Japanese Archives - Page 2 of 20

In Japanese

Toyo Sushi: High End Japanese Restaurant in North Burnaby

October 28, 2019

I’ve passed by Toyo Sushi so many times last year and it always seemed to be closed. I was on Instagram the other month and I saw one of my followers going and I had to check it out for myself as it’s right in my neighbourhood.

Reservations

I would highly recommend getting reservations, not because it will be really full as this place is still under the radar. Some people have said their hours of operation is unreliable, so best to make reservations to ensure they are open on the day and time you’re planning to dine.

Bar Seating

The space is a decent size, but bar seating is best if you’re in a small group. Watching the chef prepare your meal is the best. The chef isn’t very chatty, but I always appreciate all the hard work of seeing the meal come to life.

Sashimi Omakase

The sashimi omakase starts at $70 and it is essentially a sashimi platter. We expected the chef to serve it piece by piece as we sat at the bar like at other sushi bars around town. We were the only people at the restaurant, so we watched him make the whole platter and then present it to us.

When we went there, our sashimi omakase had 7 different sashimi and 14 pieces in total. The chef didn’t explain what sashimi was on the plate, but the server told us quickly. I tried my best to remember the names, but some of them looked very similar, so sorry if I accidentally misnamed any.

The sashimi omakase was a great way to try the freshest cuts of sashimi decided by the chef. My favourites were the blue fin otoro and scallop.

Chopped Hamachi and negi with fresh ginger

Fish is deep-fried and then can be eaten whole

Sushi Omakase

The sushi omakase has 10 pieces of nigiri on a platter and it starts at $60. It was similar types of fish in the sashimi omakase. At first it does seem steep of a price, but the quality is there. The negitoro, ikura, otoro, and scallop were outstanding. The other types of fish were good, but it wasn’t my personal favourite.

Unagi Nigiri

We ordered these both after the omakase because my husband judges a Japanese restaurant based on how they make unagi nigiri. This was really good! Very soft, tender, and packed full of flavour. Highly recommended.

Tamago Nigiri

Another item that my husband judges is the tamago. The side of tamago was thick and had a good balance of sweet and savoury to it. Highly recommended as well.

Kushi Katsu

These are deep fried and battered skewers. There is scallop and prawn in one skewer, chicken on another and then salmon on another. It comes with a dipping sauce too. These were decent. Since the meal we had was very clean and not too oily, this was the only fried dish we got beside the fried fish from the sashimi omakase.

Final Thoughts

The quality is definitely the best in Burnaby. It’s a great little hidden gem in The Heights, but it isn’t cheap. You are really paying for the quality. My husband and I spent just under $200 after tax and tip here. We had to try the omakase, so that why it’s pretty steep. Next time, we will probably skip the omakase and go with our tried and true favourite items.

Address:
3978 Hastings St, Burnaby, BC

Website:
https://www.toyosushi.ca

In Japanese

Marutama Ramen: Delicious Creamy Chicken Broth Ramen in Burnaby

October 17, 2019

Marutama Ramen is finally open in Burnaby on Kingsway just minutes away from Metropolis at Metrotown. I absolutely adore their delicious creamy chicken broth and I can’t get enough. Even Jason Momoa agree as he’s a regular at the Downtown location.

I would actually come here a lot to their Downtown location when they first opened. As I spend more time at home in Burnaby, I was super stoked to hear that it opened so close by. It’s actually a great spot as there definitely needs more good ramen shops in the area.

Line Up

As Marutama in Burnaby is just a few weeks old, it is drawing crowds for lunch and dinner. They open at 11:30am for lunch, so we ended up getting there at 11:45am because it’s hard to be on time anywhere with a baby.

We missed the first seating, but we were the 3rd in line asking for a table of 4. They asked us if we wanted to split up, but we said no, so the wait was around 10 minutes. The turnover is pretty quick and we noticed that people in groups of 2s got in and out very quickly.

Interior

There is one big communal table, and then a bunch of seats for 2s. It’s a decent size inside but it’ll be hard to get a big group in quickly unless you’re the first people there.

Kid Friendly

The space is cramped but they are kid friendly in a sense. I know I was nervous taking Baby E as its a busy place with limited space. Where we were seated, they provided a high chair, sippy cup, and kid friendly cutlery and scissors. It was a nice touch.

We left the stroller and car seat in the car. Normally I would attempt to take it in, but at 7 months, she’s fairing well with high chairs even though she looks like a tiny little nugget.

I did notice other families at the communal table with a stroller for a small baby and a high chair for their toddler. Just arrive early before the lunch hour to make sure they can seat you in a good spot.

Tamago Ramen

This is their signature item on the menu and I highly recommend it if it’s your first time here. It’s a great introduction to Marutama with their great chicken broth and marinated ramen egg. You also get two pieces of chashu, and AOSA sea lettuce. You can get this mild or spicy.

I’ve had both before and spicy gives you a nice kick of heat. On a regular day, I would go with the mild.

Also, don’t forget to add these beautiful garlic chips into your ramen. It’s pretty damn good.

Aosa Ramen [Add Egg]

This is my go to ramen since I love the AOSA, which is sea lettuce. Unlike seaweed, it has a great flavour and texture. Usually you don’t see this in ramen, but it pairs so well with their broth.

I added the ramen egg to it since it’ so good. The chashu was very dry when I went, so not as enjoyable.

Gyoza

The gyoza are hand made and then pan-fried. They come to the table with a crisp exterior and stuffed with pork and vegetables. There are 5 pieces to an order.

Cha Shu Gohan

The hot rice is topped with cha shu, pickled daikon, and green onions. It’s a nice side item to add to the meal. Or even a small dish to order if you’re not too hungry.

Final Thoughts

I really like Marutama and I would highly recommend it. The downside is that it is just terribly busy on weekends and also evenings. Weekday lunch is better as the wait is minimal.

Address:
5278 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC

Website:
https://marutama.ca

In Japanese

Jinya Ramen Bar Launches New Vegan Menu Items and Drink Pairings: Review

September 17, 2019

Jinya Ramen Bar has quietly launched their new vegan menu items. Even though I’m not a vegan, their Spicy Creamy Vegan ramen is incredibly delicious. Once I had that broth, I was hooked. I honestly order it every time, sometimes with a side of chachu. I really appreciate the work that goes into crafting the ramen.

A few new item have been launched on the menu to give vegans and vegetarians more options. The vegan taco, vegan bun, and vegan rice bowl have been added.

Vegan Taco

This has soy meat, guacamole, and cilantro on a crispy taco shell made of wonton skin. It was really good and if you didn’t tell me what it was, I would think it was ground pork. I like the use of the wonton skin shell as its very crispy and didn’t seem to get soggy.

Vegan Bun

This has a steamed bun stuffed with pea protein patty (Beyond Meat), avocado, cucumber, and vegan mayo. When I took the first bite, I instantly knew it was Beyond Meat. I was very impressed that Jinya is on board with offering Beyond Meat on the menu. The patty has a good texture.

Vegan Rice Bowl

This is their plant-based rice bowl with soy meat, corn, atsuage tofu, cilantro, pickled red onion, and fried broccolini over steamed rice.

It’s a pretty sizeable portion and you’ll definitely get full. The tofu is served cold and most of the items are more room temperature. They did note that it’s supposed to be served this way. We did find that it needed more sauce as there was a good amount of rice.

Spicy Creamy Vegan Ramen

It uses a vegetable broth, tofu, onion, crispy onion, spinach, garlic chips, garlic oil, chilli oil, sesame seeds, and served with thick noodle.

The broth is really amazing and the addition of the garlic oil and chili oil were delicious. They give you a good amount of tofu too, so you will be full after eating this ramen.

You can also add sides to the ramen like their egg, bamboo shoots or Brussels sprouts to make the meal more filling.

Drink Pairings

Jinya Ramen has a fully stocked bar with bartenders, so if you are looking for something to pair with the vegan dishes. Here they are.

Yuzu Fizu

Yuzu Fizu is their selection to pair with the vegan tacos. They use simple syrup, yuzu, carbonated water, and topped with 1908 Empress Gin. The yuzu gives an added sweetness that mellows out the gin. It was very refreshing.

Asahi Dry Black

This is the pairing to go with the Vegan Bun. This is one of my favourite beers too as there are notes of liquorice, chocolate, coffee, and nuts. It is easy to drink.

Sake

They have a variety of sake on the menu that pairs with their regular items and vegan items.

Oku No Matsu: Yusa Junmai Ginjo was what they highly recommended to have with the vegan rice bowl. It is well balanced and textured, soft sweet flavours, and has a clean finish.

Houou Biden – Akaban Junmai Daiginjo was their suggestion to go with the Spicy Creamy Vegan Ramen. This is served in a wine glass to amplify the deep melon flavours and smooth textures.

Suutsu Fashion

Whisky based drink and it was like an Old Fashioned. I liked how they use one large ice cube to keep the drink cool. It had a good balance of the bitters and the garnish of the orange peel and cherry opened up the flavours.

Final Thoughts

I am a regular at Jinya Ramen Bar and their vegan options are very good, but the ramen is definitely pricey. Nonetheless, it is one of the best vegan ramen I’ve had so far. If you want to indulge and treat yourself, this is definitely it.

The vegan rice bowl is a good option too if you don’t want anything soupy. The vegan bun and vegan taco are good accompaniments too if you are super hungry.

Website:
https://jinya-ramenbar.com/

In Downtown

Black Rice Izakaya: New Summer Items for 2019

August 6, 2019

Black Rice Izakaya is always innovating their menu and trying to use the freshest produce for the season. As it is now Summer, they’ve launched some new items to pair with the beautiful hot Vancouver weather.

We were invited to check out a few of these dishes.

Miso Ceviche

The miso ceviche is served with taro chips. It was a delicious dish that was fresh and light. The crisp texture of the taro chips paired well with the acidity of the ceviche.

Soy Chicken Karaage

This is Korean fried chicken and you can request it at different spice levels. We got mild and there was only a little spark of spice, so that was good for those who can’t handle spicy. The chicken is deep fried twice and its crisp and tastes great.

Ika Feast

The ika is cooked two ways – grilled and fried. The deep fried ika was delicious, which is essentially calamari. The grilled ika was very plump and grilled quite well so its tender with good depth of flavour. The sauces that accompany this dish was great to dunk into.

Spicy Cold Sashimi Soup

Spicy cold sashimi soup is Mul-hoi in Korean. It was served with sea bass today, but it can depend on Chef’s choice sashimi – The sea bass was so good as it was fresh and sweet. The soup base does have a kick of spice to it.

Pad Thai Yaki Soba

This is their version of Pad Thai and Yaki Soba combination. It leans more towards a Pad Thai, but with soba noodles. It was good but we still prefer the chew of Pad Thai noodles.

Final Thoughts

The new dishes as part of their Sumer menu is asian fusion for sure which is reminiscent of their other dishes on the menu. The dishes were food and worth a try and the sashimi is very fresh.

Address:
782 Cambie St, Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://www.blackrice.ca/

In Fairview

Tojo’s Restaurant: Cocktail Hour in Vancouver

July 4, 2019

Tojo’s Restaurant just launched their cocktail hour featuring new libations and a seasonal selection of small bites. This new menu is available Thursday to Saturday from 4 to 6 pm.

Parking here can be a bit tricky during rush hour but there are a few complimentary visitor parking spots in the back.

You can expect a delicious new cocktail list, as Tojo’s has teamed up with award-winning mixologist and Canada’s Top Bartender 2019, Jeff Savage. Tasty libations are arguably best enjoyed with good food, and Chef Hidekazu Tojo has created a new small bites menu, which are updated seasonally to pair with the new cocktail list.

Here is a sneak peak of their cocktail hour.

Tojo’s Pickles

This has a mix of seasonal vegetables. It is light, tart and crunchy. Best paired with the Nitobe Garden Fizz mocktail.

Edamame

This is a very healthy snack that is boiled and lightly tossed in sea salt. It comes in a regular size and a large size. It’s a good item to snack on as you have a drink like the Tokaido 53 cocktail.

Miso Mustard Lotus Root

The lotus root is crunchy and in the middle of the lotus room is the miso mustard, which gives it a slightly spicy taste. The texture and hint of spice works really well. This pairs well with the Japanese Highball.

Citrus and Sea Salt Wings

This dish uses organic chicken and its prepared Tojo-style, which means the the drumsticks are transformed into lollipops and the wings cut in half, so its mess-free. They suggest pairing this with the Japanese High Ball too.

Tojo Maki

This is the most popular item at Tojo’s. This is the pioneer of the modern California Roll using local Dungeness Crab, avocado, spinach and egg rolled inside-out with sesame seeds on top. Give this a try with the Tojo’s Milk Punch cocktail.

Dragon’s Sweet Potatoes

This is a hometown favourite from Kagoshima. These little sweet potato nuggets have a nice texture and is a touch sweet which is nice and enjoyable.

Dashimaki + Caviar

This has a few pieces of Japanese egg omelette and topped with Ikura and tobiko. Very delicious and I love the hints of saltiness as the ikura and tobiko as they pop in your mouth. Yet again, you can pair this with Tojo’s Milk Punch.

Tojo’s Tuna

This is Chef’s signature dish with wild albacore, and a wasabi sesame sauce. It comes in 2 sizes – regular or large depending on how much you’re craving Tojo’s Tuna. The tuna is very fresh and the sauces go well together. You can try this with the Tokaido 53 cocktail.

Seafood Salad

This uses their freshest seasonal seafood and it does change depending on what’s available. I enjoyed all the seafood as there was a good variety to it. The Salaryman cocktail pairs with it.

Cocktails

Tokaido 53

A vibrant martini riff inspired by journeys on the ancient road connecting Kyoto and Edo. Bison Grass Vodka, Kazuki Gin, Herb and Citrus Oil.

Salaryman

A stern cocktail best used to signal the end of the workday. Japanese Whisky Blend, Notes of Matcha and Black Sesame.

Kitsune Gimlet

A bright, fresh cocktail that’s as cunning and playful as it’s mythical namesake Kazuki Gin, Yuzu, and Honey. A well balanced cocktail.

Tojo’s Milk Punch

Eastern flavours and Western techniques meet in this milk punch, named after the Iconoclast himself. This is made with Bank’s 5 Island Rum, Shiso, Sencha, Mint, Lime, and Clarified Milk.

This was my favourite cocktail that we tried. You get aromas of the milk yet the cocktail is clear. I was very very impressed with the different techniques that are used to create this beverage.

Japanese Highball

This is made with Suntory Toki, Bittered Sling Lem-Marrakech Bitters, and Soda. You can really taste the Suntory Toki and the bitters. Not my favourite, but it pairs well with fried food.

Nitobe Garden Fizz

Vibrancy and earthly bounty come together in this drink honouring the beautiful Nitobe Memorial Garden. Seedlip Garden 108, Matcha, Herb, Citrus Oil, and Soda.

This is a mocktail and does not contain any alcohol at all. I like their use of the Seedlip Garden 108 as it gives this drink a herbaceous aroma similar to gin.

Final Thoughts

The cocktail hour is a great way to enjoy the taste of Tojo’s and exceptional cocktails created by Jeff Savage. The prices are reasonable and you can have a good catch with friends or even make new friends here.

Address:
1133 W Broadway, Vancouver, BC

Website:
https://tojos.com

In Japanese

Mr. Tonkatsu: Now Open in Metro Vancouver

May 27, 2019

Mr. Tonkatsu is a chain restaurant from Toronto that serves up deep-fried pork cutlet served with rice, miso soup, and unlimited cabbage salad. Since there aren’t that many tonkatsu places in Vancouver, I was surprised Mr. Tonkatsu would open their first BC location in Surrey.

I came here during lunch while they were doing their soft opening to check out the space and their different tonkatsu dishes.

Interior

The space doesn’t have too much seating inside and the space seemed like it isn’t being utilized to it’s fullest. Perhaps this is just for the soft opening.

How to Eat Your Tonkatsu

There is a little sign that shows you how to best enjoy your tonkatsu. First, you grind the sesame seeds with a wooden stick until it’s crushed.

After that, you mix it with the special sauce and dunk your pieces of pork cutlet into it.

Katsu

You can choose your katsu with a few different varieties – pork tenderloin, chicken, pork loin with cheese, chicken with cheese, or tsuyuu (pork loin katsu in broth).

The most popular option is the pork loin with cheese. The pork itself is this and wrapped around a center of cheese, then the outside is crisp and fried till golden brown. It was delicious and paired well with the unlimited rice, miso soup and cabbage. The only critique that we had was the pork is very thin in comparison with the cheese. If you want something more meaty, just go with the tonkatsu without the cheese. There is also the option of adding extra piece of katsu too.

For the cabbage, make sure to add the dressing on top. They don’t really take initiative to fill up your rice, miso soup, or cabbage often, so you need to flag them down and ask for more if you need it.

Curry Katsu

It comes with curry, pickles, and unlimited rice, miso soup and cabbage. You can choose it with chicken, chicken with cheese, pork tenderloin, pork loin, pork loin with cheese, karaage, or shrimp.

I went with the curry katsu accompanied with the pork loin and cheese. It’s the same piece as the tonkatsu but with the added curry. The curry was a good flavour and there was a lot of sauce so the rice soaks up all the flavour.

Soy Garlic Chicken

At $18 a plate, you get a good amount of chicken with this order. Good to share among the table. I can’t remember how many pieces there were, but it was plenty for a group of 3.

The chicken isn’t as crispy because of the soy garlic sauce added after it’s been fried. It’s definitely more Korean than Japanese but then again, there is a sign outside that says ‘Korean’.

Final Thoughts

Overall, we through it was decent but wasn’t outstanding. A good addition to the neighbourhood as there isn’t any thing similar in Surrey. If you live in Metro Vancouver, now, you don’t have to travel all the way to Dowtown Vancouver to get tonkatsu.

Address:
10320 152 St A, Surrey, BC

Website:
http://www.mrtonkatsu.com/

In Japanese

Riz Sushi Bar & Catering: A West Coast Twist on Classic Japanese Dishes

May 25, 2019

Riz Sushi & Catering just launched a few new items for the Spring of 2019 with more hot items offered on the menu. They used to only sell sushi and poke bowls, but now they have expanded their menu with hot dishes made with quality ingredients. If you’re in a rush, they still have their quick takeout sushi and Asomi Mochi.

We were invited to have a taste of their new menu items.

Interior

There are a few picnic tables inside for larger groups and some seats at the side of the restaurant. It’s not big but it does accommodate those eating in or taking out.

Chicken Karaage

This comes with 5 pieces and it’s nicely fried and presented in the bowl. The chicken is very moist and tender on the inside. It paired nicely with the sauce and the greens too.

Chicken Udon

This was very surprising to see as it looks pretty darn good and not what we were expecting. With the addition of the greens and use of lean shredded chicken, it is a healthy twist on the dish without compromising taste. Works very well together.

Kimchi Beef Yakisoba

If you love a little kick in your yakisoba, the kimchi beef yakisoba might be for you. The flavour combination works very well together and of course it has to be topped with a sunny side up egg.

Shiso Skirt Steak Salad

The skirt steak has been sous vide for several hours and then seared to perfection, thus giving it a taste and tender texture. On top of the salad are also some noodles.

Pork Belly Chashu Don

There is a good amount of veggie like the pickled mushrooms, beansprout and cabbage that go into this pork belly chashu don. The egg in the centre is soft, yolky and pairs nicely with the chashu. A very well balanced bowl and it’s not too heavy.

Creamy Seafood Uni Udon Pasta

Our favourite dish of the tasting was the creamy seafood uni udon pasta. Very rich and creamy sauce the covers each strand of udon noodle. You can add 3 pieces of Uni for $4, which is a pretty good price.

Final Thoughts

The dishes were well balanced and we really like how they added in more green and pickled veggies too. Sometimes classic Japanese dishes can be a bit rich and heavy, so Riz was able to create dishes that really fit with the taste buds of the West Coast.

Address:
2887 E Broadway, Vancouver, BC

Website:
https://www.rizsushi.com/

In Japanese

[Sneak Peek] Ramen Taka in Aberdeen Centre

April 24, 2019

Ramen Taka has opened their second location at Aberdeen Centre on the 2nd floor. Their first location is on Bidwell and Robson Street. They are best known for their delicious broth that is topped with seasoned Hokkaido lard. It is very rich and piping hot, so make sure not to burn yourself.

We were invited for a sneak peek of their new location and try some menu items.

Interior

There is one long table of communal seating and some smaller tables on the side of the restaurant. Good for small to large groups.

Drinks

It’s great that they have Japanese drinks on the menu that pair with their appetizers and ramen. It’s fun when some drinks just bring back nostalgia like the ramune.

They have alcoholic drinks on the menu but isn’t available just yet.

Ramune is fun because you pop the marble into the drink and it’s like a fizzy soda. UCC Coffee is what the chef’s recommended and you can get it hot or cold.

Dragon’s Wing Gyoza

This comes with 5 pieces to an order. It’s also another chef recommended item on the menu. The gyoza were ok, but we wish they were cooked a bit more crispier on the exterior.

French Fries with Truffle Salt

Who can say no to fries? We clearly couldn’t. These were good but a tad on the soft side. Also, the truffle salt wasn’t as noticeable.

Kakuni

It was described as melt in your mouth, but it was more on the dry side as you can see from the picture. Perhaps they are still working out kinks.

Paitan Dragon’s Dewdrop Shoyu

This has their creamy white tonkotsu pork broth with their signature soy sauce flavour. It also comes with seaweed, chashu, mushroom, bamboo and half an egg. We added corn to this ramen as well as less lard. The broth was delicious but we wished the corn was more crunchy. The chashu was a bit dry and the noodles were a tad overcooked.

Paitan Supreme Dragon Miso

This has their hearty and rich white paitan tonkotsu pork broth with a blend of different miso pastes. This broth was a tad on the salty side but still delicious. It also comes with seaweed, chashu, mushroom, bamboo and half an egg.

Similar to the other ramen, chashu was dry and the noodles were soggy and overcooked.

Final Thoughts

Overall, they have a few kinks to work out before their grand opening. We’ve been to their original location and we know the potential they have and it can be really good. It was nice to see their new second location, but we would recommend waiting a bit till they get a rhythm going.

Address:
4151 Hazelbridge Way, Richmond, BC

Website:
https://ramentaka.ca

In Cafe

Usagi Sweets: Japanese Sweets in Vancouver

March 16, 2019

Usagi Sweets is a small shop with Japanese pastries like mochi mochi, brownies, cookies, and other sweet treats. It is run by the daughter of the owners of the now defunct Basho Cafe, which has now become Yama Cafe after switching ownership.

I had to make a stop here with my friend to chat over mom life. Sometimes it’s just nice to relax and take a break from our babies.

Interior

The space is small and only has 3 tables, so its hard to fit large groups. It’s a good space for a coffee chat over drinks and treats.

Onigiri Lunch Set

The only savoury item on the menu is their onigiri lunch set with 2 onigiri rice balls, pickled veggies, egg, black sesame green beans, broccoli, and pumpkin. We decided to split this and it was a nice item to just munch on and pick at the items on the plate. Very nice clean flavours that won’t weigh you down. All this for $11.

Usucha

This is a traditional matcha tea with a bright green vibrant colour but it is unsweetened.

Houjicha

This is their pot of roasted green tea that has a brown colour to it.

Assorted Sweets

We ordered a lot of sweets to share – matcha mochi, cream cheese mochi, matcha espresso cookie, goma miso brownie, matcha alfajores, houjicha cookie, and black sesame mochi. It’s always good to get an assortment of treats.

Final Thoughts

The space is really cute and great little spot to catch up with friends. It is busier on the weekends but during weekdays it’s not too bad and we were able to get a table. A lot of people come here to get the sweets to-go but its nice to be able to sit here if you have the time.

Address:
3720 Oak St, Vancouver, BC

Website:
https://www.usagisweets.com/

In Japanese

Sushi Maro: Lunch in Yaletown

March 2, 2019

Sushi Maro is a a Japanese restaurant in Yaletown just steps from Yaletown Station. I came here for a quickie lunch with a friend as we’re never been here before.

There’s a lot of other Japanese restaurants around here but this is more of a casual low key restaurant mostly attracting people who work close by that want a decently priced quick lunch.

Interior

There are a lot of tables for 2’s and 4’s inside. As it was lunch hour, the space filled up quickly. You can make reservations if you want to be guaranteed a seat. They also do pick up and delivery too.

Lunch Menu

Miso Soup

If you order any lunch combos, they all come with miso soup. Pretty standard miso soup and nothing interesting.

Lunch Bento C

This has crispy chicken served on top of rice, salad, California Roll, and then tuna and salmon sashimi. It’s a good amount of food for lunch and you get a bit of everything. It’s not fancy but it fulfills the sushi and sashimi cravings.

All of the items in this bento box is standard. Nothing really stands out just like the miso soup.

Quick Lunch C

My friend got the quick lunch C Combo and it comes with 3 pieces of Sashimi of tuna and salmon, 2 nigiri sushi, and it was supposed to be a California roll, but she upgraded it for salmon and avocado roll for a few dollars more.

Final Thoughts

I like their cuts of sashimi and it was fresh tasting. If you’re looking for a quick sushi lunch that isn’t too expensive in the Yaletown area, this is a good option.

Address:
1168 Mainland St #101, Vancouver, BC

Website:
https://sushimaro.com/new

In Japanese

Stem Japanese Eatery: Traditional Japanese Omakase with a Twist

February 19, 2019

Stem Japanese Eatery opened in South Burnaby in 2017 and we finally made a visit by going to try their Chef’s Omakase set menu. We assumed its the best way to try the variety on the menu while utilizing seasonal ingredients.

The Chef’s Omakase

The Chef’s Omakase has around 9 courses and changes daily. They only do 8 servings a day and you need to reserved at least 24 hours in advanced. It costs $88 per person and will take about 2.5 hours.

This menu does not include tea or dessert in the price, it’s extra.

Uni with dashi broth starts the meal to cleanse the palate. The uni is really fresh and goes well with the dashi broth.

The second item has a golden iced snapper steamed with sea salt on top. It was an odd nigiri as I’ve never experienced steamed fish on rice in nigiri form.

The third items is an appetizer platter with 6 small dishes. The dishes varied in tastes and were about 2 bites. Very clean flavours but the flavours weren’t very deep or complex.

Baby Anchovies on Rice

Steamed monk fish on seaweed

Salad of kiwi and asparagus

Firefly squid with miso, bamboo, seaweed, and cucumber

Grated mountain radish with uni and tuna

Rapini and tofu in dashi broth

Sake soup with tempura, white miso, Saba, and bok choy. This was the fourth item in the omakase. It tasted predominantly of miso and it didn’t tie any of the ingredients together.

The fifth item is 5 pieces of sashimi with flounder, blue fin chu toro, and amberjack. It is served with yuzu sauce. These 3 types were ok but wasn’t that impressive. I was looking forward to the chutoro but it wasn’t melt in your mouth.

This has curry tofu, Hokkaido Scallop, uni sauce, and their seaweed dashi broth. This was a pretty good dish and the seaweed dashi broth was more gelatinous in texture but went well with the tofu and scallop.

Chawan Mushi is a savoury egg custard and its made with free-range eggs, mussels, soy bean, bamboo, and ikura on top. It was an ok dish but the egg custard was more on the bland side.

This dish has a few pieces of maple soy meadows duck, celerac puree, and a crisp kombocha pumpkin. The duck as delicious! The celerac puree didn’t pair so well with the duck.

Rice pot with oysters, mushrooms, and pork. It is also served with miso soup and veggies on the side. This was one of the more filling dishes but yet again needed a bit more salt or something more to tie all the items together.

Dessert

We added $5 for dessert as I wanted to see how it would be like. We opted for just 1 of them. We asked the waitress what it was prior but she didn’t have an idea so we were left in suspense.

When it arrived, there was apple tempura, a cheese foam with a waffle and fruits. Then some sort of ice cream which didn’t have a pleasant taste.

Final Thoughts

Overall, we thought the omakase for 2 people wasn’t worth the price nor were there any dishes that wow’d us. We would have much preferred to order off the regular menu and spent considerably less money. Even some people who sat beside us wasn’t impressed with the omakase as they did issues with a few dishes.

We’ve had some better omakase at a lower price point. They do use premium ingredients in their dishes like OceanWise seafood, fish from Japan, organic ingredients where possible, but the taste really falls flat. Perhaps it’s their traditional Kappo cuisine, the Japanese culinary art of cutting and cooking with seasonal ingredients that just didn’t translate well to the dishes we had.

Address:
5205 Rumble Street, Burnaby, BC

Website:
https://stemjapanese.ca

In Cafe

Matcha Cafe Maiko: Dessert in San Francisco

February 15, 2019

Matcha Cafe Maiko is a great place for matcha and Hojicha dessert lovers. When I was in San Francisco, I knew I needed to make a visit while we were in Japan Town. I couldn’t miss this chance. As it was in the middle of the weekday, it wasn’t busy at all.

They started in Honolulu, Hawaii and is making a massive expansion across the United States and soon in Richmond, BC too. I’m looking forward to the Richmond location as it’s 30 minutes away from my home.

All of their products are imported from Japan from Harima Garden.

Interior

The shop in Japan Town is small, so there are only a few seats inside, but most people just take it to go and walk around while consuming the delicious desserts.

Maiko Special (Mix)

This has a bit of everything – matcha and vanilla cream together along with matcha chiffon, chestnuts, and shiratama mochi.

A great parfait to devour yourself or to share. I ate this all to myself and I was so damn happy. I loved every part of this parfait. Highly recommended.

Soft Serve Mix

This has a twist of their matcha ice cream and vanilla ice cream in a crispy cone that they make fresh daily. Classic!

Final Thoughts

I loved the quick stop at Matcha Cafe Maiko and excited for the opening of the Richmond, BC location as well. The desserts are solid and will satisfy any matcha craving.

Address:
581 Webster St #175, San Francisco, CA

Website:
http://www.matchacafe-maiko.com/eng

In Japanese

Ajisai Sushi Bar in Kerrisdale: Review

February 4, 2019

Ajisai Sushi Bar is a very popular Japanese restaurant in Kerrisdale and popular among the locals and visitors. I haven’t been here before and my aunt was in town, so we all went to go give it a try.

For a weekday, it was pretty busy with a line up even at 7pm. There were plenty of large groups. Looks like everyone else was craving sushi too. We waited about 20 minutes for a bar seating for 4 people.

There is free underground parking at London Drugs,

Interior

The space is not very large, so it’s hard to fit very large groups here. Best to call ahead to see if there are line ups as they don’t take reservations.

Drinks

They have a few different sake options on the menu that go well with sushi. Beer and wine is on the menu too. If you’re not into alcoholic drinks, they have pop or you can stick with water and tea.

Seafood Salad

At first, this looked like a super weird salad with corn flakes on top. This has assorted greens, tako, ebi, salmon and tuna as the seafood. It is dressed in a light ponzu sauce I think. The corn flakes added a nice crunchy texture surprisingly.

Gomae

This has spinach marinated with sesame paste. A small portion that you cna pick at before the rest of the dishes arrive.

Uni Nigiri

Uni is sea urchin and it’s in season. You can have it as sashimi or nigiri but we option with nigiri. As it is in season, it is very fresh and has a natural sweetness to it. Highly recommended.

Bluefin Tuna Nigiri

We saw this on their Chef Recommendation so we had to get it. It was melt in your mouth fatty. Very good!

Hotate Nigiri

Hotate is scallop and they had this fresh on the menu.

Tako Nigiri and Ebi Nigiri

These were on the regular menu and it was pretty solid. Tender and not chewy at all.

Ika Shiso Rolls

This roll has squid and shiso leaf. Shiso is used in Japanese cuisine and it has an interesting taste that is herbal-like.

Unagi Avocado Roll

It comes with 8 pieces as an inside out roll with the rice on the exterior and seaweed inside. It was good as the creaminess of the avocado and meatiness of the eel pair well.

BBQ Unagi

They have a small amount of BBQ items on the menu but the eel was very delicious with a sweet glaze on top. It comes with 2 pieces but isn’t too large.

BBQ Gindara

The BBQ black cod had a slight char on the edge of the cod but very fatty and falls apart. Do watch out for little bones.

Assorted Sashimi

This has tuna, salmon, hokki, octopus, and white fish. It’s not the large but the quality of the cuts were good.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the sushi here is good but expensive compared to some other places around town. The staff are very diligent about refilling tea which is good

Address:
2081 W 42nd Ave, Vancouver, BC

In Japanese

Ramen Koika: Prime Rib Ramen in Vancouver

January 26, 2019

Ramen Koika has launched their limited time-only Prime Rib Ramen as their special for the next few months. They are anticipating this will stay on the menu for another 2-3 months as it’s been quite popular.

We were invited to try the prime rib ramen out for dinner.

Prime Rib Ramen

The prime rib ramen is $15.95 and it comes with a piece of AAA Prime Rib, onion, cabbage, wood ear mushroom, bean sprouts, and tonkotsu soup base with triple black garlic oil.

You can get the broth non-spicy, mild, or spicy. If you want more meat, you can add another piece of prime rib for $4.95.

I went with spicy tonkotsu broth for mine and you can definitely tell its spicy with all those red peppers. Spicy has a good amount of spice for me but it does build up over time.

My husband got mild and it also had a hint of spice which wasn’t bad at all either.

They give you a plastic glove to handle your prime rib if you want to use your hands to devour this big bone. The meat is very tender and full of flavour. Definitely the best part of the meal.

If you love meat and have a big appetite, I would suggest getting 2 ribs instead of 1.

We both got our noodles to be cooked more firm so it has more texture and chew.

Final Thoughts

The prime rib ramen isn’t a traditional ramen but it is Koika’s twist on ramen. It has more of a Korean taste profile to the ramen rather than Japanese especially with the spices used. Good to see some diversity in Vancouver’s ramen scene.

Address:
1479 Robson St, Vancouver, BC

Website:
https://www.ramenkoika.com/

In Dessert

Bake49: Japanese Desserts in Yaletown

January 22, 2019

I have been waiting in anticipation for Bake49 to open since they announced their location in Yaletown. I’m a sucker for Japanese desserts, so I had to make my friend go with me despite being on a diabetic diet until the baby comes. Rules are meant to be broken.

Bake 49 is headed by Iljin Kyung and Haram Lee and had quite a buzz since they opened with lines out the door and sells out everyday. Great for them but sometimes it’s hard to get there before they open at 1pm. They really pride themselves of keeping their production to small batches and made from scratch daily to ensure quality.

Interior

The space is very small, so only a small amount of people can line up inside. Also, there are only 2 seats for dining in. Most people do take out or eat it outside.

Croquant Choux

This is a long a crunchy, textured almond crusted choux pastry filled with vanilla-bean custard creme. It reminded me of the delicious filling of a Beaded Papa with a super crunchy exterior. It was really good but I wish it had a touch more custard cream inside but at least it didn’t ooze all over my shirt. This will costs you $4.50 each.

Sapporo Style Japanese Cheese Tarts

This is a double-baked tart shell filled with fluffy, gooey cream-cheese mousse. It has a rich and cheesy tang to it. It was warm when it was served and I liked it. Some people get a whole box of 6 for a discount but I just went with one all for myself. It’s $3.80 per piece or 6 for $19.

Double Fromage Cheesecake

They cake is 5 inches wide and will run you $27 and there are limited quantities everyday as they must make it ahead of time. It is a very rich and creamy cake and it comes with a small container of strawberry syrup and real strawberry pieces. The container of the sauce was too small, so I wished it was bigger or had the option to purchase more.

Final Thoughts

Overall, it’s definitely a great addition to Yaletown with some delectable Japanese desserts. They run out quickly, so it’s too bad that not everyone can get a taste. Make sure to come early to beat the rush to ensure nothing is sold out. Prices are a bit high but given the labour costs, ingredients, and the rent in the area, it makes sense.

Address:
1066 Mainland St, Vancouver, BC

Website:
https://bake49.com/

In Dineout

[Sneak Peek] Dine Out Vancouver 2019 at Donsanko Restaurant

January 18, 2019

Dosanko Restaurant serves up Yōshoku-style Japanese cuisine using seasonally inspired, local ingredients following Japanese traditions of using what’s around you.

They are one of the participating restaurants on the Dine Out Vancouver 2019 list. We got a special sneak peek to see what they are offering customers. You will be treated to their $25 menu lunch and dinner menu. There is also a vegetarian menu too.

Interior

The space is very rustic and features a bar and a good amount of seating. Best to make reservations as it will be pretty busy during Dine Out Vancouver to ensure a seat for your party.

Appetizers

Potato and leek soup is a vegetarian option and made from scratch. Good depth of flavour and a good way to start the meal.

Smoked Saba Croquette is outstanding. The exterior is crisp and the inside if fluffy and has a good smoked saba flavour inside. My favourite of the 3 appetizers.

Aki’s Salad is vegan and it has seasonal greens, vegetable, seeds, grains and a koji dressing. Light and refreshing.

Entrees

Cabbage Rolls are stuffed with a pork mixture and comes in 2 varieties of sauces. Very comforting and the sauces were very complimentary to the cabbage roll. An interesting twist to the dish.

Winter Veggie Doria is a vegetarian dish and is served in a hot stone bowl. There is rice on the bottom, an assortment of veggies and a delicious white cream sauce. Very filling, good flavours, and like comfort in a bowl.

Hayashi-Rice has their hayashi sauce made of beef shank and caramelized onion and served with pickled veg and rice. So comforting! A good potion size too. This was the favourite of the entrees.

Dessert

Panna Cotta with Citrus was a treat. The vanilla in the panna cotta was really good and the grapefruit and orange segments are beautiful and paired well with its bright flavours.

Amazake Rice Pudding is vegetarian and was the most surprising item on the menu that I adored. It has fermented rice with koji, rice pudding, azuki red beans, vanilla ice cream and kinako. Wow, just so damn good. No words to express how much I loved it.

Sorbet is the vegan option. 3 flavours – quince, peach, and berries. Good options for those who can’t have the other 2 dessert options. Very good flavours too.

Final Thoughts

For a $25 3-course menu, it’s one of the better values on the Dine Out Vancouver options. Highly recommend Dosanko for either lunch or dinner. One of my favourite dine out meals so far.

Address:
66 Powell St Unit #100, Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://dosankorestaurant.ca/

In Fusion

Green Leaf Sushi: Korean Japanese Fusion in Burnaby

January 15, 2019

Green Leaf Cafe opened their second location in Burnaby and it’s good they finally opened right by Lougheed Mall so there are more food options in the area. They are a Japanese and Korean fusion restaurant that takes the best of both cuisines. I came here with the family for lunch to check it out.

Interior

The space is large and it can get quite busy on weekends, so a reservation is best to ensure your whole party gets seated with no waits.

Crispy Chicken Karaage

The chicken is deep-fried and seasoned with a soy garlic sauce and served with a garlic mayo. It comes in 5, 10 or 15 pieces in an order. It was really delicious, well seasoned and also very moist inside.

Grilled Miso Mackerel

It has the grilled mackerel with a housemade miso sauce on top of grilled onions and served with rice on the side. It was average and all the sauces clashed with the natural saltiness of the mackerel.

Aburi Tuna Salad

In this big salad is flame seared tuna, greens, garlic chips, and yuzu ponzu dressing. Good and refreshing.

Salmon Oshi

Salmon Oshi is quite popular here. There are double layers of Atlantic salmon, oshi sauce and topped with a Jalapeno. The sauce is flame seared so it give it a nice texture and flavour. What I found with their version is that the rice is quite oily, so it falls apart easily.

Scallop Oshi

The Scallop Oshi has scallop, fish eggs, oishi sauce and topped with cracked pepper. I felt the same feeling about these too. It was just too oily and also fell apart.

Tornado Omelette

The tornado rice is beautiful. It has a sweet and savoury demiglace sauce or you can choose the Jalapeno creamy sauce. It looked beautiful, but it was average as it was just rice and eggs.

Uni Bibimbab

This has mushrooms, onions, fresh local sea urchin, house-made seasoned seaweed sauce on top of rice. It looked nice but it was ok.

Mentaiko Creamy Linguine

This has linguine covered in a Jalapeno creamy cod roe sauce with prawns. It is also topped with more cod roe on top. Pretty good tasting.

Final Thoughts

Overall, it was a good

Address:
9604 Cameron St, Burnaby, BC

Website:
https://www.greenleafcafebc.ca/

In Japanese

Hida Takayama Ramen in Vancouver: Review

January 4, 2019

Your next favourite ramen might be from a food court.

It’s a bold claim, I know. Vancouver loves ramen and throughout the years, there had been a trend of using heavy broth full of flavour. It’s absolutely delicious but they leave you reaching for water hours after your meal.

Hida Takayama Ramen sets itself apart by offering a lighter broth with the same depth of flavour achieved by their special mix of dashi and broth.

A Hidden Gem

Hida Takayama Ramen is a hidden gem inside the Robson Public Market food court. Its original owner wanted to retire and two of its loyal customers stepped up to take over. Reg and Ping are owner operators of Yui Japanese Bistro, and they now also own Hida Takayama Ramen.

They kept the old recipes, but have made improvements to the taste and prep procedures to ensure a consistent experience. The previous owner continues to be their supplier for noodles and gyoza.

Original White Sesame

Hida sesame broth, chashu, white sesame, bamboo shoot, green onion.

Basic Spicy Miso

Hida signature broth, chashu, seaweed, bamboo shoots and green onion. This was my favourite!

Traditional Hida Chuka

Clear chicken dashi broth, chashu, bamboo shoot, green onion and seaweed. The broth looks simple, but there are layers of umami and salt that makes this special.

Tantanmen White Sesame

Hida signature broth, spicy ground pork, pickled ginger, ginger onion and black fungus. It’s good, it’s rich and the topping is so flavourful.

Gyoza

Hida Takayama’s gyoza is made with premium kurobuta pork and is still supplied by the original owner. They’re a great side to the ramen, but I would love it more if it had better texture with a crispy bottom.

Final Thoughts

Hida Takayama Ramen is a great addition to the Vancouver ramen scene. Its new owners have improved the taste and consistency, but kept the style of its original humble beginnings.

The noodles have a great bite and goes with all of the broth options available. Their egg is perfectly cooked, so go ahead and add a side of egg with your order.

We completely overlooked it when we visited, so learn from our mistake and take advantage of the free parking for patrons in the basement of Robson Public Market.

Address:
1610 Robson St #203, Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://hidaramen.com/