I have caught another cold, this is the fifth within a year and I am so tired of wasting time and days being sick. I already took three days off and wanted and needed to get back to regular life, so thought to heal myself with some comforting food in my belly.
That is where Meetrice Noodle’s newest location on Kingsway came in handy. Those who are familiar, this is the famous bridge crossing noodle chain that is easily identified by their mascot: a pudgy cheek little girl with pigtails and a headband. She makes an appearance on all their marketing: menus, napkins, and even the individually wrapped spoons.
The space is very modern in light wood furnishings, upholstered in green to pair with their trademark bright green branding.
If dining-in and ordering one of their signature rice noodle bowls, which most do, it includes free rice noodle refills. However the portions are fairly large and we weren’t able to finish the bowl, let alone order more for it.
When it comes to ordering you choose your soup flavour between spicy and non-spicy options, then get to choose one topping in addition to all that it already comes with, and then lastly consider any extra add-ons. Each bowl of soupy rice noodle comes with a single quail egg, one fish ball, corn kernels, black fungus, tofu skin, lettuce, spam, and shrimp. There is also a warning that these ingredients may change slightly by season. And that the base of each soup is a chicken broth.
Admittedly, most of the options was foreign to me, however, given the enthusiasm of the crowd dining in today, these are probably familiar classics for everyone else.
If all the choice is too daunting, you can make it easier on yourself and try one of their combos. This menu is easier to order from with less options to consider, plus it includes a side and a drink. Instead of a choice between nine different soup flavours, you get five choices for your main dish pick. And instead of 18 different toppings to consider you get to choose between seven different sides.
I stuck with the original crossing bridge rice noodle chicken soup, as the foundation that the restaurant was built on. This is probably what I would recommend for first timers and anyone else weathering a cold. Admittedly this isn’t a soup I would normally gravitate towards. I would have ordered something completely different if I wasn’t sick. My guest described this best as “congee”: basic, simple, and everything I needed nutritiously. The first couple of bites were the best. However, I did grow board of the one toned flavour quick. And to my chagrin it was heavily influenced by the lettuce sitting at the bottom. I am personally not a fan of how easily the flavour of lettuce bleeds into liquid.
I only later discovered that they have a self-serve sauce bar, at the very back of the restaurant. Our server made no mention of it, and I only noticed it on the way to the washroom. Having known this ahead of time, this would’ve remedied my issue above. To be able to customize and inject the flavour I was looking for into the mix. They had all the basics Chinese condiments like soy sauce, chilli oil, vinegar, green onions, and cilantro.
My guest, in contrast, did it right. She had a flavourful hot and spicy Thai Tom yum soup with the addaon of Japanese style grilled pork and abalone. She got all the spice and kick to have the soup drinking deliciously as is. Just from the colour alone, you know it was flavourful. This is something I would have gotten normally. I was especially impressed by the generosity of the abalone. It is an add on for extra for $2.95, but they gave her 3 substantial pieces; making this $1 each.
We also ordered some sides that served as dessert. Although I should avoid deep fried foods when sick, I could not help myself seeing the deep fried buns with condensed milk and deep fried brown sugar rice cake on the menu. Both were crispy with a chewy centre. Whereas you got your sweetness and flavour from the condense milk dip, the rice cake was filled with a liquified brown sugar centre. Sadly I found this a little too sweet and ended up scrapping any excess off.
In closing glad to see they have another location to serve the community. And after only being opened a week, they seem to be already well received.
Meetrice
1949 Kingsway Vancouver, BC V5N 2T1
(604) 876-8520
gosnappy.io/owa/r/meetrice-noodles-burnaby
