From affordable snacks to high-end cuisine, Richmond is one of Canada's best places to get a good meal.
Specifically, this multicultural city has some of the best Asian food in North America in terms of diversity, quality and value. There are close to 400 Asian restaurants in Richmond, serving up everything from bubble tea and Shanghai-style juicy buns to spicy Malaysian and Thai dishes and multi-course Cantonese feasts.
The historic fishing village of Steveston in southwest Richmond is a great bet for seafood, plus fresh-baked desserts and pastries. Fresh fruit, such as blueberries and strawberries, is widely grown in Richmond as well, and can be picked at selected local farms.
Within a four-block radius near No. 3 Road, discover the biggest cluster of Asian restaurants in Richmond. The sprawling, exotic food courts at Asian-themed shopping malls such as Aberdeen Centre, Yaohan Centre and Parker Place are just the beginning.
Posh (1123-3779 Sexsmith Rd.) offers all-you-can-eat Japanese sukiyaki hot pot cuisine with beef, pork, and organic vegetables, and also specializes in non-alcoholic "mocktails" like Lychee Galore. In a traditional Chinese tea house setting, Shiang Garden Seafood Restaurant (2200-4540 No. 3 Rd.) serves up dim sum like pan-fried onion cakes and shrimp dumplings.
Hakkasan (110-2188 No. 5 Rd.) provides a contemporary twist on Chinese cuisine with exotic dishes such as double-boiled quail and snow fungus soup in young coconut.
Some other ethnic flavours that are represented in the Golden Village include Szechuan, Northern Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean.
West Coast Cuisine in Steveston
Formerly a mecca for salmon canning, Steveston remains Canada's largest commercial fishing port at the mouth of the Fraser River. And that's reflected in the diverse assortment of seafood that visitors can enjoy here.
Blue Canoe (140-3866 Bayview St.) opened in 2008 on the Steveston Wharf, and the 200-capacity restaurant incorporates fresh local ingredients into offerings like oven-baked crab cakes and seafood dip with yam fries. Try the custom-made Canoe Brew beer or the international wine list. There are several other good seafood restaurants on the Wharf as well.
For fish and chips lovers, Pajo's is a local institution, dishing up deep-fried cod, salmon, and halibut at its two locations at the Wharf and nearby Garry Point Park.
Time for dessert? Try the triple chocolate mousse cake or fruit tarts at the Diplomat Bakery (110-6111 London Rd.). On weekends year-round and Wednesdays to Sundays in July and August, the 1880-established London Heritage Farm (6511 Dyke Road) offers a great value in its tea room, with fresh-baked scones, cookies, and tea served on bone china for under $10 per person.
More Dining Options
A cluster of chain and family-style restaurants exists in the Ironwood shopping district near the intersection of Steveston Highway and Highway 99 (the continuation of the I-5 highway in the United States).
Hearty pasta dishes and pub fare can be obtained at the various restaurants at the Riverport family entertainment complex, located at the east end of Steveston Highway next to the Fraser River.
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