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.

Five minutes later, it was our turn to order. I decided to go for the Costco quarter pound all-beef hot dog and a 20-ounce drink with free refill combo ($1.99 plus HST). You can also choose a Polish sausage hot dog for the same price. Grant ordered a grilled chicken salad ($5.99). Because everything was pre-cooked, we got our orders right away.

We grabbed my order and walk to the condiment and drink stations. There were just the good ol’ ketchup, yellow mustard, relish, chopped onions and sauerkraut. Then both of us went to sit on one of the empty picnic table in front of the cafeteria.

Grant’s grilled chicken salad looked quite impressive. The mixed veggies appeared to be fresh. It also came with a few wedges of apples and a handful of roasted pecan. The salad dressing came in a plastic pouch like what you normally get from the fast food chain. When I asked him about the salad, he simply replied “it was good.”

My hot dog was plump, juicy and beefy, but didn’t snap when bitten into. It was probably about twice as big as the 50-cent Ikea hot dogs. The sesame topped bun was decent. A comparable hot dog from one of the Vancouver street vendors would have cost around 4 bucks. The drink was just a standard soda fountain drink. But you can keep refilling until your heart’s content.

One thing I’d like to complain was that Costco Food Court doesn’t sell just a hot dog by itself. If you want two hot dogs, you have to pay for two combos. However, they do sell a 20-oz drink separately for 79 cents plus HST.

After finished the combo meal, I still had some room left in my belly. So I decided to go for a half-vanilla, half-chocolate soft serve ice cream cone ($1.99 plus HST). Again, it was about twice as big as Ikea ice cream cone. Costco served their ice cream on a thin, crispy waffle cone instead of the typical wafer alternative. For 30 cents extra, you can make it a chocolate, caramel or berry Sundae.

The soft serve was creamy and delicious. And, best of all, it wasn’t too sugary. The ice cream cone was definitely a highlight of the meal. Thanks to Costco cafeteria, from now on, I no longer need to go all the way to Ikea Richmond to get cheap hot dogs and soft serve ice cream cones anymore.

Costco Food Court Quarter-Pound All Beef Hot Dog and Drink Combo: ©©©©
Costco Food Court Soft Serve Ice Cream (half vanilla, half chocolate) : ©©©© 1/4

Costco Food Court (downtown) is located at 605 Expo Blvd, Vancouver, BC (T) 604.622.5050

©2011 Tana Kosiyabong and CheapAppetite.com™. All rights reserved.

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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.

As I walked closer to the restaurant, a small poster revealed the promo details. Patrons can choose five out of twenty different Korean dishes for $7.99. The additional dish can be added at $1.99 each. It sounded like fun. So I glanced through the list to make sure there were at least 5 items I would like to try. Then the new Cheap Appetite mission was activated.

As if I had the word “Cheap” written on my forehead, the waitress somehow knew that I was there for the 5-item deals. It took me a while to narrow down to the choices but eventually I got my five: No. 6 Sweet Chicken, No. 10 Bulgogi, No. 13 Pork Rib, No. 14 Chicken Wings and No. 15 Kimchi Fried Rice.

Shortly after, most dishes except the bulgogi were served on small plates and bowls. As I expected, they were already pre-cooked. It wouldn’t make sense to cook all these dishes to order in such small portions. About five minutes later, the waitress brought the bulgogi to the table.

After a quick photo session, it was time for the taste test. First, the Sweet Chicken was pretty good. The deep fried chicken nuggets was crispy on the outside but a bit dry on the inside. The sauce was sweet, tangy and spicy. It definitely complimented the chicken well.

The Bulgogi was the only dish that was freshly cooked. Not sure if this is always the case, or perhaps, the pre-cooked bulgogi had run out? It was the best of the five dishes I tried. The beef was tender, garlicky and perfectly seasoned.

There were two big chunks of pork ribs on the plate. Good portion for the price. They were perhaps slow-cooked until tender, but not fall-off-the-bone. The rib was greasier and milder than the bulgogi.

The chicken wings tasted similar to the sweet chicken. I wish I could trade one of them for a totally different dish such as the seafood pancake.

The Kimchi fried rice was nice, but I was quite disappointed by the serving portion. Given that it was pretty much made of rice and a little bit of kimchi, Kim Ga Nae could have been more generous with the portion.

Overall, I had a great time sampling all the five different dishes. The food was decent. Some dishes were better than others. However, they weren’t enough to fill me up. With that said, I wished I visited Kim Ga Nae with three friends so that we could share the whole twenty dishes.

Kim Ga Nae’s Sweet Chicken ©©©1/3
Kim Ga Nae’s Bulgogi ©©©3/4
Kim Ga Nae’s Pork Rib ©©©1/3
Kim Ga Nae’s Chicken Wings ©©©1/2
Kim Ga Nae’s Kim Chi Fried Rice ©©©

Kim Ga Nae is located at 180-4260 No. 3 Road, Richmond, V6x 2C2 (T) 604.273.4747

©2011 Tana Kosiyabong and CheapAppetite.com™. All rights reserved.

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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.

Something Healthy is located on Abbott street between Keefer street and Expo Boulevard. The poster on the front window features their new dish: Fresh Salad Rice Bowls ($5.50). The dish is prepared with romain lettuce, bell peppers, corn, red onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots and crasins on top of brown rice or quinoa. There are three choices of toppings (baked salmon fillet, tofu or baked chicken breast) and three choices of dressing (sesame pear, teriyaki or terragon)

The featured photo looked scrumptious and the price was right. So I went in and ordered myself a Fresh Salad Rice bowl with brown rice, baked chicken breast and sesame pear dressing which sounded so really good in my little brain.

Something Healthy interior décor is clean and modern. It goes well with their healthy, wholesome business. According to the menu board, the restaurant offers more than just salad and juice. It also features several kinds of burgers (lean turkey, lean beef, salmon, tuna, grilled chicken and veggies), pizza and quesadilla. They are mostly priced under $10.

Shortly after the salad was served in a 6-inch bowl with a decent size of chicken breast on top. Although it was quite reasonable for the price, I somehow wished it could be bigger. Fortunately the meal came with brown rice on the bottom which made it more filling than the typical salad bowls of the same size. I think it’s definitely a great concept.

The chicken breast was decent, but quite dry. The veggies were fresh and the brown rice was nicely cook. The craisin added sweet and tart flavours to the dish. The most disappointing component was the sesame pear dressing. The delicate pear flavour was overpowered by the stale sesame. I couldn’t taste any rice vinegar or citrus juice either. It was definitely a dud. Perhaps just a couple squeezes of lemon juice would have saved the dish. Overall, Something Healthy fresh salad rice bowl was reasonably priced and it is a great concept. But it could have been a lot better with a tastier salad dressing. If I ever go for this dish again, I would try the teriyaki dressing instead.

Something Healthy Fresh Salad Rice Bowl: ©© 3/4

Something Healthy Wholesome Meals and Juice Bar is located at 660 Abbott Street Street, Vancouver BC (T) 604.569.09.19

©2011 Tana Kosiyabong and CheapAppetite.com™. All rights reserved.

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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. As I walked inside, the restaurant was crowded but there were still a few empty tables available. I wasted no time to order the Bò Kho with Bun ($6.99). According to the menu, you can also substitute the bun with noodles at no extra charge.

Then I went to sit at a small table near a window and started to look around the cafe/restaurant. Cafe Des Arts interior was eclectic, funky and some what clutter in some corners. The impressive big blackboard wall featured quirky chalk illustrations which set the tone of the entire place. The leather chairs underneath looked so cozy I could imagine myself curled up on them with a cup of hot coffee and a good book for hours. Unfortunately, the opposite side was cluttered with a big freezer and a computer desk.

About ten minutes later, the Vietnamese Beef Stew Bò Kho was served with a French baguette. For under $7, I didn’t expect to see the bowl of that large. The Vietnamese beef stew had me at first bite. It was scrumptious and lighter than the Western stew. The dish struck a beautiful balance between East and West. It got the natural sweetness from the beef broth, onion and daikon radish, the tartness from tomatoes and a good kung-fu kick from chili pepper. Cilantro and lemongrass also added more depth to the overall flavor profile. The beef and daikon radish were soft and almost fell apart on my tongue. I felt as if there were a flavor reunion party inside my mouth. The 9-inch French baguette was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. It was a perfect complement to the spicy stew. I will definitely go back to try this dish with the noodles next. All in all, this mission was a great success.

Cafe Des Arts Vietnamese Beef Stew (Bò Kho): ©©©©1/3

NOTE: Cafe Des Arts also offers a Hungarian beef stew called Goulash on the menu. To avoid confusion, make sure you specifically ask for the “Vietnamese” beef stew.

NOTE2: I just went back for the Vietnamese beef stew with noodles today (March 28, 2011). I must say that I prefer the dish with French Baguette more. So weird. I normally love noodles. Also, there were a lot of carrots and beef but only a piece of daikon in my bowl.

Cafe Des Arts is located at 863 Beatty Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 2M6 (T) 604.669.2189

Cafe Des Arts Daily Special Menu and Business Hours:

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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.

When I walked inside, the friendly owner/chef greeted me from behind the counter/cooking area. I wasted no time to order the Grilled Chicken and Beef on rice. Super Chef Grill cooks their dishes on a flat iron sheet similar to the Teppanyaki steakhouses. Although there are no flashy trick shows, the patrons can choose from six different sauces: ginger, teriyaki, soy, oyster, chili, and black bean sauces. I went with the ginger and chili sauces.

Normally I associated the word “Teppanyaki” with fancy Japanese Steakhouses and trick shows performed by the chefs. However, according to Wikipedia, Teppanyaki originally refers to dishes cooked using an iron plate. The shows were added in later to draw foreign customers. Therefore, Super Chef Grill is, by definition, a poor man’s Teppanyaki.

The restaurant also offers self-served, complimentary drinks of chrysanthemum tea and/or lemonade with all orders. I recommend the former because the latter was way too watered down for my taste. But hey, they are free.

The interior was new and clean. One of the wall was covered with the geometric pattern wallpaper.Thanks goodness that they keep the opposite wall plain white. Otherwise I would have thought I was dining in The Beautiful Mind movie set.

Five minutes later, the dish was ready for pick-up at the counter. At first glance, I was impressed by the serving portion. There were more meat on the plate than I expected. The taste test was positive. The beef, chicken and veggies were beautiul cooked with water instead of oil. So it was healthier than the typical Chinese stir-fry. Although the dish had a good kick to it, I wish the ginger flavour were stronger. I also had a hard time distinguished between the two kinds of meat because they were mixed up together.

Before I left, the owner told me that the restaurant has been opened for 3 months now. I was totally surprised to hear. After all, it is located about half a block east of my usual walking route. Perhaps a bigger, more eye-catching signage would help draw people from far away.

Super Chef Grill’s Grilled Chicken and Beef on Rice Special: ©©© 1/2

Super Chef Grill is located at 280 Robson Street, Vancouver BC (next to Ezogiku Noodle Cafe).  (T) 604.681.7189

©2011 Tana Kosiyabong and CheapAppetite.com™. All rights reserved.

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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.Whenever I was on Keefer street, I was irresistably drawn to its great value.

Four days ago I went to Kent’s again for another cheap Chinese fix, but it had already closed for the day. So I decided to walked in to Gain Wah for the first time in four years. The restaurant still looks pretty much the same as it was. The Pink pleather dining booth and minty green table cloth are hard to forget.

Underneath the glass table top, there were menu items printed on yellow, green and pink sheets of paper. Most of them are under $7.25, HST included (or around $6.50 before HST). And Many are under $5 (Yup, the 12% HST included too). My eyes were wide open as if I were Charlie in Willie Wonka’s Chocolate Factory.

It was tough to choose only one dish from several interesting menu items. But eventually I went for the No. 9 (on the All-Day Special pink sheet) Braised Cod and Tofu Hot Pot ($7.25 HST included). The dish comes with a small bowl of house soup which was served soon after ordered.

The soup was simple yet delicious. The pork bone broth was seasoned just right, neither too bland nor salty. The daikon radish and carrots were very tender and fully saturated with the tasty broth. I gave it a notch better than New Town Bakery’s complimentary soup.

Shortly after, the braised cod and tofu hot pot was served with a small bowl of steamed rice. I was so impressed by the amount of food I got for the money. The fish and tofu were deep-fried before braised in the hot pot. But the dish wasn’t overly greasy. Although the chunks of fish weren’t the freshest, they were still quite delicious. The sauce was lightly salted and delicate. It was nothing like the salty North American Chinese dishes. The bottom of the hot pot was lined with napa cabbages which absorbed the scrumptious sauce in it. The aroma of onions, green onions, ginger and a few shitake mushroom slices masked the fish smell quite well, but not overpowered the whole dish. The steamed rice was perfectly cooked. All in all, it was a great Cheap Appetite.

After the meal I was so glad to reconnect with Gain Wah again after all these years. In fact, I love it so much I went back there again three days in a row (it would have been four days if I didn’t have to stay home to write this post tonight). The other two dishes were also delicious. But one of them was so impressive it deserved a write up of its own. Therefore, please stay tune for the Part Two of Gain Wah next week. I promise you won’t be disappointed. In the mean time, you can check it out and let me know how you like this old Chinese establishment.

Note: Gain Wah also has a menu book, but I chose to go with the one underneath the glass table top.

Gain Wah Braised Cod and Tofu Hot Pot with Rice and House Soup: ©©©©1/4

Gain Wah is located at 218 Keefer Street, Vancouver BC. (T) 604.684.1740

Store Hours: 10 am to midnight. Monday to Sunday.

©2011 Tana Kosiyabong and CheapAppetite.com™. All rights reserved.

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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. A few minutes later, a waitress came by with the menu and small bowls of complimentary tortilla chips and salsa.”

Salsa and Agave Mexican Grill offers both affordable and pricey selections on the menu. Obviously, I chose one of the cheaper options: Milanesa Torta (Mexican Sub Sandwich with fried breaded beef – $7*). Other Tortas selections are Pollo (roast chicken), Carne Asada (grilled beef), Carnitas (soft pork), Jamon (ham), and Chorizo (Mexican sausage) were priced at $6. For $1 extra, you can add cheese to the Tortas.

I nibbled on the chips and salsa while waiting for my order. The chips were ok but the salsa was way too mild for my taste. But since they were free, I gave them a thumb up anyway. Ten minutes later, the Milanesa Torta was served with a small pile of pickled Jalapeno pepper on the side. The Mexican sub was smaller than a foot-long Subway sandwich and it looked sort of plain. But don’t let its appearance fool you. The sandwich had a bit of a kick (possibly Chipotle of which I am a huge fan) in each bite. Even then it was still too mild for my liking. So I added most of the pickled Jalapeno onto my sandwich. The baguette had a lovely crispy crust. However, I was a disappointed by the fried breaded beef because I thought it was going to be crispy as well. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case. But I am not an expert on Mexican cuisine. Who knows, the fried breaded beef  might be perfect the way it was.

The Mexican sub came with the mustard spread on the top bun. Normally, I love the yellow stuff on my sandwiches, but I didn’t like it on the Milanesa Torta. The flavor of mustard overpowered the mellow, smokey flavor of the chipotle . The chiffonade lettuce, cubed tomatoes and onion added crunches and helped balance the spicy flavor of the chipotle and the pickled jalapenos.

Overall, the Milanesa Torta was quite delicious, especially with the added jalapenos. On my next visit, however, I’ll ask for extra chipotle and no mustard on my Torta. And since the breaded beef isn’t crispy, I’ll go for the Carne Asada (grilled beef) and save myself an extra buck.

Salsa Agave’s Milanesa Tortas: ©©©1/2

Salsa Agave is located at 1205 and 1223 Pacific Boulevard Vancouver, BC (T) 604.408.4228

Note I: There are two Salsa and Agave restaurants a few doors away from each other on the same block. The restaurant at 1223 Pacific Boulevard appears to be the original location and is listed on their current website. I visited the one at 1205 Pacific Boulevard.

* According the menu on Salsa and Agave website, the Milanesa Tortas is priced at $8. But the price of Milanesa Tortas at the 1205 Pacific Blvd (as of February 24th, 2011) was $7. I’m not sure why.

©2011 Tana Kosiyabong and CheapAppetite.com™. All rights reserved.

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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) For $2.49 extra, I could make it a combo with fresh baked naan and a can of soda. However, I couldn’t justify paying over $10 for a lunch. So I declined the option. The staff at the counter then asked how spicy I’d like my curry prepared. “Definitely spicy,” I replied.

After that, I went to sit down at an empty table near the front window. While waiting for my dish, I had time to observe the interior of the restaurant. Rasoee is decorated in a modern industrial style with the exotic East Indian flares. The bold fabric colors and patterns bring such a lively contrast to the otherwise cold, industrial lines of the furnitures and structures.

Soon after, my spicy classic beef curry was served. The first glance was a little disappointed. Compared to the Katsu curry, the beef curry portion was smaller. There was no garnish on the side either. But the first bite was quite good. It was spicy as I ordered. A couple of bites later, however, I noticed a red blob in between the rice and the curry layers. That’s when I started to taste each of them separately. The beef curry itself was actually mild. The red blob, which I soon realized it was the faked Sriracha sauce, was spicy. Obviously, Rasoee squeezed the hot sauce on rice first then pour the curry sauce over them. I couldn’t help but wonder why they didn’t stir the faked Sriracha into the curry sauce then pour the mixture over rice.

Other than the bizzare (or perhaps sloppy) seasoning mechanism, the curry was quite yummy. The beef was slow-cooked until tender and almost fall-apart in my mouth. The basmati rice was beautifully cook and complimented the curry well. The portion size of the curry bowl was just enough to suppress my hunger, but not enough to make me feel really full. Perhaps it would be a good thing if I were on a diet. However, if I have an extra 26 cents in my pocket, I’d rather go with Ebi Ten’s Katsu Curry ($7.95). Because it’s good to be full.

Rasoee Classic Beef Curry: ©©©1/4

Rasoee is located at 320 Robson St., Vancouver, BC (T) 604.568.9023

©2011 Tana Kosiyabong and CheapAppetite.com™. All rights reserved.

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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.

So earlier this week, I went back to Ebi-Ten again with my digital camera. At the cashier counter, I wasted no time to order the Kutsu Curry combo with soda. The restaurant was packed during the lunch hour. Fortunately, there was an empty table just right outside and the weather was nice enough.

The dish was ready promptly. I took it to the condiment counter to add some pickled ginger and crispy tempura bits on the side. Normally I would also add about twenty shakes of the Shichimi tōgarashi (Japanese Chili powder) to the dish. But this time I waited until I took the pictures and completed the taste test so I could get the original flavor of the dish first.

The tonkatsu (deep-fried pork cutlet) was yummy. The crust was crispy; it was a hybrid of the batter and the panko crust. The pork cutlet was a bit overcooked, but the pork fat kept the cutlet from being too dry. The tangy tonkatsu sauce enhanced the taste of the deep-fried pork well. Although the menu board suggested that the dish was spicy, I personally think the curry was mild, smooth yet delicious. (Please remember that my tongue can tolerate spicy stuff really well.) The thin slices of the fatty pork-belly (in the curry) was so tender it melted in my mouth. So did the carrots and the onions. The crispy tonkatsu and the smooth curry complimented each other as well as Batman and Robin; the Green Hornet and Kato; or whoever your favorite superheros and sidekicks would be. The dish is definitely a tasty Cheap Appetite. However, due to the high pork fat content, eat it at your own risk.

Ebi-Ten Kutsu Curry: ©©© ¾

Ebi-Ten is located at 388 Robson St., Vancouver, BC V6B (T) 604.689.9938

©2011 Tana Kosiyabong and CheapAppetite.com™. All rights reserved.

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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.

The H-mart food court was packed during the lunch hour. It is one of my favorites food court in the downtown Vancouver area. The majority of the patrons was Asians, which I took it as a good indicator.

Soon after, my number was called. The pancake was prepared in a hot plate which kept sizzling for several minutes later. The golden brown crust made me drool on the way back to the table. And drooling some more while taking photos of this mouth-watering dish. Once finished, it was time for the taste test. The first bite was worth waiting for. The contrasting texture of the crispy crust and the cookie-doughy inside was perfect. The aromatic pan-fried scallions added beautiful flavor to the dish. It was a hybrid between the Chinese scallion pancake and the Japanese Okonomiyaki. Wang Ga Ma’s Korean seafood pancake is about a half inch thick. The only complaint was that the seafoods (squid, small shrimps and imitation crab meat) were somewhat scarce in the pancake.

The dish was served with spicy soy sauce and a small bowl of Korean white beef broth. The soy sauce was bold and flavorful while the beef broth was subtle and delicate. Both helped subdue the oily taste quite well.

As delicious as the Korean pancakes were, I couldn’t finish them all. After four pieces, the grease started to overwhelm me. The dish was best for sharing with others as snacks. So be sure to bring a friend or two with you while on your own Cheap Appetite mission. If you can’t find anyone to go with, remember that you can always bring the leftover home and re-fried them on a nonstick pan the next day.

Wang Ga Ma Korean Seafood Pancake: ©©© 1/2

Wang Ga Ma (Downtown Vancouver) is located at 590 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC V6B3B7 (T) 604.614.7100

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