Introducing Richmond’s A-List: A New Name for a Local Legacy
Welcome to Richmond’s A-List, an evolution of what you’ve known for 18 years as “Best of Richmond.” Same passion. Same reader-powered picks. But now with a fresh pulse that connects Richmond’s local legends with a bigger stage as our winners will also be shared on VancouverIsAwesome.com
What does that mean? More eyes. More love. More spotlight on the places that make this city not just livable, but lovable. The Dim Sum joints that taste like home. The barbershops where stories are shared. The nonprofits that show up when no one’s watching. It’s not just about businesses. It’s about belonging.
More than 5,000 of you voted. Loudly. Proudly. And what you’ve told us is simple: Richmond is alive with flavour, culture and community — and this list is your love letter to it.
This is a curated map of where the city breathes, eats, laughs, and lives. Over the next 40 pages, we’ll take you there.
This is Richmond. This is your A-List.
BEST BAKERY
1. COBS Bread
2. The Sweet Spot
3. Diplomat Bakery
BEST BBQ
1. Hog Shack Cook House
2. HK BBQ Master
3. Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ
BEST BREAKFAST
1. Eggspectation
2. Cora Breakfast and Lunch
3. Toast to Coast Brunch Bar
BEST BREWERY
1. Britannia Brewing Steveston
2. Fuggles Beer Co.
3. The Canadian Brewhouse
BEST BUTCHER
1. Seafair Gourmet Meats
2. Amron’s Gourmet Meats
3. Windsor Meats (Herringers)
BEST CHINESE FOOD
1. Bamboo Express
2. Tsim Chai Noodle Restaurant
3. Dinesty Dumpling House
BEST CHINESE BAKERY
1. The Boss Bakery
2. Saint Germain Bakery
3. Kam Do Bakery
BEST CHINESE BBQ
1. HK BBQ Master
2. Parker Place Aberdeen Fresh Meat & BBQ
3. Cantonese BBQ
BEST DIM SUM
1. Continental Seafood Restaurant
2. Fisherman’s Terrace Seafood Restaurant
3. Empire Seafood Restaurant
BEST FAMILY RESTAURANT
1. McDonald’s
2. Pizza Factory
3. White Spot
BEST FILIPINO
1. Little Ongpin Restaurant
2. Kumare Restaurant & Bakery
3. Tindahan Grocery
BEST FINE DINING
1. Baan Lao Fine Thai Cuisine
2. Chop Steakhouse & Bar
3. Steveston Seafood House
BEST FISH N CHIPS
1. Pajo’s Fish and Chips
2. Dave’s Fish & Chips
3. Garry Point Fish ‘N’ Chips
FOOD & BEVERAGES
BEST FOOD COURT
1. CF Richmond Centre 2. Aberdeen Centre 3. Lansdowne Centre
Several projects were completed last year to serve the evergrowing population of Richmond. Here are some highlights.
NEW ROADS
Two roads in the new residential development at Richmond Centre were named “Cst. Jimmy Ng Road” and “Cst. Jimmy Ng Place” after a young Richmond police officer who was killed on duty in 2002. Ng, 32 at the time, was killed while working a night shift on Sept. 15, 2002, when a car ran a red light at No. 3 and Williams roads in a street race.
BCIT FLIGHT SIMULATOR
BCIT’s Aerospace Technology Campus in Richmond has two new flight simulators that aircraft maintenance engineering students can use to practice flying a plane and for simulations such as on-board fires and other emergencies. One is a De Havilland Dash8-Q400, used on shorter flights such as Vancouver to Kelowna, and the other is a Boeing 737 Max, used on longer flights. The simulators cost $1 million to buy and install.
7 2 6 1 3 8 4 5
COCA-COLA DISTRIBUTION CENTRE
A 230,000-square-foot Coca-Cola distribution centre that moves 100,000 cases of Coke a day opened last August in east Richmond, in the Richmond Industrial Centre off No. 8 and Blundell roads. The Richmond Industrial Centre will eventually have 12 buildings with three million square feet of industrial space.
RICHMOND EAST URGENT AND PRIMARY CARE CLINIC
Vancouver Coastal Health opened its second Urgent and Primary Care Clinic in Richmond in March of last year. The drop-in clinic is meant for urgent health concerns. It’s located at 10551 Shellbridge Way and is open Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. as well as on statutory holidays.
EXPRESS RECYCLING
Richmond’s first Express and Go recycling station opened in Steveston last June. The new facility at 13191 No. 2 Rd. is operated by Return-It, in partnership with Steveston Harbour Authority, and aims to help make recycling refundable drink containers more convenient. Community members can create a free Express account at express.return-it.ca, place containers in a clear, sealed bag with a labelled tag, and drop them off at the station. Refunds are processed within 10 business days by e-transfer or cheque, or donated to a local charity.
ANXIN COMMUNITY SAVINGS
The new credit union opened on No. 3 Road in October and is meant to serve the Chinese community, taking into account cultural and language issues unique to their banking needs.
CAPSTAN CANADA LINE STATION
The long-awaited Capstan station opened up in December between Bridgeport and Aberdeen stations. The $62-million project took about four years to build. It is meant to serve the growing high-density Capstan neighbourhood. Of the total cost, $32.2 million was contributed by developers and the rest by TransLink.
NEW CRAB PROCESSING PLANT
Steveston has a long history tied to the fishing industry and it continues to be a hub for the seafood industry. Last September, a new crab processing plant, North Seafood Ltd., opened at Steveston Harbour. The facility has the capacity to store about 50,000 pounds of crab.
ThankYouRichmond
BEST CARPET CLEANERS
1. Mister P Carpet Cleaning
2. Cleanworks Carpet & Upholstery Care
3. Safeway Seafair
BEST COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION
1. Regional Animal Protection Society
2. Richmond Multicultural Community Services
3. Touchstone Family Association
BEST DAY CARE/PRESCHOOL
1. Rothewood Academy
2. Treehouse Early Learning Centre
3. City Centre Community Centre
BEST DOGGY DAYCARE
1. The Woofer Walkers Dog Daycare
2. Playful Pups Doggy Daycare
3. Pathfinder Pet Care & Dog Ranch
BEST INDEPENDENT FASHION STORE
1. Jet-lag Travel Fashion Boutique
2. Bellissima/Serena West
3. Stepin’ Out
BEST FLORIST
1. Touch Of Class Florists
2. Forget Me Not Floral Design
3. Safeway Seafair
BEST FURNITURE STORE
1. Leon’s
2. The Brick
3. The Spotted Frog
BEST FINANCIAL INSTITUTION
1. TD Canada Trust
2. RBC Royal Bank
3. Vancity
SHOPS & SERVICES
BEST FINANCIAL PLANNER
1. Richard Nash - IG Wealth Management
2. Michele Reid
3. Edward Jones
BEST GARDEN CENTRE
1. Prickly Pear Garden Centre
2. Wong’s Greenhouse & Nursery
3. Bob’s Garden
BEST GIFT SHOP
1. Shop Makers
2. Regional Animal Protection Society Thrift Stores
3. NIKAIDO
BEST GROCERY STORE
1. Save-On-Foods
2. FreshCo
3. Safeway Seafair
BEST GYM/FITNESS CENTER
1. True Conditioning
2. Russel Sean Fitness
3. Richmond Olympic Oval
BEST HAIR SALON
1. Ask Hair Studio
2. Design Tech Hair Studio
3. Lenny’s Beauty Parlour
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Major celebrations in Richmond bring community together
Richmond never falls behind when it comes to celebrating big events in the city. Here are some of the major festivals and events held in Richmond every year.
JULY 1 :
STEVESTON SALMON FESTIVAL
This year is the 78th anniversary of the Steveston Salmon Festival, which also coincides with Canada Day. The event is all about bringing the community together with the annual kids bike parade, festival parade, live music, iconic salmon bake and food trucks. The Steveston Salmon Festival pays homage to the community’s salmon fishing heritage.
Check StevestonSalmonFest.ca for more details.
AUGUST 23 TO 24
RICHMOND MARITIME FESTIVAL
Richmond is known for its diverse heritage when it comes to the maritime history. Every year, the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site is turned into a two-day event where the public and visitors can explore the eight-acre space to learn about the oldest shipyard in B.C., admire restored wooden boats and ships docked in Steveston and enjoy food and activities.
Check RichmondMaritime.Festival.ca for more information.
The Doors Open Richmond is a free annual celebration that raises civic awareness throughout Richmond. Visitors get to explore museums, faith-based institutions, cultural organizations, food establishments, cityowned facilities and more over two days. Every year, more than 50 sites join in on the weekend event with most places offering selfguided tours as well as some bus tours. Check RichmondMuseum.ca/ Doors-Open-Richmond for more details.
AUGUST 16
GARLIC FESTIVAL
A festival that is based on everything garlic takes place every summer for one day. The Sharing Farm, at 2771 Westminster Hwy. in Terra Nova, hosts the event to share its work in the sustainable agricultural industry while showcasing the different ways garlic can be used, including in ice cream. From live birdsof-prey flying demonstrations to a children’s area and food trucks, it’s a day of learning for everyone.
FEB. 16, 2026
CHILDREN’S ARTS FESTIVAL
The annual festival is a hands-on fun and artistic event meant for children to discover creativity and explore various artistic skills. Every year, the free festival includes drop-in activities and performances as well as pre-registered, structured artist-led creativity classes.
Check ChildrensArtsFestival.ca for details closer to the date.
• BeddingPlants
• HangingBaskets
• Planters
• PottedPlants
• Perennials
• PottingSoil
• Fertilizer
• GardenSupplies
• Andmore...
Photo Valerie Leung
Photo City of Richmond
FEB. 17, 2026
LUNAR NEW YEAR
Richmond’s Aberdeen Centre hosts one of the biggest countdowns in Metro Vancouver for Lunar New Year every year. The day is an annual celebration based on the beginning of a new year according to the lunisolar calendar and is a time for family reunions, celebrations and fun traditions. In celebration, the mall hosts a oneweek flower and gift fair as well as a countdown at midnight with the “God of Fortune” handing out lucky red packets usually filled with candy or money to the public.
FIRST OR SECOND WEEK OF APRIL IN 2026 CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL
The Richmond Cherry Blossom Festival was established to showcase the 255 Akebono cherry trees in Garry Point Park – a generous donation from the BC Wakayama Kenjin Kai, the Wakayama Prefectural Association. The event aims to introduce new generations and the community to authentic Japanese culture, while celebrating Japanese-Canadian heritage. Every year, the community comes together to watch performances, cultural demonstrations and enjoy many Japanese food offerings at the festival. Check RichmondCherryBlossomFest.ca for the exact date.
What began as a fledgling daily photo feature at RichmondNews.com, Good Morning, Richmond! has grown into a five-year-and-counting project that highlights the talented photographers of Richmond.
From birds and bees to flowers and sunsets, our GMR photographers send us dozens of photos every week from all corners of Richmond. All showcased on Sunday morning’s “Framing Richmond.”
To send a photo, email Editor@Richmond-News.com with the date and place of the photo and a “GMR” subject line.
We’d love to see Richmond’s hidden corners that rarely gets featured. Keep the photos coming in – we enjoy them all!
Dr.Je reyLee,ND,R.Ac
Did you know?
Fun facts about RICHMOND
The Richmond News has a new feature as part of its “Good Morning, Richmond!” daily post – fun facts about Richmond. Here are some of the highlights:
Do you know where the minutes of the first Richmond city council meeting are stored?
The minutes of the first Richmond city council meeting, held on Jan. 12, 1880, are kept at the City of Richmond Archives in a climate-
Do you know how deep YVR’s south runway is?
Not only are the runways at Vancouver International Airport long and wide, they are deep.
In fact, the south runway is seven feet – two metres – deep, made up of concrete, cement-stabilized based (CSB), a granular base and preloaded sand.
The minutes of the first Richmond city council meeting are stored in the city’s archives.
controlled vault that keeps the temperature and humidity at the right levels to preserve the hand-written document. The vault is fire-proofed and is only accessible by City of Richmond Archives staff. These first minutes almost didn’t survive to the present day. A fire in 1913 at the original Richmond Town Hall, located at what is now the corner of River and Cambie roads, almost resulted in their demise.
There are four runways at YVR, three land-based ones and one on the river. The north and south runways are both about three kilometres long (3,030 metres and 3,505 metres, respectively) and the crosswinds runway is 2,226 metres long – all three are 60 metres wide.
The Fraser River, where float planes land and take off from, is also considered a runway.
Do you know how many birds pass through Sturgeon Banks every year?
Sturgeon Banks is part of the Pacific Flyway and more than 1.5 million birds pass through on their annual migration routes.
Photo City of Richmond Archives
Sturgeon Banks was named by Captain George Vancouver who bought a sturgeon, otherwise known as a “ghost fish,” from a First Nations community, according to the Richmond Museum. Do you know when the original Richmond Arts Centre opened?
The first Richmond Arts Centre was a black-and-white building that opened on Oct. 3, 1967.
It housed the art gallery and museum while there were meeting rooms and space for workshops for theatre, painting, sculpture, ceramics and the lapidary arts.
The centre was later razed to make way for the new building in 1991.
Do you know what the oldest church in Richmond is?
Minoru Chapel is the oldest church in Richmond. It was originally located at Cambie and River roads, built in 1888 by the Richmond Methodist Mission, according to the Richmond Museum. It was moved to Minoru Park in 1967 and is located near Gateway Theatre.
Do you know what the Cora Brown subdivision was?
The community of Burkeville is still around, but there was another subdivision on Sea Island, Cora Brown, that eventually got razed to make way for YVR’s runways.
The first residents moved into the Cora Brown subdivision in 1946 and eventually there were about 250 households. By the end of 1974, all the homes had been bought and the residents had left to live elsewhere.
Do you know about Richmond’s sister cities?
Do you know which neighbourhood in Richmond is called “5C”?
People who grew up in east Richmond called the neighbourhood around No. 5 Road and Cambie “5C.” The neighbourhood was traditionally a working class neighbourhood and east of Jacombs Road, it was mainly farmland.
King George Park was its central recreational area and most kids went to Mitchell elementary. There was also a drive-in movie theatre, the Delta DriveIn, that attracted moviegoers from far and wide.
Richmond has four sister cities: Pierrefonds in Quebec, Wakayama in Japan as well as Xiamen and Qingdao in China.The Sister City Program’s goal is to foster meaningful connections between Richmond residents and residents of other cities and cultures through projects and exchanges.
Do you know what the tallest building in Richmond is?
The tallest building in the city is Lafarge Tower in East Richmond. Standing at a height of 113.39 meters, or 34 stories high, is a steel skyscraper that opened in 1999. Lafarge Tower, also known as Lafarge Canada Inc.’s Richmond Cement Plant, is part of a $140 million state-of-the-art modernization program.
