- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
Chongqing Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Chinese Chinese [Edit]
2808 Commercial DrVancouver, BC V5N 4C6
Neighbourhood: Kensington-Cedar Cottage
(604) 254-7434
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 10 am - 10:30 pm
Fri-Sun 10 am - 11 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
28 reviews for Chongqing Restaurant
Review Highlights
-
"Easily the BEST ginger beef I have ever had; period." In 10 reviews -
"And what of my favorite, spicy green beans." In 3 reviews -
"...Dam Dam Meen (famous Szechuan noodles in spicy peanut sauce." In 4 reviews
Loading...
28 reviews in English
-
Review from El a.
Vancouver, BC
5/23/2012
In my neighborhood this is THE place!
1) Quick delivery
2) Best ginger beef
3) Best fried rice
4) Green beans are TO DIE FOR
5) Friendly service
6) Parking in the back
Really this place is all you need whether you're looking for authentic Chinese or Canadian Chinese food, either one you'll find at this place. The only bad thing I have to say about this place is those gross/nasty fish they have as a decoration in the front. -
Review from Kevin G.
Vancouver, BC
4/30/2012
We have been here once on April 29 2012 because we are living just a few blocks from it at the moment.
We were really looking forward for some Chinese food.
The food was actually not so bad.
We had the pork and the vegetable spring rolls as starters which both were really good.
Our entrees (I had shredded pork in garlic with spinach and my girlfriend chicken in plum sauce) were ok. I wouldn't say that it was awesome but it was good.
It came fast and it's not really expensive.
But unfortunately we felt really uncomfortable. The room was really crowded, not much space, not really clean, a lot broken areas. Our table was dirty when we have been seated. Service was stressed and the English wasn't really good.
So at the end I have to say:
I would go there for take out but never ever again for dine in.
They should really clean the restaurant. -
Review from Jhuri L.
Vancouver, BC
2/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
I am a Commercial Drive junkie - although I don't live in the area. Having gone up and down Commercial Drive many, many times, there isn't another restaurant that is similar to Chongqing, however, I understand they have at least two other locations in the lower mainland.
I've been to this place about 10 times in the past 5 years, and can say that they have been very consistent. Every time I walk in, the place is almost always full - and if you've been here, you'd know why! Lately, I've only gone when we have reservations.
The food is really good for their price with generous portions. The service is excellent - the staff is very friendly, and they check up on you quite regularly without being too pushy.
I do note, however, that some of their dishes are a bit greasy and could use a lot less oil.
Some notable dishes which would blow you away are: General Tsao's Chicken, Ginger Beef and Szechuan Green Beans, to name a few.
Definitely a different flavour to Commercial Drive! -
Review from Jasmine O.
Vancouver, BC
12/28/2011
3.5 stars
We got delivery the other night, Boxing day, after a looooong night before. They were open, so +stars for that!
The fried tofu was amazing and great cold the next day as well. The fried prawns with sweet and sour sauce were addicting but I had some nausea laying in bed that night and I'm sure it's from those greasy nuggs.. The green beans in black bean sauce were pretty much the best I've had yet and the veggie chowmein was so incredible and I'll definitely order just that for a pick up order if I feel like taking a stroll for some dins... The rest was meat stuff for the friend and the wife but they seemed to love it all.
Downside: $90 bucks plus for the bill for 3 of us.... not the kind of money you want to spend on food the day AFTER Christmas...
I will have another go one day soon, especially since we got their menu with the delivery and won't have to free style the order next time. -
Review from geoff a.
3/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
Chongqing satisfies my neighbourhood Szechuan take out needs. They have the typical Vancouver Chinese food menu, the food is solid, nothing mind blowing, not a destination restaurant, but tasty. That said, I could eat the ginger beef all day.
-
Review from T M.
Updated - 12/31/2011
Chongqing, what happened to you?
Went for a family dinner and was looking forward to a great dinner, but ended up with a parade of mediocrity.
TanTan soup used to be my go-to starter. This time around it was definitely missing something. It was just slurpy noodles with a little heat. all the wonderful rich, nutty, complex flavor and texture I enjoyed before was non-existent.
Our entrees included fried squid, General Tso's Chicken, beef & broccoli, fried rice, green onion cakes, and the Szechuan green beans. The beans were outstanding as they always have been for me, but everything else was nothing to write home about. Disappointment was on every face at our table. Too bad.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
11/1/2009
If I only was allowed two things to eat for the rest of my life it would be Chongqing's Ton Ton soup… Read more »
-
-
Review from DIana N.
Vancouver, BC
1/20/2012
Great food, great service!
I grew up in Vancouver and always saw this restaurant driving by for the past 30 years of my life but have never stepped in until tonight.
Wow! I was blown away by the flavor of all the dishes that I had. We had the tan tan noodles, Szechuan fried ride, and jalapeno beef. Tasty tasty tasty. It was delicious. Even better was the quality of service. I have never seen such great service coming from a Chinese restaurant EVER. They were accommodating and never pushy. I felt like I found my new favorite restaurant.
My only complain is that the food is not spicy enough for me. Next time, i'll know to order it extra hot. -
Review from Jeremy C.
8/20/2011
The first thing worth noting about this place is that while it was completely full when we went there, there wasn't a single Asian patron in the restaurant. That's pretty remarkable in Vancouver.
The decor, tables, and service were all perfectly authentic - it's exactly what you might expect if you walked into a random restaurant in China. That doesn't mean the food was exceptional or memorable, or that it's the best representation of Chinese food. It just means it's typical.
I recall the food being good. I was pleased with the portions, prices and flavor. It wasn't memorable, and in a city with so many Chinese restaurants I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here - but if I lived in the neighborhood, I would definitely eat here. -
Review from Rheanna F.
Vancouver, BC
3/3/2011
I've recently moved to some digs on 12th and was pretty excited about living near a Szechuan restaurant. I used to be near one when i was in Kits, and on chilly days i loved getting spicy green beans, mushroom chow mein and deep fried tofu. This past Sunday was a cold, busy day, and Szechuan takeout sounded like the perfect comfort food... When, suddenly, the unthinkable happened! The food was, for a lack of a better word, gross.
I ordered mushroom chow mein, spicy green beans, and a veggie stir fry... The chow mein was the best dish of the three, which isn't saying much since it's just carbs and salt. I mean, it's pretty hard to make a dish with carbs and salt and have it taste bad. All of the dishes were drowning in sauce. It was like soup! And the veggie stir fry just tasted OFF. The bok choy tasted a bit bitter, the carrots sour... I wasn't sure if the veggies had gone bad or were previously frozen, but i didn't want to take my chances and stopped eating it after 5 bites. And what of my favorite, spicy green beans? They weren't bad, but they weren't great either.
I didn't actually end up eating very much of my order because i felt like i'd pigged out on a huge amount of food, when actually i had only had three quarters of my plate... The reason for this was made apparent when i opened up the takeout containers the next day to have leftovers for lunch. Remember above when i mentioned everything was floating in sauce? Yea, turns out most of that was OIL. When the dishes cooled and sat overnight in my fridge, the sauce and oil separated, and it looked like there was more oil than sauce. I actually threw my leftovers in the garbage since i couldn't bring myself to eat it. Hell, i don't even think i could have eaten that while drunk.
I'm sure i'll give it another try eventually in hopes that they were just having an off night just because it is so close to my new place, and in theory, i love Szechuan food... Hopefully down the line when i try again and update my review this place will be getting more stars!! -
Review from Reena M.
2/3/2011 3 Check-ins Here
My family has been coming here for a number of years now. At least 10? This seems to be the Chinese restaurant of choice for Gujarati families (like mine) around Vancouver. So many people ask me if there are very many Gujaratis here, and while majority of the Indians in Vancouver are Punjabi, there are a fair number of us too. And this is where they all go to eat on their family night out.
This restaurant is used to brown people because as soon as they see our skin, they bring over a dish of crushed chili paste, which we definitely use up!
Their hot and sour soup is really good. We always get the vegetarian one with no meat/no eggs because my mom doesn't eat them. We also love ordering fresh crab here, deep friend with garlic and chilies! Although last time we thing they over charged us... I'm sure it couldn't have been more than 2.5 lbs, but they charged us for 3. Other things we love: Dai ching prawns, deep fried tofu with garlic and chilies, chicken and veggie chow mein with black bean sauce, and veggie fried rice with no eggs.
I'm sure we'll be coming here for another 10 years at least, as long as they stay open.Listed in: Driving down the Drive
-
Review from Ramon V.
This Chongqing location is home to one of my favourite dishes in town. The szechuan ginger beef. If you think you've had better ginger beef elsewhere, think again. A 5 star rating just for having that item. I can't consider any other ginger beef to be a contender for the title. This version is like candy. Spicy, crispy, chewy. It's a guaranteed "must order two", when I visit with friends. Calories schmalories.
Other great items on the menu include the dai jing chicken, crab corn chowder, the hot and sour soup, and the spicy green beans, or asparagus. They don't skimp on the spice, you get ready to feel some heat.
There's a private room in the back with two huge tables, suitable for about a dozen people each.
I've overlooked the qualm I have, but it's minor in comparison to the menu. The men's washroom has a door that opens inwards to a urinal which faces the hallway. Yup. -
Review from Dice K.
12/6/2011
I had the Chongqing chow mein, and it was one of those hot plate that is sizzling when it arrives at your table. It was great, though I did severely burn the roof of my mouth (i don't wait for my food to cool). Very typical Chinese restaurant, as close to 'real' Chinese food you can get in America. They have dim sum, too!
-
Review from Claudia L.
Burnaby, BC
11/14/2008
Best damn Dam Dam Meen.
Food: You could go for the same ol' chow mein or fried rice but if you're taste buds are looking for an Asian adventure, please try the below.
i.Heart: Dam Dam Meen (famous Szechuan noodles in spicy peanut sauce. Please for the love of god, get it with the fried spare ribs). Chow Leen Go (Chinese rice cake). Cilantro and Pork Dumplings in Soup. Doughnuts in sand sugar for dessert *drool*.
Good place to go for lunch.
Ambiance: This place would be slammin' if they had a face lift. Clientele includes a loyal crowd of East Indians, Westerners and yes, actual Chinese people who know Chinese food like me!Listed in: A Banana's Guide, Do Da Dim Sum La, Get Your Slurp On
-
Review from Jordan H.
7/13/2009
I've gotten delivery twice now from Chongqing, and I'm starting to learn that it's about what you order. I find that all of their items are either amazing (5 stars) or quite bland (2.5 or 3 stars).
Just now I ordered:
- Ginger Beef - Outstanding. 5 stars. Thanks for the tips.
- Rice noodle with Beef in black bean sauce - Mediocre. I actually tried to order an ordinary beef chow fun, but the woman on the phone just kept saying "the one with black bean sauce?", despite my efforts. I've had much better black bean sauce items at almost any decent place in town
- I tried to order Cliantro & Pork Dumplings in Soup, as Claudia L recommended, but the woman kept steering me toward "pork wonton soup". I don't know if this is the same item or not, it definitely didn't have cilantro in it. However, they were some of the best wontons I've had!
- Lastly I tried to order Chow Leen Go according to Claudia L as well, but the woman had no idea what I was talking about. Then I said Chinese Rice Cake, and I ended up with some very strange dish with noodle things in the shape of sliced kielbasa. Must be the wrong thing because it had meat in it, and Dani B recommended it or vegetarians, so... womp womp.
I should mention I didn't have a menu. They pointed me to the same website listed here on yelp, which has been down for weeks. They said they wouldn't fax me a menu.
All in all, I will try again, with a proper menu that I obtained from the delivery guy, and attempt to get more of the recommendations from here. Also I'll hit it up for weekend dim sum.
I'll review again, I really hope I can bump it to 4 or 5 stars. -
Review from Simon R.
BC
11/25/2008 1 photo
In my humble opinion, the very best Chinese restaurant in the entire city.
Prices are definitely higher than the stuff you get in mall food courts, but the food is better than a cold Orange Julius on a hot Summer's day. Well worth spending the extra money you would have used for laundry, Chongqing is absolutely delicious, as everything from the ingredients to the sauces stand out as "pause and sigh" good. Try the wontons in peanut sauce.
I would almost prefer it if you didn't go, so that it remains understated and secretive. Actually, they do deliver, so just get it sent to your place and stay away.
And definitely stay away if you can't use chopsticks. -
Review from Sandra D.
Vancouver, BC
11/18/2010
GREAT food (who can argue against that ginger beef? Tip: different chefs on different nights make a difference. Currently at its best on a Friday night), but AWFUL service if you order for delivery. Ordering in store or for pickup we've never had problems but I feel like it's a constant battle when ordering for delivery. Tonight the lady on the phone put us on hold (fair enough), exclaimed that it was so busy so she didn't have time for us (hello, we're customers too), blasted us for stating our address incorrectly (we live here, I think we know our own address), and told us off for using our credit card. Then she called back to blast me about the charge not going through so we had to pay cash, and when I said ok, she said "you said you didn't have cash", all the while talking over me. Great way to treat your customers!
Oh, by the way it's been 90 mins and I'm still waiting for my food. If I weren't so weak from hunger I'd cancel my order and never go back again. Then again, that ginger beef kind of overshadows their terrible customer service. -
Review from Rachel P.
Vancouver, BC
9/13/2009
I had such high hopes for this place because it is the closest Chinese restaurant to our house (super close, like throw a Molotov cocktail through their window from our balcony close) and I thought it would become somewhere we could frequent on a regular basis. But No.....No, No,No that will not be happening!
It started out ok...the prices aren't high end but not super cheap and the menu is fairly extensive but the food was average and the service rude! We placed a large takeout order to feed the crew at our place on a Sunday night and we were served tasteless, bland food that can only be described as BALLS.
Two of my housemates ordered Noodle Soups and were given a plastic container of boiled "2-minutes noodle" style noodles (you know, the ones you get at Safeway for 34 cents a packet) with some lame vegetables (no meat although it was supposed to have chicken), zero flavour and NO BROTH. Would ANYONE enjoy eating boiled, plain noodles for $11.50?
They thought that there must have been a mistake, that perhaps they just forgot to put the soup in with the order, so called back and kindly offered to come back and get it since we were so close (simple solution, right?) but instead the lady on the phone proceeded to argue for 15 minutes that the order was right, that it had been served correctly and that it wasn't really a soup (silly us, perhaps the name "noodle SOUP' on the menu threw us off??). In the end my housemate hung up on her ranting and we made toast for dinner.
Overall, it was the rude service that made this average food so much worse. This place sucks. -
Review from Alison S.
1/3/2010
The four stars is for their deluxe Dan Dan Noodles, and for the deluxe Dan Dan Noodles only.
The noodles are so good I can't remember much about anything else that I ate there. Well, except that the honey garlic ribs are a little on the chewy side. Prices are reasonable, and service is acceptable.
I used to work down the street and I know for a fact that you can call in a takeout order, it will be ready in 10 minutes, and they will hand it to you with a smile. Good enough for me!
PS. If you get the dan dan noodles to go, the sauce is packaged separately so the noodles don't get all soggy and you can dictate how much sauce you want. :) -
Review from Dani B.
4/2/2009
I really like this place, and not just because its steps away from my home.
The menu is extensive, the prices reasonable, and the portions big.
For vegetarians I recommend the Chow Lean Go (Chinese rice cakes) or the Szechuan noodles in peanut sauce, yum). They also have a whole section devoted to just vegetable dishes, which I have not found at any other Chinese restaurant in the city. -
Review from Emily S.
Vancouver, BC
6/4/2009
Food was excellent, they deliver during lunch. Have them fax a menu to you b/c it's so extensive. They will have just about everything you want. I tried the Dam Dam Meen after Claudia's recommendation, but I wasn't a fan---soft noodles soaked in a mild peanut sauce.... kinda gross. BUT! Claudia saved the day with the fried spare ribs. YUM. The lemon chicken, wor wonton (w/squid), and ginger beef (YOWSA, thanks Nestor) were great. Fried rice was just ok. Best Chinese I have had in a while... way better than anything in LA... is that saying a lot??
Parking is free in their lot right behind the restaurant. Sweet! -
Review from Stephan W.
Langley, BC
12/6/2010 1 photo
I am in search of good Alberta style Ginger beef, so I went here JUST for the Ginger Beef. I was on my way home and wanted my wife to have some as well, so ordered the GB only, $14.50 tax in. The server was very friendly and offered me to take a seat after taking my order. I asked "About 10 minutes?" and he replied "maybe quicker" and he did not disappoint. The GB had 3 chilis next to it on the menu so I knew I was in for a spicy adventure. Once home we tucked in. Although very tasty, savory/sweet, this was not the crunchy Alberta style GB I was in search of. Good times though, would go back if in the neighbourhood- but there was a couple of interesting looking venues accross the street that might get a try instead.
Listed in: In search of good Ginger Beef
-
Review from Berril P.
New Westminster, BC
4/25/2011
Easily the BEST ginger beef I have ever had; period. The general tao's chicken and spicy green beans are great as well. Add some rice and you are set. My wife and I have been ordering from these guys for years and their quality is always consistently excellent.
-
Review from Nestor B.
Vancouver, BC
6/1/2009
Still my favourite Chinese restaurant in Vancouver. Their ginger beef is unsurpassed. 'Nuff said.
-
Review from Luisa D.
10/20/2009
This is a spot a bunch of my East Van friends frequent for Dim Sum. I've been with them twice. If we get our usual waiter the service is very good. Otherwise it's nothing to write home about. Last Sunday we had the Won Ton soup to start which had some of the most flavourful broth I've had in won ton soup. We had the usual Gai Lan, Sui Mai, Har Gow - all good. Steamed BBQ pork buns finally came out - tasty. The ginger beef might have been the item that made my MSG senses tingle - literally. It's like have a mild vice squeeze my forehead. I'll go back there because it's kind of a ritual for this bunch but I've had better. Still 10 of us were fully sated for $12.50 each including a 20% tip. Plus it's good if you're going to a matinee at the Rio afterwards.
-
Review from Michael C.
Vancouver, BC
8/27/2009 14 Check-ins Here
This place is busy but in my opinion is Ok. Chicken chow mein was good. Ginger beef was disappointing I like mine crispy with the right combination of salty, sweet, and spicy. Dài ching chicken not good. Hot and sour no good. Their house special beef is ok. Portions too small for me but I am a high metabolism guy.
-
Review from Edwin G.
8/6/2009
I recently fell in love with Tan Tan Noodles with Pork Chop. We are planning a wedding soon & all you piggies are invited. =)
-
Review from VanGrr L.
Vancouver, BC
3/19/2009
This is an excellent place for dim sum. They have fast service and really good food. Faves include the crystal shrimp dumplings, deluxe tantan noodles and radish cakes. So reasonable that you can order lots and lots.
-
Review from aiden b.
Vancouver, BC
9/22/2009
Authentic greasy chinese take out. This is the only place that scratches the itch when you crave the msg laden hang over food. It's the best stuff. Jen humors me and eat here once a year, it;s a bit shabby and in a bit of colourful neighbour for her but it's just damn good to me. Dan Dan noodles, ginger beef, spicy garlic chicken with spinach - bonleess, chicken chow mein, hot sauce, spicy dry green beens. The ginger beef is crispy and chewy and has a great throaty heat. Try it and you'll know what I mean. Don't message me if you gt sick afterward, eat at your own risk.
