Mui Kee Chicken Pot has been in business for quite some time. They have recently renovated for this fresh look. This meal costs us approximately $25 per person, but I think their food quality is there. I would recommend Mui Kee Chicken Pot to people who enjoy heavily flavoured food.
Pannekoek are like pancakes without leavening agents. Their texture is similar to French crepes without the crispiness. We don’t typically go for Dutch-style brunch but Angelina’s Dutch Corner definitely gave us a positive experience. It is a little expensive close to $20 per person with drink, but the large portion definitely make up for the expense. For my savory pannekoek, the hollandaise sauce did a lot of heavy lifting to keep things interesting.
We have not had the chance to try their original location in Richmond, but L’OTUS Cake Boutique in Burnaby is such a pleasant surprise for us. Yes, the price is a little higher, but it’s really worth the visit with all things considered. The atmosphere, service, and food quality are all at a superb level. We highly recommend L’OTUS Cake Boutique for anyone who hasn’t tried it.
It was a little disappointing to see Mr. Mastache is making mistakes on the pearls, which is the most rudimentary part of a bubble tea shop. However, the quality of the cakes still cannot be ignored. The interior space feels very cozy, and the staffs are friendly. Mr. Mastache is not a low-cost spectrum among the bubble tea stores we have in Vancouver. I particularly like the fact that they are not part of any franchise, and they can really be a life-saver when someone needs to get a small-portioned cute little cake.
Hot Pot Master comes from a long line of tradition from Sichuan. This Kingsway location is the first authentic location in Vancouver. I enjoyed the flavour and quality of food, as well as the easily controlled cost. One can just go to the cooler display to grab the skewers, and there is no minimum number you have to grab. This first location is not in the best neighborhood, but I look forward to seeing them thrive.
Song Tea did not meet my expectations. I assumed the popularity was gained through the quality of products, while in fact, it’s just a trendy brand using cleverly named drinks to attract young people. Being a drink for $5.25, customers would definitely be expecting fresh milk and perhaps asking if small pearls are okay with the customer. For what it’s worth, Song Tea failed in all aspects of our reviews. None of the atmosphere, service, food quality and the cost are worth the visit. I assume this place will soon go out of business.
For $30 per person, 38 Sampal Korean BBQ is a very affordable restaurant to get BBQ. The pork combo has a very large portion so I think that is really worth it. However, the downside is the lack of texture variation. Our staff came to cook the meat for us and came to flip them once. He never came back so it was a little confusing because we though the meat wasn’t ready until it’s burnt. Then we realize it’s because the restaurant got too busy.
I think Gokudo Shabu Shabu Hot Pot carried their business culture to their new Burnaby location quite well. However, the solution to get 2 groups of two people sitting in a 4 person table was very poorly done. Gokudo Shabu Shabu is still the cheap alternative to a self cook hot pot, hence the constant line up in front. I would still come here for hot pot, but you are picky about your dining experience then Gokudo Shabu Shabu is not for you.
Ben Gong’s Tea offers one of the best bubble tea you can get in Vancouver. Their revolutionary tea jelly cubes have balanced flavour between tea and sweetness. It adds a shot of tea’s taste to the drink and offers an alternative for customers who don’t want to have chewy textures in their drinks. The store has interesting decoration including an artificial tree and the staff strive to offer excellent service. With the use of fresh milk and carefully picked tea, the price for $5.45 (large) and $4.99 (small) is the lowest we have seen in the lower mainland. I would definitely recommend giving Ben Gong’s Tea a try.
