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    Saan Saan Cafe & Restaurant

    4.8 (18 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 1 week ago

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    Chicken wings and curry fish balls

    I've been GF for the last 5 years for health reasons. I was born in HK and raised in Richmond. I grew up eating Chinese food, and went to a HK cafe nearly everyday after school. After I went GF, I've been basically shut out from most HK restaurants, especially HK cafes. Saan Saan really helps fill that occasional craving, and they do it really well. The food is obviously meticulously prepared, delicious, and much higher quality than any classic HK cafe. It's elevated HK cafe food. You can't even tell it's all GF. So far we've been twice, because it's not a quick or easy trip from Richmond for parents with a toddler. My husband and I come here when we take time off work together for a lunch date. We ordered a bunch of things both times. What we've ordered: - Prawn toast - will order everytime. Toast is thin and crunchy, and the shrimp paste is sweet, savoury and juicy. Love the pickled daikon on top and the greens add some freshness to this traditionally heavier dish - Chicken wings - basically taste like the 風沙雞翅 that I was raised on, and that's a compliment :) - Curry fish balls - Indian curries are generally GF, but HK curry uses this jar sauce that isn't GF. So I appreciate that they make this iconic HK street food accessible to me. The fish balls are made in-house, and the balls are around the size of ping pong balls. It's good! - Singaporean chicken - a bit light on the seasoning, but the Singaporean flavour comes through. I love 星洲炒米, so I appreciate it. - Black sesame caramel cookie - the black sesame flavour really comes through! - Pineapple coconut - this one was amazing - the middle part is coconut, and the cookie is topped with pineapple bun topping. The cookie is tender and chewy, I can taste sea salt and it's also super sweet. Love it but maybe the sugar can be toned down a tiiiiiny bit. Chinese people like less sweet desserts ahah :) - HK Milk tea mochie brownie - this one tasted as described, chewy and soft - Char siu BBQ pork puff - anyone GF knows that puff pastries are not easy to come by. I'm happy that I can have it here. It's nice and crispy and the filling is legit. I order at least one puff each visit. - Curry Beef puff - same as above, legit HK curry filling. - HK milk tea and yeen yeung - these taste like they should, Tea can be stronger, smooth texture though. One thing I will make a note of, although they're def 5 stars for me - before I come I make a mental note that I am here to splurge. The prices are a bit steep. The last visit we dropped $90 here between the two of us for lunch (tax and tips included), and that includes 1 puff pastry, 2 cookies, 2 drinks, 2 snacks and 1 fried rice. BUT - the price reflects the quality and we leave very full (and the cookies become dessert for another day). More importantly, I CANT EAT AT ANY OTHER HK CAFE SO THANK YOU FOR EXISTING :) So I 100% am happily paying more to come here. Just wish we can come more often, unfortunately the trip is not easy for us and it's a splurge for lunch. I am looking forward to seeing an expanded menu - perhaps French toast, Kaya toast (more Singaporean but yum!), pineapple buns, egg tarts, soup noodle sets (eg., 榨菜肉絲米, satay beef noodles), baked pork chop rice, egg waffles (not HK cafe but a street snack), egg and ham sandwich, fish siu mai, etc. So many possibilities!

    Ginger milk burnt sugar cookie
    Cora F.

    Lovely, friendly people who own this business! Loved my experience coming here. The ambiance was cozy and felt very peaceful. You could smell the aromas of brewed tea the second walking in. Sadly, we came later in the day so most of the goodies were already sold out. Tried the ginger milk burnt sugar cookie and it was delicious! Perfectly soft but still structured. Got a balanced flavour of all the components mentioned. It's a real treat and we'll be back for their other menu items soon :)

    Simon K.

    It is great seeing something like this open and I am hoping for more. When you look where this is, it is in a very rough part of town, that being said, what the owners are trying to do here is bring a part of that Cantonese heritage and open something that gets that flare right. HK milk tea, it is one of my drinks of choice, and usually it is my daily when I am back in Hong Kong, not here as it seems to only be usually served at an HK cafe or very rarely at a Chinese bakery, and usually I am just eating a lunch, or having it as takeout, there is no true place to enjoy it, until you come into this place. The room is very welcoming, bright, wide open, with a few Chinese heritage pieces to add aesthetics to the joint. Think of this place as a coffee shop, but for HK milk tea, Yeen Yeung (I am probably butchering the Chinglish) and iced lemon teas. They also serve up some gluten free pastries, which I just learned on my second visit, which I ordered them all, from curry beef, char siu, and mushroom, and all were delightful. Other things I noticed on the menu, but will have to return on another day is the curry fish balls and the shrimp toast. They have a full kitchen in the back, and getting a chance to speak to the staff and the owner, there will be other food options in the future, just wait. I will be back to try their other drinks and I will say it was one of the smoothest HK milk tea's I have had in the city, and a good place to sit around that you forget the neighbourhood it is actually in, I can't wait for more from what is tome come from this place.

    Menu
    Lory P.

    Small little cafe located by Chinatown. Seems like it could easily be missed if you didn't happen to be walking by it, but once you see it, it really stands out! Very cutely decorated and comfortable space to sit and enjoy your treats. I had to check it out because it's the same nickname my family calls me, and it was so sweet to know that the owners named this cafe after their mother. I had the black sesame cookie and HK milk tea. The cookie was perfectly chewy with just the right amount of black sesame flavour and sweetness. The milk tea was delicious as well. Check them out!

    Iced Hong Kong style milk tea + pineapple coconut cookie
    Samuel F.

    As a huge fan of HK style milk tea, and tea in general, I wanted to try this cafe for a long time, especially after seeing influencers on IG rave about this cafe. The interior design of the cafe is very aesthetic, giving off retro Chinese but modern vibes. I ordered the HK style milk tea (recommend by the staff to order cold) with 50% sugar, and a pineapple coconut cookie, which they described as a mix of a pineapple and cocktail bun (HK style bakery buns) in terms of flavour. Overall I enjoyed the milk tea; strong and smooth with intense flavours, ending with a delicate aroma which fills your mouth after you take a sip. The cookie was on the sweeter side, however it tasted exactly as described! The cookie was also crunchy on the outside but soft on the inside. Will definitely return when I'm in the area and needing a caffeine/HK milk tea fix.

    Hk yuen yeung, pineapple coconut cookie, char siu bbq pork puff
    Elaine L.

    Love that they make gluten free hk inspired pastries, and it tastes SO GOOD!! The pineapple coconut cookie was so chewy and delicious, I loved it! The hk yuen yeung (half milk tea and half coffee) was super smooth and paired so well with the cookie and the char siu bbq pork puff! It isn't the most transit accessible cafe and is a little hard to find parking but its definitely worth a visit!!

    Natasha P.

    This place did not disappoint! Staff were super friendly upon arrival around 11am and the place was packed with customers eating in. I ordered the beef curry pie and the mushroom pie, along with some cookies for pick up. Everything is gluten free and is Hong Kong inspired. They're currently having their soft opening and are only open Friday-Sunday. Would recommend this place to those that are and are not gluten free! You'd never even know it was gluten free; everything tasted amazing!!

    Corn pot pie, ginger milk burnt sugar cookie, iced HK milk tea
    Dana S.

    Fantastic experience here on all fronts: service, food, and atmosphere. The people who run the place were exceedingly friendly and went above and beyond taking care of customers. The design is modern but with little details in the decor give the place an authentic homely feeling. The backstory behind this cafe is so interesting - apparently the space has been in the family for three generations (you can read about them on their website). The menu features modern HK comfort food and is all gluten-free! I was there around 2 pm on Saturday and many of the baked goods were sold out, but luckily they still had what I wanted. I tried their corn pot pie, a ginger milk burnt sugar cookie, and an iced HK milk tea. The corn pot pie was creamy but not heavy, topped with a pastry that was the perfect sweet spot between crisp and soft. Very comforting. The cookie was phenomenal!! At first bite, the taste of fresh ginger was VERY strong and the burnt sugar added depth to the flavour without making it too sweet at all. The texture was also amazing, soft and chewy, and I loved the thick edges. As expected, the HK milk tea was also excellent, strong and smooth. The tall and full glass was much appreciated because I didn't want it to end. Dipping the cookie in the milk tea was heavenly. I can't overstate how much I enjoyed my visit here. You can really tell how much love has gone into this cafe.

    pineapple bun cookie and beef curry pastry
    Leeza N.

    Wow.... one of the best and unique cafés in this city. Their baked good selections is amazing, incorporating alot of flavours from HK cuisine. I got the HK iced tea/coffee mix and it was so delicious. The cookie had an amazing chewy soft texture and paired well with the "pineapple bun" topping. The curry beef pastry was really good too but I truly want to try the BBQ pork one. Staff are incredible welcoming and kind.

    Sonia C.

    Saw Saan Saan all over social media which inspired me to come visit. The interior is cute and modern. We got the pineapple and cocktail bun inspired cookie - "not too sweet" but enough to hit the spot if you're looking for a sweet treat . The outside has the pineapple bun crust and the inside is filled with the coconut sugar mix that is typically in Chinese cocktail buns. My partner got the milk tea and I got the yeen Yeung (half coffee half milk tea). Typically the coffee at Hong Kong cafes are milder so I don't usually like the yeen Yeung, but they use fresh espresso beans here so I enjoyed their version of it!

    Hk milk tea
    Michealea F.

    I love the vibe of the cafe. It's simple and peaceful. The staffs are also friendly. The char siu puff is very delicious. I love how crunchy the puff pastry is. I would love to get the sweet dessert next time. The hongkong milk tea is rich in flavor.

    Menu
    Audrey T.

    New Hong Kong inspired cafe and restaurant located on Main and Cordova! Stopped by their soft opening pop up. Pleasantly surprised by their space - lots of seating and very airy. I liked their assortment of gluten free HK inspired baked goods. I tried the char siu bbq pork puff, the pineapple coconut cookie and the iced hk yin yeung (half coffee half milk tea). Overall pretty tasty but on the pricier side considering all the other bakeries in Chinatown down the street.

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    Super cute, very tasty coffee shop! I have celiac so it was an absolute pleasure to get something and feel totally safe.

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    Babatang Robson

    Babatang Robson

    4.2
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    Came here for the instragramable buns. They did not disappoint. Since this was our 3rd dessert spot…read moreof the evening, we only got 2. Also, go early so that you have more bun options - they do sell out of certain flavors the later it gets. Luckily we were still able to get the two that we wanted which were black sesame and a custard buns. They were not only super cute, but they were really delicious as well. The fillings were very strong in flavor and did not disappoint. There was enough searing when I went. Next time I will have to try their coconut drinks and desserts!

    Why 5 stars? Because I couldn't pass up the opportunity to eat this and it met my expectation…read more --- --- --- Okay full disclosure, this is how my Wednesday night went: 1) Most expensive dinner of my life in the form of Omakase (which ended with two sweet courses) 2) Well, it's my last night in Vancouver, so I might as well hit up one of the dessert places I have bookmarked. 3) Well, I just had one of those dessert places, but I REALLY want to try Babatang Robson too, so what the hell -- I'm on vacation. So technically this was dessert #3 over the course of not even an hour. The good thing is that this was not an overwhelmingly sweet or heavy dessert. It really went down with the same ease as just a regular mango would have, but it just had some extra (mostly natural) stuff. I'd happily enjoy this deliciousness on a regular basis if I lived in Vancouver. There were a ton of menu items that looked appealing, so I'm might even be their best customer.

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    Mello

    Mello

    4.4
    (325 reviews)
    0.3 km
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    When I was visiting the city for work, my close friend wanted to take me here to taste their…read moredoughnuts. As I love desserts, I was so excited to see Chinatown and visit this place for the first time. This place was located in an area that would be best to walk with a friend or a small group- I was not quite prepared to see and experience what was going on all around. Finally, we made it there and were glad to order some doughnuts. As soon as we entered, we were greeted by the sweet smell of doughnuts and the two friendly staff. Everything looked so good, so narrowing down our pick was very hard! At the end, we ordered two flavours- Matcha and Tiramisu. The matcha doughnut was soft and the filling was light yet full of matcha flavour that one would expect, I loved every bite! My friend had the tiramisu doughnut and she said that she enjoyed the fluffy texture of the dough and the creamy filling- it felt like eating tiramisu in a doughnut form. If you love simple yet high quality ingredients, this place is the perfect place to get your sweet cravings fixed!

    These donuts are delicious. Nicely well-risen dough and very light, airy cream. We got a…read morestrawberry cream donut and I have no complaints. I could see some people balking at the $6 price, but I consider these a special treat. The location itself leaves something to be desired since it feels like it is under construction except for the pastry counter. No furniture and the floors look unfinished. Definitely not a place to hang out. Brendan's Rating: 3.0 Charlotte's Rating: 3.0 Shanying's Rating: 3.0 Winston's Rating: 4.0

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    Nero Waffles

    Nero Waffles

    4.4
    (617 reviews)
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    After grabbing dinner with some friends, we wanted to grab dessert. I knew Nero Waffle was nearby,…read moreso I suggested it. I've only been to the original location on Robson years ago, so wasn't sure if the quality had stayed the same, but we thought it was worth trying. We ordered a Tiramisu and a Bresilienne to share between four people. It came out it in relatively short time. And wow, they were both even better than I remember. Their waffles are incredibly crisp and light, despite the amount of toppings on them. I don't know how they make them so they stay so resistant to going soggy. And despite the amount of whipped cream, ice cream and sauce on them, the waffle was always able to balance out the sweetness. Their waffles are just perfect balance of flavour and texture. Service was also quite impressive. Our server was very pleasant and attentive, and brought share plates with out being asked. Overall, a great dessert. I don't know why I haven't returned earlier.

    Here's my hot-take about Nero Waffles...the BRUSSELS square waffle are 100% must-try, whereas their…read moreLIÈGE circular waffles was a hard pass. My friend & I tried: -Smashed avocado BRUSSELS savoury waffle (4/5) really enjoyed the taste of the cheese infused crispy, airy, but melt-in-your-mouth waffle on its own. I wished there were 2 poached eggs rather than just the 1. I'd also rather the salad and avocado on the side instead. -Ham & Cheese LIÈGE stuffed waffle (3.5/5) the waffle itself wasn't too impressive, liked the stuffing though -Pistachio & Vanilla custard mini LIÈGE waffles (2.5/5) again, the waffle texture was unimpressive, dense & softer, not crispy. Vanilla custard was nice and you can see vanilla bean flecks. Pistachio flavour was ok Overall, I would come back just for their BRUSSELS waffle and during brunch time as they have the Benedict option!

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    Unni Pastries

    Unni Pastries

    4.3
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    Usually for last few years I've been ordering from Esther at Dipnsip & Unni Pastries. I was…read morereferred at my friend's wedding as I was looking for cakes and pastries for in-laws. Well it seems ownership has changed and the new owner doesn't give two craps about prior customers, honoring discounts, replying back timely or being more friendly? Was playing email tag and finally submitted the 39 flavors and didn't hear back until after another week and then told they won't deliver only in morning when they know our reservation was for 730pm and they're open until 9? I even replied back and nothing. We own and run several business in lower mainland and in United States and this customer service from Unni Pastries is trash. At least you can do is reply back and apologize? For wasting time when I specifically told you it's for family and friends flying into town for a funeral burial. Will never use their business again. I highly suggest Mello. They replied and helped me out last minute. Shame on you! Learn how to run a business and treat customers esp previous customers who were supporting the business and fellow Krn but it's clear the new owner doesn't care about the customer or quality it's all about quantity. Maybe my 39 donuts which I offered to pay extra for time and packaging wasn't large enough but money is money. Especially during this time and economy. You should've at least replied back and even tried asking us to do pickup as the restaurant is down the road. Do better! Go to Mello which isn't too far and they bake fresh daily better pricing and reviews and consistency!

    Snack and dessert shop located close to the bustling Denman and Robson intersection. I went for…read morethe red bean donut. It was on point. The granulated sugar on outside helps keep it crunchy, and the red bean was sweet but not too sweet and works well. Would come back to try other things.

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    Konbiniya Japan Centre

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    4.2
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    Waaah I loved this place! Vancouver, how lucky you are to have Konbiniya!…read more Walking into this place felt a little bit like being transported into Japan. I'm from the Bay Area and we have our fair share of Japanese grocery stores (shout out to Niiya in Japantown in San Francisco) but I was very excited to see the selection here. Definitely came across items I've never seen before like a Takoyaki flavored Ramune. It was extremely discounted just fyi probably for good reason. They even had Japanese canned drinks stored hot like in Japan! The take away Japanese desserts also looked good. This place is right on Robson street so a great place to grab a snack, drink, pick me up while shopping. Prices seemed reasonable. One caveat is that it can get busy in here and the aisles are small so it felt a little crowded but that's sort of like Japan as well lol so not a big deal for me. Added to the ambience. Checkout was quick and easy!

    Wonderful little slice of Japan tucked into Robson Street. Extensive selection of all manner of…read morecandies, onigiri (rice and seasonings wrapped in crisp seaweed), matcha-flavoured snacks, soy sauces, numerous styles of miso paste...you get the idea. It sounds crowded - and it is - but once you push your way to the back of the store, you'll find a tiny Japan tour travel agency and a shelf of clearance items at rock-bottom prices. Service is cheerful, personable and brisk. The store also houses a takeaway crepe and ice cream shop - the crepes are actually better than the ones I've had in Tokyo.

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    Saan Saan Cafe & Restaurant - desserts - Updated August 2026

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