With the joyous ushering in of the Year of the Sheep on Feb. 19, it’s time to make a resolution to try the many fabulous lamb dishes available around Richmond (before and after Chinese New Year). Here are five delicious finds to get you started.
(PHOTO: TARA LEE)
The owners of this charming café carry on the tradition of their ancestors, who, three-generations ago, ran a thriving lamb restaurant in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The sliced satay lamb shoulder with pan-fried egg noodles and yu choy ($9.95) has great earthy flavour, with subtle aromatic spicing. Come back next time to warm your belly with their bone-in lamb hot pot.
Location: 6900 No. Three Rd.
(PHOTO: TARA LEE)
This destination for Halal Uyghur cuisine of northwestern China serves an array of lamb dishes, like stir-fried lamb with pickled cabbage ($16.99). Go for the charcoal barbecued lamb shoulder skewers ($2.50 each) that are incredibly tender, and have definite heat from their cumin and red chili pepper coating. Daisy tea balances the richness of the meat.
Location: 1075-8580 Alexandra Rd.
(PHOTO: TARA LEE)
3. Lumingchun
A bowl of spicy lamb noodle soup ($7.50) at this popular Northern Chinese food court vendor (look out for a bright yellow sign) is a surefire cure for anyone with a cold, or a yearning for comfort. The pork broth, heightened by chili oil, is chock-full of handmade wide noodles, sweet potato glass noodles, black fungus, and best of all, lamb slices.
Location: 1100-3700 No. Three Rd., Yaohan Centre
(PHOTO: TARA LEE)
This restaurant is distinct for its Hui (Muslim Chinese) menu that features many lamb dishes, like sliced lamb on a sizzling hot plate ($15.95). Amid elegant dark wood Chinese furnishings, you’ll find yourself especially addicted to the fried diced lamb, coated in whole and ground cumin, and chili powder. The outside is crisp, with a juicy inside.
Location: 110-8188 Saba Rd.
(PHOTO: TARA LEE)
5. Sandbo Restaurant
Bring your appetite for this exceptionally hearty ($23.98) lamb hot pot that arrives bubbling in a traditional clay pot, atop a table-top gas stove. Besides generous pieces of bone-in lamb, the dish comes with pork hock, bok choy, tofu skin, bamboo shoots, Chinese mushrooms, and water chestnuts. The resulting broth is intensely flavourful.
Location: 6-6340 No. Three Rd.
Bonus recommendation: If you want to go completely lamb crazy, Chuan Ku BBQ (130-8291 Westminster Highway) offers a sumptuous barbecued lamb that you can pre-order a day in advance ($198 for half, $398 for whole).
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