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What to eat in Coquitlam, Tri-Cities? Often I get asked this when my Vancouver friends venture into my neck of the woods. Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, and Port Moody area has changed so much within the past few years. Compared to a decade ago, there are more restaurants, dessert shops, bars and shops. Here’s our favorite restaurants and places to go eat at in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody.

Coquitlam Tri-Cities Eats
Where to Eat in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody

Matoi Japanese | Sunwood Square, 3025 Lougheed Hwy, Coquitlam, BC V3B 1C6 | (604) 464-2778
We like them for their fresh sheet with fish often flown in from Japan. Their sushi and sashimi is always fresh. Prices are reasonable. The menu is classic and traditional without a lot of that fusion flare. We like the simplicity. We come here a lot. Is once a week a lot?

Jimoco Cafe & Pasta | 1046 Austin Ave, Coquitlam, BC V3K 3P3 | (778) 355-6730
Jimoco has really delicious 2 for 1 pasta specials every night. My favorite is their Linguine Soul which comes piping out in a ceramic bowl. This restaurant is located at a tiny strip mall on Austin Avenue and Marmot Street (across from Safeway). Be ready to wait in line. It gets super busy – Every. Single. Night.

Rocky Point Ice Cream | 2800 Murray St, Port Moody, BC V3H 1X2 | (604) 492-3119
When you are craving quality ice cream late at night in the Tri-City, Rocky Point Ice Cream is the answer. It is located right at Rocky Point Park (across from Parkside Brewery and Yellow Dog). Nothing quite beats eating a delicious creamy ice cream and walking along the pier.

Ma Now Thai Kitchen | 2755 Lougheed Hwy #29, Port Coquitlam, BC V3B 5Y9 | (778) 355-7979
Located within PoCo Place Mall where Michael’s is, is a flavorful Thai restaurant. They specialize in various dishes in different regions of Thailand. We are enjoy their Tom Kha Gai coconut milk soup and Southern Thai Massaman curry.

Deer Garden Signatures  鹿園魚湯米線 | 3610 Westwood St, Port Coquitlam, BC V3B 4S8 | (604) 468-7228
Deer Garden in Coquitlam has been opened many, many years… It closed and is now replaced by Deer Garden Signatures 鹿園魚湯米線. This HK Cafe specializes in soup noodle combos, curry rice dishes and other Hong Kong Cafe eats.

Kulinarya Filipino Eatery Coquitlam | 2922 Glen Dr #114, Coquitlam, BC V3B 2P5 | (778) 285-6577
Kulinarya Filipino Eatery is a small little Filipino restaurant behind Coquitlam Centre. Highly recommend the Sizzling Sisig (Crispy minced pork pig ears with egg), Tortang Talong (Eggplant omelet) and Halo Halo (Shaved ice dessert with coconut milk, jelly, boba, coconut jelly, mocha and topped with coconut ice cream).

Tacoreano Coquitlam Centre | 2970 Glen Dr #100, Coquitlam, BC V3B 0C4 | (604) 944-2929
Tacoreano Coquitlam Centre is a new Korean fusion taco restaurant dishing out tacos, quesadillas and fresh kimchi rice bowls. The store is just a block away from Coquitlam Centre on #100-2970 Glen Drive next to Browns Social House.

Jeong Ga Nae Korean Restaurant | #105-2922 Glen Dr, Coquitlam, BC V3B 2P5 | (604) 468-2661
When it’s winter and cold, gamjatang (a spicy pork bone soup) is the obviously choice. It is located behind Coquitlam Centre and steps away from Kulinarya.

HAAN Korean BBQ 한바베큐 | 3025 Lougheed Hwy, Coquitlam, BC V3B 6S2 | (604) 944-7188
They offer high quality cuts of meat (two order minimum for meats). The meats were tender, juicy and well flavoured. Clean, bright and great ambiance!

PoCo Ocean Restaurant 海富小館 | Poco Place Mall, 2755 Lougheed Hwy, Port Coquitlam, BC V3B 5Y9 | (604) 464-4325
PoCo Ocean Friendly neighborhood restaurant in Port Coquitlam between Lougheed and Westwood Street. It offer fresh ingredients and really tasty honey garlic wings. They do not have consistent hours and it is best to call ahead before heading over.

Tri-Cities Places Good for Dim Sum

Wah Wing Szechuan Restaurant 華榮川菜館 | 207- 2748 Lougheed Hwy, Port Coquitlam, BC V3B 6P2 | (604) 945-3333
We love their shrimp spring rolls with seaweed. Concise dim sum menu with lunch combination specials. The staff is friendly and always my first choice when we feel like going yum cha.

Grand Palace Restaurant Coquitlam 富豪酒家 | 1163 Pinetree Way #2001, Coquitlam, BC V3B 8A6 | (778) 285-8900
Suitable for big parties. Their Dim Sum selection is big with a lot of variety. Service is not great and often with long wait times.

Eastern Pearl Seafood Port Coquitlam 東海樓 | 6102-2850 Shaughnessy St, Port Coquitlam, BC V3C 6K5 | (604) 474-2992
Newest Chinese restaurant Port Coquitlam. Flavorful pairings and quality ingredients both lunch and dinner. Fresh seafood tanks and plentiful free parking.
 

Other Restaurants in Coquitlam and the Tri-Cities

• The Keg
• Earls Port Coquitlam
• Cora’s
• Grand Seasons Chinese Restaurant
• Grand River Chinese Restaurant

Dessert Shops in Coquitlam

• Snowy Village Coquitlam
• Cup Full 

Earls Port Coquitlam is a chain restaurant with many locations in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. Tho some many shun big box chains away, I unashamedly don’t mind them. I can always trust on the standards and services provided and the food really is pretty good.

Club soda on a patio

A post shared by nance ⚡ (@hellonance) on Jul 6, 2013 at 2:06pm PDT

When the sun is out it seems like everyone in Vancouver is out dining on a Patio and some patios feels like I am dining on the road side (inhaling exhaust fumes and chewing on dust). The patio space at Earls Port Coquitlam is actually quite nice. It is off the side of a big parking lot, away from the smoky asphalt and has a couple gazebo seats. For the next hour (or depending on how many sangrias juggled), you too can pretend to escape the chaos and bob your head to the tunes…

Dominical Fish Tacos 12.25: two soft flour tortillas, grilled lime and coriander marinated wahoo, mango and avocado salsa, spicy valentina crema. The fish was soft and moist and nicely seasoned. The spicy valentine crema sauce reminds me of ranch mixed with some paprika (something that I can skip). And if the tortillas shells were crispy instead of soft that would be even better.

Santa Fe Chicken Salad 16.50: avocado, black beans, corn, dates, feta and organic greens, peanut lime vinaigrette, crispy tortillas (ours was fettucini), cajun spiced chicken. Lots of proteins, lean meat and complexities brings this salad to approximately a jaw dropping 800 calories according to the My Fitness Pal app. I love everything about this Southern / Mexican inspired salad and it left me satiated for the afternoon.

Earls Port Coquitlam

5100 2850 Shaughnessy St, Port Coquitlam, BC V3C 6K5
(604) 941-1733

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Never judge a book by its cover? Would you judge a restaurant by its facade? Of course you would. Who would go to a restaurant that doesn’t look appealing from the outside for the first time? Restaurants invest in experience, so you’ll leave telling your friends how good the food was. In reality, it was the décor that attracted you to explore, and bravely step inside Tip Thai Port Coquitlam.


Tip Thai, a restaurant that I would so easily pass by on a daily basis. The truth of the matter is, I do pass by Shaughnessy Street every. single. day. That is on route to where Nancy lives. So I have passed by this restaurant at least 200 times, and not one time was I enticed to go in.

So how did I end up at this restaurant? Out of the blue my friend mentioned that this restaurant is extremely good, and we should go try it. Being the adventurous person that I am, I drove to where the address was. To my surprise, I missed it until Nancy has pointed it out….

Tip Thai is located downtown Port Coquitlam on 2606 Shaughnessy St cross McAllister Ave; it is kiddie corner to the city hall. This Thai restaurant opened about 6 months ago. It is a hidden gem! Seating max of about 15 people it offers exceptional food and would put up a tough competition to some of Vancouver’s finest such as Maenam in Kits, Simply Thai in Yaletown, and even the Tropika, Pink Thai and Thai House in Downtown Vancouver.

This cozy restaurant is opened by husband and wife duo Alex and Penny. Chef Ning (came from Thailand 2 years) and her sous chef cooks up a mean curry! There is a wide variety of items on the menu and daily lunch / dinner specials are reasonably priced. Eat in, Take out, Catering are all available choices.

Shrimp Cakes $6.95

4 pieces of finely minced shrimp is blended with Thai curry paste, green beans kaffir lime and served with plum sauce. The generous portion of delicious seasoned and sharp tasting shrimp cakes is not to be missed. Breaded and fried just right.

Red Curry with Chicken (dinner special $9.99)

Comes with salad, rice and spring roll

This red curry in coconut milk with pumpkin is delicious. The fiery spice blends well with hearty pumpkins. Such a warming dish that I couldn’t resist drinking the remaining sauces.

Tom Kha Kai Sm $4.95 | Lg $7.95

Think Tom Yum Kung with coconut milk! Sliced chicken in coconut milk soup with mushroom, cilantro flavoured with galangal kaffir-lime and lemongrass leafs. For 2 person get a large, its good for about 2 small bowls each. Anything less and you’d be trying to steal your neighbours!

Pad Eggplant with Basil $9.95

Stir fried eggplants with Thai basil. Sweet and spicy, fiery and fragrant with Thai basil. The eggplants and the beef completely absorb the sauce. I like how the eggplants are still dense and not completely mushed.

Mango Sticky Rice 

Khao Niaow Ma Muang is a sinful classic Thai dessert. So very scrumptious and fragrant of coconut milk. Sweet mango for a healthy indulgence!

**Your choice of chicken, beef or tofu for all curry and entrees dishes.

Next time I really want to try:

• Seafood Salad with steamed prawn and Basa filet with green tomatoes cilantro in a chilli lime dressing and green lettuce
•  Tilapia 3 spice sauce
•  Panang curry
•  Pad Kra-Pao – stir fired spicy garlic sauce with onion bell peppers and basil leaf
•  Fried Banana for dessert

Most people would have to think twice before venturing into PoCo (unless you are local). But it would be a shame if there isn’t more buzz or somehow doesn’t draw in more traffic. It deserves attention and I could eat here for lunch and dinner. Almost every day. Being so close to home, I can’t believe I hadn’t discovered this sooner.

Tip Thai Port Coquitlam
URL: www.tipthai.com
Cuisine: Thai

 
Hours:
Sunday 11:30 am – 9:00 pm
Monday 11:30 am – 9:00 pm
Tuesday 11:30 am – 9:00 pm
Wednesday 11:30 am – 9:00 pm
Thursday 11:30 am – 9:00 pm
Friday 11:30 am – 9:00 pm
Saturday 11:30 am – 9:00 pm

2606 Shaughnessy St, Port Coquitlam, BC V3C 3G5
(604) 472-0005