Kwan Luck Restaurant — Restaurant in Vancouver

There’s something about the communal act of eating, the shared experience of tasting that binds us. In this small, bustling eatery, I found myself seated at a table with just two dishes before me. The first, a broccoli dish, was a vibrant green affair, each floret a miniature tree in a forest of flavor, sautéed to perfection with just the right amount of garlic and oil. It was a simple dish, but in its simplicity, lay its brilliance.

The second dish was chicken, cooked in a manner that paid homage to the bird’s humble origins. It was tender, the kind of tender that speaks of hours of marinating and a chef’s careful attention. The spices were a melody on the palate, a symphony of flavors that sang of far-off places and homely kitchens.

As I sat there, savoring each bite, I couldn’t help but think that this is an experience best shared. So here’s my recommendation: gather a group, four or more, and come down to this little gem. Share the dishes, share the moments, and let the food do what it does best – bring us together.

I would also suggest you do seafood. Some of the dishes that came out look much better than what I had.

FYI, THIS IS A...

I have been driving by Kwan Luck for probably hundreds of times in the past decade to and from work but never managed to pay a visit. We finally did it this evening.

True to all the reviews, the restaurant is truly a classic Cantonese gem that serves up very traditionally and rare old-school dishes that are hard to find nowadays at this price point.

The servers are friendly, authentic, attentive and funny, too! They come around every ten minutes or so to change our dishes and help us order more drinks.

Every dish was beautifully executed and very tasty without too much sauces. Just right in the seasoning department. The escargot and the oyster dishes where excellent. The fried Shishamo dish (椒鹽 多春魚) was also a super classic. The pig's blood & cilantro congee was refreshing, light and has just the right thickness.

Highly recommend if you can...

I phoned ahead to get takeaway. Upon arrival I was greeted by a man mopping a flood of water that had escaped from one of the fish tanks. The fish that were living appeared also to be in some distress. There was a major flood and it seemed very odd, and not very clean. When I was given the bill and told cash...or etransfer only I complied only as I was so hungry. I did the transfer and the cashier phoned someone at home to make sure it went through! I should have asked for a tax receipt haha. This whole cash only situation is very shady. Food was ok but had very little flavor. The whole experience not great. This also was in April during the height of our 5th wave of covid. Tables were jam packed into the tight space and there were no masks in the vicinity. Now that the regulations have eased I would be very careful...