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Ali Shan Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Taiwanese Taiwanese [Edit]
4500 KingswaySuite 1011
Burnaby, BC V5H 2A9
Neighbourhood: Metrotown
(604) 436-9026
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11 am - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
9 reviews for Ali Shan Restaurant
9 reviews in English
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Review from Diana L.
5/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
I went here for the first time yesterday, and it was great!
Right when I stepped in, I was impressed but the decor. It was modern and clean. I was immediately greeted by the very friendly staff and seated right away. I was really impressed with the service throughout the evening. Asian restaurants aren't always known for the best service, but this restaurant does not fit that stigma.
The menu has a vast selection, even offering some Korean dishes (don't be deterred; they look pretty fabulous). I chose the spicy beef noodle soup and my friend chose the original beef noodle soup. Both renditions were great. However, mine was really not that spice. The Taiwanese style crispy chicken nuggets and squid are really good too; not overdone for the squid. My other two friends had veggie hot pots which looked appetizing too. In fact, my friends liked it so much that they went back today!
Overall, the restaurant is a safe pick. The food and service are good, and the prices are fair. The only downside is you have to risk life and limb in the Chrystal Mall parking lot, unless you find a spot on Willingdon or Kingsway. -
Review from HELEN C.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 3/1/2012 27 photos
Not sure if anyone notice.. this restaurant has moved to a new location since few months ago and the old location is now another (chinese?) restaurant...which i barely see any customer in there..
New address: 1233-4500 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC V5H 2A9 Canada
New Biz Hours:
Mon - Thu: 11:00 am - 12:00 am
Fri - Sat: 11:00 am - 1:00 am
Sun: 11:00 am - 12:00 am
Phone number stays the same.
I almost had a heart attack cuz I thought one of my favorite restaurants were shutdown. I was so relieved when I later found out that they just moved to another corner. Still "attached" to Crystal Mall but instead of facing Burnaby Public Library, it is now facing a gas station.
The new place is twice as big. The design of the place is more vivid and modern (comparing to the one before). I never had a chance to take a picture of the interior cuz I didn't wanna look like a spy or investigator. Since it's always pack with people, I now prefer take out.
p.s. They've added more selections to their menu. Definitely want to go for dine-in and try some of their new items when I'm not in a rush :)1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/21/2009 First to Review
CHECK OUT THE PICTURES YO!!!!
This is my favorite Taiwanese restaurant. I'm a chicken lover, so I… Read more »
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Review from Marc D.
Vancouver, BC
12/6/2011 5 photos
* Reliable Taiwanese *
When at Crystal Mall I generally zoom right into the food court and don't think twice about the sit down restaurants as there are so many good options in the food court (http://www.yelp.ca/lis...).
But I decided to sit down this time and try one of the small restaurants that had looked crowded every time I passed by.
The spot had a semi-modern decor for a hole-in-the-wall, and a nice variety of Taiwanese options on the menu.
I ordered the Taiwanese chicken nugget set meal ($7.50). It included:
- Corn soup: This was a flavourful corn starch based soup with egg and bits of corn. It was not overly starchy, had a nice corn flavour, and made a nice warming start to the meal. Photo: http://www.yelp.ca/biz...
- Stir fried tofu and fish cakes: At first glance I thought this was a straightforward tofu stir fry. But there were a lot of hidden treasures in the form of fish cakes (sliced similarly to the tofu and a good amount of shrimp paste complete with little shrimp) to round out the flavour profile. This was a very nicely balanced dish. Photo: http://www.yelp.ca/biz...
- Veggies: A good dose of garlic combined with the perfect doneness. Photo: http://www.yelp.ca/biz...
- Egg on rice: The egg was cooked perfectly (for me) with a runny yolk inside. It had a dash of thick soy sauce and when the egg was broken blended nicely with the perfectly cooked rice. Photo: http://www.yelp.ca/biz...
- Taiwanese chicken nuggets: This was a very generous portion with the typical Taiwanese coating. Many places offer the same coating, but you can tell the difference in how greasy they are and how much meat there is. These were not at all greasy and had generous whole pieces of chicken. The only thing I missed was fried basil leaves (which I like as a garnish), but instead they provided a few pickled veggies which had a nice crunch and reminded me of fukujinzuke. Photo: http://www.yelp.ca/biz...
Service was very friendly, and I'm glad I stopped in. But this just makes visits to Crystal Mall more difficult as now instead of just picking between all the good food court options I have to add Ali Shan to the mix as well! A good problem to have, I suppose! -
Review from David E.
Surrey, BC
5/5/2012
An alternative to bubble world but although they don't use MSG I find a lot of the food to be lacking in other seasoning to make up for it. The dishes I tried were pretty bland. I like Popcorn chicken from other places like Bubble 88 in Surrey, and Tri-Ty Cafe in Richmond better. Usually very busy at lunch.
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Review from Freda W.
Vancouver, BC
11/23/2011
Yum Yum Yum!
Went there for lunch with some friends today and loved it! I had the Railway Bento Box... deep fried pork chop. Need I say more? Get some pork on your fork! One friend had the Bibimbap... tried some and I am getting that next time. The beef noodles my other friend ordered had a great soup... That will for visit no. 3! -
Review from Kwok S.
Burnaby, BC
11/27/2011
Worst service! I've been waiting for 1/2 hr, when finally it should be my turn, a table of 4 with 4 seats clear up, but the server gave it to next next next next next customer in line for 3 (skipping a name for 3). The server explained that they have a policy to not give that table for 4 ppl bcuz they need space to walk so they give it to table for 3. (so why would they have 4 chairs initially!)
And then they say the next table is not for me either, because there is another table for 3 ahead of me (which this was suddenly added to the waiting list, I'm sure at a point of time, there was only me standing in the restaurant waiting for a table).
Another reason to give the table for 3 ppl instead of 4ppl because they think that the next table available will be very quick, so I asked them how long, they said 10 mins, well, waiting already 30 mins, 10 more mins is not quick!
Fine, so I said I would like to order some food first, they refused because they have a policy for not having a table yet, so I said put the order for to go and once i can sit down, you can just deliver to me, they said no just choose to go or wait for a table.
I chose to leave.
the worst service ever, no apology, no explanation, stupid policy, ruined customers evening. i will not go to this restaurant again, and I hope ppl who is planning to go, do some research, and know about their poor service before deciding to go there or not. -
Review from Simon K.
I do not know how this mall houses so many hidden food treats. If you had the stomach of a goldfish, and could keep eating with no end, then you would come and try another great little find. Not in the mall, as the entrance to this place is outside, right near the parking lot underground drive-in entrance, on Kingsborough Street. When you think Taiwanese food, you think of all those deep fried delicous little items, they do have them here. But what they have here is more like full set meal deals for under $10.
A mixture of mini set hot pots, or your Taiwanese beef noodle, they have here, and many more set meal deals to fill you up and take very little from your wallet. On this night I decided to go for their very own hotpot, and you get a choice of either soup, or a drink (which is a homebrew of their own sweetened ice tea). I can say my stomach was stuffed (but I probably have a smaller appetite compared to many).
Just remember, this place is real tiny, if you have 4 people, your going to be alright, any bigger group, and you might have a real wait on your hands to get your bunch in to sit together.
Another great Crystal Mall food place, where choice is definitely not the problem. Will come here again, as the chicken leg that some people were having looked real good.Listed in: The Gems of Crystal Mall!
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Review from Lisa N.
Vancouver, BC
3/24/2010
Came here during the weekend to grab a quick lunch with another fellow food blogger and my bf. First time, never knew about this place and it is a bit hard to find.
The look and some of the images can definitely be renewed, but it isn't drastically horrible. Unfortunately, they have this doorway frame with nothing covering it that leads into the kitchen. I sat directly in front of that thing, so it was pretty awkward.
The service was efficient but minimal, as expected. Our meals did come with their teas though, which are kind of similar to a tea for used for bubbletea (no pearls though).
My bf and his friend both ordered the bibimbap and I had the Hawaiian fried rice and we shared a side of their deep fried tofu. The tofu itself was not flavoured (not even salted) so you had to eat it with the kimchi that it came with or this garlic/onion/soy sauce mix that came with it, which isn't too bad. The bibimbap was huge and both the guys seemed to enjoy it though it was quite spicy. My Hawaiian fried rice was decent, it had flavour without meat and was large portioned. I think they could have added a few more veggies though. It was also quite a large portion.
Each dish was less than 7 dollars (before tips). I will definitely go back to try some other dishes, since they have a few vegetarian dishes.
Recommended for a quick bite. -
Review from J l.
Burnaby, BC
8/14/2011
Inexpensive with some good offerings but the service is spotty and you never know how long your food will take to get to your table. Not a good pick if you're in a rush!
