Archive for 2010|Yearly archive page
Cheap Eats Vancouver, Cheap Lunch Yaletown, Chicken Cordon Bleu Sandwich, Euro Pastry House, Good Eats Vancouver, Spicy Sandwich
In bakery, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap lunch, european cuisine, north american cuisine, sandwich shop on December 27, 2010 at 1:00 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
I was fortunate enough to freelance with the same company in Yaletown again. It was really great working with these friendly colleagues. We all get along really well. While I was working there, I noticed many of them carrying tin foil wrapped sandwiches back into the office during lunch hours. Every time I asked they all told me about the “Schnitzel Place” down the block. But somehow I couldn’t manage to find it.
After two weeks of watching people carrying around the mysterious sandwiches, I was extremely curious to find out exactly where it was. So I asked Allen, one of my friendly coworker/supervisor, because I saw him eating one of the sandwiches the day before. He told me the place was actually called “Euro Pastry House.” Schnitzel sandwich was one of their specialties. However, he recommended me to try the Cordon Swiss Sandwich there. [...]
Cheap Chinese Food, Cheap Eats Vancouver, Deep-fried chicken, Fried chicken, Fried rice, Good Eats Vancouver, Well Tea
In asian cuisine, cheap dinner, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap lunch, coffee shop / tea house, restaurants on December 20, 2010 at 1:00 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
It’s been a busy couple of weeks for me. I’ve been working long hours with very little sleep. Coffee has become my best pal while I worked through the cold winter night. Duuring this hectic week, I had also tried an energy drink called “Monster” but it was too sweet for my taste. I felt as if I drank sugar syrup down my throat. The good ol’ coffee is the best for me. It not only keeps me awake in the wee hour, but also makes me warm.
Last week, my team and I had to give an important presentation which we got a short time to prepare. Fortunately, we had managed to pull off a great one. After the event, we decided to have a quick celebration at Well Tea, a Taiwanese style teahouse and restaurant located next to the BCIT downtown campus on Seymour street. Since the majority of the customers are the BCIT students, you can rest assured of the affordable food prices and generous serving portions. [...]
Cheap Eats Vancouver, Good Eats Vancouver, O'Tray Noodle, President Plaza Food Court, Soft Tofu Soup, Tian Jin Wrap
In asian cuisine, breakfast, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap eats vancouver under $5, cheap lunch, cheap snack, food court on December 13, 2010 at 2:30 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
A few months ago I came across O’Tray Noodles, a food court vendor located at the President plaza in Richmond. The stall attracted a steady stream of hungry patrons during the lunch hour. I wish I could give it a try, but my stomach had already been filled with my favorite Wo Fung chicken wings and other dishes from the Aberdeen Centre food court across the street. So I made a mental note hoping to check it out next time I’m in the area.
Last week, my crave for Wo Fung wings had become so outrageous I started to see my pet bird turning into flying chicken wings. Before an “unplanned tragedy” happened to him, I jumped on a skytrain to the Aberdeen Centre to get my fix. -[...]>
Cambie Street, Cheap Eats Vancouver, Gastown, Good Eats Vancouver, Meat & Bread, meatball sub, Spicy Sandwich
In cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap lunch, european cuisine, north american cuisine, sandwich shop on December 6, 2010 at 12:30 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
I had my eyes on Meat & Bread, a new fancy sandwich shop on the edge of Gastown long before they even open. While the space were renovating, I thought the place was going to be a high-end butcher shop that also sells bread. What a weird concept!
About a month ago, however, I happened to walk past Meat & Bread during their grand opening. So I went inside to check it out and soon realized that it is actually a gourmet sandwich shop. I felt like an idiot standing in the faux meat packing factory. The hanging sandbag at the far end of the shop reminded me of a cow carcass waiting to be cut. A couple of trophy animal heads completed the décor. Somehow, the interior designer had skillfully turned the gross, negative vibe associated with a slaughter house into a cool and hip sandwich shop. [...]
Cheap Eats Vancouver, Cheap Korean food, Emo, Good Eats Vancouver, H-mart, Jajangmyeon
In asian cuisine, cheap dinner, cheap eats vancouver under $5, cheap lunch, food court on November 29, 2010 at 3:33 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
On the recent Black Friday, I had performed a massive lipo-suction on my fat piggy bank so I could get a new Ipod Touch. After the purchased, I wanted to celebrate the new gadget with a cheap, good eat. Given the name of the day, I opted for an appropriate black dish called Jajangmyeon (Jjajangmyun). To be honest, I was a bit concerned with my choice. Up until then, I had never tried it before. The black sauce somehow didn’t look appetizing to me.
However, I remembered reading once that Jajangmyeon derived from Zha Jian Mian, a Chinese dish I wrote about a couple of months ago. Since I like the original, I thought I should give the Korean sibling a try. [...]
Bulgogi Sandwich, Cheap Eats Vancouver, Good Eats Vancouver, Miura Waffle Milk Bar, Vancouver Milk Bar, Waffle Sando
In asian cuisine, breakfast, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap lunch, cheap snack, coffee shop / tea house on November 22, 2010 at 2:50 pm
By Tana Kosiyabong
You may wonder what the hell “Sando” is. No worries — you’re not alone. I didn’t know either until I learned the answer, thanks to Miura Waffle Milk Bar’s take-out menu. According to said menu, “Sando” is derived from a Japanese word “Sandoicchi” which means “Sandwich.” Therefore, Bulgogi Waffle Sando is basically a Korean-style barbecued sandwich that’s made with waffle instead of bread. Sounds weird yet intriguing, doesn’t it? In fact, it made me so curious I had to check it out.
So I walked into Miura Waffle Milk Bar at around 3 pm last Wednesday. Perhaps it was a post-lunch downtime, but there were no other customers there. However I didn’t let that bother me; I walked straight to the counter and ordered a Bulgogi Waffle Sando ($5.99) from the Savory Waffle Sandos Menu. [...]
Big Mac, Chicken Salad, Chocolate glazed donut, Sandwiches, Tim Hortons, Tim Hortons Coffee
In cheap dinner, cheap eats vancouver under $5, cheap lunch, coffee shop / tea house, fast food, north american cuisine on November 15, 2010 at 3:08 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
If you are a fan of my blog, you may wonder why the hell my staple meal is a western dish. Even I was surprised when I became aware of my choice. It’s really hard to believe because I was born and raised in Thailand. My favorite food is Thai. And my tongue is definitely pro-Asian flavors. But somehow I have found myself eating more Tim Hortons’ chicken salad sandwiches than the mouth-watering Pad Thai this year. What gives?
Well… after a careful deliberation, it all comes down to three factors: value, accessibility and nutritional value. That’s right. Subliminally, I’ve been processing these complicated data in my head for ages. No wonder why my receding hairline is getting higher and higher every year. Dammit! [...]
Candra, Cheap Eats Vancouver, Good Eats Vancouver, Kottu Roti, Sri Lankan Cuisine, tinseltown food court
In asian cuisine, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap lunch, fast food, food court on November 8, 2010 at 2:30 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
Earlier last week, I stumbled upon a new food court vendor on the second floor of Tinseltown. Canra Sri Lankan Cuisine caught my eyes with the bright color scheme and a scrolling LED signage. But the flashy decor wasn’t enough to lure me closer. Their exotic food, however, made me so curious I had to check it out.
When I was at the front of Canra, I saw that the restaurant catered both pre-cooked and made-to-order traditional Sri Lankan dishes. Despite the limited selections, they were reasonably priced. On top of that, they also offered a few sandwiches and fries. Since I hadn’t had lunch yet, I decided to take a closer look. [...]
Cheap Eats Vancouver, Good Eats Vancouver, Granville Street, mongolian barbecue, spicy korean beef, urban grill
In asian cuisine, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap lunch, restaurants on November 1, 2010 at 12:30 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
Last week I had a morning meeting with a client in downtown Vancouver. Once it was over, I headed toward the main library to do some research. But since it was already 11:30 am, I wanted to stop for an early lunch first. Soon enough, I came across a Mongolian Barbecue restaurant on Granville street called Urban Grill. Underneath the name appears a phrase “Create Your Own Stir Fry.” Because I was in the mood for a balance meal of veggies and meat, I decided to check it out.
When I walked inside, I then realized that the restaurant connects with another restaurant called Urban Sushi from within. Although both restaurants have their own entrances and dining sections, patrons can walk from one to the other. They are also welcomed to sit in either sections. It is likely that both restaurants [...]
Best Pizza Vancouver, Cheap Eats Vancouver, Good Eats Vancouver, Lunch Special Vancouver, New York Style Pizza, Unforgettable Pizza
In cheap eats vancouver under $5, cheap lunch, european cuisine, fast food, north american cuisine, take-out on October 25, 2010 at 12:32 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
It’s been a while since I wrote about pizza. If you followed my blog from the start, you’d probably remember my favourite Goldies Rustic Pizza. Unfortunately, since my review, Goldies has become even pricier. Many of their pizzas are now sold for $3 to $3.50 per slice. Although they still offer a few cheaper options, it’s time to find a back up plan in case they hiked up their prices again.
A few weeks ago, Nancy, my coworker, told me about the Unforgettable pizza. The Wednesday and Friday specials she told me sounded interesting. For $5, you get two slices of pizza and a can of pop. Since I had no other plans and it was Friday, I decided to declare a Cheap Appetite mission on it. [...]
Cafe Gloucester, Cheap Chinese Food, Cheap Eats Vancouver, Good Eats Vancouver, Hong Kong Style Coffee, Portuguese Chicken
In asian cuisine, cheap dinner, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap lunch, european cuisine, restaurants on October 18, 2010 at 2:43 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
I have a good news to share with all of you. CheapAppetite.com has gained a recognition from the 24 Hours Newspaper, the third largest newspaper in BC. Recently, I was invited to write a couple of reviews for their redesign food page. Not to mention that Savvyinsider.ca also see some value in my thrifty nature and has been featuring my reviews every other Thursday since last year. Thanks for the opportunities, guys.
Now let’s get back to the cheap good eats, the main reason why we’re all here. Although my freelance gig at West Broadway and Cambie has already completed, I still have a few restaurants in the area to write about. Joseph, my co-worker who was born and raised in Hong Kong, had told me about a restaurant called Cafe Gloucester. [...]
Cheap Appétit recipes, Leftover French Fries Recipe, Leftover Turkey Recipe, Mussamun Curry Turkey, Thai Food under $5, Thanksgiving
In asian cuisine, Cheap Appétit recipes, cooking shortcuts, easy recipes, north american cuisine on October 11, 2010 at 12:33 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
A couple of days ago, I went to T&T supermarket near Tinseltown around 8:30 pm. I strategically chose to go at the closing hour because the prices of various food items were deeply marked down. As I scanned through the display fridges, I stumbled upon a pack of smoked turkey meat on sale for $1.99.
Before I knew it, my brain cells had already form a committee in my cranium, and unanimously voted to purchase that cold tray of meat. Shortly after, I was also informed that they had decided that I must cook a strange Cheap Appétit concoction named Massaman Curry Turkey with fries. [...]
Cheap Eats Vancouver, Good Eats Vancouver, Japanese noodles, Menya, Nagahama Ramen, Noodle Soup
In asian cuisine, cheap dinner, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap lunch, restaurants on October 4, 2010 at 12:14 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
For years, my go-to Japanese Ramen was Kintaro on Denman street because I used to work in the Coal Harbour area. But now that I’ve become a freelancer, I haven’t had a chance to visit to Kintaro in the past six months. It’s about time to find a new Ramen shop to fill my craving belly.
Menya Japanese Noodle wasn’t just a convenient choice; the restaurant also had a nod of approval from Nancy, my food-loving co-worker who told me about the $5 lunch box at New India. So I headed to Menya on a Cheap Appetite mission during my lunch break last week. [...]
$5 Lunch Box, Cheap Eats Vancouver, East Indian food, East Indian Take out, Good Eats Vancouver, New India Buffet
In asian cuisine, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap eats vancouver under $5, cheap lunch, restaurants, take-out on September 27, 2010 at 12:56 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
Last time I wrote about East Indian food was over a year ago when I visited the Taste of Vancouver event. Since then I hadn’t stumbled upon a good material for the second review. This doesn’t mean that Vancouver is in shortage of this exotic cuisine. However, my wallet usually cringes and whines whenever I think of expensive East Indian dishes. To avoid an upset wallet, I try to steer clear from them.
However, a couple of weeks ago, I discovered an East Indian restaurant that got two thumbs up from my frugal wallet. Thanks to the tip from Nancy, my co-worker whose five-dollar-lunch-box pitch was more than enough to convince me to declare a new Cheap Appetite mission. [...]
Authentic Mexican Tacos, Best Tacos Vancouver, Cheap Eats Vancouver, Chronic Tacos, Fatty Tacos, Good Eats Vancouver, Mexican Hot Sauce
In central american cuisine, cheap dinner, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap eats vancouver under $5, cheap lunch, fast food, pub/bar on September 20, 2010 at 12:30 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
A few days ago my coworker Tania proposed I embark on a Cheap Appetite mission to Chronic Tacos, a new taco joint that recently opened around the corner from our workplace. Although she hadn’t tried it yet, she thought it looked promising and I should give it a try (as her lab rat). That same night, my friend Grant also mentioned about this joint. So now that I’d heard about it twice I was very curious. “What’s up with this place? I’ve gotta check it out,” I told myself. [...]
Cheap Chinese Food, Cheap Eats Vancouver, Good Eats Vancouver, Handmade Noodles, Sha-lin Noodle House, Zha jiang Mian
In asian cuisine, cheap dinner, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap lunch, restaurants on September 13, 2010 at 12:46 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
I have been freelancing near West Broadway and Cambie streets for two weeks now. Up until last month, I had rarely spent time in this neighborhood even though it is just across the Cambie Bridge from downtown Vancouver. This freelance gig gives me a great opportunity to explore this unfamiliar territory.
Boy, was I glad to find out that the area is full of culinary adventures, especially the South side of the West Broadway five hundred block. It houses at least ten restaurants including a montreal-style sandwich shop, a pizza joint, a couple of handmade Northern Chinese noodle shops, an East Indian, a couple of Japanese, [...]
All day breakfast, Cheap Breakfast, Cheap Eats Vancouver, Evelyn's Cafe and Grill, Far Coast Coffee, Good Eats Vancouver
In beverages, breakfast, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap eats vancouver under $5, coffee shop / tea house, north american cuisine on September 6, 2010 at 1:00 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
I first heard about Evelyn’s Cafe & Grill a few weeks ago from Grant, a good friend of mine. He is very supportive to my blog, and once in a while, he even helps editing my Cheap Appetite stories. Although I didn’t remember Grant’s exact word, he basically told me that he found another cheap breakfast joint for the Cheap Appetite. Evelyn’s is a bit more expensive than Yummy Sushi, but at least it is nice and clean.
Grant distastes Yummy Sushi, a cheap breakfast joint I wrote about last year, even though he has never set foot in that dingy place. In fact, I don’t think [...]
Cheap Eats Vancouver, Deep Fried Seaweed Roll, Good Eats Vancouver, Hmart Food Court, Kim’s Snack, O-deng
In asian cuisine, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap eats vancouver under $5, cheap lunch, cheap snack, food court on August 30, 2010 at 1:20 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
I promised to write about Kim’s Snack on a Cheap Appetite mission back in July because that meal reminded me of this snack joint. I’m a fan of their deep-fried seaweed rolls and O-deng. And earlier today I was craving another dose of them. Attempting to kill two birds with one stone and save some money, I decided that it’s time to write about this food court vendor.
Kim’s Snack is located at H-Mart food court at Robson and Seymour Streets. Besides Kim’s, there are three other food vendors on the second floor of the building: one Korean, one Korean-style Chinese and one Japanese stalls. They all serve yummy dishes but they are a bit more pricey than Kim’s Snack. [...]
Binggrae Popsicle, Cheap Eats Vancouver, Cool Summer Treats, Good Eats Vancouver, Sunrise Tofu Dessert, Tim Hortons Iced Capp, Wendy’s Frosty
In cheap drinks, cheap eats vancouver under $5, cheap snack, dessert, fast food on August 23, 2010 at 12:03 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
I can’t afford buying Starbucks Frappuccino or Vivanno Smoothies every time I want some cool treats. And I’m sure many of my readers don’t want to pay that much money either. So I looked around downtown Vancouver and picked out 5 cool treats that will chill your sweat glands to the core. All are under $2 each.
1. BINGGRAE MELONA MELON FLAVOURED CREAMSICLE ($0.99 each at H-Mart (Robson and Seymour streets) or $6.19 for an 8-pack at T&T Supermarket). This heavenly awesome creamsicle was made in South Korea. Binggrae Melona comes in a variety of flavours including banana, melon, mango and strawberry. My favourite is the melon. The subtle sweetness and mild melon flavour make this milky iced bar a perfect treat on a stick. You will enjoy the refreshing sensations from the very first lick. The mango and strawberry are pretty good too. But I’m not a big fan of the banana one. [...]
Cheap Burgers, Cheap Eats Vancouver, Good Eats Vancouver, Urban Burger, Vancouver Burgers
In cheap dinner, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap lunch, fast food, north american cuisine, restaurants on August 16, 2010 at 2:30 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
My veggie mode was as short lived as Hollywood celebrity marriages. After a week or so of healthy eating, I decided to call it quit. Since then I have returned to the typical meat-lover diet to satisfy my cravings. A few days after I reinstated my carnivorous status, I walked past Urban Burger on my way to the beach. This restaurant is located on Davie Street between Burrard and Bute Streets, close to the Vera’s Burger Shack. Although both burger joints are not exactly right across the street from each other, they must have been in some sort of business wars.
Intrigued by the rivalry vibes in the air, I popped my head in Urban Burger to check out their menu board. And I was glad with what I saw in big bold types – $5.99 Urban Combo (a beef burger, fries and a 16 oz fountain drink). “Cool! The whole combo for the price one Vera Burger. Now this’s a good deal,” I mumbled as my feet took several involuntary steps closer toward the counter. “An Urban Combo, please,” I told the cashier. [...]
Budgie's Burritos, Cheap Eats Vancouver, Cheap Vegan Meal, Good Eats Vancouver, Vegetarian dish
In central american cuisine, cheap dinner, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap lunch, north american cuisine, restaurants, Vegetarian Cuisine/Raw Food on August 9, 2010 at 2:42 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
My belly is getting big, so my health conscious mode has finally kicked in. Last week, I ate more veggies than I had eaten in the previous six months combined. Hence, this week mission is about me operating a blog under the veggie influence. And just to be clear, I’m not talking about weed here.
I found Budgie’s Burritos over a month ago while I was on the way to visit a friend of mine. When I came back home, I did some research and realized that the burrito joint is vegetarian. Because I’m normally a meat-lover, I didn’t care much to check it out in person. But now that I have been on the boring salad diet for days, a vegetarian burrito started to [...]
Bubble Tea, Cheap Drinks Vancouver, Good Eats Vancouver, Juice King, Tapioca Pearl Drink, Yaohan Centre Food Court
In asian cuisine, beverages, cheap drinks, cheap eats vancouver under $5, coffee shop / tea house, food court on August 2, 2010 at 12:03 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
Ever since I moved to North America, my body has gradually adapted to the cooler and dryer climate. Unfortunately, I can no longer stand the heat and humidity like when I was living in Thailand. During the summer months, I’ve found myself drinking cold beverages everywhere I go. And it isn’t even hot here compared to Bangkok.
Last Saturday, I headed to Yaohan Centre in Richmond to check out their food court. So I hopped on the Canada Line at Waterfront Station and got off at Aberdeen station. After a walk through Aberdeen Centre and President Plaza, I was right smack in the middle of Yaohan Food Court. The long commute made me hot and thirsty. [...]
Cheap Eats Vancouver, Fish and Chips, Go Fish Vancouver, Good Eats Vancouver, Granville Island, Salmon Filet
In cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap lunch, cheap snack, european cuisine, north american cuisine, restaurants on July 26, 2010 at 12:01 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
Last Wednesday was a beautiful day in Vancouver. So I decided to stroll along the False Creek’s seawall from Granville Island to engage in a Cheap Appetite mission at Go Fish Ocean Emporium. I have heard a lot about this restaurant but I hadn’t had a chance to visit. Rumor has it that they serve mean Fish Tacones there.
When I approached the restaurant (or better described as a seafood shack with metal sidings and wood patio), there were a long line of patrons waiting to order their lunches. “Dammit, this is gonna take forever,” I cursed. But since I was on a mission, I couldn’t just walk away and find another place to eat. So I toughed it up and walked towards the end of the line which wrapped around the shack. [...]
Cheap Eats Vancouver, Chi, Good Eats Vancouver, Pho Le, Vietnamese Noodle Soup, Vietnamese Pho
In asian cuisine, cheap dinner, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap lunch, restaurants on July 19, 2010 at 12:01 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
A couple of days ago, I was scouting around Vancouver Chinatown for an interesting restaurant I have yet to discover. As I walked past Ba Le Vietnamese Sandwich shop, I happened to look up and saw a sign of Pho Le Inc., a Vietnamese restaurant, on top. Since I haven’t done any Cheap Appetite mission on Pho noodle soup before, I was very excited to check it out.
So I looked around for the entrance of Pho Le and finally found it inside of a small concrete courtyard mall just north of the sandwich shop. [...]
Cheap Eats Vancouver, Cheap Korean food, Good Eats Vancouver, Kimbob E Ramyun, Korean Restaurant, oden
In asian cuisine, cheap dinner, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap eats vancouver under $5, cheap lunch, restaurants on July 12, 2010 at 12:04 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
Summer is finally here. Vancouverites can now enjoy the beautiful scenery and outdoor activities as they wish. Last Saturday was a beautiful day. So I decided to go for a bike ride around downtown Vancouver. Since it was about noon by the time I got out of my condo, I figured I should stop over at Kimbob E Ramyun first for lunch.
I’ve discovered Kimbob E Ramyun Korean Restaurant for at least a year now, but I hadn’t had a chance to write about them. The restaurant is named after two Korean dishes: Kimbob – also spelled Gimbap, Kimbap or Kimbop – is similar to maki sushi (sushi rolls) in appearance, but they taste quite different. Traditionally, Kimbop rice is seasoned [...]
Cheap Eats Vancouver, Cheap Lunch Kitsilano, Good Eats Vancouver, Kitsilano, Lunch Special Vancouver, Win's Chinese Restaurant
In asian cuisine, cheap dinner, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap lunch, restaurants on July 4, 2010 at 11:54 pm
By Tana Kosiyabong
I can’t believe it’s been a year since I started Cheap Appetite on Canada day of 2009. At the time, I didn’t expect I could keep it up this long. However, thanks for the supports of you, my beloved readers, I have been inspired to write about my Cheap Appetite mission week after week. Also thanks to Neveen Hegab and Grant Proulx, my good friends for editing some of my blog posts; all my food blogger friends for their kind words. And finally, George Froehlich of savvyinsiders.ca, for featuring my stories on his website every other Thursday.
A couple of weeks ago, I was freelancing in Kitsilano, just south of downtown Vancouver. Even though the area is not that far from where I live, [...]
Cheap Eats Vancouver, Gastown, Gastown Events, Swiss Style Nuts, Top Dog Hot Dog, Vancouver International Jazz Festival
In cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap eats vancouver under $5, cheap lunch, cheap snack, fast food, food event Vancouver on June 28, 2010 at 12:03 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
While people around the world are still keeping their eyes on the World Cup Soccer, many Vancoverites have already moved on to our very own “Vancouver International Jazz Festival”. From June 25th to July 4th, hundreds of jazz concerts will be performed in several venues around the city. Some are free to the public; others are paid events.
During the last weekend, Gastown had hosted one of the festival free venues. And because the event was only a block away from my condo, you bet I wouldn’t miss them. [...]
calamari caesar salad, Cheap Eats Vancouver, Cheap Lunch Yaletown, FIFA World Cup Soccer, Good Eats Vancouver, Opa! Souvlaki
In cheap dinner, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap eats vancouver under $5, cheap lunch, european cuisine, fast food on June 20, 2010 at 11:59 pm
By Tana Kosiyabong
I have been to Opa! Souvlaki in Yaletown two Tuesdays in a row to take advantage of their Calamari Tuesday’s special. The first time was because I couldn’t resist the promotion. A week later, I found myself back at Opa! again for the second dose of the deep-fried calamari, and of course, to watch a World Cup Soccer match between Brazil and North Korea on their TV.
Opa! Souvlaki is a Greek/Mediterranean fast food franchise originally from Calgary, Alberta. Now the chain has expanded across Canada and the US. According to their website, the word “OPA!” [...]
Black Pepper Beef, Chicken Curry, Chinese Take Out, FIFA World Cup Soccer, Game food, Tsui Hang Village
In asian cuisine, cheap dinner, cheap eats vancouver under $5, cheap lunch, fast food, restaurants on June 14, 2010 at 12:13 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
World Cup Soccer is one of the most celebrated sport events on earth. Its alluring power can waken soccer spirits hibernating inside millions of people. Take me, for instance. I am normally not a soccer fan. But whenever the World Cup bandwagon has arrived, I jump on it. All of a sudden, I have found myself watching soccer matches one after another.
At the 1994 FIFA World Cup, I was very fortunate to attend a first-round World Cup match between Russia and Sweden in the US. It was the same year that a Columbian soccer player, Andrés Escobar, got shot to death on his return to Columbia after accidentally [...]
Cheap Eats Vancouver, Chocolate Cheesecake, Gastown, Golden Girls, Good Eats Vancouver, Rue McClanahan, Trees Organic Coffee
In bakery, cheap eats vancouver under $10, coffee shop / tea house, dessert, north american cuisine, Uncategorized on June 6, 2010 at 11:59 pm
By Tana Kosiyabong
I’m not a big fan of cheesecake. But I am a big fan of the Golden Girls. So when Rue McClanahan passed away earlier this week, I just had to write a tribute for her. Blanche Devereaux is one of my favorite sitcom characters. Actually, to hell with it — I love them all; Sophia Petrillo, Dorothy Zbornak, Blanche Devereaux, and Rose Nylund.
If you are also a fan of the Golden Girls, you’d know how much they love cheesecake. And chocolate cheesecake was always their favorite. Although my budget doesn’t allow me to fly in the best chocolate cheesecake from Miami, I did my best to [...]
Aberdeen Mall Food Court, Ajijiman Hanabi Okonomiyaki, Cheap Eats Vancouver, Good Eats Vancouver, Strawberry Cones Pizza, Wo Fung Fried Chicken
In asian cuisine, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap eats vancouver under $5, cheap lunch, cheap snack, food court on May 31, 2010 at 6:00 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
Last Saturday, I was free all day for the first time in months. So I decided to go to Ikea to buy Brada laptop support I had been wanting for weeks. Just before I walked out the door, Natee, a friend of mine, called and asked if he could tag along. So we met at the Waterfront Station, hopped on the Canada Line, then headed to grab a bite first at the Aberdeen Mall food court.
I have been a big fan of this food court for a long time now. Unfortunately, I rarely make a trip there because [...]
Beef and Vegetable Ho Fun, Cheap Dim Sum Vancouver, Cheap Eats Vancouver, Good Eats Vancouver, Ha Gow, Kam Wai Dim Sum
In asian cuisine, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap eats vancouver under $5, cheap lunch, dessert, restaurants on May 24, 2010 at 12:03 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
I came across Kam Wai Dim Sum, a new restaurant in Vancouver Chinatown, while I was exploring the area a few weeks ago. The restaurant is located on Pender Street between Main and Gore street, the block I rarely walk on. Thanks to my inquiring mind, I have a new restaurant to check out. So I took a quick look at the menu on a store window and the prices were very wallet-friendly. However, dim sum is meant to be shared with others. So I made a mental note to come back later for a review.
A few days later Natee, a friend of mine, called around lunch time. So I told him to meet at Kam Wai. [...]
Brownies, Cheap Eats Vancouver, Cheap Lunch Yaletown, Good Eats Vancouver, MeatLover Sandwich, Spicy Sandwich
In cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap eats vancouver under $5, cheap lunch, coffee shop / tea house, dessert, north american cuisine on May 16, 2010 at 11:59 pm
By Tana Kosiyabong
I had been freelancing in Yaletown for almost 6 weeks. It was fun working in a new and friendly environment. However, I had a hard time finding a Cheap Appetite for lunch in the neighborhood. For weeks, I had survived on either Subway meatball or cold cut subs ($3.29 for a 6-incher). Although I enjoyed experimenting on different combinations of bread and sauce at first, it got old really fast.
That was when I moved along to a few ethnic restaurants nearby, but they weren’t worth writing about. While I’m sure [...]
BBQ Chicken, Cheap Eats Vancouver, Chinese roast chicken, Crunchy French Fries, Deep-fried chicken, Good Eats Vancouver
In asian cuisine, cheap eats vancouver under $5, cheap lunch, cheap snack, european cuisine, fast food on May 10, 2010 at 12:38 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
I have been working seven days a week for two weeks now. So I couldn’t venture out of my neighborhood for my Cheap Appetite missions. Hopefully you, my beloved readers, wouldn’t mind sticking around the downtown east side for a while longer.
I walked past Prime Time Chicken and Chinese food a bunch of times while I was on my way to Kent’s Kitchen. But with a destination in mind, I didn’t bother to check it out. This week, however, I was crunched on time. [...]
Cheap Eats Vancouver, Chinese Comfort food, Daikon Radish, Good Eats Vancouver, Stewed Beef Brisket, T&T Supermarket
In asian cuisine, cafeteria, cheap dinner, cheap eats vancouver under $5, cheap lunch, fast food on May 3, 2010 at 12:33 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
The first time I heard about this amazing stewed beef brisket with daikon radish was when Xiao, a Chinese friend of mine, came back from her trip to T&T Supermarket. “Tana, I just ate the most awesome dish at T&T,” Xiao bragged with excitement. She is quite finicky when it comes to Chinese food, the same way I am with Thai food. So when she raved about this pre-made Chinese dish from a grocery store, regardless of my doubt, I declared it my new Cheap Appetite mission. [...]
Cheap Eats Vancouver, Good Eats Vancouver, Pad Canadian, Pad Thai Goong, Pad Thai Krung Thep, Thai Basil Vancouver, Thai food under $10
In asian cuisine, cheap dinner, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap lunch, restaurants on April 26, 2010 at 12:08 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
I meant to write about Pad Thai for a while now, but I couldn’t find a truly authentic one here in Vancouver. Last month, I have accidently found one that came pretty close. It is Thai Basil’s Pad Thai. Wait! This is NOT the Pad Thai on the restaurant menu. Chef Goh of Thai Basil normally makes this mean Pad Thai just for his Thai acquaintances. But, thanks to me, you can now order this dish at Thai Basil under the name of Pad Thai Krung Thep. [...]
Cheap Eats Vancouver, Good Eats Vancouver, McDonald's McMini, McDonald's McMini Nutritional Value, Pesto Grilled Chicken McMini, Spicy Thai Crispy Chicken McMini
In asian cuisine, cheap eats vancouver under $5, cheap snack, fast food, north american cuisine on April 18, 2010 at 11:59 pm
By Tana Kosiyabong
I was invited to attend the new McMini tasting event hosted by a McDonald’s Canada PR firm a few weeks ago. But I couldn’t make it because the timing was conflicted with my new freelance work. Fortunately, the PR lady was kind enough to send me a $10 gift card so I could try the McMinis on my own time. “Um… Just so you know… I won’t write about them if I hate them” I warned the lady on the phone before she sent me the gift card. But she seemed content just for me to try the products. So, why not? I’ll try them. They are free. [...]
Cheap Eats Thailand, Gaeng Som Goong, Good Eats Thailand, Khao Jao Restaurant and Cafe, Pad Thai Goong, Som Tum Thai
In asian cuisine, beverages, cheap dinner, Cheap Eats Thailand, cheap lunch, restaurants on April 12, 2010 at 2:05 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
The third installment of my Cheap Appetite missions in Thailand had been intentionally put off for a few weeks to emulate my culinary experience there. Since the first day I landed in Bangkok, I had devoured almost every food items I found with little to no concern from where they came. By the end of the first week, my stomach had decided to put an end to this madness. As a result, I got the worst case of the runs I’ve ever had. For almost two days, I spent all my time between the bed and a toilet. By the third day, I felt much better already. However, I had lost my desire to eat, eat and eat everything in front of me. [...]
Blood Alley, Cheap Drinks Vancouver, Cheap Eats Vancouver, Gastown Bar, Judas Goat Taberna, Vancouver Tapas Bar
In cheap eats vancouver under $10, european cuisine, north american cuisine, pub/bar on April 5, 2010 at 12:12 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
Earlier this week, a PR firm sent me a press release of a new Spanish-inspired Tapas Bar called Judas Goat. The bar is located in Blood Alley, Gastown, just across the street from my condo. I was quite surprised when I first read the news. Why would anyone open a business in such a notorious alley with very little foot/car traffic except from a bunch of junkies in the neighborhood? Then it blew my mind even more when I discovered that Judas Goat is beside another fancy restaurant in the same alley. OMG, they opened two eateries right under my nose, and I didn’t even know until now! [...]
Cheap Eats Vancouver, Good Eats Vancouver, Hainanese Chicken Rice, Hawkers Delight, Khao Man Gai, Vegetarian dish
In asian cuisine, cheap dinner, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap eats vancouver under $5, cheap lunch, restaurants on March 28, 2010 at 11:59 pm
By Tana Kosiyabong
Aside from my trip to Japan and Thailand, I rarely venture out of downtown Vancouver for my Cheap Appetite missions. However I think it’s time to find out what the Greater Vancouver has to offer. Recently, LotusRapper, one of my regular readers, suggested me a few restaurants. Hawker’s Delight was among them. The name sounds so interesting I must check it out. [...]
A&W Sirloin Uncle Burger, Burger under $5, Cheap Eats Vancouver, Food Promotion Vancouver, Good Eats Vancouver, Premium Burger
In cheap dinner, cheap eats vancouver under $5, cheap lunch, fast food, food promotion, north american cuisine on March 21, 2010 at 9:54 pm
By Tana Kosiyabong
When Jason, my coworker, told me about the $3 Sirloin Uncle Burger special at A&W, my eyes lit up with delight. Even though I hadn’t planned on reviewing a burger this week, I decided to do so before the promotion is over. I’d had my fair share of A&W Mama and teen burgers in the past few years because they were normally on promotions. Ever since I tasted the Sirloin Baby Burger Twins four months ago, I wanted to try the Sirloin Uncle Burger too. But I didn’t want to pay the full price due to my cheapness. Finally the time had come. [...]
Ayutthaya travel, Cheap Eats Thailand, Floating Restaurant, Good Eats Thailand, Pae Krung Kao, Thai food under $10, Thai Food under $5
In asian cuisine, cheap dinner, Cheap Eats Thailand, cheap lunch, 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 / tea house, 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 asian cuisine, cheap dinner, Cheap Eats Thailand, cheap lunch, 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 cheap dinner, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap lunch, 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 asian cuisine, bakery, cheap eats vancouver under $5, cheap lunch, 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 asian cuisine, cheap dinner, Cheap Eats Japan, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap lunch, 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 asian cuisine, cheap dinner, Cheap Eats Japan, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap eats vancouver under $5, cheap lunch, 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 asian cuisine, cafeteria, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap eats vancouver under $5, cheap lunch 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 cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap eats vancouver under $5, cheap lunch, 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 asian cuisine, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap lunch, 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 [...]
