Hidden Gems - list your fave Vancouver hole-in-the-wall

[123]

I checked the boards but looks like there hasn't been one of these posts for awhile...

Asking for your faves! Please leave off the $2.95 breakfast places.

I'll start this off ... ARGO CAFE

[barcosbarcos]

Toby's Teriyaki Bowl on the north side of Hastings just before Renfrew has amazing beef teriyaki bowls. It's by far the best rendition of Yoshinoya style beef bowl here in the city is run by a kooky old Japanese lady who is exceptionally friendly.
The other stuff on the menu is only so-so, but the beef bowl is definitely worth the trip and cheap at under $6. They used to be situated under the Fir street off-ramp of the Burrard street bridge and have moved around several times since then.

[fmed]

Toby's Teriyaki Bowl is a great little hole in the wall. I used to go there regularly. I don't really know why it dropped off my radar.

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Teriyaki Bowl Restaurant
13784 104 Ave, Surrey, BC V3T1W5, CA

[LotusRapper]

IIRC Teriyaki Bowl used to be at 7th and Fir, where the vacant lot is in this image:

http://g.co/maps/ezd64

It was later replaced by a casual "bistro" run by two women from Quebec.

[kinnickinnik]

I miss that Quebec bistro - Zizane - they had a great (and generously portioned) tourtiere.

[LotusRapper]

Zizane, that's it. Thanks :-) I remembered it here: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/751213

We went there a couple times too. IIRC they had some good salads.

That stretch of 7th served as a bit of un-official Quebecois/Francophone epicentre, with Centre Culturel Francophone de Vancouver (CCFV) and Cafe Salade de Fruits down the street.

[kluv2cruz]

There's a little place east about 2 doors from MEC on Broadway. AMAZING cup of "americano" and wonderful curried whatever on rice. And... for the teens, a big plate of pasta with sauce. All pulled together by one friendly guy. Cheap, affordable, and a great place to go when you're trying to fit in a MEC visit and the family conspires against you because THEY'RE HUNGRY! Order the hot meals not the samosas on display.

[123]

kluv2cruz -- do you mean Rino's Cappuccino Bar? Might have to check it out.

Anyone for Sushiyama across from Kingsgate?

[Thathertz]

Shushiyama is pretty okay for "Nouveaux " style Sushi
Rino 's - used to be my lunch spot dirty & cheap

My Picks.
Chez Faye Cafe - hamilton street
BaoQi eateri - davie street
Tandoori Palace - Commercial Drive -surly service with a side of delicious Punjabi food.
La Grotta Del Formaggio - Commercial Drive -- awesome sandwiches.
Au Petit Cafe -best Viet style subs
Asakusa Sushi - Kingsway
Falafel Plus - W 7th Ave. Best Falafel in Vancouver, Bar none.
Dona Cata Mexican - Victoria Drive Maybe to trendy for this.
Taste of Vietnam - dirty & cheap
Pad Thai - Broadway @ Main
Lhy Thai - Burnaby

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La Grotta Del Formaggio
1791 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, BC V5N4A4, CA

Lhy Thai Restaurant
7357 Edmonds St, Burnaby, BC V3N1A9, CA

Asakusa Sushi
4729 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC V5H2C3, CA

Chez Faye Cafe
1168 Hamilton St, Vancouver, BC V6B2S2, CA

Tandoori Palace
1439 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, BC V5L3X8, CA

[LotusRapper]

Hey, someone else who likes Asakusa Sushi, like me ! :-D To add to that, I also quite like Yakko Sushi Express on Kingsway:

http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/14/181989...

(*NOT* to be confused with the other "Yakko Sushi" inside Station Square of Metrotown which is very meh and overpriced, IMO).

Where is "Taste of Vietnam" ?

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Asakusa Sushi
4729 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC V5H2C3, CA

Yakko Sushi
4689 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC V5H2B3, CA

[grayelf]

Taste of Vietnam is on Broadway near Oak. I've never found it dirty but it is reasonably priced. Pho is just okay though, and they parboil the sprouts (bleh).

[LotusRapper]

Thanks Grayelf, now I remember. Even been there once or twice. Overall they're meh.

[flowbee]

Green Lemongrass on Kingsway also parboils their sprouts on request, cuz a lot of their Chinese customers ask for them to be parboiled. I like it raw and crispy though.

[grayelf]

I know, it's a health thing, but I'm in the raw and crispy camp too. And GLG should be on this list for their weekend Viet breakies, all $5 before 11 am. Their bot chien is the best I've tried so far (also available in a larger size on the regular menu).

[LotusRapper]

Ok, I'm gonna admit to liking my once-in-bluemoon pig-out at Kent's Kitchen in Chinatown. Total HITW if there ever was one:

http://oishizo.blogspot.com/2011/08/k...

2 items + steamed rice is still $4.50 ($5.04 incl. HST). Dishes are greasy as heck and all start to taste the same after awhile, but the variety is bewildering and actually fun to mix & match. Try getting a seat, esp. one where the table is actually wiped clean ...... that's the challenge I look forward to as I dig in to that sub-$5 plate of greasy meaty MSG goodness.

[cdnprairiedog]

I like Double D Pizza in my 'hood of Kits/Point Grey - $7.50 for a baked pasta that is sufficient for 2 meals, with salad and garlic toast on the side. It's like home cooking.

[123]

I miss the old Cafe D'lite on the north side of Broadway... a true HITW.

I've been to the new location but I guess the old place brings back memories.

[vandan]

Cuu Long for the food, the value and the wonderful family that run it, Pats pub ( who would ever guess tht they brew their own beer and smoke their own meat) , Hawkers as mentioned, will come back with more later

[piwakawaka]

hawkers delight (25th & Main)

[LotusRapper]

+1 on Hawker's :-D

Thai Son (Broadway, 1st Ave)
Gain Wah (Keefer)
Paul's Restaurant (E. Hastings in N. Burnaby)
Roman Ristorante (Kingsway)
Peaceful (W. Broadway)
Kalvin's Szechuan (Victoria)
Pho Van (Fraser)
Nat's Pizzeria (W. Broadway)
Unforgettable Pizza (W. 8th Ave)
Club House Japanese Restaurant (W. 2nd Ave)
Georgio's Pizzeria (Rumble in S. Burnaby)
Wen Xin (Rumble in S. Burnaby)
HK BBQ Master (#3 Road Richmond)

[Sam Salmon]

A true HITW has no web presence of any kind and only takes cash.

Yes I'm old fashioned.

[123]

I agree with Sam Salmon. One of those places where you don't want to stick around too long, you don't want to use the washroom, and you don't want to look too closely at things. Eating with blinders on, basically.

[LotusRapper]

LOL. That makes many, if not most, of the places listed above seem high-end, IMO at least :-)

[anewton]

Hmmm. The above definition of hole in the wall is a bit narrow for my taste. I would define it somewhat more loosely as a place that:

a) appears unassuming from the street
b) is small (let's say fewer than 30 seats)
c) is decidedly non-trendy
d) is inexpensive (nothing on the menu for more than 12 bucks)

I don't think that filthy washrooms and poor kitchen hygiene should be musts; in fact, I would not want to frequent a HITW that had those characteristics. But, as they say on the "internets," YMMV.

[clutterer]

The criteria reminds me of a place we used to go to in Causeway Bay, which was literally a hole in the wall as there was no street-facing wall, just a giant garage door. We always went back for the soup buns, which were amazing enough to make you forget the 95% probability you'd get sick afterwards.

Anyway, I'd like to add Luda to the ongoing list.

[LotusRapper]

But that 5% chance must have been worth it to ya !! :-D

[Sam Salmon]

Also-using the definition supplied by myself & 123 a HITW isn't any kind of 'gem' - isn't mean to be.

This city abounds in gems but they are by and large cafés-Anatolia's Gate as mentioned.

[123]

anewton.. okay, so maybe i am exaggerating a wee bit about HITWs... i like your definition better

[mrbitterpants]

+1 on Thai Son

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Thai Son Restaurant
4653 City Gdns, Richmond, BC V6Y, CA

[LotusRapper]

What constitutes "hole-in-wall" definition ?

[grayelf]

My Chau
Thai Basil
The Place

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My Chau Restaurant
1715 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC V5N2S4, CA

[fmed]

Bo Laksa King
Seri Malaysia
Ba Le (Kingsway)
Tung Hing
Anatolia's Gate
La Meme Baguette
Madras Dosa
Dosa House
(I'll stop for now).

[farman]

Choice Fast Food (best butter chicken in town IMO) - Hornby @ Helmcken