First report: Venus Cafe in Richmond

The Venus Cafe is one of the many cafes (like the Teatriz Cafe) that caters to the large Cantonese speaking population in Richmond.

No need to worry if you can't speak Cantonese! I don't (although I am learning since Barb's parents are from Hong Hong) and have no problems there!

The room is colourfully decorated and inviting. I have only had lunch there. They have a full lunch menu but I almost always get the special where you choose a soup (Hong Kong-style "borscht", clam chowder, etc.) two kinds of meat (they have pork chop, ox tongue, chicken, lamb, sausage, etc.), a sauce (many choices here but I usually have the black pepper sauce), rice or spaghetti and a beverage (Hong Kong-style strong tea with condensed milk, Hong Kong-style strong coffee with condensed milk, etc. but I usually have my favourite which is almond flavoured milk). All of this for $8.95.

You may ask yourself, what is Hong Kong-style borscht? Well just like we have Canadianized Chinese food, in Hong Kong they have Hong-Kong style Western food. So the borscht is not authentic Russian or Eastern European but inspired by the original and tasty in its own right.

Check out this restaurant and other Hong Kong-style cafes for the Hong Kong riffs on Western food as well as traditional Cantonese cooking. I'll bet you will like it!

Venus Cafe, 188-8131 Westminster Highwy, Richmond, 604 271-8266