My hometown, Richmond, is home to some of the best Chinese food outside of Asia, offering dumplings worth travelling for. Richmond’s Dumpling Trail, which has garnered international coverage, is a curated collection of 20 recommended dumpling hot spots.
One way to explore Richmond’s dumpling scene is through Vancouver Food Tour where attendees embark on a 3 hour guided walking tour of 5 restaurants serving up the most delectable dumplings this side of the Pacific.
I recently had the opportunity to experience the Dumpling Trail tour led by Cassandra (@goodlifevan and goodlifevancouver.com) with Vancouver Food Tour. Here’s a look at my experience.
Stop #1: 4 Stones Vegetarian
After meeting up at the Marriot Hotel, our group ventured across the street to our first dumpling stop at 4 Stones Vegetarian.
This vegan and vegetarian Taiwanese-inspired restaurant is the type of place that proves that great dumplings aren’t just for carnivores.
We tried their house-made gyoza as well as their Chinese “BBQ Pork” cut bun which had all the flavour and texture of the more traditional pork versions.
Stop #2: Empire Seafood Restaurant
For some of Richmond’s best dim sum, we visited Empire Seafood Restaurant offering traditional staples such as har gow and siu mai. For many diners, the standout dish at this restaurant is wu gok, a deep-fried mashed taro and duck dumpling with a crunchy exterior and deliciously soft savoury centre.
We also tried the ham sui gok, which has a mochi-like texture skin and a mix of sweet and savoury flavours from the minced pork and dried shrimp.
Stop #3: Tsim Chai
Next up was Tsim Chai, which is known for their wontons. We indulged in the deep-fried version as well as the sui gow with oyster sauce (similar to the regular wonton but with an elongated shape and has wood ear mushroom inside for the filling).
Stop #4. Richmond Public Market
Our last stop was to the food court of the Richmond Public Market which is home to some unique food stalls.
We enjoyed some spicy dumplings in chilli oil with enough heat to tickle the taste buds.
And to wash it all down, we ordered several drinks from Encore Tea including Brown Sugar Pearl Milk, Yakult Green Tea, and so forth.
I had a great time being on Vancouver Food Tour’s Dumpling Tour and would recommend it as a good introduction to Richmond’s world-class dumpling scene.
The tour is priced at $60 per person. For more information about tour, visit here www.vancouverfoodtour.com/tours/richmonds-dumpling-trail-tour/