In Downtown

Yah Yah Ya Ramen in Downtown Vancouver

July 1, 2017

Yah Yah Ya Ramen opened their second location in Vancouver and they specialize in Yokohama-style ramen. The style of ramen blends tonkotsu and shoyu broth together to give a unique blend of broth. We were invited to try their special Cold Ramen only available in the summer.

Interior

There are 2 larger communal tables inside and a bunch of other smaller table. Lots of space for ramen lovers.

Japanese Ocha

Once of my favourite drinks to have at a ramen bar. You can have it sweetened or unsweetened. I would definitely recommend having it unsweetened so you can taste more of the tea.

Gyozas

These come in 6 pieces per order. A decent pan fried on one side. A good item to share among a table of friends, but it still felt a bit average.

NO. 1 Shoyu Ramen

You will find 3 pieces of toasted sesame, 2 pieces of chashu, egg, spinach, and their pork soy sauce ie-kei soup base. Very delicious and highly recommended if it’s your first time here. You can choose the texture of the noodle (hard, normal or soft), the richness (heavy, normal or light) and oil (more, normal, or less).

Black Ramen Tonkotsu

Inside you will find 3 pieces of toasted seaweed, bamboo shoots, 2 slices of chashu, and ramen egg. Delicious as well. It’s hard to choose between their bowls of ramen.

Mazesoba

In this bowl, you’ll find pork meat, toasted seaweed, bean sprouts, green onions, bamboo shoots and a golden egg yolk. You mix this all up really well and then enjoy. The flavour of all the items coat the noodles and is enjoyable.

Cold Ramen

This is only available in the Summer. It has sliced chashu, sliced red ginger, sliced egg, bean sprouts and cucumber. Mix it up and enjoy. A good choice to cool down for the Summer, but I still have a huge craving for a hot bowl of ramen even if it’s super hot outside.

Spicy Cold Ramen

If you want a kick of heat, they have a spicy cold ramen too. It has sliced chashu, kimchi, seaweed, bean sprouts and cucumber.

Salmon Don

You can have this as a combo with your ramen or on it’s own. The piece of salmon on top is very meaty.

Negi Chashu Don

Another don option if you like their chashu. I thought this was ok as the sauce felt a bit overpowering.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Yah Yah Ya Ramen is a pretty solid ramen shop. With so many ramen shops on Robson Street, they do stand out for their Yokohama style ramen. If you’re in the area, check it out.

We Rate Yah Yah Ya Ramen:

Address: 570 Robson St, Vancouver

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/downtownyahyahya/

In Japanese

Black Rice Izakaya: Aburi, Teishoku and Flames

June 23, 2017

Black Rice Izakaya has recently added a few new items on the menu. It’s been a while since I made my last visit, but I was excited to see what else they were adding to the menu. I came with a few other foodies to see how those new items tasted.

Interior

The interior is dark and has a wooden rustic look. There are a good amount of tables for small to large groups. Definitely try to make reservations to secure your spot. They have an open kitchen, so you can sneak a peek inside if you want to see how their chefs put together their creations.

Teishoku Lunch Sets

Teishoku C Set has a dish of grilled miso zuke black cod steak with 3 pieces of assorted tempura, side of beef or chicken karaage, agedashi tofu, assorted oshinko, green salad, bowl of rice and miso soup. The price is right for this lunch set. It’s available on weekdays and weekends. Very affordable and very tasty. I would recommend any of these lunch sets.

Teishoku B Set has 6 pieces of torched Black Angus Nigiri, Maki hand roll, Agedashi Tofu, assorted Oshinko, Green Salad and Miso soup. The nigiri is delicious but make sure to eat it right away when its still warm. It’s a very hearty set and great for lunch.

Stone Grill Yakiniku

Gyu Katsu Set has rare cooked black angus steak cutlet. You cook the katsu a little bit more and enjoy it with the cabbage and sauces.

You can have this all to yourself, but the best way to enjoy this is sharing with friends and order a few other items.

Yakiniku Moriawase has 3 kinds Angus Beef and is a very interactive item to order. The cuts of the beef are very nice, but it will cost you around $38.50. As you can see from the marbling of the meat, they aren’t cheaping out on you. You have the super hot stone that quickly cooks the beef.

It was really good and it was fun cooking with friends at the table.

Aburi Hakozushi Platter

This platter takes about 20 minutes to prepare as there are quite a bit of work needed to create these. The set comes with 4 signature aburi – Aburi Salmon, Aburi Saba, Aburi Ebi and Aburi Scallop. The platter was ok, but I’m sure most people are wondering…how does this compare to Miku. It doesn’t. They do a decent job at recreating it, but it does fall short. With each item, there isn’t the depth of flavour in the sauce and the rice needs a bit more love. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good price for all of this and it tastes fine.

Aburi Salmon

Aburi Saba

Aburi Scallop

Aburi Ebi

Unagi Signature Roll

Their Unagi Signature Roll is on fire. Literally. It has prawn tempura, cucumber, tamago, set on fire with rum and herb fire. It is all covered in black rice and then lit. I really liked this roll for it’s entertainment factor as well as the taste of the unagi.

Black Mentaiko Signature Roll

Black Mentaiko Signature Roll has avocado, cream cheese, tuna tataki topped with deep-fried black cod and mentaiko mayo. It is also wrapped in black rice. It was a decent roll but not as tasty as the unagi signature roll.

Lollipop

Lollipop is a huge roll on a stick that looks like lollipop. It has sockeye, salmon, bell pepper, tamago, oshinko, cucumber, asparagus, avocado and spinach wrapped with shaved radish. The rice is thin and everything is packed inside.

Yaki Tofu

This is pan grilled tofu with their house sauce. It’s a pretty big slab of tofu topped with sprouts and onions.

Buta Kakuni

This is Soy Sauce Braised Pork Belly. It comes with 8 pieces to an order. You can’t go wrong with a plate of pork belly to share among the table.

Tebasaki Chicken Wings

This is their house sauce glazed chicken whole wings. It had a nice char to some of the pieces of extra flavour.

Sapporo Beer

The best type of beverage to go with their food is beer. They have a decent selection of beer but I always go with Sapporo. It’s light and refreshing.

Yuzu Ice Cream

They even have dessert – yuzu ice cream inside a jar topped with a caramelized lotus root. It had a tart taste as yuzu is like a sweet little oranges.

Final Thoughts

I was impressed this time around with their menu. Some hit but there are a few misses. I would definitely come back for the lunch sets as it’s a fantastic deal. Their dinner menu has a few fiery item added to it that make the dining experience interactive.

We Rate Black Rice Izakaya:

Address:
782 Cambie St, Vancouver, BC

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

In Japanese

Pepper Lunch Canada: New Location at Garden City Central

May 24, 2017

Pepper Lunch Canada has opened their third location at Garden City Central, the big complex with the Wal-Mart. You’ll find the same great food sizzling on their cast iron plates.

When you walk in, you order right at the counter and then go get seated. We were invited back to Pepper Lunch to check out the new space and try a few items off them menu, I’ve been a fan of Pepper Lunch since they first opened in Canada. I find it a lot better than some locations in Asia since they put in more care in the quality of ingredients that go into the dish.

Spicy Pork Pepper Rice

The hot sizzling skillet has pieces of spicy pork, rice, corn, pepper and green onions. The skillet cooks the pork quickly, so make sure to mix all the ingredients together. It’s not too spicy and it just gives you a little kick.

Chicken Gyoza

Grilled to perfection, just look at all those lovely marks. It’s a great item to order and share with your friends. I would order this again.

Wagyu Beef Pepper Rice

Sizzling beef sounds so good. You don’t need long for the meat to cook and you probably want it a touch pink in the centre to really taste the flavour of the beef.

Mushroom Veggie Burger

This dish always amazes me as it’s so savoury due to the amount of mushrooms inside the patty. It’s a veggie patty that any meat eater would enjoy, except if you don’t like mushrooms.

Unagi Pepper Rice

The unagi pieces are in an egg mixture with the pepper rice in the centre. When it arrives at the table, I would mix it up right away so it doesn’t get over cooked especially the egg.

8oz Slice Angus Steak

The pieces of Angus streak are really juicy and delicious especially when its just at medium rare. If you don’t want to over cook it, a good tip is to put it on top of the veggies.

Kobe Burger with Egg

Another one of my top favourites. The burger is cut into 4s and is very succulent and juicy. The veggies balance the dish pretty well.

Beef Yaki Udon

This is a dish I haven’t had before. It is beef yaki udon and it’s mean to be mixed before eating.

Mochi Ice Cream

For dessert, you can order some mochi ice cream too. Sometimes it’s good to have a touch of sweetness to the end of the meal and it’s not too large, so its prefect. My favourite ones are vanilla and black sesame.

Final Thoughts

I honestly love Pepper Lunch for a good quick meal and now we have 3 locations to go to. I’ll be back.

We Rate Pepper Lunch:

Address:
1625-5791 McClelland Rd, Richmond

Website:
http://www.pepperlunchcanada.com/

In Downtown

Kobe Japanese Steak and Seafood House: Teppanyaki Dining Experience

May 22, 2017

Kobe Japanese Steak and Seafood House specializes in Teppanyaki Dining Experience and has been around since 1969. They require reservations and can fit up to 120 people. I’ve always known about it and wanted to go try it. M and I received a SocialShopper voucher for a complete hibachi teppanyaki dinner experience for two people and wanted to come try it for our anniversary. We made reservations online and came here on a Wednesday evening. The dinner included teppan shrimp appetizer, shabu shabu soup, rice, seared vegetables, beef, tiger prawns, teriyaki chicken breast, green tea and ice cream for dessert.

Izakaya Lounge

The lounge is on the main floor and they have drinks and some other nibbles that you can order.

Dining Area

The main dining area is upstairs and there were tons of people already at 6pm. The seating is a bit tight since they tried to maximize space. We got seated but then had to wait until 6:40pm until the table was all complete. So, we grabbed some drinks. Drinks are extra and aren’t included in the voucher.

I went with Tiger, a Singaporean lager that has a light, crisp, and clean taste.

M got a small size of sake to enjoy with his meal. Both very great options to have with teppanyaki as it compliments the flavour profiles.

Shabu Shabu Soup

Everyone started with the Shabu Shabu Soup, which has fried onions, mushrooms and some green onions in this tasty broth. A good way to start the meal.

Food + Entertainment

Once the chef started, we got really excited to see the electrifying fire on the hot hot grill. I loved seeing the fire and feeling the heat emanating from grill.

They have 2 different sauces to dip your meat and vegetables. One was a garlic sauce and the other was a ginger sauce. Both good sauces, but I didn’t use it too much since the food was already flavourful.

Seared Vegetables

As the table was celebrating a few different things, they seared vegetables on the grill with a I <3 U and an onion tower that went up in flames.

Super fun to photograph too. Those flames definitely went up high.

The veggies were cooked well and had good flavour.

Teppan Shrimp Appetizer and Tiger Prawns

They cooked the shrimp together on the grill. The teppan shrimp and the tiger prawns had a noticeable texture and taste difference.

The tiger prawns had a nice bounce in texture and was more plump.

Beef

When we got our steak, we were asked how we would like it cooked. We went with rare.

It was cooked more to a medium rare, but that was ok too. The steak was good and went well with the dipping sauces.

Teriyaki Chicken Breast

There was then the Terikyaki Chicken Breast cooked on the grill with soy sauce, butter and salt.

Then the bean sprouts are steamed up and served with the chicken.

All the food put on the plate doesn’t look appetizing, but the food was decent.

Ice Cream

The meal ended with a scoop of ice cream with a cute umbrella. We got green tea and mango.

Final Thoughts

Overall, it was a unique experience and I’m glad we got a chance to try it. The food was decent but because of the similar sauce used for the different proteins, the flavour profile was mostly soy sauce and butter. $68.99 for a Teppanyaki Dinner Experience for 2 people through SocialShopper was a good deal. They usually have these deals, so you never have to pay regular price again.

We Rate Kobe:

Address:
1042 Alberni St, Vancouver

Website: https://koberestaurant.com

In Downtown

Yui Japanese Bistro: Affordable Aburi in Vancouver

May 2, 2017

Yui Japanese Bistro recently opened in Downtown Vancouver and is a hidden gem tucked away in a business building. They pride themselves of making aburi sushi at affordable prices. Yui is located on the first floor. The restaurant is pretty small, so go for dinner earlier in the evening. They are open daily from 11am – 8pm except Sunday. I came with Dee for a visit at 7pm and there was a wait of about 20 minutes.

Tea

Before the meal begins, they bring over cups of tea. You can also ask for a small pot of tea.

Aburi Oshi

My favourite spot is at the bar, so you can see all the action of them putting each dish together.

They have 3 kinds on their menu – ebi, saba and salmon. Each sushi is torched with charcoal.

Salmon Aburi Oshi

They use sockeye salmon on top of the sushi and one embedded inside the rice. They apply the house-made sauce and then torched for added flavour. It is then topped with pepper and a jalapeno. So delicious and made to perfection. Also it’s only $10.25, which is very affordable.

Ebi Aburi Oshi

A block of rice topped with Shrimp, ume sauce and lime zest. The lime was a very interesting addition to the pressed rolls to bring more freshness and liven the flavour. The flame really transforms that ume sauce to add some smokiness.

Saba Aburi Oshi

It is topped with mackerel, shiso, and a miso sauce. The charcoal flame also lightly kisses the mackerel and miso sauce. Delicious as well.

Karai Rice Bowl

Bincho toro, okra, spicy kimchi cabbage, amakuchi soy, and some greens sits on top of white rice. You mix it all together with the soy and it makes a great dish for lunch. Very healthy too.

Salmon Carpaccio

The salmon carpaccio is beautifully cut and they use sockeye salmon.

Each order has 5 pieces and then its torched with some charcoal. They then top it off with some decadent garnish and sauce.

It was all really good and we just wanted more. hahaha. There are some black dried olives on top that balanced nicely.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I loved my experience at Yui Japanese Bistro. This small restaurant is bursting with flavour and it’s very affordable compared to some other places out there in Vancouver. I’ll be back!

We Rate Yui Japanese Bistro:

Address:
1185 W Georgia St, Unit 102, Vancouver

Website:
http://eatatyui.com/

In Cafe

Yama Cafe: Japanese Cafe in Vancouver

April 30, 2017

Yama Cafe has taken over Basho Cafe a few months ago. Everyone was so sad that Basho closed their doors, but Yama has kept the essence of Basho and put his spin on the menu. I came here with a few foodie friends to check out the space and have a treat. They serve up drinks, rice bowls, salad bowls, bread, and soup.

Interior

The interior is still the same with their wooden rustic look and bunting spread across the room. There were lots of people inside here, but if you come at off-times, there are tables.

Treats

They have a selection of treats like brownies, moffins (made with mochi), and other treats. You can’t go wrong with any of them as they are very well made. They are delicious and it’s just the right amount of sweetness to go with their drinks.

Matcha Latte

Their matcha lattes can be sweet or unsweetened, I went with the unsweetened kind as I don’t like to much sugar in my drinks. It was delicious and they did a very pretty latte art on top.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I love this space. It’s so cozy and great for hanging out with friends. Their drinks and baked goods are delicious too. I’ll definitely be back.

We Rate Yama Cafe:

Address:
2007 E Hastings Street, Vancouver

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Yama-Cafe-699753386865794/

In Four Beakers

Jinya Ramen in the Telus Garden on Robson Street

April 15, 2017

Jinya Ramen Bar is opening up on April 21st at the Telus Garden on Robson Street. They have all their classic ramen dishes with an expanded menu with more appetizers and drinks. Jinya has been one of my personal favourite ramen shops in Vancouver and it’s funny how they are moving a block to Telus Garden.

I came here for a preview of the space as well as to try a few items off the menu.

Interior

The interior is really nice and modern with some brick accents. There are large windows to let in a lot of natural light. The space is larger than their previous location, so should seat more people.

I love staring at their amazing chefs creating each bowl of ramen. Stacks and stacks of ramen bowls linking the kitchen.

Their staff were pumping out ramen non-stop.

I love this picture. “No Ramen, No Life” is absolutely correct.

Drinks

They have local craft beers on the menu, which is fantastic!

Moody Ales, Steel & Oak, Fuggles & Warlock, Parkside, and Four Winds. Love the local flair in this international ramen chain.

They also have spirits like sake on their menu. Of course they also have whiskey and other harder drinks too.

Appetizers

Brussel Sprouts Tempura

It is crisp on the outside because of the batter. It also have white truffle oil.

Salmon Poke Mini Tacos

The salmon poke is served in a crispy wonton taco shell. Very addictive!

Takoyaki

These are octopus balls. It has battered octopus over egg tartar topped with kewpie mayo, okonomiyaki sauce, green onion and bonito flakes. It came piping hot, so let it cool before popping it into your mouth.

Ramen

Cha Cha Cha Ramen

This is for garlic lovers. It has pork and fish broth, pork chashu, seasoned egg, bean sprouts, chopped onion, green onion, garlic, chili powder, and served with extra thick noodles.

Vegetable Soup Ramen

It has a vegetable broth, mushroom, greens, broccoli, cauliflower and pepper. It is served with thin noodles. This was ok, but not my favourite.

Spicy Creamy Vegan Ramen

It has their vegetable broth, tofu, green onion, onion, spinach, crisp onions, garlic chips, garlic oil, chili oil, sesame seeds and served with thick noodles. This was so good! The additional of the garlic and chili oil are so amazing. I thought I loved the Tonkotsu black broth, but this broth is killer!

Spicy Chicken Ramen

It has chicken broth: chicken chashu, spinach, spicy bean sprouts, green onion, and served with thin noodles. You can choose it to be mild, spicy or hot.

Kaedama Noodle Refill

If you are done slurping up your noodles and have extra broth, you can order an additional portion of noodles to keep on enjoying the ramen.

They have different types of noodles too.

Final Thoughts

Their new location will bring more menu items that are pretty standard with their other North American locations. Plus, the decor and space is a lot nicer, but nothing was wrong with their previous location either. You still get the same great ramen, but this time I found my other favourite ramen – spicy creamy vegan ramen. Jinya Tonkotsu Black is awesome too.

We Rate Jinya Ramen Bar:

Address:
541 Robson Street, Vancouver

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

In Cafe

Mikan Cafe: Japanese Pasta and Poutine

March 17, 2017

Mikan Cafe is the sister restaurant of Cafe de L’Orangerie. They have poutine, Japanse spaghetti, sandwiches and other items on the menu. This cafe use to be called Jean Talon, but they changed up their menu and has a new name.

Interior

The interior is cozy and has a few tables inside. The days that I’ve been here, it’s been a bit quiet. I’ve never had to make reservations here. The staff are very nice and helpful.

Poutine with Mikan Style Beef Stew

The crispy fries is topped with beef stew and cheese curds. We got a smaller order and it was a good size for 3 people to share. The fries are really crispy and I like how it’s not soggy at all.

Masago Creamy Spaghetti

This popular spaghetti has squid, mushroom, asparagus, roe, and cream. It was very delicious and I love the use of the Japanese ingredients that meld with pasta.

Strawberry Cream Roll

A great way to end the meal is by getting some of the desserts. The strawberry cream roll is light and fluffy.

Final Thoughts:

I love the addition of Japanese pasta on the menu. If you love Cafe de L’Orangerie, you’ll love Mikan Cafe, plus it’s not very busy. I love this location as I don’t have to travel so far to get their delicious pasta.

We Rate Mikan Cafe:

Address:
670 East Broadway, Vancouver, BC

Website: http://mikancafe.cafedelorangerie.ca/

In Fairview

Benkei Ramen: Peko Ramen and Vegan Ramen in Vancouver

March 3, 2017

Benkei Ramen in Vancouver has always been innovating their ramen to cater to those who love authentic Japanese ramen as well as those with dietary restrictions. I was invited with a friend to try their new Peko Ramen as well as some other items off the menu. As my friend has a seafood allergy, they have a few vegan options.

Interior

The interior is nice with wooden walls and bamboo. The staff are nice and friendly.

Green Tea

Start off with a hot cup of green tea.

Housemade Gyoza

You can order it as a side portion with your ramen or a full order for the table. They only have a pork filled gyoza but are working on a veggie gyoza to add to their menu in the near future.

The pork gyoza was a good accompaniment with a hot bowl of ramen. Great to share with a friend too.

Peko Ramen

Their Peko Ramen is a silky milk broth made of tonkotsu broth, milk, shio-dare and brandy. The broth is very clean, rich and not oily at all. It wasn’t salty at all and with the amount of veggies in this bowl and the slices of lean chicken meat. I slurped up the bowl.

This is back for a limited time until March 31.

Black Vegan Ramen

For those with dietary restrictions, it’s hard to enjoy ramen. Benkei introduced their 2nd vegan ramen – Black Vegan Ramen along side their vegan miso ramen.

Vegan black is deliciously rich. The broth is made with rich vegetable stock, black sesame miso, and drizzle with coconut milk and roasted red pepper. The noodles are also eggless.

More Vegan Ramen

A sneak peek into another vegan ramen they are in the process of creating. They introduced this to me as their white vegan ramen, but they are still tweaking the recipe and name.

I really do appreciate how they are expanding their menu to those ramen eaters with dietary restrictions.

Sauce

Raw Garlic and chili sauce is available for free, all you have to do is ask for it. It’s helpful to enhance the broth if you are feeling its a bit bland.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Benkei Ramen has a lot more to offer than just their usual ramen. I’m impressed they are continually trying new ramen creations.

We Rate Benkei Ramen:

Address:
545 W Broadway, Vancouver

Website:
benkeiramen.com

In Japanese

Men no Kura: Ramen in Vancouver

January 11, 2017

Men-no Kura is another new addition to the ramen community on Robson Street in Downtown Vancouver. There are several ramen shops in close proximity, so competition is high.

I came here at night with a few friends to have 2nd dinner.

Interior

There is a large communal table and then a few smaller tables for other groups. Tables are clean and there is a nice modern industrial look to the space. Staff are nice and helpful too.

Dashimaki

There are 2 types of dashimaki – Japanese rolled omelette at Men-no kura.

Dashimaki mentaiko
Dashimaki cheese

The omelette was soft, warm and the center was filled with either of those salty delicious filling. Delicious. Of the 2 types, I liked the cheese one a bit more.

Japanese deep fried chicken karaage

Japanese deep fried chicken karaage is their most popular item. It is very tender and super juicy with a nice crisp exterior. Very enjoyable and a great item to share.

Tonkotsu Black Garlic

Tonkotsu Black Garlic Ramen is one of their most popular ramen on the menu. It has a rich broth, chashu, garlic chips, and green onions.

Tsukemen

They have Tsukemen on their menu. You can have the noodles hot or cold. You have a choice of 3 different broths to choose from:

Original
Garlic Miso
Spicy

Deluxe Tsukemen

Deluxe Tsukemen comes with extra toppings of ramen egg, bamboo shoots and chashu. The broth is served in a mini hotpot so it stays warm. There was also some fried garlic chips on the side. The broth is quite rich, so without the hot flame underneath, it would congeal. The broth is very favourful and if it’s too rich for your liking, they can dilute it a bit more for you.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the ramen at Men-no-Kura was good. Their broth is much richer than other ramen shops, but I prefer it that way. It was good ramen, but with so many other ramen shops out there, it’s hard to choose. I still have another favourite, but if I was close by, I would come here again.

We Rate Men-no-Kura :

Address:
1773 Robson Street, Vancouver

In Japanese

Raisu: Japanese Cuisine in Kitsilano

January 1, 2017

Raisu is the newest sister restaurant to Kingyo, Rajio, and Suika. I came with my friends late at night as we wanted to try something new in town. The restaurant is hidden on the second floor, so the door is a bit hard to find, but once you make your way up here, the space is very rustic.

Drinks

Raisu Premium Sake Flight comes with 5 cups of sake. The staff chooses the five choices for you.

I went with a glass of Sapporo as I personally don’t like sake. Beer is my kind of drink. Light, refreshing and pairs well with Japanese food.

Milky Sily Mentaiko Udon

The chewy Sanuki Udon noodles are in a broth made of Saikyo white miso, mascarpone cheese, and briny cod roe soup. The udon came in a huge bowl and can be shared among the table. Good deep flavours of the broth.

Chicken Karaage

This is Raisu’s original spice rubbed vegetarian-fed free-range chicken Kara-age. The skin is crisp and very moist inside when you bite in. Flavours were good, but expensive for this price.

Deluxe Seafood Bowl

The bowl is stunning and very Instagram worth with its slices of seafood – Ahi Tuna, Sea Urchin, Yellow Tail, Snow Crab, Tai Snapper, Toro Salmon, Ikura and Sweet Shrimp on top of premium Koshihikari Sushi rice. It is also served with miso soup.

It is beautiful, but expensive for what you get. There is a large shell on the back that help prop up all the ingredients, so you don’t really get as much as you see. It is delicious still, but I know I get get better value else where.

Overall, the food is good but the prices are a bit high for what you get. The most popular items are the Sho Ka Do Bento, the Ocean Offering, and Seafood Donabe Takikomi Rice but there are limited quantities per day for lunch and dinner. You’ll have to get their early. If I were to revisit, I think I’ll try those limited items instead.

We Rate Raisu:

Address:
2340 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver

Website:
http://www.raisu.ca/

In Chinatown

Kissa Tanto: Japanese and Italian Fusion in Chinatown

December 28, 2016

Tucked into the upper story of a delightfully faded building in Chinatown, Kissa Tanto serves up a posh fusion of Italian and Japanese food. They take their inspiration from the delicate flavours of Japanese cuisine and the warmth of ltalian cooking.

Kissa Tanto won Canada’s best new restaurant by enRoute magazine. Their sister restaurant is Bao Bei, only a few blocks away. All of us haven’t heard about Kissa Tanto when they won the award, so we made it a mission to check it out for dinner. We had a large group of 6 and had to wait over a month for a seat as they only have one table for 6 people.

We had to provide a credit card in advance for the reservation. If we didn’t show up, they would charge us $150 cancellation fee.

Interior

Once we headed upstairs, we were transported into the 1960’s. It is styled like old Tokyo jazz cafés.

The dusty-pink leather banquettes, banker’s lamps and brass railings really make this place shine and give it the ambiance.

The space isn’t that large, so reservations are highly recommended to avoid waits and disappointment.

There are 12 seats at the bar that are first come first serve, which require no reservations.

Drinks

Four Winds Saison is what I ordered. One of my favourite light fruity tasting beers.

Four on six sour was what the others ordered. It has a mix of Bourbon, noilly prat amber, charred pineapple, lemongrass shrub, ardberg, and egg white.

To Begin With – Appetizers

Albacore tuna crudo with shiso vinaigrette, radishes, Tokyo leek, capers, pickled almonds, Castelvetrano olives, and mustard greens. Very delicious light and you can taste the freshness of the tuna paired with the other ingredients. One of my favourite appetizers.

Octopus Salad has crispy octopus, citrus mayonnaise, daikon, radish, basil, ikura, and parmesan. The octopus was a decent texture, but I thought it would be a bit softer.

Frittelle di Melanzane is a garlic eggplant fritter with yuzu gribiche, basil and bonito salt, and shaved katsuo. It comes with 3 pieces was delicious. Soft on the inside but crisp on the outside.

Terrina Frita has pink, pickled daikon and nori mustard on bruschetta. This was one of the specials for today. I love the vibrant colours, but it was a so-so dish.

Tender to the Tooth – Pasta

Lasagne del Giorno was the lasagne of the day and it featured winter chanterelles & pork with a miso bechamel and basil cream sauce. Very delicious and each layer melded well together.

Tajarin is made of butter, roasted mushrooms, and miso cured yolk. Three of my favourite ingredients. the simplicity of this pasta dish really spoke to my tastebuds.

Casarecce is pasta in a pork and sake kasu ragu. The type of pasta helps capture some of the sauce in it’s crevices. Also very delicious.

Sharing is Caring – Entrees for Sharing

Lamb Shoulder is served with tosaka seaweed, fregola, anchovy butter, puréed egg yolk, Sicilian olives, and pickled peppers. The lamb was tender and it was an interesting experience navigating how to eat this dish.

One of the other specials for the day was their Beef Cheeks with braised tomato and anchovies, and gnocchi. The delicious jus of the beef covered the fluffy gnocchi. Tender and flavourful beef.

Whole Fish of the Day was Sea Perch for $40. It is flash-fried and served with a daikon soy dipping sauce. It was super crisp and easy to eat as every bit of it was edible – even the bones. The bones were crunch like chips.

Dessert

Yuzu Cream has Sicilian pistachios, olive oil crumble and season fruit in it.

Tiramisu has a touch of plum wine. Very light and fluffy layers.

Flourless Chocolate Cake was rich and dense. It is served with miso-caramel ice cream.

Final Thoughts

Overall, it was a fun dinner with friends – Foodgressing, Vie a Maggi, Picky Diner, Sherman, and Drunken Noms – who all enjoy good food. With the 6 of us, we shared 13 dishes. 2 and a bit dishes for each person.

From what we tried, I could really see the fusion between Japanese and Italian cooking. It’s pretty interesting to see these 2 cuisines come together as it’s not common at all.

We Rate Kissa Tanto:

Address:
263 E Pender Street, Vancouver

Website:
http://www.kissatanto.com/

In Japanese

Pepper Lunch on Cambie: Gyozas, Yaki Udon and Grilled Meats

November 22, 2016

Pepper Lunch launched a few items on their menu a few month ago. We went to their Cambie location to try a few of these items. I’ve been a big fan of their restaurant ever since I had it in Asia. The 2 Canadian locations are a lot better than the ones in Asia but to the sourcing of their ingredients.

The space has high ceilings with natural night during the day. Narrow space, but has spaces for small to large groups. They have a second floor that accommodates larger groups.

Gyoza

Gyoza is their new side dish and it comes in beef or chicken. There are 12 pieces per order. Both types were delicious but the chicken was very moist and addictive. Nice grill marks on the outside too.

Maple Flavoured Sliced Pork Steak

Maple Flavoured Sliced Pork Steak has sliced pork steak, bean sprouts, green beans, carrots and a bowl of rice on the side. This was surprisingly very good. The maple caramelized on the outside of the pork and added a touch of sweetness that isn’t over powering.

Dinner Specials – Prawns and Sliced Angus

Prawns and sliced angus comes with veggies, bowl of rice, miso soup, a drink and mochi ice cream.

I love hearing the meat sizzle on the hot plate from the cooking meat. Delicious and tender angus beef with lots of flavour.

Dinner Specials – 300g Kobe Burger

The 300g Kobe Burger comes with veggies, bowl of rice, miso soup, a drink and mochi ice cream. It’s a pretty big slab of burger. Super delicious and great for people who want a little extra food compared to the regular menu.

Veggie Mushroom Burger

Veggie Mushroom Burger also has bean sprouts, green beans, carrots and a bowl of rice. I usually don’t like veggie burgers but they did a good job making these and the savoury mushrooms really made it taste great.

Yaki Udon

They also introduced yaki udon and you have the choice between beef or pork. It also has green beans, carrots and topped with bonito flakes and green onions.

Stir it around and it cooks all the items in the skillet.

Mochi Ice Cream

They also have a variety of mochi ice cream. I enjoyed the vanilla and black sesame ice cream mochi. All of them were pretty decent and its a nice sweet touch to the end of the meal.

Final Thoughts

Overall, its great to have a few more additional items on the menu. I usually have my go to dishes at Pepper Lunch, but I really enjoyed the Veggie Mushroom Burger and the Maple Flavoured Sliced Pork Steak.

We Rate Pepper Lunch:

Address:
2323 Cambie St. Vancouver

Website:
http://www.pepperlunchcanada.com/

In Izakaya

Kibo Restaurant and Lounge: Drink in Yaletown

November 20, 2016

It’s been a while since my last visit to Kibo. They are a modern Japanese restaurant which is popular among larger groups celebrating birthdays or other milestones.

We came here to grab a few bites and get some drinks in the evening.

Drinks

A pitcher of Sapporo comes with frosted and chilled mugs. Sapporo is my preferred beer to go with Japanese food as it balances the flavours very well.

Sake is my friends drink of choice. Cold sake comes in a cute little dispenser.

Kibo Ball has Whiskey, Melon liquer, and Peach Schnapps. An easy drink shooter and they have a good deal for 5 for $20.

Aburi Block Sushi has pressed rice, salmon and their chef’s signature sauce. A very saucy item, but of course it’s not as good as Miku’s version.

Ika sugatayaki is a grilled and marinated whole squid. Served with a lemon and a mayo sauce. THis was pretty good and an easy item to share.

Assorted Tempura is decent here too. A few pieces of yams and prawns with a dipping sauce.

Short Ribs are marinated and grilled. Tender and not chewy at all.

Overall, the food is decent, but a lot of people come here for drinks and a few bites in the evening.

We Rate Kibo:

Address:
1261 Hamilton Street, Vancouver

Website:
https://www.facebook.com/kibo.yaletown/

In Commercial Drive / Grandview

Natsumi Ramen: Ramen on Commercial Drive

November 16, 2016

Natsumi Ramen on Commercial Drive is one of the newer ramen shops to pop up in Vancouver. There aren’t any ramen shops in the area, so I was surprised this was here. I was walking along Commercial Drive with a few friends and we decided to stop here, avoid the rain and have a hearty bowl of ramen.

Interior

The interior has a lot of cat silhouettes. No problems here since I love cats. Dog lovers are welcome here too.

There are a decent number of tables here for small and large groups.

Side Dish

Before the ramen arrives, everyone was given pickled and marinated onions. Surprisingly really good. Something to munch on before the ramen arrives.

Ramen

Tsukemen has a soy sauce based broth with noodles on the side. There is also diced pork belly, soft boiled egg, bamboo shoot, green onion, and roasted seaweed. This is a dipping ramen, so you take some noodle and dip it in the broth, then slurp it up.

Miso Ramen has pork belly, bean sprout, bamboo sprouts, blacktree fungus, fried onion, green onion, corn and roasted seaweed. My friend added an egg to this.

Cheese Kimchi Ramen has a soy sauce based broth, pork belly, soft boiled egg, bean sprout, green onion, corn, mozzarella, chopped kimchi, and roasted seaweed. This loaded ramen had an interesting concept, but the cheese easily dissolves into the ramen and doesn’t hold together well after it melts.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the meal, cute little candies come in a box to finish up the meal. The ramen was pretty average, but it was nice to have a ramen shop in the area.

We Rate Natsumi Ramen:

Address:
1179 Commercial Dr, Vancouver

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ramennatsumi/

In Japanese

Ryuu Japanese Kitchen at McArthur Glen Designer Outlet

October 16, 2016

Ryuu Japanese Kitchen is your place for sushi and Japanese food at McArthur Glen Designer Outlet. There’s a handful of dining options in this outlet, but you’ll only find sushi and a few other dishes here unless you travel further to Richmond city centre or Downtown Vancouver.

I came here as a guest of McArthur Glen Designer Outlet to try out a few items off Ryuu Japanese Kitchen’s menu.

Interior

The interior is large for small to large groups. It wasn’t too busy when we went. The interior is very clean and modern.

Drinks

Asahi beer is on tap. It is light and citrusy and pairs well with Japanese food. We got a large pitcher to share amongst the group and poured our individual glasses.

They have hot and cold sake for those who enjoy it.

Food

Philly Roll has crab meat, avocado, cream cheese and topped with salmon and mayo. Anything with salmon and avocado excites me.

Dragon Roll has avocado, shrimp tempura and topped with sauce, BBQ eel and tobiko. A decent roll to have with your meal.

Takoyako is a ball-shaped snack filled with a small piece of cooked octopus inside. It is topped with mayo, seaweed, garnish and takoyaki sauce. It comes with 8 pieces to an order.

Overall, the items we tried were decent. Pretty standard sushi rolls compared to some other Japanese restaurants out there in Vancouver.

We Rate Ryuu Japanese Kitchen:

Address:
1000-7899 Templeton Station Road, Richmond

Website:
http://www.ryuujapanesekitchen.com/

In Japanese

Yayoi: Japanese Teishoku Restaurant in Palo Alto

October 13, 2016

Yayoi opened their first US location in Palo Alto on University Avenue serving up teishoku-style Japanese restaurant, which are set meals which typically includes smaller side dishes like rice, miso soup, side dish and pickled vegetables with the main course.

My friend took us here when we were visiting for a few days. I was pretty excited since I always love trying new food.

Interior

The interior is nice and large, so there are a good amount of seats. We found that a lot of young families were dining here around dinner time.

Ordering

We browsed through the menu and then we started playing around with the iPad, where you input your order. You do everything on here and it ensures your order is correct and maximizes efficiency.

We even ordered our glasses or water on it too. No need to wait for someone till fill up our glasses.

Dinner Sets

Katsu Toji Teishoku has pork cutlet simmered in sauce and egg. It comes with ice, soup and side dishes.

I ordered the Omaze Don with salmon sashimi, okra, tororo, natto, tomago, seaweed and ontama. You mix it all together in the bowl and enjoy.

It comes with rice, miso soup, and side dishes. It was a very delicious and clean meal. The natto isn’t for everyone as it is fermented beans, people seem to have a love/hate relationship with them.

Nasu Miso Teishoku has eggplant, pork belly, and veggies in a miso sauce. It is served with rice, miso soup, and 2 side dishes.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the portion were good and we were pretty stuffed. The meals were well balanced and I enjoy set meals and you get a little taste of everything. The service was pretty good and they don’t require tipping. I ended up tipping anyways since it was a good meal.

We rate Yayoi:

Address:
403 University Ave, Palo Alto

Website:
http://www.yayoi-us.com/

In Fusion

Sushirrito: Sushi Burrito in Palo Alto

October 11, 2016

Sushirrito is the original sushi burrito concept before it went big around the world. When I was in San Francisco and Palo Alto, I knew I had to check this place out.

Sushirrito is made-to-order with a mix of Asian and Latin flavours. It’s the perfect alternative to fast food.

In Palo Alto, the Sushirrito is located on University Ave close to Stanford.

When we came here for lunch, it was packed. Its also located beside Blue Bottle Cafe. There are limited seats inside.

Lava Nachos

Lava Nachos are in limited quantities each day. It has brown rice chips topped with tuna picante, melted Pepper Jack cheese, ginger guac, green onions, nori strips, and Sriracha aioli. A very flavourful dish and great for a few people to share.

Geisha’s Kiss has Yellowfin Tuna (Hand-Line Caught), tamago, piquillo peppers, lotus chips, namasu cucumber, green leaf lettuce, ginger guac, yuzu tobiko with a sesame white soya sauce.

I liked the clean fresh taste of the tuna with the crunchy texture of the lotus chips.

Sumo Crunch has shrimp tempura, surimi crab, shaved cabbage, cucumber, ginger guac, and Sriracha Aioli. It is then covered in red tempura flakes. This version was pretty good as well.

Genmai Horchata is one of the drinks they have. It is their blend of green tea and horchata.

Overall, it was a good quick lunch for us and with the 3 items ordered for 2 people, it was plenty of food. The sushirrito reminded me of a large uncut sushi roll with different types of filling and sauce.

We rate Sushirrito:

Address:
448 University Avenue, Palo Alto

Website:
http://www.sushirrito.com/

Japanese

Interior

Menu

Japanese Ocha

Gyozas

NO. 1 Shoyu Ramen

Black Ramen Tonkotsu

Mazesoba

Cold Ramen

Spicy Cold Ramen

Salmon Don

Negi Chashu Don

Final Thoughts

Interior

Teishoku Lunch Sets

Stone Grill Yakiniku

Aburi Hakozushi Platter

Unagi Signature Roll

Black Mentaiko Signature Roll

Lollipop

Yaki Tofu

Buta Kakuni

Tebasaki Chicken Wings

Sapporo Beer

Yuzu Ice Cream

Final Thoughts

Spicy Pork Pepper Rice

Chicken Gyoza

Wagyu Beef Pepper Rice

Mushroom Veggie Burger

Unagi Pepper Rice

8oz Slice Angus Steak

Kobe Burger with Egg

Beef Yaki Udon

Mochi Ice Cream

Final Thoughts

Izakaya Lounge

Dining Area

Shabu Shabu Soup

Food + Entertainment

Seared Vegetables

Teppan Shrimp Appetizer and Tiger Prawns

Beef

Teriyaki Chicken Breast

Ice Cream

Final Thoughts

Tea

Aburi Oshi

Salmon Aburi Oshi

Ebi Aburi Oshi

Saba Aburi Oshi

Karai Rice Bowl

Salmon Carpaccio

Final Thoughts

Interior

Treats

Matcha Latte

Final Thoughts

Interior

Drinks

Appetizers

Brussel Sprouts Tempura

Salmon Poke Mini Tacos

Takoyaki

Ramen

Cha Cha Cha Ramen

Vegetable Soup Ramen

Spicy Creamy Vegan Ramen

Spicy Chicken Ramen

Kaedama Noodle Refill

Final Thoughts

Interior

Poutine with Mikan Style Beef Stew

Masago Creamy Spaghetti

Strawberry Cream Roll

Final Thoughts:

Interior

Green Tea

Housemade Gyoza

Peko Ramen