Yin Ji Chang Fen: Chinese rice rolls in Richmond
Whenever I land at the YVR Airport and come back from an international trip, I always crave some comforting Chinese food π₯° – things like congee, noodle soups.
Yin Ji Chang Fen is one of the first spots I eat at once I am back in Vancouver. They have won awards for their rice rolls and have a cheap and delicious menu of HK dishes. The brand is originally from GuangZhou and they have been nicknamed “The King of chang fen” π. They are also located in Richmond – a quick drive from the YVR Airport!
This post is a combined review of several visits and includes what we usually like to order.
Yin Ji Chang Fen
8500 Alexandra Rd #170, Richmond, BC V6X 3L4
The vibe
Yin Ji Chang Fen is not a very big restaurant but they always seem busy in the times I’ve eaten here, especially around late morning/brunch time. They have free parking but it is limited to a pretty small parking lot shared with other businesses.
The vibe and decor is not really anything to rave about. I don’t really know how to describe the aesthetics of a Chinese restaurant π – regular black chairs and wooden table tops with an open dining area so you can see everyone and hear everything. The kitchen is closed off.
They have optimized the space to seat as many people as possible and you can come in large groups (people eat and leave pretty quickly). You do not need a reservation.
Food and drinks review
Here are some of our go-to items to order. Prices are in CAD and rounded to the nearest dollar for simplicity.
HK Style cold milk tea ($7)
For drinks, we like to share the HK style milk tea (you can get it hot or cold). If you choose cold, they actually serve it to you in this cute bed of ice so your drink stays cold but there won’t be any melted ice inside your drink to dilute the flavours.
This drink is sweet and a good kick start to my day.
R01 – Marinated beef & shrimp with chives rice roll ($10)
Out of all the many rice roll options on the menu, this is our favourite rice roll to order because it has a little bit of everything – beef, shrimp and chives! It is doused in a healthy amount of sweet soy sauce and the rice rolls are thin and pull apart when you pull on them.
For $10, the rice roll is delicious and a very good price!
R27 – Black truffle with shrimp and pork rice roll ($14)
One of the most expensive rice rolls on the menu is this truffle rice roll with shrimp and pork. They use truffle paste and you can definitely taste the truffle. Surprisingly, it goes well with the soy sauce and everything so this rice roll is pretty fun to try, but we usually just end up getting the more basic/regular rice rolls.
The texture is the same as the other rice roll – thin and and smooth.
C05 – Lai Wan style assorted congee ($13)
For congee, they have a decent selection and we usually order the C05 or the C09 (preserved egg and shredded pork) congee.
The C05 is the most popular one with BBQ pork, fish slices, squid, pig skin and peanuts. It is similar to “Sampan style” congee.
I felt for $13, the portion was really good to share between 2 people and the consistency of the congee was also quite good. Lots of toppings!
S26 – Beef brisket lo mein ($16)
This dish surprised me with how tasty it was the first time we ordered it π³ and now it’s a staple every time we come to order this dish. Think of lo mein like a mixed dry noodle. The beef brisket lo mein is a simple dish but the beef brisket is so tender and the noodles are so saucy! I seriously think this is one of the best beef brisket lo mein I’ve had in the Lower Mainland.
S30 – Beef brisket noodle soup ($16)
Conversely, the beef brisket noodle soup is also not bad at all. This is because again, the chunks of beef brisket are so tender and delicious! So if you are not into lo mein or you are looking for something more soupy, this may be a better option for you.
Final thoughts
Loewe’s rating: βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ
We have come to Yin Ji Chang Fen many times and have always had good food and good prices. Service is fast and casual.
I highly recommend ordering at least 1 rice roll during your meal – there are a lot of different fillings to choose from! We usually order 1-2 rice rolls + a congee or a noodle dish and will be full for lunch or dinner. My usual go-to items include R01 (beef, shrimp chives rice roll), S26 (beef brisket lo mein), and C05 (lai wan congee).
Everything on the menu is reasonably priced and dare I say, on the “cheaper” end. And it always hits the spot for me!
Sincerely, Loewe