We all know Dine Out Vancouver, which happened a couple of weeks back. Well, this is Burnaby’s response: Bite of Burnaby happening for the whole month of March.
From March 1st to the 31st the City of Burnaby is inviting everyone and anyone to take in all the food and drink options that Burnaby has to offer.
Similar to Dine Out, participating restaurants are offering discounts to entice extra diners in. This is my first time hearing of the event, so had to do a little research to write this.
The website allows you to search participating restaurants by cuisine, neighbourhood, and price point. For the savvy shopper I recommend searching via the last category. With deals from $50 plus to deals under $15.
To get a taste of what you can expect, many of us convened at The Amazing Brentwood, for a celebration to launch Bite of Burnaby, a few days before, at Tables food court.
Hosted after hours when the food court and the rest of the mall was closed at 7pm. Guests were checked in and given wrist bands. Majority of us knew not what to expect so was blown away by the size of the operation. Floral installations, stilt walker greeters, and live music on a pop up stage.
As guests were ushered in we were invited to head to one of 3 bars for a selection of wines, beers, and sodas. Plus Burnaby’s very own signature cocktail. This is “Burnabeet” which is a mix of Vodka, Beet, Rhubarb, Tonic, Orange, and Pink peppercorn. This would set the tone of the night as guests were allowed to freely roam the entire expanse of the food court.
Each vendor was opened and staffed to serve guests a literal bite of Burnaby. All but Cazba, the Persian grill.
Those in attendance, doled out samples of their cuisine, most of which not participating in the actual Bites of Burnaby event, others had samples not tied to what they would be offering for Bites of Burnaby.
There were so many guests invited that lines eventually grew and waits for the cooking staff to catch up were inevitable. Luckily, I was one of the first people in and smart enough to grab a food court serving tray to gather up all the available sample bites, to later sit down and enjoy bite by bite at one of the tables.
Given the speed of things and the size of the morsels, it is hard to review all that we tried. Instead, I will speak to each of the Tables stalls and the promotions they will be offering for Bite of Burnaby. This post will also feature photos of previous meals I have been collecting, as I have been meaning to write a review of the newer food court. I have been impressed by all the vendors that have moved in and can see that Burnaby is slowly being a foodie destination worthy of such an event.
The following is a list of tonight’s participating Brentwood Tables restaurants and their Bite of Burnaby promotion.
Glorious Bao is known for their steamed white buns and Taiwanese style popcorn chicken. On the night of the event each person got a grab and go box of two BBQ pork buns and a couple of chicken nuggets.
For Bites of Burnaby get their Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken Fried rice with black tea and mango cotta dessert for $13.95. Or their Teriyaki Beef Fried Rice combo with the same drink and dessert for $15.95.
F14, 4567 Lougheed Highway, Burnaby BC V5C 3Z6
604.298.0162
gloriousbao.com
I ended up missing Good Taco’s offering during the media preview. However, you don’t have to as during Bites of Burnaby they are featuring their Beef Torta for $14.95. Vienna Bun, Beans, Oaxaca Cheese, Carne Asada, Onion, Cilantro, Lettuce, Chili Oil, Avocado, and Pasilla Sauce.
F16, 567 Lougheed Hwy. Unit F16, Burnaby, BC V5C 3Z6
236-476-2396
goodtaco.ca
Steve himself was at Steve’s Poke bar, where they were passing out all their poke flavours in a cup over rice. Tuna and salmon, spicy and shoyu.
During Bites of Burnaby you can get 2 of Steve’s Traditional Bowls in a miniature size with 2 Hawaiian fruit teas for $35. Or make it their Signature Bowls instead, with 2 scoops and 2 drinks for $32. And if you decide that you don’t need the drinks, you can get just the 2 Signature Bowls for $28.
F11, 4567 Lougheed Hwy, Burnaby, BC V5C 3Z6
604.559.7653
stevespokebar.ca
Thaigo is the mall’s only Thai food option and popular for their trendy Thai ice tea prepared with a frozen teddy bear shaped ice tea cube.
During the event we got to try their pad Thai in either tofu or shrimp. And you can try both their ice tea and their pad thai in either chicken, beef, or shrimp for $18.80 per combo during Bite of Burnaby.
F2, 4567 Lougheed Hwy, Burnaby, BC
604.558.2777
broadwayfoodsgroup.ca
Chai Thai will be offering their regular promotions during Bite of Burnaby. Daily drink features for $4.99 on their respective days.
Monday: Chatime Pearl Milk Tea
Tuesday: Grass Jelly Roasted Milk Tea
Wednesday: Mango Green Tea
Thursday: Golden Aged Milk Tea
Friday: Thai Milk Tea
Saturday: Peach Green Tea
Sunday: QQ Lychee
F8, 4567 Lougheed Highway, Burnaby BC V5C 3Z6
604.564.9500
chatime.ca
Bona Fide BBQ Ltd is Burnaby’s only Chinese barbecue option, that I know of. That night we were able to try their meal combo through a few slices of the BBQ pork over rice with a couple of broccoli florets.
During Bites of Burnaby you too can try their Meal Combo for $16. BBQ pork with soy chicken and rice and a can of pop. For the Vegetarians their vegetable meal combo includes 2 spring rolls, mixed veggies, veggie chow mein noodle, spicy mapo tofu; and a can of pop.
F3, 4567 Lougheed Highway, Burnaby BC V5C 3Z6
778.866.9883
bonafidebbqbrentwo.wixsite.com/bona-fide-bbq
Long standing Vancouverite favourite Japadog was sampling their classic Kurobuta Terimayo hot dog with Kurobuta pork, fried onions, teriyaki sauce, Japanese mayo, and seaweed in quarters. And you can try it yourself for $9.33 during March.
Or their Japamiso BLT for $13.11. Prepared with an all beef dog, lettuce, tomato, bacon bits, and spicy miso mayo. Not part of the Bite of Burnaby promotions, but worth trying as we got a luxurious taste of this, is their lobster roll with caviar and gold flakes.
F19, 4567 Lougheed Hwy, Burnaby, BC V5C 3Z6
japadog.com
Bubble Waffle Café had grab and go sections of their famous bubble placed in their branded paper bags. Regular or chocolate, I prefer the eggy simple sweetness of the former.
Also known for their Malaysian comfort cuisine. Get their Chicken Combo for $14.95. Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice and your choice of drink, including Ice Lemon Tea. Or Mix and Match a Noodle Soup Combo for the same price. Pick your preferred soup base and type of noodle, plus 2 toppings, and a drink.
F1, 4567 Lougheed Highway, Burnaby BC V5C 3Z6
604.558.3020
bubblewafflecafe.ca
Pizza garden will not be participating with any promotions for Bite of Burnaby, but on this night they were giving out slices of pepperoni, funghi, or margarita pizza.
Saboten is a Japanese eatery with katsu and curry bowls. Also not participating, but they gave us a taste of their Tonkatsu Sandwich with Panko, Egg, Flour, Pork, and Bread.
I have visited them before and can recommend them for a decent Japanese curry spot in Burnaby.
I am familiar with and already a fan of Hannosuke for their delicious tempura and tendon bowls from Tokyo. They don’t have any promotions to share, but were giving out mini bowls of their tempura with shrimp, green bean, seaweed and soft boiled egg today. Even abbreviated like this, these were delicious.
Similarly, Parsley offering Berlin style kabobs won’t be offering any specials for Bite of Burnaby, but had a collection of falafel in tzatziki cups for guests to grab and go.
Soon Coffee was passing out shooters of their coffee as lattes and slushes.
My Toàn is Tables’ Vietnamese option passing out bites of lemongrass chicken over vermicelli with fish sauce.
Yugo specializes in fusion Japanese available in rolls, as bowls, and tacos. And tonight they showcased their speedy made aburi sushi.
And R&D, White Spot’s test kitchen gave out beef sliders.
If you do end up visiting Burnaby and taking advantage of any of these and other specials, be sure to enter the Bite of Burnaby Contest. Take a photo of your food and/or restaurant experience and post it using the hashtag #BiteOfBurnaby24, and be entered to win weekly prizes and the grand prize of the $500 Burnaby package.
For other participating restaurants and additional details, visit their website below.
https://biteofburnaby.ca/
