Archive for 2011|Yearly archive page
Cheap Appétit recipes, cooking shortcuts, easy recipes, Fried rice, jasmine green tea, leftover recipes, Microwave Recipes
In asian cuisine, Cheap Appétit recipes, cheap lunch, cheap snack, cooking shortcuts, easy recipes on November 6, 2011 at 11:18 pm
By Tana Kosiyabong
I was looking forward to staying an extra hour longer under my warm, cozy blanket this daylight-saving Sunday. Unfortunately, Angus, my pet dog, has never heard of such a concept. He still woke up the same time as usual (though it’s now an hour earlier on the clock) and demanded to go potty ASAP. I had no choice but to get off my bed and strolled the chilly street with Angus and a few poo bags. After the morning ritual, I fed him with his raw food diet and jumped right back to bed.
A couple of hours later, I finally got hungry. However, I’d rather stay home with a warm blanket than went out for a grub in the cold. So I searched through the fridge and found a box of the leftover Yang Chow fried rice I had from a few nights ago. That’s good enough for a starter. A minute later, an idea came to me. Here’s how I fixed my brunch earlier today: [...]
Ba Le Sandwich Shop, Banh Mi, Cheap Eats Vancouver, Chinatown Vancouver, Vietnamese Dessert, Vietnamese Sub
In asian cuisine, cheap eats vancouver under $5, cheap lunch, cheap snack, dessert, fast food, sandwich shop on August 28, 2011 at 11:44 pm
By Tana Kosiyabong
It has been a while since my previous post. But I have a good excuse. Recently I have adopted a French Bulldog puppy named Angus. He is a real handful. I hardly have time to rest, let alone writing a new blog post. So in the next little while (depending on how well Angus behaves), please be patient with my irregular post schedule.
Now let’s get back to the Cheap Appetite. A couple of weeks ago, I went out for a dim sum lunch. However, on the way there, I realized that I only had five bucks and changes in my pocket. Too lazy to go back for more money, I headed to Ba Le Sandwich Shop in Chinatown instead. [...]
cheap pizza, Fresh Slice Pizza, New York Style Pizza, Pizza Downtown, Uncle Fatih’s Pizza
In cheap dinner, cheap eats vancouver under $5, cheap lunch, cheap snack, european cuisine, fast food, north american cuisine on July 11, 2011 at 12:35 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
If you live around the International Village, you’d probably notice a pizzeria war on the 600 block of Abbot street. Fresh Slice and Uncle Fatih’s are duking it out to rule the block. Who knows how long the fight will go on. But as a cheap appetiter, I’m quite happy to take advantage of their rivalry. [...]
Food Promotion Vancouver, iced coffee, Mcdonald's, Starbucks
In beverages, cheap drinks, cheap eats vancouver under $5, coffee shop / tea house, food promotion on June 20, 2011 at 12:38 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
Most of you have already heard about the recent riot here in Vancouver. But you may not hear about several heroes who stood up against the rioters. And many others who helped cleaning up the riot scene afterward. These heroes make me proud to be a Vancouverite. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.
Now let’s get back to the Cheap Appetite mission. The weather is getting warmer. And the best deal in town to cool down is the new McDonald’s promo: $1 for any size soft drinks or iced coffee. However, finding a participating McDonald’s that serves a $1 iced coffee is almost as hard as finding a needle in a haystack. A few stores near my condo and my office don’t have it. The closest one I found is about 30-minute walk away. It won’t make sense to go that far just for a cheap glass of iced coffee. [...]
Cheap Dessert, Cheap Eats Vancouver, Good Eats Vancouver, hot dog
In cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap eats vancouver under $5, cheap lunch, dessert, fast food, food court, north american cuisine on June 6, 2011 at 12:13 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
I was working with my friend Grant a couple of weeks ago on a freelance project at a coffee shop near Tinseltown. Around lunch time, he told me that I should check out Costco Food Court for the next Cheap Appetite mission. I was hesitated at first because I thought it was for Costco member only. I’d rather not write about the place where only a few readers can check it out. To my surprise, Grant assured me that everyone can dine there.
So we walked down the Abbott Street and turned right onto the Expo Boulevard. Costco Food Court is located just across the street from the Rogers Arena where the Vancouver Canucks play. There was already a long line of patrons when we arrived. [...]
All day breakfast, Breakfast Special Vancouver, Cheap Breakfast, Cheap Eats Vancouver, Good Eats Vancouver, North American Breakfast
In breakfast, cheap eats vancouver under $5, cheap lunch, north american cuisine, restaurants on May 16, 2011 at 12:04 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
Last weekend, I went out for brunch with my friend, Peter. He wanted to check out a restaurant called the Red Wagon which received a rave review from the Globe and Mail. Unfortunately, Peter wasn’t the only one who had read the article. There were a bunch of patrons waiting to be seated when we reached the restaurant. Neither of us want to waste at least half an hour just to get a table. So I told Peter to drive a few block north and turn left onto Powell Street where I remembered seeing a couple of cheap breakfast joints before. And sure enough, they were there.
Luckily, we got a rockstar parking spot right in front of the restaurant called J’s Grill and Pasta. So we walked right in and didn’t even bother checking out the other breakfast joint located a block away. I felt like I was transported back into the 70s. The décor was outdated. The floor was covered with hunter green carpet. But thanks to the big windows in the front and the back, the shabby joint didn’t look dingy. [...]
Food Promotion Vancouver, Frappuccino, Happy Hour, Starbucks, Starbucks Promotion
In beverages, cheap drinks, cheap eats vancouver under $5, coffee shop / tea house, food promotion on May 12, 2011 at 1:00 am
By Tana Kosiyabong, Sharon, Kylie and Stacey
Last Friday, my coworker Sharon came over to my desk and told me about the half-price Starbucks Frappuccino. “Let’s go now,” I exclaimed. “Well, we have to wait until 3 pm,” she replied. According to Starbucks website, the Frappuccino Happy Hour is only valid between 3 and 5 pm, from May 6 to 15, 2011. I don’t know why they came out with this promotion when the weather is still cold. But I don’t care because I’m a sucker for all kinds of cheap food and drinks. (Sharon and several other coworkers in the office are also suckers for the half-price fraps.)
At 3 pm sharp, Sharon walked by my desk again. She had already put on her jacket and was ready to go. “C’mon, it’s time!” she said. Without hesitation, I jumped off the chair and we were on our way to the Starbucks store across the street. [...]
Bulgogi, Cheap Eats Vancouver, Cheap Korean food, Good Eats Vancouver, Korean Food Vancouver, Korean Restaurant
In asian cuisine, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap lunch, restaurants on April 25, 2011 at 12:26 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
Last week I got on a Canada Line skytrain to the Arberdeen Station in Richmond again. But this time, instead of going straight to the Arberdeen Centre Food Court, I headed the opposite direction. On my previous trips, I had noticed a strip mall located next to the Arberdeen Station, (across the street from the Richmond Acura Dealer). So I was curious to see if could find any interesting restaurant there.
Once I was in the strip mall, I then realized it was a lot bigger than I saw from the station. This mall is the home of many Asian restaurants. But I was drawn to a promo sign in front of a Korean restaurant called Kim Ga Nae. The huge yellow banner featured “Any 5 Items only $7.99.” I wasn’t sure exactly what the deal was, but it made me want to check it out. [...]
Cheap Eats Vancouver, Fresh salad, Good Eats Vancouver, healthy food, Rice bowl, Salad Dressing, sesame pear dressing
In asian cuisine, cheap dinner, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap lunch, north american cuisine, restaurants on April 4, 2011 at 3:34 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
Every once in a while, I become mindful about what I eat. But this health-conscious stage comes and goes so fast like tornados. Earlier this week, another healthy twister has hit me again after several months in hibernation. Fortunately, I know a few restaurants nearby that suit my need. For this week Cheap Appetite mission, I decided to go on a Cheap Appetite mission at “Something Healthy Wholesome Meals & Juice Bar.” Oh my, that’s mouthful name!
I bet you can guess that Something Healthy sells healthy, wholesome dishes and drinks. To be honest, it wasn’t appeal to me when I first found the restaurant a few weeks ago. But now that I’ve been in the health-conscious mode, it suddenly becomes more interesting. [...]
Cheap Eats Vancouver, daily specials, Good Eats Vancouver, vietnamese beef stew, vietnamese food
In asian cuisine, cafeteria, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap lunch, european cuisine, north american cuisine, restaurants on March 28, 2011 at 4:25 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
Inspired by last week’s result, I decided to explore other walking routes between my condo and the office. And lucky was on my side once again. Earlier this week, I stumbled upon another cafe/restaurant called Cafe Des Arts on my way home. The menu on the front exterior looked very promising. Most of the daily special menu items were under $7. The Bò Kho (Vietnamese Beef Stew – No. 9 on the menu) had caught my eyes. It sounded so intriguing I wish I could declare the Cheap Appetite Mission right then and there. Unfortunately, the restaurant has already closed at 5pm. So I made a mental note to come back tomorrow for lunch.
The next morning, I was eager to start a new Cheap Appetite mission at Cafe Des Arts. On my lunch break, I headed to Cafe Des Arts situated on the edge of Yaletown, less than 10-minute walk from my office. [...]
Cheap Eats Vancouver, Cheap Japanese, Good Eats Vancouver, Healthy Dish, Robson Street Restaurants, teppanyaki
In asian cuisine, cheap dinner, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap lunch, restaurants on March 21, 2011 at 4:49 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
I have been freelancing in Yaletown for several months now. The office is located only twenty-five minutes walk from my condo. So I normally walk to work and back home on the same route everyday, rain or shine. A few days ago, however, I took a new turn onto Robson street on my way home. Only half a block into the new route, I came across a new restaurant called Super Chef Grill.
The sidewalk signage features the Today’s Special: Grilled Chicken and Beef on Rice for $5.35 (regular price $7.25). Because the price sounded great and it was the dinner time, I decided to check it out. [...]
Cheap Chinese Food, Cheap Eats Vancouver, China Town Vancouver, Gain Wah, Good Eats Vancouver, lemongrass pork chop, Noodle Soup
In asian cuisine, cheap dinner, cheap eats vancouver under $5, cheap lunch, cheap snack, restaurants on March 14, 2011 at 1:42 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
First of all, I’d like to offer my condolences to everyone in Japan, especially to those in the earthquake/tsunami disaster areas. I’m truly impressed and touched by how they all are coping with the horrible situation. And I wish them all the best for the future.
Now let’s get back to the business. As I mentioned in the previous post, this week is also about Gain Wah. On the second visit, I ordered an impressive dish called the Lemongrass Pork Chop Noodle Soup ($4.25 HST included–or around $3.80 before HST). Believe it or not, it was actually the most expensive noodle soup on the green sheet menu (under the glass table top). The others – bbq pork, beef ball, fish ball, beef brisket, and minced pork noodle soups – were priced at $3.95 (HST included). [...]
Cheap Chinese Food, Cheap Eats Vancouver, China Town Vancouver, Chinese Cuisine, Gain Wah, Good Eats Vancouver, Hot pot
In asian cuisine, cheap dinner, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap lunch, restaurants on March 7, 2011 at 2:01 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
I’m happy to tell you that I have found my new favorite restaurant during this week Cheap Appetite mission. It’s been a while since I was very excited about an eatery. And this time it is pretty much right under my nose. Gain Wah was one of the first Vancouver restaurants I had dined in when I moved here five years ago. However, since I discovered Kent’s Kitchen (a cheap Chinese take-out joint located next door), Gain Wah had gradually been overlooked.
I recall that LotusRapper, one of my long-time reader, had once suggested me to check out this old Chinese restaurant. But Kent’s Kitchen was like a cheapo magnet. [...]
Cheap Eats Vancouver, Good Eats Vancouver, Mexican Food, Mexican sub sandwich, Mexican Tortas, Salsa and Agave
In central american cuisine, cheap dinner, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap lunch, restaurants on February 28, 2011 at 12:30 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
I came across Salsa and Agave Mexican Grill last month. However, it took me a long time before I could actually check it out. During the first few visits, the restaurant was too crowded during the lunch hour and I didn’t feel like waiting. So I moved on to the other restaurants nearby. A few days ago, I had launched another Cheap Appetite mission in an attempt to conquer this Mexican restaurant. Instead of visiting during the lunch hour, I had waited at the office until 1:15 pm before I headed out for lunch.
By the time I reached the restaurant, I was really hungry. But soon I realized that my patience had paid off. A couple of patrons were leaving when I walked into Salsa and Agave. So I rushed to the empty table by the window before anyone else could take it. [...]
Cheap Eats Vancouver, East Fusion Food, East Indian Take out, Good Eats Vancouver, Rasoee, Robson Street Restaurants
In asian cuisine, cheap dinner, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap lunch, restaurants on February 21, 2011 at 12:48 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
Last week I wrote about the Japanese Katsu Curry from Ebi Ten. So I think it would be fun to compare the dish against a curry dish from Rasoee Indian kitchen located about a block away. The restaurant has been opened for a few months now, but I haven’t had a chance to check it out. Therefore, when I declared this week Cheap Appetite mission, I was looking forward to the new exotic experience.
So I headed to Rasoee on Robson Street about thirty minutes before the lunch hour. As I got closer, I could smell fragrant East Indian spices in the air. A few patrons were already there when I stepped inside. It took me a few minutes to peruse the menu board and decide on the Classic Beef Curry (a special blend of garam masala, with tomatoes and onion– $7.69) [...]
Cheap Eats Vancouver, Ebi-Ten, Good Eats Vancouver, Japanese Restaurants, Katsu Curry, Tonkutsu Downtown Vancouver
In asian cuisine, cheap dinner, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap lunch, restaurants on February 14, 2011 at 12:33 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
Ebi-Ten is one of my favorite restaurants across the street from the Vancouver Main Library. The restaurant has been famous for several years now. My usual dish was the Ten-Don (tempura on rice – $6.38) which I always ask for an extra spoon of sauce. It was good and affordable. However, a few weeks ago I wanted to try something new. So I ordered their Katsu Curry (Deep-fried pork cutlet with curry on rice – $7.95 or $8.55 combo with miso soup or a can of soda) instead.
Within a few weeks of my first try, I found myself eating the Katsu Curry for the third time. It has become my new usual at Ebi-Ten. I think it’s time I start writing about the dish. [...]
Cheap Eats Vancouver, Cheap Korean food, Good Eats Vancouver, H-mart, Korean Food Vancouver, Korean Seafood Pancake, Wang Ga Ma
In asian cuisine, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap lunch, cheap snack, food court on February 7, 2011 at 1:42 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
While working late last week, my co-worker and I somehow talked about the Korean seafood pancake. At the time, it sounded so good that I wished I had tasted a piece right then and there. By the time I finished my work, it was too late for the savoury pancake.
The next day I went straight to the Wang Ga Ma for the dish I craved overnight. The restaurant is located at H-Mart food court, 2nd floor (next to E-Mo and Kim’s Snack, food vendors I wrote about a while back). Once there, I wasted no time to order the Korean Seafood Pancake ($9.95). Although the dish was pricier than what I normally paid for a meal, this was a case of food emergency. [...]
Cheap Chinese Food, Cheap Eats Vancouver, Dinner Specials, Good Eats Vancouver, New Town Bakery & Restaurant, spicy chicken
In asian cuisine, bakery, cheap dinner, cheap eats vancouver under $10, restaurants on January 31, 2011 at 12:59 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
I’ve been a regular at New Town Bakery & Restaurant in Chinatown for a few years now. The Chinese style bakery (also sells Dim Sum) is located in the front; The restaurant section is in the back. The interior decor is old and outdated. During the first year, I only purchased their baked goods and dim sum. My favorite is the spicy pork bun. It made mouth water just to think about.
Not until I moved into my condo a few block away did I start to go for lunches at New Town. But recently I found myself heading there mostly for dinners. New Town Bakery & Restaurant $5.50 Dinner Specials are hard to resist. Although it was not as cheap as the pre-cooked meals at Kent’s Kitchen (located a few blocks away), I could upgrade to a freshly prepared dinner at New Town for just 75 cents more. [...]
Cheap Chinese Food, Cheap Eats Vancouver, Good Eats Vancouver, SuperWok, Taiwanese Food, Taiwanese rice vermicelli
In asian cuisine, breakfast, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap eats vancouver under $5, cheap lunch, restaurants on January 24, 2011 at 12:35 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
I was so busy last week. Before I knew, it was already Saturday. I had to find the next Cheap Appetite mission fast. So I walked out the door, strolled around the neighbourhood and somehow ended up in front of the SuperWok. Even though it was close to my place, I had never checked it out before.
SuperWok sounded to me like one of those typical North American Chinese food court vendors at the malls. Moreover I was confused by the varieties of cuisines it offered, from North American breakfast and sandwiches to Korean and Taiwanese dishes. That was why I couldn’t take the restaurant seriously. However, it was getting late in the day and the beautiful sun light would be gone in a few hours. Time was running out. “Screw it! I’m going in,” I mumbled to myself. [...]
Cheap Eats Vancouver, Cheap Lunch Yaletown, Dash, fish filet, Good Eats Vancouver, sweet corn
In asian cuisine, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap eats vancouver under $5, cheap lunch, coffee shop / tea house, restaurants on January 17, 2011 at 12:09 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
While exploring the southern perimeter of Yaletown for this week Cheap Appetite mission, I came across Dash, a bubble tea house/Chinese restaurant located on the Pacific Boulevard between Davie and Drake streets. The ”$5.99 specials“ signage had caught my attention. It featured four choices to please both meat-lovers and vegans alike: sweet and sour pork, mixed vegetables, sweet corn fish filet, and curry chicken. Each comes with steamed rice.
Although I am not a big fan of the name “Dash” (it reminded me of the Kardashian sisters’ fancy boutique, no offense.), I love the sweet corn fish filet. And since the wallet-friendly price helped sweeten the deal, I decide to check it out. Dash was a small tea house with only a few tables and window bar seats. The wall was painted in muted purple – pretty but definitely not my top choices for restaurant colours. However, the paint was the least of my concerns when I saw [...]
Cheap Chinese Food, Cheap Dim Sum Vancouver, Cheap Eats Vancouver, Good Eats Vancouver, Kam Wai Dim Sum
In asian cuisine, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap eats vancouver under $5, cheap lunch, fast food, take-out on January 10, 2011 at 2:06 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
It had been few months since I last visited Kam Wai Dim Sum. My taste buds were dying to savor some of these Chinese delicacies. So I stopped by the restaurant a few days ago for a quick fix. To my surprise, Kam Wai has drastically transformed into a dim sum take-out (with a small dine-in section) on one side; a frozen dim sum shop on the other.
It was such a bitter sweet discovery. There were fewer dim sum selections and my favourite beef and veggie Ho Fun was no longer available. However, I was excited to see all the new menu items were priced at three dollars or less. Because I’m a big sucker for cheap eats, I couldn’t stop myself [...]
Cheap Eats Vancouver, Good Eats Vancouver, Japanese fast food, Kushi Box, oden, Yakitori
In asian cuisine, cheap dinner, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap eats vancouver under $5, cheap lunch, fast food on January 3, 2011 at 2:33 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
Happy New Year everyone. For 18 months now, I have been executing over 80 Cheap Appetite missions to help you find cheap, good eats here in Vancouver. I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished. And I hope to carry on the future pursuits as long as I can. Thank you for your supports thus far.
My last week of 2010 was spent mostly on the couch watching “24,” season 1 and 2. The show is freakin’ addictive (even more so than the Wu Fung chicken wings). Fortunately a good friend mine came visit from out of town so I had a chance to go out and enjoy the city for a couple of days. After he left, I went back on to my “24” fix. Before I knew it, the 2010 had already passed. [...]
