Bargain - Vancouver Restaurants

 

Congee Noodle House (Broadway and Main, Late Night)

Congee Noodle House (map, reviews, 141 East Broadway, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604-879-8221) is a long-standing Chinese restaurant in the rapidly developing Mount Pleasant / Main Street area of East Vancouver. This is an area with a rich working class and immigrant history, but is targeted by developers as a young, upwardly mobile alternative to the now somewhat old fashioned and high heeled Yaletown. Across the street you’ll currently find a development proposal for a massive housing and retail complex that is bound to transform the neighborhood into more of a commercial and classy domicile for the twenty and thirty-something urban professional rather than its current melange of mixed-ethnic lower to moderate income earners.

But in the meantime, we still have Congee Noodle House. This voluminous dining room is brightly lit and is full of clean but well-used tables and an efficient and experienced kitchen and wait staff. Come here late (until 2:00 am most nights!) and enjoy some decent and tasty Chinese dishes. Our favorites are the various offerings of Chinese congee – a porridge-like boiled rice soup that can be served plain (as pictured below), when it is mostly flavorless but incredibly comforting, detoxifying and warm, or with delights added such as assorted seafood, Chinese mushroom, beef, pork, duck, or egg. For complementary dishes, check out the crispy tofu and the green beans with pork (also pictured below).

This restaurant is one of the few options in the neighborhood for nourishing food in the wee hours after midnight. Another good choice would be Foundation (2301 Main St) just a short walk down Main. But of course both Congee Noodle House and Foundation make great destinations for lunch or dinner too. Eat on, Vancouver!

Plain congee garnished with green onion from Congee Noodle House Chinese Restaurant in Vancouver BC Canada.

Plain congee garnished with green onion from Congee Noodle House Chinese Restaurant in Vancouver BC Canada.

Spicy Green Beans with pork from Congee Noodle House, a great Chinese restaurant in Vancouver Canada.

Spicy Green Beans with pork from Congee Noodle House, a great Chinese restaurant in Vancouver Canada.

Crispy tofu from Congee Noodle House in Vancouver BC Canada, a wonderful Chinese restaurant in Mt. Pleasant.

Crispy tofu from Congee Noodle House in Vancouver BC Canada, a wonderful Chinese restaurant in Mt. Pleasant.

Congee Noodle House on Urbanspoon

13,702 views - Posted Sunday, February 20th, 2011

 

Aladdin’s Shawerma Cafe (Robson, Downtown)

Aladdin’s Shawerma Cafe (map, 720 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 778-881-7916) is a recent addition to the downtown Granville Street area, serving delicious and fresh Middle-Eastern fast food until the late hours of the evening. The small restaurant is brightly lit and clean, and they offer a selection of vegetarian falafel wraps, chicken Shawerma wraps, combination platters, and more!

Most people order take out from here, but there are also some comfortable bar stools along the side counters which are perfect for a quick sit-down bite.

While most items are around $5 to $6, their biggest platter – the Shawarma Falafel (pictured below) – is just over $10 and features the works: a salad, hummus, tatziki, rice, tender Shawerma chicken, and several tasty falafels. Hot sauce is optional but highly recommended!

Falafel Shawerma platter from Aladdin Cafe in downtown Vancouver BC Canada.

Falafel Shawerma platter from Aladdin Cafe in downtown Vancouver BC Canada.

Close up of the chicken in the Middle-Eastern Chicken Shawerma Falafel platter from Aladdin Cafe.

Close up of the chicken in the Middle-Eastern Chicken Shawerma Falafel platter from Aladdin Cafe.

Another photo of the Chicken Shawerma Falafel platter from Aladdin restaurant on Robson Street, Vancouver.

Another photo of the Chicken Shawerma Falafel platter from Aladdin restaurant on Robson Street, Vancouver.

Aladdins Shawerma Cafe on Urbanspoon

39,715 views - Posted Tuesday, December 28th, 2010

 

Ki Sushi (Kirin Sushi – New Westminster)

Ki Sushi (map, visitor reviews, 31 Eighth St., New Westminster, BC, Canada, phone: 604-521-1833), formerly named Kirin Sushi, is a favorite place for many of my friends to fill up on tasty, fresh, and affordable sushi and other Japanese items.

KimHo has some nice photos online, which you can view by clicking here, and writes, “Food was better than expected, despite my crazy comments about the rolls, sushi and sashimi”.

I had a huge feast: ordered the Sashimi Dinner ($18.95) and shared a spicy tuna roll and gyoza with a friend ($1.48 each). My total bill came to $21.91 before tax and tip, and I was really full. Two of my friends say they come here every week and always order the sushi boat (which looks incredible and costs around $40, but that’s for two people so again it’s a good deal).

This restaurant is extremely easy to get to, even from downtown Vancouver. Hop on the Skytrain and head out to the New Westminster station (about 25 minutes). Walk east down the stairs off the platform, and look across the street (8th street), and you’ll see it. The restaurant is quite large inside, tidy, and is complete with a small fountain and some private booths/tatami rooms.

Below are some pictures I took of the food, using my wide angle lens this time.

Sashimi dinner (also included ebi sunomono, tempura, miso soup, and dessert).

Sashimi dinner (also included ebi sunomono, tempura, miso soup, and dessert).

Japanese Gyoza and spicy tuna roll from Ki Sushi in New Westminister.

Japanese Gyoza and spicy tuna roll from Ki Sushi in New Westminister.

Ebi Sunomono salad and Miso Soup

Ebi Sunomono salad and Miso Soup

Some more sushi rolls from Ki Sushi in New West.

Some more sushi rolls from Ki Sushi in New West.

Tempura from Ki Sushi in New Westminister BC Canada.

Tempura from Ki Sushi in New Westminister BC Canada.

Spicy Tuna roll from Ki Sushi in New Westminster BC.

Spicy Tuna roll from Ki Sushi in New Westminster BC.

Another photo of the Sashimi Dinner from Ki Sushi (formerly Kirin Sushi) in New Westminster.

Another photo of the Sashimi Dinner from Ki Sushi (formerly Kirin Sushi) in New Westminster.

Ki Sushi on Urbanspoon

22,122 views - Posted Thursday, February 12th, 2009