A Gastronomic Awakening in Chinatown! You don't truly know…read moreuntil you go--and now that I've been, I'm haunted. As I write this, I am literally still dreaming of the Hong Kong Style BBQ Pork. It didn't just "eat" well; it dissolved into a decadent, sweet, fatty puddle of pure bliss. Walking in, the vibe is quintessential Chinatown: a bustling counter, a glass case showcasing glistening roasted treasures, and a seating area that trades fancy decor for pure, functional authenticity. We were clearly out of our element, probably looking like deer in headlights, but the staff met our confusion with warm smiles. Then came Bobby--the absolute heart and soul of this place. We walked in expecting the standard American-Chinese routine, but Bobby whisked us away to a cozy table and treated us like family. He started us off with a fragrant jasmine tea so naturally sweet and floral it didn't need a grain of sugar--perfect for a biting winter night. While we flirted with the Happy Hour menu, Bobby took the reins. You don't say no to a man with that much charisma and passion! On his expert recommendation, we pivoted to the Two-Meat Combo (BBQ Pork + Soy Chicken) with a side of their famous Roast Duck. The food arrived in a lightning-fast 10 minutes, but the real treat was Bobby's play-by-play on how each dish was prepared. You can taste the pride in every bite. The balance was masterclass: a symphony of sweet, salty, and umami. The meats were succulent, the skins were shattery-crisp, and the glazes were perfectly sticky. The undisputed heavyweight champion, however, was that Hong Kong BBQ Pork. Imagine the best "burnt ends" of your life, drenched in a caramelized, mouth-watering sauce that demands your full attention. We left Chinatown BBQ feeling more than just sated--we felt enlightened. If you're looking for a "one in a million" meal, let Bobby order for you. You won't regret it.

Unbelievable. Came here on a whim. Not a huge menu, but…read morestraight to the point. The noodle soup was bland and boring. Should've stuck with rice. The char siu and soy sauce chicken were both cooked perfectly, moist and flavorful. The green scallion sauce was not necessary but it was still delicious ! Would've been great over rice. The extra fatty char siu the server gave me to try was over the top! Perhaps the best char siu I've had to date. My server, Bobby? Did a fantastic job and was very informative and I can tell he really likes what he does thru his enthusiasm

This classic Hong Kong Cafe still exists! And is amazing as ever. They have all their classic…read moremeals here. Sure inflation has caught up on pricing but they still have their mini set menus which is an excellent value. The service is good and the food is great. They still have their mini set menu which is basically their combo meal. I generally enjoy their pan fried beef noodles. Good sweet and sour pork here as well.

Third time here, absolutely love their bakery side, one of the best red bean desserts I've had,…read moresame standard and taste as their other location, thought wed give their restaurant side a try too Taste 1/1* We ordered the chef specials; chicken noodle stir fry w lemon tea & black pepper pork and beef w milk tea, both dishes were very tasty, drinks were very authentic Value 1/1* Little over $30 all in with drinks, we ended up with stuffed with takeouts Service 1/1* Fast and friendly, chef even came out to chat with one of their regulars Cleanliness 0.5/1* Can definitely be cleaner, but as it's a traditional Hong Kong style restaurant, what do you expect Overall/Revisit 1/1* Paying for ambiance? NO Above and beyond? 0/+1* NO

FOOD We ordered 11 dishes, which were mostly things we would…read morefind in Los Angeles. I felt the ingredients were fresh. The siu mai and ha gow were delicious. Our favorite was the durian gluten balls. It was filled with fresh durian flavored custards. The egg tarts were petite but packed with a lot of custard and flavor too. INTERIOR It felt familiar and nostalgic walking into the restaurant to seeing so many traditional Chinese characters and red/gold decorations. The bathrooms were all genders so that was convenient. SERVICE Staff was fluent in English, Cantonese and Mandarin. They were attentive, helpful, and inquisitive of where we were from. RECOMMEND? Yes! Tasty and cheaper than other dim sum places I researched.

Nostalgia and old school…read more PSA at the end. It's literally the last dim sum restaurant in this part of Vancouver named Chinatown. After the closure of Floata earlier this month, this is the last one standing. Even though this area is "historic", it's historic in name, history, and remaining buildings only. Economic reality will catch up eventally and this area will become unrecognizable in the forseable future. Social commentary aside, I came here for a reason. I wanted to eat dim sum in Chinatown one last time. I've eaten at Floata, and a whole bunch of other restaurants of Chinatown past. I had to do this one. The food was exactly as I expected. Nothing fancy, but solid Cantonese dim sum from a generation ago. It's old school dim sum, prepared by a bunch of old school folks chattering away in Cantonese while they work the tables and back kitchen. Items ordered: Prawn spring rolls Dried scallop and egg white fried rice Deep fried garlic wings XLB Steamed black bean ribs. The service is what it is, for Chinese standards, that is. Not intrusive, not terribly friendly, but efficient. The ambiance has certainly changed. We were the only Chinese people in the restaurant the time I came in. If I were to make a wild guess, everyone in here were tourists, with the exception of one lady, who was a regular. The PSA: This restaurant will likely not be around long in all honesty. If you want to have dim sum in Chinatown, you'd better make an effort to come here. Keep your expectations in check.

Seemed like a must try Chinatown classic when I was researching Vancouver spots. I thought it was…read morecool that they have typical bakery items but also dim sum that I'd be down to come back and try Apple tart: 3/5 the apple filling was just ok and the outside was a little hard from being left outside Pork asado siopao: 4/5 this was super good and warm but I would've preferred if there was a little more meat inside. Super yummy though so would def recommend trying

New Town Bakery is one of those Chinatown staples that feels like a rite of passage in Vancouver…read more We headed there for breakfast, excited for pastries and a classic bakery experience, and decided to dine in. Once we sat down and were handed the full menu, though, I had a brief moment of panic. The menu is huuuge and varied, plus none of the items I had mentally planned on ordering were on there. We pivoted and ordered pork siu mai, congee, look fun noodles, and a few steamed buns (they're especially known for those). The congee, noodles, and siu mai were all fine--very standard, not particularly memorable. In fairness, they weren't what I came for in the first place, so that probably shaped my expectations. The real standouts were the pork asado siopao and the chicken deluxe (bola bola). Both have Filipino roots, and the siopao especially brought a comforting sense of familiarity--soft, fluffy, and filled with that sweet-savory pork that felt like home. Those alone made the visit worthwhile. They actually have quite a few other Filipino influenced items like hopia and puto which was surprising. Ironically, it was only after we left that I noticed the sign on the window highlighting their most popular items--exactly what first-timers should probably stick to. I had ordered a few pastries to go with the intention of trying them later... and then completely forgot about them, which I'm still a little sad about. Overall, it was a good visit with a clear lesson learned: go in with a game plan and order the hits. It's a beloved Vancouver institution for a reason, and I'd definitely recommend stopping by--just know it's cash only and do a little pre-order research so you can make the most of it. I'd give it more like a 3.5 vs a 4 star, but I'm already planning a redo focused purely on the classics.

Nice ambiance, great lighting and good for families They…read morewere very understanding with my niece (10 months) and had a high chair for her The food was very very good! We got the steamed lobster with garlic and added vermicelli noodles, geoduck and opted for the head to be fried, and eggplant and green beans. Geoduck -5/5 one of the best versions I have had Lobster -5/5 love it but slightly too much garlic for me Eggplant and green beans-5/5 perfectly cooked and liked the mix of bell peppers with it Good service and loved the little things- presentation of the tea, with a warmer, napkins and wet wipes. Even the water tasted nice and fresh!

Reservation Only restaurant…read more Unable to accommodate walk ins for a party of 4 on a Sunday at noon. I recommend calling before heading there if you do not have a reservation.

Most Googled HK BBQ spot in Richmond... so you know I had to pull up…read more HK BBQ Master Ordered everything to-go and went all in: 3-meat over rice (duck, soy chicken, char siu) 2-meat over rice (roasted pork + char siu) First things first--ASK FOR EXTRA ginger scallion oil. Trust me. That sauce alone elevates everything Crispy pork, juicy duck, sweet-savory char siu... solid across the board. Nothing fancy, but it hits the spot every time. And honestly? Pretty impressive for a spot tucked inside a parking garage Cash only--bring paper money, leave the plastic at home Worth the hype Generous portions Easy go-to for a quick HK BBQ fix

After plentiful recommendations for what otherwise resembles a hole in the wall, HK BBQ Masters is…read moresolid. I tried a 3 meat plate with rice and an iced milk tea. The BBQ pork here is a step change better than most. It's succulent, tender, savoury, and ever so sweet. The chicken and duck were good too, but not in the same "step change" way (and I personally found the bones and it's fragments annoying to eat around). Great, friendly service, but the temperature of my food was lukewarm to cool suggesting it wasn't all that fresh. Regardless, this place is certainly worth a try!

Oh my. The pineapple bun with taro filling was soo good. They warmed up the bun for me. It was…read moresoft, fluffy, and had lots of filling. The entree portions were big. The beef noodle stir fry could have easily been enough for 3 people. The beef tongue on baked rice with tomato sauce was super tender and easy to cut into. It was delicious. 4.5 stars

The Boss Bakery & Restaurant - 532 Main Street, Vancouver…read moreThis restaurant has breakfast offerings all day. The waitresses are willing to help you at any time, no matter which table you are seated at. The food is above average and delicious, and they have many menu options for you to choose from. There are lots of customers in the restaurant, so sometimes we were not able to hear our conversation clearly.:) We noticed over the bakery counter has sold out almost 50% of the buns after we were leaving the restaurant. We have picked up some from the bakery counter too.

Their rice noodles are so delicious and fresh. The sauce…read morethey use is very good and it's definitely something to get when you're nearby. I 100% recommend to try it as it isn't very expensive either.

02.12.26 @11:40a Got…read morethe mushroom & pork cheong funn. For drink I got the Grinder Black sesame. The cheong funn is silky & thin. The black sesame is smooth.

Came here with my family on March 14th. Congee came noticeably runny than thick consistency. It…read morewasn't like this before. Eggplant with shrimp was good, but the sauce tasted quite bland. Chive dumplings were big as usual. Chicken feet were good. Steamed ricerolls with fish paste (#28 $9.60) was alright. It wasn't our favourite from the menu. Not sure if the chef has changed, but food could have been better.

The restaurant was packed. We had a 5:30 reservation and it was completely full. There were a lot…read moreof takeout orders, and by the time we left there was lots of people waiting outside. We went to eat the king crab, and it was such a good deal. The $538 menu included a soup, steam crab, spicy crab, fish, chicken, fried rice, and a dessert. Service was impeccable! They were quick to refill tea, change out our plates, empty things, and bring us beers. So efficient!!

So mum wanted to show her appreciation for being her chauffeur taking her around to the doctors…read more She took me out for dimsum and with it being in Richmond there is a plethora of choices. She wanted to go to Kirin. Plenty of parking in the mall. Hostess greeted and seated us promptly. Restaurant was busy but not crazy. This was at 10am on a Thursday. Waiters were attentive. Usual table service was in place. Took our order and food came out at acceptable pace. When we were done, they politely boxed up the leftovers and we paid our bill. So service was on point. The food we ordered came out hot. The staples that I order to test was hargow, suimai and pai gwut(spareribs). All 3 dishes in general were good.....the hargow could have used an extra minute or 2 in the steamer. The suimai was very good. I tasted every ingredient in this dish. Usually it is just a complete mix and you can't discern the different flavors. They tried something different with the cheongfun by adding pieces of Chinese donut to the roll. I personally think it didn't add much to the dish, taste or texture wise. I did like the pea shoots with shrimp. I think it is a good combo. All in all a good dimsum. I also noticed they did not charge us a tea service. The cost of the food is comparable with other restaurants at this level. Yes come on a date or impress business clients/boss or family celebrations.

I have many Chinese friends in Vancouver, and my last visit to Kirin Richmond was in July 2024…read more This time, it was my birthday, and my friends insisted on treating me to Kirin Richmond once again. On a typical Sunday evening, the restaurant is usually fully occupied, but my friend had thoughtfully made a reservation a week in advance, so our table for five was ready upon arrival. As always, the restaurant was clean and well maintained, with good airflow thanks to the wide-open front entrance facing the parkade. The front desk receptionist greeted us cordially, and we were escorted to a cozy table in a comfortable location -- not too close to the washrooms, which I appreciated. Our meal began with the Kirin Special Assorted Cold Appetizer, followed by Crab Meat, Dried Scallops, and Fish Maw Soup. The soup arrived piping hot and was delicious, with a generous portion that could easily have served eight people. We also enjoyed Pea Tips Braised with Bean Curd and Assorted Mushrooms in Consommé, Marinated Free-Range Crispy Skin Chicken, Fillet of Cod Sautéed with Seasonal Vegetables, and Live Crab in Consommé with Ginger and Green Onion, served with E-fu Noodles. Overall, the quality and taste of every entrée were excellent. Service was top-notch -- tea and hot water were refilled constantly, bones and used plates were replaced promptly, and the servers were friendly and engaging throughout the evening. My friend and his family have apparently been regulars at this location for over two decades, which likely contributed to the exceptional attentiveness we received. However, one aspect of the experience genuinely disturbed me. All servers, including the captains, continued to wear masks at all times. While this practice was understandable two years ago, now -- five years after the onset of the pandemic, with COVID-19 managed similarly to other seasonal respiratory illnesses -- the continued universal masking in a fine-dining environment feels unnecessary and detracts from the overall guest experience. Fine dining, in my view as an avid foodie, is built on human connection, hospitality, and personal interaction. Masks create a more impersonal, almost clinical atmosphere. In a well-ventilated space like this, the environmental risk does not seem to justify the visual and social trade-off. Rather than providing reassurance, the persistent masking may unintentionally signal that the environment is unsafe or that management is out of step with current provincial health guidelines, where masking is now a personal choice rather than a mandate. Final verdict: Food & Service: 5/5 Ambience: 2/5 Overall: 3/5 -- as the current aesthetic feels more like a relic of 2020 than a leader in 2026 hospitality.