Pearl Palace Restaurant
3779 Sexsmith Road, #1128 Richmond, BC V6X3Z9
My first posting of Taiwanese food in Richmond will be Pearl Palace Restaurant. Thanks to my Indonesian girlfriend who spent a year living in Taiwan, tonight's eating place will be a bit of nostalgia for her and a new adventure in Asian eating for me!
3779 Sexsmith Road, #1128 Richmond, BC V6X3Z9
From the menu inside cover (and a glance at patrons) I get the impression that this place caters mostly to those who enjoy socializing with bubble tea and food as perhaps an afterthought?
The place is clean enough for those interested in such trivia.
Pepper Salt Chicken Knee $5.25
I've tried chicken feet but never chicken knees! So why not indulge my theory of whole-animal Chinese food (only the Chinese eat every part of every animal I've noticed -- and make it taste good too...) and try it tonight? This dish is extremely dry and I had to order a side of sauce in order to make it palletable. Recommended for beer drinkers...
Fried Oysters $7.00
Not too dry (esp. with chile sauce/lemon) and quite tasty and generous portion. But to be honest this is a rather bland dish.
Beef Brisket & Pig Blood in fire pot $8.95
What is there not to like about beef brisket and pork blood? Especially when swimming together in a congealed soup/sauce of spicy red broth and served in tandem with steamed rice and a side of condiments? The yellow item in the bowl at lower/left is dessert: an airplane sized portion of Pineapple Jello.
The condiments -- beansprouts, glass noodle & pickle veggie -- compliment the thick, spicy dish slathered on top of rice.
Closeup of Beef Brisket & Pork Blood Hot Pot
House-special Sauce Chicken $8.25
This chicken dish is well done in my opinion, and is of the type I would describe as "easy eating". By that term I mean a dish that is universally accepted, although probably too spicy for some, and the presence of peanuts will turn off the peanut-averse, but other than that it is good eats. I am sure most everyone would enjoy this preparation of tender chicken (cartilage & bones included) tossed in a spicy peanut sauce and spring onions.
All in all, I imagine this restaurant will keep a repeat business (mostly Taiwan expats? and students). Although I probably won't go back as I don't really feel any nostalgia for Taiwan cafe style bubble tea restaurant, which this place definitely is, with averagely delicious food and no real sense of passion for cooking or service.