BBT Café (April 18, 2008)

5979 West Boulevard
Vancouver, BC V6M 3X1
(604) 568-2195‎

Two reviewers: ts and js

[js]
For our Vancouver Taiwanese small eats fix, we usually go to Cabin 5555 along West Boulevard (Vancouver).

Lately, though, something has been amiss. The last couple of meals I've had at Cabin 5555 seemed very lackluster, not quite up to standards.

[ts]
The last time we ordered from Cabin 5555, I got their #61 meal (my usual). It's the sliced pork with garlic sauce. It was still OK/good. Not turn-off-y by any means, but not as spectacular as before.

update July 5, 2008:
I've had their #61 for a few times now after this writing, and their garlic sauce is back to its spectacular self.

[js]
Driving home from work the other day, and not having had lunch yet, we decided to drop in at the BBT Café, just further south on West Boulevard.

The demographics of the restaurant seemed a little different from Cabin 5555. I don't know: seemed like there were a lot of mothers and daughters walking in, or mothers and sons. Cabin 5555 had more of a teen group vibe.

[js]
I had the beef noodles, which I thought was forgettable. Not too special at all, and I've certainly had better beef noodle soups before.

[ts]
I tasted this, and I must agree that it wasn't great at all. The broth didn't seem to have much flavor. Although, JS did point out that their beef pieces were better-tasting than others'. But, beef noodle soup is all about the beef soup for me. (I love beef broth!) So, this didn't cut it at all.

I ordered the black pepper chicken with rice. I thought it was one of those meals that comes in them bento-box like configurations, but no. (Although, why would some meals come like that (bento-ized), and the others, like this one, where it's just a plate with a mound of rice and the "topping", plus a few vegetables?)

Anyway, I don't know if the Taiwanese version of black pepper sauce is different from the Hong Kong-style cafe version, or if this is only BBT Café's version, but I didn't like it as much. Yeah, it was underwhelming.

[ts]
But, I'm wondering if we picked the wrong dishes to order. I mean, the place is very busy and it's not that cheap (which sometimes is the explanation for such buzz).

So, maybe this place warrants another visit. Maybe.