If you have been on Red Note lately, you have probably seen this place all over your feed.
Dao Field Noodle Shop (稻田粉面馆) soft opened on April 1 across from Richmond Public Market, and the hype was so strong that by day two, they sold out during lunch and could not even stay open for dinner service.
When we showed up anonymously around noon on that second day, the place was already packed.
An hour later, everything was gone.
The team clearly did not expect that kind of turnout this early.
If you missed our earlier coverage, Dao Field is a spinoff from Geng Shi Ji (耕食記), the award-winning Hunan restaurant at Continental Shopping Centre.
It focuses on one thing: Hunan-style rice noodles.
Kristen Wan, an assistant at Geng Shi Ji and Dao Field, shared with Noms Magazine that the idea came partly from the current economic climate.
“As people become more mindful with their spending, we wanted to offer a dining option that is more accessible,” she said.
“Something simple and everyday, but still satisfying and well-made.”
It also comes from something personal.
In Hunan, having a bowl of rice noodles in the morning is a daily comfort. In Greater Vancouver, there are very few places that truly focus on that style.
“Being able to have a bowl of rice noodles in a foreign place is a small but meaningful kind of happiness,” Kristen said.
The setup is cafeteria-style.
You order at a self-serve kiosk, grab a seat while you wait, then pick up your bowl at the counter when your number is called.
From there, you head to the next counter where a spread of self-serve sauces and toppings is waiting.
The menu keeps it simple with five noodle options.
Three of them are $10, including the Original Flavor Shredded Pork Noodle, the Hunan Zhajiang Noodles, and the Three Delicacies Noodle.
The Stir-Fried Pork with Pickled Chili is $12, and the Spicy Braised Beef Noodle Soup is $15.
Each bowl lets you choose between Hunan flat rice noodles or Hunan alkaline noodles.
We went with the Original Flavor Shredded Pork Noodle with alkaline noodles.
The noodles were cooked well, and the broth was flavourful, though it leaned a bit oily.
Portions are on the smaller side, so bigger eaters may want to double up.
Kristen explained that while Hunan rice noodles use similar ingredients to Cantonese rice noodles or Vietnamese pho, the texture is different.
They are softer, smoother, and more tender, with just a light chew.
The noodles are produced locally using machines, and the team is still refining the process as they try to recreate the bowl they remember from home.
The interior stands out.
According to Kristen, Geng Ji Shi’s interior was a depiction of land to table, Dao Field is all about the origin of rice noodles.
“The space is filled with real dried straw, including custom straw light fixtures hanging from the ceiling. “
The walls are painted in a warm terracotta inspired by the red soil of Hunan, and glass tiles along the walls reinterpret traditional roofing in a modern way.
In the corner, there is a small merchandise area similar to the one at Geng Shi Ji, stocked with cat figurines, glassware, and trinkets.
For $10 a bowl in this economy, it is hard to argue with the value.
Just get there early before they sell out again.
Dao Field Noodle now joins other recently opened food spots in Richmond like Younmi, Toishan Fei Mui, and Yogurie.
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: 8291 Westminster Hwy, Richmond, BC V6X 1A7