lunch Archives - Foodology

In Japanese

Raisu: Japanese Lunch Sets and Kids Meal in Vancouver

July 29, 2020

Raisu is a Japanese Izakaya in Vancouver and their sister restaurants are Kingyo, Suika, and Rajio. They specialize in Teishouku, which is Japanese for pre-set meals. It’s usually chef’s selection of items with miso soup and a bowl of rice.

We usually go to Raisu for dinner, but this was our first time having lunch at Raisu. They actually have some amazing lunch meals and kid sets available for dine-in.

We were invited to check out their lunch offerings at Raisu.

Patio

They have a patio and we always enjoy dining in this area. It is covered with a roof and there are fans to keep you cool.

Dining Room

They socially distance all the guests so eating indoors is comfortable and safe. Staff were all wearing masks too.

Kids Set $15

The kid sets are meant for children under 12 years old. You get a bit of everything to keep those picky eaters eating.

When we dined here, our Kids Set came with:

Chicken karaage
Ebiten with tartar sauce
Japanese omelet
Salad
Meatball with miso demiglace sauce
Grilled Veggies (bean, pepper, and corn)
Miso soup
Dessert (Japanese Lemon Cheesecake, but changes seasonally)
Drink ( Choice of orange juice, Calpico water, or Calpico soda)
Small Kid snack (Koala Bear cookies)

This is a really fun meal and a lot of adults wished they could have it too. It’s a good selection of fresh veggies, fried food, and treats. It was all good especially that Japanese Lemon Cheesecake. It was a pleasant surprise.

Lunch Meal Special $24

On the menu, you choose 2 items from these 4 available choices:

Chef’s choice sashimi (3 kinds)
Deep fried food (2 kinds)
Today’s meat dish
Today’s grilled fish

The set comes with rice, miso soup, small dish, pickles and salad.

The Chef’s choice sashimi was salmon, tuna and scallop served in a bowl with radish threads, seaweed, sprouts, and tobiko. Very fresh and good quality.

The grilled fish available today was salmon and mackerel served with lemon, minced daikon, and sauce. Mackerel is generally has lots of bones, a touch dry but very buttery in taste. If you don’t like picking bones out, this may not be the dish for you.

The meat dish today was beef steak served with green and mushroom. It was a touch overdone for our liking.

The deep fried food was a jumbo scallop with snow crab, and a 100% wagyu croquette. Solid dishes with the use of panko.

The small dish of the day was braised melon. It’s tasty but a touch on the salty side if you eat it by itself. It’s best eaten with rice to really enjoy this.

The salad, rice, and miso soup complete the meal. A filling lunch and you can’t so wrong with this. Very enjoyable.

Yuzu Lemonade

This is light and refreshing with carbonation and hints of sweet yuzu. Drinks aren’t included in the set, but it’s a nice accompaniment to the meal especially on a hot summers day.

Raisu Punch

This has Calipico, kiwi, pineapple, and aloe juice. we got this omitted with the kiwi because of personal allergies. It’s also a very light and refreshing drink to pair with the meal. It is a bit sweeter than the yuzu lemonade but it has more flavours going on.

Yuzu Parfait

Highly recommended even if you’re super full. Dessert is a separate stomach right? This has RAISU original yuzu gelato, yuzu rare cheese cake sponge cake, and yuzu cream on top. The yuzu gelato is really good and brings this whole dessert together.

Final Thoughts

The lunch sets for kids and adults are fantastic and fun. It’s a good way to try a bit of everything they have to offer. You definitely want to see what is on their daily special menu as it can rotate daily.

Don’t forget to end you meal with the Yuzu Parfait as we absolutely adored it.

Address:
2340 W 4th Ave, Vancouver, BC

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

In Korean

Kosoo: 2019 Fall Menu with Lunch Boxes, Gugsu, and Sundubu

October 24, 2019

Kosoo Korean Cuisine has launched some new features this fall – Lunch boxes, Gugsu, and Sundubu. I love seasonal menus as the ingredients are in season and generally fit the weather. As it is becoming colder and rainy in Vancouver, we are craving more comforting dishes.

Lunch Boxes

We love a good lunch box where there are so many different items in the meal. There are a few different restaurants that do lunch boxes but this one a pretty nice one for Downtown Vancouver. The prices of the lunch boxes vary depending on the meat option you choose.

There are 5 options:

Bulgogi
LA Galbi
Pork Galbi
Bossam
Gochujang Pork Belly

The box has 6 different side dishes with mushroom salad, daily soup and Korean Yogurt. The side dishes are usually kimchi with bean sprouts, egg omelette, 2 kinds of pancakes, takoyaki and dduk galbi. All very great side dishes.

The LA Galbi was the favourite of the two as it was more meaty. It has nice Korean BBQ flavours marinated throughout. The bulgogi wasn’t as plentiful as it was mixed with onions.

Nonetheless, we still enjoyed the fun concept of the lunch boxes as there is so many different tastes and textures in the side dishes. The soup that accompanied it was seaweed soup, but it does change.

Kosoo Gugsu

This is noodle in broth with a slight kick of spice. There are a lot of noodles in this big bowl, as well as veggies, minced meat and seaweed. We did feel like the noodles were a bit on the soft side and we of preferred it a bit firmer. Nonetheless, if you are really hungry, this dish will fill you up.

You can also turn this in to a combo by adding a side of BBQ for a few extra dollars

Jjangppong Sundubu

If you love spicy noodes, then the Jjangppong Sundubu might be for you. We did ask for less spicy, but it was still very spicy. The portions are huge and it came with a huge fried fish in it. Do not that the fish does have bones, so it’s a bit hard to eat.

BBQ Combo

There are a few BBQ combo options you can add to your noodles:

Chicken
Pork
LA Galbi

Definitely tender and full of flavour from the different marinades. A good addition to the noodles.

Final Thoughts

Glad that the Fall is here since it’s the best time for soupy noodles and BBQ meats. If you’re at Kosoo, definitely check out this fall menu in addition to their regular items.

Website:
http://www.kosoorestaurant.ca/

Address:
832 Cardero St, Vancouver, BC

In Brunch

[Sneak Peek] Ancora Waterfront Dining & Patio: Brunch, Lunch, and much more in Vancouver

August 9, 2019

Ancora Waterfront Dining & Patio is releasing their brunch menu and I’m pretty darn excited because this makes having a taste of Ancora more affordable and more people can get a taste of their Japanese and Peruvian inspired dishes.

During brunch hours at both False Creek and Ambleside locations, the lunch menu is also available if you choose to select some other items off that menu.

We were invited to check out the brunch menu and a few other features also available during brunch time.

Interior

We were dining at their Ambleside location and the space is stunning. They were able to take inspiration from fishing nets and other boating object and incorporate it into their space. It’s absolutely gorgeous.

Complimentary bread

I love complimentary bread! This was slices of brioche and focaccia with a hummus spread. It was pretty good and not the usual bread and butter.

[Brunch Menu]

Soft Shell Crab Taco

The soft shell crab taco is topped with mango salsa, harissa emulsion, seaweed, ikura, and micro greens. It sits on top of 2 grilled taco shells and a slice of lime.

I ordered this dish since I love soft shell crab it was good as the harissa emulsion added more depth to the taste of this dish.

Dungeness Crab Benny

The dungeness crab is served with Botanical greens, nori spiced baby potatoes, and a miso hollandaise. The eggs are poached perfectly, so when you cut into the egg, it runs. If you want it to be less runny, you can request it done however you like.

Forbidden Rice Peruvian Paella

One of their specialities at Ancora is paella. This brunch version has black cod croquettes, rocoto aioli and fried egg.

Flank Steak Burger

The burger is cooked medium rare and it also has rocoto aioli, aged cheddar, yucas bravas, and we added a fried egg to it. It’s not brunch without a fried gooey egg. Those yuca fries are so damn good. Super crisp!

[Lunch Menu]

The brunch menu isn’t extensive, but their lunch menu is also available to order from.

Spider Roll

Inside the roll has soft shell crab, masago and asparagus. There are 8 pieces to a roll and good for sharing among the table.

Sashimi

There is fresh sashimi on the table and we go the chef to decide what to add to ours. there is wild salmon and hamachi. Each order comes with 5 pieces each.

Ceviche Mixto

This bowl of delicious ceviche has mussels, scallops, shrimp, crispy squid, seaweed, and yam. I like the different textures of this bowl. There is acidity, there is sweetness and it really compliments the seafood.

Peruvian Style Paella

Their lunch paella is different than the brunch version. This has halibut, chorizo, corn, baby shrimp, and pico de gallo.

Donburi Rice Bowl

This beautiful dish has uni, wild salmon, marinated ikura, sushi rice, and acevichado sauce. There is ginger and wasabi on the side too.

Brussel Sprouts

If you want something extra with your meal, they offer sides. Can’t go wrong with the deep fried Brussel sprouts.

[Dessert]

Spiced Picarones

These are like mini donuts covered in candied pecans, and spiced syrup. Then it is served with lucuma ice cream. A good dessert to share. I loved the combination of spices and its not too sweet.

Suspiro de Chocolata

This has a plate of chocolate pot de creme, mazamorra morada, green apple, sweet cream and lime ice cream. This has mostly a dominate chocolate taste but the hints of apple paired well.

Pineapple and Corn

This has white chocolate mousse, roasted pineapple and corn meringue. Man, this dessert as good. The pineapple was very bright and vibrant. One of my favourite desserts.

The Nikkei

This has passion fruit, blonde chocolate mousse, lucuma, and sesame seeds. This was also really good! The passionfruit was pretty darn good! Another one of my favourite desserts.

Strawberry ‘Tea’

This has a base of cream cheese panna cotta, almond, and irigome hojicha jelly.

It’s the perfect time to get this as strawberries are in season. Sweet and delicious when paired with the panna cotta.

[Drinks]

Mimosa

A classic brunch beverage of champagne and orange juice. It was delicious but it could have used more champagne.

Chicha Morada

This is one of the mocktails and it has steeped purple corn, spices, and lime.

Latte

If you need caffeine like me, I got at latte.

Final Thoughts

The brunch menu is solid, but I do like having the option to choose from the lunch menu too. It definitely opens up more choices for more people to try different things. The dishes are great and I would highly recommend getting dessert.

If you have a big appetite, they also have their Prix-fixe lunch menu launch as well.

Address:
1351 Bellevue Ave, West Vancouver, BC

Website:
https://www.ancoradining.com/

In Downtown

Bovine Rice Bowls: Hidden Gem in Downtown Vancouver

June 24, 2019

Bovine Rice Bowls has been hiding in Downtown Vancouver serving up Pan-Asian rice bowls. I work Downtown and I can’t believe I haven’t heard of this place until now. They have been around for the past year and their 1 year anniversary is coming up in a few days.

They pride themselves of using great local ingredients and striking up partnerships with companies like Fife Bakery and Food Peddlers to name a few.

Interior

They are a counter-service restaurant with sit-down and take-out lunch service on weekdays from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The space is very small, but there are a few seats inside and outside. Most people grab their items to go.

Steak Bowl

Each piece of steak is draped over white rice and finished with different sauces, onsen egg and greens. A hearty bowl of steak, egg and rice where you can’t go wrong at all. It’s comforting and the flavours hit the spot.

Roast Beef Bowl

The delicious and tender roast beef sits on top of rice and topped with green, sauce, and an onsen egg. Each bite I had, I really enjoyed.

Just look at that roast beef, it’s beautiful. The ratio of meat and rice was good too.

Signature Garden

This is their vegetarian option and I was pleasantly surprised by this dish. This has a rotating blend of fresh veggies including crispy cauliflower, yam, baby potatoes, carrots, green beans, eggplant and tofu over a rich Japanese curry.

Their curry sauce is just so good and the different textures of the crisp tofu and veggies work very well. If this can impress a meat eater, it’s pretty darn good.

Rotating Specials: Creole Jambalaya

They have rotating specials as the 4th item on the menu. Last week it was the Creole Jambalaya with slow roasted chicken, andouille sausage and shrimp. The sauce has a bit of a kick of spice, shrimp was large and plump too.

Roast Beef Sandwich

This is specially launched for their one year anniversary and only available until quantities last. To thank customers for a successful first year, the first 30 customers at the restaurant on Wednesday, June 26 will receive a free Roast Beef Sandwich, no purchase necessary. To continue the anniversary celebrations, the sandwich will be offered at 50% off ($6) between Wednesday, June 26, to Friday, June 28 until supplies last.

This sandwich has slow-roasted Canadian Ribeye, fried free-range egg, caramelized onion jam, horseradish kewpie, fresh cucumber, pickled watermelon radish, sunflower sprouts, Japanese-style milk bread by Fife Bakery) served alongside kettle chips for $12.

I took one bite of this and loved it! The texture and the flavours go so well together. You can really taste the quality of the ingredients inside. I hope they bring this back permanently because this was so good.

Final Thoughts

Overall, their menu is refined and only has a few items so its great for those who are indecisive. All the items I really enjoyed, but my top favourites is the Roast Beef Sandwich and the Signature Garden. They are my favourites as they were the most surprising to me. The steak and the roast beef bowls were great too.

This is Asian comfort food. Simple, yet well executed. A great hidden spot to grab a lunch in Downtown, Vancouver. Highly recommended.

Address:
1050 W Pender St unit #118, Vancouver, BC

Website:
https://www.bovinebowls.com

In Fusion

The Rise Eatery: Lunch on South Granville

May 31, 2019

The Rise Eatery is serving up Asian fusion cuisine in the South Granville area. It’s been a while since my last visit to The Rise Eatery and it was about time that I make a revisit to see if they have improved over the last few years.

I came back with my family during lunch to check it out.

Interior

For the lunch rush, this place was dead. No another group was in here when we dined. It was really eerie. There are lot of small and large tables as well as a patio. Reservations can be made on OpenTable too.

Seoul Good

This has Korean fried chicken, wild mushroom cream, truffle oil, grated Parmesan, kimchi fried rice, and house-made pickles. G

Generally Korean Fried Chicken should have some spice or sweetness to it but this has the cream sauce with truffle oil and Parmesan. The kimchi fried rice and chicken were ok.

The set also come with a small dessert with the set. It turns out it was a hazelnut shortbread cookie. A bit anti-climatic.

Heart Attack

This set has schmaltz stir-fried rice pilaf, chicken confit, sous vide free run egg, chicken crackling, and salad du jour.

The salad du jour was a piping hot quinoa and kale salad. The temperature was very off and was better when it cooled down. Salads are generally cold so not sure why it was hot.

The sous vide egg was beautifully done but the pilaf with the chicken and crackling was quite bland and needed some Lousiana hot sauce which we added on.

This is also came with the cookie dessert.

The Fitter BLT

This vegetarian set has house-smoked tofu bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado, vegan mayo, ciabatta, and paired with the soup of the day.

A good portion size, the tofu bacon had a good amount of smokiness, but it was still missing something to bind it all together.

Uni-versal Pasta

This has squid ink pasta, sea urchin cream, egg yolk, flying fish roe, and dried seaweed. You can also add $6 for 2 pieces of OceanWise prawns. It is beautiful and it’s the one dish everyone is talking about.

It was pretty expensive to add $6 for the two prawns as they were not that large, but the quality and texture were nice. It would have been nice to see fresh uni as an add-on option.

Final Thoughts

The prices and portions were decent, but the taste really fell flat. All the dishes were missing something that made it shine. It did feel really odd that the whole restaurant was empty during lunch with just our large group.

Sometimes they have their 3 course menus that actually sound really nice and at a great price. If you’re just coming in for the lunch sets, hold off until they have special seasonal menu sets.

Address:
3121 Granville St, Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://theriseeatery.com

In Downtown

Wasabi Robson: Aburi, Sushi Rolls and Bento Boxes

October 12, 2018

Wasabi Robson is the newest sushi restaurant to open up in Downtown Vancouver at the Vancouver Public Library. I saw them on Instagram and wanted to make a visit as they make a few aburi-style sushi items on the menu as well as more affordable items like bento box sets, curry and udon. They seem to cater those who want a quick meal and those who want a bit more of an indulgence like aburi at lower prices.

Interior

They take reservations after 3pm, so I made one for my group of friends. The restaurant is half seating and half kitchen. The traffic fluctuated through the night but if you are in a larger group, reservations are best.

They are fairly new and have some kinks to work out. Service was very mediocre, so we were rarely given tea until we asked and also they didn’t clear the dishes or give us the bill. Also the abundance of fruit flies were very bothersome.

Crown Tart

The Crown Tart is made with scallop, wild salmon, tuna, avocado, sushi rice, and aburi sauce. Then topped with lemon slices and shrimp. It’s a good size and very delicious. You can have it by yourself or share with the table.

Wild Salmon Aburi Oshi

This comes with 6 pieces per order and it has flame-seared wild salmon sushi with their signature aburi sauce on top with a piece of jalapeño.

Saba Aburi Oshi

This has flame-seared mackerel sushi with their signature sauce on top. The saba is a salty mackerel that is always very delicious in aburi form. The sauce on top is different than the other aburi items.

Ebi Aburi Oshi

This has flame-seared shrimp sushi with their signature sauce on top. Another delicious item.

Gyoza

It comes with 5 pieces but we asked them to make it 6 pieces and added a dollar extra so it would be easier for the table to split as we were a party of 6. It was good but it would have been nice is there was some sauce or dip to go along with it like ponzu sauce.

Salmon Avocado Roll

This uses wild salmon and avocado rolled up in sushi rice. Perfectly ripe avocados and good quality wild salmon.

Final Thoughts

If you want a good inexpensive simple meal, the bento boxes are the way to go as they are just over $10. Good for a quick cheap lunch. For this visit, I went more the aburi items and they were good for the price. The only things that bothered me were the service and cleanliness. Those are the two things they should really work on.

Their hours are limited as they aren’t open weekends and close early into the evenings on weekdays.

Address:
202-345 Robson St, Vancouver, BC

Website:
https://www.wasabirobson.com/

In Fusion

Kosoo Restaurant: $30 Lunch Set for Two in Vancouver

August 8, 2018

Kosoo Resaurant is serving up their Kosoo Set Course for $15 per person. There’s not a lot of options where you can get such a diverse amount of dishes for just $15. We were excited to give this set course a try to see if it’s worth the price.

Interior

There are a good amount of tables inside for small to large groups. If you’re in a large group, it’s best to make a reservation in advance for big groups.

Kosoo Set Menu

The best deal on their menu is their lunch course set for minimum 2 people. It’s a lot of food, but for $15 per person, it’s very good. It comes with:

Tuna Tataki
Mushroom salad
Ball trio
Kosoo Taco
Japchae
Dduk Galbi
24 hour pork belly, miso marinated pork belly with salad and pickle
Mackerel
Korean Miso Soup
Kimchi
Matcha Creme Brûlée

11 dishes for $30 isn’t bad at all. You get to try a variety of food with a diverse taste profile. Some items on the menu may change based on availability and seasonality.

Kimchi

Kimchi is a staple in Korean cuisines and you usually find it on the dining table. It is a spicy fermented cabbage that tastes sour and spicy.

24 hour Pork Belly and Dduk Galbi

On the left is the miso marinated pork belly with corn, jalapeno and pickle on top. Very tasty but would have been better it if was more tender.

On the right is the Dduk Galbi, which is traditional Korean oven roasted sweet ground beef with a house dressing, pickled onion and jalapeños. This tasted good but was a bit sweet.

Tuna Tataki and Ball Trio

Lightly seared tuna is paired with a sesame dressing and green onions. The ball trio were nicely fried, with a nice kick of spice to it.

Japchae

Japchae is a classic Korean dish made with stir-fried glass noodles and vegetables. It was delicious.

Korean Miso Soup

Korean Miso Soup is made with soybean paste, with mixed veggies, tofu, and beef. It had a good comforting depth of flavour but was borderline salty.

Mushroom salad

The mushroom salad is made of a bed of greens, cherry tomatoes, 3 kinds of mushrooms, feta cheese and a balsamic dressing. A refreshing dish to go with the rest of the meal and it was good.

Kosoo Taco

This has beef with a sweet & spicy sauce, lettuce, and onion on a French crêpe as the soft taco shell. Oddly enough, this was good and kinda tasted like a Big Mac.

Grilled Mackerel

The mackerel is salted and then grilled. Not too fishy and has a good amount of fish fat to it.

Matcha Creme Brûlée

The meal ends with a Matcha Creme Brûlée served in a ceramic dish with a cute spoon.

Final Thoughts

Overall the set was worth it for $15 per person and some dishes were a hit and miss, but mostly still very positive. If you’re looking for a lunch set like this, we recommend making your way down here to Kosoo to get a taste of their Korean and French fusion dishes.

Address:
832 Cardero Street, Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://www.kosoorestaurant.ca/

In Edmonton

Farrow Sandwiches: Lunch in Edmonton

July 30, 2018

Farrow Sandwiches is located in the Garneau neighbourhood of Edmonton. I stopped here for lunch to grab and sandwich and drink since I heard it was a must when in town.

They have another location in Ritchie.

Interior

The space is pretty small and there are only a few seats by the window and outside. A lot of people did take out as it is pretty hot inside in the Summer.

Grick Middle Sandwich

This has Four Whistle Farms fried egg, bacon, smoked cheddar, rosemary aioli and arugula. The sandwich was good. The bun was very soft and the fried egg and bacon were balanced by the arugula.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the quick lunch I had was good. They also have freshly baked donuts too, but I didn’t have space for it this time.

Address:
8422 109 St NW, Edmonton, AB

Website:
http://farrowsandwiches.ca/

In Gastown

Balila Vancouver: Rainbow Hummus, Wraps and Lamb Shanks

July 3, 2018

Hummus for your thoughts? My friends and I have been having hummus cravings for the last little while. The taste is just delicious when used as a dip or incorporated into other dishes like a wrap.

Balila is a Mediterranean and Hummus restaurant in Gastown. They have 9 flavours of hummus on their menu and you can’t just have one. 4 of us came to give their menu a try to see what they offer besides hummus. This family run business has a big heart that stands behind their food and community.

Interior

There is a long table, seats by the window and some smaller tables for customers to dine.

Rainbow Hummus

If you want a taste of all their different hummus options, you need to get the rainbow hummus. It comes with all the flavours:

Original
Garlic
Olive
Spicy
Yam
Pest0
Beetroot
Avocado Mint

There is also another flavour but it contains walnuts and my friend is allergic. It’s a great thing they point that out in the menu to help those with dietary restrictions.

All of the hummus were very good but the olive, spicy, and avocado mint stood out to use the most. Unique flavours that is harder to find around town. Highly recommend the rainbow hummus as it’s a great way to taste all their varieties of hummus.

Garlic Chicken Wrap

In the wrap, there is lettuce, tomatoes, hummus and the delicious garlic chicken. The chicken is delicious and full of that garlic flavour. You can’t go wrong with chicken and hummus in a wrap.

Sirloin Cube Wrap

Their sirloin cubes are marinated with a secret sauce and paired with lettuce, tomatoes, and hummus The steak cubes were tender and has good flavour from the marinade.

Mediterranean Veggie Wrap

If you want something a bit different without meat, check this out. It has different grilled veggies flavoured with olive oil and spices to create a good flavour combination.

Cauliflower Wrap

Another veggie option with hummus, roasted cauliflower, tahini-lemon mix and spices. This is definitely packed with flavour and it might just surprise you. So saucy and so good.

Lamb Shank and Fattoush Salad

This was their special for the day it has a beautifully braised spiced lamb shank with saffron rice and a fattoush salad. The lamb shank was tender and the combination of spices was yummy.

The fattoush salad has lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, spring onions, parsley, radishes, pita chips and their lemon-sumac dressing. A good fresh and crisp salad that goes with the lamb very well.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I was impressed by the dishes. It makes for a good delicious quick lunch stop. They also do delivery in the Downtown area, so if you’re looking for something healthier, this is a great option.

Address:
47 W Hastings St, Vancouver, BC

Website:
https://www.balilahummus.com/

In lunch

Baba’s Homestyle Perogies: Canada’s Drive-Thru Perogy Shop in Saskatoon

June 12, 2018

When I was in Saskatoon, a lot of people recommended we go to Baba’s Homestyle Perogies for some lunch. They are Canada’s only Drive-Thru Perogy Shop, but haven’t heard of anywhere else in the world with such a thing. If you wanted a quick stop for them, you don’t have to get out of the car.

Storefront

We headed to the the other side of the building at the entrance so we could eat our meal inside. The interior isn’t anything interesting, but there are a few tables, a counter to order, and some freezers with items you can purchase.

They sell and produce a lot of perogies each day from this warehouse. They never seem to stop.

Super Combo

The super combo is the best item to order for a little bit of everything. It comes with 2 cabbage rolls, a smokie, and 5 perogies. The perogies are topped with real bacon, sour cream and onions. It was absolutely delicious and is a great price. The perogies were like pillows. Very delicious and I wish I could take them with me.

Address:
720B 51st St E, Saskatoon, SK

Website:
https://babasperogies.com/

In BBQ

Helena’s Hawaiian Food: Must Visit in Hawaii

May 11, 2018

Helena’s Hawaiian Foods in Honolulu is a must for locals and visitors since 1946. In 2000, the James Beard Foundation awarded Helena’s Hawaiian Food the Regional Classic Award, which is awesome. Everyone told me to come here, so we made it a mission to visit when we were here. They aren’t open Saturday, Sunday, or Monday, so you have to be aware of that before visiting.

We visited on a Friday morning and there were no line ups. We were seated promptly and given menus and water. The atmosphere is very casual and has the Hawaiian hospitality.

Kalua Pig

The kalua pig was shredded and it was deliciously smoked and had a lot of moisture as it is served with the drippings.

Poi

Poi is the stem of taro and a Polynesian staple. It is crushed and then left to ferment. We heard that most people don’t like the taste, but we had to try it for ourselves. The initial taste was good and earthy but then the sour taste from the fermentation lingered for a little bit. It was like eating kombucha.

Short Ribs Pipikaula Style

At first we didn’t order, but they insisted we order it as its one of the most popular items on the menu and we were glad we did. it was deliciously marinated and tender. So much flavour.

Fried Butterfish Collar

This was another must! Moist in the centre and super crisp. So damn addictive. I would highly recommend this too.

Haupia

Haupia is a traditional coconut milk-based Hawaiian dessert made, essentially a coconut pudding. It came served with raw onions. I tried it together but was a weird combination for myself. If you stick with just the haupia, you’ll be ok.

Final Thoughts

I really enjoyed Helena’s as the prices are good, food is tasty, and I liked the casual friendly vibe. My favourite items were the fried butterfish collar, short ribs, and kalua pig. If you’re in Honolulu, you need to make a stop here. Just remember to bring cash as it’s cash only.

We Rate Helena’s Hawaiian Cuisine:

Address:
1240 N School St, Honolulu, HI

Website:
https://www.helenashawaiianfood.com/index.html

In Food Carts

Fumi’s Kahuku Shimp: Butter Garlic Shrimp in Hawaii

May 2, 2018

Fumi’s Kahuku Shrimp serves up freshly cooked shrimp adjacent to their farm. A lot of people frequent this stretch of highway for the variety of Kahuku shrimp sold by a lot of different food trucks. Giovanni’s is definitely the most popular option. Our tour guide took us to Fumi’s instead.

Seating Area

The seating area has rows of picnic tables to handle large amount of visitors.

Butter Garlic Shrimp

There are about 8 pieces of Kahuku Shimp, rice drench in the garlic butter sauce, pineapple and salad.

Spicy Garlic Shrimp

This is similar to the butter garlic shrimp, but with their spicy sauce. I loved it as it has a spicy kick and has loads of delicious garlic. The shrimp aren’t really large, but they were fresh and sweet.

Final Thoughts

The meals were filling and if you come from a place that doesn’t have fresh shrimp available, you’ll love Kahuku shrimp from the source.

We rate Fumi’s Kahuku Shrimp:

Address:
56-777 Kamehameha Hwy, Kahuku, HI

In Hawaii

Ramen Nakamura: Over Hyped Oxtail Ramen in Honolulu

April 30, 2018

Ramen Nakamura is known for their oxtail ramen. We came right in the morning when they opened to avoid any line ups, plus we were up early due to the time difference. When you look on the internet, a lot of people say their oxtail ramen is really good, so we came to see if it live up the the hype.

Interior

There isn’t a lot of space inside, but most of the seating is around the counter.

Oxtail ramen

We ordered the combo and it comes with gyoza and fried rice. 3 items for $23, which was a bit pricey in our opinion since ramen shouldn’t be so expensive. Nonetheless, it does use oxtail, so that isn’t a cheap ingredient.

There is a good amount of oxtail in the bowl. The oxtail was tough and wasn’t fall off the bone as anticipated. It didn’t retain much of the broths flavour and needed a bit of effort to take the meat off. There was also quite a bit of harder fat around some pieces as you can see in the photo. The broth was light and packed full of vegetables that it didn’t compliment the oxtail very well.

I think it would have been better if it was a richer spicier dish, but the both of us though this dish was over hyped. We couldn’t order this again.

Gyoza

The gyoza were pan-fried and comes with 3 pieces for the combo. They tasted ok, but didn’t wow us. A pretty standard gyoza.

Fried Rice

The fried rice came in a mound and was good with bits of pork, egg, and green onions.

Hakata Tonkotu Ramen

This bowl of ramen was a lot better in my opinion. It was slightly milky but it could have had more depth of flavour. It was cheaper too at $11.50.

Final Thoughts

There was definitely too much hype with their oxtail ramen. It could have been better executed and the flavours and tenderness were missing. I wouldn’t come back as there are other good ramen restaurants in Waikiki like Hokkaido Ramen Santouka.

We Rate Ramen Nakamura:

Address:
2141 Kalakaua Ave #1, Honolulu, HI

In Cajun/Creole

The Holy Crab: Now Open For Lunch

April 19, 2018

The Holy Crab has recently launched their lunch menu with 10 new items, so if you don’t want seafood boil, you have more lunch friendly options without getting your hands too messy.

Interior

There are lots of seats and tables for small to large groups, but its always good to let them know ahead of time if you have a really big group.

Grilled Chicken Sandwich

This sandwich is served with Cajun fries, which are delicious. Deep fried till golden brown and the cajun spice is so good. Inside the sandwich is grilled chicken, caramelized onion & mushroom, pickled coleslaw, arugula, and Cajun aioli all inside the soft ciabatta bun.

Crispy Fish Sandwich

The Cajun fries is served with this sandwich. This is similar to the other sandwich except it has crispy fried catfish, creamy coleslaw, arugula and a tartar sauce.

Surf and Turf Hash

You will find Cajun-lemon hashbrowns, sausages, tiger prawns, shrimp etouffee sauce, and a fried egg in this skillet. This item is a bit more on the brunch spectrum, but its a nice option.

Lobster Grilled Cheese

This is pure decadence with fresh lobster meat, melted mozzarella, dill & cheddar bechamel sauce, lobster butter, and sweet panini bread. It is served with your choice of seafood chowder or seafood bisque. Super cheesy! Just look at all that cheese.

Shrimp Grilled Cheese

Similar to the above but with shrimp.

Fish and Chips

The delicious fish and chips is made of crispy battered catfish and served with tartar sauce, lemon wedge, Cajun fries and creamy coleslaw. I really liked the value of this lunch dish and it was very huge especially if you get 2 pieces. The catfish was moist and delicious. It’s hard to deny a huge plate of fish and chips.

Creamy Cajun Seafood Pasta

This dish has clams, mussels, crawfish, tiger prawns, and creamy tomato Cajun sauce, sauteed onions and mushrooms, and your choice of linguine or spaghetti. You can also customize the spice level to be mild, medium or spicy.

Garlic Shrimp Pasta

There is tiger prawns, shrimp, house-made garlic pepper sauce, 63-degree poached egg, parmesan, and linguine or spaghetti. If you don’t want shrimp or prawns, you can substitute with chicken.

Dirty Rice

This was my favourite dish on the menu. There is clams, mussels, tiger prawns, calamari, catfish, and the home-made garlic pepper sauce. You can pay a bit extra to add on a fried egg.

Blackened catfish with etouffee on rice

This is huge. You can seriously just share it with another person. It has pan-seared catfish fillet, shrimp etouffee sauce, steamed vegetables and jasmine rice.

Seafood and Avocado Salad

This has layers of crab, shrimp, avocado, tomato, corn, and arugula with red apple dark balsamic and cranaberry pear white balsamic. Mix it all up together and you can enjoy. It’s one of the more healthier items on the menu.

Final Thoughts

They also have a kids menu if you have little ones with you. If you still want The Holy Crab’s regular seafood boil during lunch, they are still serving that too. The lunch menu gives great options if you’re working or strolling through the area of the West End. My favourites are the Dirty Rice, Fish & Chips, and the Garlic Shrimp Pasta.

Address:
1588 Robson St, Vancouver

Website:
http://www.theholycrab.ca/

In lunch

Jugo Juice: Meet Your Matcha Smoothie and Artisan Sandwiches

March 29, 2018

Jugo Juice has been busy crafting up new items for spring – the Meet Your Matcha smoothie, and nine new food offerings. Thus, it means more options for those who need a healthy option on the go.

Meet Your Matcha Smoothie

Meet Your Matcha is a vitamin and antioxidant rich smoothie. It contains blueberries, bananas, unsweetened almond milk and matcha green tea powder to give you the boost of energy to get through the day. It has real fruit, no added sugar and no artificial ingredients. It will be available across Canada until June 13, 2018.

Upon first taste, they really use a good amount of matcha in here as you can feel the texture of it with the blueberries.

The recipe was chosen from over 200 entries in Jugo Juice’s annual March smoothie recipe contest to create the official Calgary Marathon smoothie. The name was selected from over 300 entries in a separate contest to name the feature smoothie.

Artisan Sandwiches

Jugo Juice’s new artisan sandwiches offers classic flavours each with their own tasty twist. The sandwiches will be served on Jugo Juice’s popular Terra Breads Heritage sourdough or a brand new natural and preservative free Ace Bakery artisan bun called schiacciata.

Chicken Caprese on schiacciata bread

Sweet and Spicy Apple Grilled Cheese on heritage sourdough

Philly Cheesesteak on schiacciata bread

Mediterranean Roasted Vegetable on schiacciata bread

Of all the sandwiches, my favourite one was the Chicken Caprese sandwich. Good to see all the different options if you’re looking for something quick and healthy.

Website: https://www.jugojuice.com

In Downtown

Assembli: Custom Pizza and Salad, One Flat Rate in Downtown Vancouver

March 22, 2018

Assembli has opened their newest location in Downtown Vancouver in the Oceanic Plaza Towers close to Burrard and Pender. They specialize in two things – custom-made salads and pizza. All for one flat price of $14 with any topping you desire. If you’re indecisive just like me, there are a few pre-selected options on the menu.

You won’t see any surprises on your bill for your salad or pizza. It’s very customizable to your taste, so if you hate onions or mushrooms, you’ll never have to see them again.

The ingredients they us are fresh-non-GMO, hormone-free, antibiotic-free, and local and organic where possible.

Interior

There are a few tables and seating by the windows, but a lot of people end up getting it to go.

Order Online

If you’re in a rush, you can order your meal online to skip the line. Easy and simple if you have a very short lunch break.

Kale Caesar Salad with Chicken

This is one of their options and I added a protein, which doesn’t increase the price. In the bowl is kale, romaine, home-style croutons, parmesan, Caesar dressing and herb roast chicken.

Carne-Dian Pizza

This has seasoned ground beef, pepperoni, bacon, mozzarella, sautéed mushrooms, red onion, and spicy tomato sauce.

It goes right into their oven which is heated to 700 degrees to get this pizza nice and crisp. I really like the carne-dian as it is a meat-lovers pizza. Can’t go wrong with this unless you’re a vegetarian

Beer

If you’re looking for a drink, they have beer on the menu to pair with their pizza.

Final Thoughts

It’s a good addition to the Downtown area where a lot of financial buildings are. If you’re looking for quick, customizable meal options, here it is.

Address:
1066 West Hastings, Vancouver

Website:
http://www.assembli.ca/

In Chelsea

Morimoto New York: Lunch and Sushi Sets

March 10, 2018

During my 2nd trip to New York City, I had to come back again to eat from their lunch menu. I had an awesome time a few years ago, so I had to bring my friends. I’ve been to Morimoto Asia in Orlando, but it was more like Americanized Asian food.

Morimoto New York is my favourite so far, thus why I’m coming back again.

Interior

The interior is very nice and luxurious like you’re dining in a white tent because of the drapery.

The focal point of the dining room is their glass display in the middle of the room all lit up.

It’s so shiny and mesmerizing that you have to touch it.

Lunch menu

The lunch sets are a really good deal compared to their regular menu. You get pretty full off each box. I was eying the other table to see what they ordered before making my choice.

Uni Don

The uni don is an absolute stunner. It has grilled freshwater eel over a bed of sushi rice with cucumbers and green onions. It comes with a variety of pickles, green salad, and miso soup.

A very complete meal and I enjoyed every single bite. One of my favourite meals on this New York trip.

Angry Chicken

The angry chicken lunch set has shiso-cucumber pickles, citrus yogurt, and a roasted chili-miso sauce. It also comes with a variety of pickles, green salad, rice and miso soup.

The Washroom

Go to their washroom, it’s so beautiful like a piece of art. Very high tech and cleans your butt too.

We Rate Morimoto New York:

Address:
88 10th Ave, New York

Website:
http://www.morimotonyc.com/

In French

Lunch at Kitchen by Yugo in Downtown Vancouver

January 22, 2018

Kitchen by Yugo is located on Denman and Robson specializing in French and Japanese Fusion cuisine. I’ve heard lots about this place and I decided to come with a friend for lunch as it’s interesting how they will marry these two types of cuisines together.

Interior

The interior is nice with seating mostly on the left side and a kitchen and bar on the other.

Lunch Menu

Fish Miso Soup

This was the soup of the day and it was delicious, It has a piece of scallop and fish on the rim of the bowl. The miso soup had good depth of flavour. Highly recommended.

Pressed Aburi

This is pressed sushi with chef’s choice of assorted flame seared fish. It comes with 6 pieces and some fried veggie chips. My friend thought it was meh when you compare it to the other places in town that make similar aburi sushi.

House Bento

The house bento comes with 4 small dishes and served with rice. This seems to be quite popular item to order as you get to try a variety of items.

The items are:

Grilled Salmon with miso
Cauliflower Karaage
Tuna Tataki
Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Lardons and Onions

The flavours of the bento box is more on the Japanese side beside. The salmon was delicate and the miso paste on top paired well. Usually I see this combination on black cod, but salmon was good too.

The roasted brussel sprouts were more on the heavier side taking on the French influences. Tasty but was a bit of the odd dish out as the others were more delicate in flavours.

The tuna tataki was great. Nicely seared on all sides with some veggies and ponzu sauce.

The deep-fried cauliflower was a nice touch to compliment the meal with added textures and crunch.

Final Thoughts

Being to pull off French and Japanese fusion is pretty hard and I applaud the chefs for finding the balance as the styles are very different. Japanese is simple and delicate where French is most heavy and rich. Somewhat polar opposites.

We Rate Kitchen By Yugo:

Address:
792 Denman St, Vancouver

Website:
http://restaurantyugo.com/