Review Fondway Cafe - Burnaby

Neat decor, and a very large selection of tea on the wall. The place seems a little disordered, I think some rearranging could go a long way, the menu items were limited during my visit, many of the items I was interested in trying were either discontinued or out of stock unfortunately. I ordered a turkey sandwich, with a salad as the soup was out, and a Condensed milk ice Coffee. The croissant was well done and had great flavour, fresh ingredients and a good variety, and thick cut of turkey, as opposed to some cafes basic Ham and Swiss deal. The salad was very simple with the dressing and had fresh ingredients as well, not to my taste but not bad! The drink was interesting and unique in a way I haven't experienced before the taste was less complex than the menu photo of it but still tasty. I wish I could've tried some of their baked goods, soup, and a pour over coffee but unfortunately it was all out.

A good place to study and eat. The drinks are awesome. They have snacks if you are not that hungry and a variety of desserts. It does get a little crowded though during lunch hours so I recommend to come in before or after those times.

I like the atmosphere but I wish they have more seats / stools. I won’t recommend this place if you are looking for a cafe for studying. I like the Matcha latte it is not too sweet and the cold noodles and rice dishes are tasty as well

We were here to try this place out for lunch. It was a Sunday and the place was not full at all. Whatever previous comments about this place were still true even today. That was a big surprise to me. It seemed the owner didn’t really look at the comments at all. Most of the items on their menu were not available, even their promotional new items were not available. You had very limited choices of anything. It’s right that the whole place was disorganized. That being said, the food that we ordered were decent and tasteful. (Curry rice & Sandwich Combo). It was a chic place to hang out for an hour or two.

Atmosphere of the cafe is nice. But we waited for more than 30 mins for two drinks. I ordered iced latte with soy milk but it tastes like they put 70% water in there. When I talked to them, they added soy milk for me, but still taste just like Americano with soy milk. Washroom doesn’t look like it’s been cleaned for a week

Really pleasant and a cute place to stop back. The style/decor is pretty fun too

Food and drinks are great but it lacked wall outlets for someone who needed to study. Doors were barely closed and it was so cold inside. The washroom was also disorderly and the toilet clearly needed high attention and deep cleaning.

So we had a lot of high hopes for this place. The food and the drinks looked great from the other Google review photos that we saw... But to be honest its way over priced for what you are getting. Its why we are giving it two stars. The ingredients are fresh which is great and the staff is really nice. However, with the high price id expect something more. Theirs nothing really special with the food that you are getting. You could just make the same thing at home for a lot cheaper. The waffle dish alone is over $14 with some side fruit.

Best Cafe in and around Metrotown and the staff are amazing. Thanks for the great food, coffee and the surprise waffle treat. Love this place and the staff that work there. Check it out you won't be disappointed.

Loved the home made taste!! Hard to find that nowadays. The tea, savory, and sweet selections are excellent, but you have to get in there quick for the croissants!!

Coffee with Caramel I tried is excellent ; Bread slices for the house sandwich is fresh and tasty ~

Super tasty fruit pie! Great place to hang out on a rainy afternoon!

Great room and delicious coffee. Really wished they had almond milk as an option.

Fantastic little cafe. Great food. Great atmosphere. Amazing staff.

One of the best espressos and delightful ambiance!

Fondway is absolutely the best Cafe in Burnaby, period.

The best fruity tea I've had! :) Nice people, nice setting. Haven't tried their snacks yet, but looks good.

枣泥核桃糕好吃...

幾點開幕呢 想去捧場

I am on an adventure-seeking for the best roll cakes, and now I have tried quite a few. Finally, I found one that is addicting. It is located in Burnaby, very close to the Metrotown SkyTrain station. Can you guess which one is it? Keep reading to find out about this not-too-hidden hidden gem. Once you step out the Metrotown SkyTrain station, head towards the Beresford Street. There you can find this hidden gem – Fondway Cafe. It is a photogenic cafe that has opened for many years, and they offer an extensive menu of drinks and food. But what really got my attention is the new series of dessert, roll cakes! You can expect surprises because they offer different flavors and cakes every day. You may have to test your luck to try the same cake again.

Good place to hang around in the metrotown area but quite disappointed with the quality of food and coffee. The food and beverages are overpriced. There are definitely better options in town.

The decoration is very nice but not comfortable to sit for long time. Very weak wifi. The place is ideal for chatting but not the best choice for studying/working. I tried the matcha cheesecake, didn’t really like it. Latte was good.

Tried this restaurant for dessert per recommendation by a friend and we’re all dissatisfied with our experienced. Food and drinks are good in pictures but not how they tastes. The cold drinks are bland. They lack flavors and creaminess. The place is not neat and cluttered with so many decorations. A bit expensive but definitely not worth it. Will never go back in here.

Please do not listen to any person who does not have the time to wait for anything they have. If you want New York style cheesecake this isn't here... it's better. NY style is so heavy and firm it's actually quite gross, I hate making it. As a baker I was impressed with the lemon cheesecake and the Minty Gunpowder (green) tea was and excellent accompaniment to it. The atmosphere is wonderful and smelling everything I could tell it was homemade and fresh. They even let me sample a bit of belgium waffle. Theirs isn't as crisp as a true belgium but you can taste the love and the buttermilk, the icing sugar is just right, not gooey tasting with sauce. The loose teas in the store are great quality and give the air of uniqueness that you can go and sniff all of the sample jars if you like. I sat at the bench at the window, would love however to have more chairs that have backs.. For the food, it is excellent, I will be returning. Also purchased a savory pastry to go and it was really hard for me to share it when I got back home.

Disappointment. That was how I felt after visiting Fondway Cafe for the first time today. I’ve been meaning to visiting the place for quite some time after seeing all the pictures of delicious looking cakes that other people have been posting. With fantasies of delicious chocolate and Earl Grey cakes floating in my mind, I entered the cafe this morning only to be crushed to see that the only thing  they were apparently serving at the time was cheesecake. To add salt to the wound, they did actually have an Earl Grey cake sitting on their kitchen counter, but apparently it still needed to be decorated and wouldn’t be ready for another hour. F@$#! (Although on the bright side, I guess it is nice to see that they’re making their stuff in house and fresh).<br/><br/>I didn’t really want cheesecake, since I knew that it wasn’t the New York variety (which I prefer since I like firmer cheesecakes), and it had no crust (which I like to have in my cheesecakes), but I didn’t want to leave empty-handed, so I got a slice of their matcha cheesecake.<br/><br/>Matcha Cheesecake: 3/5 (4/5 for those who like softer, crust-less type cheesecakes). As I’ve mentioned, this isn’t the type of cheesecake that I like, so it is a bit hard for my to judge this. I will say that overall, I did think that it was pretty good for what it was. The matcha flavour definitely had a strong presence. As with many Asian-style desserts, the cake wasn’t particularly sweet, but had a good balance between a slight bitterness from the matcha and tang from the cream cheese. The red beans were soft and sweet, and were a nice touch. The slice was quite small however, and I personally don’t think it was worth the >$5.<br/><br/>Overall, my first experience with Fondway Cafe has been a major disappointment, and it's unlikely that I’ll be back again.

Great place to study! Lots of tea options and I love their coffee drinks. I've been here quite a few times to study before and it's nice and quiet before 6pm! This matcha/coffee drink I got seemed very popular and it was definitely a different taste. A lot of caffeine so great for studying ;) but I highly suggest getting the cold version instead. They're super pretty but the hot one makes it feel like you're drinking a powder. I'll definitely be coming back!

Fondway Cafe is a cute and spacious cafe that has opened up along the strip behind Metrotown mall.  There’s a bunch of new condos being built there which I guess makes it a good location.  It is also close to me so I have no complaints and made it a good choice for a long overdue coffee date with T-Dog.

It is a cute little cozy place to to your homework with your friends. Or chat with them. Why not! The staff, even though they don't smile nor are they particularly helpful or friendly, they don't kick you out for staying. The food was very average, but they would refill your tea with hot water so that you can stay the entire afternoon. The matcha latte was below average compared to other places in metro Vancouver, and the matcha cheesecake was too sweet and not soft or smooth at all. <br/><br/>The place did get messy; they encourage patrons to clean up the tables, but they don't wipe them after. <br/><br/>All in all, a rather mediocre experience. Unless you want a place to study without the fear of being kicked out, there are many much better places.

One of my classmate came here with me for brunch. A cute cafe that is near Metrotown. I already bookmarked this cafe but we always end up eating somewhere. They serve pastry, cake, slush, sandwich and so on and so on. The interior of the cafe was neat, bright and cute. I can probably just stay here and have my me time if I am bored. I love how they put their menu on a chalk board and wooden boards very creative. People who works here are very friendly and accommodating. The shop was so quiet that day that we were whispering to each other.

Welcome to my blog where I share my opinions on being an adult and post my reviews of stuff I buy and things I eat. Jan 28 BIRRY EATS: Fondway Cafe. My father recently recommended that I check out Fondway Cafe behind Metrotown. They're situated on the ground floor of the new condos that have been built. Located at 4462 Beresford Street in Burnaby, BC.

We decided to pop in as it was very hot. I had the strawberry/raspberry ice. It was fruity fresh and cold. Rainbowcrab had the latte ice. She said it was creamy with a nice taste and was not too sweet. <br/>Having said that neither of us would go back. Way ro expensive!! $5.95 for each drink. <br/>Also a bit too trendy for my taste.<br/>

This cafe is located at some new developments in the Metrotown neighbourhood. It is not on a busy street, so the traffic is not as busy as the ones in Vancouver. It seems like the owner is a Chinese. Servers are also Asians. Most of the customers here are Asians. <br/><br/>The interior design is very contemporary, bright, clean and comfortable with some relaxed music. The wood design and wood furniture with metal base make this cafe more vibrant. I like it! Also they have a wide variety of tea collection selling in store. Just look at their big wall with all kinds of tea. That's a lot! ;) <br/><br/>I tried their latte and cheese croissant. The latte is as well as the ones I tried in Vancouver. The cheese croissant was okay. <br/><br/>Overall, the experience at this cafe is very good. There are not a lot of modern cafes in Burnaby like this one. I would highly recommend if you live in Burnaby and love coffee or tea or if you are in this neighbourhood, come try this cafe.

I love this place; the drinks are superb, but I have yet to try the desserts and sandwiches. It's a very cozy cafe with great music too. A good place to study and socialize, and it doesn't close until 10pm which is great.

After seeing countless pics of the food and drinks at Fondway Cafe on social media, I knew that I would eventually need to try this place out. It was late in March that I finally made my way to Fonday. Located across from Metrotown, behind the Skytrain station, it seems to be a favourite of students and locals. The decor is interesting with high ceilings and a long wooden table in the middle of the room with smaller unique tables strewn about. I had a bit of trouble initially figuring out where their menu was.

I used to go to their store when it was in Crystal mall. Their pre-made chia seed drink used to be $2.75 each. After they moved to the new location, they jacked up the price for the same drink to $4.25. I mean, it's the exact same drink! Come on! VERY DISAPPOINTED.

I have come here twice so far to have some food while doing some studying, ill start by saying the inside is beautifully decorated with high ceilings. I would recommend staying away from the coffee soda just because it is an acquired taste, the coffee taste someone disappears after drinking it (maybe from the carbonation? i don't know) and is kinda odd. I do however enjoy the milk tea with grass jelly! This is a classic drink that you can't really go wrong with, its even better than their coffee jelly version. I also tried the two sandwiches that come with the combo (pork and turkey), the turkey one is much better in my opinion. Overall, I plan on coming back here to try the cakes as i hear great reviews about them.

I love the decor inside the cafe, it reminds of cafes that you would find in Asia (e.g. Korea). Cute furnitures and they even have baskets to put your belongings in, just like in Japan! Great friendly staff!  Their drinks are average, but I would definitely go back to study!

I missed their take-out store at Crystal mall where they used to be. I used to go there for their cakes mostly; sometimes for their drinks. I had tried many flavours of their cakes (pumpkin, blueberry, chocolate, green tea, black sesame, and I forgot the other flavours....). They now make their cakes look fancy and raise the price at the new store. The taste of the cakes is the same as the take-out store - natural with flavour and not too sweet which is good, but the new store has less selection of the cakes available. The higher price at the new store of course including their creative ambiance (seating, decoration, etc.).<br/><br/>I have not tried the mixed drinks at this new location due to the reviews that I'd read about their inconsistency of service for making the drinks. I noticed that there is a difference of the service between the female servers and the male servers when I went there on different days. The male servers are not as enthusiastic to serve as the female servers; the female servers are more friendly than the male servers. <br/><br/>I agree with the review that has commented on how they are "fancy but lack of depth." They put my cake slice in a box for to go and put the box in a plastic bag, but the cake slice moves inside the box when carrying and the box is opened inside the plastic bag.  It happens everytime as I bought the cake slices to go.  Either the box does not close well itself or the staff do not close the box properly.  The containers for the cake slice that are used to be at the take-out store are much better - the shape of the container is the shape of the cake slice.  If they try to be a fancy store now, then they need to work on the service and pay attention to all the details, including the take-out containers. Just paying attention to the interior design of the store is not enough to make itself an upscale cafe.<br/><br/>Nevertheless, Fondway is still better than Camellia Tea & Coffee which is not really far away (Metrotown vs. Royal Oak station). At least Fondway charges a reasonable price for their products and they have a plastic bag for you to carry the take-out items.

I stopped by because I saw some photos on my FB feed and wanted to check it out because the decorations and atmosphere looked like something I would enjoy. Overall, not a bad experience but there was nothing that stood out that made me go "Wow!" <br/><br/>Things that stood out: <br/><br/>The cashier/barista I was speaking with seemed confused the whole time. At first I was wondering if maybe there was a language barrier (I was speaking English) but then I realized maybe it was just a lack of experience service customers. Not an issue and an easy fix, but just something that stood out to me. <br/><br/>Their coffee lattes.. the title itself mislead me but after I asked, they do use espresso shots. Not bad and it's served in a large mug.<br/><br/>I ordered their sesame cake for dessert. I prefer something sweeter but I liked that it's made in house. The cake is layered sesame flavored sponge cake with sesame cream filling.. Not too flavorful and I thought that for $5.95.. it's slightly more on the pricey side.<br/><br/>It's a large space with some very neat decorations.. some small tables and a large share table. Seats (hard wood mostly) will get pretty uncomfortable if you plan on staying long. <br/><br/>It's not too loud so I would definitely go back if I need to get some work done.

This is a cute cafe right by the metrotown skytrain station. The interior is nicely designed. One of the reasons I wanted to come here was because I had seen a lot of pictures and it looked really nice. <br/><br/>Originally I wanted to try this place for their cakes, but I went at around 7 and there was no cake to be seen. So I just had a drink. I tried their golden green tea. It was served in a tall glass, which I thought was pretty cool. The drink was refreshing and not too sweet. I think this could be a good place to study, but there isn't a whole lot of seating. Definitely, I'll be back to try some of their food.

Fondway Cafe is located footsteps away from the Metrotown Skytrain station.  It is opposite of the Metropolis/Station Square on the other side of the train tracks.  You can find Fondway on the ground floor of a newly developed Condo. We visited on a Friday morning just after it opened.  It was not too busy with just a few tables of students doing their studying.

Fondway Cafe is located south of the Metrotown Station. It is a neat place, and it has nice atmosphere to meet with friend or spend the afternoon. It is a classy cafe, and it has great selection of pastries 😍😍 and grass jelly drinks.<br/><br/>We tried a Brunch Combo (House Sandwich + Americano + Salad), a Grass Jelly Milk and a Black Sesame Cake. <br/><br/>It is decorated with ordinary furnitures. Some baskets under long communal tables are available to store jackets. Nice touch! 👍👍<br/><br/>Food: 5/5<br/>Services: 4.5/5<br/>Special Features: Grass Jelly Drinks, House Made Desserts (Black Sesame Cake, Red Bean Matcha Cake)

Very cute cafe that is hidden behind metrotown station. It was hard to find parking near the cafe because most spots were taken by residents. I had a piece of cake, which wasn't overwhelmingly sweet yet soft and spongy. Also, I really liked their grass jelly milk tea!

Fondway Cafe is conveniently located right behind Metrotown Skytrain Station in Burnaby. The moment you step inside the cafe, there’s a bit of a hipster/vintage feel to it which gives this place a nice and relaxing atmosphere. This place can only accommodate a maximum occupancy of 30 people so seating is definitely limited here. They have a huge communal table at the back and a few small tables scattered throughout the place.

Brunch is my favourite meal of the day and my favourite place to eat it is here! I'd kill for a croissant sandwich all the time and this place made my mouth water! It was one of the bests I ever had. I've seen their pretty cakes all over the place and I was hoping to try the green tea and strawberry one but I ended up trying the sesame cake. Normally, I hate sesame but I wanted a cake so I had to. It didn't disappoint me though! I fell in love! 🍰 Their grass jelly drink was amazing too. The grass jelly pieces were huge and I was thinking, "how am I going to drink this?" but it slurped up the straw very easily, It was my sister's favourite thing from Fondaway and everytime we go to metrotown, she asks to stop by! Definitely has become my go-to lunch place whenever I go to metrotown now. It has cute aesthetic vibes.

Fondway is my favorite cafe in Burnaby. It is owned by Taiwanese and it really reminds me of the cafes in Taiwan. They serve light lunches such as sandwiches, quiches, soups, etc.. But also they serve their house made delicious desserts. Their cakes are amazing, big portion but taste light and moist. A very delightful treat to enjoy after a meal. But what I love the most is their drinks, especially their grass jelly milk tea. The grass jelly is silky smooth and one of the best I've tasted. They also serve soda coffee drinks, which were quite interesting. They tasted like sparkling flavored coffee. Overall Fondway is a nice spacious cafe to chill!

I was invited to Fondway Cafe for their media launch event  this month. Fondway Cafe used to be in Crystal Mall but they have relocated to Beresford Street which is just behind the skytrain station. The cafe is in a residential area with lots of apartments. The cafe is pretty quaint and kitschy looking. I love the decor here and they have high ceilings which makes it look more spacious. I can see myself hanging out here with some girl friends! They also have some interesting art painted on the wall.

Hiding in the complex across from Metropolis at Metrotown, it can be quite hard to find! The decor is anything but ordinary, with tons of little collectible items such as old suitcases, shovels as coat hooks, clocks as tables, briefcases as tables and a wall full at least a hundred different types of teas which they sell. I like how each tea shows you how much caffeine it contains and the price per grams.

Another Monday, another Coffee. Today we ventured off to Fondway Coffee Shop right next to metrotown station. It’s literally right next to the metrotown station so try not to get lost. When we walked in there was only one other group inside, so it was quite empty. But considering it was a Monday, it made sense.

Before Christmas hit, a new Burnaby Taiwanese style cafe opened up across from Metrotown. This is no ordinary Taiwanese cafe because you're probably thinking "bubble tea & popcorn chicken". This is a legit cafe that serves, tea, coffee, sandwiches, waffles, etc. We were invited by Fondway Cafe & Chobee PR to their food media launch event and we were extremely excited to be able to attend. The whole restaurant was closed for this special media event so we had the whole place to check out and try their food & drinks.

The cake was average, and the lattes were a bit sweet (note to get half sweet next time), and they didn't have any of the Earl Grey products. Devoured it all though.Will go back to check out the Earl Grey cake and latte. View web version

Cute and calming vibes in this cafe. I went in the evening which kind of sucked because most of the cakes and treats that I've seen online were gone. But there grass jelly milk was wonderful! Maybe could have been a bit sweeter for me.

Enjoying a blueberry cheese cake and hot lattes with SIL after a workout with Shaun. (I exercise just so that I can continue on my eating adventures.) The cheesecake was light with a nice blueberry flavour. Unfortunately the green tea cake that I had wanted to try was sold out for the day. The matcha and chai tea drinks were quite subtle in flavour. The iced drinks came in a fun tall narrow vase-like glass.<br/><br/>Ambiance wise Fondway is great. The high ceilings and with two glass window walls made this place seem very bright and spacious. The baskets under the tables to store jackets and handbags were a nice touch.<br/><br/>I would return again to try the green tea cake.

The Café is located only 4 minutes’ walk from the skytrain station; some would say: - “a hop, skip, and a jump!” There, you’ll find a wide variety of coffee and tea options. <br/><br/>The Café had special menus like brunch combo, today special and daily soup to tease your desires. <br/><br/>For example, you’ll find a combination of Americano or black tea with salad or soup. They don’t have vegetarian on their menus, not even a sandwich. Too bad! However, the brilliant decoration and attractive food presentation together, make up for the shortcomings. By all means, do take a picture or selfie to freeze the memory of that experience. You ‘ll see tables made from old clock faces; lots of pick up products for sales like tea, coffee, cookies, etc. Did I mention it’s a child’s friendly café? Hipster atmosphere and good for hang out. A lot of teenagers as well as young moms with child were patronizing this place when l came in. The menu lacks of information because they don’t have data about lactose-free option and/or dairy-alternative product; l think these are important things. Because the menu is both in <br/><br/>Mandarin and English, the café gain a lot of opportunities from Asian market too. I personally enjoyed the Asian-inspired pastries and their signature dessert, the famous Cheesecake.<br/><br/>In conclusion, I do recommend the Fondway Café for a unique experience.

I learn about this new place by fluke and decided to give it a try. I had the cafe latte and red bean matcha cake ---- to go. <br/><br/>Interior: very cozy and have a Korean Cafe style feel. There's WiFi so this place is packed. <br/><br/>Location: it's close to Metrotown station but if you drive<br/>It's not the easiest to find a spot.<br/><br/>Service: alright since I had it to go<br/><br/>Food and Cafe: coffee is good but could be hotter. Might make a better judgement of had it at the location.<br/>The red bean matcha cake (sorry pix presentation is not the best) is fresh. The soft matcha sponge cake is a perfect compliment with the red bean butter cream and it's definitely not too sweet. <br/>Hope there's more variety of pastries and cakes in the future. There's only one cake selection and some croissant, waffle and cookies.<br/><br/>Overall I am highly interested in going back again and the next time I'll dine in 😋

It's a good-looking, wanna-be hipster Cafe, right across the street from the Metrotown bus loop.<br/><br/>The Pros: Delicious cold Brew coffee, decent Americano. Great look and feel on the inside, and large assortment of teas to choose from.<br/><br/>The Cons: No dairy-alternative or lactose-free options for milk. This is a HUGE fail on their part. Gotta learn your target market in the Vancouver coffee scene! They also don't have drip coffee. You have to purchase pour over coffee which is quite expensive. Oh yeah, that's the other Con - it will hurt your wallet. <br/><br/>The cookie I had was $3, and it wasn't too bad. Average quality food, good beverages, hipster-skin (to make it seem authentic) and high prices. I guess this is what metrotown is going towards with rich investors.

I’ve heard great things about Fondway Cafe and the fact that my friend works there gave me all the more reason to go give it a try. A couple of my blog followers wanted to meet up over winter break and this posed as the perfect opportunity for us to go!. The interior of Fondway was super inviting and I felt as though I just stepped into an interior design catalogue.

November 19, 2015 · by ThatShanghaiGirl · Fondway may sound familiar, they had a location in crystal mall. This new location however is very different, much more modern and many new food options!

Fondway Cafe is the latest cafe to open up in South Burnaby right by Metrotown. It is literally a few steps away from the skytrain. They specialize in coffee, tea and asian-inspired pastries. The space is quite nice with a lot of natural light coming in. Very hip. They have a Chinese and English menu available. At first I grabbed their Chinese menu and had no idea what I was reading. I’m such an asian disgrace.

A new cafe near Metrotown right by the skytrain serves up cakes, sandwiches and drinks. I love the space and its a great space to get a drink and chat with some friends.

I’ve been in a transition period lately which essentially means, I’ve been working part time, with the freedom to work at home. It’s been a huge blessing but also a huge hit because I am a person who has very little ability to work at home – mainly because I always end up on the bed and falling asleep midway through the work day.

(Editor’s note: Although we did not pay for any of our food or drinks in this review, all opinions in this post are our own.) Mike was born in this city. Traditional Asian food, to him, is as familiar as getting dressed every day of his life. Raised on his mother's family-style meals, consisting of traditional home-cooked Cantonese fare. Today, his family gatherings involve East Van dim sum houses that recognize their faces, know them by name. Neighbours and friends come over to the table, tap them on the shoulder, ask how they've been. Their favourite family dessert is the mysteriously seasonless Chinese bakery sponge cake; topped with slices of kiwi, strawberry, honeydew, canned peach - painted in a glossy gelatin. Mike is yin to my Vancouver yang.What has never resonated for me, is Asian-style cafés. Think bubble tea, desserts with the questionable inclusion of beans and nuts, unnaturally sweet tapioca puddings, coffee served with condensed milk and a liberal dose of sugar. In case you haven't noticed, I'm pretty much a born-in-Canada kind of girl. What has never translated for me is the passion for Asian food that runs in the blood of this city.So it was with these different perspectives, that we attended an invitation-only media launch of the new Fondway Café - Stop 44 in our weekly Search for Vancouver's Best Coffee. This Asian café, steps away from the Metrotown Skytrain, just opened weeks ago.

Fondway Cafe, only steps away from Metrotown skytrain station, is a chic Asian inspired coffee and tea bar in the heart of a community of brand new high-rises. The interior was tastefully designed featuring high ceilings, rustic wood and metal finishing, and contemporary ink art on the walls. It reminds me of those Gongnam-style cafes for the ‘it’ crowd that I visited in Seoul.<br/><br/>I was invited to Fondway’s media preview event, which was rather successful for their marvellous job showcasing a great variety of beverages, deli dishes, and desserts. Not shying away from adding bold flavours to their savoury deli creations, they could do better putting less ingredients to provide cleaner tastes. And they definitely have done a great job creating lighter versions of some of the most popular classic desserts, but still satisfying the sweet tooth. <br/><br/>I started with some drinks. Although I was intrigued by Nitrogen Coffee, similar to Starbucks' very own cold brewed coffee, but infused with nitrogen to provide a smooth and clean taste, I was more of a fan of their great selections of fruit tea, served warm or iced, and produced with a fancy gadget called Teapresso.

NOTE: All food and beverages were complimentary as part of the media launch, but all opinions are based on my personal experience. <br/><br/>Fondway differs from other coffee shops as they feature a Nitrogen Coffee, which is cold brewed and infused with nitrogen gas to create a silky texture and bubbly taste. The coffee was very smooth and clean but I found it very odd that that the coffee taste disappears after you consume it. Your first initial contact with the coffee will give you that strong coffee flavour, but it disappears right after. It’s great for people like me who do not enjoy the after coffee taste that lingers in my mouth.

This past week, I was fortunate enough to have been invited to Fondway Cafe’s exclusive media and industry launch event. It was an exciting night of wonderful food and amazing service. Fondway Cafe is conveniently located just a few steps away from the Metrotown Skytrain, making it easily accessible. The interior was thoughtfully designed. It’s a meeting of the vintage and modern. I love the bright, open, spaciousness, along with the artistic, hipster vibe. I also have to mention that I’m quite fond of the cafe’s name. Shall we go away and create some fond memories at Fondway?<br/><br/>Once I entered the cafe, I was greeted by the friendly and helpful staff, the whimsical chatter of my foodie friends, and plethora of delicious looking food (over 20 signature items) spread across the table.<br/><br/>I was immediately drawn to the Belgium liege waffle. The waffle wasn’t crisp on the surface, but it was nicely dense and chewy. The flavour was great, and I love the bits of pearl sugar that adorned the waffle.<br/><br/>Besides the liege waffle, they also offer a waffle pork sandwich. I love the substitution of waffle for bread, it adds a touch of indulgence to the otherwise light tasting sandwich. The ingredients inside included, lettuce, cucumber and shredded pork.<br/><br/>Fondway offered us a variety of crustless sandwiches. I tried the Taiwanese pumpkin crab. I thought it sounded like an odd combo, but it worked. The imitation crab meat was mixed in a light mayo, and the flavours went well with the creamy sweetness of pumpkin.<br/><br/>Halfway through the event, the staff began taking out desserts. They looked so delicious, but I was already getting full. The portions were big and I did not want to take a bite and waste the rest. Nevertheless, I wanted to taste everything.  Luckily for me, I met some like minded foodies that were more than willing to share. There was chocolate cake, caramel earl grey, red bean matcha, fruit cake, and cheesecake to choose from.<br/><br/>We had our eyes on the caramel earl grey cake. The cake was airy and spongy. It reminded me of those cake rolls I’d find at typical Chinese bakeries. The caramel flavour was most prominent at the top of the cake where the caramel drizzle was. It was a light treat, not too sweet, but I would’ve preferred if it had a stronger earl grey taste<br/><br/>The cheesecake had a layer of caramelized sugar torched on the surface. The texture was between dense and fluffy. It wasn’t too sweet or heavy

I was recently fortunate enough to be invited to the unveiling of the new location of Fondway Cafe in the Metrotown area. Conveniently located directly across from the metrotown skytrain station, the brand new cafe is large and airy with a nod to whimsy. In addition to a giant black and white cartoon mural reminiscent of Dr. Suess, the room also features tables made from old clock faces, and a number of comfy chaise lounges. Upon walking into the cafe you’ll be met with an impressive wall displaying their selection of loose leaf teas along with sampler flasks to sniff. These teas can be purchased for home, or can be served to you hot or cold within the cafe. Additionally, a selection of specialty drinks, including milk teas and various coffee-based drinks are available. I was lucky enough to try a number of different beverages throughout the course of the evening, but one of my favorites was the Cream Caramel Tea served cold. True to its name this was a surprisingly creamy tasting iced tea that was sweet even without the addition of sugar. Another winner was the Grass Jelly Tea which was milky and sweet.

I was recently fortunate enough to be invited to the unveiling of the new location of Fondway Cafe in the Metrotown area. Conveniently located directly across from the metrotown skytrain station, the brand new cafe is large and airy with a nod to whimsy. In addition to a giant black and white cartoon mural reminiscent of Dr. Suess, the room also features tables made from old clock faces, and a number of comfy chaise lounges. Upon walking into the cafe you’ll be met with an impressive wall displaying their selection of loose leaf teas along with sampler flasks to sniff. These teas can be purchased for home, or can be served to you hot or cold within the cafe. Additionally, a selection of specialty drinks, including milk teas and various coffee-based drinks are available. I was lucky enough to try a number of different beverages throughout the course of the evening, but one of my favorites was the Cream Caramel Tea served cold. True to its name this was a surprisingly creamy tasting iced tea that was sweet even without the addition of sugar. Another winner was the Grass Jelly Tea which was milky and sweet.

Metrotown is going through a huge overhaul – with so many developments happening, it’s going to be a bustling area. It’s great to see the area get redeveloped and become a gateway for great new places to try. One place that is opening on Saturday, November 21st is Fondway Cafe. I was invited to a media preview where Fondway Cafe treated us to what can only be described as a food lover’s dream – a table overflowing with food.

Disclaimer: *This was a complimentary food event. This post was not edited or written for monetary compensation, and are solely my opinions and observations. I was kindly invited by Chobee check out Fondway Cafe right across from Metrotown mall – making it very convenient for both drivers and public transit riders. The cafe could benefit from a lit signage above the cafe as it can be easily missed on a dark street and surrounding. However, the interior bright lights are sure to welcome you into the new cafe. (relocated from their previous location in Crystal Mall)

New look, new change but original taste! If you are a fan of Taiwanese light food and beverages then you gotta pay a visit here! Fondway was originally a tiny Cafe located in Crystal Mall, but they didn't have these delicate design and decor. After shutting down that location, many existing customers were anticipating for this new place to be opened. This new location of Fondway cafe has only been opened for two weeks, but already have lots of customers and pass by traffic. You can really see the effort and design they input on store renovation, vintage decor and the artsy presentation of the overall ambiance. Everything you ordered is absolutely a piece of art! They offer tea samples or sometimes snack samples by the cashier table. They also have a small table with numerous stamps and colourful ink for you to play around with. They offer affordable brunch combo with a choice of sandwich, soup/ or salad and a beverage. Their drinks are quite unique and rich. My girlfriends and I ordered the double pleasure- grass/ coffee agar jelly milk. The grass/ coffee jellies are so smooth and chewable. As you take a sip of your drink, these jellies will glide through your mouth tenderly and smoothly! Their cakes and butter cream are just perfect! Not too sweet nor heavy, plus they are not cheap about using their ingredients. The cake I had was a fruit cake, it was layered with plenty of blue berries, cranberries and blackberries in it. It is the exact nostalgic taste of Taiwanese pastries that I miss so much! You can not find it else where here in BC. Their salad, soup and sandwiches are really good with fresh ingredients. Overall, I was really satisfied with their great service and the effort into making a fond memories and wonderful taste that lingers in everyone for a long time!