Shanghai Wonderful Restaurant (map, 110 – 8380 Lansdowne Road, Richmond, BC, Canada, phone: 604-278-8829) serves authentic and delicious dishes from Shanghai, China. Reservations are a must, and consider going a bit early to avoid the rush. They open for dinner from 5pm to 9:45pm and for lunch from 11am to 2:45pm, closed Tuesdays.
This restaurant is so popular among the Asian community that if you arrive later in the evening you’ll probably find a line-up right out the door. Recommended dishes include the Duck with Taro Coat ($13.95, pictured below), the Deep Fried Tofu with Minced Pork Sauce ($8.88, also pictured below), the Pan Fried Pork Buns ($4.50, pictured below), and the deep fried bread served with condensed milk. Also check out their seafood, especially the crab (market price), as well as their fancy Peking duck, and tasty Lettuce Wrap ($10.95).
The restaurant is only a short taxi ride from the Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, and is close to the soon-to-be completed Canada Line public transport train that will connect Richmond with downtown Vancouver. Once the Canada Line is completed (in 2009), you will be able to walk to Shanghai Wonderful Restaurant from the Lansdowne Station. The restaurant is across the street from the Zellers, Best Buy and the Lansdowne Shopping Mall in Richmond.
Sushi Town (5935 East Hastings, Burnaby, BC, Canada, phone 604-294-6155) is quite frankly my favorite a-la-carte sushi restaurant in the Greater Vancouver area. And that is saying quite a bit, since I’ve tried a lot of them.
Below is pictured the Sushi and Sashimi Combo (around $7.75), as well as the Mangodise Roll (around $6.95). I am always impressed by the freshness, quality, and large size of the sashimi and sushi pieces, at such reasonable prices. This restaurant is definitely worth driving a little ways to get there.
Video from Sushi Town in Burnaby:
Sushi and Sashimi combo at Sushi Town ($7.75)
Mangodize sushi roll (delicious) – $6.95
Mangodise Sushi Roll (Japanese)
Mangodise Sushi Rolls at Sushi Town in Burnaby ($6.95)
Cactus Club (web site) is a chain of trendy, popular restaurants with great food, fun atmosphere, and awesome service.
Their downtown Yaletown location (357 Davie Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone 604-685-8070) is conveniently located in one of Vancouver’s most upscale and chic neighborhoods, a short taxi ride from any hotel in the downtown core. They also provide valet parking.
As an appetizer I enjoyed the Westcoast Pocket ($4.00, pictured below), which is an inventive creation that is made from sushi rice, salmon, Japanese Inari (bean curd wrapper), and is garnished with pickled ginger and Japanese masago. The Westcoast Pocket is one of my favorite menu items at Cactus Club and I seem to order one every time I’m there.
As a main course, I selected the 9oz Sirloin Steak (with four mushroom demi-glace: shitake, portabello, button, and crimini mushrooms, $27, also pictured below). The steak was juicy and tender – truly satisfying!
To finish this fabulous meal I enjoyed the fresh baked apple pie ($7.50, also pictured below). If by any chance you have some room left over for dessert, I highly recommend the apple pie! It was made with sweet and slightly tart ripe apples, and the flaky crust was heavenly.
If you’re interested in Live Jazz, be sure to check out their West Vancouver location (855 Main Street, West Vancouver, BC, phone, 604-922-1707) which features the Geoff Peters Trio on select Tuesday nights.
Westcoast pocket at Cactus club- like sushi but better! ($4.00)
Sirloin steak at Cactus Club (with four- mushroom demi glace) – $27
Westcoast pocket at Cactus club- like sushi but better! ($4.00)
