Archive for the ‘restaurants’ Category
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 The décor was outdated.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. [...]
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 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 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, 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 [...]
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 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. [...]
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, [...]
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 [...]
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, [...]
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 [...]
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. [...]
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 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. [...]
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. [...]
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. [...]
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 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. [...]
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. [...]
Belgian food downtown, Belgian Fries, Chambar Belgian Restaurant, Congolaise Moules Frites, Fresh Mussels Vancouver, Good Eats Vancouver, Pomme Frites
In african cuisine, cheap dinner, european cuisine, restaurants on December 27, 2009 at 11:59 pm
By Tana Kosiyabong
It was the night before Christmas eve. While many shoppers still scrambled for last-minute gifts, I had no shopping left to do. So I headed to Chambar, a fancy Belgian restaurant in downtown Vancouver, to celebrate the holiday spirit. Don’t worry. I wasn’t out of my mind. I knew exactly what I was doing.
Normally Chambar was way out of my reach in terms of price. However, [...]
Cheap Eats Vancouver, Japanese Donburi, Kamiya Sushi, Sriracha Sauce, Sriraja Panich, Thai Chili Sauce, Thai Hot Sauce
In asian cuisine, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap lunch, restaurants on December 13, 2009 at 11:59 pm
By Tana Kosiyabong
“Holy crap! It’s almost eleven,” I cried as I jumped out of bed in panic. I had a Cheap Appetite mission to tackle today. The plan was to survive a whole day at the Vancouver Public Library with only $10 food budget. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but I sure loved the challenge. Unfortunately, by the time I had made it to the library, it was already noon. I had missed the breakfast altogether. [...]
baked ox tongue, Cheap Breakfast, Good Eats Vancouver, Hong Kong Style Coffee
In asian cuisine, bakery, beverages, cheap eats vancouver under $10, european cuisine, north american cuisine, restaurants on December 6, 2009 at 11:59 pm
By Tana Kosiyabong
When I was young, authentic Western food in Thailand was hard to find. Nonetheless, some Chinese and Thai restaurants had concocted their own version of Western dishes. Most cooks/chefs had little or no training in European cuisine. They were forced to cook with locally available ingredients. Few people had ever heard of either extra virgin olive oil from Tuscany [...]
Cheap Eats Vancouver, Gorilla Food Vancouver, Raw Vegan Food, Vegetarian dish
In cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap eats vancouver under $5, cheap lunch, restaurants, Vegetarian Cuisine/Raw Food on November 29, 2009 at 11:59 pm
By Tana Kosiyabong
I love meat. It’s a staple in my diet as far as I could remember. Veggies, however, aren’t always my buddies. As a kid, I was a picky eater. I had all the patience in the world to pick out even the tiny pieces of veggies on the plate. Fortunately (or unfortunately?), my perseverance had diminished [...]
Cheap Eats Vancouver, Dae-Ji Pork Cutlet, Good Eats Vancouver, Korean Food Vancouver, Tonkutsu Downtown Vancouver
In asian cuisine, cheap dinner, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap lunch, restaurants on November 23, 2009 at 8:05 am
By Tana Kosiyabong
I have had a hard time classifying Dae-Ji. It is definitely Korean by name. However, most dishes are either Japanese or Western inspired. Only few dishes, like Kimchi fried rice, are traditional Korean cuisine. Dae-Ji is pretty much like a teenager suffering from an identity crisis. Because of this, the restaurant is rarely on the top [...]
All day breakfast, Breakfast Special Vancouver, Cheap Breakfast, Cheap Eats Vancouver, Good Eats Vancouver, Yummy Sushi
In asian cuisine, breakfast, cheap eats vancouver under $5, north american cuisine, restaurants on October 18, 2009 at 6:05 pm
By Tana Kosiyabong
I first heard about Yummy Sushi when I posted my Bon’s off Broadway breakfast link on the Chowhound.com forum a while back. Grayelf, a fellow food lover, had suggested Yummy Sushi as an alternative to Bon’s. I jotted down the name in my notebook along with many other suggestions for cheap breakfast joints in Vancouver. Unfortunately, I hadn’t had a chance to check any of them out yet. [...]
Cheap Eats Vancouver, Cheap Sushi Vancouver, Good Eats Vancouver, Japanese fast food, Robson Street Restaurants, Sushi Mart Menu
In asian cuisine, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap eats vancouver under $5, fast food, restaurants on October 4, 2009 at 6:40 pm
By Tana Kosiyabong
It was the lunch hour on a cold and rainy afternoon. My stomach was growling. I was desperately searching through my drawers and locker for any sign of edible items so that I could stay inside. Unfortunately, I got nothing to fill my empty stomach. It was do or die time. I must defy the spine chilling rain to grab something to eat. [...]
Authentic Mexican Tacos, Best Tacos Vancouver, Cheap Eats Vancouver, Don Guacamoles, Good Eats Vancouver, La Taqueria
In central american cuisine, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap eats vancouver under $5, fast food, restaurants on September 13, 2009 at 5:03 pm
By Tana Kosiyabong
My love for Mexican food started in Lincoln, Nebraska. It was the combination of cheap prices and great tastes that had won me over. The most delicious fish burrito from D’ Leons was priced less than $5. Or an awesome “Big Nacho” chicken at Oso was $6.50 with a free drink on a certain day of the week. They are so good, I still miss them to this day. [...]
All day breakfast, Bon's breakfast, Bon's off Broadway, Breakfast Special Vancouver, Cheap Eats Vancouver, Good Eats Vancouver
In breakfast, cheap eats vancouver under $5, north american cuisine, restaurants on August 16, 2009 at 9:20 pm
By Tana Kosiyabong
I’m not a morning person. And I normally don’t have time for breakfast. I just drink a glass of milk or soymilk and run out the door. On the weekends, I wake up around 10 am to let my pet parrotlet “Giant” out of his cage for a couple of hours or until he gets on my nerves. It takes me at least an hour to collect myself and be more social. I prefer not to [...]
Best Thai Food Vancouver, Good Eats Vancouver, Thai Basil Restaurant, Thai Food Review
In asian cuisine, cheap dinner, cheap eats vancouver under $10, cheap lunch, restaurants on August 2, 2009 at 10:37 pm
By Tana Kosiyabong
I was born and raised in Thailand, so I’m well aware of the authenticity of Thai cuisine. More often than not, Thai food in North America tastes remotely like the authentic siblings. Sometimes I don’t even recognize them, especially those frozen dinners at the grocery stores. Thai chicken this. Thai noodle that. I had tried [...]
Cheap Eats Vancouver, East Fusion Food, Food Promotion Vancouver, Free hot tea, Wonton Noodle Soup
In asian cuisine, cheap eats vancouver under $5, food promotion, restaurants on July 1, 2009 at 7:39 pm
By Tana Kosiyabong
When I first saw the promo sign – $2.99 Shrimp Wonton Noodle Special – at the International Village, I did a double take (actually triple). It sounds like a great case of the Cheap Appetite. So, I walked into the East Fusion Food and ordered myself a hot bowl of shrimp wonton noodle soup, and a veggie spring roll. Fifteen minutes later, [...]
