The Crystal Mall — Attraction in Burnaby

This mall is a place where you can find affordable Asian goods and produce.

Pros A great selection of produce on the lower floor that are fresh and cheap with fast service. Food court serving mainly Chinese dishes from snacks and drinks to full meal courses. Wide variety of stores like phone repairs, hair salons and travel agencies. Benches and free newspapers available for everyone. Accessible through transit.

Cons: The underground parking lot is tight, especially the ramps connecting between levels. Because there is only one entrance and exit, you have to wait for some time to make your way out. Parking lot clearance starting at level 2 is quite small. A large pickup truck will not be able to fit. Washrooms could use some cleaning in regards to wet floors and counters. General mall cleaning is needed. There are times when garbage cans in the mall is full without anyone clearing it. The mall in general is old and outdated. Many of the interior amenities and interior design are dull and old style. Horrible website! I don't even know how one can find what they are looking for with ease. Website needs a remake. I don't know how the entire structure will stand against an earthquake, especially the underground parking lot. There should be inspections and retrofitting of the building so it doesn't collapse.

If you want to buy cheap and fresh produce, want to enjoy affordable Chinese cuisine, or seek common services like phone repairs in Cantonese and Mandarin, this is the place to do so.

I suggest coming by foot if you have a large vehicle or don't feel comfortable driving in tight spaces.

Beware that there are several reserved parking on P1, a fenced area on P3 and some spots reserved for residents on P4. There are also large parking fans there too, and when they are on, it can get...

I love this place to the bottom of my heart. I am more loyal to this place than Hera is to Zeus. The atmosphere? Classic Chinese mall. The bustling market? Fresh, plentiful produce. The Chinese medicine shops? Brings me back to Hong Kong. The food court? Don’t even get me started on the food court. The food brings me to mind-numbingly levels of joy- I recommend Grains Fish Noodles and Hong Kong Day Cafe. You can find my review about Grains Fish Noodle. I’m here to talk about Hong Long Day Cafe, one of the only reasons why I’m still sane. The chicken steak and rice brings me astronomical levels of pleasure. The chicken steak’s meat is tender and flavourful, the skin crisp with fat. The egg is scrambled beautifully and slightly creamy with some yolk. My favourite part? The sauce. Oooooooooooh the sauce is what gives this entire thing life and the rice just soaks up all that rich sauce and god it makes my mouth water just thinking about it. The scallions on top add that nice hint of freshness and some slight crunch and Jesus Christ I will never stop glazing this restaurant like some people...

On the Ground Floor, the Crystal Mall has a large undercover area called the Market Place. Walk through the automatic doors, and you will think you've been teleported to an Asian marketplace somewhere in Southeast Asia. Fresh vegetables and dry goods are displayed on tables like tops found in Asia. Shoplets line the perimeter of the market selling sundry items, dry goods, phone accessories while other shop fronts have a queue of people awaiting their made to order street food! But the biggest and most pleasant surprise was the level of hygiene and absence of flies and other vermin. Fresh meat and fish are hygienically displayed behind refrigerated glass displays. You can select your choice of meat cut or fish by pointing at your choice, and it will be packed for you. Cooked food offered for sale was displayed within refrigerated or heated glass displays. I loved it all, the noise, the energy, and buzz of the place and, most of all, the impressive cleanliness of the market. Canada can really teach the Asians lessons on how to run an open market without...