Lunch At Chen’s Shanghai Kitchen
We have been going to Chen’s Shanghai Kitchen for years. The restaurant is extremely popular. So popular in fact that when Chen’s opened its doors at 8095 Park Road in Richmond, they didn’t do any advertising what-so-ever. To this very day, they have spent a grand total of zero to promote the restaurant. The place is so packed at times that you maybe required to share a table with other diners. Luckily, we (myself, Sarah, Greg and his girlfriend Linda) showed up before the lunch time crowd did.
Chen’s Shanghai Kitchen is known for their xiao long bao, which are steamed mini pork buns. Almost every table in the restaurant orders them. They are easily the best xiao long bao in Vancouver. Other signature dishes include the Shanghai style pan fried pork buns, which are basically the fried version of the xiao long bao.
Baiyulan Steam Mini Pork Buns
This is the famous xiao long bao. If you go to Chen’s, make sure this is on your order. Be careful eating it because the bun is steaming hot and the pork inside is surrounded by a boiling soup base that will burn your tongue if you’re not careful.
Shanghai Style Pan Fried Pork Buns
This is the other signature dish at Chen’s. Again, you must be careful eating it as the soup base inside the pork bun is extremely hot. Personally, I prefer steam mini buns but Sarah likes the pan friend version more. Both are really good.
Deep Fried Sticky Rice Cake
Another very hot dish. The rice is deep fried to get a nice golden crust. It’s served with a side plate of raw sugar. Just sprinkle whatever amount you want on the rice to adjust the sweetness. It’s way better than rice crispy squares.
Green Onion Pancake
I didn’t see much of the green onions in this dish but I can definitely taste it. The outside of the pancake was nice and crispy and the inside was really soft.
Pan-Fried Shanghai Noodles
You can’t dine at a Shanghai restaurant and not order Shanghai noodle. Well, I guess you can but it would be strange. Then again, Chen’s is known for their xiao long bao and not their Shanghai noodle, which is very good as far as Shanghai noodles go.
Pan Fried Dumplings
Greg wanted to try this dish. It’s similar to the “pot stickers” you get at Hon’s. The main difference is Hon’s serves their dumplings with a vinegar dipping sauce which adds a tangy favor.
The Free Dessert
We know the owner of Chen’s for a long time and whenever we dine there, she prepares a free sample dish for us to try. Since we order so many main courses this time, she created a dessert using glutinous rice and peanuts. The dish was very sweet and chewy.
The prices at Chen’s are extremely reasonable. Our lunch came to just $40 with tips and we had tons of left over food that we couldn’t finish. We ended up taking it home in a dogie bag. Great food and great prices have helped propelled Chen’s into the Silver position for Best Casual Chinese Dining from Vancouver Magazine. If the place wasn’t so jam packed all the time, it could have won Gold.
- Posted in Fine Dining
- 56 comments what's your take?
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Wow, the deep fried rice cake looks absolutely delicious. Kind of like a hash brown I guess
Reply to this commentI’d like to have all the items please, except dessert. I must watch my girlish figure.
Reply to this commentIf you eat everything there + dessert often it wouldn’t matter how fast your metabolism was or gender… Looks tasty though lol
Reply to this commentWhat beautiful it is! I’m hungry I’m hungry I’m hungry!
Reply to this commentIf you want to see my daily progression:
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Greetings from France John.
Take it all, just have more sport
Reply to this commentHaha, I thought they looked like hash browns too. But I guess they’re basically the same thing, but filled with rice instead. I’d eat it
Reply to this commentLooked like radish cakes, too, but if I had a rice cake I’d probably enjoy it just as much.
Reply to this commentI’m tempted to try the noodles, it might be a challenge though.
They look like worms.
Reply to this commentThe first time my father came out to Richmond, some friends gave him shrimp to eat and he was rather disgusted at this because they looked like worms. Actually, they do look like chubby worms when you think about it, just don’t think about it while eating them.
Reply to this commentYummy John you go to lucnh at some of the greates places. The food is always so appetizing.
Reply to this commentThat was my same thought when I saw the picture. I’ll pass.
Reply to this commentA Chinese restaurant doesn’t really need to spend any money on advertising if its located in Richmond. When people want Chinese food, products, or services, Richmond is the first place they look as opposed to Chinatown in Vancouver. All you need is a good location (which the Chen’s Shanghai Kitchen has) and your set.
The best Chinese restaurants in Richmond are all within a short drive of each other.
Reply to this commentThat food looks good, its making me hungry
Reply to this commentLooks great!!
Reply to this commentI choose the the free dessert
Reply to this commentHahaha, I think most of us would eat anything there if it was free
Reply to this commentAs long as it’s not those century eggs, then I’m all for free Chinese food, too!
Reply to this commentThat looks delicious! Time to head over to Canada!!
Reply to this commentBased solely on the food, Shanghai would be my first choice, but yeah, I’ve always wanted to go to Canada…
Reply to this commentLoooks heavy but delicious.
One Man. one Year. $100,000 online. Not bad lunch money.
Reply to this commenthttp://www.oneyeargoal.com
And for only $40, that’s a lot of good food alright.
Reply to this commentThat looked great. I just came back from a great dim sum lunch in Boston. The place is gigantic (it’s an old theater) and almost exclusively patronized by Asian customers, which I think is a sign that it’s authentic.
Reply to this commentNormally I’d say pictures of food aren’t my thing but most of those look delicious! May have to suggest it next time I’m in Richmond!
Reply to this commentThat looks tasty!
Reply to this commentWow, you really eat all that?
Reply to this commentMost of it. We packed the rest home.
Reply to this commentthat Deep Fried Sticky Rice Cake looks really good. I’ve never had that before
Reply to this commentYummy! I always drool when I see the pancakes.
Reply to this commentI love it, you write about what you had to eat for lunch and you get over 3,085 views! uh, make that 3,086 now that I’m here.
Reply to this commentThe Pork Buns and noodles look freaking delicious! Thanks a lot John for making me hungry now
Reply to this commentI am drooling… everytime John introduces foods!
Reply to this commentI am soo drooling. I love chinese, and this low-carb diet is KILLING me! Who cares if I’ve lost 50 lbs in 3 weeks. bleh! I’m going to go and pretend the internet crashed, and delete myself again.
Reply to this commentIs this a paid advertisement for Chen’s? You’re actually at a restaurant taking pictures of your meal??
Reply to this commentYou must be a new reader! Please check out my Fine Dining section: http://www.johnchow.com/category/fine-dining/
Reply to this commentSeems to be delicious
Reply to this commentvery good, but Wuhan food is much more delicious ^_^
Reply to this commentI am sure
Once again, more delicious food! Now, I have to raid the fridge…
Reply to this commentThe only things in my fridge now are mustard and super glue. I would have to order in food tonight…
Reply to this commentHungry…….
Reply to this commenti love the mini pork buns…why am i not living there!
Reply to this commentDimsum and dumplings are the best!
Reply to this commentI’m still waiting for that Burger King review!!
Reply to this commentjohn.
please stop.
your killing me here.
that food looks so good…. im going to apply for my passport so i can drive to vancouver and order those fried pork buns… probably the steamed ones too.
omg… i am now so hungry… and my mouth is water…
Reply to this commentMe too……
Reply to this commentSteamed dumplings are where it’s at
Reply to this commentI like Baiyulan Steam Mini Pork Buns…….
Reply to this commentGreen Onion Pancake - that looks good…
Reply to this commentJohn, reading this article really started my apetite. Too bad that I don’t have any chinese restaurants around…
You’re so evil, tormenting us with those mouth-watering dishes…
Reply to this commentYay! No chicken feet!
(sigh of relief)
Reply to this commentI’m so hungry now. This stuff looks so good. John, you should really start a restaurant guide blog
Reply to this commentSubliminal advertising does work. I went for Chinese the night I read this. Just realized it now… Yes it was tasty
Reply to this commentI eat these staff everyday!!
Reply to this commentThat looks REALLY tasty…I think I’m going to go out and have some chinese food now
Reply to this commentYummmmyyy , my mouth is watering now .hehehe
Reply to this comment