Archive for 2010
Ayutthaya travel, Cheap Eats Thailand, Floating Restaurant, Good Eats Thailand, Pae Krung Kao, Thai food under $10, Thai Food under $5
In Cheap Eats Thailand, Dinner, Lunch, asian cuisine, restaurants on March 15, 2010 at 12:45 am
By Tana Kosiyabong

After a few days in Bangkok, I decided to take a trip to Ayutthaya, an ancient capital of Thailand. Located just an hour north of Bangkok, the old city is perfect for a day trip. Ayutthaya Kingdom (sometimes spelled Ayuddhaya) existed from 1351 to 1767. According to Wikipedia, the city was once comparable to Paris in both size and wealth. Sadly, the once glorious kingdom was reduced into ruins and debris by the Burmese invasion in the last year of its existence. [...]
Bon Chaz, Cheap Drinks Vancouver, Cheap Eats Vancouver, Good Eats Vancouver, Mexican buns
In bakery, central american cuisine, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap eats vancouver under $5, coffee shop, dessert, european cuisine on March 8, 2010 at 12:45 am
By Tana Kosiyabong

It was a beautiful Wednesday morning so I decided to walk to work. As I passed by Bon Chaz, a new bakery/café on West Hastings Street, I could smell freshly baked buns in the air. Suddenly I felt as if the delightful aroma had transformed into a giant hand; It grabbed me by the arm and dragged me inside. Since I had no breakfast yet, I went along with it.
A friendly staff greeted me as I walked in. She also offered me a free sample. The bun was so soft and delicious I wanted to start my Cheap Appetite mission right then and there. Unfortunately, I had to go to work. So I [...]
Cheap Eats Thailand, Good Eats Thailand, Green Curry, SeeFah, Thai food under $10, Thai Food under $5
In Cheap Eats Thailand, Dinner, Lunch, asian cuisine, dessert, restaurants on February 28, 2010 at 11:59 pm
By Tana Kosiyabong

The Vancouver 2010 Olympics are over. It’s time to move on. During the next two months or so, I will alternate between my Thai culinary adventure stories and Vancouver restaurant reviews. With no further ado, here’s my first installment on Cheap Appetite in Thailand.
I landed on the Suvarnabhumi Airport, the new Bangkok international airport, at 10:30 pm. It was a breeze getting through the Thai immigration and custom. So I had to wait a bit for my brothers to pick me up. By the time we got near our house, it was almost midnight but we did stop at the Sukhumvit 38 Road for some midnight snacks. [...]
Cheap Eats Vancouver, Gastown Burgers, Good Eats Vancouver, Vancouver Burgers, Vancouver's Best Hamburger, Vera's Burger Shack, visitors guide
In Dinner, Lunch, cheap eats vancouver under $10, fast food, north american cuisine on February 22, 2010 at 12:37 am
By Tana Kosiyabong

After hearing a CTV news reporter estimated fifty thousand visitors walking around Vancouver’s downtown core last Saturday night, I went out to experience this phenomenon firsthand. It was great to see Vancouver in such a lively vibe. Everybody seemed to enjoy the Olympic Spirit. As walking past a McDonald’s, I saw a long line of people waiting to get their burgers. I couldn’t help but wish I was able to change their minds. Not that I thought less of the McDonald’s. [...]
Beard Papa's Cream Puff, Cheap Eats Vancouver, Good Eats Vancouver, Japanese fast food, Robson Street Restaurants, Viet Sub Vietnamese Cuisine
In Lunch, asian cuisine, bakery, cheap eats vancouver under $5, dessert, fast food on February 15, 2010 at 12:17 am
By Tana Kosiyabong

The south side of the Robson Street between Seymour and Richards is becoming one of the most exciting culinary warzone. Many food vendors–including a falafel shop, a Vietnamese sub shop, a dessert shop, a pan Asian noodle bar and a couple Japanese restaurants–are all located within the block (not to mention a food court on the second floor of H-mart). And very soon two more fierce newcomers–Gyudon-ya and Japadog–will join this battle field. Most of [...]
Cheap Eats Vancouver, Fritz European Fry House, Good Eats Vancouver, Must Eats Vancouver, Smoked Wild Sockeye Salmon, Vancouver 2010 WInter Olympics
In asian cuisine, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap eats vancouver under $15, cheap eats vancouver under $5, european cuisine, north american cuisine on February 10, 2010 at 1:29 am
By Tana Kosiyabong

As the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics is getting closer, I’ve seen a drastic change in our downtown area. The city is all cleaned up nice and shiny. There are more visitors on the street than ever. Being a proud Vancouverite, I feel the urge to welcome them to my beloved city. So I compiled a list of food and drink I think visitors must try while they’re in town. Here are my 5 Must Eats in Vancouver (in no particular order): [...]
Cheap Eats Tokyo, Curry No Ryu, Good Eats Tokyo, Harajuku, Japanese Beef Curry, Omotesando
In Cheap Eats Japan, Dinner, Lunch, asian cuisine, cheap eats vancouver under $10, restaurants on February 7, 2010 at 11:59 pm
By Tana Kosiyabong

It was freezing when I woke up in a three-tatami-mat room at JuYoh Hotel. So I decided to go to the top floor to take a Japanese hot bath in the communal pool. Fortunately nobody was there. The bath was so relaxing I could have stayed submerged for hours, but I had a Cheap Appetite mission to complete before I left Japan at 5:30 p.m. [...]
7-Eleven Oden, Cheap Eats Tokyo, Good Eats Tokyo, Japanese fast food, McDonald's Ebi Filet-O
In Cheap Eats Japan, Dinner, Lunch, asian cuisine, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap eats vancouver under $5, fast food on February 1, 2010 at 12:07 am
By Tana Kosiyabong

I woke up at 9 a.m. to get ready for a two-week trip to Japan and Thailand. After a short morning routine, it was time to say goodbye to my pet parrotlet “Giant.” The poor guy didn’t have a clue that he would be home alone for the next two weeks (except for when a caretaker came by to feed him). Then I dragged my luggage to catch the Canada Line at the Waterfront Station. From there, the train only took 25 minutes to the airport. Thanks Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. [...]
Cheap Eats Vancouver, China Town Vancouver, Chinese Cuisine, Chinese roast chicken, Good Eats Vancouver, Stir-Fried Mushrooms
In Lunch, asian cuisine, cafeteria, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap eats vancouver under $5 on January 24, 2010 at 11:59 pm
By Tana Kosiyabong

Despite being Kent’s Kitchen loyal customer for years, I hesitated to write a review about them at first. Up until recently, I had only ordered take-out from this restaurant. Dining at Kent’s Kitchen was a bit of a challenge for me. Sometimes the restaurant was full of customers with striking characters (the kind I didn’t want to look at while eating). Frankly, I was too gross out to eat there.
Nonetheless, a few of weeks ago I decided [...]
Cheap Eats Vancouver, Chicken Noodle Soup, Good Eats Vancouver, Granville Island Public Market, Stock Market Soup
In Lunch, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap eats vancouver under $5, cooking shortcuts, fast food on January 17, 2010 at 11:59 pm
By Tana Kosiyabong

I meant to write a story about Stock Market at Granville Island’s Public Market for a while now. But I hadn’t had time to do so. Last time I was in the neighborhood, my stomach had already been stuffed with Yummy Sushi’s breakfast. Fortunately I was able catch up with some of my wish list during the holidays.
At first, I spent a few days watching the first and [...]
Cheap Eats Vancouver, Good Eats Vancouver, Japanese bento, Japanese Restaurants, Lunch Special Vancouver, Samurai Lunch Special Bento
In Lunch, asian cuisine, cheap eats vancouver under $10, restaurants on January 10, 2010 at 11:59 pm
By Tana Kosiyabong

I woke up around 8am on Christmas Eve, and after a short morning routine, I went off to work in Coal Harbour. Whether liked it or not, I did stay at the office until 1pm. “Thanks G-D,” I murmured to myself while heading out of the building. I was now officially on holiday for the next ten and a half days! This special time called for a special lunch. And I knew exactly where to go. [...]
2010 Food Budget, Cheap Appetite Poll, Cheap Eats Vancouver
In Cheap Appetite Budget, Cheap Appetite Poll on January 4, 2010 at 12:01 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
Well… not so fast. First I’d like to thank all voters who participating in our 2010 food budget poll. Especially thanks to Lululu, Wasabi Prime and TR from Kitchen-OCD who kindly left their comments and gave their supports throughout the year. For other voters who I didn’t write your name here, please don’t be jealous. I’d like to offer you special thanks too. I just don’t know who you are because all votes are anonymous.
Our 2010 food budget poll is a success. We received more votes than I previously anticipated. Although we didn’t get as many votes as the lame, ugly stepsister show “Canadian Idol” did, I’m very proud to see that there are plenty readers out there who actually read my stories and care enough to voice their opinions.
This poll is such an eye opener to me. I now realize what most my readers wants. It was mind-boggling to learn that only 3% of the readers wanted me to “Live like Scrooge.” (THANK YOU!) Moreover, “the Live a little” and “Live it up a notch” were neck and neck in the poll. The winning category managed to edge out the second place by a small [...]