Hoy's Wonton House - Vancouver

The end of a dynasty for Hoys. As a RED Seal chef, I have been a long time client of Hoys (29yrs), and today I had my last meal at this iconic restaurant. My history with the previous management, including waitresses who had been employed here longer than I have been a client, have been been wonderful. It took me 5yrs to obtain a secret recipe from the chef whom we both learned to respect each others passion for food and creativity. But there is a new management team, a new team of kitchen staff and a definite change in the ambience and more importantly, the menu. Food which was once created with love and expertise the old school way.....no longer. Today's regularly ordered dishes were beyond sub par, the restaurant was empty, the loud familiar conversations that filled the tables.....now silent. The one male waitress seemed bothered to be there, you had to ask for everything, including soya sauce, chilli oil, salt, pepper and those were only served by the teaspoon in mini tiny little bowls. All of the recipes have been changed and not the originals, the serving sizes were cut in half, and prices skyrocketed. This would explain why Hoys, on a Friday which would typically be PACKED, with phones buzzing with orders being called in were now dead silent, and the restaurant empty. The client base that Hoys once demanded and was respected for, is gone. Sending a clear message to ownership that the new changes were and are not welcomed. An iconic community wonton house has been dismantled. Sweet Sour Chicken balls were flat and dripping in grease. Sweet Sour pork.....burnt, chewy and the oil, obviously not changed or filtered in days. Chow mein noodle dish, soggy mush....the signature wonton soup tht Hoys was famous for.....flat, dull, no flavour, and wontons were not fresh. Tableside chilli oil.....STALE. The gentleman server.... Grunted, moaned and made everyone feel uncomfortable at the table. Sorry Hoys, thank you for almost 30yrs of service, but the end has come. Its officially goodbye. There is wide variety of other wonton houses in the community that patrons can choose from, I just can't recommend this location anymore.

Food was decent enough. But main dishes came before the soup. Waitress was more interested in the TV and she has the audacity to complain the 5% tip.

So glad that there are still old school, Hong Kong style Chinese restaurants in a casual environment offering great food that's worth finding. Wonton, congee, all sorts of noodles are accounted for and done really well.

I am going against the tide here, this is one of the oldest and original Wonton House type restaurants that were a common site in Vancouver, when most of the immigrant Chinese population here are from Canton or Hong Kong. I have to say the food here is NOT top notch, but I am giving them extra star in stead of 3 is because of its value versus the food quality. Maybe I am lucky, all the items I ordered were above average, and one good thing about it is they do not over-salt all the dishes, and that is a plus in my book. Wonton noodles are of the old fashion type with the wonton being cooked in bigger batches first and when the order comes it will be re-heated with the freshly cooked noodles. Still very good and authentic, in fact some places in Hong Kong still serves this type of old fashioned noodles. The Clay Pot Rice with Chicken Mushroom is also of good quality and value, for $8.95 you get a pretty good size clay pot and it 's pretty substantial with toppings too! Oh make sure you can wait for 20 mins, as it is made to order! The Seafood Chow Mein is also of the old fashioned type, this is how I remembered when I first came to Vancouver in the early 80 's, the baby corn, mushrooms, and carrots were used in most of the stir-fry in those days, actually, its good to see that this is still available and its actually pretty good!! All in all, I have to say it was a pretty good meal and with a take out order of Roast Pork Tofu Hotpot to go, our bill come to $56.52! And they also took 10% off the take out item too!!

Lunch specials Monday to Friday are 6.95 or 7.95...very affordable, large portions and great selection. Lunch special also includes a daily soup and tea. Not the greatest Chinese food but certainly fills you up Service is brisk and friendly. We like the eggplant with minced pork and rice!