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29th Ave Cafe
Category: Restaurants Japanese Japanese [Edit]
4441 Boundary RdBurnaby, BC V5R 2N3
Neighbourhood: Renfrew-Collingwood
(604) 558-2271
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
6 reviews for 29th Ave Cafe
6 reviews in English
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Review from Benson H.
Vancouver, BC
12/26/2011
Unlike the previous reviewers, I didn't really know anything about this restaurant that just took over the space of a long time breakfast joint (James St. Cafe) where I went for the biggest eggs benny in town. The new name simply "29th Ave Cafe" gave me no hints as to the type of cuisine either. Stepping foot into the cafe for the first time I saw there were a good amount of people meaning obviously they knew what this place is about. And now all those previous reviews made sense - the Japanese chef must have had a reputation already to get enough customers for this difficult to find spot.
The menu is quite limited as it only takes up the inside of the front and back cover. Just flip once and you see it all before your eyes with a bird's eye photo of each entree. The simpler entrees are simply a big half-plate of rice with curry pork katsu or chicken. The second type of entrees is prepared thick slice of chicken or pork with roasted vegetables (Rice not included - it's extra). Presentation is very simple and homestyle. Verdict was: exactly as most reviewers have said - good portions and very tasty homestyle Japanese fusion cooking. We had the ginger pork chops and the meat was well cooked and sauced.
Only 2 quibbles really:
1) Service - nice lady who works the front by herself. She's prompt enough, but not especially attentive. I might not want to be there when it's busier than the 5 tables she was serving when we were there.
2) Price point - It's minimum $9.50 for either type of the entrees as I mentioned. And if you'd like rice, then it's extra when ordering the 2nd type of entree. The price wouldn't deter me from going there but just threw me off initially that in this non-downtown area, Asian food joints usually have to remain quite competitive at about $6.50 - $8.50. It just seemed like downtown pricing when paying $9.50 for a plate of rice and chicken curry.
For an "affordable" at least once a week eat-in or take-out local joint, my budget is under $20 for 2 people after tip/tax, however this will easily exceed that.
Nevertheless, we were quite satisfied all the way through. -
Review from Eric J.
Vancouver, BC
5/13/2012
...smelly tab water, store bought salad, WORST!! service... not returning for sure....
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Review from Jasmine T.
Burnaby, BC
11/9/2011
It's like going to Grandma's house... if I was Japanese... and my grandma knew how to cook.
I am still mourning the loss of Barefoot Kitchen on Davie. When I read about this place in the newspaper I thought that I might as well try it. It's just down the street, well within walking distance. So my dinner companions and I set off... walking... regretting the walking...
We sat down and my husband seemed very disappointed it wasn't Barefoot. I said like Barefoot, I never said it was Barefoot. I just meant that they were heavy on the cooked food. Hmm, what to order that screams comfort? Pork Katsu! My husband and D got curry, but I needed something deep fried. Plus, notsomuch into Japanese Curry. Since I didn't indulge in their dishes (I know, how did I restrain myself from eating his food... cause I don't like it), I can only comment on my own this time.
I love thick pieces of pork that are deep fried into goodness. This was definitely a winner with me. I even got to decide how much Katsu sauce I wanted because there were bottles on every table like ketchup. I regret reading the label. I didn't need to know how much salt was in each small tablespoon I doused each piece of deep fried wonderfulness. Each bite was crunchy and had the right thickness of coating. Along with my meat, I have a huge mound of white rice. I love plain, white rice. I am so gonna get diabetes. I also get a small mound of potato salad. I don't really eat that because I have so much meat to conquer. The portion is huge and so worth the $10.
Service is a little slow, but are you really gonna get mad at Grandma for taking her time to bring you perfection? -
Review from Raymond L.
8/21/2011
When I heard that Yoshoku ya on Denman came back as 29th Ave Cafe, I was really excited because it was one of my favorite restaurants to have katsu rice.
We finally made it out to 29th Ave Cafe last night. It was in the middle of no where on Boundary. When we got there there was already a line up. A group of three and one girl ahead of us. I was SHOCKED to see that it's just the owner doing all the service and only one cook in the kitchen. This place is about twice the size of the old Yoshokuya.
We did not even get an acknowledgement for about 20 minutes as she was frantically running in and out of the kitchen to grab the food, get water, ring the bills. It was so sad to see that they would even attempt to open a restaurant when they are too cheap to hire any staff. The restaurant still had 25% empty seats but the owner had no time to set tables and let people who are waiting sit down.
The insane part was when the other patrons felt so sorry for her that they actually self-served and grabbed their own water/cutlery and some of them started to stack dishes and brought them to the kitchen....cleared off other tables...put away the cream into the fridge, etc. It was the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen in a restaurant.
We got to the restaurant at about 7:15pm and finally sat down an hour later. We were told that food would take half and hour because "it was too busy" (due to zero hired staff).
We ordered the pork cutlet since that's one of their specialties and what we missed the most. By the time the food came it was 9:15pm! We almost left because it was shameful how they are running the joint but we were stuck in the middle of no where so it would have taken us just as long to get to another restaurant to get food.
The food was a disappointment. Although the sides tastes the same as before, the pork cutlet was dry. It was not worth TWO HOURS of starvation. The creme caramel, however, was still as delicious as ever.
I would not recommend anybody attemp to come here, considering they only open 4 hours a day, and you'll be spending half of their business hour just to get served and fed. When they realize how to properly staff a restaurant of this size and improve the quality of the food, then I might *consider* to return. Heed the warning... or just be the first person to get there when they open at 5pm. -
Review from Larry L.
The Famous Yoshokuya from Denman street has reopened and is now called 29th Ave Cafe. Now located outside of the downtown core with ample free parking and the same great menu that it always was. For those who were fans of Yoshokuya, well, there's a message out there.
They're BAAACCCKK!!!
And the prices are excellent and the crispy Katsu with curry and the Minchi Katsu with salad and rice and the chicken with mushroom sauce are all back on the menu.
At first they were just opened for breakfast and lunch and had a regular breakfast menu and with lunch introducing their Yoshokuya fare.
I'm sure the locals who eat here, have no idea what they 've stumbled upon.
They're stil ordering breakfast!
Well as of Tuesday July 19th, 2011 they will no longer be opened for breakfast and instead be opened from 5 to 9pm. If all goes well, they'll probably open for Lunch. Right now it's just the two of them, but they know, that once word gets out. It'll be back to business as usual. Being on of the premier Yoshoku style eateries in town, It's sure to become a classic hit all over again!
Today I had one of their new menu items. Sole in garlic butter sauce with carrots, zucchini and Pomme Frites and a side dish of rice. Very rich and buttery. I can't wait to come back for their dinner! Already I have friends who came with me today and they will be back as much as they can!
And for the owners, it's always great to see familiar faces who have enjoyed their food over the decades!
So. Welcome back Yoshokuya San! Oiiishii Kata Desu!!
I que out with the theme song to Welcome Back Kotter playing in my head.
"Welcome back,
Your dreams were your ticket out.
Welcome back,
To that same old place that you laughed about.
Well the names have all changed since you hung around,
But those dreams have remained and they're turned around.
Who'd have thought they'd lead ya (Who'd have thought they'd lead ya)
Here where we need ya (Here where we need ya)
Yeah we tease him a lot cause we've hot him on the spot, welcome back,
Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back."
Welcome Back by John SebastianListed in: Japanese Food. What it Means…
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Review from Nick R.
Burnaby, BC
9/7/2011
When I first heard that Yoshuku-ya had moved from its longtime location on Denman st out to Boundary Rd, I was a little mystified. Obviously the rent is cheaper, but from what I saw previously, much of their customer base consisted of Japanese people living around the downtown core. Luckily, the place seems to have maintained its following despite the drastic change of venue.
I finally visited the new location this week and I was pleased to see that the food is still just as good as it always was. The curry katsu I ate was satisfying, flavourful, and ample. Even though the side-salad doesn't come with the entree anymore, I was completely stuffed. My wife's mushroom chicken dish was really tasty as well. I'm not normally a fan of soft vegetables, but the buttered carrots are amazing.
As others have touched upon, the place is run by the proprietors, and that's about it. If the place is busy, you'll potentially have to wait a long time to eat. As long as you go in knowing what you're getting into, it's not a big deal (especially if you like your dining companions). Honestly, that area of the city is nearly devoid of good food, so having 29th Ave Cafe as an option is great!
