Rice Gone Wild
written by John Chow
Wild Rice is a a contemporary restaurant serving modern Chinese cuisine in Vancouver’s historic chinatown. I discovered Wild Rice over five years ago when it was featured in Opening Soon, a Food TV show that shows entrepreneurs trying to start their own restaurants. I’ve always wanted to try Wild Rice but never got around to it until today.
Sarah and I normally go for lunch at Phnom Penh on Wednesday but they are closed until December 5th for renovations. Since both phnom Penh and Wild Rice are in Chinatown, it made sense to finally check the place out.
The Wild Rice Space
We showed up for Wild Rice shortly after 1PM and we were the only diners there. That gave me a chance to take some photos of the space. The space is based on the designer’s vision and innate understanding of the principles of the ancient Chinese practice of Feng Shui. Feng Shui literally means “wind and water” and is the custom of utilizing yin (female, dark, soft, fluid, organic, cool) and yang (male, bright, hard, geometric, inorganic, hot) energies to create harmony. where there is harmony, people feel comfortable and have a good time. Reflecting these yin-yang sensibilities, patrons at Wild Rice receive two sets of implements - metal knives and forks along with wooden chopsticks.
A visual artist by training, the designer of Wild Rice viewed the restaurant interior as starting an enormous painting, with each space or installation as a section of the overall canvas. Seating at wild rice is set on a variety of heights - from low-profile couches to high-backed banquettes and second-level mezzanines. We dined on the high-backed banquette.
Spicy Kung Po Chicken
This has to be the most unusual Kung Po chicken dish I’ve ever tried. It’s made from twice cooked peanuts, Mt. Lehman free range chicken and broccoli on brown rice. One thing is for sure. The “modern Chinese cuisine” label fits Wild Rice very well. You’ll never find a Kung Po chicken like this in a traditional Chinese restaurant. Sarah found it a bit on the salty side. I thought it wasn’t spicy enough. Overall, it was a very good dish.
Shredded BBQ Duck Flatbread
Shredded BBQ duck on flatbread with charred scallions and a nice hoisin blend. I like this dish more than the Kung Po chicken. it’s too bad we didn’t have more people with us. The menu at Wild Rice is meant for sharing. The more people you have, the more dishes you can sample. I may have to set up a Rice Gone Wild Dot Com outing.
Chocolate and Mango Torte
This dessert looked really sweet but really isn’t. It was presented with green tea jelly and condensed milk chantilly. While I could taste the chocolate and the green tea, the mango didn’t seem to be all there. It was a good dessert to finish off lunch.
The lunch bill came to $42 including tax and tips. As lunches go, that’s a bit more than what we normally spend but it’s not as crazy as a $60 burger. I think Wild Rice is best experienced during dinner time with a lot of people so I’ll be booking it for a future dinner engagement. Who wants to come?
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(10 votes, average: 3.2 out of 5)
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The chocolate and mango torte looks tasty. $42 for lunch is a bit steep though.
If I try hard enough, I think I can actually taste that chocolaty goodness.
How the hell are you going to do that? Meditate!!!
what up with all these stupid evil smiley faces popping up now. damn. im sick of copy cats.
not steep for john though
the restaurant looks fantastic and so does the food… im so hungry now 
Try living in Tokyo if you think that’s expensive!
decilious food, u makes me feel really hungry, though a bit expensive, chow!
yeah, $42 is indeed too steep. That’s half a person’s salary here where I am from.
mmm looks very avante garde!!
You just put me in the mood for Chinese food. All that looks pretty damn tasty.
Hahaha yea! Tomorrow me = Chinese food for lunch.
It looks good, especially the desserts, but as a Chinese person, I’m not spending $42 for Chinese food in Chinatown.
This is for people who think PF Changs is “real” Chinese food.
I wouldn’t expect a post like this from anyone else besides Mr. Chow himself.
Yes, you’re right. If other people blogs about their food, it would not be as brilliant or as interesting as when John blogs about it. The restaurant gets a free publicity
…
I want to come to a future event ! I will let you know when I’m in the neighborhood
You didn’t order their signature “AAA grilled beef tenderloin”. This was featured in Food TV’s Opening Soon. They also make a really good Creme Brule.
The Lotus Hotel next door belongs to one of the owner’s father I believe. They do wicked Martinis.
The AAA tenderloin wasn’t on the lunch menu! That’s why we need to hit that place for dinner.
Spread the word for the next Dot Com meal, I’ve been wanting to try Wild Rice myself.
Did you say dinner?! I’m in =]
Sounds like an interesting place. If you have it on a weekend, I’m sure I could convince the wife that we both need to go… she’d use it as an excuse to shop downtown first!
lol I’ll go if I can have in invite! Then you can all make fun of how well I use chopsticks too
As Stephen might remember!
They have some of the best spring rolls I’ve had yet!
It’s in my hood, I’m in!
And here I stand starving for some yakisoba (don’t know how you name it on Canada or elsewhere. It’s that thin pasta with meat and vegetables)
.
your food posts always make me hungry and this place looked better than some of the others you have been to.
Go to Chinatown but never seem such fancy restaurant before. Where is it near?
It’s next to the Lotus Hotel, at 117 West Pender Street at Abbott.
I should take more pictures of my lunch…
You restaurant reviews are pretty good john. You really should start a restaurant review blog.
ME ME ME!!!
THE FOOD PIX WERE VERY NICE, BUT WHAT I REALLY LIKED WAS THE DECOR OF THE PLACE.
I REALLY LIKED IT TOO. WAIT… WHY ARE WE YELLING?!
haha.
Umm.. Mouth watering for sure. John you should go to Provincetoen, Cape Cod, MA. They have the best sea food there. You just reminded me.
john do they deliver? ummm to US
Wow that looks amazing! I’m definitely adding it to my must try restaurants list!
That really reminds me of Chinese food back in those days in Canada (Winnipeg). A warm meal in cold weather is always a comfort. But I’ve been back in Borneo for 14 years now. The Chinese food here is of course more varied. Anyways, I’m planning a trip back to Canada in 2009!
Finally a lunch treat to your readers ! after a long time John hmmmm……
The lunch looks mouth watering and I just can’t resist the dessert. I am such a chocolate person. I can eat about a big box of chocolate in 1 day.
I want the dessert…………. Can anyone deliver at home for me.
The ambiance of the place and the pics of the food is looking great, but how about the quality of food.
All those food looks good. Price is little higher though. But hey all good things come with some prices…
Maybe the price point is why there weren’t anyone after 1….
dining with john chow would give bragging rights. nothing like dinning with a net celeb.
It looks very good but does it taste authentic? It looks like it might be tailoring a little bit to western people?
I like ‘em all. I just love good food.
I felt surprised when i saw the word “Phnom Penh” on your blog. it is the capital’s name of Cambodia. the owner of restaurant is Cambodian nationality?
That place looks pretty cool.
Ar, I remembered i ve been there, know that restaurant!
i cant eat chinese food..lolz..
Why on earth not? It is safe, quite nourishing, and tasty. At the right restaurant, you will get fantastic service and recommendation too. You do not know what you are missing.
I love chinese food!
WOW! Talk about feasting for a daily lunch
-Mike
OH, I would like to come - but atm I´m so far away…. but it looks very delicious!
Is this there website ?
http://www.wildricevancouver.com
Yes.
As usual, fantastic photographs and write up. You are absolutely bang on. Eastern food should be eaten in a crowd so that a number of dishes can be shared and different tastes savoured.
The interior looks pretty cool. The meals are so mmmm yummyy….
Im hungry now, looks goood
I’m not really into chinese foods but i like the look of that chocolate cake.