Happy Valley Village Restaurant 山里屯东北铁锅炖 — Restaurant in Richmond

Step into this enchanting restaurant, where every element transports you to a bygone era—a picturesque rural village in China, frozen in time from the late 60s to the 70s. The decor, the delicate cutlery, and the meticulously recreated setup all contribute to an immersive dining experience like no other.

Prepare yourself for an extraordinary culinary journey as you indulge in the flavors of northern China. This is no ordinary fare; this is the hidden gem of northeastern Chinese cuisine. Unlike its more renowned counterparts like Cantonese or Sichuan, this culinary tradition has remained relatively undiscovered, waiting for discerning palates to unlock its secrets.

Immerse yourself in the remarkable service provided by the staff. They not only serve you but take on the role of culinary artisans, masterfully preparing dishes that will leave you spellbound. While some may liken it to a hotpot, let me assure you, it transcends categorization. In northern China, the art lies in stewing the ingredients in a grand wok, each morsel infused with flavors that tell tales of tradition and heritage.

As you savor the dishes, you may notice a subtlety, a departure from the bold and fiery tastes you may be accustomed to. Fear not, for this is the essence of this unique cuisine—a refined simplicity that allows the natural flavors to shine through. While it may be unfamiliar to your taste buds at first, the journey into uncharted gastronomy is a thrill worth embracing.

In its entirety, this dining experience is an adventure like no other—a window into a forgotten era, a gateway to a lesser-known culinary treasure. Let the nostalgia, the authenticity, and the artistry sweep you away. If fortune finds you nearby, I implore you to embark on this remarkable gastronomic voyage and discover the charm of this hidden gem...

I came here twice in a month, which is quite a feat as I live about 2 hours away. For those who can't read Chinese, ordering might be a little difficult as the translation for the English menu might not make much sense. The way to enjoy this place if you're here for the first time is with someone who knows North East （东北）cuisine. We were a party of 5 for the first visit and 6 for the second. We just ordered the pot size for 2 persons and added sides. It was more than enough for all of us

We ordered a different soup base for each visit to try. The first visit we had the Braised Goose as the base and the 2nd visit we had the sauerkraut pork belly base. The braised goose base had a more robust flavor and went better with the flour pancake (小猪盖被). A must try is the cold noodles. Both the spicy and non spicy versions are good. We also had the sliced pig's lungs, it might sound horrible but it was really delicious with the spicy peanut sauce and cilantro.

The service is also friendly and attentive, they'll come by and check every so often to make sure that there's enough soup in the pot and will top up as much as you want.

The place is also decorated to transport you to northeast China. The metal mugs used for water and tea bring you back to the 1980s.

Definitely a fun place to go and have a great meal with friends and family. Reservations are...

I have never travelled to Northeast region of China, so I would have assumed the local cuisine is your typical Chinese stirfry and soups. On the contrary, Northeastern China is often known for their hearty iron hotpot stews, and this place in Richmond will give you the authentic experience of this type of good eats!

The iron hotpot is unique and delicious flavours of herbal and savoury broths with your choice of pork, chicken, fish, beef, or lamb meats in a steaming iron hotpot with various mushrooms, tofu, vegetables and chewy noodles — quite filling and satisfying!

The meat portions are generous and large, and you can add so many more toppings and ingredients so you can enjoy them with the wonderful flavours of the broth. The restaurant also provide you doughs made from wheat lour or corn flour, and while your pot is waiting to boil, the staff stick and spread them the edge of the iron pot to make you grilled and steamed flat bread — how interesting!

The decor of the place is also very authentically Chinese (the flowerprint cushions, wooden cabinets and stools, humorous heroic style cups) and you will be transported to the setting of Chinese Northeastern countryside instantly.

For fun and delicious food in a very interesting environment, I would recommend this place.

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