Bo Kong Vegetarian Restaurant reincarnated as Po Kong in Vancouver

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      It was a sad day for many vegans and vegetarians in Vancouver when Bo Kong Vegetarian Restaurant on Main Street closed its doors a year ago.

      Soon after, Bo Kong’s other location in Richmond also shut down.

      Now, there’s good news for those of us who’ve been missing Bo Kong’s special brand of deep-fried taro and soya milk, and “tasty fresh” shiitake mushrooms.

      Earlier this month, Po Kong Vegetarian Restaurant opened at 1334 Kingsway at Clark Drive.

      Upon arriving at the restaurant, one can’t help but recognize the familiar menu posted on the window, same pictures and all.

      During a visit this week, a server told our dinner party that Po Kong has the same owners, chefs, and staff as Bo Kong.

      The food also hasn’t changed much.

      In addition to the aforementioned dishes, we ordered the stuffed wonton soup, braised bean curd skin rolls, and chef’s special fried rice.

      While the taro and soy milk combination, as well as the bean curd rolls, were slightly less delicious than I remember, the food looked and tasted pretty much the same as it did on Main.

      You can follow Stephen Hui on Twitter at twitter.com/stephenhui.

      Comments

      10 Comments

      David Barnes

      Feb 12, 2011 at 7:48am

      This is great news! Thanks.

      Anonymous Vegetarian

      Feb 13, 2011 at 8:47am

      This is great! The Bo Kong was one of the finest places to enjoy interesting, large-portioned, well-prepared Buddhist/vegetarian food in Vancouver. Unfortunately, the closest equivalent in Chinatown has been closed for a few years due to that nearby fire, and their cooking wasn't quite as good anyways. Thanks and congrats to the new Po Kong. I'll be dropping in soon!

      Hindu Veg Dude

      Feb 14, 2011 at 2:11pm

      The city should have more great veg restaurants like Po kong! Kudos!

      I am upset

      Feb 14, 2011 at 3:39pm

      Ok they kept the food ... but why the name change??? BO was such a rounded earthy, scrumptious sound much like what you imagine a goldfish in a bowl would make, if they could talk. What perverse imagination led them to adopt that unearthly PO!?? Sound of sputum arcing through the air to its fated splatter. Such a disdainful curtailment of its gentle predecessor. No PO - Bring back BO or I will not eat there no MO.

      SIP

      Feb 28, 2011 at 2:52pm

      Hope the service is better...

      Po Kong Fan

      May 9, 2011 at 10:09am

      I have enjoyed dining at Bo Kong Richmond for over a decade .. so it was very dissapointing when they closed operations. Unfortunately, Whole Vegetarian Restaurant on Main Street in Vancouver - which took over the space for the Bo Kong Vancouver location and offers a similar menu has not been able to replicate the quality of the previous ownership. Now Po Kong has launched and I am very happy to report that my experiences on two occassions have been great. The partions are large and the food is really excellent. The food can be a bit slow coming compared to the previous location but it is worth the wait.

      moorey gares

      May 12, 2011 at 10:24am

      food is not so good as you think. waiter service is so bad even if you call for cold water. i will tell my friend do not come to this reaturant.

      Bill

      Jun 9, 2012 at 4:40pm

      Its ok but to be honest it's far from amazing. Sadly people tend to use the word amazing for anything above mediocre. It's way overpriced for what you are getting. Any Chinese resturaunt worth it's salt offers a good variety of vegetarian dishes. People calling it bhuddist food must be referring to the Richard gere meaning of the word bhuddist. Please

      BR

      Dec 4, 2013 at 1:00am

      It's pretty good. Slightly on the expensive side I thought. I mean a plate, however big, of essentially boiled veggies shouldn't cost 13 bucks. But if you are willing to try out the menu there are lots of innovative dishes many of them that are absolutely worth a try. Service is prompt.

      Reiffel Range

      Sep 14, 2014 at 6:47am

      I have to laugh at some of the reviews above. "Not so good as you think . . . " implies that the writer has his brain wired into the mouth of the enthusiastic writers who praise the restaurant. Quite a feat! ;-) Seriously, folks, people have their own tastes and values. What's great to one can be mediocre or worse to another, and both can be right from their own point of view. I like Po Kong, don't find it "amazing", but go back because some of my friends enjoy it immensely and we have a good time there together. While I can certainly criticize on some points objectively, it's always possible that the dish I ate was not as well prepared as the one that has people raving. We don't all see exactly the same reality because so little is consistent from day to day. Impermanence abounds! Enjoy Po Kong and take from it the good you find.