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La Chocolaterie
Category: Food Specialty Food Chocolatiers and Shops Chocolatiers and Shops [Edit]
7971 Alderbridge WayUnit 160
Richmond, BC V6X 2A4
Neighbourhood: Golden Village
(604) 214-6607
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 10 am - 7 pm
Fri-Sat 10 am - 8 pm
- Price Range:
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$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
12 reviews for La Chocolaterie
Review Highlights
12 reviews in English
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Review from Nina I.
Burnaby, BC
4/10/2012
OH WOW... it's the most amazing melt-in-your-mouth minute of bliss chocolate that you've just got to try! Seriously - place the chocolate on your tounge and let it sit...and enjoy. Chiwata-san and his wife run the shop inside Izumiya in Richmond. La Chocolatarie is often at various places around the city and over the weekend was at VanDusen Gardens for Japan Fair at Sakura Days, and will give you samples. I was at the fair for two days and oh it was dangerous! If you know of melty kiss in Japan - this is what it is similar to. Not too overly sweet like a chocolate bar and is flavourful. The matcha and black seseme are two of my favorites!!
Their flavours are so unique with many Japanese and seasonally inspired flavours. Here is my take on the flavours I now have:
Matcha (Green Tea) - This is for the matcha lover in you! It will not disappoint any Japanese critic (like me?) who sees too many people call things matcha while diluting it with too much water/ice/milk...and need to ask for a double-triple matcha strength to make it taste remotely matcha. After the chocolate is cut up, it's rolled in pure matcha - and they don't skimp. Not too sweet, and lets the matcha sing throughout!
Black Sesame - Packed with the black sesame flavour and is just dreamy! Especially if you enjoy those black sesame dumplings...it's the seseme paste in chocolate The exterior is rolled in cocoa powder and is just amazing!
Earl Grey - The essence of flowery notes, black tea infused in the chocolate was pretty great...with the exterior dusted in cocoa powder. It takes a few seconds to recognize the earl grey flavour, but it comes out the longer you taste it.
Japanese Citron - You can definitely smell the yuzu when you open the cup of chocolate and I found this to be a bit sweeter than the other chocolates. It's a delightful lemon/grapefruit flavour with a bit of texture from small bits of concentrated yuzu pieces. This one is made with a blend of cocoa.
Lemon Basil - This tastes like a scoop of lemon sorbet with a subtle mint/basil flavour. Just sublime! (I had this one before the weekend, but it's still yummy!)
I will, of course, be back for more! -
Review from Kenneth E.
Vancouver, BC
What a hidden gem! Most drivers would be flying down Alderbridge...in an obscure looking typical Richmond business front, with a supermarket inside...
Has its own store front inside, with a nice display of their goodies. Wanting something a bit healthy, opted for the ginger chocolate squares, great flavour and can really taste the ginger, smooth texture. can be very addictive, as even 3 weren't enough!
Japanese owners quite nice, and think one of them worked for Purdy's before...
free parking. -
Review from Theresa W.
Vancouver, BC
4/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Chocolates! So many cups of chocolate! All cute and sitting there, puffing their chests out and whispering to curious onlookers "pick me! pick meeeee!"
Yes, that's exactly what I think my food does when I'm debating which ones to choose. Japanese chocolates are so fun, with all their flavours that are infused in. I like my chocolate smooth, so I'm not a fan of chocolates with nuts or dried fruit in them. You can imagine how much I rant about many candy bars out on the market these days.
Anyways. I picked up three cute little cups of chocolate to try and while the black matcha was a poor choice (bitter, overpowering matcha flavour), the black sesame and dark chocolates were a complete hit. Husband and I devoured everything within two days, and I've been craving more ever since. I'm so glad I found this place, despite being hidden in what seems like a not very busy market building. I hope it lasts, since I'm already planning my next trip to go back and try some more!Listed in: Richmond!, 2012 Best Of, The Underdogs
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Review from Mireille U.
Vancouver, BC
5/24/2012
Only had it at Steveston's farmer's market but I LOVED it!! The guy was really nice and made me taste many different flavors. My favorites: mango and green tea. Next time I'm in Richmond I'll check out the shop for sure.
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Review from Larry L.
Yes, I had to indulge again in this sinful of sinfully sweetness. It was their chocolates that beckoned me back. Their sugar free substitute dark chocolates.
This time I bought 3 (pretty pricey) bars to bring home to make hot chocolate.
I haven't had hot chocolate in years and I just had to indulge in a reality that once became fantasy and now back again for more reality!
Oh Dark Chocolate, how I love and miss thee! I'm so glad to have indulged in your warmth and the flavours that revealed a longing that I had forgotten from years of neglect.
La Chocolaterie, you have made my dreams come true. I can now enjoy that flavourful sin that was kept so far away from me for so long. Thank you once again!
....that hot chocolate recipe was amazing!Listed in: Taste Bud Tinglers, Japanese Food. What it Means…, Diabetic Friendly
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/3/2011
How could I forget this place? Well, better late than never to review!
One of the few places that… Read more »
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Review from Takeshi T.
Vancouver, BC
9/22/2011
I knew this chocolate. but I had never eaten this chocolate. One of my best friends recomended me about La chocolaterie. BUT....! I know I can only buy it in Izumiya market in Richmond.(I live in Downtown tho...) Approximately 2 months ago, I went to there. so went to there while going night market.
So..... It is really tasty. so smooth texture and richly flavored... I ate variety chocolate, everything is so good, especially some of my favorite are Macha, Yuzu, Sakekasu!
These days, I go to Izumiya market. WHY? I can't tell you! Just GO! -
Review from Sachi M.
I've been back almost once a month (according to my check-in count), and they feel like a mature store now. The bags have their logo on them, consistent with the new website, which has a more recognizable address (though one could say, "aren't you guys in Richmond?" ;-) )
I liked when they started the Tarts, and I really wanted to try the Hot Chocolate they were tweeting about, but never made it out there before summer came and they went out of season.
One thing that keeps me coming back is that they keep coming up with new flavours. Lemon Basil was good! Last time, I finally met the Tomato. They were in the process of making Earl Grey, so I couldn't get that, but will have to look for it next time. And maybe I'll work up the courage to try Blue Cheese...
They have fancy gift boxes now. You can pick any combination of the 2-pack squares and customize your gift!
I learned from their new website that "coco nama" is the name of their line of nama-choco squares. Makes more sense now that they have other products. Their site also shows how sweet/bitter each flavour is, and whether it goes well with tea/liquor/milk/wine. Neat. They also list allergens -- though, unfortunately, they all have milk and soy.Listed in: FTR (or Second or Third)
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/31/2010 First to Review
Vancouver Japanese Twitterers have been talking about this for the last week or so, and I finally… Read more »
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Review from Jenna L.
9/30/2011
I've always wanted to check out this place - somehow stumbled upon them at Burnaby Village Museum's farmer's market on Saturday. Picked up a box of mixed variety and featured raspeberry flavour for $9.95. I think that's a reasonable price for handmade chocolates but the size is small...
Some flavours are instant hit, like green tea and earl grey. The seasonal raspberry was good - overall the flavours are subtle not overpowering. The chocolate dust will get your fingers dirty though! I am not sure if I will go out of my ways to pick up more, but will check it out if I'm in the area. -
Review from Katie F.
7/23/2011
What a great chocolate shop!!
This is a nice change from a traditional chocolate shop. There's a few articles about the store posted by the entrance where the owners previously worked at Meiji in Japan. It's Japanese style chocolate which is essentially freshly made chcolate that has infused fruits/flavors and not too sweet.
Some of the flavors are unusual if you're not used to Asian items (green tea, mango, yuzu/Japanese lemon), but there's the standard dark, milk, coffee, etc. as well.
The clerk was helpful and the samples are a great way to check things out... my favorite is the Japanese citron (yuzu) but they're all creamy, not too sweet, and have lovely flavors.
I walked out with one of their gift boxes with a mixture of their tarts (you pick your filling) and the chocolates. The chocolates are $1.50-$1.75/piece and the tarts are about $1.25-ish each.
It's a bit pricey but I'm a fan and hope they do well!! -
Review from Lawrence K.
Vancouver, BC
12/1/2011
If you are looking for a box of chocolates as a gift but not just "a box of chocolates", I highly recommend the Coconama gift box for 13.50. Your choice of color box and homemade flavored chocolates. Taste is better than Godiva.
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Review from Veli-WaiSic T.
Burnaby, BC
5/15/2011 1 photo
I must be living under a rock because I didn't even known that there was a "new" Japanese Supermarket in Richmond.
La Chocolaterie is located inside Izumiya Supermarket which sits on the old XS Cargo lot. You'll see a huge sign outside advertising for "Japanese Style Chocolates".
What the heck is Japanese Style Chocolates you ask? We were confused too when all we saw was a glass display full of small multi-coloured cubes. What? no Matcha Kit Kat?
It turns out that Japanese Style Chocolates, are soft handmade chocolates. They call them "Fresh Chocolates" because they're made in small quantities on a daily basis.
The chocolates are uncoated chocolate truffles that come in a variety of flavours ranging from the classic milk and dark chocolate, to fruits and a collection of distinctly Japanese flavours such as matcha and black sesame.
The owner very generously handed us samples of several of the different flavours. One taste of the matcha flavour n I knew I couldn't go home empty handed. Buttery smooth, melt in your mouth chocolate truffle paired blissfully with strong fragrant matcha, the richness of the truffle balanced perfectly by the slight bitterness of green tea...ah...I could wax lyrical about it all day. The SO tried the coffee flavour and he said it was amazing too.
At $5 for a little tub of 10 pieces it's not exactly cheap and because it's not sickeningly sweet, you could easily eat all 10 pieces in one go.
I think I hear my tub calling me. -
Review from Louisa L.
Richmond, BC
5/16/2011 1 photo
Yummm....I love this place especially their strong match chocolate. Everything is hand crafted using only the best ingredients and I love how they have so many different samples that you can taste. It's a bit pricey but the chocolate is flavorful, melts in your mouth like butter and not super sweet.
