$5 – $15

Presotea Bubble Tea Stand in Oakridge Food Court Milk Tea Triple Combo

The only bubble tea franchise inside Oakridge Food Court in 2019

October 23, 2019

I guess there are advantages of being an establishment with no similar stores nearby. That must be how Presotea was able to survive thus far. This tea station failed in all aspects of our review except for the service. I have not seen any bubble tea franchise do this bad. Customers paying for $7.04 per cup definitely deserve better. They can improve on either larger-sized drinks, cheaper price, more balanced flavour, or higher quality topping. Even if they only pick 2 items to improve, Presotea’s drink would be acceptable. For now, I cannot recommend them.

Sushi Bang Cantonese styled Japanese Restaurant

October 19, 2019

Sushi Bang is operated by Cantonese. The food served here lack integrity from real Japanese food. Average-grade ingredients created average food. Their relocation caused the increased price, but the increase in food quality is almost non-existent. This type of Cantopanese restaurant is not for me but may cater to some people. I have no problem paying the default 15% tips because the service is not that bad. However, it should’ve been given, not requested. I don’t recommend it because I cannot justify a $15 un-authentic Japanese bento box.

Veras Burger Shack on Main Street Vera Burger close up

Vancouver’s best burger for 10 years

October 18, 2019

you cannot get the smoky charred beef patty without it being flame-grilled. It is a flavour not many places can duplicate. Their weakness lies in the unclear menu options. I couldn’t find a way to create a combo, so I didn’t even get a drink. My Vera burger with fries cost $13.07 after-tax. This price is very similar to Fatburger. The burger at Vera’s is slightly smaller, but they shine through with the flavour.

Saboten delicious Japanese Cutlet in Aberdeen Centre Tenderloin Cutlet

Saboten Aberdeen, Tonkatsu in Richmond

October 16, 2019

Saboten is the biggest tonkatzu franchise in Japan. Unfortunately not a lot of us have heard about them. Because of that, I am considering Saboten a hidden gem in Richmond. Hiring Cantonese to take the order result in loss of true Japanese franchise experience. It’s such a shame that this action gave customer a false first impression that the food may not taste authentic. The $11.50 price point makes them much more affordable than Saku. I have no problem recommending Saboten for anyone who visits Aberdeen food court.

Choo Tea trendy Chinese bubble tea franchise with questionable google review

October 15, 2019

Choo Tea offers specialty drinks at a premium price. When they didn’t want to charge more to go above the norm, they reduced the quantity in drinks. I don’t find their drinks refreshing. It feels more like a dessert that requires another drink on the side. The poor service and careless staff show Choo Tea lacks integrity. Worst of all, I do not appreciate their manipulating social media reviews.

Soy Talk top quality soy dessert in Richmond Signature Soy Pudding

The highest quality soy dessert in Richmond

October 14, 2019

Soy Talk is our new favorite soy dessert place in town. Differ from most soy dessert places where the soy pudding is cured using corn starch and gypsum powder (yes, the stuff in your wall), the ones served at Soy Talk are made using the traditional, healthier way. The soy milk also tastes at least 3 times thicker than the diluted ones. The cost of $9.50 for the signature dessert is fair for the food quality. We have no problem recommending Soy Talk to health conscious foodies.

Nabebugyo Japanese Hot Pot Cuisine Miso Sesame Soy Milk pot

Best Japanese Individual Hot Pot in Vancouver

October 13, 2019

Nabebugyo Hot Pot Cuisine focuses on an individual hot pot experience similar to the ones in Japan. Business strategy or not, I admire them for taking an opposite approach to the tips culture. The 4 pieces of meat per meal are a little less, but I am not sure how many pieces of meat are fair to ask for a $14 meal. Ultimately, Nabebugyo Hot Pot serve different styles of hot pot and ramen that taste authentic. This is probably the only place where you can get to have a hot pot meal for less than $15 in Vancouver.

iCafe Cantonese Restaurant in Vancouver Stir Fried Satay Pork Flat Noodle

i-Cafe Cantonese Cafe

October 12, 2019

Cantonese Cafe has gained enough traction over the years by putting Cantonese spins on major cuisines like American, French, Singaporean, Malaysian, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Taiwanese, and Japanese food. I personally find it insulting because you simply cannot miso in your noodle and call it Ramen. However, there is definitely a demand for this type of food, so who am I to judge? That being said, I would stick to the Asian cuisines offered in i-Cafe. The ever-increasing food cost has reached $14 for a lunch special with a cold drink. What you have to be a little careful about Cantonese cafe such as i-Cafe is some of the semi-hidden costs. For example, $1 extra for cold drinks, or $1 extra if you want to swap out for Ramen noodle.

Michele Cake Shop is the Best Bakery at Kerresdale

October 11, 2019

We purchased a small chestnut cake because they did not have the sliced versions. Our cake was beautifully layered with fruits and whipped cream. The extravagant chocolate decorations look like abstract art. We cut it open to reveal the layered sponge cake and chestnut filling. The sponge cake has good springy texture, and they are not dry at all. I enjoyed the chestnut filling because they are not too sweet. Most of the sweetness comes from whipped cream. The flavour profile is very balanced.

$5 – $15

The only bubble tea franchise inside Oakridge Food Court in 2019

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