$5 – $15

Gong Cha Franchise Taiwanese Bubble Tea Shop Caramel Milk Tea with Grass Jelly

Tea for emperor, A self-proclaimed promise that has gone too far

October 4, 2019

If I was the emperor to receive this cup of tea as a tribute, I would have wiped out their civilization really quickly. Perhaps my expectation was set too high after reading Gong Cha's business philosophy. Unfortunately, they did not live up to the standard they have set out on their own website. Today, I have had a cup of tea that fails at the forefront of the tea's body, the topping, and even the size. I cannot think of any reason to recommend Gong Cha.

Truffle Gouda from Whole Foods Market package back

Truffle Gouda by Dutch Cheese Makers Corp.

October 3, 2019

We were really happy to find this luxurious treat from Whole Foods Market. The sample size cost more per unit, but the cost for larger quantity at $10.99/lb is actually not that bad. This added truffle flavour may not be for cheese experts as I do find the flavour getting boring after a while. However, the Klare Melk Truffle Gouda would definitely impress your friends who haven't tried them. It would be perfect for a cheese party or even pot luck.

Fatburger US fast food restaurant franchise in Vancouver Fatburger Combo

Fatburger American fast-food restaurant franchise in Vancouver

September 29, 2019

My burger was tightly wrapped in paper which caused the un-wrapped portion to open up and look extremely hard to bite. The beef felt weighty and was very satisfying to bite into. Onion and pickle provided the crispy texture. I really enjoyed this burger, but with a little bit of guilt as I see oil dripping off the wrapping. The entire burger held together quite nicely. Not much mess was made from inhaling this burger.

My Frosty, Korean Dessert Cafe

September 27, 2019

My Frosty's bingsoo has very high quality in terms of flavour and insulation of the shaved ice. A lot of the other bingsoo I have tried elsewhere have the ice melting as soon as it's made. My Frosty's shaved ice retained its form. It took me 12 minutes to finish my bingsoo, and the shaved ice remained reasonable flakiness until the end. A large bingsoo cost $14, and I would recommend this to everyone. Just make sure you don't come here when they're busy.

Maiko Premium Matcha Café in Richmond Matcha Parfait

Maiko Japanese Matcha Café in Richmond

September 25, 2019

I was very excited to see another premium matcha themed Japanese dessert franchise opening up in metro Vancouver. The quality and pricing are both standing in the mid range of the parfait places we have tried. Loopy soft-served ice cream is a sign of poor quality for me. Poorly layered parfait and filler toppings also forced them down the ranking ladder. The parfait here is $13.50 after tax, which is on part to Tsujiri's $14 parfait with much higher quality topping. The parfait here is still a good dessert. It's just not worth it when compared with other Japanese matcha dessert locations.

Chef Liu Kitchen Taiwanese beef noodle in Richmond

September 24, 2019

Chef Liu Kitchen is a nice little stand in the food court. The cost of their food at $13 per person is considered average in 2019. They have certainly got the taste aspect down, but the food lack the finer details. This restaurant is perfect for customers not in pursue for superb food. Everything here is good, but not extraordinary. It's "good enough" if you're not picky.

Peanuts classic bubble tea in Richmond Front

Peanut’s Bubble Tea, Cheap and Classic bubble tea in Richmond

September 23, 2019

Peanut's Bubble Tea holds a lot of history and memories for many. Emotions asides and focusing on the assessment point of view, this bubble tea stand provides lots of value. True that my passion fruit green tea was made of syrup, but the $3.25 with pearl drink is still unbeatable. Getting the flavour just right without modification is another feat where many others fail. When one cup of bubble tea elsewhere can buy you two cups of drinks at Peanut's, I have to recommend it.

Donair Spot Lebanese Restaurant in Vancouver

September 21, 2019

My platter came with salad, hummus as sides and Basmati rice below the meat. It is served in a styrofoam container. I grabbed a spoon and a fork, then onto enjoying my lunch. The salad was simple lettuce, tomato, and cucumber. They are crispy and refreshing, I can taste how fresh it is. The lamb was very thinly sliced. They are very tender and juicy with lots of flavour. The juice flows into the Basmati rice to make them moist. Of course, the mouthwatering sauce on top also contributed to that. I find the chicken a little dry with a hard crust. I think it worked pretty well to have two types of meat. It provided alternative texture, but I probably wouldn’t order the chicken again. The lamb worked much better for me.

Tsujiri, Japanese Matcha cafe in Richmond

September 20, 2019

Compared to Nana’s Green Tea's $9.80 parfait, Tsujiri's $14 parfait feels like a whole other ball game. The parfait at Tsujiri is 150% more expensive, but they seem to use more interesting toppings. I'm not sure if these topping is worth the extra $4 to you. The lone line up seems to indicate the worthiness of these toppings. I personally cannot justify the cost because they simply can charge higher for a parfait in 2019, but will leave the decision up to you guys.