Here are a few of the Asian restaurants and shops located in Richmond’s Horsepen Road area.
This is part of the Richmond Times-Dispatch’s History of Horsepen article, exploring the rich history of Richmond’s Asian community in the Horsepen Road area of western Henrico.
Full Kee on Oct. 25, 2023, in Richmond, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
Full Kee, 6400 Horsepen Road
Dim sum parlors and Cantonese banquet halls abound in cities like New York. Not so much in Richmond. There’s just one place in town for classic Cantonese food, and that’s Full Kee. Thankfully, they do the old-school hits so well: baskets of shrimp dumplings and parcels of sticky rice wrapped with lotus leaves; black bean clams and ginger-scallion steamed fish; clay pots of braised lamb and plates of garlicky snow-pea shoots.
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Mekong, 6004 West Broad Street
The Answer, 6008 West Broad Street
At Mekong and The Answer, that’s not just a crisp, refreshing lager you’re sipping on, it’s a taste of local history. An Bui, literally, “tapped” into the heart of Richmond by transforming his family’s Vietnamese restaurant into an award-winning beer destination. And this not only started our craft beer movement, but also revolutionized the culture of the city.
A sign for Vietnamese restaurant Mekong and The Answer Brewpub on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023.
Pho Thien Phat, 6403 Rigsby Road
Pho Tay Do, 6328 Rigsby Road
You may feel pressure from diehard Richmond diners to side between these two pho-shop rivals. But why pick one when you can have them both? Team Thien Phat’s oxtail pho is always a winner. So is a classic bowl of tender flank and tripe, in a heartfelt, herb-rich broth, by Team Tay Do.
Tan A, 6221 West Broad Street
Far East Grocery, 6317 Rigsby Road
Located in the eponymously-named “Tan A Plaza,” this sprawling megamart is the spot for all your Asian home-cooking needs. In search of a fun recipe to shop for? I suggest checking out the ones on thewoksoflife.com. Rest assured, Tan A’s got it all. (And while you’re at it, make your way over to Far East, which has been in business there for 40 years.)
Lorena Hernandez, Kelvin Morales, Martin Ramos and Yancy Martinez at Mariscos El Barco on Rigsby Road.
Mariscos El Barco, 6409 Rigsby Road
Heralding the recent arrival of Latin American immigrants to the area, this modest little shack off Rigsby Road is a Sinaloan-style seafood boil, fit for a king. Platters runneth over with grilled langoustines, crab legs, and other saucy, seaworthy delights. And you can wash it all down with a souped-up mug of Michelada.
Lebanese Bakery, 6215 West Broad Street
A recent Lebanese immigrant has introduced the flavors of his homeland to Tan A Plaza. His spiced, cheesy flatbreads come straight from the hearth. Gather up some stuffed grape leaves, house-made hummus, and eggplant dip, too, and you’ve got yourself a lovely picnic spread.
PHOTOS: The history of Horsepen
The Tan-A Supermarket shopping center at 6221 W Broad St. has been touchpoint for the local Asian immigrant community in Richmond, Va. Nov. 3.
Hoa Tran poses for portrait in the restaurant he owns with his wife, 88 Street Food, located at 5905 W Broad St., in Richmond, Va. Oct, 24. “The beauty of America is there’s always a second chance,” Tran said. “I came from nowhere, speaking broken English. Now look at me, I’m a small business owner and my kids go to college here. The American Dream is still possible.” Tran has been living in Richmond since 1983 and opened the restaurant in March of 2023.
The Tan-A Supermarket shopping center at 6221 W Broad St. has been touchpoint for the local Asian immigrant community in Richmond, Va. Nov. 3.
Vietnamese restaurant Mekong on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023.
A sign for Vietnamese restaurant Mekong and The Answer Brewpub on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023.
An Bui, owner of The Answer Brewpub and Mekong, had to flee his home in Vietnam when he was 11. He survived a week at sea, without gas, robbed at gunpoint by Thai pirates. And then more than another year at refugee camps.
An Bui, owner of The Answer Brewpub demonstrates pouring a beer on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023.
Vietnamese restaurant Mekong on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023.
An Bui, owner of The Answer Brewpub poses for a photo on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023.
A sign for Vietnamese restaurant Mekong and The Answer Brewpub on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023.
Local advertisements and postings are taped to the entrance of Full Kee on Oct. 25, 2023, in Richmond, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
Roast duck from Full Kee on Oct. 25, 2023, in Richmond, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
Full Kee on Oct. 25, 2023, in Richmond, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
Fiona answers the phone and takes an order at Full Kee on Oct. 25, 2023, in Richmond, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
Dim Sum from Full Kee on Oct. 25, 2023, in Richmond, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
General Tso’s Chicken from Full Kee on Oct. 25, 2023, in Richmond, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
Roast pork from Full Kee on Oct. 25, 2023, in Richmond, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
Xai Ngo, left, and Hoa Tran pose for a portrait in their restaurant 88 Street Food, located at 5905 W Broad St., in Richmond, Va. Oct, 24. “The beauty of America is there’s always a second chance,” Tran said. “I came from nowhere, speaking broken English. Now look at me, I’m a small business owner and my kids go to college here. The American Dream is still possible.” Tran has been living in Richmond since 1983 and opened the restaurant in March of 2023.
Hoa Tran in his restaurant 88 Street Food. “The beauty of America is there’s always a second chance,” Tran said. “I came from nowhere, speaking broken English. Now look at me, I’m a small business owner and my kids go to college here.”
Nicolas Galindo/TIMES-DISPATCH
Hoa Tran, left, and wife Xai Ngo pose for a portrait in their restaurant 88 Street Food, located at 5905 W Broad St., in Richmond, Va. Oct, 24. “The beauty of America is there’s always a second chance,” Tran said. “I came from nowhere, speaking broken English. Now look at me, I’m a small business owner and my kids go to college here. The American Dream is still possible.” Tran has been living in Richmond since 1983 and opened the restaurant in March of 2023.
Justin Lo is the Times-Dispatch dining critic. Follow him on Twitter or Instagram @justinsjlo.
