Mirchi

Marpole is a convenient location for me to grab lunch or dinner, but I never know where to go! Asides from Red Star, where else is there to eat in Marpole? Well, after searching around, Mirchi caught my eye. Alright, some of the dishes look average online and one cannot judge how the food may taste by looking at just photos, especially with curries. However, what sold me is their naan. For a restaurant to have a tandoor on site and good looking naan, it is a must try.

Walking up to Mirchi, BF did not want to try the restaurant and we walked down the street to look for something else. After walking two blocks down, I called him stupid and to trust me, I know good naan when I see it. So, we headed back to Mirchi and when we walked in, our immediate thoughts were that the restaurant looks old. Not only that, but the restaurant looks equivalent to a Chinese wonton house which to be honest, was not a big deal because I was wearing laundry day clothes.

We were given the option to grab any table and chose a window seat. After receiving the menus from our friendly waitress, the owner came by to fill our glasses with water. He was very humble as well as polite, and I felt bad asking for hot water or mentioning the glasses were dirty, which kind of screwed me over later on for choosing not to drink anything. The table setting is pretty generic, glasses with folded napkins and utensils placed on the side. Furthermore, there are photos of celebrities who have visited the restaurant along with a few family photos. The restaurant has a nice homey vibe.

Taiwan Beef Noodle King

So… it seems like I have been craving for noodles in the last couple of months. I am pretty much a poser when it comes to eating noodles and only eat around five to ten strands, literally. However, lately I have been wanting to eat noodles and can finish a whole bowl, probably because it is nice for a change and something different for me. Taiwan Beef Noodle King is a small family owned restaurant with the husband working at the back of the house and the wife overseeing the front. Despite the somewhat small restaurant, the interior is well ventilated and has a high ceiling as well as spacious comfortable seating arrangements.

NOODLE SOUP WITH STEWED BEEF AND BEEF TENDON, BEEF IN CHINESE PANCAKE, PAN FRIED PORK DUMPLINGS, MARINATED EGG, MARINATED DRIED TOFU AND MARINATED BEEF TRIPE, STEAMED JUICY DUMPLING, XIAO LONG BAO, AND STEWED BEEF NOODLE IN SOUP.

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).