Parker Place food court

Good morning,

It’s a bit of a slow news day this weekend, which always poses a challenge about what to write about. So today, I thought I’d share a review of a place dear to my heart — Richmond food courts.

We’ve also got a new edition of Comment Corner, with feedback from readers on some of our recent stories.

Let’s dive in!

— Geoff Sharpe, Lookout founder and managing editor

PS - If you find this newsletter valuable, please consider forwarding it to your friends. New to the Lookout? Sign-up for free. 

WEATHER

Monday: 21 🌡️ 14 | 🌤️

Tuesday: 21 🌡️ 14 | 🌤️

Wednesday: 21 🌡️ 15 | 🌤️

THE LOOKOUT RECOMMENDS

Embrace the different: Fringe Festivals are the perfect opportunity to step outside your comfort zone and see something new. Vancouver Fringe is on now until Sept. 14 and there are still many shows to check out. 

A lesser-known pizza spot: Frank’s Pizza should be getting more attention than it currently is, because they make a darn fine pie. Over at 1672 Franklin, they’re slinging some very big New York-inspired pizza. You can read our review here.

FOOD REVIEW

Parker Place food court punches above its weight

Originally published April 2024. Read this story online here.

Our ongoing series covering Chinese food courts always makes me a little frustrated for two reasons. 

First, the quality, diversity and affordability of food at food courts is a reminder that there aren’t enough of these in Vancouver proper. Second, it’s ridiculous that in a city with so many local publications, we’re one of the only publications consistently visiting and reviewing these places. Seriously, Vancouver Sun, what’s going on?

So my ongoing hope with these reviews is that you venture outside your comfort zone and check out what non-traditional dining spots, like food courts, have to offer. 

High on your list should be the recent food court I visited in Parker Place at 4380 No. 3 Rd in Richmond, just south of Aberdeen Station.

It’s jam-packed with high-quality food stalls, many with clear English signs (that some Chinese food courts lack), making it an easy visit for most people.   

Yummy Bao

You can’t miss Yummy Bao. Located in the back part of the food court, a couple of old ladies measure out ground pork from a heaping pink pile, stuffing it quickly into freshly made bao dough, pulling and shaping each one meticulously to form that instantly recognizable shape. 

The second thing you’ll notice is the price. Five large-sized baos, which could easily fill you up for lunch, cost a pittance, only $8 in total, taxes included. It’s a reminder of how food can be affordable (sadly, just not in Vancouver).

The place is popular, and I had to wait about 20 minutes. But it was worth it.

Each one is cooked well, with a solid amount of salty, flavourful pork filling. The juice soaked into the bao, but it still holds up its consistency, and you still get a soup dumpling-like experience as the liquid hits your mouth after your first bite. Bring a napkin.

Once you’ve eaten them be sure to grab some for the road with 13 freezer dumplings costing a grand total of $8. Maybe grab two, hell, grab three, as long as you have the freezer room. 

Joys Taiwanese Food

Reviewing the menu brought me back to my Taiwan trip, with dishes like scallion pancakes and crispy chicken.

I’ll keep this review short and sweet because I had one dish on my mind as soon as I saw the menu at Joys Taiwanese Food — the Taiwanese pork bun. Like a painting by a Renaissance master, the heavenly photo of the pork bun called to me as soon as I saw it.

Made up of bao, a thick slice of fatty pork belly and sweet peanuts with cilantro, it looked as good as it tasted.

The pillowy bao dough was steamed to perfection, and a white puffy cloud was shaped perfectly for the thick pork belly, to rest comfortably. But what really brought it all together was the sugary peanut bits cascading on and around the bun and meat. It’s one of those combinations of fat, salt and sweet you might not ever consider, but when together, you cannot imagine them apart.

The rest of the food looked enticing and I cannot wait to return. But if you have one thing to eat at Parker Place, you can’t go wrong with their Taiwanese pork bun. 

Editor’s note: I'm sorry I did not write down the price. Judging by photos on Google, it was around $7.25.

Best Rice Roll

Best Rice Roll is an aspirational name for a food court restaurant, so did it hold up to its name?

If it wasn’t the best, it certainly had the most helpful staff. I ordered the pork, but after a questioning look and a brief discussion, I was encouraged ordered to get the A1, Golden Net Shrimp Rice Roll. 

A brief wait and the lady plopped down a perfect-looking rice roll. But it wasn’t done. She proceeded to slather a peanut sauce and what tasted like a sweet soy sauce onto the rolls, practically drowning each one in the slightly brown and dark sauces.  

The first bite? I knew I was in the hands of an expert. The soft, warm rice roll gave way to a crispy texture inside, almost like a more crunchy tempura, surrounding the shrimp. The combo works. Really well.

The rice roll itself was exceptional. But the two sauces really took the dish to another level. The sweetness of the soy sauce and the subtle peanut flavour of the second sauce combined to elevate the rice roll beyond what you’d normally find at a traditional dim sum location.

Is it the best? If you know me, I don’t believe there’s such a thing as the best. But it’s a rice roll that has you recalling the flavours any time you have one. Plus you can’t go wrong with $9.50 for three well-portioned rolls. 

Cherry’s Ice Bar

Obviously, bubble tea stands on its own, but Cherry’s Ice Bar really made me a believer in this form of dessert.

Chinese baobing, Korean bingsu, Japanese kakigori, it goes by different names but they’re similar: a heaping chunk of shaved ice topped with an assortment of fruit, ice cream and toppings like red bean, mochi and more. It’s a nice alternative to heavy ice cream, a perfect summer treat to cool you down.

I opted for the strawberry, mango and a big heaping scoop of ice cream. But they offer more traditional options, like red beans, taro and mochi.

First off, it’s massive. Don’t do what I did and eat it yourself. My stomach was upset.

What wasn’t upset were my taste buds. The sweet fruit paired perfectly with the shaved ice, creating a mellow combination rather than an overly sweet dessert. Fruit juices seeped down into the ice, flavouring each bite, along with the vanilla ice cream. 

If you’re like me with sensitive teeth, it can be a bit of a struggle. But I made do, with the ice melting very fast, making it easier to eat the toppings. 

For those who don’t want a heaping mound of milk such as ice cream, but still want something cold to enjoy on a warm day, baobing is a winner and Cherry’s Ice Bar is a worthwhile place to try it.

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THE VANCOUVER NUMBER

$1.80

That’s the average price of gas per litre in Metro Vancouver after a price spike from around $1.60/litre mid-week. A UBC professor and energy analyst says there is no apparent reason for the price increase. Read more. [Vancouver Sun]

THE AGENDA

🚎🔥 Vancouver’s air quality was bad again this weekend, and meteorologists say it likely won’t get better until there’s enough rainfall to clear out the atmosphere, which isn’t in the forecast for this week. Read more. [Global BC]

🏠 A former Vancouver urban planner says that the city is demolishing affordable low-rise rental apartments along the Broadway and Cambie corridors, in favour of the development of new, high-rise towers, in what urban planners across the Lower Mainland are describing as an effort by Council to help developers having a hard time pulling a profit during the housing market slowdown. Read more. [Vancouver Sun]

👨‍🚒 Bright Nights, a by-donation fundraiser for the B.C. Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund, has to find a new location this year, after the park board decided that a $50-per-ticket for-profit event called “Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience” would take the fundraiser’s place. While this is the first time in nearly 30 years that Bright Nights won’t take place in Stanley Park, organizers say the event will happen this year, and they are working on a Plan B. Read more. [City News]

🍷 The BCGEU strike may leave Vancouver restaurants and bars without liquor in a few days, according to a memo circulated to members by the B.C. Restaurant and Foodservices Association. Read more. [Daily Hive]

⚽ Vancouver Rise FC beat the Calgary Wild in a wild (pun intended) 6-0 over the weekend. Read more. [TSN]

👮 A 54-year-old man has been charged with murder and aggravated assault in connection with the stabbing of one woman and the discovery of two deceased female victims in the Joyce-Collingwood neighbourhood on Friday. Read more. [The Canadian Press]

🚷 A 20-year-old naked man was arrested under the Mental Health Act for knocking down a female victim and urinating on her early Friday morning. Read more. [Vancouver Sun]

EVENT GUIDE

Whistler Village Beer Festival | Whistler Olympic Plaza and other locations | Sept. 9–14, Main Event Sept. 13, noon–6 pm | Celebrate craft beer with tastings, concerts, brunch, bandaoke and more | Tickets $51+

Vancouver Queer Film Festival | Venues across Vancouver and online | Sept. 11–21, various times | Celebrating 2SLGBTQIA+ stories with 100+ films, performances, and Q&As | Tickets $7+

Great Outdoors Comedy Festival - Vancouver | Stanley Park, Vancouver | Sept. 12–14 | Outdoor comedy fest with major headliners like Bert Kreischer and John Mulaney | Tickets various prices

Cottstock Music & Arts Fair – A Cottage Fundraiser | 390 Industrial Ave., Vancouver | Sept. 12, 8 pm| Burner-themed music and arts night fundraiser with two stages and licensed bar | Tickets

stɑl̓əw̓ Pow Wow | Langley Events Centre – 7888 200th St., Langley | Sept. 12–14, various times | Three-day celebration of pow wow culture with dancing, drumming, food, and vendors | Tickets $10+

Bike the Night Vancouver | David Lam Park | Sept. 13, 6:30 pm| Music-filled night ride along the Seawall with festival fun and glowing bikes | Free (or $10 with HUB membership)

Grand Bazaar | VanDusen Botanical Garden, Vancouver | Sept. 13, 9 am–3 pm | Antique and vintage market supporting SMOC, with 40+ local vendors | $10–$15

Canine Library | John Hendry Park, 3300 Victoria Dr. | Sept. 13, 1–3 pm | Choose poetry books to read to dogs, with workshops and kids' activities | Free

Richmond Sunflower Festival | Richmond Country Farms — 12900 Steveston Hwy. | Now until mid-September, multiple times  | Stroll through 20 acres of vibrant sunflowers and photo-friendly floral displays | Tickets $14+

End of Summer Mount Pleasant Block Party | 300 Block E 11th Ave, Vancouver | Sept. 20, 12–5 pm | Final block party of the summer with food, drinks, music and vendors | Free

Vancouver Audio Festival | HiFi Centre, 23 West Pender Street, Vancouver | Sept. 20, 10 am–5 pm | Hear exclusive product demos and music in high-end listening rooms | Free

Bits + Bobs Samples and Seconds SALE | Heritage Hall, Vancouver | Sept. 20, 10 am–3 pm | Discount art, craft supplies and studio samples from local makers | Free

Japan Market Fall Festival | Robson Square Ice Rink, Vancouver | Sept. 28, 11 am–6 pm | 60+ vendors offering Japanese crafts, food, workshops and performances | Tickets $4

SURVEY

Will FIFA be the next 2010 Olympics?

Or will the legacy be much worse?

With the FIFA 2026 tournament less than a year away, it promises to be one of the impactful events in the city’s history.

We want to know from our community if we should dedicate more resources to covering this issue in the months ahead? Not every newsletter, but maybe a story a month, depending on what we uncover.

Take our survey and let us know if this is something you care about.

COMMENT CORNER

Readers share their views on development proposal and pool changes

Readers have written in a little less frequently lately. Honestly, that’s mostly on us for not including more links to the comment section. But those who did write in had some great points to share.

West End tower proposal offers insights into the city’s shifting pattern of development

A few readers chimed in on our story about a new tower proposal in the West End. One ongoing challenge here at the Lookout that we always struggle with is representing the views of locals, while also acknowledging that we need places for people to live. 

This story was an interesting one because it gives a hint at how developments may be structured in the future. You can read that story here. 

New court case filed against controversial Vancouver Aquatic Centre renewal

The background here is that many locals and groups are frustrated (that’s putting it lightly) over the park board’s decision to build a 25-metre pool for the new Vancouver Aquatic Centre, instead of maintaining the current 50-metre pool. You can read that story here.

NEW VANCOUVER JOBS

Discover your dream job in Vancouver:

• Manager, public works at City of North Vancouver

• Team lead, creative services at BC Ferries

• Director, chronic disease programs at YMCA BC

• Manager, admissions at SFU School of Medicine

• Vice president, professional services at Hootsuite

VIDEO OF THE DAY

Here’s what Vancouver looked like in 1970.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• There’s a lot you can do at the Vancouver Public Library. [Miss604]

• WingsUp!, which claims to be Canada’s best chicken wing franchise restaurant, is opening its first Vancouver location.. [Daily Hive]

• SFU’s new gallery is a real eye-catcher. [VanMag]

• Taiwanese cinema is having a moment in Vancouver. [Focus Taiwan]

• There’s a new Cambodian restaurant opening in downtown Vancouver. [Vanmag]

• You could spend $500,000+ on a one-bedroom condo, or you could buy a decommissioned B.C. Ferries vessel for $90k. [Vancouver is Awesome]

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Had to share this image of this cute seadog from Reddit.