Red Star Seafood 鴻星海鮮酒家 : Vancouver location

Red Star Seafood is a Chinese restaurant located in Marpole, and is a favourite for my family as well as family friends. In addition, the restaurant can be categorized as a higher end Chinese restaurant, next to Kirin and Sun Sui Wah. A lot of people enjoy dim sum here and claim it is worth the drive for those who live far, but I find the dim sum average and not worth the busyness as well as crowds. Having mentioned that, the reason I am here is for peking duck.

On a Monday evening, the restaurant has an average amount of seated tables. The interior of the restaurant is clean as well as spacious (when empty but gets cramped during dim sum or weekend dinners) and I like the layout. If I wanted to be picky and sound crazy... a higher ceiling would be better for air quality. As for the table setting, every table has a mini vase with faux flowers and has two plates along with a folded napkin. 

Red Star plays instrumental music in the background but like any Chinese restaurant regardless of the class (maybe with the exception of restaurants in China), the loud sounds of clinking and clanking are very well heard due to the staff cleaning and setting up tables. As for the staff, the managers wear a black suit with a white button up, and the waiters wear a gold coloured vest, white button up and black pants. From what I wrote, the restaurant may or may not seem like a higher end Chinese restaurant; either way, walk in wearing sweats and you will receive the same service as anyone else (none to mediocre during dim sum, mediocre to good during weeknight dinners, and decent to good during weeknight dinners).

PEKING DUCK, THREE COURSE MEAL ($59.99).

FIRST COURSE, PEKING DUCK SKIN AND CREPE, WITH HOISIN SAUCE AND GREEN ONIONS.

The crepes taste fresh, have a nice slight elasticity and a consistent thickness. The first few crepes were a bit too damp as well as doughy, but the ones after were fine. As for the first course, the peking duck skin has a somewhat slight crispiness and a nice golden brown colour. In addition, the skin has a clear flavourful taste and tastes juicy. 

Also, some pieces have a thin layer of meat which tastes tender, while others have quite a large amount of fat which tastes chewy, rather than deliciously buttery. Furthermore, I was a bit surprised that four to five pieces have a huge chunk of fat (no meat, only fat) attached since Red Star usually removes most of it. The peking duck skin here generally tastes above average, tasty and is one of the better ones. Although unfortunately this time, the skin was barely crispy and the slices with fat tasted chewy and not edible (usually the fat tastes pretty good here). If anything, I like that the green onions are brushed, not shredded.

PEKING DUCK, THREE COURSE MEAL ($59.99).

SECOND COURSE, PEKING DUCK BONE SOUP.

The bones with a bit of duck meat and mustard green vegetables are provided on the side, and the soup is served clear. The soup has a slight duck taste with tofu, and a rich mustard green vegetable broth. However, the peking duck bone soup does not taste as flavour as other restaurants' and I would pass considering the additional $16.00.

CRAB MEAT WITH BROCCOLI ($22.98).

The broccoli tastes perfectly cooked; slightly soft with a nice crunch. The only issue is that the sauce tastes a bit fishy and I am not sure why fish sauce was added... generally dishes like this should never have fish sauce. In addition, for a pricey dish with only four to five pieces of packaged crab meat, I do find it overpriced.

2 1/2LB CREAM AND BUTTER SAUCE CRAB ($16.80/LB).

The crab tastes meaty, fresh and is cooked just right. As for the sauce, there is a nice rich strong buttery flavour, but slightly lacks the taste of cream. In addition, the cream and butter sauce looks yellow rather than white because some of the liver was used in the sauce, and the rest of the tomalley is removed and placed under the shell, not attached.

FRIED RICE YEUNG CHOW STYLE ($15.98). 

The fried rice was the highlight of dinner - well blended, not too salty or oily, and slightly moist, not dry. Furthermore, the ingredients are properly fused together and the rice tastes soft as well as fluffy. There is not one single clump of rice and the fried rice tastes a lot better than Kirin's. If anything, there were only three prawns throughout the whole dish.

PEKING DUCK, THREE COURSE MEAL ($59.99).
THIRD COURSE, PEKING DUCK LETTUCE WRAP.

The duck meat tastes simple, light and moist, not oily, salty or greasy at all. In addition, the water chestnuts provide a bit of crunch and texture. Red Star is one of the better restaurants that serves duck meat lettuce wrap. However, for those who prefer heavier or fattier tastes, may think this tastes bland or under seasoned.

COMPLIMENTARY SESAME BALL COOKIES AND CHINESE EGG COOKIES. 

Considering the class of restaurant, I was a bit surprised when the cookies were not served warm, since I have visited less "nicer" restaurants which heat the cookies. As for the taste, the sesame ball cookies taste crunchy, hard and average, and the chinese egg cookies taste average as well. Neither of them melt in the mouth nor have that fluffy sugary and buttery soft taste. Also, one of the reasons why I do not prefer dining at 8:00pm is because some restaurants do not save dessert soup (most do, but not here).

POSITIVES

- Clean restaurant

- Above average eats

- Friendly and attentive service

NEGATIVES

- Peking duck has tasted better here (the skin was barely crisp this time)

- Fish sauce in the broccoli dish

- Pricier dishes

LITTLE THINGS

- Limited free parking at the back, $1.00/hour pay parking

- Dim sum and weeknight dinners get busy, I recommend reservations

- I wanted rock cod but could not justify paying $40.00/lb when it is only $30.00/lb elsewhere, including at Kirin and Sun Sui Wah!

Food: 3/5 (3.5/5 if the crab meat broccoli sauce did not taste fishy)

Service: 3.5/5