Yuan's Garden Restaurant Richmond — Restaurant in Richmond

Really loved this place and recommended so many people. It was my go-to xlb restaurant but I haven't been back since my experience.

Food was ok, but service is just terrible. They brought the alcohol chicken/drunken chicken dish to my table which I told the waitress I didn't order. She ignored me and left and then later came back to take the chicken away. Then our soup noodles came and she placed it at our table...my boyfriend and I were in the middle of sharing it (already had some noodles in a small bowl) when waitress came back and actually took the noodles away, touching my hands to remove it from the chopsticks. I was shocked. I told her we ordered the noodles and she said it was the other tables and proceeded to give the soup noodles to the table that had the mix up with the chicken. I saw how they told her it's not theirs and she brought it back with a sheepish smile and a half hearted sorry. The spoon fell in the soup during this process and she got it out with the chopsticks and left. First of all, even if the noodles weren't ours...we already touched the noodles, how can you give it to someone else? I am so surprised she actually touched me to remove the chopsticks from my hands!! Secondly, there's no sincere apologies or anything to make up for this mix up! I told her which is ours and isn't and she ignored me. Lastly, the spoon..which she touched..fell in the soup! Not only did she get the spoon out in front of me, she won't even go get a clean, non-oily one after that whole mess. The rest of the waitresses saw and didn't do anything. Never....

Our families came in on a Tuesday late morning and there was a lot of available parking. It’s located across from sun sui wah. Apparently this place serves authentic Shanghai/Jiangzhe food.

The restaurant isn’t too big. But it also isn’t too cramped. We kept hearing someone from the back kitchen ringing and taping that service bell like there’s no tomorrow haha. Yes people… the service is gonna be a hit or miss. The owner looked like a cool laid back guy and always smiling but the service staff needs more awareness.

Anyhow, The hot and sour soup with noodles had ample spice. I wasn’t too sure how I felt about the noodles. The texture wasn’t my cup of tea, but the hot and sour soup was comforting.

Then the salted soy milk donut soup. Oh man. Really nice! If you want a great starter this would be the one.

Pastries came out. Passable. But nothing special or wholesome. I wish the radish filling was more stuffed.

Xlbs it’s passable but I’ve had better. Still delicious with that skin popped with delicious pork broth.

Shanghai noodles. Passable.

Beef fried rice. Delicious. Almost borderline too oily.

Spicy wontons. Dude that spicy sauce is a creeper and it hits the back of your throat. If you don’t have a good tolerance you may cough your food out haha. But delicious. I wish I can buy a jar of that sauce for home. Absolutely delicious.

I would definitely come back again and...

Homey, tasty and unpretentious food 🤗

Good and prompt service.

To try: spicy chicken feet (well marinated, refreshing, and crunchy) drunken pork Hock (well-seasoned, collagen wonder) cucumber and black fungus salad (seasoning sure opens the appetite) Steamed pork bun (signature dish well made - thin wrap and soupy filling) Steamed rice with salty pork and veggies (looks simple but packs a punch in terms for flavour - feels like home) stir fried leek with egg (simple but perfectly executed to bring the leek flavour forefront) stir fried rice cakes (not a fan usually due to its texture - imagine Korean tteokbokki - but pleasantly surprised 👍🏻) smoked chicken (crispy, moist, well-seasoned and off-the-bone goodness) deep fried shrimp (well-seasoned and juicy)

If you're hungry: crispy duck (crispy but a tad bland) braised pork belly with pickled veggie (taste on point but meat is a bit tough) sesame rice balls in wine soup (was expecting filled rice ball but 😔) deep fried red bean pastry (standard) stir fried Shanghai thick noodles (bland and a bit greasy; not a good...