🇨🇦 Victoria Food Journal · | AsUsual Cafe

📍 2510 Estevan Ave, Victoria, BC V8R 5Z2 Tucked away on the edge of Oak Bay, this little Taiwanese spot has been around for years, I think—run by a Taiwanese owner, which explains the authentic vibe. The place is tiny with not many seats, and most folks seem to get takeout. As someone from Shanghai, I love the sweet-savory flair of Taiwanese food—it’s right up my alley! But ugh, the Taiwanese waitress? Total mood killer. She had a permanent scowl, didn’t even offer water unless we asked—such a let-down. 😒 🆗 Taro Egg Waffles 💰5.95 The waffles themselves smelled amazing—no weird eggy aftertaste, with a crispy outer layer and soft, cake-like inside. But the taro flavor? Barely there. Worse, there was a faint burnt taste. Just an “okay” batch—probably won’t order again, since it feels hit-or-miss! 🥞 Build-Your-Own Platter 💰19.96 You pick 3 appetizers, and it comes piping hot—watch your fingers! ✅ Salt & Pepper Chicken The coating is fried to a shatteringly crisp, and the seasoning’s light but spot-on. The chicken inside is tender, with a subtle sweet hint under the saltiness—so moreish! 🍗 ✅ Fried Sweet Potato Balls (Tian Bu La) Basically fish cakes, and they’re chewy in the best way after frying. On their own, they’re mild—just a touch of fishy and floury—but dip ’em in that Taiwanese sweet chili sauce? Game on. Salty, sweet, savory—so much flavor in one bite! 🥢 🆗 Fried Oysters Only 5 in the platter, but hey, since a single order of oysters is half the platter’s price, it feels like a steal. The oysters themselves were a bit fishy that day, and the batter was thicker than I’d like. Still, the sweet chili sauce saved it—fine for a quick bite. 🦪 ✅ Tamagoyaki 💰6.96 So fragrant—and scalding when it arrives, so let it cool! It’s tender and moist, with the perfect balance of egg and mayo—sweet, creamy, and just a touch salty. Melts in your mouth, honestly—so good! 🥚 🆗 Taiwanese Braised Pork Noodle Soup + Braised Pork Belly 💰15.95+5.95 Decent, but not as good as their braised pork rice. I only ordered it ’cause my stomach felt off and I wanted something warm. The broth is sweet-savory, and the meat includes both ground pork (lean, no stringy bits) and a chunk of braised pork belly. The belly felt smaller than usual—maybe ’cause the noodle bowl’s bigger? Still, it’s marbled nicely. I swapped noodles for (ho fun), and the portion’s huge—I couldn’t finish half. The only veg is cabbage, which is a bit boring, but it’s fine. 🥢 #Canada #CanadaFood #VancouverIsland #Victoria #Foodie #LifeSnippets #FoodTour #MyDailyLife #RestaurantRecommendation #HiddenGemRestaurant #FoodCheckIn #SoloDining #EatsAndTreats #TaiwaneseFood #EggWaffles