Tequila Kitchen (web site, 1043 Mainland St. Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604-681-2120) is a new restaurant in the Yaletown neighborhood of downtown Vancouver, offering authentic and fresh Mexican cuisine in a simple and almost austere atmosphere.

The minimalistic decor evokes some great restaurants and hotels I experienced while visiting the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, which catered mainly to Mexicans on vacation rather than American tourists.

Susan Hollis writes, “Tequila Kitchen encourages diners to taste the soul food of Mexico”, and I agree – the fresh guocamole, home-made salsa, and corn tortillas stuffed with scrumptious goodness brought me back to the streets of the towns I visited in Mexico. CityFood Magazine has some photos and reveals that owner Laura Enriquez spent over twenty years running successful restaurants in Playa Del Carmen.

Pictured below are items from Tequila Kitchen’s signature Lunch Platter ($13) which is an affordable way to try a variety of tasty temptations, including: guacamole, salsa, 1 Tostada de Pollo (shredded chicken on an oven baked tortilla topped with lettuce, avocado, green salsa, onion cream and cheese), 2 Tacos de Cochinita (pulled pork slowly cooked in juicy annatto sauce in soft corn tortillas with marinated red onions), 2 Tacos de Rajas (Poblano rajas, sauted chicken and onions with cheese in a creamy sauce served in soft corn tortillas), rice, beans & salad. Visit the restaurant’s web site for their current dinner menu.

Mexican Tacos at Tequila Kitchen in Vancouver (included with the Lunch Platter)

Salsa and guocamole.

Tostada de Pollo (included in the Lunch Platter)

Ridge Gardens Chinese Restaurant (map, visitor reviews, 3113 Arbutus Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604-736-7006, fax: 604-736-5231) offers above-par Chinese food in the affluent Arbutus Ridge neighborhood of Vancouver, which is close to Kitsilano to the north and Kerrisdale to the south. It’s in the same strip mall as the Ridge Theatre.

My family always chooses to dine at Ridge Garden for big get-togethers, where we order off the banquet menu and share many dishes.

Prices are reasonable: for a huge meal including soup, crab, and at least one dish per person, the total cost came out to around $20 each including tax. There were enough leftovers for a couple more meals at home too! The Ridge Garden restaurant also offers Chinese food delivery to the nearby Vancouver vicinity, as well as take-out.

Pictured below are the Hot and Spicy Crab (market price), the hot pot with chicken and black fungus (very tasty, believe me!), and the house soup (flavorful and savory). Ample free parking is available in the lot just north of the restaurant on Arbutus street, and the restaurant is also accessible by bus (view easy transit directions to the restaurant).

Hot and spicy crab, prepared Chinese style

Chicken and black fungus Chinese hot pot

Chinese soup (very flavorful)

Bo Kong Vegetarian Chinese Restaurant (map, 3068 Main Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone 604-876-3088) is a popular Chinese restaurant that serves tasty vegetarian cuisine. Even non-vegetarians won’t miss the meat after trying some of the traditional Buddhist dishes that are made with substitutes such as gluten or tofu. Also a good bet are the noodle, vegetable, or rice selections.

The wonton soup (pictured below) was nicely flavored and made a good start to the meal. We also enjoyed the Fresh Enoki Mushroom Chow Mein noodles, the Sweet and Sour Pineapple Delight, and the Steamed Chinese Brocolli (all pictured below).

The prices at Bo Kong are quite reasonable: a large meal for two people including three dishes and a soup came to about $20 per person including tax and tip.

View Part 1 for more photos.

Vegetarian Won-ton Soup at Bo Kong restaurant

Sweet and sour pineapple delight at Bo Kong

Steamed Chinese Brocolli at BoKong Restaurant

Vegetarian Chow Mein with fresh Enoki Mushroom (at Bo Kong restaurant)