Some sad news for Burnaby locals hunting for that home-cooked Chinese flavour.
Looks like a low-key favourite, Mama Rich on Kingsway, has quietly called it quits.
We spotted the lights off recently, and a peek through the window confirmed it – the inside looks pretty gutted and piled up with kitchen gear.
Looking on Google also has it tagged as permanently closed.
It’s unclear exactly when they officially shut down, but signs point to sometime within the last couple of months.
For those in the know, Mama Rich was loved by some and had its naysayers too (the reviews will show you).
It wasn’t splashed all over Instagram, but it did carve out a fanbase since opening back in 2015.
It was that little hole-in-the-wall spot you stumbled upon or heard about from a friend.
Their claim to fame?
Chinese Guangxi cuisine called “River Snail Noodles” (Luosifen) – that uniquely pungent and addictive noodle soup you either love or really love once you try it.
Mama Rich dished out various rice noodles: Traditional, Beef, Pork Intestine, and even a House Special loaded with pig ears, beef, tofu, egg, shrimp, and intestine.
They also served up comforting rice meals like Minced Pork or Braised Chicken, and other noodle dishes like Sour and Spicy Crystal Noodles. Proper comfort food.
Losing Mama Rich is definitely a bummer for fans who appreciated that unpretentious, flavour-packed cooking.
This closure also adds another name to the list of recent changes along this stretch of Kingsway.
We’ve already seen longtime neighbours like Pokey Okey and Onezo Tapioca close down this year (though Dragon Bowl quickly swooped into the Onezo spot).
Were you a regular at Mama Rich? Gonna miss those River Snail Noodles? Let us know your memories!
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Address: Formerly at 4949 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC