🇨🇦 Richmond, you’ve officially won me over with your incredible food

One bowl in particular—the Bun Cha Ca Hai Phong—might just be one of the best noodle soups I’ve had in my entire life. 😭 It’s packed with fresh herbs: dill, shredded scallions, perilla leaves, and one surprise veggie that tasted so familiar… See pic 3! It had the flavor of crown daisy but the texture of water spinach. As someone from Jiangsu, I remember my family stir-frying it with pork (turns out it’s called water celery!). There was also something between bamboo fungus, bamboo shoot, and loofah—it’s called taro stem, thin, subtly sweet, and soaked in the tangy broth. Crispy fish cake + a piece of pickled sweet garlic + those silky rice noodles… Everything was pure perfection. The broth was so delicious I finished my partner’s leftover rice with it! 🌶️ I was sniffling from the spicy mushroom chili paste but couldn’t stop eating. I’m convinced I was Southeast Asian in a past life… Transcendent experience! (Note: I’m pescatarian—my partner eats meat and thought the soup was just “okay,” so my review might resonate more with non-meat eaters!) Liǔ Chéng Xiǎo Xiàng The smell when you walk in is… strong 💨 but you get used to it. Super affordable! We went all out—extreme spice level, extra toppings (braised beef, marinated egg, fried egg, wood ear, sour bamboo), plus an extra serving of noodles and soup. With 18% tip, it was still under $40! Pure flavor bliss 😇 Their sour bamboo shoots are outstanding—way better than the packaged kind. Dà Táng Málà Tàng They serve a dry, crispy version of mala xiangguo! The ingredients are very fresh. Free condiment bar + ice cream 🍦 First-time visitors get free fried fish pieces and watermelon juice 🍉❤️ Very satisfying! Aya Beef Noodle House The crispy yellow croaker with plum powder was tasty 🐟 But the hand-pulled noodles and blanched veggies were too oily. Also, not sure why, but we got stomach issues after… maybe the tap water? 💧 Chuān Shuō This was our 4th time here—we always order the live fish 🐟 But this time, the braised giant grouper with fried dough felt under-seasoned. Xún Qín Jì Tried the vegetarian version of their Five-Combo Noodles (usually comes with meat). After eating it, I passed out like I’d been hit with a sleeping potion 😴 Happy carb coma! Yokai Tapas Bar The charcoal-grilled cod rice was incredibly fragrant! 🔥🍚 Hibiki Ramen Yakitori Bar Vegan ramen was just okay. Lunch bento box looked pretty though 🍱 Fù Chūn As someone from Jiangsu, I have to say their Dazhu Gansi (simmered dried tofu shreds) was a letdown 😔 The broth started fine but got greasy from the ham. Toppings were sparse, shrimp were tiny, and the tofu shreds were clumped together… Their spicy clams were delicious though! Didn’t get to try the eel—next time I’ll compare it with Jiangnan Xiao Zao. #NoodleHeaven #Foodie #RichmondEats #GlobalEats #MustTry