Must-Eat Dishes at the Parker Place Food Court

Echoing Asia’s steam-shrouded hawker markets, Richmond’s busy food courts are well known among hungry locals craving comfort food favourites. And for visitors, these authentic food courts are also a great, low-cost way to kick-off a culinary adventure in the city.

The food courts at Aberdeen Centre, Lansdowne Centre, and CF Richmond Centre—plus hidden gem President Plaza—each have their own fans. But among the most authentic places to exercise your taste buds is Parker Place. A five-minute walk from the Aberdeen Canada Line station, this clamorous, cafeteria-like hot spot is lined with mom-and-pop counters serving cuisines from Taiwan to Shanghai and from Vietnam to Hong Kong.

Read on for details on some of the home-style stands we discovered on a recent visit. Then plan your own dining excursion to find your very own favourites among the 20 or so Parker Place food court counters. Keep in mind that some stands only accept cash and lunchtimes can be very busy here––you’re more likely to find a table when dining off-peak.

Also, if you’re a roasted or barbecued pork fan, join the queue at the mall’s Parker Place Meat & BBQ, a few steps from the food court. It’s the perfect place to pick-up some celebrated carnivorous delicacies for home.

LAI TASTE

There’s a large array of dishes available at this friendly Vietnamese counter, so give yourself plenty of time to peruse the photo menu boards. The first thing you’ll notice? The low prices. Almost every meal is well under $10 at Lai Taste,and that includes everything from a hearty curry chicken on rice dish to a fortifying noodle soup bowl with tofu and lemongrass fishcakes. A good place to buy several dishes to share, be sure to add some crispy spring rolls to the mix.

Don’t miss: The crunchy Vietnamese subs are justifiably popular here. Fillings vary from grilled sausage to pork cutlet and they each come with a cup of milky Hong Kong-style tea or coffee—all for the bargain price of $9.00 or less.

JOY’S TAIWANESE FOOD

A steady stream of take-out regulars keeps this orange-and-yellow hued counter as busy as a street food stand on a Friday night in Taipei—and many of these long-term fans are buying the good-value party trays to take home for their families. An array of classic but well-executed rice, noodle, and dim-sum dishes is on the menu here—popular orders include beef and wonton noodles in soup as well as deep-fried chicken thigh with rice. Looking for a light lunch? There are also some intriguing smaller dishes to consider at Joy’s.

Don’t miss: The made-to-order Taiwanese pork bun is a juicy, butter-soft slab of pork belly, sandwiched between soft bread and slathered with light peanut sauce. It’s easy to wolf down too quickly, so consider ordering two at the same time.

MACAU CAFÉ

Another value-priced Parker Place option, there are some intriguing Portuguese and African fusion influences on the extensive menu at the ever-busy Macau Café counter. This stand typically opens at 8am, which makes it a good spot for a quick breakfast fuel-up (pork chop bun sandwich recommended). Hungry regulars also roll by throughout the day for hearty options such as baked rice dishes and brothy noodle bowls––available with several different toppings and noodle choices and typically priced at around $7.25 each.

Don’t miss: The African chicken noodle dish includes a spicy-coated sliced fillet atop a steaming bowl of soupy noodles. It’s a satisfying belly-warmer on a cold day.

YUMMY-YUMMY

With one of the largest menus at the Parker Place food court, the tiny kitchen at this Hong Kong-style stand covers a lot of ground: from $6 eggs-toast-and-luncheon-meat breakfasts (served all day) to heaping noodle combos topped with everything from fish balls to beef brisket. Add some deep-fried fish cakes if you’re feeling particularly hungry, and wash it all down with a malty cup of Horlicks (especially if it’s cold outside).

Don’t miss: If you’re looking for a dish to share at your table, Yummy-Yummy’s Richmond Fried Rice is ideal: filled with prawns, veggies, crabstick slivers, and chopped fried egg, it’s surprisingly filling and more than enough for two to three diners.

RAINBOW CAFÉ

It feels like this veteran Parker Place drinks and dessert counter has been here forever. Fruit juices, egg rolls, and house-made bubble teas keep the staffers busy but a Hong Kong-style Rainbow Café bubble waffle––made right in front of you and slipped into a warm paper bag to-go––is ideal if you’re craving a sweet dessert finale to your food court feast.

Don’t miss: A bubble tea coupled with a bubble waffle is the perfect mid-afternoon pick-me-up at parker Place.

Last Updated on June 19, 2023 by Tourism Richmond