Bovine Rice Bowls has been hiding in Downtown Vancouver serving up Pan-Asian rice bowls. I work Downtown and I can’t believe I haven’t heard of this place until now. They have been around for the past year and their 1 year anniversary is coming up in a few days.
They pride themselves of using great local ingredients and striking up partnerships with companies like Fife Bakery and Food Peddlers to name a few.
Interior
They are a counter-service restaurant with sit-down and take-out lunch service on weekdays from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The space is very small, but there are a few seats inside and outside. Most people grab their items to go.
Steak Bowl
Each piece of steak is draped over white rice and finished with different sauces, onsen egg and greens. A hearty bowl of steak, egg and rice where you can’t go wrong at all. It’s comforting and the flavours hit the spot.
Roast Beef Bowl
The delicious and tender roast beef sits on top of rice and topped with green, sauce, and an onsen egg. Each bite I had, I really enjoyed.
Just look at that roast beef, it’s beautiful. The ratio of meat and rice was good too.
Signature Garden
This is their vegetarian option and I was pleasantly surprised by this dish. This has a rotating blend of fresh veggies including crispy cauliflower, yam, baby potatoes, carrots, green beans, eggplant and tofu over a rich Japanese curry.
Their curry sauce is just so good and the different textures of the crisp tofu and veggies work very well. If this can impress a meat eater, it’s pretty darn good.
Rotating Specials: Creole Jambalaya
They have rotating specials as the 4th item on the menu. Last week it was the Creole Jambalaya with slow roasted chicken, andouille sausage and shrimp. The sauce has a bit of a kick of spice, shrimp was large and plump too.
Roast Beef Sandwich
This is specially launched for their one year anniversary and only available until quantities last. To thank customers for a successful first year, the first 30 customers at the restaurant on Wednesday, June 26 will receive a free Roast Beef Sandwich, no purchase necessary. To continue the anniversary celebrations, the sandwich will be offered at 50% off ($6) between Wednesday, June 26, to Friday, June 28 until supplies last.
This sandwich has slow-roasted Canadian Ribeye, fried free-range egg, caramelized onion jam, horseradish kewpie, fresh cucumber, pickled watermelon radish, sunflower sprouts, Japanese-style milk bread by Fife Bakery) served alongside kettle chips for $12.
I took one bite of this and loved it! The texture and the flavours go so well together. You can really taste the quality of the ingredients inside. I hope they bring this back permanently because this was so good.
Final Thoughts
Overall, their menu is refined and only has a few items so its great for those who are indecisive. All the items I really enjoyed, but my top favourites is the Roast Beef Sandwich and the Signature Garden. They are my favourites as they were the most surprising to me. The steak and the roast beef bowls were great too.
This is Asian comfort food. Simple, yet well executed. A great hidden spot to grab a lunch in Downtown, Vancouver. Highly recommended.
Address:
1050 W Pender St unit #118, Vancouver, BC
Website:
https://www.bovinebowls.com
