Dining Out - Ethnic Food in a Small Town
Local Dad Derek Kwan asked a great question after our book review yesterday.
Where are some hot spots to actually get kiddos to test drive ethnic foods around here?
I honestly think that is a seriously tough question.
With no intention of dishing the restaurants that currently reside in the Valley, finding really tasty ethnic food here is more than a little bit of a chore.
I totally cop to having a big-city palate…and I’m pretty confident that many younger families have returned to the Valley to raise kiddos after spending their single or married-without-kids days in big cities like Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary and - for us - San Francisco.
It’s not uncommon at a parental get together to hear about going on vacation to eat. I know that our visits to Vancouver revolve almost solely - after catching up with friends - around eating every bit of Asian and Indian food we can get our hands on (particularly the Indian for me.)
The good news is that there is some tasty ethnic fare in the Valley.
Here are some of our favourites:
For sushi, we are big fans of Ichiban Sushi at Eighth Street and Fitzgerald. While food is sometimes a bit slow to come out, the sushi there is absolutely tasty and there are lots of non-sushi items for tiny people still struggling with nori.
We also really love Sushi Kobo in downtown Comox for excellent takeaway Japanese food.
We have actually found that the tastiest dim sum in town is out at Crown Isle. I know, weird spot to find a nice plate of dim sum. But, it’s really very good. Obviously, it’s not going to be an immersion dim sum experience. It is, though, a good sampling and may be a good place to start the kids since, if it doesn’t go well, you’ve got a whole whack of typical Western fare to chose from.
For Vietnamese food, we’ve taken tmo Maple Noodle House in the strip centre at the southeast corner of 29th and Kilpatrick. It’s a tiny, family-run eatery full of yummy soups and other goodies. Very tasty.
I have to be honest, I am not a big fan of the Chinese food options in town. What can I say? Anyone know of a great spot? We’d LOVE to find one.
I used to be a Thai food junkie. But, I’ve only eaten once at Kinaree at the southwest corner of Eighth/Cumberland Road and Fitzgerald. The food was tasty, but expensive. I really should go back and try it again. Baan Thai at 1090 Shoppers Row in downtown Campbell River is also SUPER tasty if you are up for the drive or live in the neighbourhood.
I KNOW I need to get over to The Great Escape in Cumberland. The Indian fusion food there has a reputation for being fantastic and I actually have no idea why we haven’t eaten there yet as I LOVE Indian food. In the 2700 block of Dunsmuir in Cumberland, this is one place we are going to have to hit very soon. Expect a review to come.
If you have a favourite ethnic food spot, jump in here and add to the list by commenting.
All of our palates will love you for it:)
Thanks Derek for bringing up this topic.
More from this category
- Six Local Food Gems to Check Out (giveaway)
- A Great Day In Union Bay & a Foodie Film Today
- Eat Local, Comox Valley - The Locavores at Locals
- Eat Local, Comox Valley - Day One
More from this author
- Six Local Food Gems to Check Out (giveaway)
- Foodie Crafts - Homemade Stickers
- Live Green at MusicFest
- Product Review - Bambu’s Disposable Plates
Subscribe to this author
The Great Escape is amazing, but we haven’t taken the smallish person there yet. I’m waiting for her palate to expand a little before we try it.
The Driftwood just south of Campbell River is the best Chinese buffet we’ve found. Lots (and I mean LOTS) of selection, and the ever-important Jello and Nanaimo Bars required by the smallish person and my husband.
Wow, that was quick!
I have to admit I’m a fairly recent transplant here also (by way of Vancouver), so I’m not unfamiliar with having to search for authentic ethnic options to satisfy those cravings..
For Vietnamese food, you’re better off driving up to Campbell River to visit Tam’s Pho Vietnamese Restaurant.
http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=vietnamese+food+tam’s+pho&near=Campbell+River,+BC&fb=1&view=text&latlng=50025004,-125244147,7972702120480462030
The overall food quality isn’t quite as good as when it first opened, but it’s still kilometres better than Pho Lien. Pho Lien’s broth isn’t very well seasoned and I’ve found myself overdosing on the sriracha just to add some much-needed depth to the soup. I’ve even tried the bun bo hue to try for some flavour.. no luck.. 8( I guess it’s better than having it full of MSG, but all the yummy herbal pho nuances aren’t there.. and so I still must drive up to Campbell River if I want my pho fix to tide me over.
Chinese food? I’ve heard the Bamboo Inn in Comox is supposed to be good, but I’ve only heard it from locals and no-one who shares my Chinese heritage, to put it delicately. I believe they also offer dim sum. If you do try it, let me know.
I’ve tried Kinaree and my comments echo yours — tasty food, but small portions. I haven’t given Baan Thai a fair chance (the only time I’ve eaten there was on a school field trip with my son and his class) so I’ll reserve judgement on that, but I hear that a new place — Chiang Rai Noodle House — is supposed to be even better.
http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=noodle+house&near=Campbell+River,+BC&fb=1&view=text&latlng=50029652,-125246718,13898065738146281685
Beyond that, another link I’ve found informative if not useful is this one:
http://www.healthspace.ca/Clients/VIHA/VIHA_Website.nsf/food-frameset
It provides frequently updated reports on restaurant inspections for Vancouver Island-based communities. Peruse at your own risk!
Ooo, thanks you guys.
Derek, looks like I’ll have to drive toward Campbell River more often.
I have actually eaten at Chiang Rai and had spaced it for some reason today. It is very good.
Thanks for the Health Inspection reports. I now know that we will be avoiding some restaurants in town in a serious way. Good to see some places we frequent are in good shape as well.
Awesome to see you guys commenting!
We’ve actually been really into the Quality Foods Chinese food! We tried the places on 5th, which weren’t terribly fresh, and then my parents recommended QF. It’s pretty typical Canadian-Chinese dishes, but we’ve talked to the staff & found out that every last bit of the grub is made fresh from scratch on site. Everything is always hot and fantastic, and never tastes like it’s sat under the heat lamp. They offer 3-item combos for about $8.95. It’s perfect for the nights when neither cooking or dining out seem like a fun idea. We tend to wind up sitting on the living room floor watching hockey and eating the stuff, to be honest
Another place that’s great if you decide to make your own Pad Thai, and need some authentic ingredients, or want to grab a deli-style Asian meal, is Valley Asian Foods (on 5th @ Cliffe, by Retroactive Kids). The place is set up as a small Asian grocery store with a few cafe tables to sit for a snack/light meal. They have a take out menu which includes a Tonkatsu Chicken Rice Salad Roll, Vegetarian Curry Wrap, Steam Buns, Wonton Soup, and 4 different kinds of Spring Rolls (which are delicious), among other tasty-sounding fare. I happen to have their take out menu here- their number is 703-0878
I haven’t had as positive an experience with Valley Asian Foods as you have regarding their spring rolls and their customer service, so I’ll just leave it at that. I had such high hopes for it, too..
8(
Tried Chiang Rai tonight — I’d go back and eat there again, but just as an fyi: The hot pepper scale they use on their menu is designed for people who consider black pepper hot.
As a side note, driving back through Comox the other night, I noticed a Chinese restaurant called Dragon Garden in the complex at 727 Anderton Road. They advertise Cantonese cuisine as their specialty. I may try it this weekend! I’m hopeful..
Uh oh. Better put Tam’s on your “gotta visit soon” list. A note on the front door says they’ll be closed for two weeks starting February 15th for major renovations. When they reopen they’ll be known as ‘Taste of Saigon’.
I will find out what that means for the menu and report back.
Nooooooooooooo…..
Has anyone tried Zizi’s for middle eastern food? Wondering whether it would be DS-friendly or whether the tastes are too spicy for a 3 yr old… anyone care to comment?
Sorry I didn’t notice the comment until now. I have tried the shawarma there and found it to be fairly bland, so that may be right up your alley as far as compatibility with a younger palate. Of course, that assumes the younger palate in question hasn’t been exposed to a regular diet of spicy food..
I have heard better things about Baba Ghannouj in the Merecroft Village in Campbell River, in all honesty.