Posts Tagged ‘Japanese’

SUIKA

September 21st, 2011 admin

1626 W Broadway, Vancouver

Tel: (604) 730-1678

Web: http://suika-snackbar.com/

Twitter: @SUIKA_IZAKAYA

Advice: Make a reservation as its often busy, bring a friend as sharing is a good idea to taste more dishes.

Sometimes the wait is worth it and after 11 months I finally visited for a very tasty supper. Specializing in Japanese Izakaya, Suika is quite different than their sister restaurant Kingyo, though the flavours are similar. This is a place to socialize over great food and drink, in a lively room that’s fairly noisy with chatter. I loved the ceiling collage of lights as well as the tempting menu and good service.

Snowcrab Sushi

 

Beef Filet Fried Rice

 

Corn Kakiage

Grilled Black Cod Cheek

Matcha Brulee

I shared a few dishes with my friend, starting off with the Snowcrab Sushi ($13.80) followed by the flavourful Beef Filet Fried Rice ($11) and the outstanding and crunchy Corn Kakiage ($4.80). Unfortunately the Grilled Black Cod Cheek ($9.80) was disappointing as it was difficult to eat and wasn’t as tender as I had expected. The outstanding frozen Matcha Brulee ($4.80) was the perfect finish to the meal.

Review By: Richard Wolak

Posted in Latest, South Granville, West Side Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , No Comments »

Patio Launch Party at Miku Restaurant

May 16th, 2011 admin

On Friday night May 13th, I attended a launch party of sorts, patio launch perhaps, summer menu tasting, though I think it was just an excuse to throw a party, and these people sure know how to throw an amazing party! Guests filled Miku Restaurant inside and outside on the patio as they nibbled and munched their way through delicious aburi sushi, sashimi, crispy tofu salad, ebi fritters, chicken yakitori, Soba Pepperoncino, Sablefish Saikyoyaki, deep fried beef and so much more.

Seigo Nakamura (Owner) and George Katakai (General Manager)

Wine and beer were poured and guests were sipping, though the most popular drink of the night was the Sake Sangria a treat until it was all gone.

Yakitori on the outside barbq

Ebi Fritters

Desserts and more desserts

Pastry Chef Chris Janik and his pastry team delighted all of us with some tasty treats from their new summer menu.

Jaclyn Guillou Trio

Live Jazz by Jaclyn Guillou Trio outside on the patio delighted all.

It’s no secret that Miku is one of my favourites and I was happy to be eating my heart out with them. You can find Miku Restaurant at 1055 West Hastings Street, downtown Vancouver.

By: Richard Wolak

Posted in Latest, Parties & Events Tags: , , , , No Comments »

G-MEN RAMEN NOODLE HOUSE

January 16th, 2011 admin

3778 Sexmith Road, Richmond

Tel: 778-296-3779

Web: http://www.gmenramen.com/

Advice: Don’t go with a large group, best to dine solo or with one other to ensure you get seated in a reasonable amount of time. Closed Wednesdays.

Tonkatsu Shio Ramen

Tonkotsu Ae Soba

One of the more popular ramen restaurants in this area, if you know of Gyoza King on Robson, then you will be happy to discover G-Men their sister restaurant which specializes in ramen noodle soups. The restaurant is fairly small, the tables are too close together and its very busy, that doesn’t stop people from coming, in fact it encourages them. Out of the several different ramen soups that arrived to my table, these were the only two that I liked, the Special Tonkatsu Shio Ramen ($8.00) and the Tonkotsu Ae Soba ($8.50) (soupless) and I enjoyed the noodles far more than the soups. They also have a good selection of Donburi and snacks.

Review by: Richard Wolak

Posted in Richmond Tags: , , , , , , , , No Comments »

YUJI’S JAPANESE TAPAS

June 1st, 2010 admin

2059 W 4th Avenue, Vancouver

Tel: 604-734-4990

Web: http://yujis.ca/

Advice: Bring a friend so you can share the dishes. Brown rice can be requested for the sushi.

Maguro Avocado Crepe

Sweet Potato Tempura Sticks

Tuna & Salmon Wasabi Tempura

Gomaae

Agedashi Tofu

Found a gem, I had a heard about Yuji’s from friends and finally got in for a visit with a friend. All the dishes looked interesting on the menu and more so as they arrived to nearby tables. We began with the Maguro Avocado Crepe ($8), the next dish was the tasty Sweet Potato Tempura Sticks ($7.50) which was followed by the Tuna & Salmon Wasabi Tempura ($7.50), then some Gomaae ($5.00) and then the Agedashi Tofu ($6.50). Most of the items we had ordered were off the Tapas menu, the Sushi menu was vast and very appealing, they also have Sashimi, Nigiri.

Green Tea Cream Brule with Green Tea Ice cream

We ended off the delicious sharing meal with a dessert to share as well and went with the Green Tea Cream Brule with Green Tea Ice cream ($7.50). The service was friendly and efficient and the room was beautiful and cozy.

Review by: Richard Wolak

Posted in Kitsilano, Restaurant Reviews Tags: , , , , , , , , , No Comments »

SANTOUKA RAMEN

March 22nd, 2010 admin

1690 Robson Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-681-8121

Web: n/a

Advice: Cash only. Limited vegetarian options.

Cold Noodle Salad

Located in what has become the Ramen neighborhood in the West End at the far western section of Robson, Santouka is a beautiful rather small restaurant that features a communal table as the centerpiece with table seating towards the back and seating along the bar. This is their first location in Vancouver, though they have locations throughout Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and in Chicago. Ramen is the specialty here with various selections of the ramen noodles in a broth (made from Pork bones etc), my friends had a few of the hot Ramen Soup selections, I settled for the large and filling Cold Noodle Salad ($10.95) with cold thin noodles, lettuce, tomatoes, prawns in a tasty vegetarian broth. I also had a cup of their Oolong tea served hot ($1.95 or so).

Shio Ramen

Kara Miso Ramen

Raj and Sophia both had the Shio Ramen ($8.95) a mild creamy soup and JJ had the Kara Miso Ramen ($9.45). If you are as curious as I was on how they make the broth, you can watch through the glass window in the kitchen. The noodles are a secret recipe and they are brought in from the noodle factory in Japan and then boiled fresh into the Ramen. From what my Ramen loving friends told me Santouka could well become the destination for Ramen in the city!

Review by: Richard Wolak

Posted in Restaurant Reviews, Robson Street Tags: , , , , , , No Comments »

SHURAKU

March 7th, 2010 admin

833 Granville Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-687-6622

Web: http://www.shuraku.net/

Advice: If dining with friends, try a few dishes and share. Go for the food and sake, not the dessert.

Sencha Green Tea

I love the room and the energy of this Izakaya eatery that plays to a hip crowd in this entertainment district restaurant. At ShuRaku, their kitchen is open with counter seating available both in front of the kitchen and the bar. The atmosphere is stylish and hip, warm colours, dark wood with almost 40 feet of hand-made illuminated Japanese rice paper and a bar area that features a live-edge maple wood bar, reclaimed fir and handmade copper wall scones.

Chicken Donburi

Ice Cream Sundae

I had the Chicken Donburi ($7.95) a filling rice dish with onions, sauce and chicken. For dessert, since I could only choose from 2 selections on the menu, I had the Ice Cream Sundae ($6.99) with 3 kinds of ice cream including green tea, black sesame and lychee, cornflakes, cream puffs, whipped cream and fresh fruits this dessert looked much better than it tasted. Sencha Green Tea ($2.80) pot of tea.

Each day there is a fresh sheet with daily specials to go along with the regular menu which features a good selection of appetizers, greens, seafood, sashimi, rice and noodle dishes, and sushi rolls. The Sake selection is one of the largest in the city, their also Japanese beers and other beverages to round out your dining experience

Review by: Richard Wolak

Posted in Granville, Restaurant Reviews Tags: , , , , , No Comments »

MIKU RESTAURANT

February 1st, 2010 admin

2-1055 West Hastings Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-568-3900

Web: www.mikurestaurant.com

Twitter: @MikuRestaurant

Advice: Go with a friend or two and be adventurous and share some dishes.

I finally visited Miku and I went for lunch with my friend Avelino who works as a Matr’d at one of the other top restaurants in the city. From the moment we sat down the server welcomed us and took us on a journey, the Miku experience takes sushi to a whole new level, one that I haven’t seen until now. This is their first restaurant outside of Japan, Vancouver was chosen as the city to begin their international expansion and they have succeeded. It has taken me awhile to visit and I am so happy that I had the pleasure of tasting the wonderous dishes that the sushi chef created.

Aburi Tuna

Aburi Salmon Oshi Sushi

King Roll

Avelino and I shared 3 dishes and each was spectacular in presentation and taste. To start we had the Aburi Tuna ($12) – albacore tuna on a bed of crisp vegetables and dressed with masatake sauce. Next up was their house specialty flame seared Aburi Salmon Oshi Sushi ($14) – local salmon pressed and dressed with the chefs wn soy & Miku sauce, topped with Jalepeno. The last dish was the King Roll ($10) – ebi tempura, snow crab & avocado topped with tobiko, with a chili cream sauce. The restaurant is large and impressive with high ceilings, and lots of light from the large surrounding windows, to the comfortable and colourful chairs to the communal table that seats 12 at the front to the many tables that fill the rest of the restaurant. The sushi bar is well positioned next to the open kitchen, here you can watch the chefs create.

I was also happy to see the Ocean Wise symbols throughout the menu, many sushi restaurants can take Miku’s lead as this is wonderful. The menu offers a wide variety to choose from sushi, sashimi and cooked specialties such as the “Shushai” creations. We both had a look at their creative dessert menu all was tempting though we weren’t hungry, next time it will be a must to try some of their homemade Green Tea ice cream along with one of the other desserts. Already looking forward to my next visit!

Review by: Richard Wolak

Posted in Downtown, Restaurant Reviews Tags: , , , , , , , , , No Comments »

HAPA IZAKAYA

January 25th, 2010 admin

1193 Hamilton Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-681-4272

Web:  http://www.hapaizakaya.com/

Twitter: @hapaizakaya

Advice: Be adventurous and take your servers recommendations. When you enter the staff will all yell “Irasshaimase” don’t be worried it means “come in”!


Izakaya is popular in Vancouver and Hapa Izakaya are the ones to credit for bringing authentic Izakaya (Japanese tapas) to the city. This is the third and most recent location and by far one of the stylish yet. The interior is dark black with a good selection of seats for a couple or for larger groups of diners and a great open kitchen to watch the chefs at play. My friend and I shared a bunch of different dishes all were unique in flavour and all were superb.

Summer Love Martini

Beginning a meal here may include ordering a cocktail from their inventive list such as the Summer Love Martini ($9) – soho Lychee liquer, vodka, strawberry puree, pineapple juice; or one of the Japanese beers.

Edamame

Ebi Avocado Salad

Yaki Kamo

Saba Yakisakana

Ebi Mayo

Yaki Udon

Chan Chan Yaki

To start we had the Edamame ($4.35) marinated chilled soybeans; then the refreshing Ebi Avocado Salad ($8.95) prawns and avocado with organic greens in a citrus dressing; followed by the Yaki Kamo ($11.95) roasted duck breast, grainy mustard, miso pickled beets and cauliflower a great suggestion by our server; the Saba Yakisakana ($6.25) with ponzu and salt was something very different, I have never had Saba before and again the server strikes gold in convincing me to try it; next was my favourite Ebi Mayo ($7.75) tempura prawns tossed in a spicy mayonnaise sauce and here it was done to perfection lightly tossed in the sauce (without all the extra mayo that many of the other Izakaya places do); this then followed with the Yaki Udon ($8.50) thick udon noodles, stir fried with chicken and vegetables; Chan Chan Yaki ($9.50) local spring salmon, rice, miso mushroom sauce (daily Ishiyaki), I loved this dish, oh how I loved this dish.

Black Sesame Ice Cream

Matcha Brulee

For dessert, we had 2 selections that included the delicious Black Sesame ice cream ($4.50) and the Matcha Brulee ($6.25) topped with a goose berry.

Each day there is a fresh sheet with daily specials to go along with the regular menu, order a few dishes with your friends, share and enjoy!

Review by: Richard Wolak

Posted in Restaurant Reviews, Yaletown Tags: , , , , , , No Comments »
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