It has been a while since I lined up for anything. However when my favourite spot for Chinese bbq announced they were doing a surprise collaboration with the Toronto Raptors, I wanted in.
The Raptors will be facing off against the Denver Nuggets at Rogers Arena on October 6th. Seeing as we lost the Grizzlies in 2001 (they are now with Memphis), all that is left for Canadians to cheer on are the Toronto Raptors. This face off on West Coast will give Vancouverites a rare opportunity to spectate the sport outside of Toronto and the US. The Raptors have not visited since 2023, making the match up all the more highly anticipated.
So to celebrate, local and fan favourite Chinatown BBQ will be hosting a two-day pop-up event on October 4th and 5th, in anticipation of this preseason game.
For those thinking about visiting on the second day there will be a steady wait, but it is a quick one. We were in queue by 10:15am with about 15 people before us. The restaurant were advertised to open by 11am, but were not welcoming customers in until 17 minutes after.
For all those who visit Chinatown BBQ during these days and order their specialty noodle bowl, they will earn themselves a free Raptors inspired tee. For fans of Boba Grizzly, like myself, you will appreciate this collaboration. This is a limited-edition Raptors x Vancouver T-shirt, created specifically for the event. Available while supplies last.
A white tee with the Raptors mascot in mid movement holding a bowl of noodles on the front, in red. And cupping a giant bowl of noodles with its claws, on the back, in colour.
Therefore it is natural to feature noodles in their corresponding new dish. This is the “Raptors Triple Bite BBQ Noodles”. It is a rift on Chinatown BBQ’s “Three Treasures” meat on rice, available on their regular menu. A dish with their most popular bbq meats: roasted pork, bbq pork, and soy chicken; but instead of rice and salted duck egg you get crispy fried noodles and a section of Chinese sausage.
I liked the noodle tie-in, but honestly find that Chinese BBQ’s meat is best with rice. The meats would have utilized the rice as a base to tone and highlight flavours with its neutrality. Not otherwise on their menu, the noodles had a great crispy and wispy texture. They had a flavour all their own, so took away from the rest of the components.
I also found them a little dry, thankfully I like ordering all of the restaurant’s sauces to use at my disposal, so exhausted them here. This includes their sweet soy, which is terrific over rice; and also great on the noodles. The additional seasoning makes them a stand alone, leaving the meat behind for us to have with the rice below.
We would also order their bbq duck over rice, as the only other one of their meats we did not get in our bowl. Also seeing as I love it, and that my guest had never tried it. This I found not as meaty today, but with more bone and toasted skin instead.
I like to have duck with sweet and sour plum sauce, which is the westernized way to enjoy it. The plum adds tang and acid to the dark roasted meat. Another option is their duck sauce, which is like a gravy made with duck drippings. I find this sauce the most versatile, going well with everything, including the roasted pork.
I thought the skin of the roasted pork was especially crispy today. Not a dense hardened crust, but a lighter foam-like crunch. Just as enjoyable to bite into as it was tasty.
The addition of the sausage and single broccoli floret added some interest and colour.
We also got their jellyfish. This is another one of my go-to’s with them. You don’t often get jellyfish outside of a 10 course Chinese banquet meal, and even then you are sharing the portion with a larger group, so don’t get much to yourself. Here, I got to indulge, and loved how much thicker and longer their jellyfish strands are cut. A single rope equals to a meaty bite in one slurp.
We got the jellyfish as part of their cold platter combo, with the ability to choose two out of the three options. Our second choice was the duck wings, but they mistakenly brought out pork hock. And instead of taking it away the staff graciously apologized and brought out a full plate of duck wings in addition. I have always appreciated their service. Each member of their team is happy to help you, regardless of how busy they are, or even if you are in their zone. They welcome you if they recognize you and always invite you back. You don’t see that from many Chinese restaurants and I relish it.
The pork hock was equal parts meaty and gelatine in texture. I liked these dipped into the side of sour vinegar that the dish came with. I am glad the mistake was made, as in hindsight I prefer this over the duck wings.
I felt like you ate the duck wings for their texture and the sensation of prying dry jerky-meat and gelatine off hard bone. This was not for the taste or the meat, a was challenging to eat and not to my tastes or time.
We ordered more than we could finish and took most of it home to enjoy, as another meal, on another day. This was a success on all fronts.
Chinatown BBQ
130 E Pender St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1T3
(604) 428-2626
chinatownbbq.com
