While doing some shopping in South Surrey, B.C. we happened upon a cute restaurant, Banana Leaf…read moreMalaysian Cuisine. In addition to South Surrey, they have 4 other locations the greater Vancouver area (Robson, Broadway & Oak, Kitsilano, and Davie). Up until this point, I had never tried Malaysian Cuisine, was always curious, but it just never happened. On a side note, I remember the first time I tried Thai food, back in Nashville when I was in my mid 30s. Odd that it took me that long and even odder considering I grew up in Brooklyn and New York City, the melting pot of the country. I didn't really have a concept of the distinction between different types of Asian food, my only point of reference was Chinese food. I remember being blown away upon that first time trying Thai food (and hooked ever since) and the experience was quite the same with my experience with Malaysian cuisine. We meant to order two appetizers but through a miscommunication, actually ordered three, oops! It was a good problem to have. Between the appetizers and the main dishes, while each course was a generous serving, nothing was heavy or made me feel bloated in any way. At the same time, the flavors just seemed to burst, with very distinct and pleasing tastes while combined with beautifully decorative touches that were aesthetically appetizing! The Eggplant Fries were really interesting. Personally, I find eggplant can be challenging to work, to get flavored just right and get cooked enough so it's not rough to eat but not cooked so much that it becomes mushy. Maybe it's just me but I do struggle with that at times. I found the fries to be a perfect balance between firm enough to warrant being called "fries" with just the right amount of chew, not too mushy. The Spring Roll Lettuce Wraps were beautiful, creative and imaginative. You place the spring roll inside the lettuce along with the vibrant red cabbage, fold the lettuce and dip into the sauce *chef's kiss* Both the Tofu Goreng appetizer and Tumeric Coconut Spinach were bursting with flavor. The Pineapple Fried Rice also had an amazing depth of flavor along with the beautiful presentation inside the pineapple. Last, but definitely not least .. I've never had anything like their Mango Margarita. As clear to see in the picture, it's filled with fresh ripe whole mango pieces which really helped elevate this drink to the next stratosphere lol. If this is what I can expect when eating Malaysian Cuisine, count me in for a repeat performance!

I would skip the lunch tasting course. It was a bit misleading since it says multiple courses, but…read moreeverything just comes out on one plate. I didn't really enjoy most of the items, and the dessert was only okay. That said, their chicken and rice is absolutely delicious and worth coming back for. The ambiance is cute, and the service is good. I'd return, but only for the chicken and rice.

The wait was long for the food. But it was worth it. Everything was made to order and everything…read morecame in hottt. The restaurant isn't very big and there's limited seating. There's plenty of street parking and they also have customer parking in the back. This would be a good place to try Filipino food if it's your first time. The server was informative and explains to you what the different kinds of dishes were. Get the crispy kare-kare. This one was my favourite out of the bunch.

Food is great!!! Love the ambience... just like home. Service was friendly and focused…read more We will be back .... Pretty sure!! ‍

I finally had a chance to try Fufu from The Taste of Africa along with some other dishes and I'm…read morehappy to have had the opportunity. The fufu with peanut soup was a vegetarian dish and besides having a nice aroma, the taste was just as top tier. The pounded yam with egusi was my favorite as you really can't beat how fresh and delicious this was. The pieces of goat and beef along with chilis, onions, peppers and I believe the other bits were either squash or pumpkin was amazing. The jollef rice could have been a little less wet, but I'm not an expert in this field. I still enjoy it, but slightly drier would have been my preference. The honey jerk chicken was juicy and tender. It was full of flavor and the sweetness balanced the savory well. Everything was made fresh and even though it was for a take out order, everyone loved it.

This restaurant was small, but felt very cozy (as if you're visiting someone's home)! There were a…read morelot of customers that came here for take out, but my friend and I opted to dine in. We ordered the egusi and spinach stew and it came with a big portion of fufu as well. All of their stews also come with goat meat and beef, which was really nice. This was our first time trying fufu and we were given a bowl of warm water to wash our hands and no utensils. My friend and I got to learn how to eat fufu and we really enjoyed it! The soup was very flavorful and spicy and paired well with the fufu. It was very filling so we had leftovers (I think this meal can be shared between 3-4 people)! I am definitely going to try their other soups.

New owners. Ambiance is nice but pretty dark for a luncheon…read moreunless you are trying to eat in the dark... then you will enjoy this place. The vegetarian thali is unfortunately awful. Paneer is not fresh and taste like it was cooked from frozen which gives a weird texture. The shrimp tandoori is good but it came out raw and this is the 2nd time eating there. The daal was delicious. The yellow and black were both delicious but wished it was a bit tastier with more spices. Not sure if the chef is new or is just starting out... but please start tasting your food before sending it out because it all looks great... but lacks taste. I am hoping that you do better because I don't want to give up on you....

The Back Room is a newly opened restaurant and we decided to try it for our date night. The…read moreambience is really nice and not overly done. We were seated at the bar and got to chat to the staff and bartender for quite some time. Cherry was an absolute delight as she arranged some amazing custom drinks for my husband. We even had the chef meet us personally for some feedback we had on the crispy corn. He was very keen on taking our feedback and also shared how the dahi kebab were made! Everyone we spoke to was very friendly. The food and drinks were good. Happy hour is from 9.30pm onwards.

I was not expecting this restaurant to be as big as it is. The space here is truly massive, and…read morewhile it was mostly empty when we came at around 2:30 - I can picture the hubbub of activity that would be present during peak dinner hours. This does seem to be a highly recommended place to eat Indian food in Surrey. I had the Non-Veg Thali, which isn't on the menu, but the waitress helpfully let us know about. It's very customizable - and I went with garlic naan, rice, two tandoori chicken pieces, lamb vindaloo, and shahi paneer - all in a single plate! Pretty much everything was excellent. I'm not even sure where to start. The garlic naan was fantastic. Soft, buttery, with just a slight hint of garlic and lightly charred on the outside. I could honestly eat this by itself and be satisfied. Garlic naan is a staple of what I order whenever eating Indian food, and this might be the best one I've had. The shahi paneer was also great; tomato-forward, creamy, and the paneer was super soft. The lamb vindaloo was a real standout. It was immensely flavorful - not lacking for spice at all - but you don't just taste capsaicin - you taste all the cumin, cardamom, and garam mixed in with the curry. But the lamb itself is the best part of the curry; it's so tender and juicy. The absolute peak, though, was the tandoori chicken. These were two large dark meat pieces, which were cooked to absolute perfection - retaining so much juice and fat. The skin was a perfect deep orange, seasoned with a ton more spices. It's like eating fried chicken but without the breading, but this was arguably even better. The masala fries were the only thing kind of a miss - as they lacked any masala. The price of the thali was only 23 CAD. That's a pretty insane deal for how much food you get - I was unable to finish everything on my plate despite being very hungry. Honestly two people could share this and be satisfied. When you consider how much sharing and new orders for bread, rice, and curries goes on at your typical Indian restaurant, this is crazy good value. Overall, I would classify this as the best Indian food I've had outside of Asia. 9.5/10

When you first arrive the elephant statues out front and the entry way are very inviting. The staff…read morewere extremely friendly and attentive. We even arrived early for our reservation and were seated immediately. The samosas were crispy and flavorful. The lamb curry was super tender and had a nice spice. The chicken vindaloo and butter chicken were also amazing. We also couldn't get enough of the garlic naan.

We went to New York, New York for Greek food last night. It used to be one of our regulars but it…read morereally went downhill so we had not gone for years. A few months ago, my husband said that he had read very good reviews for it so we decided to give it a try. It was very good. Just like it used to be, so we decided to go last night - Mother's Day. I think it was a bad night to go. The service was excellent considering how busy the restaurant was, but the food was disappointing. We shared saganaki as an appetizer and it was good. It was flamed at the table, crispy on the outside and nicely melted. Served with pita bread it was delicious. The Greek salad was nice and fresh with cucumber, tomatoes and olives. My husband had moussaka and his comment was that he has had better. I had roast lamb. It was very dry and overcooked. Our entrees were served with generous portions of rice and lovely marinated potatoes We shared a bourgatsu for dessert and it was also very good. We would probably give New York New York another try since we did have a very good experience on our previous visit but last evening was very disappointing. I'm hoping that it's just because the kitchen was overwhelmed because of Mother's Day.

My husband and I went to New York New York to celebrate our anniversary. We showed up Saturday…read morenight without reservations and we were grateful to find a table. The place was busy! To start, we decided to try something new to us: Saganaki. In all honesty it wasn't what I expected. There were so much oil and grease in the pan fried appetizer, it didn't work for me. Next time I'll try another appetizer or stick with the calamari. Husband ordered the calamari platter and I had the Lamb Slouvaki. Both were solid choices with lots of carb on the side! The restaurant was BUSY but that was to be expected on a Saturday night. It seemed like a good place for patrons of all ages (from young to experienced). Service tried to keep up and they were speedy enough. Not a bad place if you don't mind a loud ambiance.

It was supposed to be my final meal of this leg of my Vancouver food trip, and with so many…read morerestaurants to choose from, I decided to trust my gut and head to Dragon Wok. Faced with two locations, I picked the newer one for reasons I can't quite explain, and thus began an amazing journey. The spacious parking area was a great start, and as soon as I stepped into the restaurant, I was greeted by a bright, soothing, and clean environment. The Far East vibes were unmistakable, with signs all around confirming I was in a Chinese place. A polite girl greeted us and guided us through the extensive menu, helping us choose the best dishes and combinations. To give some context, Indo-Chinese food originated in Kolkata, Bengal, and evolved as it spread across India, with each region adding its own twist. My favorite is Bangladeshi Chinese, known for its aroma, toned textures, and balanced, soothing sauces and condiments. Although Indo-Chinese variations have diverged from their Bengali-Chinese roots, I was hoping to find something that would closely match my taste preferences. That's when a gentleman named Abrar approached us. To my delight, he was from Kolkata, the birthplace of Indo-Chinese cuisine. He took the time to understand our preferences, crafting recommendations that seemed tailored just for us. He went above and beyond, even deciding how to tweak their original dishes to match our taste buds. We decided to go all out with his suggested combinations. We started with the appetizer, the Spicy chili garlic wings, and they were incredible--thin, yet with the crispiest crust, perfectly balanced with the chili garlic sauce. They were well-marinated with no gaminess, and the juicy inner layer contrasted beautifully with the crunchy exterior. 5/5. The Masala Fish blew us away--it was unforgettable. It wasn't overly spicy; a hint of sweetness brought out the flavors, with a light, airy crunch giving way to melt-in-your-mouth fish. The Crispy Chili Beef was very special. It wasn't dry, with a perfect semi-crisp exterior and juicy interior. Each bite validated how beef should be cooked. The sauce was perfectly balanced, neither too salty nor too sour. The Ginger garlic chicken was stir-fried to perfection, super soft with a soothing gravy, and the perfect blend of oriental sauces. Everything was balanced just right. The vegetable Hakka chowmein were not too oily, and though the noodles were a bit thinner than usual, they complemented every entrée so well it felt like a match made in heaven. Finally, the dessert--Ice cream with fried banana--was an ingenious creation. The warm, crunchy banana paired perfectly with the cold ice cream, creating a delightful ending to the meal. The girl at the reception (sorry, I didn't ask her name) was incredibly cordial, checking in on us several times and even offering complimentary green tea. Abrar also checked in on us a couple of times, providing exceptional service. I noticed him being attentive to every customer, offering nothing short of the best service you can get in a restaurant. I know taste buds vary, and Indo-Chinese palates differ across the subcontinent, but as someone extremely picky about Indo-Chinese food, I feel I had my best Indo-Chinese experience in North America at Dragon Wok. You're in good hands with these experts from the birthplace of Indo-Chinese cuisine.

Dragon Wok is a solid choice for tasty Indo-Chinese food with great portion sizes! The servings are…read morehuge--you definitely get your money's worth, and there's usually enough for leftovers. The menu is extensive, offering everything from classics like General Tso's and lo mein to more unique options. With so many choices, there's something for everyone. The food always comes out hot and flavorful, and the staff is friendly and efficient. It's a great spot when you're craving Indo-Chinese food and want big portions that satisfy. We got veg fried rice, Manchurian chicken, and shrimp chow mein and honestly those plates were wiped clean. It was enough for four starving people. I'm tempted to come back and try their soup and other things on the menu. Can't wait!

I'm extremely disappointed by our experience yesterday, especially because I've always genuinely…read moreenjoyed this restaurant. Unfortunately, what happened was unacceptable. Our party of six waited over an hour to be seated. If my mother hadn't spoken up, we likely would have waited even longer. Although reservations are not accepted, guests are placed on a waitlist upon arrival. Our name was clearly on the queue, but not in Korean and while I initially understood smaller parties of two or four being seated ahead of us based on table availability, concerns arose when another party of six--who was behind us in line (name was written in Korean--was seated before us. This was deeply frustrating, as we were next in line for a table that could accommodate six people. When we raised the issue, the hostess admitted it was a mistake, yet still chose to seat the other group first. They were 5th in the queue. Despite our complaint, there was no sincere apology, and we were forced to wait an additional 10 minutes while they set up another table. The entire situation left us feeling unfairly treated and discriminated against. As loyal customers who regularly spend over $300 per visit ordering family combos, extra dishes, drinks, and more, this was incredibly disappointing. Sadly, we will not be returning. There are many other restaurants that treat their customers with fairness, respect, and appreciation.

Yummy food overall but the jjajangmyun is quite sweet.. they must be the only Korean-Chinese place…read morein the lower mainland that doesn't serve jjamjamyun...