Looking for a quick getaway? 48 hours gives you time to explore some amazing cuisine in Richmond, the only problem is figuring out where to eat. Read on for a list of some of Tourism Richmond’s favourite places to help you make the most out of your culinary adventures.
Keep in mind, many Asian restaurants are accommodating to patrons who aren’t experienced in non-Western cuisine and do offer English menus or have photos of food items to help you with your selections. But remember to bring cash – some don’t accept credit or debit cards.
Day 1:
10:00am – Dim sum at Shanghai River
Shanghai River is the perfect place to start your day off right with delicious dim sum. Through glass windows, diners can watch the chefs hard at work, hand rolling their famous dumplings. The xiao long bao are clear standouts of the menu. This restaurant is a hotspot for locals, so be sure to make a reservation ahead of time.
7831 Westminster Highway
604-233-8885
12:00pm – Fisherman’s Wharf in historic Steveston Village
After eating to your heart’s content, make your way to historic Steveston Village to explore Fisherman’s Wharf. Once known as the salmon capital of the world, Steveston is home to Canada’s largest active fishing fleet with 600 boats. Don’t forget to bring your coolers – seafood lovers can buy fresh fish* from the docks, where local fishermen sell their daily catch right off their boat for great prices. Depending on the season, catches of the day can include fresh salmon, crab, black cod and sea urchin.
*Note for US travelers bringing seafood across borders: personal amounts of fish, shrimp, abalone and other seafood are allowed and can be fresh, frozen, dried, smoked, canned or cooked! Click here for more information and updates: http://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/agricultural-items
1:00pm – Blue Canoe Waterfront Restaurant
On the pier, next to Fisherman’s Wharf, you’ll find one of the best patio restaurants in Steveston. Blue Canoe is an award-winning restaurant with a simple and fresh menu. Enjoy your lunch with an unobstructed view of the water and the boardwalk. This waterside location prides itself on using top quality seafood with locally sourced ingredients.
3866 Bayview Street
604-275-7811
www.bluecanoerestaurant.com
3:00pm – Dessert in Steveston
Steveston is a paradise for anyone with a sweet tooth. Take a walk through the historic village to explore all the delicious desserts that are offered. The Outpost Mini Donut Company serves delicious mini donuts in all sorts of flavours to satisfy every craving. We also recommend Sinfully the Best for artisan chocolates, Bell’s Bake Shop for cupcakes, Candy Dish for homemade fudge and Screamers Soft Serve & Treats for some delicious frozen treats.
5:00pm – Lulu Island Winery
Make your way to Lulu Island Winery, the largest winery in Richmond, producing a variety of red and white table wines, fruit wines and ice wines. The winery offers daily complimentary wine tastings of their award-winning wines and tours in different languages. Owner John Chang combines traditional Chinese wine-making with modern Western technology and equipment. All of Lulu Island’s wines go through a slow-cool fermentation process which brings out the natural flavours of the fruit.
16880 Westminster Highway
604-232-9839
www.luluislandwinery.com
7:00pm – Vivacity Restaurant
For dinner, we recommend Vivacity, a Southern Chinese restaurant located on Alexandra Road. The chefs here specialize in seafood and serve only organic fish. Owner Kitty Huang explains that the food is prepared in a healthy way, without sacrificing taste. We recommend the BBQ pork buns – they’re a local favourite! Vivacity offers a more intimate dining experience, with VIP rooms that seat up to 40 people. Reservations are highly recommended.
110 – 8351 Alexandra Road
604-279-1513
www.vivacityrestaurant.com
9:00pm – Walk down Food Street and taste something new
After dinner, grab some fresh air and go for a leisurely stroll to walk off your day of eating. Richmond is home to some of the most authentic Asian restaurants outside of Asia, and many of the best restaurants can be found on Alexandra Road, nicknamed “Food Street”. It’s quite amazing to see 200 plus restaurants packed into a stretch of just three city blocks. Don’t be afraid to peek in some of the amazing shops for dessert – our favourites include Leisure Tea & Coffee, Snowy Village Dessert Cafe and for something different, try The TRUE’STEA Restaurant, located next to the Four Points Sheraton.
Day 2:
10:00am – Dim Sum at Sun Sui Wah
For day 2 in Richmond, indulge in dim sum again! World-renowned Chinese restaurant, Sun Sui Wah is based on the motto of “warm hospitality, superb quality and value.” With locations in Hong Kong and Vancouver, this famous restaurant has been delighting patrons with delicious Cantonese cuisine and excellent service for over 30 years. Sun Sui Wah is especially famous for its roasted squab, a signature dish.
102 – 4940 No. 3 Road
604-273-8208
www.sunsuiwah.ca
12:00pm – Kam Do Bakery
Richmond is home to a variety of Asian bakeries, with selections of sweet and savoury baked goods. Kam Do is a Richmond staple, known as one of the best bakeries in the city with delicious pastries in a self-serve style. We recommend the coconut buns and the taro cakes. Kam Do is also a great place to purchase gifts or late-night snacks, including wife cakes (laopo bing), mochi and pastes. Like many other establishments in Richmond, Kam Do is cash only.
6211 No. 3 Road
604-231-9216
12:30pm – New Town Bakery
New Town Bakery is another Asian bakery that you can’t miss! This bakery is family-owned and has been serving Chinese and Filipino baked goods for over 30 years. They are known for their award-winning Apple Tarts as well as their Chicken Deluxe steamed bun or Bola Bola. We recommend getting a box of their apple tarts to indulge in later.
4 – 6360 No. 3 Road
604-270-2889
www.newtownbakery.ca
1:00pm – Haroo Korean Restaurant
For authentic, home-style Korean food, Haroo Korean Restaurant is the place to go. Hidden away on the second level of a strip mall on Alexandra Road, this small eatery is run by a husband and wife team. For lunch, we recommend their spicy tofu soup or soonduboo served with rice, or the Korean seafood pancake called, “Haemul Pajeon.”
8580 Alexandra Road, second floor
604-284-5596
3:00pm – Sugarholic Café
Located on the ground level of Aberdeen Centre, Sugarholic Café is one of the newest additions to the afternoon tea scene in Richmond. The café is decorated in a luxurious European style, but it is still considered a fusion-style tea house. Afternoon tea service is offered all day, with tiered dessert sets available. Almost all of the desserts are made in-house. Highlights include the Ferrero Rocher Chocolate Cake and the Japanese Cheesecake. We highly recommend their dessert toast boxes, toast cubes filled with ice cream, fruit and other delightful sweets.
4151 Hazelbridge Way
604-285-6199
5:00pm – Aberdeen Centre
After your afternoon snack, it’s time to explore Aberdeen Centre. Aberdeen Centre is one of North America’s largest Asian shopping malls, with unique stores such as Candyland, an Asian candy store, and a world famous Chinese tea shop, Ten Fu Tea. And if you are still hungry, there is an 800-seat food court with incredible Asian food.
7:00pm – Suhang Restaurant
For dinner, we recommend Suhang Restaurant for authentic Shanghainese Cuisine. Known for their great service and affordable menu, Suhang also has some of the juiciest pork dumplings in town. Other recommendations at this restaurant include the marinated bean curd with special vegetables, drunken chicken, and shredded beef with chili and brown sauce.
100 – 8291 Ackroyd Road
604-278-7787
9:00pm – The BBT Shop
No trip to Richmond is complete without bubble tea! Hidden under the Superstore on one of the busiest roads in the city, The BBT Shop is famous for their decadent bubble waffle desserts with piles of delicious toppings, such as the Super Matcha, with strawberries, whipped cream, red bean and matcha ice cream. The BBT Shop has an extensive menu offering all kinds of drinks, including milk teas, specialty drinks such as the signature frozen hot chocolate, as well as fruit teas and slush.
105 – 4651 No. 3 Road
604-285-8833
While this is the end of the 48 hour food itinerary, it’s definitely not the end of the food exploration in Richmond. With over 800 restaurants in the island city, this list barely scratches the surface of what foodies can find here.
Find more about Richmond and dining at www.VisitRichmondBC.com
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