Happy Date

Fast food Chinese style.  It's cheap, sorta run down, but that goes for just about any HK cafe that's been around since the beginning of time.  My parents have been going here for years, and they always tell me stories about how all of Richmond's driving school teachers would congregate here before work (probably to plot how to destroy Richmond's infrastructure and cause traffic jams all over the city).  I didn't really pay much attention to this place until the closure of Yung Kee (one of Richmond's oldest Chinese restaurants). 

I didn't go there much myself, but lately, I've found myself visiting there a bit more often, especially when I feel like I need an alternative to Alleluia.  The rating for Happy Date isn't too bad, although it's got some really crummy reviews.  It's almost the opposite of Angel Cake Cafe that's got lots of great reviews, but a less than stellar rating.

The ice lemon chock-full of lemons, but a bit heavy on the syrup.  If you like it really sweet, perfect.

I think the soup bowl is slightly bigger than Alleluia's.  They use a lot more cream in the soup than Alleluia's as well.  The soup tastes pretty rich, which works for me, but may not for others.

With some of the combos, you get a choice between a but or toast.  It was breakfast, so I got toast....I should have gone with the bun, because they smell and taste like magic. 

Baked Seafood on Rice.  Awesome.  Enough said.

I was there with my parents and my dad got breakfast.  Just like home!

My mom got congee and it's not bad here...dirty cheap.

We also got some rice noodles....tasted good, no complaints.

They've got an afternoon tea menu that's got a lot of the same stuff as most other HK cafes, and to tell the truth, I think they're baked seafood on rice and baked pork chop on rice taste better than Alleluia.  Maybe it's because I got to Alleluia so much, that my taste has grown accustomed and almost a little bored.  Don't get me wrong, I still love going to Alleluia, but it's nice to mix it up once in a while.  Despite some less than stellar reviews, Happy Date's been around for ages, so they must be doing something right to stick around this long.  When I don't feel like risking a line up at Alleluia, I'll go to Happy Date....especially if I'm craving the Baked Seafood or Pork Chop on Rice.