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Solid 5 stars for oysters! Glad this place is still delivering fresh oysters with cozy vibes after so many years. Though their menu is smaller now and they only run from 4pm to around 7pm or 8pm, I appreciate their fresh oyster selection and reasonably priced menu plus i really like how they offer very fresh horseradish and a good selection of vinegar and sauces to pair with their oysters. I find them consistent in ensuring fresh quality and diverse oyster selection and I especially appreciate that their oysters are well shucked. (It makes for bad oyster experience when oysters look sad and skimpy or has shell traces). My favourite express happy hour combo could be pairing of their yummy fries, fresh oysters and a drink. They do have fried oysters and prawn cocktails as well and one can always order a pound of wings to share. This place is small and only have around 4 tables plus couple bar stools so it's best for dining solo or with couple pals for more intimate chats. It was busy on Saturday and I may recommend going early at 4pm or perhaps between 530 to 6pm if you didn't make a reservation. Ample paid parking options on the street and there are bus stops right on Keefer Street. Oyster Express is located in Chinatown area, approximately 10 minutes drive from Science World, Gastown, Canada Place or Pacific Central Station. It is definitely a cute stop for fresh west coast oysters and to quench your thirst with local BC beers.
Cute Mom and Pop owned and operated joint. We got there this past Sunday right at 4pm opening and were sad we were the only ones there as this business deserves all the love. The have a great daily 4pm to 7pm Happy Hour offerings where the special oyster is $2.75 each and the remaining for $3.95 each. They carry more unique oysters at this joint, compared to Fanny Bay, and has a wide array of East and West Coast oysters. One of my absolute favourites is the Apex oysters from here, when in season. We ordered 8 of the special oysters (ones from PEI), and draft beer on special, and $11 fried oysters on the Happy Hour menu. As usual, the shucker guy and the Asian girl were friendly and took great care of us. The fried oysters usually comes with 3 pieces but because they were small in size, they gave us 4 pieces - so kind! And the fried oysters comes with a really nice smokey dip that pairs wonderfully with the oysters. Solid oyster joint and definitely is one of our go to oyster places in Vancouver.
So good. One of those fresh seafood places that makes you feel right at home. If you're a seafood lover, this is a must visit! Service was so quick too. Small restaurant so it feels very personable. Oysters were fresh and the clams were amazing!!! Ugh, still thinking about the broth in the clams.
The food was amazing and the service was even beyond amazing. Highly recommend this place for the food and the service. I wish we would have found this sooner. When we come back to Vancouver we're coming here
Came here for Happy Hour the other night with my friend and ordered a dozen oysters at $2.50 each to split. They were delicious. I hear oysters are in season (fall/winter), which may be why they were so tasty...super fresh, briney, with a hint of salt. Also ordered yam fries, which arent totally my favourite, a bit soft but still tasty. The husband and wife operation was friendly and the quaint little tables make the place quite welcoming. I believe Happy Hour runs from 4-7pm. The location, tucked away in Chinatown, makes it a hidden gem. We'll be back!
Simple go-to place for oysters. I walked in a few times and always got a seat right away. I wouldn't recommend for a large group because it's a small venue. They know their oysters and will give you recommendations if needed (size, texture, brine, finish). They always have one on special all day so no happy hour nonsense. Just go before 8pm (when they close). I went for three kinds of fresh ones and the fried one, the two on special and a medium size one. The effingham was perfect size, plump and creamy, clean finish. The okeover was salty, more flavorful but smaller. The gorge Inlet was a good size. I preferred the effingham but we all have different tastes. Spicy Ceasar was on special for $10, also delicious. I should come more often.
Coziest little oyster bar ever! I don't know if it seats more than a dozen people, but I am glad I was one of them last week. Top class fresh oysters, usually 6-7 varieties to choose from. The raw shucked are outstanding - the shucker is a master. We had 2 dozen raw and each was a work of shucking art - each oyster perfectly separated from its shell, undamaged in any way. And with the liquor intact. Every single one. That is some skill. Oh, and the homemade chili-vodka condiment is excellent. The fried oysters were big meaty west coasters, perfectly crispy, juicy. I want to go back with a bigger group, so we can try them all. Big thanks to the owners - such nice people
Delicious oysters! As the restaurant name suggests, this place is all about oysters. There aren't too many choices otherwise but if you're a fan of them, you'll enjoy this restaurant. There are two oyster specials each day, a cheaper one and a premium one. We mainly ordered the cheap one (Nanoon Bay) but also got some premium (kusshi) and some varieties on the larger list. My favorites were the pink pearls, so clean and sweet tasting! Every oyster was shucked well (no shell fragments)! Mignonettes and sauces were available right at the table which was convenient. There was a vodka pepper sauce that *lowkey* got my fiancé very drunk so just remember, it's straight up vodka lol. The restaurant is very quaint but cozy. Had a handful of beer options that are listed on the board. Service was super nice and very knowledgeable. A must visit for oysters in Vancouver!
Love this mom and pop shop - a little gem in Chinatown. The owners here are super friendly and make you feel at home. The selection is great! The oysters are super refreshing especially during the summer time heat. We got one of each from the happy hour menu and they did not disappoint! The oils and condiments that they had also elevated the flavors of the oyster without masking it, which was a nice touch. Recommend to try!
Small little spot in Chinatown. Couldn't seem to make it here in time for happy hour but don't worry, even if you miss the 5-7 window you only have to pay 40cents more for the daily special oysters. All the oysters were super fresh and shucked to order. Came with variety of sauces including cocktail, vinegar, vodka, and horseradish. I think it tasted great with just a spritz of lemon. They also have $5 beer specials. Service was very friendly and attentive. Might be hard to get a table during happy hour so come early. The space was small but literally emptied out right after 7.
After visiting chinatown we went oyster hopping while we were kind of in the area. --Nanoose Bay - From Britsh Columbia, briny, sweet, milky. --Totten Virgin (5/5) - From Washington, I liked this one the most. It was more refreshing, slightly salty but not briny or fishy at all. --Shigoyu - From Washington, briny. --Kumamoto - From Washington, salty, briny, sweet. --Pink Pearl - Not sure where this was from but it was sweet, salty, briny. As you can see, my type of oyster non briny, fishy, or milky or I wont like it at all! Unfortunately, 2 out of 12 oysters were on happy hour. Our bill came out to $48 CA bucks for 12 oysters and 1 drink. The cider itself was $5.95, which is pretty expensive for a can of beer. Kinda pricey, but worth a try! Service was good, and their pear cider was really good. Quick in and out service, not a regular restaurant, more like a bar-ish. Small hang out place to enjoy some oysters and drinks. Food menu is limited.
Definitely a great experience. My husband and I enjoyed it. We're seafood lovers, especially for oysters, and we were stoked when we found out they had oysters here in Vancouver. When you come from Hawaii, you don't get to try much variety since it's not easily available. So finding oyster spots during our travels is the best thing ever. I liked that they had more than 1 kind of oyster. A few from different parts of BC, Canada; and some from Washington. All had distinctive tastes, but nonetheless tasted fresh. Even their featured beers were great. I will definitely be back before the end of our trip.
This place was so good! We love oysters and try to eat them in every city we visit. The attention to detail at Oyster Express is incredible. The shucking is a deceptively complicated part of the whole experience, and Sean did an excellent job. Service was great, non invasive but attentive. Minimalist but fun ambiance. Run don't walk, these guys are killing the game.
1 year ago
This review is for takeout. They're super busy so ordering take out is by chance. Recommend to call at opening, if they're too busy they won't be able to accommodate takeout. We tried the fried oysters and fresh oysters. The fresh raw oysters were so good and packaged so considerately. We had higher hopes for the fried oysters. The batter was too friend and dense it overpowered the oyster. The oysters were huge, but the batter didn't do it justice. A bit disappointed. read more
Finally tried out Oyster Express on a weekend for their happy hour (4:00pm-7:00pm). They're close to Sun Fresh Bakery. The inside is cozy with 15 seats, service was friendly. 10 types of oysters ($3.95 to $4.50) on the menu. Sauces included tobasco, mignonette, cocktail and pickled vinegar. - Yam fries ($7.00 HH) - standard - 24x Oysters of the day ($2.50 HH) - from Cortes Island. Fresh, slightly salty and properly shucked read more
Solid 5 stars for oysters! Glad this place is still delivering fresh oysters with cozy vibes after so many years. Though their menu is smaller now and they only run from 4pm to around 7pm or 8pm, I appreciate their fresh oyster selection and reasonably priced menu plus i really like how they offer very fresh horseradish and a good selection of vinegar and sauces to pair with their oysters. I find them consistent in ensuring fresh quality and diverse oyster selection and I especially appreciate that their oysters are well shucked. (It makes for bad oyster experience when oysters look sad and skimpy or has shell traces). My favourite express happy hour combo could be pairing of their yummy fries, fresh oysters and a drink. They do have fried oysters and prawn cocktails as well and one can always order a pound of wings to share. This place is small and only have around 4 tables plus couple bar stools so it's best for dining solo or with couple pals for more intimate chats. It was busy on Saturday and I may recommend going early at 4pm or perhaps between 530 to 6pm if you didn't make a reservation. Ample paid parking options on the street and there are bus stops right on Keefer Street. Oyster Express is located in Chinatown area, approximately 10 minutes drive from Science World, Gastown, Canada Place or Pacific Central Station. It is definitely a cute stop for fresh west coast oysters and to quench your thirst with local BC beers. read more
2 years ago
Cute Mom and Pop owned and operated joint. We got there this past Sunday right at 4pm opening and were sad we were the only ones there as this business deserves all the love. The have a great daily 4pm to 7pm Happy Hour offerings where the special oyster is $2.75 each and the remaining for $3.95 each. They carry more unique oysters at this joint, compared to Fanny Bay, and has a wide array of East and West Coast oysters. One of my absolute favourites is the Apex oysters from here, when in season. We ordered 8 of the special oysters (ones from PEI), and draft beer on special, and $11 fried oysters on the Happy Hour menu. As usual, the shucker guy and the Asian girl were friendly and took great care of us. The fried oysters usually comes with 3 pieces but because they were small in size, they gave us 4 pieces - so kind! And the fried oysters comes with a really nice smokey dip that pairs wonderfully with the oysters. Solid oyster joint and definitely is one of our go to oyster places in Vancouver. read more
So good. One of those fresh seafood places that makes you feel right at home. If you're a seafood lover, this is a must visit! Service was so quick too. Small restaurant so it feels very personable. Oysters were fresh and the clams were amazing!!! Ugh, still thinking about the broth in the clams. read more
2 years ago
The food was amazing and the service was even beyond amazing. Highly recommend this place for the food and the service. I wish we would have found this sooner. When we come back to Vancouver we're coming here read more
3 years ago
Came here for Happy Hour the other night with my friend and ordered a dozen oysters at $2.50 each to split. They were delicious. I hear oysters are in season (fall/winter), which may be why they were so tasty...super fresh, briney, with a hint of salt. Also ordered yam fries, which arent totally my favourite, a bit soft but still tasty. The husband and wife operation was friendly and the quaint little tables make the place quite welcoming. I believe Happy Hour runs from 4-7pm. The location, tucked away in Chinatown, makes it a hidden gem. We'll be back! read more
3 years ago
Simple go-to place for oysters. I walked in a few times and always got a seat right away. I wouldn't recommend for a large group because it's a small venue. They know their oysters and will give you recommendations if needed (size, texture, brine, finish). They always have one on special all day so no happy hour nonsense. Just go before 8pm (when they close). I went for three kinds of fresh ones and the fried one, the two on special and a medium size one. The effingham was perfect size, plump and creamy, clean finish. The okeover was salty, more flavorful but smaller. The gorge Inlet was a good size. I preferred the effingham but we all have different tastes. Spicy Ceasar was on special for $10, also delicious. I should come more often. read more
4 years ago
Coziest little oyster bar ever! I don't know if it seats more than a dozen people, but I am glad I was one of them last week. Top class fresh oysters, usually 6-7 varieties to choose from. The raw shucked are outstanding - the shucker is a master. We had 2 dozen raw and each was a work of shucking art - each oyster perfectly separated from its shell, undamaged in any way. And with the liquor intact. Every single one. That is some skill. Oh, and the homemade chili-vodka condiment is excellent. The fried oysters were big meaty west coasters, perfectly crispy, juicy. I want to go back with a bigger group, so we can try them all. Big thanks to the owners - such nice people read more
Delicious oysters! As the restaurant name suggests, this place is all about oysters. There aren't too many choices otherwise but if you're a fan of them, you'll enjoy this restaurant. There are two oyster specials each day, a cheaper one and a premium one. We mainly ordered the cheap one (Nanoon Bay) but also got some premium (kusshi) and some varieties on the larger list. My favorites were the pink pearls, so clean and sweet tasting! Every oyster was shucked well (no shell fragments)! Mignonettes and sauces were available right at the table which was convenient. There was a vodka pepper sauce that *lowkey* got my fiancé very drunk so just remember, it's straight up vodka lol. The restaurant is very quaint but cozy. Had a handful of beer options that are listed on the board. Service was super nice and very knowledgeable. A must visit for oysters in Vancouver! read more
Love this mom and pop shop - a little gem in Chinatown. The owners here are super friendly and make you feel at home. The selection is great! The oysters are super refreshing especially during the summer time heat. We got one of each from the happy hour menu and they did not disappoint! The oils and condiments that they had also elevated the flavors of the oyster without masking it, which was a nice touch. Recommend to try! read more
Small little spot in Chinatown. Couldn't seem to make it here in time for happy hour but don't worry, even if you miss the 5-7 window you only have to pay 40cents more for the daily special oysters. All the oysters were super fresh and shucked to order. Came with variety of sauces including cocktail, vinegar, vodka, and horseradish. I think it tasted great with just a spritz of lemon. They also have $5 beer specials. Service was very friendly and attentive. Might be hard to get a table during happy hour so come early. The space was small but literally emptied out right after 7. read more
7 years ago
After visiting chinatown we went oyster hopping while we were kind of in the area. --Nanoose Bay - From Britsh Columbia, briny, sweet, milky. --Totten Virgin (5/5) - From Washington, I liked this one the most. It was more refreshing, slightly salty but not briny or fishy at all. --Shigoyu - From Washington, briny. --Kumamoto - From Washington, salty, briny, sweet. --Pink Pearl - Not sure where this was from but it was sweet, salty, briny. As you can see, my type of oyster non briny, fishy, or milky or I wont like it at all! Unfortunately, 2 out of 12 oysters were on happy hour. Our bill came out to $48 CA bucks for 12 oysters and 1 drink. The cider itself was $5.95, which is pretty expensive for a can of beer. Kinda pricey, but worth a try! Service was good, and their pear cider was really good. Quick in and out service, not a regular restaurant, more like a bar-ish. Small hang out place to enjoy some oysters and drinks. Food menu is limited. read more
8 years ago
Definitely a great experience. My husband and I enjoyed it. We're seafood lovers, especially for oysters, and we were stoked when we found out they had oysters here in Vancouver. When you come from Hawaii, you don't get to try much variety since it's not easily available. So finding oyster spots during our travels is the best thing ever. I liked that they had more than 1 kind of oyster. A few from different parts of BC, Canada; and some from Washington. All had distinctive tastes, but nonetheless tasted fresh. Even their featured beers were great. I will definitely be back before the end of our trip. read more
3 years ago
This place was so good! We love oysters and try to eat them in every city we visit. The attention to detail at Oyster Express is incredible. The shucking is a deceptively complicated part of the whole experience, and Sean did an excellent job. Service was great, non invasive but attentive. Minimalist but fun ambiance. Run don't walk, these guys are killing the game. read more
Can't beat their happy hour! I love coming to OysterExpress because it's one of the few places where it's until 7! There's also an even better deal from 5-6pm if you can make it There's always a wait since it's a little small but I usually just grab some take out wings from Phnom Penh/drinks at Mamies because I definitely don't get full off of oysters haha The oysters are always fresh, the sauces are in house and pair really well with the oyster (love the spicy one) read more
Really impressed. Even though they're closed to in-house dinning, they are open for take out. We received a dozen Pink Pearls and they looked beautiful! The order came well packaged on ice, cleanly shucked and left in the full shell. The liquor remained in the shells even through transport and they gave lemons, fresh horseradish, cocktail sauce and red onion mignonette on the side. They were wonderful. It was a great way to experience oysters during a west coast visit. read more
7 years ago
A friend recommended Oyster Express for some cheap, delicious oysters during their happy hour from 5-7pm. Prior to this, I've never eaten oysters before, but my boyfriend loves them, so we decided to check it out! It's a tiny restaurant near Chinatown; we went right when it opened, so we were the only ones there for a while. Our waitress was very friendly and helpful about the different kinds of oysters they had available. I didn't even know oysters came in so many different types. My boyfriend got their daily special, the Pink Pearl oysters, for $1.50 each. There's mostly oysters on the menu (besides fries), so I opted for a pear cider. When our waitress brought out the oysters, they looked very fresh and clean! It came with fresh horseradish, lemon, and a variety of sauces. My boyfriend really enjoyed the oysters - fresh, creamy, and delicious! I ended up trying one, might as well right while visiting Vancouver!? They were actually not bad! I like that the Pink Pearl oysters are fairly small, so it's easy to shoot it down; also can't go wrong with hot sauce. The cider was also really good, had a crisp pear flavor. Honestly, I'm glad this was my first oyster experience! Really friendly and attentive service, as well as good food/drinks. Hooray for happy hour prices too!! :) read more
My favorite restaurant in Chinatown, heck... it might be one of my favorites in Vancouver. My friend and I wanted fresh oysters and Oyster Express had buck-a-shuck. (Buck-a-Shuck : TUE 3-10 / WED,THU,SUN 3-6) We rolled in hungry and ended the night extremely satisfied. They seemed to shuck the oysters with more care and in less of a rush than Rodney's. We had 2 dozen oysters, the mussels and the chocolate dessert. Everything was fresh and delicious. The service was thoughtful and flawless. One example is when the table was getting crowded with food, the server came over to push another table to give us more room. No questions, just made sure we were comfortable. We never felt rushed even though the restaurant itself had a tiny dining area. read more
2 years ago
This place is truly beautiful. $1 oysters during certain times, and some really nice classy ambience. Parking is available in the side streets, but you'll have to look around a bit. The bar itself is really cozy. There are only 20 or so seats, so be sure to keep your group small. There are a wide variety of oysters available here, but the $1 special only applies to 1 type. Beers and wines are also available, to help you wash down the goodness. The oysters are fresh, and are shucked to order. Absolutely no complaints. I will definitely be back. Recommended. read more
5 years ago
Absolutely love this place! Great and fresh oysters (with amazing sauce) that go really well with drinks read more
2 years ago
Wide selection of quality oysters with happy hour prices. As tourists, we were on a mission to slurp as many oysters as possible on our stay. My wife found this place on yelp, and off we went. Wasn't too impressed by the small, cozy venue, and we were seated near the bathroom where it was a bit smelly and had gnats/flies buzzing about. Having eaten in dirty Vietnamese restaurants all my life, this wasn't the worst, and as long as my food was fine I'm cool. Anyway, we ordered a dozen of the day's special, the Beach Angels oysters and shared a grilled cheese sandwich. The oysters were shucked pretty good compared to the last 2 places, Sandbar and Fanny Bay Oyster Bar, where there were oyster shell fragments. The oysters were sooo good: slightly sweet, definite saline taste of the ocean, plump (but not too thick like gulf of mexico oysters) and smooth. The grilled cheese sandwich was good too -its kinda hard to mess that up! We only paid $25 USD for this! Back home, this would've easily costed almost twice as much. This place is 4.5/5, and easily would be a 5 star if it was cleaner and a little bigger. read more
Tried going there on x-mas eve and didn't work out. Felt very lucky that they were open today. I've been waiting to try this place for a long time. Waited 45 minutes which was long but worth my time. Maybe reservation would've been better? Food was very good. Kushi oysters were very delicious. I liked it with caesar sauce and tasted very yummy. Fried oysters were hot, fresh and crispy. At the same time oysters were juicy. Service was fast and servers were very friendly. I wish this restaurant was near my home. read more
9 years ago
REVIEWER # 126 I've been on this oyster hype lately, and Oyster Express did not disappoint. This hidden gem located in Chinatown, and nestled right in the corner of Keefer and Gore, is serving some of the BEST oysters in town. After reviewing the raving reviews about this place, I decided to try them out while in the area. Inside offers a small and quiet atmosphere; this may not be the perfect place for large groups. It was literally me and a couple of three (3) girls in the restaurant; but I must say that I was sweating my hair out in there! It was SUPER HOT! Quick tip: Sit by the window so you can make sure to open it when it's needed (trust me-it will be needed). Oyster Express is known for their slammin' happy hour from 3PM-6PM. The oysters are freshly shucked and come in many different flavors and sizes. The menu continues to change weekly so you have to be on the look-out for what they have on the menu. During the time I walked in, they were offering: Pink Pearl for $2.50, Village Bay for $3.50, Raspberry Point for $3.50, and Kusshi for $3.60. My favorites were the Pink Pearl and the Village Bay! Talk 'bout some flavorful oysters!! Well, damn. Look no further! Sam was my server for the evening and was definitely easy on the eyes! Let's not forget about his wonderful accent! Yess! He came and refilled my glass when needed, advised me on what oysters to try. Very helpful server! I hear that there Marina Gold Oyster is DELICIOUS! If you see it on the menu, make sure you try it! This would definitely be a place I come back to when in Vancouver. Those Oysters are to die for! read more
8 years ago
Really cozy oysterhouse with a great selection! My friend and I were visiting Vancouver, and how could we not get oysters while we were there? We didn't want to go to a fancy restaurant and this place looked perfect based on reviews. I called ahead to out my name down, and they were able to seat 2 of us on a Saturday at around 7pm. The place was full but not hectic busy. There are a lot of parking options nearby, but keep in mind that garages close at around 8pm so street parking is best. Oyster Express has many different oysters for you to choose from - they also have two daily specials, one each for regular and premium oysters. We got 2 dozen oysters to share between the two of us and could have easily had more. They were shucked very well, and came with lemon, horseradish, red wine vinegar, and cocktail sauce. The waiter was friendly and open to give recommendations. Aside from oysters, they also have a small selection of cooked menu items. I would definitely recommend this place for sometime looking for a simple meal at a low-key place with a good selection of oysters. The price was also very reasonable and the food was delicious! read more
We love coming here! Every time its never planned but every time we always enjoy our time and our food! The place is pretty small though so it can get noisy at times. The staff is always so pleasant and friendly. They always have recommendations and we've enjoyed every one! Only complaint to be honest was the deep fried oysters - for the most part they were awesome but I think they may have left 2 in the fryer for too long as it was not so awesome. They have a large, but not overwhelming amount of oyster variety and specials to make hungry decisions simpler. This time we had probably the BIGGEST kusshi's we've ever seen! read more
4 years ago
Its 8:05am and Shawn is shucking 3 fresh raw Kusshi Oysters to serve with my morning Espresso Macchiato.... what oysters with a morning coffee ? Well when your on the West Coast do as the West Coaster do. Right on the corner of Gore & Keefer the last block of Chinatown on the Eastside. Walk through the original door way of the 1912 Stratford hotel into the old lobby is a cozy 600sq ft cafe serving seafood, panini s for lunch & dinner and fresh baked goods for the mornings and of course oysters all day long... This cool historic space has 12inx12in solid fir posts & beams in its original state as it just turned 100yrs old, theres two big round windows over looking the busy streets, big old restored bar from the basement that gives the Oyster Express a feel of a surfer or boaters cafe. Website link with before & after pics: http://changingvancouver.wordpress.com/2012/02/25/hotel-stratford-gore-and-keefer/ Shawn has been shucking oysters for years, leaving Rodney's Oyster House to follow his dreams to create this space in Chinatown. I met him and his Asian partner and enjoyed their warm friendly personalities which gives the feel of a family run business. I'm always a fan of supporting small business, and these two have something special going on here... Wifi, Americanos and fresh shucked oysters (who needs a biscotti) in the mornings and lunch.. And for the afternoons and dinner beer & wine with a simple seafood selection and more and fresh shucked oysters.. Who knew this would be a winning combination, I guess we will see in "NIne Months" wink wink (so they say about those Oysters) read more
We were in Chinatown having a nice late lunch a block away.. while I was waiting for the food to come, I was cruising Yelp to see if there is any nice place for dessert. And the listing for Oyster Express popped up. Not your traditional dessert but.. we love Oysters so we had to give this a try. They have Happy Hour from 4:30 - 6:30 pm daily Today's Happy Hour Special was: Little Wing from Desolation Sound We ordered a dozen to start.. and they came all shucked and ready to eat within 10 minutes. The waitstaff brought us the condiments.. Vodka Pepper - HOT HOT HOT House made Cocktail Sauce House made Mignonette with Shallots and Red Wine Vinegar The oysters were also served with lemon and fresh parsley and fresh horseradish. Theses morsels were fresh, meaty and creamy. We tried different combination of condiments to enhance the natural flavor, my combo for these Little Wing was Fresh Horseradish, Fresh Parsley, Squirt of Lemon Juice, Dash of House Made Cocktail Sauce. So delicious. We ordered another dozen of Little Wing and the fries (on the recommendation from other Yelpers) The second dozen was as good as the first. The french fries is only OK. The waitstaff was very friendly and always come by to check and make sure we are happy with our food. We also checked out what the other diners were having so we know what to try next time, (Mussels and Clam Chowder) The decor is very minimal, but fit with the location. This is a small place, so a group larger than 6 will be difficult to grab seats. read more
Cute small space, great service, quality oysters, with a generously long happy hour - that pretty much sums up our experience at Oyster Express. Awesome happy hour Tuesdays - $1.50/oyster (4:30-9pm, what what!) The "express" is a bit deceiving as it's definitely slower given its popularity vs. the small space/number of employees. Since it's such a small space, they don't take reservations for more than 2 people. The wait to get a table for 4 took about 45 minutes even though there was only 1 group ahead of us on the waitlist. Not a big deal, as we grabbed a beer nearby to kill some time. They take your name and number down to call you when your table is ready, which is fantastic. We ordered the regular fries and yam fries to start. Their fries are lightly coated and SUPER crispy. The fries came with a side of ketchup while the yam fries came with chipotle mayo. The fries were a great way to tie our stomachs over until the oysters arrived. There was only one guy shucking away 4 dozen oysters for us 4 ladies (poor guy!) so it did take a little while before they reached our table - 2 dozen at a time (not to mention he also had to shuck for the rest of the guests in the restaurant!) Great gem in Chinatown, close to Phnom Penh, so if you're still feeling hungry after sucking back 48 oysters and still have room for 2 orders of chicken wings, it's a block away (which is what may or may not have happened last night for us...) ;) read more
I guess Chinatown is the new 'hip' and this is one of the joints that makes it that! Open for less than a year, in a spot I remember in my childhood that used to sell all types of Chinese knick-knacks, all the way to the outside of the store where you used to get good deals on cheap rubber/styrofoam like slippers/thongs and Bruce Lee slip on kung-fu shoes, and then 'poof' that was gone, and somehow there's an oyster joint here? What happened, and looking inside this place looks pretty cool. That was my first impression of this place before I went in, I will get a chance, bookmark. Well, now I've come here twice, once during their 'so-called' happy hour, and once near the end of the night, I like the joint, and I would come again for the food and the service. When your at happy hour, a buck a shuck, just remember, it's a dozen limit per head, good enough, hoping you don't want more cause they do put that restriction on you. And it's not all their oysters, there are certain specials of the day as to which the 'buck-a-shuck' apply to. That all being said, nothing is like having a good huge plate of fresh, raw, opened oysters in front of your face ready to devour. Before these bad boys even get to your face they bring over the tabasco sauce, the marinara sauce, and some red wine vinegar with some minced shallots inside, all to coat that slimy oyster down your throat, yum! We will get back to the oysters in a minute, some other things we have had during our time here, an oyster like bisque soup, with mid sized fresh cooked oysters swimming in the soup. They were like crocodiles floating above the soup waiting to bounce. A good flavour of oysters in the soup, and anything that is creamy, is like homey food, comfort food, it was good. We had a friend join us and they had a bucket of steamed mussels, I had a try, and good stuff, so if you ain't into the raw, they have some items that are cooked for your liking! Back to the oysters, fresh, and brought in everyday, I came in last night, wanting to catch the triple overtime period of the hockey game, and asking what the $1.50 special was, as it was another different variety, a little bigger than the ones I had previously, but freshly shucked to order. While watching the hockey game on their hung up flat screen (No HD feed from what I saw, by the way!!!), the oysters came and from concentrating on the tv, to concentrating on the wonderful plate of shelled seafood, it was tough. This place probably sits the maximum of 20 people, and that maybe really pushing it. The decor is simple, none of this dark brown wooded stuff, this place is bright light wooded colored, with windows around, some high tables and stools, sitting at the window to people watch (or street watch), chalk board on one side showing what the stock of oysters is. Simple, that is what this place looks like, and good on them for that. The alcohol list is small, your not getting your Canadian or Coors Light here, but they do have a light beer, some different wines, if your looking for cocktails, wrong place for you, the place is similiar to the menu = SIMPLE. I've had two good times here, and on my last visit I was chatting up with the owner while he was opening up my food on hockey. Great guy, and I hope this place does well in the new 'hip' Chinatown. I recommend this place for anyone who wants oysters, and wants to get away from downtown.. this place ain't too far from there and way easier to find street parking! Cozy, comfortable, simple oyster place to just chill out. read more
9 years ago
This unassuming little corner - literally a corner - on Keefer and Gore, on the east side of Chinatown, serves up some of the best of the sea: the oyster, the distillation of Neptune's bounty in one small shell. They'll have multiple varieties available, but for the best bang, go for the $2 special. They have various other bar-type foods, wings and clam chowder and shrimp cocktail, craft beers and such, but that's not why you go here. You come because you chew. You celebrate the brine, the subtle shades of sweet and meaty that the raw oyster brings to the palate, a reminder of all things oceanic. Someday, probably not so far away, ocean acidification and global warming will extirpate this jewel of the seas. Until then, we have Oysters Express. Long live OX!!! P.S. Trust Reid. He knows what he's doing. read more
The interior does NOT feel like any part of Chinatown. It's clean, modern, and hip. The oysters are fresh EVERY SINGLE DAY, which is the sole reason why we decided to give this place a try. The staff was amazing in recommendations and were very attentive. Oyster of the Day ($1.50 each) Ordered a dozen without even know what they were, but once they came, we cheers'd and took a shot. It was GREAT! You can really taste the freshness. And like a Pringle, once you pop, YOU CAN'T STOP! Those suckers just keep down. We found ourselves ordering another half dozen because we just couldn't get enough. Fries ($4.50) A little pricey for some French fries, but they are so good. Fried perfectly, and you receive a pretty generous portion. Make sure you grab a buddy to share with (unless you're just super greedy and/or super hungry). Homemade Iced Tea ($3.75) Here is another pricey item on the menu, especially because this iced tea does NOT come with free refills. It's a great tasting iced tea though. I enjoyed it, but it would've really gave me a bang for my buck if I got at least one refill. Nope. New England Fish Chowder. The fish was a little different, but soup itself was amazing. Rich in flavor. Nice and thick with huge pieces of fish. With every scoop, you get SOMETHING on in your spoon besides the broth. This place is great, especially if you're in the mood for just some oysters. Next time, I'd probably get 3 dozen oysters and not any of the over-priced side dishes. Great oysters at an even better price. read more
Pro's: the oysters were good! Came here for happy hour and wasn't disappointed. The quality and freshness of their oysters were good, and at $1.50 each that's pretty much a buck a shuck. The oysters they had for HH today were Okeover's; and despite being larger and on the briny side, they were surprisingly good. Service was on point, and their clam chowder was decent. This is a nice chill, low key spot for some casual drinks and oysters. Con's: I know this placed is named Oyster Express but it would've been nice if their menu was a teeeeensy bit bigger. Would return again. This is a great starting spot for some oysters and drinks before venturing on to another spot in the neighbourhood for more drinks. Tip: Happy Hour runs Tues - Sun 4:30 - 6:30. Take advantage! read more
5 years ago
13 years ago
Love this place so much! Have been going here on a regular basis for happy hour. Always excellent service, super friendly server with the accent, really nice guy shucking the oyster who comes out to the dining room to help out. Already so happy with their service because they aren't like the service you get at Rodney's at all. Oysters are cleanly shucked and always so fresh and tasty. They know their oysters here and most of the time when we come, we get a detailed run-through of all the oysters on the list. Love it here! read more
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More info about Oyster Express
296 Keefer Street
Vancouver, BC V6A 1X5
Canada
Chinatown, Strathcona
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(604) 684-3300
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http://www.oysterexpress.ca
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