I really liked, which is how I found out about it.

[whitev70r]

Not really my current favourite and haven't tried (prob can't afford to go to any of these). But has anyone tried ?

2 more Michelin Stars and 3 recommends:

Stars:
Sumibiyaki Arashi https://sumibiyakiarashi.com/ omakase @ $175 pp

Sushi Hyun - https://www.exploretock.com/sushi-hyun-vancouver omakase @ $300 pp

Recommends
Good Thief - https://www.goodthief.ca/

Elem - https://www.elemvancouver.com/

Nero Tondo - https://nerotondo.com/

[bcrdukes]

(prob can't afford to go to any of these).

"Probably" also opens the possibility that you can, or do, go to these restaurants. :considered:

[CivicBlues]

I like omakase sushi as much as the next guy but does anyone else think it's kinda ridiculous that a third of Vancouver's Michelin starred restaurants are Omakase? Guess it tracks, every restaurant space is so expensive and tiny here you can probably only afford the top notch ingredients if you serve it in a closet and have no servers.

Would it kill someone to open a classic French dining experience worth of a star in Van? Probably, financially. St. Lawrence doesn't count, that's Quebecois bistro.


Anyways, tried a couple good places recently:

Handson Steak and Frites on Denman- no nonsense, no frills, small menu. Perfectly cooked steak at reasonable prices. Located in the former Madang Goul space, I heard it's their kids running the show now.

Zapoteca on 4th and Alma - been sleeping on this place for a while. Servers authentic Oaxacan cuisine. Not your typical Tex-mex garbage but real Mexican food. Try the stone bowl sets there's enough for 2 meals there.

[BIC_BAWS]

^I'm from the area and never heard of Yuen Long Bistro

You're from YL? LOL we totally could have bumped into each other on the overlap days haha.

I ate at this place, some Vancourities claim that it has the best beef balls, I was very satisfied.

https://i.imgur.com/Svyowxn.png

Part of my problem also is how great Vancouver HK (and Asian restaurants are) that it's hard to match what I'm used to when I visit Asian cities.

I wish someone told me that before I went to HK. I went to quite a few places where I was disappointed.

HK BBQ Master at No.3 Superstore does a fantastic job at both BBQ Pork and Siu Yok - I couldn't find a better place in HK.

Pho 68 located in the same area is also fantastic, but if y'all are ever in Campbell River, Nhau Vietnamese Kitchen & Bar is fantastic and sells this for $21. The owner was previously the head chef at a few popular Vancouver pho restaurants (the fancy bougee ones i dont remember what it is now, but think An & Chi and the like)

https://i.imgur.com/hpS1tuS.png

[punkwax]

I like omakase sushi as much as the next guy but does anyone else think it's kinda ridiculous that a third of Vancouver's Michelin starred restaurants are Omakase? Guess it tracks, every restaurant space is so expensive and tiny here you can probably only afford the top notch ingredients if you serve it in a closet and have no servers.

Would it kill someone to open a classic French dining experience worth of a star in Van? Probably, financially. St. Lawrence doesn't count, that's Quebecois bistro.


Anyways, tried a couple good places recently:

Handson Steak and Frites on Denman- no nonsense, no frills, small menu. Perfectly cooked steak at reasonable prices. Located in the former Madang Goul space, I heard it's their kids running the show now.

Zapoteca on 4th and Alma - been sleeping on this place for a while. Servers authentic Oaxacan cuisine. Not your typical Tex-mex garbage but real Mexican food. Try the stone bowl sets there's enough for 2 meals there.

Zapoteca has a location in White Rock as well. Very good eats.

I had a great lunch at Nightingale the other day. Both the food and service were on point.

[radeonboy]

You're from YL? LOL we totally could have bumped into each other on the overlap days haha.

https://i.imgur.com/Svyowxn.png

I ate at this place, some Vancourities claim that it has the best beef balls, I was very satisfied.

I wish someone told me that before I went to HK. I went to quite a few places where I was disappointed.

HK BBQ Master at No.3 Superstore does a fantastic job at both BBQ Pork and Siu Yok - I couldn't find a better place in HK.


We probably could've met up if we planned it earlier. Maybe there's a next time given how much you liked your HK experience.

There's a lot of good food in Hong Kong, and the types of food I generally find better in Hong Kong over Vancouver are dishes that require manual effort to make and require fresh ingredients. Think places that serve handmade beef balls / fish balls, noodles, live seafood (the variety!), and restaurants inside wet markets and 'mushroom kiosks'. Lucas Sin from Bon Appetit sometimes shares the behind-the-scenes videos of how some of these dishes are made:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPYjJ51_cYM

I hope you get to experience more in a future visit. I typically tell people that Vancouver on average has better restaurants for casual dining, but Hong Kong has excellent high-end restaurants on the upper end, and cheap eats on the lower end.

[mikemhg]

Zapoteca has a location in White Rock as well. Very good eats.

I had a great lunch at Nightingale the other day. Both the food and service were on point.

Funny you mentioned Zapoteca, it's been on our list, we're actually going to the Kits location next week with another couple.

Will def report in.

[bcrdukes]

@radeonboy - Did you relocate to HK?

[radeonboy]

@radeonboy - Did you relocate to HK?

Nah I'm still based in Vancouver :lol