Must-Eat Dishes at the President Plaza Food Court

Richmond has an incredible selection of tasty food courts to dive into, many of them serving authentic international dishes and offering great value for your dining dollars. While the food courts at Aberdeen Centre, Lansdowne Centre, CF Richmond Centre, and Parker Place have plenty of fans, the lesser-known President Plaza also offers some can’t miss options.

Just steps from Aberdeen Canada Line Station, this small, fancy-free upstairs food court is a hidden gem, complete with seven mom-and-pop-style independent stands serving a diverse array of dishes and snacks. With time to spare and a yawning appetite to sate, we dived in and sampled some of the best options.

Yung Ho Soy Drink

Tucked towards the back of the food court, this busy soy milk and fried Chinese donut stall is one of the most popular and longest standing. Yung Ho offers hearty traditional Taiwanese breakfast foods such as glutinous rice rolls, meat-stuffed biscuits, and Chinese donuts. Chinese donut, or you tiao (油条), literally meaning oil stick, is a must in any Taiwanese breakfast. For an extra hit of carbs, try the Shaobing with Chinese Donut, a Chinese flatbread stuffed with Chinese donut.

Don’t miss: Dip it in soy milk or have it plain, but don’t leave without a Chinese donut. 

Cha Kee

Despite being a relatively new addition to President Plaza, Cha Kee is already one of the busiest food court stalls, often attracting line-ups before they even open. Serving authentic Hong Kong-style breakfasts, Cha Kee is considered a cha chaan teng (茶餐廳), or literally a “tea restaurant” in Cantonese. Cha chaan tengs were born as affordable and casual alternatives to high-end European restaurants for Hong-Kong locals, complete with creative and delicious East meets West fusion. Satay beef and macaroni in soup, anyone?

Don’t miss: Even with wait times as long as 45 minutes, the creamy, fluffy egg toast and macaroni on the side make everything all worthwhile.

NINE NINETY

This food court counter is framed by menu posters written entirely in Chinese characters. But don’t let that put you off; the staffers here are friendly and happy to explain your options. Rather than the brothy bowls most Richmond diners are used to, though, this stand specializes in hot dry noodles, a traditional cuisine from Central China, as well as Pork Hock on Rice.

Don’t miss: “Fall off the bone” tender pork hock on rice, served with chunks of crunchy pickled vegetables which add some brilliantly sharp flavour notes.

Still hungry?

On your departure, save time for a cream puff or two from the wildly popular Little Fox Bakehouse on the first floor.