Ping’s Cafe (or is it Ping’s Café or maybe Pings Cafe) on Main Street (used to be Confucius Says Restaurant) at 11th in Vancouver recently cracked their doors for the public. From the outside, the property looks dilapidated and vacant…

Inside, it’s a hipster’s dream – a place that serves ‘Yoshoku’ or homestyle Japanese, reinterpreted Western food to make such creations as ‘Ping Dog,’ Grilled Bratwurst served with Momiji Oroshi Ponzu (say goodbye to Feenie’s Weenie,) or the ‘Hambagoo,’ Japanese Mama style Hamburger with Yoshoku sauce, bun not included.

We checked out the hand-made Gyoza, a salad and the ‘Ping Dinner,’ 1 Hambagoo, 2 Hire Tonkatsu (Panko deep fried pork tenderloin serverd with our Yoshoku sauce,) and 2 Ebi Furai (Panko deep fried prawn with tartar sauce.) I don’t think a single morsel was spared.

In terms of the look and feel of the restaurant. No disrespect to the person who created the benches, my wife didn’t give good reviews on the comfort. Holes in the wall to put the wine – pretty neat. Stains on the table to give that ‘worn in feeling,’ so-so.

Good food; decor – ok; lack of dessert – meh; secret batcave location – pretty cool.

Would I go there again, fight through the mean streets to find parking and then search for the place? Maybe as a novelty. Maybe on the #3… or is that the #8?

Check out other web people talking about the place, HERE, HERE and HERE.

Ping’s Café

Open Tuesday to Sunday, 5PM to late

Address: 2702 Main St., Vancouver, BC V5T 3E8
Telephone: 604-873-2702
Website: www.pingscafe.ca

Located on the corner of East 11th Avenue and Main Street – look for the coin laundry, it’s right next door.