Wen Xin Chinese - Burnaby

Wen Xin is yet another of those small, family-run spots that is located well away from the restaurant hubs. For the past couple of years, this has been a favorite of the Friday Lunch crew. And after all the numerous visits, Wen Xin stands out as maybe the

Overall, this place seems to have plenty of choices on the menu. And more variety of ingredients than the usual run-of-the-mill North Americanized Chinese restaurant.

The menu features a delightful blend of Shanghai-style dishes alongside a variety of Sichuan and Northern Chinese options. We ordered the shredded pork with plum sauce, prawns with chilis and peanuts, and hot and sour soup. The standout dish was undoubtedly the prawns. They were packed with flavorful dried spices, just the right amount of oil, and had a fiery heat. We both enjoy spicy food but had to be careful not to swallow too many of the dried chilis after a while. The plum sauce pork was also enjoyable, likely glazed in a slightly salty and tangy plum sauce (reminiscent of Japanese umeboshi), and served over fresh, julienned green onions. It provided a nice contrast to the prawns. The hot and sour soup was tasty, especially on a chilly night, although it wasn't the best I've ever had. It could have used a bit more vinegar for my taste, but the ingredients were fresh, and I would definitely order it again. The menu, along with the specials written on the wall (which were in Chinese), showcased a variety of tempting dishes for our next visit: smoked duck, hot pot, garlic sauce eggplant, and salt and pepper squid or chicken. We will definitely return to try more of the delicious offerings!

I enjoyed the Chinese wine chicken; it was excellent, especially since it was boneless—definitely a plus. The house special noodles were also well-prepared, with nice crunchy edges and a good mix of meat and vegetables. This place is perfect for a quick meal that won't cost too much.

The food here is excellent! Although the restaurant itself isn’t anything extraordinary, the quality of the food definitely makes up for it. The kids especially enjoy the chicken fried rice. We've visited several times and have also ordered takeout.