It’s always a good time to visit Tastee’s

In this, our last instalment of Westman This Week’s ice cream series this year, I thought I’d go a little closer to home by checking out a local seasonal favourite here in Brandon.

Little did I realize just how “tastee” that visit would be.

Claudia Leung and her husband Ken Chan, now in their eighth season of running Tastee’s Ice Cream and Grill at 1405 First St., first came to the Wheat City from Hong Kong in 2015. Leung, a former television news reporter in her home country, says life in Brandon has been good to the couple.

“It was very stressful over there, and my brother, he’s living here and that’s why he said, “Oh you should take a break and then come here to see where I am living in this small city. I think you will like it,” she said. “Hong Kong is very busy. You always have to work all the time, and the traffic on the road is so long, an hour, two hours, something like that. But here, it’s just 10 minutes to everywhere.”

While it was Brandon’s lifestyle that brought her here, she says it’s the people who come to the restaurant that really make the business worthwhile.

“It’s so exciting when we open (for the season). People are so excited we are open, and then they come back, and we talk like friends. Really I like it. I think the reason I really enjoy living in Brandon is because people are very friendly and very nice people here.”

I’ve lived in Brandon for two decades, and must admit rather sheepishly that over all this time I’ve never taken the time to walk in and have lunch.

Big mistake.

If, like me, you’ve never walked into the place, let me set the tone.

The best way to describe the atmosphere of the dining area is a mix of vintage kitsch, pub and drive in — only without the alcohol. The chairs, stools, benches and tables are all 1950s diner-style, and the wall is plastered with sports memorabilia and vintage soda signage. And in big yellow panels, the menu above the order window screams “drive in.”

It’s a bright and inviting space that is matched by the well-built patio out front along First Street. Leung says she had it built to make sure her kids had a place to sit and stay out of traffic.

“Sometimes when they are sitting outside, the traffic on the road is very busy. I’m just worried they’re running somewhere and a careless driver will hit them,” she said. “That’s why I had an idea. I wanted to do that patio so that at least parents with kids, they can be safe sitting and enjoy the ice cream.”

Anyone looking for a little lunch will be pleased to note that Tastee’s has a different lunch special for every day of the week. Friday’s special, which is what I had, was a bacon cheeseburger with small fries and a drink for $15.

When it comes to their burgers and fries, the owners don’t hold back. The burger meat is locally sourced here in western Manitoba, the bun comes from Kuiper’s Bakery next door, the bacon is purchased from Brandon’s East 40 Packers and the French fries are hand cut and twice-cooked.

The meat was flavourful, the bread is soft and yet toasty, and for a small order the fries were more than enough for me. This isn’t surprising as Tastee’s seems to be well known for their burgers and fries. Customers may also want to try a few other menu items on the burger list, including the bison burger for $9.79 and the Fat Boy Burger for $9.49.

But the real standout last week was a menu item that has its origins in Hong Kong. Back in 2019, the Brandon Sun first reported that Leung and Chan were adding a new dessert called “little eggs” to the menu — you’ll see it called the Egg Waffle on a sign near the order window.

The little eggs are balls of cooked waffle batter that wrap around a large serving of your choice of soft serve ice cream, curled into a cardboard container, and topped with smarties or Oreo cookie crumbs, among other choices.

The waffle itself is served warm, even as its handed to you, and the ice cream is a bit of a miracle as it doesn’t pool into a puddle at the bottom of the container but rather clings to the crispy waffle as you eat it.

It’s possibly one of the best ice cream treats I’ve had all summer — and there have been some real stand outs.

The couple told the Sun previously that they got the idea to start serving Hong Kong street food after a trip home — this particular dish is served at many street vendors, though usually without the ice cream.

“It’s a very traditional snack from Hong Kong,” Leung said. We usually just ate the waffle, but I added ice cream, make it more fancy.”

She says customers love it, but it’s not for the faint of heart or small of stomach.

“Customers say they quite like it. They said, like “Oh it’s quite big. It’s like a meal, not a dessert or a snack.”

If you’ve never been to Tastee’s Ice Cream and Grill, or it’s been awhile since your last visit, it might be time for a little lunch or snack down on First Street. But treat yourself while you can! Tastee’s will close for the season in October.

» mgoerzen@brandonsun.com