K.K. Dollar Hot Pot

4200 No. 3 Road, Richmond BC

604-279-5588

Cash and cards accepted

 

 

By Lindsay Anderson

Special to The Post

 

This is a post for anyone out there who would like a break from meat.

Perhaps you’re a vegetarian or a vegan; perhaps you try to incorporate Meatless Mondays into your life; or perhaps you’d just like an option for a restaurant dinner that won’t force you to waddle out the door. 

Whatever your motivations, here’s an example of how easy it is to have a meat-free, waddle-free meal in Richmond.

K.K. Dollar Hot Pot is located above Jubilant Restaurant on No. 3 Road. 

To me, its name implies a cafeteria-like place like Happy Date, not this modern space. 

Their ‘All You Can Eat Hot Pot’ includes an extensive sauce and condiment bar, which I’m sure is a huge draw for people. Who doesn’t love a big selection of sauces that can be spooned into teeny tiny bowls? 

No one, that’s who!

There are also little bowls of snacks, including salted peanuts and edamame – a nice touch.

With a mission to keep the evening meat-free, I ordered the fungus broth, and because I was alone, a modest number of items than I would in a big group. 

My server at first warned me that I “hadn’t ordered nearly enough!” but I didn’t want to waste anything, and I assured him I could always order more. No need.

My plate of quail eggs, fried gluten puffs, bean curd sheet ‘ties,’ pumpkin, enoki mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, and tofu proved to be plenty.

I also asked for watercress and Chinese spinach, because greens almost always end up being one of my favourite things about hot pot.

My individual broth pot arrived, and was quite mild at first. It had black fungus in it (hiding at the bottom), and noodle-like fungyus? Seaweed? floating on top.

I put the pumpkin in first, but that was about the only thing that needed any real time to cook. Then I headed over to the condiments bar and got myself some chopped cilantro, sesame/peanut/satay sauce combo, and some soy sauce with fresh garlic in it. These proved to be the most wonderful of sides.

My favourite things were the Chinese spinach (number one winner – so tender, green, and good for me), the pumpkin, and quail eggs.

My least favourites were the bean curd ‘ties,’ which were oddly dense and tough to chew.

Certain pieces of the watercress were also a little woody, but on the whole I really enjoyed my vegetarian (almost vegan) hot pot meal. It was nice to be able to do it individually, and I felt great when I left, not weighed down and feeling the need for a salad. 

This would also be a great place to go with friends, of course, and you’d be able to order a greater variety of vegetarian options and even more sauces!

In total, my meal cost $29.61.

Here is a recap of my favourite places in Richmond with fully vegetarian menus, or menus that included good-looking vegetarian options. 

Perhaps you’ll want to bookmark a few to try on a Meatless Monday:

• 4 Stones Vegetarian

• Spicy Vegetarian Cuisine

• House of Tofu Soup

• Pho Lan

• Sakura Sushi

• Ginger Indian Cuisine

• Two Chefs and a Table (they have an excellent-sounding vegetarian burger!) 

 

Lindsay Anderson is dining out at 365 Richmond eateries in 365 days for Tourism Richmond. The Asian Pacific Post is featuring excerpts from her blog each week. See www.365daysofdining.com for Anderson’s blog.