Geng Shi Ji — Restaurant in Richmond

Friends from out of town wanted to dine here tonight, and it Turned out they are very serious foodies and already went to the restaurant I wanted to recommend. Although skeptical at first, I finished the meal very impressed. Their signature Original Chinese Chicken was absolutely fantastic— tender, juicy, and so umami. Although the breast was a little dry, but when drenched in the flavourful oil that came out from cooking the chicken with fresh pig trotters, it became a vessel of savoury right into my mouth. The Handmade Egg roll with Pork Cubes(I think they actually just meant meatballs, probably a little lost in translation) was phenomenal as well; first fried with a golden crust with sticky rice then steamed to a perfect texture. You could still feel a little crunch when biting into the huge meatball, and the texture was really good. Soft but not too soft, chewy but not too chewy; perfectly balanced, just as all things should be. And very fresh tasting pork as well. The egg rolls on top are a nice touch as well. It adds a great contrast in colour and is a great palate cleanser after I’ve gobbled down a whole meatball. The Fried Garlic Moss with Bacon( I prefer to call it Garlic Scapes with Chinese Bacon) was satisfying as well, the Garlic Scapes we’re all very tender with a perfect crunch. I did not have a single bite that resembled a steal beam in my mouth as some restaurants do accidentally leave some hard Scapes in. The bacon was great as well, perfectly smokey but not overpowering and again, great texture and balance between soft and hard, chewy and mushy. It’s a classic HuNan dish but with very tolerable spice levels and not overwhelmingly oily. Sadly the portions were a little small and I definitely did not have enough of it. Finally the last dish we ordered was the Stir Fry Bullfrog with Thai Basil. This is something that appears in Chinese cooking quite often but can seem a little daunting to Westerners. But I can assure you there really is no weird taste and I would honestly just call it slightly more chewy chicken thigh. Moderate spice stir fried with Perilla enhanced the meat’s meat’s freshness and made sure it was the star of the show. I would really recommend it for people who are trying to be a little daring and adventurous. Lastly it was a shame that they ran out of Glutinous Rice Cake, it’s a very classic HuNan desert and I will definitely be coming back for that. The environment was very pleasant and the waitress’s were very friendly even when they had to kick us out for the next table haha. Although it was very noisy but that’s typical of Chinese restaurants. It reminded me of the times when I was growing up in China and it made me feel a little warm and fuzzy inside. I’m definitely coming back as it’s now one of my favourite restaurants in greater Vancouver. PS: do remember to call to reserve a spot or else you are not going to get a seat for a while. PPS: This is my first time leaving a very detailed review and I hope...

The service at this restaurant was extremely disappointing and lacked any sense of customer care. Throughout the entire meal, there was almost no service provided. The water pitcher was empty early on, and despite waiting a long time, no one checked on us. Even when the server was chatting with colleagues, she made no effort to attend to us. When we eventually reminded her, she not only failed to address the issue promptly but also said, “If the water pitcher is empty, you should either leave it outside or let us know.” This response was shockingly unprofessional.

Additionally, when we were ordering, the server suggested we order more dishes, claiming the portions were small and might not be enough. However, when we insisted on ordering at our own pace, her tone became impatient, as if she was unwilling to serve us.

When it came time to pay, we left a partial tip out of courtesy. To our surprise, the server questioned us, saying, “What are you unhappy with? I see you only left a 10% tip.” This attitude was infuriating. When we pointed out the issues, particularly the lack of water and poor service, she showed no remorse and instead acted as if her behavior was justified, completely disregarding our dining experience.

On a positive note, the greeter on the first floor was very welcoming and polite, smiling warmly at every guest and making us feel valued.

Overall, the service quality during this visit was not worth the price. I sincerely hope the restaurant focuses on training its staff and improving service standards. Otherwise, I will not return and cannot recommend this...

Revisiting a restaurant that I did not enjoy before can be a total surprise!

I recall when I first came (when they first opened a few years back) here with my co-workers, I did not think much of their food and especially with their prices. Not only was the taste but the value was totally lacking.

Fast forward to now, when our friend said that she wanted to treat us to a meal there, I was reluctant and even tried to steer her away, but glad she insisted.

To my surprise all the items she ordered were very tasty and was not what I had experienced before...

Highlight of our meal..

Cauliflower & Shrimp .. how simple can this be? The Chef used a very light savoury sauce that captures the delicate flavours of both items, no single taste is too outstanding but it just makes the whole dish memorable!!

Braised Sparerib in Black Vinegar .. a classic dish that requires patience & skills to make the dish stands out, here the Chef slow cooks the spareribs first to make it tender, then he would braise it in the sugar & vinegar until it becomes thick like molasses, the result is a rich & tangy coating for the tender spareribs .. try it if its available.

Overall, I would have them back on my list for casual Chinese food, service is attentive ( male servers are more polite, haha ) and the seatings are comfortable. Unlike most Chinese restaurants, all tables are rectangular rather than round.

Parking is free at the open air mall, but it is always a challenge, if you are going in a group make sure...