Seaport City Deemed Michelin Worthy

Rice rolls, chayote, crab and fish maw, trotters and dumplings

I took some friends to have lunch at Seaport City Seafood Restaurant -- which was recently bestowed Bib Gourmand status by the Michelin Vancouver guide.

Perhaps because of this new designation the place was packed for a Thursday lunchtime and we barely got a table even though I had reserved one. We were tucked in a corner by the wine fridges and behind the reception area, but it was sort of a semi-private area which was a blessing in disguise.

Dan dan noodles with peanuts...

With five of us we were able to order the har gao and siu mai, each of which had five dumplings each in the steamer. We also had pork dumplings with beets and mushrooms, steamed rice rolls with beef, egg and coriander, and pan-fried taro cake that were served in blocks stacked up like Jenga.

Everyone raved about the pickled chayote or Buddha's hand in Chinese. It was chopped in thick slices that were marinated in vinegar and finished with fresh chillis. Another gourmet dish was the crab meat and fish maw supreme in squash soup that was just enough for each of us to try. Fresh bits of crab meat and fish maw were a decadent combination with the sweetness from the squash. How decadent.

Another was the dan dan noodles, with springy wheat noodles in a slightly spicy sauce that was elevated with the chilli oil from the dish of spicy wontons. Everyone scooped up a bit of the chilli oil and couldn't help but have another serving of the noodles!

Noodles elevated with the chilli oil from here

The pork hock with ginger -- typically a dish women who have given birth will eat to restore their health -- is also served here. The pork trotters are simmered in lots of vinegar, sugar and ginger, and boiled eggs are usually added as well. While the one served at Seaport City doesn't use particularly spicy ginger, it had a mild taste that probably appeals to most people. The pork trotters had been cooked for ages and easy to eat.

For dessert we finished with steamed honeycomb cake and honey twists. Needless to say the friends from Hong Kong were suitably impressed. While Seaport City is more expensive than say Kirin, the selection and quality of dim sum dishes make it a solid place to go for lunch.

Seaport City Seafood Restaurant

2425 Cambie Street

Vancouver

604 222 7288