Lougheed Wonton Restaurant (2nd visit)

FIRST POST ON LOUGHEED WONTON RESTAURANT [HERE]

Lougheed Wonton Restaurant was previously located at North Garden in Burquitlam and then relocated to Port Moody. Walking in, I was a bit surprised when most of the staff looked oddly familiar. Three of the wait staff are from North Garden and it seems like the restaurant and Lougheed Wonton are sister restaurants, but why is the food quality so different?!?! 

North Garden serves barely average to below average tasting dishes and Lougheed Wonton has average to above average eats. After finishing up with Coquitlam Centre, my friend was too hungry and could not wait to eat elsewhere so we settled for here. I made a big deal about coming here too because the food tasted salty and very mediocre on the last visit.

DAILY SOUP (INCLUDED IN COMBO). 

The soup has a light mountain yam pork broth flavour and tastes very healthy. I love daily soups because they are simple, refreshing and a healthier homestyle soup.

2 1/2LB CREAM AND BUTTER SAUCE LOBSTER WRAPPED IN LOTUS LEAF WRAP ($16.80/LB).

The lobster lotus leaf wrap is a bit different than the ones offered at most Chinese restaurants. Lougheed Wonton uses fried rice rather than sticky rice and has a flavourful cream and butter sauce instead of a supreme broth. 

As for the rice, the flavours of the egg, onion as well as green onion is very apparent in the fried rice and the delicious cream and butter sauce makes everything taste better. In addition, the lobster is perfectly cooked and the meat has a nice bounciness. However, I like the fried rice with cream and butter sauce more than the lobster! The sauce has a perfect balance of cream and butter, tastes rich as well as properly made. Way better than the previous visit too!

SAUTEED BEEF WITH GAI LAN ($31.90/2 ITEM COMBO). 

The slices of beef taste tender and the gai lan tastes refreshing with a nice crunch. Furthermore, the house sauce tastes light as well as flavourful, and neither too saucy, oily nor salty.

SPICY SALT AND PEPPERY PORK CHOP ($31.90/2 ITEM COMBO). 

The pork chops have that proper flavourful peppery n' salt seasoning but could have tasted a bit spicy, despite the few slices of jalapeño. Furthermore, the pork chops do not taste over deep fried or oily, but could have also had a nice slight crispiness. Also, some of the pieces taste very fatty as in after one bite, the pork tastes extremely mushy and you know you cannot eat it (basically inedible fat).

SCALLOP CONGEE ($6.00).

I like my congee to taste bland, creamy and white, but unfortunately I forgot to ask the waitress to omit salt and MSG (at least I can describe what the congee actually tastes like here)!

The congee includes two diced large scallops, green onions and sesame oil. I am not the type to mention MSG unless it is very noticeable or there is such a high amount (I am not against MSG), but I have to this time. The congee has a heavy MSG flavour along with a sesame oil taste, and is nothing special. I recommend trying the white congee taste with nothing added since it tastes refreshing and healthy. Plus, the congee here is nothing special anyways which makes it a good opportunity to try it without salt or MSG.

COMPLIMENTARY RED BEAN SOUP.

The red bean soup has a good thickened consistency and a hint of mandarin peel, without tasting overly sweet.

POSITIVES

- Friendly staff (although the staff from North Garden are unfriendly, just like when they work there!)

- Average to above average eats

- Tasty lobster lotus leaf wrap!

NEGATIVES

- Service lacks when the restaurant is busy

- Restaurant is old and the washrooms are creepy

LITTLE THINGS

- First post on Lougheed Wonton Restaurant [here]

- I rather come here than Yan's Garden or North Garden (but North Garden's congee tastes better)

Food: 3/5

Service: 3/5