Chinatown
 

Chinatown...Vancouver or Victoria...who's the favorite and what is the best restaurant?

Vancouver, by far has better Chinese restaurants. However, most good Chinese restaurants are not located in Chinatown. They're scattered all over Vancouver, especially in Richmond (20-mins from Vancouver) where there's a whole community of Chinese malls and restaurants.

H. Kan is right when he says the best Chinese restaurants are outside of Chinatown but I'm surprised he didn't add the fact that in a city like Vancouver asking what's the best Chinese Restaurant is like asking what's the best restaurant period. There are at least 6 regional Chinese food types, (Cantonese, Mandarin, Szechuan, Shanghainese, Mongolian, Hainan, etc. etc.) all of which have as different styles and flavours as French, Italian and German. <BR>Most North Americans are used to a pseudo Cantonese style but in a city like Vancouver which even people from Hong Kong say is a Chinese Gastronomical delight you have to be specific. To make things even more difficult you should decide whether you want seafood, vegetarian or full variety. Once you decide on these things and how many you want to sample then perhaps one can give you specific reccomendations.

Hmmm...so many choices! Personally, I like it spicy (Szechuan); a variety is better. Peking duck served in courses is great too! Any suggestion is welcome.

although I am not the maven of Chinese restaurants- I generally frequent the same ones after I find them to my liking - I do have a few that I would reccomend. <BR> <BR>For Szechaun food the New Grand View at 60 West Broadway is both good and reasonable. Order the TsinTsao beer with your food - not wine. <BR> <BR>The Flamingo Restaurant at 7510 Cambie in south Vancouver is our favorite Cantonese Seafood restaurant but they also have a very good Peking Duck served with litte Pancakes, lettuce, etc. Order the Sweet & Sour fried Cod, (they bring it to you still flopping around in a bucket before they cook it), or done any way you like. Everything is very reasonable and with beer and four to six people you can get out of there for less than $20 a head stuffed to the gills. <BR> <BR>For Mandarin food the Kirin restaurant right downtown near Robson and Burrard, (1166 Alberni) is very good but more pricy. Peking duck or hermit chicken is excellant there. <BR> <BR>Finally for what is considered the best Chinese Seafood Restaurant in Vancouver, (by some) the Sun Sui Wah at 3888 Main Street is renowned. <BR> <BR>But as I said there really are so many and I've heard great things about others that we've never tried so ask around when you're in town. <BR> <BR>Good eating & oh yes. There are some excellant restaurants in Victoria but I can't think of any Chinese ones.