A.Bento is boldly endeavouring to be the best Taiwanese restaurant in Vancouver. And while Taiwan is almost at the top of my travel bucket list, I don’t currently have a trip booked. In the meantime, I can find all the Taiwanese classics from beef noodle to popcorn chicken at A.Bento in their comfortable and welcoming space on West Broadway.
Bento And Beyond
At A.Bento, Chef and Owner Jian (Aaron) Zhou serves his own modern interpretation of traditional Taiwanese cuisine. The restaurant’s name is a direct acknowledgement of the Taiwanese bento box. You’ll find many iterations on the menu, ranging from Black Pepper Beef Brisket and hearty Pork Ragu to refreshing Szechuan Spicy Chicken Roulade. You can also try the house-made Taiwanese Sausage as a feature protein if you desire. Each box comes with rice as well as two of the daily sides, making it a wonderful meal option for a solo diner.
The rest of the menu at A.Bento is more built for sharing (or for someone looking to go home with leftovers).
“Our dishes not only pay respect to my roots and the way that food brings people together, but also offer a unique and modern twist on traditional Taiwanese cuisine that draws inspiration from every corner of that small yet flavour-packed nation,” explains Zhou.
This coming together ensures that you can sample more of the menu and, trust me, there’s much to try.
Taste Tradition
A.Bento is doing soup and sauces exceptionally well. Braised Beef Noodle Soup is a Taiwanese classic, dare I say, the national dish. The broth is rich but mildly seasoned. The flavour comes from the beef as well as the vegetables. Taiwanese food is built on quality ingredients. Their flavours are highlighted rather than covered with spicy or salty sauces or broths. The succulent chunks of beef shank still retain some toothsomeness, although they shred into tender morsels almost immediately, soaking up the broth. The noodles are softer than chewy and firm, but still nicely bouncy. The pickled mustard greens that come on the side are a delicious, tangy addition!
Another soup I greatly enjoyed is the Bamboo Shoot with Spareribs. The almost completely clear broth is deceptive. A single slurp is packed with beef flavour. The thick pieces of bamboo shoot absorb this deep flavour, and the pieces of sparerib, almost devoid of any colour, are deliciously soft. Both soups are comforting, nourishing, and craveable.
The Stir Fried Cumin Lamb comes with the softest steamed Lotus Buns, which makes it another great dish for sharing. And it is a must to try something deep-fried. The Crispy Chicken Nuggets are probably Taiwan’s second most famous dish after Beef Noodle. However, A.Bento also does tasty White Pepper Chicken Wings as well as their Deep Fried Squid Tentacles, so consider trying those as well. The crust is light and crispy with a satisfying crunch that locks in all the juices.
A.Bento Balances Authentic With Local
Of course, the protein pairings from the bento boxes are available as mains as well. The Szechuan Spicy Chicken Roulade is a refreshing cold dish dressed in an energizing and numbing Szechuan spice. It tickles the taste buds rather than scorches them.
“I focus on bringing thoughtful, balanced meals inspired by Taiwanese home-style cooking,” says Zhou. “I’ve learned that cooking here is not just about following traditional methods exactly,” he elaborates. Adding, “Sometimes it’s important to adjust ingredients or cooking techniques to better suit local tastes while still respecting the original style of the dish. This balance between authenticity and adaptation is something I think about a lot when developing my menu.”
Good to Go
There is an important emphasis at A.Bento on making sauces and soups in house, from scratch. At the moment, a selection of beloved A.Bento menu items is available frozen for customers to take home to eat. Zhou’s goal is to continue to grow this side of the business so that his food can reach even more customers. He wants it to be easier for people to taste Taiwan.
“Our goal is to make our products more accessible to customers across Vancouver while maintaining high quality and consistency,” he shares. At the restaurant, his and his team are focused on keeping standards high and quality consistent. With diligence and inspiration found in the bounty of British Columbia’s produce, they ensure that every dish that leaves the kitchen is representative of Zhou’s vision. He takes seriously the responsibility of feeding not only Vancouver’s Taiwanese community but also anyone curious to taste what Taiwan has to offer.
