Without the help of input and reviews from trusted food bloggers and social media websites. One of the best and reliable indicators to determine whether a newly opened establishment is a worthy venue to try, is by how full their front-of-house is during peak hours and the length of the waiting line, if any.
Arriving early in the evening at this newly opened ‘ Fish Broth based Noodle specialist '. Despite its huge size, to find every available table occupied and a waiting line, is definitely a good sign!
Normally, most oriental noodles use a meat based broth made either from the bones of Chicken, Pork or Beef with the occasional addition of sun dried seafood like shrimp, scallops or fish. Think Japanese Tonkotsu Ramen, Vietnamese Pho or Cantonese Won-Ton noodles. ‘ Wu Gu ‘, for their suite of noodle options, however uses a broth crafted using a mixture of wild ocean fish, specifically the bones and carcass of the tropical water, Warsaw Grouper. A laborious slow cooking procedure creates a thick, creamy and delicious soup broth that’s packed with delicate, sweet umami non-fishy goodness
With their main shop located near 14th Ave and Kennedy, to us avid foodies living up north, it is a welcoming sight to see ‘ Wu Gu Fish Noodle ‘ opening up a branch up in Richmond Hill.
Augmenting a menu with various fish-broth themed noodles, this offshoot also revised the flagship’s current Modus Operandi by adding a list of popular Hong Kong Cafe Style comfort food and Clay-pot Rice options to their menu. Based on recommendation, a few must-try include a gigantic, super crunchy and juicy, well seasoned fried chicken leg and thigh and their Clay Pot Rice with exotic topping selections that filled up two pages of their menu!
Our party of four settled on sharing the following:
- Clay pot rice with minced Pork Patty, Sun dried Salted Fish and Salted Duck Egg.
- Clay pot rice with Chinese preserved Pork sausages, Meat, Ribs, Duck and Fish
- Five grain noodles served with fresh Tomato Fish Broth, sliced Grouper, Bean Curd, Mung Bean Sprouts and Vegetables
- Hong Kong style Baked Pork Chop and Fried Rice with Tomato and Cheese sauce topping Casserole
- Deep fried giant chicken leg and thigh and fries
Overall, it was an enjoyable, delicious and well priced feast, excellently executed.
