Gain Wah Restaurant - Vancouver

Nice foods but seating very compact. Not comfortable in and out of table. Should reduce number of tables to make customers more comfortable. Price of foods are reasonable. Services also not too bad.

Our dinner was pretty good at Gain Wah. For the value and the pricing compared to what they charge in Richmond, the restaurant's worth checking out if you want something cheap and decent in Downtown Vancouver, and trust me, this is better than the cheap wonton noodle houses in San Francisco. I definitely keep it in mind when I was craving for late night Chinese food when I'm in the area. Next time I would be more adventurous and get something that's more of a speciality other than the generic dish like wonton soup or pork congee.

I probably walked past Gain Wah three or four times before I noticed it. In fact, I was planning to eat at a restaurant next door on this particular but it was full when I arrived and I just happened to spy this place instead. It was a happy accident as I had a very nice meal…. The place is quite a bit larger than you might guess from the unobtrusive façade and probably seats about 60 or so. It is plain, really only decorated by signs in Chinese advertising specials, and it is a little untidy, with vegetables and other items stacked on tables near the kitchen. Still, it is a comfortable and inviting sort of place and the clutter didn’t bother me at all.

Found a real gem in Chinatown. Could not believe the daily specials. Tried the beef and mushroom in black pepper sauce on rice $7.00. Sweet and sour pork chow mein $7.50. Pan fried squid with vegetables $7.95. General Tao chicken $7.95. The plates were generous, fresh and tasty. Both the daily special menu and the regular menu have a quite extensive list of dishes. With the wide selection and low prices we will be back to try something different.

The restaurant does a great job with their meat dishes, such as roast BBQ pork, duck, and squid, which are all very tender. The portions are smaller compared to other restaurants, but they are also cheaper, making it ideal for those who enjoy trying a variety of dishes. The interior is outdated and somewhat dim, reminiscent of the places I used to visit as a child. The congee I ordered to go was bland and overly thick, lacking any scallions or sauces for added flavor.