Tag Archives: Victoria’s Chinatown

08.16.23
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Oh My MAiiZ Nixtamal Tortillería and the Taste of the Exotic!

MAIIZ TORTILLIASMAiiZ Nixtamal Tortillería
540 Fisgard St
Victoria, BC

Hours: Daily 11 AM to 6 PM
Website: https://maiiz.ca
Phone: (778) 433-1544

MaiiZ is the home to more than just tortillas. Here, they serve all the basics of Mexican food–tamales, tacos and quesadillas. I visited one week for their mushroom tacos, another for their huitlacoches (corn smut) and finally grasshoppers! Regarding the former, these shrooms were slow cooked and basted in a special recipe to bring out the extra flavour. And anyone willing to accept that eating bugs isn’t gross, these insectas aren’t just randomly plucked from anywhere!

One layer of the flatbread isn’t enough to hold some of these tacos. Depending on the ingredient, two gets used to keep everything from sagging. When I first visited, I was curious about the fungi, and the woodsy scents and flavours that made my mouth salivate are perfect. In the middle are a wonderful mix of fresh cilantro, cabbage and pickled red onion. I prefer mild salsa so that my mouth isn’t burning afterwards, but maybe next time I’ll go all the way.

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12.15.21
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One Visit Isn’t Enough for Ghost Ramen

20211027_183151Ghost Ramen
1609 Store St
Victoria, BC

Hours: Weds to Sat 11:30am – 10pm
Phone: (250) 590-9821
Website: ghostramen.ca

DK: We were primed from the minute we sat down. This was not just any ramen joint. Not just any noodles. No, this ramen was the result of worldwide wanderlusting and the serendipitous discovery of handmade noodles in a small island city. I haven’t a clue what sort of noodles other ramen joints in town use, but the story we heard at tableside certainly made Ghost Ramen sound unique. 

The noodle recipe comes from former engineer, accountant and filmmaker turned restaurateur Greg Masuda. He operates a shop in Courtenay and noodles are shipped from there to Victoria. After trying ramen all over the world, Ghost Ramen co-owner Jason Chan says Greg’s noodles are some of the best he’s ever had. So, like I said, Ed and I were primed to feel like we were about to eat something special.

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07.26.17
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In Search for a Late Night Meal at Pho Vuong

Pho Vuong
622 Fisgard St
Victoria, BC
Phone: (250) 590-7687noodles3

E: Who would have thought Victoria, BC’s Chinatown is fully multi-cultural? By the Gate of Harmony, I can find French, Japanese, Chinese and Vietnamese dining options, and I’d be hard pressed to say which is better. In a warm summer night around the town, and both James and my hunger were unabated, I let my buddy choose where to go dine.

Enter Pho Vuong, a nice cozy little operation located at the basement floor of a building and it was right next to a Pokéstop! Yes, I’m still playing the mobile game Pokémon GO, but I’m not as hardcore. If there’s opportunities to eat and spin, why not?

J: I was entranced by the traditional Chinese music being played out of speakers attached to the Friendship Gate. It was my first time hearing it and it somehow added to the atmosphere of its location. But for fine dining, there wasn’t much in the way of choice late night. What was comforting to see was families who owned the restaurants or families and their employees sitting down for a good meal. This night had some magic in the air.

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01.18.17
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Defining the Divine at Grace Sushi

grace-sushi

Grace Sushi
#100-1619 Store St.,
Chinatown
Victoria, BC
(778) 265-9759

For over a year, Grace Sushi has occupied the space on Store St. that was once The Kaz. I’m not sure what the full story is behind the previous establishment’s departure, but in the past, they offered the space for Sen Zushi to occupy when their Fort Street location was devastated by a fire. Until it was all rebuilt, this other establishment fulfilled some sushi diner’s needs. Now they have moved back, and I’m the type to try all the places in town … just where I like to go lays with what is in the vicinity, before going to a play.

I had to see what kind of divine intervention could occur by walking into a location that’s now changed hands.

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06.01.16
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There’s a La Tana between Fan Tan Alley and Market Square

la tana IMG_20151017_133023409La Tana Italian Bakery
101-3 Fan-Tan Alley
Chinatown
Victoria, BC
(250) 920-6213

La Tana is a bakery located a few doors away from Fan Tan Alley‘s south side entrance and when I was crossing the street from Market Square to head to Triple Spiral, I was detoured away by the luxurious smells that emerged out of here. The lunch time crowd was fairly sizable, and when the sandwiches are made out of fresh ciabatta bread, I can understand why this place is popular.

Not only is the owner raised on traditional values when he was growing up in Italy but also he gave up a more brilliant career (he was to be a computer programmer) to focus on his love for bread. I can see why with the scents that drew me in like a mouse to cheese, and with plenty of baked snacks lining the displays, I was tempted to get more than just a sandwich on this visit. Each day presents a different variety of baked sweets and I thought about grabbing some Lingues and Pizza Blancas.

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05.19.16
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You’re an Olo to my Heart in Victoria’s Chinatown

soupOlo Restaurant
509 Fisgard St.
Victoria, BC
(250) 590-8795

There are weeks where I go solo because James is broke, and OLO moves to the top of my hit list since a certain buddy prefers to eat on a budget and I’ve been moving towards the sky’s the limit. At least we agree on one thing: hitting operations who prefer to source all their ingredients locally. And they love sustainability! This establishment used to be known as Ulla (with a similar mandate) and just following what they offered made me wish I was making more money to afford eating here. The offerings are delectable and reasonably well-priced, but I rarely haunt Chinatown (real spirits notwithstanding). When I heard they (as OLO) were one of the six establishments working in concert with bringing Bugs on the Menu, I knew this was a restaurant to finally hit.

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I was visiting to specifically try their caramel cricket crunch sorbet. But that’s a dessert item, and since I was here, I pondered hard over what I could have that would classify as a light lunch instead of a dinner-sized meal.

For sheer comfort and relaxation, this place is excellent! I loved the decor, food and ambience (and hopefully they will still have the Squid Ink Chitarra when I decide to return). The menu varies every few months, and I’ve been waiting long until they offered something I was after. Just when I want to visit requires me to keep tabs. I love restaurants that offer dishes to challenge the taste buds.

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