Vancouver/Richmond - Kirin Seafood Restaurant (City Square), Parker Place Meat & BBQ, and HK BBQ Master

The Missus and I really wanted to try out some Dim Sum while in Vancouver. We'd heard so much about the quality of Dim Sum in Richmond/Vancouver. The one little thing; we weren't quite sure when we'd return from visiting the Capilano Suspension Bridge, so I didn't want to make reservations. Instead, after checking out the fun at Anime Revolution, we got on the SkyTrain and got off at the Broadway-City Hall stop and walked over to City Square Mall. We'd take our chances at Kirin Seafood Restaurant.

Of course, when we arrived, the first thing they asked us was if we had reservations. Though we had no problem getting a table as the place wasn't totally full.

We weren't super hungry and we had plans after lunch, so we ordered five items from the menu.

Starting with the tendon and tripe.

This was a nice and hearty dish, though pretty mild in flavor. The tendon had a slight chew to it; the tripe slightly crunchy with no off flavors. The Missus actually enjoyed the daikon more than anything else in this dish.

The Scallop Dumplings were a disappointment as the scallops were tough and overcooked.

The wrappers were very sticky and tore quite easily.

Our favorite dish of the meal was the rustic looking stuffed wintermelon.

The wintermelon still had a nice texture; providing just enough resistance. It had also absorbed the flavors of the pork and the broth nicely. The enoki mushrooms provided a nice, earthy taste and the pork was tender and just about perfect.

The Deep Fried Shrimp Dumpling with Consomme was interesting.

The fried dumplings were excellent; the wrappers light, yet crunchy, the shrimp filling tender and flavorful. We both felt the consommé was rather bland and flat.......it was like watered down chicken broth in flavor and brought nothing to the dish.

After that rather bland consommé; we were a bit concerned about the Scallop and Bamboo Pith Fungus Dumpling in Supreme Soup, but this ended up being quite good.

Great flavors all around and the soup; while rather light had a nice balance in terms of seasoning to flavor.

Overall, while pretty good, based on all the great things we heard about the Dim Sum in Vancouver, we both thought Sea Harbour in the SGV was every bit as good if not better. I'll make sure to make reservations at Chef Tony or another place for Dim Sum the next time we're in Vancouver.

Kirin Seafood Restaurant
555 W 12th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5Z 3X7
Canada

After lunch we got back on the SkyTrain and headed on over to Richmond, getting off at the Aberdeen stop, and walking on over to Parker Place Mall and Parker Place Meat & BBQ. Yes, this place is located in a shopping mall.

The line here grows rapidly and moves quickly....it's to your benefit to have your act together and know what you want......when its your turn you need to be quick about it.

The Missus was really looking forward to some Roast Duck....so I got the Roast Duck on rice to go.

Parker Place Meat & B.B.Q (In Parker Place Mall)
4380 No 3 Rd
Richmond, BC V6X 4E8
Canada

Having gotten out unscathed; we headed to our next stop. If you thought Chinese BBQ in a shopping mall was interesting....try going to a parking garage.

For some Chinese BBQ......

This is where HK BBQ Master is located; just down the street from Parker Place BBQ. Again, a fast moving line for take-out....here there are a couple of tables as well. Some deal; roast duck on rice.

HK BBQ Master (In the parking garage of Real Canadian Superstore)
4651 No 3 Road
Richmond, BC V6X 2C4
Canada

Since we had restrained ourselves somewhat during lunch; we'd have this for an early dinner at the apartment.

Walking down No 3 Road reminded me of the SGV.........without the crazy traffic.....

Choices abound.....

And guess who we ran into on the SkyTrain back to the apartment?

Yep....good 'ol DV himself.

This woman couldn't stop giggling and taking photos of DV.

Being the ever so friendly Canadian version of DV; he waved the woman over and they proceeded to take a bunch of selfies! You gotta love it.

As for the duck? Well, in spite of saying we'd be having it for dinner, we did have a couple of pieces while it was still warm.....just for comparative purposes of course!

Here's Parker Place.

Here's HK BBQ Master.

While HK BBQ Master's duck looks a lot darker; Parker Place's duck won hands down; being more moist, with a nice amount of anise-beany-duckiness. The skin HK BBQ Master's version was rubbery, the meat dry, and while it had a decent duck taste, it wasn't balanced out with anything else. Of course, both of these are vastly superior to any roast duck in San Diego. I was told that HK BBQ Master makes great roast pork, but the Missus was after duck.

It was time for a nap.....then we'd be off to our next stop(s)!

Comments

[RedDevil]

We tried Kirin last year on a visit too. It was good but not outstanding and really expensive. Have fun if you're still there!

[Kirk]

Hi RD - Sorry to say this visit was last year as well! Wouldn't it be funny if we were in Vancouver at the same time? I gotta try some of the other places next time.

[kat]

haven't had roast duck in awhile...glad these were good:)

[Kirk]

It was way better than what we get here Kat!

[Soo]

Mmm... Roast duck. :-) I wanna go to Vancouver and try it. Have you tried the roast duck at Lien Hoa BBQ Deli? I try to drive up to Westminster a few times a year to get the roast duck.

[Kirk]

Of course we know Lien Hoa Soo!

http://mmm-yoso.typepad.com/mmmyoso/2012/04/not-duckin-the-subject-roadtrip-edition-lien-hoa-bbq-westminster-orange-county-and-monterey-palace-b.html

http://mmm-yoso.typepad.com/mmmyoso/2015/07/whats-our-craving-roadtrip-edition-song-long-and-lien-hoa-westminster.html

[Jinxi]

I visited the same Kirin location in January as well, and you know, I chuckled a bit at your comment about how you felt that Sea Harbor was comparable. Not that Kirin was bad, but for all the hype about dim sum in Vancouver, I think I was expecting a bit more from Kirin. That roast duck looks great though! Wish we'd gotten that instead :P

[Kirk]

Hi Jinxi - It's so nice to hear from you; hope all is well! That's too funny....a bunch of folks have sort of the same opinion about Kirin....I guess we all expected something a level higher than what we're used too.

[Jinxi]

Thanks! Things are good here, though I still love reading about all the happenin's in San Diego.. :)