There are so many great things you can do in our neighbourhood this month, including a bike ride to New Brighton Pool. Let’s keep connected to your neighbours and community through the Renfrew-Collingwood Community News. Please stay safe and cool while you’re out and about.
A local worker’s passion for community and crafting
Still Moon Arts summer events
Save money and upcycle your clothes
Do you have a local story to tell or an event to share? We’d love to hear about it! Email rccnews-editorial@cnh.bc.ca.
The deadline for the September 2022 issue is August 10.
We welcome story submissions from 300 to 400 words long. Accompanying photos must be high resolution in a jpg file at least 1 MB large and include a photo caption and the name of the photographer.
It’s been almost two years since I started working from home due to COVID safety measures. I miss the cycle commute to my downtown office, a good chat with my coworkers and all the usual lunch-hour eateries.
Now Zoom fatigue and work isolation are getting to me. For my mental health, I try to get some sun and exercise with a walk around the Renfrew Ravine. I also go out for a lunch treat once in a while.
These are my favourite restaurants within walking distance. In addition to delicious food, they have kind and friendly staff.
Kopitiam Malaysia’s chicken curry laksa is a favourite lunch go-to while on a break from the home office. Photos by Julie Cheng
The Penang tofu at Kopitiam Malaysia is a family favourite.
Kopitiam Malaysia 3885 Rupert Street and East 23rd 604-566-9898 kopitiammalaysia.ca The name of this Malaysian restaurant has changed (they are no longer part of the Penang Delight franchise), but the wonderful flavours of my favourites remain the same – chicken curry laksa, mee goreng and sambal green beans. Check out their weekday lunch special.
I love the sweet-and-sour flavours of the mee goreng from Kopitiam Malaysia.
Basil Garden’s free-range chicken pho is a Vietnamese take on chicken noodle soup and just as comforting.
Basil Garden’s vermicelli bowl with pork skewers and spring rolls is packed with flavour.
Basil Garden 2889 East Broadway and Renfrew 604-871-9998 basilgarden.ca The hike down and then up the hill to Basil Garden is well worth it for me. All their pho is wonderful. I discovered their free-range chicken pho to be just as flavourful – I ask for no skin as a healthier option. Also healthy are their vermicelli bowls and salad rolls. It gets busy at lunch so go early or late.
Try Basil Garden’s healthy prawn or marinated tofu salad rolls with peanut sauce.
Dami Sushi and Korean Restaurant 3280 East 22nd Avenue and Rupert 604-431-8887 damisushikorean.ca This restaurant has been going strong since opening in Renfrew-Collingwood in January 2021. I agree with Paul Reid, in his Taking out in RC review, that the pork in the Gamja-Tang hot pot “is of the melt-in-your-mouth variety” – just like the bone broths my grandma used to make. My favourites are the bibimbap and japchae.
The pork in Dami Sushi and Korean Restaurant’s Gamja-Tang hot pot melts in your mouth.
Kimu Japanese Cuisine 4441 Boundary Road and East 29th 604-563-0722 kimujapanesecuisine.com Another bit of a hike from home, Kimu has long been a reliable lunch and dinner spot. In addition to delectable sushi, they have a good grill – I love their teriyaki meals. There’s even more reason to stop there now with Masala Meats next door.
The ramen from Kimu Japanese Cuisine is sure to warm you up on a winter’s day.
iSushi 3883 Rupert Street 604-336-6553 isushi3883.wixsite.com/isushi iSushi opened despite the pandemic and quickly pivoted to become a busy takeout spot. I like to dine in to enjoy the tea and the food fresh from the kitchen. You can choose from a variety of sushi and rice bowls to make your own lunch special, but I invariably order a healthy house salad and sashimi.
iSushi’s lunch special lets you choose from a variety of dishes.
Miss Siam Food Truck Broadway Tech Centre (Renfrew and Hebb) Check location and time at misssiam.ca or @streetfoodapp facebook.com/MissSiamFood/ The Miss Siam food truck is my go-to for street Thai food in this neighbourhood. Usually found Mondays and Wednesdays at the Renfrew and Hebb, kitty corner to the Renfrew SkyTrain station, Miss Siam is well worth the trek down and up the hill. Read about their tasty offerings in this Eating Out review.
Miss Siam’s pad Thai and green mango salad are weekly staples for many local workers.
Renfrew-Collingwood Community News 