anyone tried James Chinese on Hastings near Slocan?

[1newyorkguy]

can't seem to find reviews anywhere

[1newyorkguy]

weird, I called and they said they had a fire a couple weeks ago and are rebuilding? I thought James was a reincarnation of Luda which had a fire? Maybe I'm all wrong.

[fmed]

I actually tried to go last night. There was a sign on the door that said they were closed temporarily due to a fire. They did the ownership changed months prior to this fire.

[grayelf]

That explains why they were dark when we drove by one night last week!

[1newyorkguy]

We went to James and weren't happy with it. Nice customer service that tries hard, but not much else nice to say about the experience.

[fmed]

Hm. Perhaps it is under new ownership yet again?

[maxmillan]

Thank God for Luda/James. The area is lacking in decent Chinese food. It's not the best but I'd give it a 8 out of 10. I like the lunch menu. You get to pick your soup base, noodles and toppings. I've had dinner a few times there and it tastes like it the same Chef cooking. I'm glad they have a late night snack menu (from 9pm to 2am.) But I think they put MSG in some of their dishes as I've experienced when eating the lobster.

[LotusRapper]

There's also Gourmet Castle just west of Renfrew, in the strip mall. IME they're perfectly serviceable with a much better decor/ambiance than say Penny's or On Lok. And they're open until 4am FWIW.

[J_Bone]

Sweet can't wait to try it. Thank god for this site, some places I'm just not comfortable being a trailblazer with.

On a side note, there's another new chinese restaurant in the area called "Cindy's" which just opened up at Nanaimo and 2nd, used to be a restaurant called Jaguar something.

[fmed]

I've been there a couple of times now. It is the relocated Golden Phoenix (which was my family's "go-to" ). Solid place for dim sum in this area. They also have a number of pretty good dishes on the dinner menu (e.g. their Prawns Fried in Tea Leaves). They specialize in Chinese herbal soups too if that is your thing.

[LotusRapper]

So Golden Phoenix moved north from their previous location next to Bon's:

http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/14/180725...

And PHOENIX GARDEN replaced GP at the old location, not same staff & food ?

[fmed]

That's correct. Phoenix Garden is unrelated to Golden Phoenix. Golden Phoenix staff and management all moved to Cindy's Palace. Cindy's Palace is the new Golden Phoenix. (Cindy Li was the owner of Golden Pheonix...and now Cindy's Palace.)

[LotusRapper]

Thx Fmed.

Her last name is Lin, according to her own post (diners reviews) in the Urbanspoon link above.

Anyone know how the new Phoenix Garden is like ?

[fmed]

Oops. Yes her last name is indeed Lin (I have her card in front of me now). I haven't been to PG but friend accidentally went there right after the switch-over (and prior to CP's re-opening). He said that the menu there was more typical of a run-of-the-mill Chinese joint.

[Georgia Strait]

practical question - best route from North Van to get to Hastings and Slocan? i usually take McGill off the Second Narrows Bridge to go downtown area -- can one exit west on to Hastings fr/ the Cassiar tunnel? Not sure how best to find this eatery.

also wonder which exit to take from Second Narrows to get to Bosa supermarket. I see the building fr/ the freeway (so-called) but now Boundary is in demo-mode,

[LotusRapper]

GS, see map:

http://www.translink.ca/~/media/docum...

Prolly best to take either #28 or #130 from Phibbs Exch and get off at Kootenay Loop, then from there get on any westbound buses will get you to Slocan.

Kootenay Loop is a block away from Boundary Road.

[fmed]

From McGill. Left on Renfrew then right on Hastings.

[quddous]

I agree. I love Mcgill. I always take that exit whenever I need to go anywhere around hastings or to downtown from second narrows area.

It is never backed up or busy.

[fmed]

I didn't answer you question about Bosa...from the Second Narrows - follow the Hwy. Then exit at the East 1st Ave exit. Left on Boundary, and take the first left onto Gravely then just follow the curve around to Kootenay. You can't miss it from there.

[quddous]

Georgia,

I drive around all the time for work (and we do business with Bosa so I am there pretty often)

Take the 1st Avenue/Rupert Street exit.
Turn left at the first light
Turn left at Boundary
Turn left at Gravely (it's the first intersection, it come up about 20ft after the last left so make sure you don't drive fast or you will miss it)

*edit* I see I jumped the gun on this response. Didn't realize this thread was so old. I will still leave these directions in case someone needs them

[fmed]

That is the former Luda. The ownership changed but the kitchen and staff stayed the same. I really like this place. Great curry crab, Hainan chicken, wonton/wonton noodle soup. Others swear by their brisket - but I haven't tried it yet.

[LotusRapper]

Is this the same spot where Mui Garden (or "Louis Garden" in English) used to be ?

[fmed]

That's the place.