Lao Cai Chinese Cuisine West Van 老蔡食府 西温店 — Restaurant in West Vancouver

Lao Cai Chinese Cuisine is an independent restaurant on West Vancouver’s Marine Drive that serves 陕西 Shaanxi style (North-Western 西北 Chinese) cuisine with a few modern dishes to complement its core offerings.

The staples of this cuisine are mostly flour-based carbs: hand pulled noodles, dumplings, and ‘pita breads’ buns, all of which they proudly make in-house. Their execution is praiseworthy as they appear to closely adhere to the time-honoured recipes of the classic dishes: the 肉夹馍 （’Stewed Pork Burger’), 凉皮 (Cold Rice Noodle Salad), and 羊肉泡馍 (Hand-ripped Noodle Dough in Lamb Broth) all tasted legit.

In addition to these, we found their braised lamb chops and home-made dumplings to be fresh and full of natural flavour. The lamb chops paired nicely with the dry spice seasoning and pickled garlic (a Shaanxi favourite!), and the dumplings were just oozing with meaty juices that explode in the mouth.

Amusingly, we also loved how our Osamanthus 桂花 tea was so fragrant that the lady who sat at the next table couldn’t help but notice it. She ended up ordering one herself after asking us about it.

Overall, this is a great place to eat, and judging from the full house situation at lunchtime, this restaurant must be a crowd favourite. We saw many who came in groups ordered the duck soup to share hot-pot style, which seems to be another good reason to come back. Kudos also to the excellent service of the floor staff. Thanks for...

For travelers craving authentic Shaanxi cuisine or foodies seeking bold new flavors, Lao Cai Chinese Cuisine in West Vancouver is a hidden treasure worth discovering. This unassuming spot delivers genuine Xi'an taste that transports you straight to Northwest China.

Must-Try Signature Dishes: ✔ Shrimp Pork & Chive Dumplings - Choose between pan-fried for crispiness or boiling for tenderness ✔ Rou Jia Mo (Chinese Burger)- Fluffy buns stuffed with savory braised pork ✔ Liang Pi Cold Noodles - Chewy wheat noodles tossed in house-made chili oil and black vinegar ✔ Hand-Pulled Beef Noodle Soup - Springy noodles in rich, aromatic broth with tender beef ✔ Lamb Pao Mo Soup- Hearty lamb broth with torn bread, mushrooms and herbs

Why We Love It: Xi'an Flavors - Chef trained in China using authentic techniques and ingredients Cozy Atmosphere - Feels like a neighborhood eatery you'd find down a Xi'an alley Great Value- Generous portions that satisfy (4-person takeout under $100!)

Good to Know: 📍 1425 Marine Dr, West Vancouver (plenty of parking) ⏰ Open daily 11:30am-8:30pm

Perfect for when you need: ✓ A taste of home for Shaanxi natives ✓ An authentic Chinese food adventure ✓ Comforting, flavorful noodles and dumplings. I give a four ⭐, since the bun and pancake...

A late night dinner with the family on the patio at Lao Cai Chinese Cuisine. Featured here:

Stewed Pork Burger Stewed Beef Noodle Soup Fern Root Noodle with Dark Vinegar Sauce Vegetarian Dumplings

My husband said the beef in his Stewed Beef Noodle Soup was succulent and the broth was very tasty. Stewed Pork Burger was just OK. It was apparently lacking in flavor somewhat.

As a Pescatarian, finding food for myself at this restaurant was challenging. I did manage to find some food which fit with my needs in the end but the food was just OK. It's not a place I'd recommend to anyone who's a non meat eater. Vegetarian Dumplings were "meh". I had hoped that my Fern Root Noodle would be a hot noodle dish but it turned out to be a cold noodle. As I tend to like tangy dishes, I did enjoy the flavor of this noodle but really wished that it would have been a hot noodle dish. There really isn't much else besides salad on the menu for people who don't eat meat.

Other members of my family have come here repeatedly. They seem to enjoy the soup, noodles and hotpot dishes. It's a good spot on the North Shore to come for some hot, belly warming food if you're a meat eater. Can't see myself coming back to this restaurant again though.

Service: Could have been better Parking: Free parking on the street Location: #130 - 1425 Marine Dr.,...