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Eating in Richmond
Monday, May 4th, 2009 by GetawayBC.com
It would take a lot trekking to taste the food from the four corners of China. Except in Richmond
Home to the second largest Asian community in North America, Richmond has more than 500 Asian restaurants and more opening every day.
Quality is high and fare ranges from the traditional to the modern.
Travelers from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Washington state, and B.C.’s interior already know that the food offered at Richmond’s cafes, bistros and dining rooms is consistent in overall quality and that the preparations are true to old and new tradition. The dishes, well-made and balanced in seasoning, or tsen (meaning properly executed on all levels), are luring visitors from Vancouver and beyond. Word is spreading. BBC and German film crews have done stories on Richmond and its culinary Asian diversity, while Bon Appetit magazine was also in town for an article.
In most western cities, there’s typically one type of Chinese restaurant, but in Richmond, there are restaurants specific to the four different corners of China and other Asian countries.
Northern food became known as Beijing dishes and uses wheat flour to make dumplings, stuffed breads, noodles, and steamed buns.
The Southern food, known as Cantonese, is vital to Chinese food with lots of rice, dainty light food, and a love of condiments such as Hoisin sauce and plum sauce.
Dim sum originated in Southern China and means “little dishes.” These tasty dishes generally come in bamboo steamers. Popular dishes include steamed pork bun, sticky rice and shrimp dumpling. There are hundreds of places to try in Richmond, but it’s best to go early and restaurants fill up at noon.
Western food is known as Sichuan (Szechuan), the place for flavour and home of hot and spicy Kung Pao.
Eastern food or Shanghai dishes uses lots of seafood in a variety of sweet, salty, sour, and fragrant.
Each of the four corners of China claims their food is the most satisfying eating. Undoubtedly, each is correct because each place offers distinct tastes.
One place to sample a lot of different Chinese food varieties in a hurry is the food court located on the second floor Richmond Public Market (8260 Westminster Hwy.). It features dozens of styles and restaurants.
China isn’t the only country to offer flavourful dishes. Taiwanese food requires lots of preparation. Marinated first, precooked, stir-fried and then deep-fried, using spice to give different flavours in one dish.
Alexandra Road, known unofficially as “Food Street,” serves up more than 50 restaurants within a two-block radius.
Some of Richmond’s earliest settlers were Japanese. There are many sushi restaurants in Richmond ranging from the all you can eat variety to more traditional fare.
Vietnamese restaurants are also both plentiful and popular, with noodle soup (pho) being the signature dish. It’s a steaming bowl of rice noodles served with meat (often thinly cut raw beef, which cooks in the soup) and a plate of condiments such as bean sprouts, Thai basil and lime to flavour the soup.
Speaking of Thai basil, the cuisine of that country is increasingly popular among diners. And there’s Indian and Korean eateries as well.
If your taste buds don’t like to leave the continent, don’t worry: major Canadian chain restaurants are well-represented in Richmond. And Mediterranean food, whether it’s Greek or Italian, is never in short supply either.
Most hotels have restaurants, some of which serve some impressive brunches and lunches.
Steveston is another popular restaurant destination. In the fishing village you can find anything from sandwich shops to seafood restaurants to fine dining. But it’s fish and chips that Steveston has the most of, ranging from eat-in locations to takeout spots.