Little Karp Seafood & Bar — Restaurant in Richmond

Little karp or just bait?

After going thru a few reviews, finally decided on checking out this little fish and see what water it is swimming in or am I just getting lured in as bait? When entered, were politely greeted and once seated the server placed the napkin onto my lap (nice! Didn’t know I walked into fine dining?)

The interior layout is modern, trendy and elegant especially with large 3D paper karps hanging from its high ceiling. The tables are decently spaced apart to ensure comfort, the bar is connected to the kitchen with a VIP room beside it.

After glancing thru the menu I realized they changed and upgraded their menu from what I saw on the reviews?!? Our server confirmed that there’s a changed in the menu especially on the prices, some of the prices are adjusted lower (nice! I assume the price adjustment was somewhat due part to customer feedbacks?).

Here were the food I ordered;

Clam chowder. The chowder itself was poured into the soup bowl with fresh clam meats, done table side. I find the taste and ingredients were a bit in the plain and lighter side plus it wasn’t hot as I would like for my soups. Maybe cause needed to increase the soup portion a bit by 15-20% to retain the heat and value wise. Yes I get it, fine dining small portion. P.S. the website menu said $16 but the bill said $18 so might want to look into that. Wild mushrooms soup. Besides it being a tiny bit salty, it was rich and flavourful with a nice truffle oil aroma. Mussels and frites. There were 2 sizes to choose from (for 2ppl or for 4ppl). Very generous amount of both fries and mussels bathe in a white wine sauce. Loved it, the mussels were fresh without that strong sea smell and the meats were plump and juicy! Little Karp premium seafood tower for 2 (also choice for 2 or 4). I don’t know about the seafood tower for 4, but this one I would consider it a seafood platter more because it’s one level whereas an actual tower be consisted of multiple levels? Hence the word tower? Anyways, half lobster was tender and not rubbery, the Dungeness crab was partial de-shelled for easier eating (I like that!), the clams and mussels were fresh and plump unlike most places give you dried up ones, the prawns could be better with a little crunch, and the oysters were unbelievable fresh with a very refreshing sweet taste! Filet mignon. It was nicely grilled and all the ingredients were nicely balanced except maybe for the black pepper sauce which myself and others may find it slightly over powering (perhaps have choice of sauce?). New York steak. Everything was nicely done except it was probably 15 seconds undercooked (I ordered medium rare, it was just a bit toward the rarer side) but I don’t mind too much about it, I just like my steaks to be caramelized more to bring out the flavours. Yuzu ramble. This mock tail was quite refreshing.

The food was fresh and delicious! The new prices were quite fair for its quality and portion (maybe the clam chowder so so). I was going to order the seafood paella but saw it didn’t come the traditional way, cooked and served in a hot pan or shallow pot the way I like so opted out on that.

The service was on point; our server was friendly and polite, attentive to details, plates and utensils were changed and replaced as needed in between dishes, and very informative of each dish brought out by the staffs.

In conclusion, the services here undeniably beat a lot of the fine dining restaurants in the lower mainland. If this place continues to improve, be consistent with its food quality and great customer service, this place has a good chance at becoming the next Michelin guide or Michelin star restaurant.

I would like to try their brunch one day and if they provide the same experience what I had to everyone else, definitely a...

Tucked away in Richmond's charming Alexandria restaurant row, Little Karp Seafood and Bar offers a delightful culinary journey that never fails to impress. On this visit, we were a party of three adults and a toddler, to celebrate our 39th wedding anniversary. Having dined here before with a larger group in the intimacy of a private room, I was eager to see if the experience would be as outstanding as our first visit—and it absolutely was.

Little Karp masterfully blends the vibrant flavors of Asian and West Coast cuisine, using only the freshest seafood and local ingredients, many of which are sourced daily from the nearby fishing village of Steveston. This isn't your typical Asian restaurant; the kitchen at Little Karp crafts an exquisite fusion that takes your taste buds on a journey, elevating every dish into a memorable experience.

Although the entrées are designed for individual servings, we chose to share our plates, creating a delightful communal meal.

Our evening began with the Nova Scotia Lobster Ceviche, a refreshing medley of lobster meat, cilantro, habanero peppers, mango, cucumber, shallots, and chives, paired perfectly with their Garlic Cheese Bread (quickly consumed by our 3 year old granddaughter). Next came the Clam Chowder—an unforgettable dish made with white fermented soy bean curd, fresh clams, and fennel, its flavors both comforting and intriguing.

Our mains included a beautifully executed Wild Mushroom Risotto and the standout Hainanese Chicken Rice, which was nothing short of exceptional, accompanied by a side of perfectly seared Scallops.

When reserving our table, I mentioned our special occasion, and to our delight, the evening was capped off with a complimentary chocolate ganache, adorned with whipped cream, strawberries, and blueberries—a sweet and thoughtful gesture from the restaurant.

As I observed the dishes being served at other tables—Wagyu burgers, fish fillet, fish and chips, filet mignon, seafood paella, and succulent crabs—I couldn't help but make a mental note to return and explore more of their diverse offerings.

For those who appreciate Asian cuisine, the innovative blend of spices and techniques with Western and European influences at Little Karp is truly something special. The impeccable service, delivered by a team of professionals, only adds to the overall experience. This is a place you simply must try—it promises not...

This is the best restaurant I’ve been to in the Lower Mainland, including nearly all of the Michelin-starred restaurants. It is just absolutely spectacular.

I decided to book a reso for my fiancé and I at Little Karp after seeing photos on social media, as we are major foodies and we love to try new restaurants. We were impressed with the service from the moment we arrived. My fiancé ordered a deconstructed margarita, which was so innovative - he is a cocktail guy and is very hard to impress, and the cocktail impressed him! I don’t drink alcohol, but they were able to make non-alcoholic versions of nearly every cocktail, and my virgin yuzu spritz was incredibly delicious.

But the food is the real standout here. Every single dish was a revelation. My fiancé had the tasting menu and I ordered dishes that weren’t on the tasting menu, so that we could each try more things. Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, was incredibly impressive. The feature soup included two spot prawns that had been caught that day (!!!!); the server poured the soup over them and they curled up as they cooked in the hot red curry soup, as only the very freshest spot prawns do. The romamesco with fusilli pepper salsa verse was the best vegetable dish I’ve ever eaten in my life. The ceviche with lobster and fresh BC geoduck… divine. The black garlic short rib with koji butter and puffed rice? Words cannot properly describe its deliciousness.

This is fine dining at its finest. I know Richmond seems an unlikely place for this sort of food as these restaurants are primarily downtown, but it’s really not very hard to get to, and they have their own large parking lot, which you can’t say for downtown restaurants!

The owners are a lovely couple who had their culinary training in Switzerland and worked for many years in high-end restaurants in Hong Kong, and it has long been their dream to open their own restaurant. They should be very proud of what they’ve accomplished here.

Please, please do yourself a favour and go to Little Karp. It is just SO GOOD. We’re already planning to go back with our best friends and with my parents and for my fiancé’s birthday. I...