Dragon Pearl (龍珠)

Ezra lucked out of having to go to kickboxing last Monday because I had work! My company launched its annual 12-week challenge where participants compete to lose the most percent body fat (evaluated using callipers by one of our trainers) from initial body fat in order to win a $1,000 shopping spree. We had our launch party at Perry Thompson's new photo studio in Inglewood, who is doing before and after photos of all the contestants. My job was to embarrass myself in front of the small crowd of participants that showed up while explaining to them the folder-full of nutrition handouts I prepared just for this event (they might work out with their trainers, but they sure as hell are not eating with me!) as well as pushing my services and the three(!!!) workshops that I'm doing next month.

After the small event, where the only refreshments were juice boxes and Diet Coke, Ezra and I walked up and down 9th Ave SE to figure out what we should do for supper. In the end, we found ourselves diagonally across the street from Perry's at Dragon Pearl.

When I was young, we would sometimes go to Dragon Pearl for northern Chinese food like sticky rice, steamed buns, soup dumplings, and beef tendon noodle soup. Since then, it appears that Dragon Pearl has stripped these authentic treats from the menu and has focused on its target audience - non-Chinese people.


Ezra didn't go for his favourite soup (Chicken Cream Corn) and opted for the hot and sour soup instead. We then chose one dish each - I went for the Mixed Vegetables and Tofu, and he chose the Pineapple Shrimp.


Dragon Pearl might be doing "fake" Chinese, but they do it well. Both dishes were loaded with a variety of vegetables that were cooked to the point that they still held their crunch. The oyster sauce in the mixed vegetables was not too salty, but I found the pineapple shrimp to be too sweet/tangy. Will not be ordering it again.

In the end, it was way too much food for Ezra and I to handle, and we ended up packing a bit of everything to go. The servers were really gracious about it and even offered to pack up the rice too. Maybe that's why people keep coming back - aside from the great "fake" Chinese, they have courteous, quick service, and a comfy atmosphere.

Our bill came with fortune cookies that both contained double fortunes. He got some "pat yourself on the back" ones like "You are admired for your sense of humour," and "You will finally be able to enjoy the fruits of your labour." While I just got told what not to do.


Here's what not to do - Don't come to Dragon Pearl if you're looking for authentic Chinese food, and I'm a little bummed that there's now one less place that I thought served northern Chinese food in Calgary. Do come to Dragon Pearl for great service, a cozy atmosphere, and your favourite "westernized" Chinese favourites like hot and sour soup and ginger beef.

Dragon Pearl
1223A 9 Ave SE
Calgary AB
(403) 233-8810