Sunflower Cafe 向日葵 – Modest Taiwanese Cuisine
Everyone probably knows of one guy/gal who’s painfully modest, never dresses too flashy or speak out of turn, polite to everyone they meet, but performs laudable work, of which they hold a quiet passion for, and garner respect from peers because of it. Sunflower Cafe on Royal Oak reminds me of someone like that.
Like sushi, bubble tea and Taiwanese cafes are a dime a dozen in Vancouver with nearly equal price points. The fickle diner may change their mind about a restaurant over the slightest dissatisfaction. But after a dozen or so visits, Sunflower hasn’t let me down.
Hidden (the good ones always are) behind a gas station in a mini plaza, Sunflower is a friendly Taiwanese style cafe serving food and bubble tea. Both the service and food has been above par. The decor and the large tacked on namesake poster covering half of the wall makes it all the more homey.
We found ourselves almost alone during a late dinner last night and ordered up a few familiar items.
Dry spicy beef noodle, slightly spicy, one of my favorite noodle dishes in Vancouver.
Stewed pork dry noodle. Got a nice bit of sweetness to it. Like a hearty soupless version of ramen.
Takoyaki
and fried chicken wings. The wings were really something, marinaded thoroughly with five spice and light on the oil, something I wouldn’t mind eating everyday of the week.
Likelihood of returning: 99%
Oooh. SD880 :D Nice!
Great pics, great review. Will have to check it out.
Do you know if this place is open during the day time? (i’m guessing as it seems more of a cafe than solely a bbtea place) I need a new lunch spot, hahaha.
I’ve only gotten lunch here on weekends so I couldn’t say.
If its closed though, you could go across the street to this hot pot place, which is decent, or go across the street then go around the corner for sushi, or go across the street then around the corner then across the street again for another Chinese restaurant. I haven’t tried the last two though. Anyway, you won’t leave hungry. :)
Let me know if you try any one of these. I always drive by that area but only eat at sunflower.
Haha, thanks and will do!
Open on weekdays at 11!
I love this place! Their food quality is really good, comfortable atmosphere. And now they’re open until midnight!
It took me over a year from your posting to check this little cafe out, but I’m glad I did. It was a real find.
I enjoyed their kimchi fried udon and takoyaki. The takoyaki was a little different in that it was served with a little condensed milk which gave it a different flavour profile.
Although the place was packed with high schoolers as they are offered a great value menu throughout the week, the food was very good. Almost wish I was back in high school so I could order the $5 lunch specials with $1 cold tea.
I didn’t try their BBT but I must say, their food was not disappointing, which happens a lot in bbt cafes.
I will be back.