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    Van Tea Cafe

    3.8 (45 reviews)
    Closed • 8:00 am - 9:30 pm

    Van Tea Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    VAN TEA CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

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    Josephine M.

    We came here for a family dinner. They have a set Seafood Feast menu where you can choose a certain number of dishes at a fixed price, and it comes with rice and soup of the day along with either a lobster with supreme soy sauce or a spicy crab. The lobster was just OK. We've had better lobster before. A lot of the other dishes were also...just OK. I think the best dish was the Stir Fried Spicy Eggplant & Green Beans. I didn't eat a lot of the dishes since I don't eat meat, but meat eating husband said the food was generally quite "meh".

    Soup,noodle
    Angela W.

    We came on a Saturday at 5:30 and of course not many patrons yet. Friends recommend Hainan chicken so we ordered. Fried halibut with onions and stir fried beef rice noodle. Beef rice noodle-- generous portion for $23 with good wok hei Halibut--thick hard(not crispy light) batter stir fried with grn onion and yellow onion. Chopped into very small pieces with a lot of bones. $29 Chicken Hainan style-- meat is def. free range with some chew, smooth texture. Sadly w/o any flavours from pandan, lemon leaf or lemongrass. Tasted like plain boiled chicken so must use garlic spicy dip or ginger onion dip that came with it! Complimentary rice and soup(flavourless) accompanies every entree. Service with a smile during ordering and while serving. Restaurant gets filled shortly after 6ish. They also started to take credit cards! Would not come for dinner entrees again, lunch maybe for noodles, baked dishes only.

    Stephanie H.

    This place is cash only! The food comes out quick and the portions were larger than expected. I liked the red bean drink and the rice dish was unique and flavorful. The service was kind and I liked the variety of the dishes. Unfortunately they ran out of the hainan chicken by dinner time, so if you want to try that, make sure to go early!

    Menu
    Vinh M.

    This has the look and feel of a Hong Kong cafe AND a regular Chinese restaurant, from the inside of the building to the dishes it offers. It's really loud inside, and that explained why parking was hard to find in the already-small parking lot that it shares with some other businesses. I got here with family around 6pm to large crowds but snagged a spot for 4 easily. Since it was busy, it was rough flagging down servers from getting our orders to asking for more tea and water, but this didn't affect my experience here. We got the crab and fish maw soup, spicy pork with green beans, Hainan chicken, Singaporean style fried vermicelli and steamed black cod fish with tofu and black bean sauce. All of this ended up being too much for me and my family but we still thoroughly enjoyed everything. Hainan chicken was seasoned so well, though both the Singaporean vermicelli and the green beans were a little too spicy for me to enjoy even though they were both also packed with flavors that I expect from most Chinese restaurants. The cod fish was very appetizing; meat was easy to get out and the sauce was so savory that I forgot I was eating fish! It did take longer than expected to come out, though. I'll still recommend this place since it has quality food and it even serves as an ideal place whether you go to eat on your own or with a big group.

    Wok fried lobster with vermicelli noodle pot
    JT C.

    Van Tea Cafe.. Richmond style take 2... I have been to the Vancouver location multiple times because really like their live seafood deals and their baked salted egg yolk spareribs plus a few specialty dishes not many places have. As for this newer Richmond location, came here once when it first opened and all I can say is; barely any service and food was horrible, nothing like the Vancouver location. (Richmond can't drive and now can't cook too?!?) The restaurant is located on plaza on Garden City Road and Capstan. It has a shared parking lot that is free for customers of the plaza. Anyways , here I am back again to give it another try (pleaseee be that uncle from HK in the kitchen who can cook a hundred different tasty dishes). Here were the food I ordered; 1. Wok fried lobster with vermicelli noodle pot. The lobster is almost 2Lbs, decent size with tender meat. Honestly pretty tasty with good wok hay. Pretty good deal for $79 . 2. 2 item (chicken steak & sausage) combo with spaghetti and borscht soup. Pretty straightforward combo dish at most HK cafe. The spaghetti was nicely cooked. 3. 3 item (salmon, sausage, pork chop) with rice and Chinese soup. The salmon was a bit overcooked, however the pork chop was tender and nicely cooked. Overall, this time around the environment was more pleasant; the servers were friendlier and more attentive, the food was better especially the lobster dish, and atmosphere was more welcoming and comfortable. I think the only thing i personally would like is the grill combos to come in a hot sizzling skillet, the classic Hong Kong style I am more accustomed to. Other than that, a much better experience this time around. Maybe Richmond can cook better than they drive after all (just kidding guys lol but seriously stop taking 30mins to park)

    Menu
    Mark W.

    With most other HK cafes slupping in quality, or closing, Van Tea manages to maintain their standards, making them one of the best remaining HK cafes in town. 4.5 stats (8.9/10) Last visit Aug 2024

    Breakfast menu before 11am
    Lindsey D.

    The rare occasion I had time and in Richmond for HK style breakfast. I had 2 minutes to order before 11am. Randomly choose Spicy Diced Pork with Rice Noodles, Soy Sauce Chow Mein and HK Milk Tea. Spicy Diced Pork was so dry, it was two steps away from being pork floss. The rice noodles were very nice, I'm certain the broth is just not my cup of tea. Chow Mein was not al dente and over cooked from the steam, the green onions and onions were perfection. Overall, looking around, there is a more senior crowd which is understandable as all the dishes weren't as salted/seasoned. Seniors don't like salt, sweet and oil. Order accordingly. Milk tea was good.

    Sweet and sour pork
    Kim L.

    My least favorite HK style restaurant thus far. All the flavors were below mid. My party ordered multiple dishes and we were not impressed with anything. HK milk tea - it tasted like 100% sweetness, we were never offered an option to adjust but it was overly sweet for my taste. Luncheon meat breakfast sandwich - so overpriced for something so simple Crispy chow mein noodles with pepper beef- sauce was way too salty Shrimp wonton noodle soup- this was a also a miss, the flavor was not I expected from traditional wonton mein soup Sweet sour pork- this was not bad, it reminded me of Panda Express orange chicken since the pork was not very crispy soaking in sauce. Pork congee with preserved egg - very bland, it didn't taste seasoned at all. Baked spaghetti with chicken steak - this was also mid Fried squid - this was okay, not bad

    Beef brisket curry set with rice was such a big portion. Very tasty. It had a lot of beef brisket, okra and potatoes.
    Natalie C.

    All the food was SOOOOO good. Such a big portion. Rib eye steak and pork chops pasta was huge and delicious. Russian borscht soup was so good. Curry beef brisket is another delight. Service was friendly and fast and polite. The restaurant is very clean, very vibrant and the drinks were very tasty too. Nothing was greasy, too salty, too sweet. Everything was perfect.

    Assortment of dishes: Malaysian flat bread (Roti), fish (right), yin yang baked rice, Portuguese chicken rice.
    Evan C.

    Tried this HK cafe place after my family picked me up from airport. I'm giving them 4 stars based on the fabulous black bean tofu steamed fish. Wow. This was so well done and delicate. It reminds me a bit of my grandmas old steamed fish. Cantonese steamed fish is my favorite - very healthy and just delicious and this dish was soooo good. The other stuff was not bad. They have lots of Malaysian dishes for a HK cafe but the Roti while crispy the sauce was just Ok. The yin yang (chicken on one side and shrimp with cream sauce on other) was great and everyone ate it up. - e fu noodles - fairly decent. Service was not rushed and not that rude. Haha. Overall would come back to try it out.

    Beef rice noodles
    Eric B.

    First time trying this spot out and I find it very enjoyable! Probably not the best spot in BC because they have a very high standard for Chinese food but still very satisfying. The wait staff were very friendly and patient and the place was clean. One thing to note is that they accept cash only

    Albert C.

    I ordered Spaghetti Bolognese and it is fantastic! Service and ambiance is good. I will be back when I get in town for sure.

    black pepper sauce diced beef with mushroom, onion and bell peppers
    Tony J.

    Small to mid size HK style tea cafe in the restaurant plaza on the southeast corner of Capstan and Garden City. Pretty busy on a Friday night, although we didn't have to wait too long for a table for 3. Interior on the more modern side for HK cafes in the area. Feels bigger inside because ceiling are high, but the place is very noisy when busy. Pretty standard HK cafe Cantonese fare on the menu. They offer the lobster or crab combo option where you get one of lobster or crab, and a couple of other dishes and they'll throw in soup and rice. We go the lobster plus 3 dishes. All the food came out pretty quickly. The lobster is stir fried in their onion and soy sauce style, was pretty meaty and tasty. We also got their half Hainan chicken, and the chicken was soft and smooth like you'd expect for Chinese style chicken. The black pepper sauce diced beef had good flavor, but portion is on the smaller side. On the other hand, the Malaysian style pork ribs are meaty and have good portion. It's a sweet-sour sauce preparation with a hint of spice. Lastly, the included lotus root soup was alright. Total was $120 before tip. We had some leftovers. There are cheaper HK cafes offering similar food in the area, but this place was still pretty decent.

    Front of restaurant~

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    1 year ago

    Good portion of food for reasonable price, service is good overall and the waitress is very friendly and helpful!

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    2 years ago

    Friendly service and dishes are consistently good... always busy when we go there. A hearty meal at reasonable price .

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    Van Tea Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

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    HK B.B.Q. Master - #10 BBQ Pork+Soya Chicken+Roasted Pork on Rice - IG: @nelson_eats

    HK B.B.Q. Master

    4.1(755 reviews)
    1.3 km•Golden Village, City Centre
    •$$

    1/2 fatty bbq pork 1/2 lean bbq pork - very good. Probably could have gotten all lean as it was…read morevery soft. Overall def better than sam woo in LA. It could have been slightly saltier/sweeter and they do have extra dipping sauce for that but enjoyed it overall. Comes with a single piece of broccoli Steamed veggies - very good. i think it was choy sum. Just basic steamed with a little oyster sauce. Delicious with the rice and meat. Cash only (or canada debit card) Its in a parking lot

    Stopped by as we were visiting from out of town and had friends recommend HK BBQ Master…read more The restaurant is nothing flashy. It is small and quaint with some of the smaller combined tables having plastic dividers separating the diners. I appreciated that the establishment has a clear process of operations for take out and dine in. The team is efficient in their service and ability to turn tables so we were seated pretty quickly. We tried the BBQ pork, roasted pork, soya chicken and BBQ duck. BBQ Pork - was standard and pretty good. However, I've definitely had better elsewhere in regard to flavor and crispiness. Roasted Pork - I really enjoyed this as it was moist, savory, and not overtly sweet. Soya Chicken - was ok... kind of dry. BBQ Duck - was ok as well. Definitely be sure to order the pieces without the bones. I opted for them to give me whatever pieces and ended up with barely any meat. Overall, it was good, but not anything extraordinarily amazing. FYI - they are a cash only establishment. We were not aware but luckily there is a grocery store on the second floor of the building with an ATM machine.

    Photos
    HK B.B.Q. Master - Duck

    Duck

    HK B.B.Q. Master - BBQ Duck + Soya Chicken + BBQ Pork

    BBQ Duck + Soya Chicken + BBQ Pork

    HK B.B.Q. Master - Roasted pork

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    Roasted pork

    Kirin Seafood Restaurant - Sesame pudding

    Kirin Seafood Restaurant

    3.8(683 reviews)
    2.2 km•City Centre
    •$$

    Having tried a lot of dim sum spots, I have to admit Kirin would easily rank as one of the Top 3…read morethat I've ever had... the only con? You'll want to make a reservation WEEKS in advance and hope for the best! Our group ordered so many delicious items, and some standouts were: Shrimp Har Gao: These were crisp and tasty, with a skin that was the appropriate thickness - and of course had enough slip to it. Yum! Pork Shu Mai: These ingredients were tip top! I'm not a fan of pork, but I enjoyed this one... whatever they marinated it in was amazing. Stuffed Eggplant: Tasty, too! I love eggplant, especially the stuffed ones. The sauce paired very well and was simply satisfying. Mushroom Noodles: This was honestly a hot mess and hot miss. It tasted very bland like airplane food... highly recommend not ordering this! Cheung Fun - The rice noodle was crisp and very satisfying. Whether an oil stick or protein, highly recommend this one. What's nice is eating here was very relaxing late in the afternoon. The overall ambiance is spacious and quiet enough for conversation. Either we got lucky missing out on the liveliness, or all the aunties with tea left before we arrived. Overall, I could see myself coming back for the dim sum... but have a little more reservation (no pun intended) when trying their lunch items.

    Had the pleasure of eating here again. Whenever I visit Vancouver, we try to make a stop here for…read moresome great dim sum. Dishes were delicious and fresh. Was able to try more dishes since we came as a larger group. Everything was great. Service is also top notch. Staff is very professional and attentive. Highly recommend calling in advance and making a reservation. Seems like if you walk in and don't have one, you're taking a chance - especially during the busy lunch time. Worth a visit if you're in town - plan ahead!

    Photos
    Kirin Seafood Restaurant - Interior

    Interior

    Kirin Seafood Restaurant - Deep fried prawn, pork and Chinese mushroom wrapped with taro root paste 9.5

    Deep fried prawn, pork and Chinese mushroom wrapped with taro root paste 9.5

    Kirin Seafood Restaurant - Duck

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    Duck

    Yue Restaurant - 牛肉丸: Beef Balls

    Yue Restaurant

    3.9(181 reviews)
    1.1 km•Golden Village, City Centre
    •$$

    I read about Yue Restaurant being one of the most reliable and enjoyable dim sum spots in Richmond…read more(old school traditional style) but unfortunately, they do not serve Dim Sum in the evening. Nevertheless, we were glad we tried their dinner. When you tried to do research on the restaurant and could not find any menu or proper working link, you will realize this place emphasizes on words of mouth rather than Online Marketing. I did not find a single non-Chinese customers when we were there and this place was packed! The dining room is bright, clean, and spacious, and even when the restaurant is busy, the atmosphere feels lively rather than chaotic. The staff works hard to keep things moving, and service is friendly and efficient. The food is the real highlight. Everything arrives beautifully prepared, with generous portions and fresh ingredients. Their Wagyu beef cubes is a MUST-HAVE. Its the best Wagyu beef I have tasted! We also ordered their Peking Duck. It's not the best I have tried but definitely above average. This order comes in 2 dishes. You wrap the duck skin with thin crepe, and the 2nd dish is basically the diced duck meat wrapped in lettuce. We balanced the protein with Tofu/Broccoli/Mushroom dish. We also ordered Yangzhou fried rice. These dishes alone kept 5 hungry adults satisfied. We struggled to finish every scrap! Yue Restaurant is an excellent choice for groups, families, and anyone craving high‑quality Cantonese cuisine. With great variety, solid execution, and a comfortable dining space, it's easy to see why this place is so popular.

    The six of us dined in on a Tuesday. We made reservations for 6:30 pm but we arrived early at 6 pm…read moreand we were seated without issues. Our party consisted of four adults and two young children. We shared the following: Black truffle sauteed scallops and shrimp 黑松露珍菌帶子蝦球 Steamed abalone with garlic and vermicelli 蒜蓉粉絲蒸鮮鮑魚* Yue's stir-fry with shredded pork 鮑粵軒小炒王* Sauteed celery and lotus roots 雙芹炒蓮藕片 Casserole with clams and vegetable 大蜆肉絲浸菜心 The restaurant is clean and spacious. Service was friendly and efficient. Ingredients were abundant and food portions were generous. We especially enjoyed the items marked with an asterisk. At the conclusion of our meal, we received complimentary green bean sweet soup and almond cookies. The almond cookies were freshy baked. They were crunchy on the exterior and gooey in the middle.

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    Yue Restaurant - Inside

    Inside

    Yue Restaurant - 葡撻: (Egg) Portuguese Tarts

    葡撻: (Egg) Portuguese Tarts

    Yue Restaurant - Inside

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    Inside

    Yin Ji Chang Fen - C09 Shredded Pork and Preserved Egg Congee

    Yin Ji Chang Fen

    4.3(140 reviews)
    1.1 km•Golden Village, City Centre
    •$$

    i had the pleasure of returning to yin ji chang fen and absolutely loved it again. all of the rice…read morerolls are so delicious still and the sauce is phenomenal. i also tried the vegetables and noodles this time - probably wouldn't get the noodles again, but still good. at peak hours you may have to wait outside before getting seated. it's not the biggest parking lot, but enough for customers. service is generally fine and what you'd expect from a chinese restaurant. overall i love yin ji chang fen and will be back!

    Solid chang fen and congee. We came for breakfast around 8:15 on a Sunday, and the dining room was…read morealready full (they open at 8). The food comes out quickly, though, so the wait is short. If you're a smaller party you're at an advantage - tables seat 2 or 4; larger parties that require combined tables will wait longer to be seated. We shared the shrimp and chive chang fen, pork and century egg congee, and the wonton soup. Chang fen had that slippery silkiness; it was packed with lightly cooked shrimp. Congee was good - the pork was nice and soft, the pi dan creamy. Won ton was fine - not as flavorful as the other dishes, but it hit the spot. Service is fast and friendly; they accept cash, debit, WeChat or Alipay. Parking is free and plentiful in the morning (if you come later in the day, it'll likely be full due to the sharing of the plaza by several other restaurants).

    Photos
    Yin Ji Chang Fen - Hustling and bustling inside

    Hustling and bustling inside

    Yin Ji Chang Fen - You tiao

    You tiao

    Yin Ji Chang Fen - Restaurant

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    Restaurant

    Western Lake Chinese Seafood Restaurant - Tendon and tripe

    Western Lake Chinese Seafood Restaurant

    4.0(550 reviews)
    7.2 km•Kensington-Cedar Cottage
    •$$

    Western Lake Chinese Seafood Restaurant is located at 4989 Victoria Drive, Vancouver, BC…read more Food (5/5): Such a rare treat! The chicken was exceptionally fresh and tender, practically melting in your mouth while still piping hot. The shrimp was equally delicious and full of flavor. Service (5/5): Outstanding. The staff were incredibly attentive, respectful, and helpful from start to finish. Ambiance (5/5): Such a warm and welcoming atmosphere. It makes enjoying an incredible meal even better! :)

    Western Lake is the kind of dim sum spot I always hope to find -- traditional, lively, and straight…read moreto the point. There are fish tanks with live fish and lobsters floating around, and ordering is done the old-school way on a paper slip where you mark the quantity you want. I love that everything comes out fresh and is handed to you table-side. What really stood out here was the portion size. The shui mai, har gow, and char siu bao were all much larger than I expected, so my friends and I played it safe and still ended up with way too much food. Not a bad problem to have, but definitely come hungry. The service was also better than what I've experienced at a lot of dim sum places, which made the whole meal even more enjoyable. Solid traditional dim sum with generous portions and a nice hustle.

    Photos
    Western Lake Chinese Seafood Restaurant - Inside restaurant

    Inside restaurant

    Western Lake Chinese Seafood Restaurant - 11/24/22 Steamed BBQ Pork Buns

    11/24/22 Steamed BBQ Pork Buns

    Western Lake Chinese Seafood Restaurant - Entrance foyer

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    Entrance foyer

    Van Tea Cafe - coffee - Updated September 2026

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