The Canada Line: (The Orient Express) some places to eat near the new Skytrain stations (Richmond, BC)

[fmed]

The new Canada Line is set to open tomorrow. I'm calling it the Orient Express for the quick access (20 mins) to Richmond Asian Food from downtown Vancouver. Here are a few recs near the stations. (Not complete by any stretch - I'll just post a few...reply to this post and add your own favourites). Some places are a bit of a distance away (15 mins by foot, etc) and some might actually be closer to the next station.

I tried to post links...but no go tonight...you might have to Google.

Aberdeen Station
-Aberdeen Mall Food Court
-Northern Delicacy (Northern/Shanghai, Aberdeen Mall)
-Fisherman's Terrace (Dim Sum, Aberdeen Mall)
-Golden Spring Sichuan No 3 Rd
-Golden Szechaun (Sichuan-HK, No 3Rd)
-Sea Harbour (No 3 Rd)
-HKYK Hotpot (No 3 Rd)
-Vougue (Sexsmith - a bit of a distance...another 10-15 min by foot)
-Rainflower (dim sum, 3 Rd)
-Yaohan Center Food Courts
-Parker Place Mall Food Courts (and Dragon's Beard maker)
-Shiang Garden (Behind Parker Place)

Lansdowne
-Alexandra Rd ("Eat Street" - a bunch of izakaya, Korean, Chinese bars and restaurants, some are maybe 15 mins away by foot)
-Viva City (Dim Sum)
-Mak's Noodle House (Alexandra Rd)
-Bonqula (Japanese fusion, Alexandra Rd)
-Northern Dynasty
-Sun Sui Wah (No 3 Rd)
-Northern Dynasty (Alexandra Rd)
-Jade (Dim Sum Alexandra Rd)
-Gingeri (Dim Sum Lansdowne Mall)
-Shaghai Wonderful (Lansdowne Rd)
-Top Shanghai (Ackroyd)
-Dinesty (Acroyd Rd)
-Soul Robata (kushi/izakaya/sushi, Alexandra Rd)
-HK BBQ Master

Richmond Center
-Kirin (Westminster Hwy)
-Empire Seafood (Westminster Hwy)
-Shanghai River (Westminster Hwy)
-Richmond Public Market Food Courts
-Chen's Shanghai (Park Rd)
-S&W Pepper House ( Sichuan, No 3 Rd)
-Mui Garden (HK Cafe, Minoru)
-Szechwan Restaurant (Sichuan, Saba Rd)

[Georgia Strait]

i realize this is an OLD thread but were inspired by the OP by FMED to venture out to Aberdeen station aboard Canada Line recently (it feels strange to go with no car to Ikea-land) - mainly to shop at Daiso (it's worth it - it's like a museum of modern global culture - the assortment of big small every size white dining ware is amazing, made me think of my Montessori teacher friend who looks for real stuff in small sizes) and of course the dancing fountains (Elvis and Sound of Music) in the main gallery of the "mall" are kitsch at its best - and we had food upstairs near the huge windows, which as other posters have pointed out, are a real asset.

In all - it's really interesting - some of us had the Korean ribs from Jang Mo Jib food-stand, others some noodles, we admired the cream puffs, and one of our group (the person who has most percentage Asian in the genes) - yes, they had a Vera's hot dog. So there you have it.

Take your own plastic cutlery if you don't do chopsticks - and your own extra napkins. And hand sanitizer.

The Jang Mo Jib food was OK - it is good for the price and the flavor craving hit it provides. In addition to some ribs we also had their potstickers - good too. The lady at the front counter of Jang Mo Jib was very friendly, she explained to some of our group about the barley tea -- (tho i don't care for boiling water out of a plastic juice jug) ... and it seemed clean from what i could see (i'm one who reads the health reports sometimes).

the noodles - can't remember which vendor - were OK - again -- predictable and fills a lunch gap.

it's not the healthiest but what does one expect in a food court.

All said and done - i don't know that i'd go back but maybe i would because of the convenience of Canada Line - and the temptation of Daiso - but for us, we like Main St Chinatown for atmosphere and we grew up with it ... and also because New Town w/ steamed buns in original Vanc Chinatown is closer for us.

thank you for the idea FMED, original poster on this thread. I would recommend it to visitors so they can easily see and experience one of the aspects of post-Expo '86 Greater Vanc life.

ps - remember to take CASH.

[LotusRapper]

FYI, there'll be TWO Richmond Night Markets this year. The current one at Vulcan Way behind Home Depot, and a second one (independent of Vulcan Way operation) just off of River Road near River Rock Casino, all very walkable from the Bridgeport Station:

See article:
http://thefoodqueen.com/2012/03/21/tw...

[Georgia Strait]

that's interesting

i don't know much about night market --- didn't it used to be over by the Knight St Bridge -- near Ikea - over the RR tracks and near the big warehouse where one coudl buy wholesale baskets - wicker etc. (cathay importers or some similar name)

it sure makes sense that it's closer to canada line now.

i hope you and others can provide some info about the must-eats at the market/s

i'm curious.

[vandan]

http://www.straight.com/article-30068...

[fmed]

OK...this Chowhound Restaurant database is clearly flakey. I now no longer see my newly added links. Pfff....

[rosetown]

I'm seeing all of them after closing my browser, set to clear my cookies, FF 2.0.0.11 running on linux on a netbook.
Ediit: I have to again sign in to Chowhound when I do the above.

[fmed]

I see them all now too.

[fmed]

attempting to add a few more links:

(edit: The Chowhound database is incomplete and the "Add a Restaurant" feature isn't working currently. I have added as many restaurants as I could under the circumstances.)

-----
Bonqula Japanese Restaurant
8460 Alexandra Rd, Richmond, BC V6X3L4, CA

[fmed]

Adding links to CH database (I tried to add as many as I could...many are not yet on CH's database).

-----
Aberdeen Centre
4151 Hazelbridge Way, Richmond, BC V6X4J7, CA

Empire Seafood Restaurant Ltd
7997 Westminster Hwy, Richmond, BC V6X1A4, CA

Chen's Shanghai Kitchen
8095 Park Rd, Richmond, BC V6Y, CA

Shanghai River Restaurant
7831 Westminster Hwy, Richmond, BC V6X1A4, CA

Mak's Noodle Restaurant
8291 Alexandra Rd, Richmond, BC V6X1C3, CA

Sea Harbour Seafood Restaurant Ltd
3711 No 3 Rd, Richmond, BC V6X2B8, CA

Kirin Seafood Restaurant
7900 Westminster Hwy, Richmond, BC V6X1A5, CA

Shiang Garden Restaurant
4540 No 3 Rd, Richmond, BC V6X2C2, CA

Fisherman's Terrace Seafood Restaurant
4151 Hazelbridge Way, Richmond, BC V6X4J7, CA

Top Shanghai
8100 Ackroyd Rd, Richmond, BC V6X3K2, CA

The Jade Seafood Restaurant
8511 Alexandra Rd, Richmond, BC V6X1C3, CA

Gingeri Chinese Cuisine
5300 No 3 Rd, Richmond, BC V6X3T6, CA

Northern Dynasty
8391 Alexandra Rd, Richmond, BC V6X1C3, CA

[fmed]

Well that didn't work - giving up.

Edit: I worked!

[fmed]

Adding S&W

-----
S & W Pepper House
6820 NO. 3 Rd, Richmond, BC V6Y, CA

[yimster]

Great list fmed. I will need to check my list and will try to add a few more. I need to check out my address to see if they fit into new line. Just wondering what is the price for a round trip to Chinatown Vancouver.

[el_lobo_solo]

Assuming you'll be in your final destination for longer than 90 minutes (the length of a single ticket), a round trip during non-peak hours would be $5. During peak hours, it would be $7.50 since you'd need a Zone 2 ticket. A DayPass is $9. More info on the metro authority (aka Translink) site

http://www.translink.ca/en/Fares-and-...

[fmed]

It's worth the money - you would pay about $2 for street parking in Chinatown plus it is much faster to get there than by auto. You have to transfer to the other Skytrain line at Waterfront to get to Chinatown station (which is a short 5-10 minute walk to the middle of Chinatown).

[yimster]

Thanks for information. I will have to use this system on my next trip. My only problem is that if I buy too much in Chinatown I will have to drive. But I will have to drive up there only once.

Love the day pass.

[fmed]

I don't think that there is anything you can buy in Chinatown that you can't buy in Richmond (I can't think of anything anyway) - so I think you should be fine.

[yimster]

Actually there is. Next time I up we can do a walk together and I will show you.

[fmed]

You know how to reach me!

[fmed]

Please do! And feel free to comment on what's already on the list. I have most of them. We managed to cross one off the "worthy" list (Rainflower) at the most recent Chowdown.

[yimster]

fmed, I off for some good eating in the LA area and on my return I will check my box of take out menu.

I have a Chinese jook breakfast stop and an early dim sum (opens at 8 AM) in mind.

[yimster]

Here are two Cantonese Noodle shop which I have found to good and they are not far off the line.

Tsim Chai Noodles
#50-8251 Westminster Hwy
Richmond, BC
604 273 6288

Mak's Noodle Restaurant
#185-190 Alexandra Road
Richmond, BC
604 231 8141

[fmed]

Ah yes. That is a classic, long-standing noodle house rivalry that comes all the way from Hong Kong where Tsim Chai and Mak's are located right across the street from each other. The ones you listed above are their Richmond branches.

http://epicurious.wordpress.com/2009/...

[fmed]

Adding Tsim Chai

-----
Tsim Chai Noodle Restaurant
8251 Westminster Hwy, Richmond, BC V6X, CA

[sf toronto]

Fmed, thank so much for posting this. I'll be working my way through this list every chance I get. I foresee many an Orient Express-induced food coma in my future...

[peter.v]

Thanks a lot fmed! I rode the line yesterday down to Brighouse and got off at Aberdeen to tour around a bit. It was kind of funny seeing all these restaurants from the line when I had never seen them in person before.

[grayelf]

Way to early adopt, Peter :-). Did you chow anywhere?

[peter.v]

Ha! I'm a bit of a transit junkie... so I was pretty excited to ride the new line. The excitement faded when I was squished for the whole ride, but at least I didn't have to wait for hours like the folks downtown and at YVR did!

I unfortunately didn't eat anywhere. I convinced my friend who was with me to hop out at Aberdeen in an attempt to eat at the food court there, but it was closed! Their hours are pretty early for a mall. M-W they close at 7. We could have gone to Yaohan, but we chose to try and get back to Vancouver before they shut the Canada Line down at 9.

[Sam Salmon]

Hard to believe all the hard core foodies here didn't mention a visit to that long time #3 Road icon called Big Crazy!

OK maybe dried Chinese groceries don't turn your crank but still it's worth a peek inside even if only to say you've been.

And of course @ 'The Dark End Of The Street' there's the redoubtable IHOP.

[grayelf]

Please tell me the Canada Line will be running later than 9 at some point or it will be pretty useless for dinnertime chowing :-(. I guess I could take it out to meet the SO there and then drive back with him....

[ck1234]

Yes it will be. The schedules should be out late Aug. but if you put in any date after Sept. 7 & put the route to Richmond on Translink you get the times. I put in 10:30pm from City Hall to Aberdeen & got the schedules for Canada Line.

[sharonanne]

Thanks, makes it so much easier for those of us from the other side of the Rockies.

[mbe]

Wow! Super list, and I LOVE the Canada Line's new nickname!!

[el_lobo_solo]

Awesome list! But I'll wait for the crowds to die down after the line's opening later today.