Burnaby’s Spicy Hunan Gem | Alvin Garden Review

📍 Alvin Garden 🏠 Address: 4850 Imperial St, Burnaby, BC V5J 1C4 💰 Price: ~$20–35 per person | ⏰ 🔥 Why It’s a Must-Try? ✔ Authentic Hunan flavors – Bold, numbing, and unapologetically spicy ✔ Generous portions – Leftovers guaranteed ✔ Free parking – Rare for Burnaby restaurants 🌶️ MUST-TRY DISHES 1. Red-Braised Pork Belly – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ • Melt-in-your-mouth: Slow-cooked with star anise & soy, zero gaminess • Fat-to-lean ratio: 50/50 perfection – chopsticks can cut through 2. Fish-Fragrant Shredded Pork – ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ • Sweet-sour-spicy: Loaded with wood ear mushrooms & bamboo shoots • Texture: Silky pork strips (no chewy bits) 3. Dry-Fried Cabbage – ⭐⭐⭐⭐ • Wok hei magic: Charred edges, salty-savory with a hint of smokiness • Veggie hack: Ask for extra chili oil if you like it fiery 4. Mouthwatering Chicken – ⭐⭐⭐⭐ • Numbing sauce: Sichuan peppercorn + chili oil pool • Cold appetizer: Perfect with beer 5. Mapo Tofu – ⭐⭐⭐⭐ • Creamy-spicy: Silken tofu + minced pork in chili-bean sauce • Rice killer: One spoonful = three bites of rice 💡 PRO TIPS 1. Spice level: Default is “Hunan hot” – request “mild” if needed 2. Leftovers: Cabbage & pork belly reheat beautifully for next-day noodles 3. Parking: Free lot behind the restaurant (enter off Hastings) #HunanSpice #BurnabyEats #ComfortFood