Bufala River District (2026): Wood-Fired Pizza, Infused Olive Oils and a Bright, Easy Room
Takenaka Onigiri Cafe (2026): Perfect Rice, Fresh Seafood and a Cozy East Van Room
Din Tai Fung Vancouver: Iconic Xiaolongbao and Elegant Dining in Downtown
Mui Kee Chicken Pot
Hot Pot Master on Kingsway (正宗钢管厂五区小郡肝串串香) Authentic Skewers Hot Pot in Vancouver
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 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 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.
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.
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.
The sweet potato easily breaks apart by simply folding it. You would first notice the golden color interior accompanied by the steam. There is a strong sugary hearty smell that invades my nostril, and I welcome it with a deep breath. My puppy would charge towards me, then look at me with his begging eyes to trade for a piece of my treasure. This wholesome healthy treat is suitable for everyone in the family to enjoy.
41 noodle & rice pot house is a no-frill Cantonese restaurant. Where they lack with non-glamorous decor, cheap tableware, and broken cups are picked up by authenticity, food quality and value. I had a very frustrating dining experience picking out sharp shattered chicken bones from the hardened charred rice, but the food was still very tasty. I would recommend this restaurant. Just don’t get the chicken.
This is the first time I am trying Nashville hot chicken. These two flavor-packed deep-fried boneless chicken legs are the best I have had in Vancouver, and I'm not being exaggerated. The exterior is crunchy and crispy, but they crumble to my bite without hurting my gums. Even when wet, the batter remained its texture because it was served right after seasoning. The vibrant red coating looks sinister and knowing I would be soon breathing hell-fire made my mouth water.
To be honest, Potelicious' food tastes mediocre because more than half of the items I've ordered lacks flavour. Their spicy sauce are tasty. Most customers probably use condiments to make up for the taste. The sausages are and chicken are tasty and I enjoyed the stinky tofu's texture. I can understand their popularity based on their low price and large portion. You really can't get the same food quality elsewhere for the same amount of money you're paying here. We recommend Potelicious for people who can eat a lot, but don't have unrealistic high expectation for the taste.
