Richmond has been getting hit with wave after wave of new openings lately.
And the latest to join the scene is a retro red-accented cafe slinging up BBQ rice plates and Southeast Asian comfort food.
ManTung Cafe quietly opened last week, taking over the former Afuri Ramen spot on Alderbridge Way.
And while the address might be familiar, the new concept is going for a completely different vibe.
The menu is extensive and kinda unexpected.
ManTung offers everything from Cantonese roast duck and BBQ pork over rice to baked pastas, satay beef claypot noodles, and Southeast Asian currys.
They even have toast sandwiches under a section cheekily titled “Raise Your Pay.”
Yes, they’re charging $9.99 for a French Toast and $5.99 for a lemon tea, but they seem very aware of it.
Inside, the restaurant hits with a bold and clean design.
Crimson walls and graphic lion head linework give it a cha chaan teng energy with a splash of playfulness.
There are booths, metal-topped tables, and pendant lighting that adds to the café-diner crossover vibe.
Old school Chinese music is also playing in the background.
We dropped in (anonymously of course) to try their BBQ Pork on Rice, one of the menu’s self-declared “Must-Eats.”
The combo came with a daily soup, and for an extra $2, we added an iced lemon tea which hit perfectly on a hot hot summer day.
When locals already have loyalty to legends like HK BBQ Master, it’s going to be interesting to see whether Mantung’s charm, cheek, and expansive menu can build its own loyal following.
With the opening of ManTung Cafe, Richmond adds yet another spot to its rapidly growing list of new food destinations.
It joins recent additions like Yaohan Cha Don, Shanghai Winning Baozi, and Wasan Cafe in keeping the city’s food scene in constant motion.
For more new and upcoming food spots in Metro Vancouver, take a peek at our tracker here, and subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.
Address: 7971 Alderbridge Wy #140, Richmond, BC V6X 2A4