BT Cafe 大拇指餐廳 Review Location: 920 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC…read more位置： 溫哥華京士威道 920 號 (English version) BT Cafe is a delightful neighbourhood gem located on Kingsway. The standout for me was definitely their Sweet and Sour Pork--the sauce is impeccably balanced, perfectly capturing that nostalgic, classic flavor that's hard to find these days. The staff are incredibly helpful and friendly, creating a welcoming environment from the moment you walk in. While the ambiance is cozy and warm, I did notice that the high backs of the booths can be a bit wobbly/unstable, which is something to keep in mind if you're looking for extra back support. Overall, a great spot for a comforting meal! 繁體中文] 位於溫哥華京士威道 (Kingsway) 的大拇指餐廳 (BT Cafe) 是間非常討喜的鄰里餐館。他們家的咕嚕肉絕對是必點，那種咕嚕汁調配得非常地道，酸甜平衡得剛剛好，充滿了讓人懷念的經典風味。店員服務態度親切，讓人感到賓至如歸。餐廳整體的氛圍溫馨舒適，不過值得留意的是，部分卡座的椅背稍微有些晃動，若對座椅穩定度有要求的話可能要注意一下。總體而言，這是一個享受暖心餐點的好地方！

Friends recommended this Hong Kong-style café on Kingsway, saying it offers better value in terms…read moreof portion size and pricing compared with many other cha chaan teng-style restaurants in Vancouver. We decided to give it a try one weekday afternoon. The seating is quite tight. For a party of two, we were seated along the wall with a small table and chairs facing each other, while the other side has a few cubicles more suitable for groups of four. The menu is extensive--perhaps even overwhelming--with many choices, so I would suggest looking at their menu online beforehand. We ordered from the afternoon tea menu: baked pork chop on rice and beef on rice noodles. Hong Kong-style coffee or tea was included, and each dish was around $16. The portions were generous, and both dishes were tasty. From a food and value perspective, we were satisfied. Unfortunately, our final experience at the cashier left us disappointed. The bill came to $32 before tax ($33.81 after tax). I paid $35 cash and told the cashier to keep the change. Instead of simply accepting it, she told me that the restaurant expected a minimum 10% gratuity. I found this uncomfortable and unprofessional. I understand tipping is customary in Vancouver, and I normally tip according to the service provided, but customers should not feel pressured or told that a minimum tip is required unless it is clearly posted as a restaurant policy. The service itself was perfectly adequate, but nothing beyond the usual ordering and serving of food. There was no extra attention or special effort that would justify being approached about a minimum gratuity after payment. Also, since the restaurant accepts cash only, it would be helpful to have a clear "Cash Only" notice displayed at the entrance so customers are aware before dining. To be clear, this review is not about the food quality or pricing. The food was good, and the value was actually one of the restaurant's strengths. My disappointment comes entirely from the way the gratuity issue was handled at the cashier. A good dining experience should include not only good food, but also a professional and respectful final interaction with customers.

Finally got a chance to try this place after a few decades. Still remember when it was Dragon Inn…read more The place was packed late at night, which is always a good sign. Parking is available but limited in the lot in front. Better to look along Kingsway, or in the side streets behind the restaurant. I found it hilarious that the lot specifically prohibits parking for Tina Cake next door. Guess that must've been a problem over the years. The inside is plain and quite dated (old school). Looks like something out of the 1980s. Awesome. Staff are friendly and helpful. No complaints. Everything hit the spot in terms of authentic Cantonese. I had the stir fried beef with black pepper sauce, Hainan style chicken, and sweet and sour pork. Everything tasted great. Portion sizes are decent, and prices are quite reasonable. As the dishes are shared, it is best to come in groups (at least 3-4) so more dishes can be ordered. Looks like I've found my go-to for late night Cantonese food. Recommended.

Cuisine: 6 Service: 7…read moreDecor: 6 Value: 7 Overall: 6 Cantonese food is generally good in Vancouver. This place has been decent in the past and consistently put out large portions of food at reasonable prices. I don't believe anything is outstanding, but always an overall enjoyable meal. Service is relatively friendly too. On a recent night, the most memorable dish had to be the Bean Sprouts w/ Salted Fish, which was full of umami and went well with a bowl of white rice. The Steamed Oysters w/ Garlic Sauce, Beef Chow Fun, and Seafood Chow Mein were all solid. However, the Dry Scallop Fish Maw Soup was bland, and the Goose Casserole w/ Taro was a major disappointment. Reminder to self, I originally wanted to order Tofu Skin in Dry Scallop Sauce, but was convinced otherwise. The recommended dish had snow pea leaves that were a bit tough, though the supreme broth and tofu skin that came with it were yummy. Next time, I want to try my initial selection. Also, don't forget that cheap late night eats is something I should come back for.

A group of us went for dinner. Had their beef with scrambled egg on rice, honey garlic spare ribs,…read morehappy day crispy chicken, and pan fried noodle with beef. Also had soup and a dessert soup. The portions are ridiculous and the tastes were on par with what I've had in HK. Definitely worth the price that we paid. Service was ... like what I expect from HK staff. Curt and to the point, but overall ok. The place was packed, so it goes to show how much the place is well liked. A definite go.

Ordered the combo of preserved vegetables and dried BBQ duck fried rice with a hot HK milk tea for…read more$21.95. Unfortunately, this was quite a disappointing dine-in experience. The fried rice was rather bland and had a slightly overcooked, burnt aftertaste. The preserved vegetables were especially underwhelming, as they lacked the strong, savoury flavour that preserved vegetables usually have. It almost tasted like they had been soaked in water for too long, causing most of the flavour to disappear. The diced BBQ duck was also quite dry and lacked seasoning or duck flavour. The HK milk tea unfortunately matched the theme of the meal -- it was very bland as well, with little tea aroma or creamy milk flavour. We actually had to add salt from the table to make the food more enjoyable. Overall, the meal did not meet expectations, especially considering the price. Hopefully the restaurant can improve the seasoning and consistency of its dishes in the future.

have been seeing this claypot rice restaurant on social media and been wanting to try it…read more Not so much a fan of rice in general but i have to say their claypot rice are very well done. I travel to asia regularly and their claypot rice is comparable to the ones i had in asia and authentic We ordered 2 claypot rice, rice pot with minced pork cake salted fish and Rice Pot With Bonein Chicken Leg In Sand Ginger Sauce. Both of the pot rice were very well made, flavorful and the homemade soy sauce went very well with the rice. Both pots had the cripsy burnt rice at the bottom which is signature to claypot rice dish. We ordered one of the claypot rice as a combo which came with a chinese soup (with choices) and a homemade red bean tofu pudding We also ordered the bighead carp head and belly in ginger and onion.This was really well made with generous portion of the fish head and belly. There wasnt too much side ingredients such as tofu puff. The portions of the claypot rice were generous with the given price as well. There were 4 of us and we had some leftover to take home. Service definitely wasnt a fine dining type service. Typical of any authentic chinese restaurant. But all the staff were very attentive and efficient. The resturant was packed and there were customers waiting outside. So all the staff were very busy but there was no point in time we felt rushed to leave. For sure will return to try their other dishes

Lady 3 Kitchen is a hidden gem on Victoria Drive and an absolute must-try for claypot rice lovers…read more The claypot rice here is . It's perfectly cooked with that perfectly crispy bottom layer and beautifully layered flavours. What makes the experience extra special is how complete the meal feels. You get to choose your own personal pot of soup alongside your rice, and to top it all off, a silky tofu pudding dessert is included. All for like $26-$27. The place is clearly well-loved by the community since it gets super busy. I'd say don't bother coming if you didn't call ahead to make a reservation. You can call in same day just to ask when's their earliest availability so you don't have to wait there. Service is efficient even when they're packed. Will absolutely be back for another bowl.

HK cafe and Cantonese restaurant on Kingsway and Nanaimo on the NW corner, next to the gas station…read more Parking is availalble in the sketchy underground lot, as well as above ground. Probably safest to park on the street. The inside is pretty bare bones. This place used to be a Pho Hoa (Vietnamese), and there's still the old logo stuck to one of the windows. Basically one doesn't come here for the decor. Staff are friendly and chatty. Food prices are a bit on the high side. They have HK lunch combos (stuff like curry beef brisket rice, or pork chop rice etc.). These combos are actually available for dinner too for a few dollars more. I would recommend going this route for the best value. The portions are decent sized. Special mention. This place also does fancier banquet style dishes such as live seafood, but it's not cheap. With that said, the food is pretty decent quality. My friends and I left happy. Wouldn't mind coming back at some point. Recommended.

Visited Starlight Kitchen, a HK style cafe, for a weekend lunch. Plenty of open booths/tables. It's…read morein the same plaza as Thanh Xuan Cafe. - Fried rice with diced chicken & salted fish ($18.98) - smell's distinct but adds extra flavour - Pan fried chicken steak with linguini in black pepper sauce ($17.98) - noodles were meh, tender chicken - Pan fried vermicelli with diced beef and mushroom in BBQ sauce ($20.98) - excellent beef. Vermicelli two ways (crispy on top, regular underneath) - Fried rice noodle with beef in soy sauce ($17.98) - decent wok hei, standard fare - Pea tips leaves with garlic ($27.98) - good - Sweet & sour boneless pork ($23.98) - standard - Curry lamb ($18.98) - good flavour to the curry. Lamb slices were solid Big portions but typical HK eats.

I've been wanting to try the original Cha Don for the longest time, but every visit seemed to come…read morewith a huge lineup. When I found out they had a location in Empire Centre, we headed there just after they opened at 9:00... and no line?!? We ordered their famous scrambled eggs with fish cutlet and toast, and it definitely lived up to the hype. The eggs were incredibly soft and creamy which was reminiscent of omurice. The fish cutlet was perfectly fried (crispy on the outside and flaky inside) which paired beautifully with the savoury onion sauce. We also had the pineapple bun with satay beef, which was another winner. The sweet, fluffy bun and rich, savoury satay filling were a perfect combination. Salty and sweet! Of course, no Hong Kong café experience is complete without Hong Kong milk tea, and Cha Don's version was excellent... smooth, rich, and exactly what you'd hope for. It's easy to see why there's always a lineup (which started right after we got our food). Great execution of Hong Kong café classics, friendly service, and food that's well worth making the trip for. I can definitely see myself coming back.

Hong Kong style cafe inside a food court with a lot of tables but very limited availability as it…read moreis busy almost all hours of the day. We went around 1pm and surprisingly they ran out of a lot of options including the baked pork chop rice that I really wanted to try. Despite that, we still gave this place a try since there is barely a line, very unusual for this place. We ended up with the scallion chicken noodle (breakfast item), satay beef vermicelli (breakfast item), and black pepper baked filet over rice. These are stuff out of what I usually get, but I still enjoyed them. The scallion chicken dish was $15 which is a bit steep especially given the chicken is tiny but comes with hot drink. The chicken is a grilled chicken with skin which is flavorful, though the noodles were a bit underseasoned so it is ideal to add the sauce from the chicken into the noodles. The satay beef vermicelli is amazing. The beef is so tender and flavorful, and enhances the flavor of the vermicelli. The eggs and toast were delicious too - eggs were scrambled over easy, and the toast is very crunchy. Black pepper baked filet over rice was pretty hearty. I love the fragrance of the rice and the filet is very tender. The black pepper sauce does clash and dominate some of the flavors but it is still nonetheless well executed. For the drinks that come with the meals, we got milk tea and milk tea + coffee (yin yang) - these drink are high in caffeine even with the small size! Will update to 5 stars when I try the full suite of items they are known for, since the dishes we got were good but stuff that I could've gotten elsewhere.

Scramble eggs - Very silly and smooth…read more Chicken steak - nice and crispy. Although it can need more marinate like garlic powder or salt. The sandwich/bread was very soft. Wonder where they got it. Milk tea - legit. But a bit small in size for the breakfast set. Long wait. 30 minutes wait. I was there 30 minutes after it opened and not a lot of people but took a while.

Food hits the spot and service is pretty good…read more Got the Mac and ham with toast and egg. Delicious!

One year young, this restaurant has potential. Located on Main Street, Chinatown, amidst…read moreVancouver's undesirable area is this Hong Kong Cafe. The inside is so beautiful, brightly lit with charming interiors. Concept is very simple - line up to order, pay and seat yourself. Menu has only a few items. Food is good. Second floor of building is a residence, formerly "Grandma's house".

I remember seeing some Instagram posts on Saan Saan Cafe a while back. I was at a nearby bakery…read morewhen I remembered Saan Saan was around the corner, so decided to stop there for lunch with my family. First off, it's not a great part of town. But once you enter, you are instantly think you're in a different place. The place is quite cute and gave me small hints of nostalgia, as there was some artwork that reminds me of my grandparents generation. They had a small display area selling various local HK-culture related books, jewelry and stationary. As my kids took a table, my wife and I approached the counter, and were welcomed with a big smile. His first question? "Do you prefer I speak in English or Cantonese?" In all my life, I've never been asked that question when visiting a cafe or restaurant. It's a testament to their dedication to customer service and making visitors feel right at home. In addition to what found on their menu, he added they just introduce rice bowls for lunch. So we decided to try the following: - Ginger Scallion Fried Chicken Wings: Very good. Chicken with ginger scallion, is pretty common. But fried chicken wings with freshly prepared ginger scallion is next level. I really enjoyed this. - Mochi Brownie: Good. Tasted like "Lao Mai Chi" (糯米滋) - with chocolate. - Maple HK Milk Tea Latte: Good. A successful take on milk tea in a latte form. - Rice Bowls: Very good. They had two bowls - chicken and vegetarian - both equally good. Carefully prepared. The use of crispy scallions makes it so much better. Service was incredible. From taking our order, carefully bringing out eating utensils and folding them into napkins, delivering our food, and checking up on us - this is full restaurant level service in a cafe setting. I really enjoyed our visit. I would rate this place a 4.5 if I could give half stars. The space is nice, the food is very good, but the its service and family atmosphere that really sets this place apart. I hope to visit again soon.