Chef Pin Richmond — Restaurant in Richmond

Despite risking even more people coming to this place (and increasing my wait time even further), I HAD to give a great review for Chef Pin. This has become one of our favourite places to go to. The dry hot pot offers a unique flavour that is hard to find elsewhere, and we always leave feeling satisfied and satiated.

The service staff are excellent. They are warm and welcoming, extremely friendly and polite, super helpful and upfront about everything (they will let you know if an order will take long and they will remind you that it is cash only for orders under $50 as soon as you order). Lily, Miranda, and Candy are always so sweet and efficient. They are really hard-working and I sincerely hope they are appreciated by the owner.

A few things to be aware of: -The wait time is always at least an hour. They don't take reservations, but they have a large waiting area filled with activities (like video games) to keep you occupied while you wait. You can also put your name on the list and leave, and they will call you when your table is ready. -Certain dishes take a long time to prepare, and you can't order in advance (only after you are seated, if you want to dine in). The server will let you know what those dishes are when placing your order. -I docked one star for atmosphere, only because the restaurant is always cold in the winter months, so bundle up! The food is worth it, but it really is quite chilly in there.

Our usual order is a medium chicken wing hot pot (a medium is more than enough for two people, but it's always fun to take home leftovers). They also allow you to do half and half, so you can have two types of meat in one hot pot. To that, we will add a few items - our favourites are shitake mushrooms, lotus root, tofu puff, greens, rice cake and cabbage. The hot pot already includes things like potatoes, celery, cilantro, green onions, garlic and ginger. We also love the Hot and Sour Fern Root Noodle. When choosing how spicy you want your hot pot to be, "little spicy" is still very spicy!! If it's your first time, I'd go with "mild spicy" (apparently they even have "mild mild spicy") and work your way up from there.

Thank you Candy, Miranda and Lily for always taking care of us! Looking forward to...

Can't rave about this place enough, truly a hidden gem and they deserve a shoutout (to say the least!).

Theyir food & service was so good, we had to go TWICE in a week to see them.

Anywho, let's get into it:

Food: 5/5 The foods at Chef Pin are nothing short of spectacular. The Rabbit Dry Pot was a standout, offering a unique and flavorful twist to traditional pot dishes. Yes, the wait is 1 hour and a half for the Rabbit Dry Pot, but it's well worth the wait (they really make sure you know it's a long wait to set expectations, which I LOVE). Equally impressive were the Chicken Wings and Squid Dry Pot, which were so tasty that we found ourselves returning twice within a single week. The consistency and quality of the food are top-notch!

Service: 10/5 The best part about Chef Pin is actually the service: you can't beat it from anywhere else. They literally set a new benchmark for what proactive customer service should look like (if you believe Chick Fil A Customer Service is a 5/5, then they are a 10/5 haha). The staff, especially Carolyn (the manager), demonstrates a customer-first approach that really is refreshing. They even remember your name, adding a personal touch to the dining experience (and remembering people's names are something that I tell people all the time to do...so props to them) Another server, Myranda, in particular, was attentive and proactive, offering us snacks and napkins even before we realized we needed them. Amazing, to say the least!

Atmosphere: 5/5 The atmosphere of the restaurant contributes significantly to the overall experience. It’s more than just a place to eat; it’s a space where people can relax, unwind, and even play games while waiting. This creates a vibrant and welcoming vibe, perfect for both casual and special occasions.

In conclusion, Chef Pin Richmond is a gem that exceeds expectations. Definitely check it out,...

I’d like to preface this review by saying that service will be slow at peak times, but it is still amazing service. It was packed to the brim when we were here and we waited an hour for the food.

The slow service at peak times, along with the slightly outdated decor, would be the only reasons to not visit. Food here was extremely flavorful and authentic, and you could tell that they put thought into maximizing customer satisfaction with the food. Their main dishes, the spicy dry pots, were well balanced with a combination of vegetables, protein, and starches.

However, it wasn’t just the food that was amazing. Service was also provided with much care and attention to every aspect. They provided gaming consoles and computers in the waiting area, which was a nice touch that certainly helped prevent boredom during waiting. Furthermore, this is one of the last remaining restaurants that still offers 12% tip rates as...