Lonsdale Shipyards Night Market

September 19, 2015September 19, 2015Leave a comment

The Lonsdale Shipyards Night Market has been going on since May 1st and it’s running until Setpember 25th (so you have one more chance to go if you haven’t already!). The night market is situated in the Shipyard plaza in North Vancouver and happens every Friday from 5pm-10pm. It’s easily accessible and for those who don’t drive, it’s just a short seabus ride away. I’ve been to the Lonsdale Quay Market many times, but had no idea that a short walk from this area has such nice views of downtown. And what better than a night market featuring over 20 food trucks and also a beer garden with live music!

You will find food trucks that you often see in downtown as well as across metro Vancouver. Since it was just S and I, we couldn’t try many trucks. We settled on trying one each. S chose Kaboom Box as he wanted fish and chips and there weren’t many trucks offering it.They’ve been around for quite a while and you can usually find them near Robson Square. They feature a variety of seafood sandwiches, like Oyster Po’Boys and Salmon Sandwiches. The cart is funky and the owners are friendly.

Fish and Chips

S got the Fish and Chips, which for $12, you get two pieces of Oceanwise Certified wild caught cod. The cod is battered with a light tempura and served with a signature house-made slaw, house-made tartar sauce and fries. I liked the light batter, but we both agreed that the batter needed more seasoning. Perhaps we should have used some of the condiments that were available at the truck. The fries were extremely crispy though and I was a bit addicted to them!

For myself, I decided to try Disco Cheetah, which is a Korean Mexican fusion truck. They feature tacos and burritos but with a Korean twist. They roam around everywhere, but usually around the Strathcona area and are often at any food cart festivals. Be sure to check their social media to see where they are.

Their menu is quite limited with only tacos, burritos, and occasionally some special features like Korean rice bowls.

Bulgolgi Beef Burrito

I decided to get the Bulgolgi Beef Burrito which is huge! It was filled with bulgolgi beef, kimchi fried rice, pickled red cabbage, kimchi slaw, spinach, and Korean chili mayo. I loved the sweet flavours of the bulgolgi sauce mixed with the hint of spice from the kimchi. A really good twist to your typical Mexican burrito.

Overall, the Shipyards Night Market is a great addition to the many food cart festivals and night markets we have around the greater Vancouver. Definitely worth a trip down here and you have one more week to do so!

Hugo’s Churros

September 11, 2015September 14, 2015Leave a comment

The Hawkers Mercado in the new McArthurGlen Designer Outlet has been opened for the summer, but if I’m not mistaken, it has been closed since now as it was a temporary pop up location so shoppers could have something to snack on while the restaurants were being constructed. There are a variety of food stalls that you normally may find all over Vancouver.

We came here for Hugo’s Churros, which also has a sister store called Hugo’s Tacos (which sells tacos). We actually saw the stall on the opening day when we went, but we weren’t too hungry, so we skipped it. A few months later, my Instagram feed has been filled with their pictures and I knew I had to go back.

Their menu is small with Mexican food, but most people come here for the churro ice cream sandwich.

Your churros are made to order so they are extremely fresh. You’ll have to wait at least 5 minutes since she will literally pipe out the dough and deep fry it after you order.

Churro Ice Cream Sandwich ($7.50)

The Churros Ice Cream Sandwich features two churros rolled into a swirl and sandwiches three scoops of vanilla bean gelato. I heard that they have since teamed up with Nice Vice, the gelato shop also in the same outlet to offer vegan friendly gelato. The ice cream melts extremely fast, so scoop it up as quick as you can. It’s pretty messy to eat, but the flavours of cinnamon and vanilla work perfectly together.

Be sure to follow them on their social media accounts, like Facebook to see where their cart is located daily, as they move around.

Pros:
– Delicious churros

Cons:
– Pricey

Price Range: $5-10

1: Terrible 2: Poor 3: Average 4: Good 5: Excellent

Food: 4 Service: 3 Ambiance: 2 Parking: 4 Overall: 4

Pho An Nam Restaurant

September 10, 2015September 8, 2015Leave a comment

Looking for a new pho spot to try in Richmond, we headed over to Pho An Nam which is located on No. 3 Road. It’s just a block down from another competitor, Pho Lan. There is an abundance of free parking at the back, which is always a plus!

The outside looked quite dingy, but we were surprised how clean and nice the interior was for a pho shop. Hardwood flooring was also an interesting touch for a restaurant.

All pho comes with a plate of bean sprouts.

An Nam Special Mixed Beef with Rice Noodle Soup

All three of us ended up getting the same noodle soup, which was the An Nam Special Mixed Beef with Rice Noodle Soup (or Pho Dac Biet). We all got a bowl of small, and it’s a tad pricey at $8 compared to other pho spots. The bowl of noodles was also noticeably small. However, the broth was delicious and we all agreed it is one of the top in Richmond. It’s interesting to note that they put a lot of pepper on the top, but I didn’t mind it. Loved the broth and you get a good amount of beef, beef balls, tripe, tendons, etc.

Pros:
– Pho broth is delicious and didn’t taste like MSG
– Surprisingly decent and clean ambiance

Cons:
– More expensive than most pho joints
– Don’t expect much service as usual

Price Range: $10

1: Terrible 2: Poor 3: Average 4: Good 5: Excellent

Food: 4 Service: 2 Ambiance: 2.5 Parking: 4 Overall: 3.5

Cafe Salade de Fruits

September 7, 2015September 5, 20151 Comment

I’ve always wanted to try Cafe Salade de Fruits, but I thought that it would be a bit of a walk from work. We decided to head over there anyways, and surprisingly, it was only a 10 minute walk, so it’s not too bad. This is such a hidden gem, since the restaurant name isn’t really obvious and there aren’t too many restaurants in this area. It’s tucked away in the French Cultural Center.

They have interior seating, but since it was a sunny day, we sat outside in their patio.

The spot is as French as it gets. All the employees have a thick French accent and many of their diners also speak French. This is the spot to go to if you want casual French bistro food.

Lunch starts off with complimentary bread and butter. The bread was extremely soft and fluffy.

Sandwich of the Day: Steak Sandwich with Fries

All the guys went for the Sandwich of the Day, which was a Steak Sandwich for $10. This came with your choice of green salad or fries. They all went for the fries. They were warned that they do not serve ketchup with fries, but rather mayonnaise only. That’s the way the French do it! Some of them wished that there was ketchup, but they had to make do with the mayo. The portions are huge! You get a good amount of steak and it was cooked to tender. Most of them couldn’t clear their plate of fries!

Moules et Frites (Regular)

Although I wanted to try the Steak Sandwich too, I had heard great things about their Moules et Frites. So, I spent a bit more for lunch to try this dish out and I couldn’t be anymore happier. I got the regular size for $16 and it was a huge pot! The mussels were one of the most fresh and plump mussels I’ve had. There were no empty shells. You can choose between some broths, and I went for the classic white wine and shallots. All the guys tried some and said they were delicious! It also came with a huge order of fries again. These were skinny and crispy. I ended up dipping them into my broth. I wished there was more bread to do so as well.

Overall, we were extremely pleased with Cafe Salade de Fruits. I think these are some of the best mussels I’ve had in Vancouver! They also offer a variety of soups, sandwiches, and quiches. A must try!

Pros:
– Mussels are fresh and plump
– Portions are huge and price is reasonable

Cons:
– Not much parking in the area

Price Range: $10-20

1: Terrible 2: Poor 3: Average 4: Good 5: Excellent

Food: 4 Service: 3 Ambiance: 3 Parking: 2 Overall: 4

Tasty Rice Noodles

September 6, 2015September 5, 20151 Comment

If you haven’t noticed already, Deer Garden at Continental Centre has moved to Union Square (where Richmond Sushi is). What’s replaced it is Tasty Rice Noodles. Thinking it would be a new restaurant, we decided to go give it a try. Upon arriving, we noticed that the logo and colours still looked like Deer Garden’s.

The interior has also not changed. The menus have been updated to show Tasty Rice Noodles, but all the menu items and layout is exactly the same… Even the piece of paper to order your noodles has not changed.

Original Fish Soup with Instant Noodles, Pork Balls and Vietnamese Style Pork

We both decided to do the customized fish soup noodles where you can choose a soup base, two toppings, noodles, and a drink for $8.95. S got the Original Fish Soup with Instant Noodles, Pork Balls and Vietnamese Style Pork. Everything looked the same as Deer Garden. Even the choices to customize were the same! Soup tasted just the same and was delicious and filling.

Malay Laksa Soup with Rice Noodles, Cuttlefish Balls and Fish Puffs

For myself, I got the Malay Laksa Soup with Rice Noodles, Cuttlefish Balls and Fish Puffs. I like how the laksa soup isn’t too spicy. All the soup noodles already come with bean curd, cabbage, and mushrooms too. They’re big portions so you will be filled up for sure.

Deep Fried Pork Chop

When you order the noodle combos, you can also get a side order by paying an additional $1.95. It always seems like a good deal, but we never realize how much food we end up ordering… We got the Deep Fried Pork Chop, which S loves.

Desert Wings with Ginger

I suggested to get the Desert Wings with Ginger. They are always plump and the flavour is on point.

For our drinks, we both paid an additional $1 to get it cold. We both got the Lemon Ribena. For under $25, you will be very full and satisfied. So I guess we can conclude that Tasty Rice Noodles is essentially the same as Deer Garden… Another location to get the same the food and you don’t need to fight the parking on Alexandra. Plus, it seems like there aren’t as many line ups to wait for a seat here.

Pros:
– Reasonable prices
– Huge portions

Cons:
– Don’t expect much service

Price Range: $10-15

1: Terrible 2: Poor 3: Average 4: Good 5: Excellent

Food: 3 Service: 2 Ambiance: 3 Parking: 3 Overall: 3

Hashi Sushi

September 5, 2015September 4, 2015Leave a comment

I’m always up for trying out new sushi spots in Richmond, so since we were heading to East Richmond, I suggested we try Hashi Sushi. Located on Jacombs Road, it is hidden within all the offices around this area. I can imagine this being a great place to get take out if you work around here.

The interior is very clean and spacious. When we arrived, there weren’t many diners. It seems that many people don’t know about this spot.

Salmon, Toro, Octopus Nigiri, Chopped Scallop Roll, Negitoro Roll

I decided to order a few nigiris and rolls. The fish was very fresh and the nigiris were very well priced at under $2 for most. The rolls were decent and had a good amount of filling. I did find that the rice was a little hard for my liking.

Yam Tempura Roll, Beef Terriyaki Roll

S got the Yam Tempura Roll and Beef Teriyaki Roll. Rolls were a good size, but what we both realized was that the rolls were not rolled tight enough. Our fillings easily fell out since the seaweed wasn’t sealed properly.

Overall, I thought Hashi Sushi was average. The fish was fresh and prices were reasonable. Unfortunately, the execution of the sushi wasn’t as good since the rolls easily fell apart. Service is just average, but our tea cups were always filled. Not bad.

Pros:
– Reasonable prices
– Decent eats and fresh fish

Cons:
– Rolls fell apart really easily

Price Range: $10-15

1: Terrible 2: Poor 3: Average 4: Good 5: Excellent

Food: 2.5 Service: 2.5 Ambiance: 2.5 Parking: 3 Overall: 2.5

Bistro 101 @ Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts

September 3, 2015September 4, 2015Leave a comment

For our squad lunch a few weeks back, we visited Bistro 101 at the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts on Granville Island. During lunch hours, the 3 course set menu is $25 and you can view this online before you go. They change it up every month, so unfortunately, I don’t have the exact names of the dishes. The culinary students who train here get to work in a real life setting in a restaurant. All the food is cooked by the students and even the servers are students. It’s a pretty neat concept!

The interior of the restaurant is actually quite nice (I forgot to get a picture), but it’s actually pretty much fine dining. The students learn to correctly place the cutlery and how to pour water and wine in the glasses. The view from our table was the catering kitchen, so we got to see some chefs prep for their cooking.

Complimentary Artisan Bread

We were served two batches of complimentary artisan bread. Each piece of bread was a bit different. My favourite was the cheese balls since they were fluffy and full of cheese flavour. We also enjoyed the flatbread type cracker which had a variety of seeds and grains. Crispy!

Amuse Bouche – Raw Beet Juice Shooters

Shortly after, we were served a platter of Amuse Bouche, which we were not expecting. They were Raw Beet Juice Shooters topped with a slice of strawberry. (No alcohol in it by the way!) I was hesitant at first since I’m not a fan of beets, but it tasted surprisingly good and refreshing!

Goat Cheese Salad

StevieD got the Goat Cheese Salad, which he thought was a bit odd. There was a lot of goat cheese, but also some fruits. He said the cheese was too strong for his liking and he thought the fruits didn’t go too well with the dish.

Lamb Meatballs

The rest of us got the Lamb Meatballs. The meatballs were wrapped with eggplant slices and topped with cheese. A marinara sauce was placed under for dipping. These were actually pretty good and the lamb wasn’t too gamy.

Bacon Wrapped Beef Tenderloin

Everyone at the table except for me got the Bacon Wrapped Beef Tenderloin for their entree. We found the piece of beef to be rather small, but it’s probably because of how expensive beef is now. The ones who asked for medium rare had their beef cooked more to a medium. I guess we can’t complain too much since the students are still in training. Beef was still very tender and flavourful.

Pan Seared Halibut

Since I wanted to try something different from everyone else, I got the Pan Seared Halibut. This came in a light miso broth with an abundance of vegetables. The skin was crispy and the fish was cooked to moist. Very delicious!

Tiramisu

For dessert, some of us got the Tiramisu, which had a strong coffee flavour. The mascapone cheese was smooth and the cake was moist.

10 Layer Chocolate Cake

For myself, I got the 10 Layer Chocolate Cake. It came with a scoop of mango sorbet. The cake layers of mousse and was rather dense, but I really enjoyed it. If you love chocolate, this is perfect. The sweet and sour flavour from the mango also complemented the chocolate flavour very well.

Overall, we were quite pleased with Bistro 101. The portions are a bit smaller than what I remember in the past, but you still get pleasantly full for $25. Our server was a bit shy, but you could tell he was probably just really nervous. Overall, I think it’s pretty good for a restaurant run by students. Worth to give it a try and the price is quite reasonable for a 3 course menu.

Pros:
– Reasonable price for 3 course menu
– Ambiance is pretty nice

Cons:
– Service is a little slow because student run
– Food consistency can be a little off sometimes

Price Range: $25

1: Terrible 2: Poor 3: Average 4: Good 5: Excellent

Food: 3 Service: 3 Ambiance: 4 Parking: 2 Overall: 3

Beijing Noodle House

September 2, 2015September 1, 2015Leave a comment

I drive by Beijing Noodle House pretty much every week and I’ve noticed that there’s always people dining in there. It’s been around for many years, but I’ve never wanted to try it since it doesn’t look very appealing from the outside. S told me that the food is actually pretty good there, so we headed over to try a few dishes.

Surprisingly, the inside looks much better than what I imagined. Still, it’s not the nicest ambiance, but everything felt clean, so that’s good.

Crispy Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin

S suggested we try the Crispy Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin. This was very crispy with the sauce being more of a thin consistency. The pork was slightly dry, but I quite enjoyed the flavours.

Stir-Fried Shredded Pancake, Beijing Style

The Stir-Fried Shredded Pancake, Beijing Style, was an interestnig dish. It tasted basically like noodles but more chewy. It tasted similar to knife cut noodles and I really enjoyed the chewiness. It was mixed with a variety of noodles and shredded pork. I quite enjoyed this dish.

Overall, I was surprised with this hidden gem. The prices are quite reasonable and the food is decent. I wouldn’t say the food blows my mind, but based on the dishes we tried, they were executed pretty well.

Pros:
– Food is decent
– Reasonable prices

Cons:
– Ambiance isn’t the nicest

Price Range: $10-20

1: Terrible 2: Poor 3: Average 4: Good 5: Excellent

Food: 3 Service: 2 Ambiance: 2 Parking: 2 Overall: 3

Every Day is a Food Day

Tag: food

Lonsdale Shipyards Night Market

Hugo’s Churros

Pho An Nam Restaurant

Cafe Salade de Fruits

Tasty Rice Noodles

Hashi Sushi

Bistro 101 @ Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts

Beijing Noodle House