Last Wednesday, I had the pleasure of hosting a culinary tour for 20 fellow UBC alumni along the legendary Alexandra Road in Richmond—one of the most iconic Chinese food streets in all of North America. Many of our guests don’t often venture out here for Chinese cuisine, so I curated three very different but equally representative restaurants to showcase the depth and diversity of regional Chinese flavors.
Stop 1: Yuan’s Garden – Jiangnan Elegance
Our first stop was Yuan’s Garden (隨園), known for its refined Huaiyang cuisine. We kicked off strong with an oversized Claypot Wonton Chicken Soup—an entire aged hen simmered down to a clear, incredibly savoury broth, accompanied by sizable pork-and-vegetable-stuffed wontons. The soup alone was a showstopper. Of course, no Huaiyang experience is complete without xiao long bao (soup dumplings) and sheng jian bao (pan-fried buns), both executed with impressive finesse.
But the real star was the Eight Treasures Duck, a labor-intensive dish that must be pre-ordered a day in advance. The deboned duck is stuffed with sticky rice, shiitake mushrooms, chestnuts, salted egg yolk, chicken, shrimp, duck gizzard, and liver—an absolute masterclass in flavour and texture. Rich, aromatic, and deeply comforting.
Stop 2: Shun Feng Shun Shui – True Flavours of Shunde and Cantonese Cuisine
Next up: Shun Feng Shun Shui, a new Richmond gem serving authentic Shunde cuisine. The Shrimp Cakes were unbelievably bouncy and fresh, bursting with natural sweetness. We also loved the traditional Shredded Fish Soup, so clean and delicate, it practically defines umami. Their Shunde-style Fried Rice, with seafood and preserved mustard greens, was subtle yet packed with depth.
Then came the main event: Sauna Chicken with Luffa. This whole free-range bird, lightly steamed over luffa, or silky gourd, needed no extra seasoning—just a dip in their house-made soy and chili brought out every juicy, tender bite.
Stop 3: The Fish Man – Coastal Flavours, Sichuan Heat
Our final dinner stop, The Fish Man, blends Sichuan spice with bold, seafood-forward dishes. We devoured Clam Stir Fry in Garlic & Black Bean Sauce, sizzling skewers, and two standout crab dishes: one fried with salted egg yolk and chewy Shanghai rice cakes, the other wok-tossed Typhoon Shelter–style with chili, garlic, and spice. Their signature Sauerkraut Fish Soup made with fresh lingcod was a revelation—bright, spicy, and soul-warming.
The Sweet Finish: Daan Go Dessert Lab
What’s a feast without dessert? We wrapped up the evening with adorable Asian-inspired macarons from Daan Go Dessert Lab—flavours included Hong Kong milk tea, Japanese matcha, Thai tea, and Vietnamese coffee. Each one was a bite-sized delight.
All of this—spanning the culinary map from Shanghai to Shunde to Sichuan—came to just $88 per person at cost. Was it worth it? Judging by the satisfied smiles and repeated gasps of “wow,” I’d say absolutely.
Please message me on Instagram for the Full Alexandra Road Foodie Map!
