Comments on: 4 Hole-in-the-Wall Restaurants I Like

By: Bonnie

Bonnie — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 10:48:40 +0000

I have tried Pho Maxima and I have been back often. I highly recommend it. It's clean, friendly service and consistently good food. So nice to have a good Vietnamese in New West.I love Pho soup. Thanks Jen for making me aware of it. I also have to say our book/dinner club went to Thea's in Queensboro recently and we were delighted with service, food and friendliness. I had the roast lamb. It was to die for and the salad was delicious (nice ripe tomatoes, not hard and green).

By: Tenth to the Fraser Best of 2009 | Tenth To The Fraser

Tenth to the Fraser Best of 2009 | Tenth To The Fraser — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 18:06:38 +0000

[...] 4 Hole-in-the-Wall Restaurants I Like – Jen gives props to four little-known restaurants in New West: Pho Maxima, Hi Dozo, Golphis and Ole Ole. Our awesome commenters weigh in with a few picks of their own, both well-known and relatively undiscovered: Go Thai, Royal Tandoori, Moonrakers, The Heritage Grill, The Orange Room, Mom’s Cafe, Yianni’s, K Sushi, Tamarind Hill, Couzie’s … it’s essentially a roundup of recommendations for the TF readership’s favourite places to eat in New West. [...]

By: Barb

Barb — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 00:06:23 +0000

Bonnie is correct about the meaning of "Hi Dozo." Its official spelling, though, should be "hai" (which is pronounced like the English "hi"). I don't know whether they changed the spelling so that people wouldn't mispronounce it or if they were trying to be cute. But if you speak Japanese, their spelling is confusing because "hi" in romaji rhymes with "she" and means flame or fire. So in my opinion, they created more problems than they solved!

Clear as mud, eh?

By: Bonnie March

Bonnie March — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 09:06:10 +0000

I didn't know about Pho Maxima will be trying that out. Good to see recommendations. I have a Japanese friend who told me HiDozo means "here you go". It's my fav sushi in town. Ole Ole Mexicana is everything you said and never mind the decor at Golphi's through the years I've never been disappointed with the service or the food. In fact it's been too long since I've eaten there. Some of my friends from book club are starting a supper club that is going to meet and try out different restaurants in town. It should be fun.

By: Jen

Jen — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:16:58 +0000

Great recommendations, David. my only beef with Couzies is the wall of smokers you have to pass through to get inside. So much for no smoking within 3 metres.

By: David Griffiths

David Griffiths — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 10:35:04 +0000

I go to the Heritage Grill once a month for Green Drinks, and they've been consistently good. The lamb burger is great.

I've not been to Ole Ole for a few years, but it was great when we last went.

Go Thai has great Thai food, but it's definitely "restaurant" – lots of cream and oil. I like the chicken curry.

Hi Dozo is great for sushi.

The Orange Room used to be bland, but has great breakfasts under the new owners.

Tamarind Hill is probably my favorite dinner restaurant in New West.

There is a small place on Belmont, between the cold-beer-and-wine, and the post office, and I think it's called Coozies, and it's been good the few times we've tried it.

By: Christine

Christine — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:59:51 +0000

I am a big fan of Yinnis Greek on 8th Street. I find the service very good, decor simple, and food cheap but plentiful.

I must mention also K Sushi across from New West SkyTrain station. They are the best sushi in town! Sorry, but I find the Hi Doio a bit greasy at times.

Agree with the poster about the Heritage Grill, there is something about their salads! They are amazing.

Orange Room has re-opened but under different management. I have not tried it since it has come back, but used to be a big fan of their coffee.

By: John

John — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 14:28:45 +0000

Lots of real good breakfast places on 12th Street. For fried food try New owners at Mom’s near corner of Edinburgh.(note new name Mon Moms Home Cooking. apparently “Mon” is french for “My” Unique catchy name but haven’t figured out the reason, Fanny will explain) Of coures 12th Street has Amelias and Youngs both serving economical fried breakfasts with endless coffee. Both of these are between 6th and 7th. Then we have the Village Coffee Lounge(7th and 12th) opens faithfully at 6AM and serves healthy Breakfasts. Panini(ham,egg and cheese grilled on focacia bread) bagels,Muffins and the best specialty coffees. Eat in or on the run. After breakfast digests please come back and enjoy the famous pulled pork on focacia at the Village or the many ethnic lunch and dinner spots on 12th.

By: Ruth Seeley

Ruth Seeley — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 02:07:06 +0000

Man I’ve got a lot of breakfast eating to do between now and next Monday.

By: Jen

Jen — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 01:44:31 +0000

No, this place is on 12th Street, around 7th I think. Its totally gritty and stuck in the 70s with vinyl etc. Not at all cool. But seriously good bacon. And to me, that trumps everything.

By: Ruth Seeley

Ruth Seeley — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 00:12:44 +0000

Jen – where is it? Is it the place on the east side of 6th near 8th that takes cash only and advertises that it’s cooking like Grandma’s? With the really cool furniture? If so, it’s also the ONLY place to get both a great breakfast AND a great cup of coffee in New West. Although it ain’t cheap and the portions are small.

By: Jen

Jen — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 18:14:10 +0000

Breakfast places – Mom’s Cafe. Total little hole in the wall, but man oh man talk about homecookin!

By: Jen

Jen — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 18:12:53 +0000

My only issue with Moonrakers is the horrid smoke smell that they’ll never get rid of – carpeted bar – who thought of that? I used to go there with my soccer team after games and would come home and be asked why I started smoking again.

By: Briana Tomkinson

Briana Tomkinson — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 18:10:50 +0000

I LOVE the Heritage Grill. It sounds so funny to rave about salad, of all things, but it’s true. We ordered crab cakes once, and although they were yummy, it was the garnish (that darn salad) that we couldn’t stop raving about. I don’t know what’s in their dressing but I haven’t tasted anything like it before.

I used to like going to the Orange Room, but it’s closed now.

By: Ruth Seeley

Ruth Seeley — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 07:08:04 +0000

Thanks for these reviews – I’ve wondered about both Golphi’s and Ole Ole Mexican Deli.

But no one’s mentioned the incredible Reuben you can get in the back room (the little library) of Moonrakers on 7th just down from the Royal City Centre. Or my favourite restaurant in all of New West, what I refer to as the one ‘funky’ place to take people from downtown Vancouver in New West, namely The Heritage Grill – http://www.theheritagegrill.com/. Lovely mescalin mix salad – exquisite dressing with just enough mint in it to be exciting – great service, and great breakfasts too.

In fact – we need to do a post about best breakfast places in New West, and let the Jim’s vs Amelia’s fans duke it out.

By: jocelyn

jocelyn — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 04:27:23 +0000

Will and Briana and I had some really good Indian takeaway the other day, and were pleasantly surprised. Will gets heartburn and wasn’t in the Indian food mood, but Briana and I overruled and ordered from Royal Tandoori (mentioned by NewWestGal in her post), and we’re glad we did. We ordered the “dinner for 2″ on the back of the takeaway menu plus an extra naan bread, which was the perfect size for us with just a bit of Biryani left for Wesley’s lunch.
It was well flavoured, and what Briana and I liked was that even the “mild” spiced food had flavour. It was not greasy, the biryani veggies tasted pretty fresh, and the curry was really nice. Overall, not greasy, flavourful and just the right amount. I think it was around $10 for each of us.