I think $14 per pizza is a fair price to charge because of the space required for customizing pizza. The authentic pizza places are more expensive, but they also have a better topping selection, so we cannot compare Assembli to them. If we compare all the big name franchises like Pizza Hut, Fresh Slice, and Domino, etc, Assembli is more expensive, but also has more of an artisan feel to it.
Yunshang Rice Noodle serves most of its main course in hot clay pot. It's a warm comfort food alternative to hot pot in this cold weather. The food doesn't taste that special. Our visit cost us about approximately $19 per person. For the same price, there are better rice noodle options.
Benkei Ramen is a seasoned ramen joint that's been around for a while. Their price went up a little but remained in the same range throughout the years. That is why it is still a ramen place a lot of people default to. I personally think their ramen is too soft and feels a little overcooked. Their special dish is the curry ramen, with the soup similar to the miso ramen that is too thick to drink. Benkei Ramen is an okay ramen joint with a very competitive price of $13 per person. Because of that, there's always going to be customers willing to come here instead of Raman Santouka across the street.
Green & Oak strive to provide good food, and their attention to details can be observed during my time here. There's no doubt that Green & Oak is such an iconic Malaysian Restaurnat in the greater Vancouver. For $20 per person, we really enjoyed our meal. If you just order a set dish without satay, you can probably lower the cost down to $13, which I believe is quite fair for the food quality.
Long’s Noodle House is one of the iconic Shanghai cuisine restaurants in Vancouver. It has been considered the best place to go for Xiao Long Bao in Vancouver before the recent food scene bloom. I have tried many new restaurants that offers Xiao Long Bao in their menu, but many still fall short compared to the ones served at Long’s. The cost for $26 per person is a little high, but that is because we ordered quite a bit of food for 2 people. If you are even a little bit interested in Xiao Long Bao, you should give Long’s Noodle House a try.
Yes, I agree paying $20 for a plate of Cantonese is expensive. We also know that serving traditional Cantonese comfort food that should've been available to everyone at a premium price is going to be met with a lot of resistance. Does that mean this type of dish does not deserve to be made with high-quality ingredients and strong culinary skills? I think the opposite. Cantonese comfort food is an old tradition that should be celebrated. They deserve to be announced to the world as much as Italian or any other cuisines.
RedBeef noodle Kitchen serves authentic Taiwanese food, but everyone mention their price whenever this restaurant is talked about. It seems like customers are always willing to eat sub-par food in exchange for a lower price point. In my experience in talking to restaurant owners, I found out that the last little extra mile of quality always requires a disproportionate large amount of effort. I don't think RedBeef is expensive for the quality they provide.
Nemesis Coffee was worth the trip. The two-page menu looks simple, but the flavour of toppings really compliment each other. I heard their brekky sando and french toast are really well made, and that is what I am going to order next time. The cost of $14 per person including drinks is not that expensive either. Nemesis Coffee is one of the best brunch places in town, and I encourage everyone to go and enjoy a lazy weekend morning.
Snow Angel Cafe may not have a business philosophy, but they really captured the heart of many customers with their beautifully presented desserts. Everything we have ordered was created with a very high standard that they don't just taste good, but also very exciting to look at. I know their bingsoos are also very beautiful but didn't have a chance to try them during this visit. We would definitely come back for it.
