Thrifty Tuesday - Bow Bow Cafe Taiwanese Restaurant

Bow Bow Cafe is at 4611 Kingsway in Burnaby and if you aren't looking for it or are looking for it but aren't paying attention, it is very easy to miss.  That's what I did, but my girlfriend who I was meeting found me on the street, turned me around, and led me to the hole-in-the-wall kind of place.

Bow Bow Cafe is a small restaurant serving Taiwanese noodles.  That's what it's famous for.  This is a no frills kind of place.  The menu is written on a chalkboard on the wall.  Read it and order.  It's that simple.  If you are a place that specializes in noodles, then you order the Taiwanese Beef Noodle.

We decided to also order the chicken noodle dish below.  However, I admit, I loved the Beef Noodle better.  The advantage of Bow Bow Cafe is that it's pretty simple and fast food and there's not much fuss.  The disadvantage other than trying to find it beside an adult sex shop, is that it is a cash only type of place.  I don't mind this as the dishes were reasonably priced at around $10-$12 each.  My friend treated me so I don't quite remember but it's a good place to try again now that fall is here for the beef noodle in a soup.  
  

Vancouver Cheap Eats - Dosa Factory

Everyone has talked about the Monday Dosa specials and I missed going with the large group of colleagues.  So I asked my Indian friend if she wanted to go again and bring me there.  Of course she said "Yes" as it's hard to resist a meal for $5.99.  That's the Monday special where you can order a dosa for $5.99.  At that price she basically told us to order one to go so we all would have lunch the next day.  Initially I wasn't going to but then I really thought about it and figured out that $5.99 is cheaper than a McDonald's Big Mac combo.  I might have offended my friend at that time for comparing authentic South Indian Food to McDonalds.  That justification won me over and I ordered one dosa to eat-in and one dosa to go.

Mondays at the Dosa Factory on Kingsway in Vancouver is a big deal so it's natural that you have to put your name down on the wait list and wait.  With a smaller group of 4 people it was easier than with a group of 10 people.  I did notice that they had many tables of 2 so a dynamic duo is a good number.  

It was worth the wait.  When we were seated there were bottles of water on the table for us.  The Monday menu was simple and we ordered one dosa to eat in and one order to go.  They were able to keep track of our order.  Even though it was busy and cheap, they still take the time to provide good customer service which I appreciate.  

I ordered a prawn dosa to eat in and the lamb dosa to go.  A dosa is pictured below and it's hard to see but inside it has the delicous filling of vegetables, potato, and the "prawn" or "lamb" or "menu option" of your choice.  What was more surprising is that it was filling and I was stuffed after eating one dosa.  I would definitely return to the Dosa Factory.  Everyday they have specials but Mondays are the cheapest.  I'll return again for another Dosa Day.  

Find out more about their daily specials here:  http://dosafactoryvancouver.com/dailyspecials.html

Thrifty Tuesday - Wing Wednesday at WINGS

WINGS is a pub and restaurant and like the name suggests it is famous for chicken wings.  They have 25 different flavors to choose from so it isn't easy to decide which ones to try.  Best is to bring a group of friends there on Wing Wednesday when the wings are on special and then share.  On the wing menu:  http://greatwings.ca/wings/ there are a few things to watch out for.  That would be the chili pepper icon which shows how spicy the wings are going to be and then the sauciness icon which looks like a mustard tear drop, this shows how saucy the wings will be.  Or how many napkins you'll need to get through the wings.  

It's a laid back pub and when we went with a group the server even split the bill.  What we didn't know was that they included a gratuity in the bill and many of us also gave a tip.  That's how cheap the bill was if we didn't even notice or think that a tip was included.  The wings are delicious!  

Thrifty Tuesday: McKenzie Cafe at Simon Fraser University

Happy New Year!  University students are preparing to return for another semester of studies.  At Simon Fraser University (SFU), McKenzie Cafe at the AQ is a great place to go when there is not have time for breakfast at home.  McKenzie Cafe opens at 7:30am before the classes start.  TheClassic Breakfast is a filling breakfast for a reasonable cost.  It consists of eggs of your choice (the chefs crack the eggs and cook it in front of you), choice of sausage or bacon, hash browns, and toast (your choice of white or whole wheat).  All of this is under $6.  Universities often have good deals and cheap eats because they are serving the students.  Poor students who have student loans and won't eat unless it's for cheap.  The rest of us can take advantage of that.  

  

Thrifty Tuesday: Viet Sub on Robson Street

Downtown Vancouver have lots of restaurants that are almost like a food truck but instead of eating standing on the street you can eat at the bar stools at the window.  Viet Sub is a Vietnamese "restaurant", there is bar stool seating but not much else.  Don't let the decor stop you.  

It has a simple menu with salad rolls, spring rolls, Vietnamese subs, and a few other Vietnamese dishes.  But as their name suggests, it is famous for Vietnamese Subs.  I tried a "Special" sub and it was delicious!  The french bread was fresh and soft and the sauce soaked the meat and vegetables.  Yummy!  

Viet Sub is at 520 Robson Street and Yelp has given it 4 stars out of 5.  As this is Thrifty Tuesday, I've saved the best for last.  This Viet Special Sub pictured above was less than $5.  Just talking about it is making my mouth water.  Ahh, so happy for friends who know where to eat for cheap!  

Thrifty Tuesday - Chachi's at Metrotown Food Court

Vancity Girlfriend Carolyn is an avid foodie and always wanted to try Chachi's at Metrotown Food Court.  I guess pictures of Chachi sandwiches had hit Instagram and even though Chachi's has been open since May 2016, we figured it was better latet than never.

Even though I had seen the Chachi's sign in the food court, I never went because I wondered if a sandwich would fill me up for dinner.  Not this time!  It was a special food court date just to check out and taste Chachi's sandwiches.  I decided to go for the Pulled Pork with Macaroni and Cheese sandwich.  WOW!  Macaroni and Cheese in a sandwich.  Now that's a mouthful.  I had a cherry iced tea to go with it.  The sandwich was flavorful and delicious and it did not disappoint.  Chachi's was worth it.  The perfect dinner at the Metropolis food court.  

As their box says Chachi's works with local bakeries, butchers and cheese makers and it shows.  Yummy!  We loved it and will be back.  There are so many different hot sandwiches and options to try.  What will it be next time?

Check out their website for more:  http://www.chachis.ca/

Thrifty Tuesday: Bourbon Street Grill at the Metrotown Food Court

National Blog Posting Month

Blogging Everyday in November 

#NaBloPoMo Day 15 - Thrifty Tuesday Bourbon St Grill

Metrotown Food Court in Burnaby, BC which is one of the largest shopping malls in British Columbia is a popular place for a fast and affordable dinner.  The hardest part is always deciding what type of food to buy for dinner.  Do you go to the place with the shortest line up?  Or the longest line up?  Do you follow your tastebuds and follow the type of cuisine that you want to eat?  Or do you follow your pocket book and try to figure out which fast food place will give you the most for your money?

Well I decided to go to the newest place.  There was a shiny big sign that said Bourbon Street Grill.  I imagined good old southern home cooking with corn, and meats, and cornbread.  At the buffet holding trays, they had corn as an option.  And if you say "Can I try the Bourbon St Chicken?", they will give you a toothpick and a piece of chicken to taste.  Wow, that was nice!

What I actually meant was "I'll take the Bourbon St Chicken".  So I decided to order the Bourbon St Chicken, Bourbon St Rice with mixed vegetables.  Now it pretty much is a Chinese style food with a sweeter sauce anytime they say "Bourbon".  It was still good for my tastebuds and I would return if I am looking for a Chinese Canadian food.  I really cannot call it southern food at all.  It was still a dinner for less than $10 so it's a good deal for Thrifty Tuesday.  

Vancouver Event: Starbucks Holiday Share Event

Dear Vancity Girlfriends,

Christmas is in the air in November!  Starbucks Red Cups are back to bring holiday cheer to our festive drinks which includes my all time favourite Peppermint Mocha.  There's also Chestnut Praline Latte and Caramel Brulee Latte both of which I've never tried but I might now that it's Starbucks Holiday Share Event.

From November 12 - 15 from 2-5pm, if you buy one holiday drink, you get one free to share!  Now that's worth trying something new and you can add a snowman cookie to share.  

Find the details and the invitation here:  http://atstarbucks.tumblr.com/shareevent

Burnaby Restaurant: Pho 24 Express

As the winter draws near and the darkness falls, I long for good old fashioned comfort food to feed my soul.  Often after returning home from work and exercise, it is hard to cook for one.  That's when I steal from my cookie jar and step out in my yoga pants to look for a quick meal close by.

Pho 24 Express in Burnaby at 4250 Kingsway was inviting me in.  When I saw the CASH ONLY sign at the door, I didn't hesitate because I had my purple $10 bill in my pocket.  I just wanted a snack, something to warm me up on a cold night.

I sat at a table and noticed that the other two diners were also dining alone which is also comforting because it is a quiet introvert place.  Even though the staff was eating themselves at 8pm, they immediately stood up to give me a menu and brought me a teapot of tea for one.  The menu had an assortment of Vietnamese food include pho, rice, spring rolls, and more.  I knew exactly what I longed for.  It was a nice large bowl of Pho.  After all when you go to a restaurant where Pho is in its name, you need to get their signature dish.  They had three sizes of Regular, Large, and Extra Large.  I ordered a large House Pho.  Pho really doesn't take long to prepare and I am eating in no time.  It arrived with fresh bean sprouts, lime wedge and basil.  On the tables they already have the cutlery and sauces so once the meal has arrived, it is a nice quite time alone with the comforting bowl of Pho (Vietnamese Soup).  

It was exactly what I wanted and at an affordable price, less than $10.