🇨🇦 Victoria Food Journal · | Taishan Kitchen

📍 306 Burnside Rd W #103, Victoria, BC V8Z 1M1 This Chinese restaurant is on the outskirts of Victoria—definitely a bit out of the way, not close to any major spots. But the vibe inside is nice, and from what I can tell, the owner and chef are both from Hong Kong. It’s always busy too—every time I go, the place is packed! The only small downside is there never seem to be enough servers; you often have to call a few times before someone comes over. On the plus side, parking’s a breeze—you can just pull right up to the door. 😊 We had a funny moment when we went, though: me and my roommate LC both forgot our wallets! Total "no-brain" move—so silly. 😂 ✅ Sichuan Boiled Fish 💰23.95 Hands down the best boiled fish I’ve had on the island! The portion of fish isn’t huge, but it’s super fresh—each slice is tender, not mushy at all. Just be careful when you take a bite—there are occasional tiny bones. They load it up with bean sprouts, too, and thank goodness they cook those well: crispy, no earthy aftertaste, and perfectly blanched before going into the pot. So good! 🐟 ✅ Salt & Pepper Calamari 💰19.95 This is such a great bar snack vibe! The squid is fresh—sweet, chewy but not tough, and cut into perfect bite-sized pieces. They use very little batter, and after frying, it’s not greasy at all—no gross oily aftertaste, which leaves your mouth feeling clean. The salt and pepper is just right, not overwhelming, and they sprinkle on some dried chili flakes that add a nice kick. You can’t help but keep popping them in your mouth! 🦑 🆗 Kyoto Pork Chops 💰19.95 It’s basically sweet and sour pork chops, boneless—super easy to eat! They use lean pork, no stringy bits, and it’s clearly pre-fried, so there’s zero porky smell. The flavor’s a balanced sweet and sour, not greasy at all, and the onions stir-fried with it are sweet and tasty too. Solid, but not the star of the show. 🐷 ✅ Scallop & Egg White Fried Rice 💰22.95 They must use jasmine rice—cooked a bit firm, which I love. It’s stir-fried with egg white, and some of the egg coats the rice, giving it a nice, slight stickiness. They load up on dried scallop shreds, which makes the whole dish super umami. There’s also a little bit of Chinese broccoli stems, which is genius—it cuts through any hint of greasiness and leaves your mouth feeling fresh. So satisfying! 🍚 ✅ Garlic Sautéed Pea Shoots 💰22.95 Their pea shoots are also the best on the island, I think—and I get why: they’re not afraid to trim! Most of the plate is the tender parts; all the tough stems are cut off, which makes the price worth it. It’s called "garlic pea shoots," but there’s barely any garlic—tastes more like simple stir-fried pea shoots. And since I don’t like garlic? That’s a win in my book! 🥬 #Canada #CanadaFood #VancouverIsland #Victoria #Foodie #LifeSnippets #FoodTour #MyDailyLife #RestaurantRecommendation #HiddenGemRestaurant #FoodCheckIn #SoloDining #EatsAndTreats #VictoriaChineseFood #ChineseRestaurant #BoiledFish