UPDATED – BUSINESS HAS CLOSED

1590 Commercial Drive, Vancouver

Tel: (604) 258-0005

Web: https://uglydumpling.ca/

Instagram @uglydumpling.ca

Advice: No reservations, go early or expect to wait in the line-up, open Thursday – Monday

Chef Darren Gee and Van Doren Chan have worked their way up the ladder through restaurant industry, opening this Asian focussed eatery on their own with ideas and passion. They pretty much hit their stride from the get go and have been welcoming patrons night after night with a menu that is largely Japanese share plates, changes almost daily if not hourly.

Dining here was an adventure of culinary gems, starting off with the Swiss chard and Kale Goma-ae which I loved, followed by the Spicy celery, smoked tofu and crispy rice salad.

Pork, dried shrimp, Lemongrass Dumplings were outstanding from the wrapper to the filling; this was followed by the Cold steamed chicken, nori sauce, purple mizuna.

I loved the Panko Fried Tomatoes as well as the First Harvest Shizuoka rice with green uni & pickles; the Steamed potatoes with spicy cod roe butter & nasturtium.

The Staff Meal as it is called on the menu board, is a nightly changing feature of their staff meal; the night that I ordered, it was a dish of homemade udon noodles in clear chicken broth.

For dessert, the incredible Sweet Kabocha Pudding, with salted plum caramel, hazelnut crumb.

This is a great spot to take your favourite foodie and go exploring with an open mind.

Review by: Richard Wolak

Vancouver, BC V5L 3Y2, Canada