Some restaurants make dishes that you try once and you can't stop thinking about going back and eating them again.
That is the case for many fans of Longtail Kitchen, the casual Southeast Asian restaurant that is celebrating 10 years in business at New West's River Market this month.
One of the concepts in the Metro Vancouver restaurant portfolio of acclaimed chef and cookbook author Angus An, Longtail Kitchen has been not only a popular draw with food fans but also a cultivator for local culinary talent. "It has always been a place where our talented chefs—Justin Cheung, Bonnie Khummang, and now Alex Lim—get to spread their wings," An tells V.I.A.
"I am very proud to see Longtail turn 10, and see all its alumni doing so well in our culinary community," adds An.
An has a storied career in Vancouver, going back to 2006 when he opened Gastropod in Kitsilano. A few years later, An and his wife Kate shifted the focus of the restaurant, reopening as Maenam, which has endured as one of the city's top destinations for elevated Thai cuisine.
"Longtail was our first endeavour into fast-casual dining," An explains. "We wanted to offer authentic flavours that were both approachable and affordable. That model eventually paved the way for both Fat Mao locations and Sen Pad Thai," adds An, pointing to his two other casual concepts in Vancouver.
Pad Thai, hand-pulled roti, and those amazing Longtail wings
The menu at Longtail has remained largely consistent, with the team serving up deeply crave-worthy dishes like hand-pulled roti with a zippy peanut sauce, flavourful Pad Thai and other popular Southeast Asian noodle dishes, and, of course, their signature chicken wings. The Longtail wings are juicy on the inside and crunchy on the outside, with a sweet-salty dusting of what must be some kind of magic (or salt and sugar).
New dishes do join the roster, like a fairly recent addition of fried salt and pepper squid paired with rice and an oil-fried egg with crispy edges and a runny yolk. Having new menu items gives loyal fans something fresh to check out with each return visit, in addition to the popular favourites that keep New West locals and guests popping down to the waterfront marketplace from neighbouring communities.
Being at the River Market has been a part of Longtail's success, says An. "New Westminster is one of the fastest-growing communities in Metro Vancouver. Having Longtail located in a vibrant community space like the River Market where our food is easily visible and accessible is essential."
"It's a place where local residents know they will enjoy good food and they don't have to travel far to get it," An continues. "We are thrilled and blessed to be one of the earliest restaurants to open here, and to be a part of the growth and cultural change that New West has experienced over the last 10 years."
Longtail's 10th anniversary Spot Prawn BBQ Bash
To celebrate 10 years of incredible food at Longtail, the restaurant is holding a Spot Prawn BBQ Bash patio party on Saturday, May 20 starting at 2 p.m. Longtail will have live B.C. spot prawns served hot off the grill with nahm jim sauce along with craft brew from neighbours Steel & Oak. Guests can expect door prizes, giveaways, special side dishes, and fun surprises.
Tickets for Longtail’s Spot Prawn BBQ Bash are $48.88 per person and can be purchased in advance online via Eventbrite. The restaurant will also remain open for takeout orders during the event on the patio.
Watch: Some of the best chicken wings and casual SE Asian dishes at Longtail Kitchen
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