HK BBQ Master

I remember I first heard of HK BBQ Master when Aaron Koo and I were talking about roast pork belly one Saturday at Dot Com Pho. He mentioned that some of the best roast pork he’s ever had came from this place in Richmond, located under a Superstore. At first, I thought he was full of it. I mean, you don’t expect great food from a place under a big supermarket but I took Aaron’s word for it since he’s a chef and I assume he knows what he’s talking about when it comes to food.

And he was right. The first time I went to HK BBQ Master, I was already blown away by the great char siu (which is barbecued pork) and I had their great roast, which I usually don’t like, when I went again. I was slightly conflicted about sharing this place with too many other people since it is a rather small restaurant and it is PACKED all the time but hey, people deserve to know about great food. I mean, there’s almost no chance anyone would go in this place unless they knew or someone told them. There are no other locations and the only way in is the brave the one of the worst roads in the city.

As mentioned, HK BBQ Master is located under the Superstore on No. 3 Road in Richmond. Yes, I know but if you love pork, trust me on this one.

The inside isn’t fancy and usually you seat yourself if you’re eating in. If you want some take-out, get to the back of the usually long lineup. It’s a bit of a hassle with the crowds usually spilling out of the doors but the demand is a good indication that the food is worth it.

My go-to dish here is half char siu and half roast pork on rice, which comes in at a reasonable $6.99. Don’t you love how there’s a token sprig of broccoli in there? They couldn’t even bring themselves to put a full stalk of broccoli either. While there are a few veggie dishes on the menu…oh right, there’s no menu, just a board behind the counter…make no mistake, this place is meat-centric so don’t bring any vegetarians around or they might explode.

The char siu is some of the juiciest and most flavorful I’ve ever had. The burnt parts on the end are especially good, covered with a beautiful caramelized glaze. If you plan on ordering some of this, do yourself a favor and request that it’s a bit fatty. The lean parts aren’t as flavorsome or tender while the full fatty pieces are…well, gross since there’s very little meat amongst all the fat. The medium fat is the best of both worlds. Melt in your mouth tender and every piece explodes with pork goodness.

I usually don’t like Chinese-style roast pork as it tends to be overly salty and usually rather tough. The stuff from HK BBQ Master, however, is tender with bits of great crispy skin that crackle and pop in your mouth. I think the waitress gave me a bonus chunk of skin too, which you see on the right. It is still a little salty so eating it alone is out of the question but with rice, it’s really good. All those pork drippings filter down through the rice and impart flavor.

Don’t expect fine dining. I mean, I was served with a styrofoam plate but if you want great meats (there’s duck and chicken available as well, which I’ve never tried) in Vancouver, this is the place to get it. Be warned, though…wait times for take-out are usually substantial and you may also be waiting a few minutes for a seat if you’re eating in. Table turnover is usually quick though since most of the food is already cooked and you’re served within minutes. Don’t be offended if they give you the bill right away…that’s just the way they do things to keep track. They’re not expecting you to leave immediately but at the same time, this is not the place for a long leisurely meal. Also, if you’re concerned about your diet, I’m sure none of this is all that good for you but once in awhile, what the heck, right?

If you’re a carnivore like me, you won’t care about any of these things. Trust me and Aaron on this one…head to the Superstore parking lot, take a seat and dig in to some of the best Chinese barbecue Vancouver has to offer.

in Food and Fine Dining