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Deer Garden Signatures 鹿園魚湯米線 finally reopened yesterday (replacing Deer Garden Restaurant 鹿園茶餐廳). Although it was sad to see our go to restaurant in PoCo close down, many welcome the casual selection of rice noodle combos, curry dishes, and HK style cafe approach.

The interior went thru a major overhaul. It looks much cleaner, brighter and spacious.

Similar to the other Deer Garden locations, the Port Coquitlam branch also allows for a lot of customizations. Starting at 11.25, the noodle combos include soup base, toppings, noodles and a drink (cold drink +$1; specialty drink $+2).

Tomatoes and pumpkins fish soup with sliced beef, bean curd and mushrooms: Deer Garden boasts that their soup base is without MSG. I’ll let you be the judge of that.

I really missed the old Deer Garden but when this, this and this opened – Tri-Cities dining scene got a little more competitive.

more: Where to Eat in Tri-Cities (Coquitlam, PoCo, Port Moody) | Good Coffee Portland | Cafe Myriade Montreal

 

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Deer Garden Signatures 鹿園魚湯米線
URL:  http://www.deergarden.ca/
Cuisine: Noodles, HK Cafe

Hours:

Mon 9 AM to 9 PM
Tue Closed
Wed 9 AM to 9 PM
Thu 9 AM to 9 PM
Fri 9 AM to 9 PM
Sat 9 AM to 9 PM
Sun 9 AM to 9 PM

3610 Westwood Street, Port Coquitlam, BC V3B 4S8
(604) 468-7228

Papa Dave’s Pizza Port Coquitlam doesn’t look like much from the outside. I’ve passed by it countless times driving on Kingsway to even bat an eye. But I can say I am pleasantly surprised. We ordered pizza with Just Eat food delivery service. Once our order was confirmed online. We soon received a phone call from the pizza restaurant confirming our order, our request for extra hot sauce, and also delivery time. Delivery time was quicker than the stated 45 mins and the driver was friendly.

Papa Dave’s Pizza crust is neither too thick or too thin. It was not soggy or too doughy. We ordered a classic Hawaiian (Aloha Combo) made with ham, pineapple & Papa Dave’s three cheese blend. One large pizza 14″ is 16.77 (or two large is 26.77). We also ordered 10 piece honey garlic wings for 7.99. The wings were juicy and quite plumped. I liked how it wasn’t dry or too skinny.

You will have to excuse us we are just settling into our new home. We have unlimited floor space and photocopying boxes for tables. At least we don’t have to cook and can Just Eat.

Papa Dave’s Pizza Port Coquitlam
URL: http://www.papadavespizzapoco.ca/
Cuisine: Pizza, Take Out, Italian

Hours:
Sunday 4:00 – 10:00 pm
Monday 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Tuesday 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Wednesday 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Thursday 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Friday 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Saturday 4:00 – 11:00 pm

2580 Kingsway Ave, Port Coquitlam, BC V3C 1T6
(604) 554-0292

PoCo has another great sushi restaurant now, Sushi K Kamizato. Opened since June 6, 2012 in Shaughnessy Station (where Safeway and Earls is). Chef Keith Kamizato originally from Okinawa 沖縄県, Japan, was trained in the traditional style of Japanese cooking and sushi preparation brings us some really delicious and quality sushi.

Brick walls, sushi bar, dark wooden tables and LCD TVs playing ocean scenes sets the mood. It reminds me of the super awesome Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium: mysterious marine life right before your eyes.

We were greeted by friendly staff and complimentary salmon karrage with chili mayo were provided. Warm bite sized crunchy exterior and juicy center.

Chicken Udon: A flavourful broth with a few lightly seared tender strips of chicken. Tastes like dark meat instead of chicken breast which is a plus! Unfortunately, there isn’t a lot of cooked food here. I would love to see a few traditional Okinawa dishes being offered. I think that would complete the menu!

Ocean Wiser: Amaebi, salmon toro, cucumbers on the inside. Topped with more salmon, avocado, green onions, sesame and house special sauce. A savory mix of some sort of soy vinaigrette.

Let it Beef House Roll: like a Aburi Beef Carpaccio – tender and lightly seared on the outside. Topped with fried garlic and carrot bites. Best served alone sans wasabi & soy mixture. The house soy vinaigrette is enough says the Chef (and we concur).

Chef Keith Kamizato is extremely friendly and has a great memory. He remembers our friends Alecia and John when asked how we found this little slice of heaven. I can’t wait to make this place home and try out a few more Signature Rolls & Sushi Favorites: Tuna 4 Way, Goodbye Yellow Brick Roll, PoCo Gunner, and Tiger’s Eye.

Be sure to check out some videos posted of their facebook page!

Sushi K Kamizato Japanese Restaurant
URL: https://www.facebook.com/SushiKKamizato
Cuisine: Japanese, Seafood, Sushi
Hours

Mon Closed
Tue Closed
Wed 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm, 5:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Thu 5:00 pm – 9:30 pm,
Fri 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm, 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Sat 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm, 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Sun 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm, 5:00 pm – 9:30 pm

2850 Shaughnessy St, Port Coquitlam, BC V3C 6K5
(604) 474-0022

Deer Garden in Coquitlam has been opened many, many years… I basically grew up with this restaurant and never really thought that I’d be blogging about it. But why hide a gem when I never grow tired of it. Sure it has its flaws, but what Chinese restaurant doesn’t? Especially when there is more demand than supply – too many hungry customers and not a lot of staff… Fortunately for them there are not a lot of quality Chinese restos in Coquitlam – out of the handful that’s decent, I can only think of maybe 3 we would frequent in the Tri-Cities.

This resto is full of Chinese comfort food and specialty items – congee and noodles for the day; mini rice sets, french toast and milk tea for afternoon tea; and dinner combo sets that includes house soup (typically pork-bone broth with lotus roots or pumpkin squash and chicken feet), rice, and dessert soup (red bean soup or coconut sago)… Lunch sets under $10 served with hot / cold drinks; Dinner combo meals available for 2, 3, 4, 6… prices are reasonable and the portions are hefty. Dinner combo for 4 will feed 5 hungry mouths for $60 including tips!

Infamous delicacies of Deer Garden includes their Seafood, Hainanese Free Range Chicken 海南雞飯 (HFRC), Salt Baked Chicken, and Malaysian Style Curry.

The HFRC is juicy, tender, and flavourful… Traditional Hainanese prefers the use of plumper birds to maximize the amount of oil extracted – the entire chicken is boiled in chicken and pork bone stock then dipped in ice after cooking to produce gelatine like gloss finish. Served with dipping sauces of chilli and minced ginger and oil. TIP: order extra minced ginger and oil sauce to mix with rice… delish!

Originally Mui Garden was known for their curries – I seriously beg to differ. Last time I was there, the curry was watery and cold. Let’s not get into details here. The curry at Deer Garden is a velvety concoction of coconut milk and yellow curry meddled with onions, potatoes, and green/red peppers. The meat is nicely robed and abundant. Chose from Beef, Beef Briskets, Chicken, Fish, or Pork Culets…

Other notable dishes;

Jelly Fish

Not always available and sometimes seasonal. Their jelly fishes are plump and juicy. The chili sesame oil sauce compliments this dish so well.

Salt and Pepper Fish Filets

One of the best S&P preparations in town! Loads of garlic chips, jalapenos, peppers, and green onions. Be sure to try this on crab as well.

“Paper Wrap” Sirloin Strips immersed with Hua Diao Jiu Wine 紙包花刁牛柳

Tin foil wrapped sirloin beef seals in moisture to make this cow tender and succulently robed with Hua Diao Wine sauce. Enoki mushrooms and onions brings out the flavonoids. The tin foil wrapping maybe a bit of a gimmick for presentation, but its delish!

Black Bean Sauce Steamed Fish on Tofu

Black Bean medley with soy makes this rather simple dish stand out.

Tong Choi

Malaysian Style stir fried with chilli and garlic sauce. Other favourite preparations include stir fried with fermented tofu / chilli or shrimp paste.

Lastly, if you come for service, please don’t have high expectations. This place is packed at all times. The staff are overworked and sometimes as a regular you are forced to serve yourself. Nonetheless, if you are willing to wait, it will come eventually. Otherwise, another great option is to order take out!

And remember, if the parking lot is full… try parking across the street where Safeway is. So far, no one has been towed yet.