Tropika on Robson (web site, map, 1128 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone 604-737-6002) is a popular Malaysian and Thai restaurant located on the second floor overlooking Vancouver’s trendy Robson Street shopping district (downtown), between Bute and Thurlow streets.

The restaurant has won numerous awards for their innovative and unique decor, and more importantly for their food. Their menu, which is full of wonderful mouth-watering photos, makes choosing dishes a snap – even if you’re not so familiar with Malaysian or Thai cuisine. Simply look at the photos in the menu and let your eyes decide what to eat!

On a previous visit (over two years ago) I enjoyed the satay skewers and the Hainanese chicken.

This time we tried the following dishes (all pictured below): Indonesian spring rolls filled with chicken ($2.50 each), some delightfully puffy roti canai bread served with a special sauce ($2.95), the marvellous sambal clams ($13.95), an hot and sour eggplant hot pot with minced pork ($11.95), and the pineapple fried rice with ham and chicken ($12.95).

An interesting drink that we tried was the Coconut Juice served in a real coconut (also pictured below). This was a huge coconut filled with some refreshing and slightly sweet coconut juice, that we could enjoy with a straw.

In addition to Tropika’s Robson Street location, the restaurant also has a couple of other locations: Tropika Cambie Street (map, 2975 Cambie Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604-879-6002), and Tropika at Aberdeen (map, unit 1830, Aberdeen Centre, 4151 Hazelbridge Way, Richmond, BC, Canada, phone: 604-233-7002). More info is on their web site.

Indonesian Spring Rolls from Tropika on Robson Street ($2.50 each)

Roti Canai bread from Tropika on Robson ($2.95)

Sambal Clams ($13.95) from Tropika on Robson

Hot & Sour Eggplant Hot Pot with Minced Pork ($11.95) from Tropika on Robson

Pineapple Fried Rice with Ham and Chicken ($12.95) from Tropika Restaurant on Robson Street.

Coconut Juice served in a fresh real coconut (around $4.00) from Tropika Malaysian and Thai restaurant in Vancouver BC Canada.

H-Mart (wikipedia, website, map, 200 – 550 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada) is a Korean-American grocery store chain with many locations throughout North America. In Vancouver they are on the second floor at the corner of Robson and Seymour – a prime spot in the downtown shopping district.

From a recent press release by H-Mart Online:

As you enter the store, your eyes are greeted with a foyer full of small electrics, including rice steamers and griddles. From there, you enter a world of household necessities including ‘Joy Gloves.’ Which brings up a point. Some product names just don’t come through translation to have the same impact in English as they did in their native country’s language.

[...] The prepared foods are tasty as well. The kim-chee from the refrigerator case is top notch, as are the fried beef and sesame chicken. In the freezers are everything from squid and octopus to red bean ice cream. Try some of the gyoza or steamed dumplings for a treat. There are also frozen ducks in the case labeled ‘duck, parts missing.’ It’s best to not think too hard about which parts are absent.

I really like their gyoza and kim-chee, as well as their prepackaged sushi which becomes discounted near the end of the day.

But a little-known feature of this grocery store is the food court that is at the north side facing Robson street. Here you can get a variety of popular Korean dishes such as the spicy tofu soup, spicy beef broth, seafood pancake, and many more (menu shown below).

I tried the Item #5 which is described as “Mixed Vegetables and Rice in a Stone Hot Pot” ($8.50, pictured below) – it is called Bibimbap in Korean.

The ingredients are arranged artfully on rice in a super-hot stone bowl, and it’s up to you to mix them up and wait a couple minutes for everything to cook.

In the photos below I’ve shown what the dish looks like before and after mixing the ingredients. It tasted fabulous – the combination of rice, egg, vegetables, and meat was quite filling and satisfying but also was non-greasy and seemed healthy.

The stone bowl remains piping hot for a long time; after resting my chopsticks on it for a minute the wood became almost too hot to touch. The dish is served with some kim-chee (spicy Korean pickled cabbage) and a warm soup broth with green onions.

After enjoying Item #5 for a second time, I’ve decided to make the H-Mart Korean Supermarket one of my regular dining spots. Visiting the food fair is like taking a mini vacation to Korea – most of the other patrons seem to be talking in Korean, and many of the signs are in both Korean and English.

Bibimbap Korean food ($8.50) from H-Mart Market in Vancouver BC Canada - before mixing the ingredients.

Korean Bibimbap dish after mixing the ingredients in the hot stone bowl.

H-Mart Korean Food Fair Menu, located on Robson Street in downtown Vancouver.

Beyond Robson has a review of the H-Mart food court from 2007.

Irashai Grill (web site, map, 1368 West Pender Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, 604-688-8697) is a newly opened Japanese fusion restaurant in the Coal Harbour neighborhood of downtown Vancouver. Having attended their open house a few weeks ago (see Part 1), I was interested in trying out the restaurant for an actual meal. I was in for a real treat!

My friend and I first ordered the Dragon Roll Sushi ($13.50, pictured below), which looked and tasted amazing. The Dragon Roll was on their special rolls menu (not listed on their web site) and was a creation made with shrimp, tempura, avocado, barbecued eel (unagi), and of course the sushi rice and nori seaweed. It was quite sweet tasting (because of the sauce that the eel is marinated with), and was light and immensely satisfying. I commented to my friend that I could easily eat one of these every day. If only I could afford it!

The Tako Sunomono (a cold salad made with octopus, vermicelli noodles and a sweet and tangy vinegary broth) was $7.50 and was presented very nicely in a large cocktail glass (pictured below). It is one of my favorite appetizers at Japanese restaurants and the Irashai version did not disappoint! I would have liked it to be bigger, but that is just my wishful thinking because it was a decent size for an appetizer after all.

Now comes to the most interesting part of the meal. We were perusing the menu and discovered a very unusual sounding sushi roll item. Unusual I say? Yes! I’ll explain.

In general, for creative dishes that are designed by the chef using a culinary “artistic license”, the name of the dish, if it is somewhat abstract and not a simple description of the ingredients, will relate to the theme of the dish in some way. What this means is, I was curious to see exactly what a Poison Spider Volcano would taste like. No kidding! Would there be an actual spider involved in this sushi, and would this spider have some sort of deadly poison? Also it was very important for me to find out how a volcano would be represented in the form of rice and other sushi-like ingredients on a dinner plate.

The good old poison spider and its friendly volcano home ($16, pictured below) was made with asparagus, soft shell crab, cream cheese, and was sprinkled with cheese. It was baked before serving and then topped with a super spicy miso sauce. Super spicy is an understatement! The powerful spicy sauce reminded me of the Crazy Boy Roll at Mr. Sushi but the Poison Spider Volcano sushi had a much more complex and rich flavor (thanks to the cheese and cream cheese). It was very filling, which is a good thing in my books. My vote: thumbs up, but the sauce was too spicy for my friend.

For dessert we tried their Marscapone Tiramisu ($5.50, also pictured below) which was a generous amount of cool sweet marscapone cheese served in an interesting ceramic tray topped with a layer of dusted cocoa. The cocoa was very fine and powdery. This was a wonderful contrasting dish to calm things down after the spicy spider!

Dragon Roll Sushi from Irashai Grill Japanese Fusion Restaurant in Vancouver BC Canada ($13.50)

Tako Sunomono Salad ($7.50) from Irashai Grill in Vancouver BC Canada.

Poison Spider Volcano Sushi ($16.00) from Irashai Japanese Restaurant in Coal Harbor, downtown Vancouver BC Canada.

Marscarpone Tiramisu dessert ($5.50) from Irashai Grill Japanese fusion restaurant in downtown Vancouver BC Canada.

Gorilla Food (map, web site, 101 – 436 Richards St. Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604-722-2504) is currently the only restaurant in Vancouver that serves all raw, vegan, and organic foods.

I have a friend who follows a raw vegan diet, which means that he doesn’t eat any animal-related products (vegan) and foods must be unprocessed and not heated above 46 degrees Celsius (raw). He blogs about the Raw Vegan lifestyle on Eat Raw Vegan. I was interested to see what a Raw Vegan meal would taste like!

Raw Vegan food preparation takes a lot of creativity to make food that is satisfying and interesting to eat without using cooked or processed ingredients, and without meat or dairy products. Amazingly, all the dishes pictured below are raw vegan dishes. I must say that I was quite happy and full after the meal.

The Raw Vegan Cashew Alfredo Zucchini Linguini ($10, pictured below) was made with zucchini “newdles” smothered in a rich white cashew cream. It was served with a green leaf salad. It tasted cool and refreshing, and was amazingly creamy considering that no dairy products were used.

The Maui Waui raw vegan pizza ($6.00, also pictured below) is a sun-dried tomato and fresh tomato herb sauce topped with a mix of tenderized kale and seasonal greens then topped with fresh pineapple bits and a crumbly walnut “cheez”. It is served with a sprouted sunflower and buckwheat, flax and carrot crust.

For an appetizer we also tried the Raw Vegan Zucchini Hummus and Crackers ($7.50, pictured below). This tasted amazingly good, better than ordinary hummus I thought! The bean-free garlicky hummus dip is served with house-dehydrated crackers.

Other notable items included the Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice ($5.25, pictured below) – this is heavenly if you like orange juice; in fact I thought it was some of the best orange juice I have had in Vancouver! The raw vegan chocolate cake (also pictured below) was really fudgey and chocolatey, a treat not to miss!

The restaurant is open every day from 11am until 5pm.

Raw Vegan Cashew Alfredo Zucchini Linguini, from Gorilla Food in Vancouver. $10.00

Maui Waui Pizza ($6.00) raw vegan food from Gorilla Food restaurant in downtown Vancouver.

Fresh orange juice ($5.25) and Green Glory drink ($5.50) from Gorilla Foods in Vancouver.

Raw Vegan Zucchini Hummus and Crackers ($7.50) from Gorilla Foods in Vancouver.

Raw Vegan Chocolate Cake! (From Gorilla Food in Vancouver, downtown).

Irashai Grill (web site, map, 1368 West Pender Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, 604-688-8697) is a newly opened Japanese fusion restaurant in Vancouver’s upscale Coal Harbour neighborhood. A short walk from the beautiful waterfront seawall, Irashai is close to hotels such as the Westin Bayshore, and about a 15-20 minute walk from Vancouver’s cruise ship terminal and convention centre, Canada Place.

Irashai is currently the talk of the town, after hosting a big open house party last week for local residents, bloggers, and news media. Below are some photos that show off the restaurant’s upscale decor and delicious food. I’d really like to go back to try a full meal at Irashai. Their menu is available on their web site.

Daikon (Japanese radish) salad - a nice appetizer from Irashai Grill in Vancouver.

Plate of Assorted sushi (partially eaten!) from Irashai Grill in Vancouver.

A taste of Spicy Tuna from Irashai Grill.

Yam Tempura Fries (yummy!) from Irashai Grill in Vancouver

Asian ladies wearing fancy dresses, eating sushi at the standup reception at Irashai Grill.

The fancy bar at Irashai Grill.

An Ikea Restaurant is located in both Ikea stores in the Vancouver area: Richmond (map, 3200 Sweden Way, Richmond, British Columbia, phone: 604-273-2051) and Coquitlam (map, 1000 Lougheed Highway, Coquitlam, British Columbia, phone: 604-636-1000).

IKEA is famous for the clean and modern design of their reasonably priced home furnishings and accessories. Their stores are “family friendly” which means there is a room filled with balls for kids to play in (one of my favorite places to go when I was a kid), and a bunch of kid-friendly items such as hotdogs and meatballs on the menu at their restaurant.

I went on a visit to Ikea on a Sunday afternoon, mainly to try their restaurant. The food at the restaurant is fairly inexpensive, because they know if people feel comforted by good food, they might be more inclined to spend hundreds of dollars on that new couch, table, or desk. It sure worked for me – I really only intended to visit the restaurant and then have a quick look around the store, and I ended up spending over $300 on various items. Yikes!

Being a Swedish company, Ikea features some Swedish items on their menu including the meatballs (pictured below) which cost around $7 for 15 meatballs with potatoes or fries (or $6.49 for 10 meatballs, potatoes, fries, and a soft drink). They also have some really tasty cold smoked salmon dishes such as the Gravlax with mustard and dill (also pictured below, around $5.00). For dessert they offer some nice pastries and cakes, such as the one pictured below (around $2.00).

If you like pasta, you can get a plate of Organic Pasta for $1.99. Their menu describes this dish as, “organic pasta with organic vegetarian tomato sauce” and says the pasta is available after 11am. But if you go before 11am you can get a $1.00 (yes, that’s one dollar) breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausages, and home fries. Their hope is that you’ll spend much more on the home furnishings and accessories. After all, you are already there, so why not pick up a TV stand, lamp, and chaise lounge or two?

Ikea Swedish Meatballs from Ikea in Coquitlam (a suburb of Vancouver BC Canada). Around $7.00.

Ikea Swedish Gravlax with Mustard and Dill (smoked salmon, delicious!). Around $5.00. From Ikea in Coquitlam BC Canada, a suburb of Vancouver.

Swedish Dessert pastry from Ikea restaurant in Coquitlam BC Canada (a suburb of Vancouver). Around $2.00.

Urban Sushi (web site, map, 562 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone 604-783-4889)

I made a visit to Urban Sushi on Granville Street in downtown Vancouver and enjoyed their Chirashi Don sushi (pictured in video below, $11.95) which their menu describes as “various raw fishes on top of sushi rice”. My friend Yang ordered the Oshinko Roll (Japanese pickle) and the Dynamite Roll ($3.95).

The Chirashi Don sushi was really delicious and I had fun making a video of the food (which you can see on Youtube by clicking here or by using the player below).

Urban Sushi is located in the downtown Vancouver business district and is a short walk from Vancouver’s cruise ship terminal (Canada Place), the new Vancouver Trade and Convention centre, and the Granville Skytrain station. The room is pleasant and efficient with long tables and big windows overlooking the Louis Vuitton store across the street.

The restaurant offers sushi delivery/catering service (for orders $50 and up), to nearby offices and apartments. Check out their web site for more details.

Urban Sushi in downtown Vancouver BC Canada (Business district). Chirashi Don bowl sushi $11.95.

Yesterday I attended the EPIC Vancouver 2009 Sustainable Living Expo, a trade show in Vancouver focusing on green consumer lifestyles and an eco-marketplace.

The show ran from May 8th to 10th 2009 – but don’t worry if you missed it; you can soon visit the trade show’s web site for more info about next year’s show.

Highlights included a speech by Summer Rayne Oakes, ‘the Eco super-model’ who talked about sustainability and the environment, as well as her career as an entrepreneur among other things.

Also there were many eco-friendly merchants such as Vital Gifts selling fair-trade and organic foods and gifts.

I checked out the cool electric cars and fancy bikes, and listened to knowledgeable gardener Steve Whysall, author and Vancouver Sun gardening editor, talk about healthy, sustainable and fuss-free gardens. It was interesting to hear how he makes his garden weed-free by pulling up the weeds before they get a chance to bloom.

The trade show took place at Vancouver’s brand new Trade and Convention Centre which is downtown on the waterfront next to the cruise ship terminal, the Pan Pacific Hotel, CN IMAX Theatre, and Canada Place.

I made a video journal of my experiences attending the conference and have posted it below (or you can view it on Youtube by clicking here). Hope you enjoy Vancouver’s great Spring and eventually Summer weather!  -Geoff

Summer Rayne Oakes, the "Eco-Supermodel", talking at the EPIC Vancouver 2009 Trade Show.

Toratatsu Japanese Tapas Bistro (web site, map, 735 Denman Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604-685-9399) is yet another excellent Japanese Izakaya (tapas) restaurant in Vancouver; this one is run by the same family who previously operated the superb (but now closed) Shiru Bay Chopstick Cafe in Yaletown.

At Toratatsu the Uno family has created a space that looks like a cozy New York bistro, but with a definite Japanese vibe that they say “would fit downtown Tokyo perfectly.” Chef Kodai Uno, 26, trained at the Pacific Institute of Culinary arts and at French restaurant L’Emotion, and is the youngest in a family of professional chefs. He brings a great deal of creativity and skill to his kitchen, crafting modern Japanese tapas with a fusion twist.

itadakimasu, a reviewer on DineHere.ca writes (click here to read review):

I was getting a little tired of Gyoza King and Hapa (which I both still like) so had to try this place. The decor is cool and comfy. The service friendly (always smiling) and the food was great! familiar dishes like Agedashi Tofu but with a twist (yama imo potato on top with tasty sauce). We also had the daikon salad (those are little fish sprinkled on top) which was so good, had to order a second.

My friends and I were quite hungry so we sampled a lot of delicious dishes (some pictured below).

For an order of chef’s special sashimi ($15.80) we chose the saba (mackerel), scallops, and salmon. The mackerel and scallops were seared with a blow torch right at our table, which made for quite the fiery entertainment!

The crab avocado salad ($8.80) was delicate and light, combining two of my favorite ingredients in a most favorable way.

The Ebi Chili Mayo ($8.00, deep fried prawn with Japanese mayonnaise and hot chili sauces) was gigantic and disappeared in a flash.

The Cheese Tofu ($6.80) looked like a fancy dessert cheese with strawberries, slivered almonds, and a sweet glaze, but tasted like a combination of custard, tofu, and a soft brie cheese. We also tried the Ishiyaki Risotto ($8.30) which was a nice sticky rice mixed with some succulent seafood.

My friends also ordered the Smoke Kissed Duck ($8.80), the Tarako Kimchi Udon ($7.80), and the Sashimi salad ($8.80), which looked amazing but I didn’t get a chance to try them. Hopefully next time!

Sashimi Salad from Toratatsu Japanese restaurant in downtown Vancouver ($8.80)

Crab Avocado salad ($8.80) from Toratatsu Japanese Tapas restaurant in the West End of Vancouver (Denman).

Chef's special Sashimi ($15.80) from Toratatsu in Vancouver (being seared with a blow torch!)

Another shot of the Chef's special sashimi from Toratatsu Japanese restaurant in Vancouver.

Smoke kissed duck ($8.80) from Toratatsu on Denman Street in Vancouver.

Ebi Chili Mayo (deep fried prawn, $8.00) - wonderful!! from Toratatsu Japanese Tapas Bistro in Vancouver

Ishiyaki Seafood Risotto ($8.30) from Toratatsu Japanese Tapas in Vancouver.

Cheese Tofu ($6.80, a nice sweet dessert or appetizer) - with strawberries and slivered almonds. From Toratatsu Japanese restaurant in Vancouver BC Canada.

Junsei River Japanese Restaurant (visitor reviews, map, 570 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604-683-2633).

Recently opened in the former location of the Prima Taste Singaporean restaurant in Vancouver, Junsei River serves many of the favorite items you can expect to find at a Vancouver Japanese restaurant. Items include sushi, Teriyaki, tempura, sashimi, salads, and cones. The restaurant is a-la-carte, and the portions are of decent size and reasonably priced. Vancouver has such a high standard of sushi restaurants, and I found Junsei River to be in keeping with most downtown sushi places.

Running a restaurant must be a tough business, especially the first few months after a restaurant has opened. The restaurant needs to establish a regular clientele, a good reputation, and impress their guests so that they will keep coming back. I think it is better to give a brand new restaurant some time and a chance to figure things out before pronouncing it “good” or “bad”; unfortunately some of the reviews that I read on the community review dining guide site www.dinehere.ca are a tad negative!

But never fear, my experience at the restaurant was a good one. We went on a Saturday afternoon after visiting the Vancouver Public Library book sale, and sat at one of the tables near the large windows. The restaurant has some very appetizing photos of their food on the wall, and these helped me decide on a few items.

I ordered an Ebi Sunomono salad – my favorite – ($3.25, pictured below), which is a cold vermicelli noodle salad in a sweet tangy vinegar and sugar broth, topped with some generous butterflied prawns. It was definitely up to snuff, but I could have enjoyed a bit more noodle in the salad.

I then tried the Cone Combo ($6.25, also pictured below) which included a spicy salmon cone, an imitation crab meat cone, and a tuna cone. The cones are stuffed with sushi rice and topped with seafood wrapped in the slightly salty nori (roasted seaweed). I ate them so quickly I don’t even remember what they were like – my only memory is a brief moment of pleasure while the seaweed stuck to my tongue, the cold and yummy seafood, followed by the satisfying sticky rice.

To finish off this light lunch, I enjoyed the 1/2 Kishu Roll ($5.00, also pictured below), which tasted fresh and had a great combination of crab meat, egg (tamago), fish cake, cucumber, salmon, Japanese pickle, and masago (smelt roe).

I love big sushi rolls filled with lots of interesting ingredients. There are very few foods that that can make me feel as healthy and satisfied as sushi. However, if I was being picky, I would have noted that the rolls were not entirely tightly packed with filling, with a few “air holes” in the sushi next to the edge of the roll. This minor mistake didn’t stand in my way of enjoying the sushi rolls.

The service was fine, and the restaurant was not very busy. I’ll give Junsei River another visit sometime, as their location is really convenient for me.

There is also another new Japanese restaurant across the street from the Telus building just one block away, and I’m going to try that one too! Can Vancouverites ever get tired of sushi?

Ebi Sunomono Salad from Junsei River Japanese Restaurant in Vancouver BC Canada ($3.25)

Cone combo (Japanese sushi food), from Junsei River Japanese Restaurant ($6.25)

1/2 Kishu Roll from Junsei River Japanese Restaurant (Vancouver), $5.00

Another shot of the Japanese Sushi Cone Combo from Junsei Japanese Restaurant in Vancouver BC Canada.

Another shot of the 1/2 Kishu Roll from Junsei River Japanese Restaurant in Vancouver.

THELOOK09 - Vancouver Fashion Show

THELOOK09 Youth Fashion Show (web site, map) is a fashion show hosted by the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver on Tuesday, May 12 2009 (the same night as the BC Provincial Election).

After you vote, consider heading down to the JCCGV at 7:30pm (which is open to all, regardless of faith) and enjoy a lively evening of style and entertainment hosted by Citytv’s Lunch Television personalities Kyle Donaldson and Michel McDermott.

The fashions presented at THELOOK09 are by local designers and fashion boutiques Jules & Eve and FAB Clothing, and the hair and makeup artistry is by Blanche MacDonald.

This fashion show is a fundraising event for the JCC Teen Lounge, making it a great way to show your support for youth in our community:

The JCC teen lounge provides a place for teens to learn skills through sports, leadership programs, afterschool care, fitness and community partnering programs.  Most importantly, it is a safe place with responsible young adults that get to know each teen by name and act as a sounding board without judgment.  It works as a gathering place for fun and mentoring.  Building teens holistic health is what the youth department does best.

Food for the volunteers and models is provided by local grocery stores Choices Markets, Capers Whole Foods Market, and Canada Safeway Limited – Oakridge Centre.

Tickets are only $10 and you can reserve your ticket in advance by calling 604-257-5114 or by sending an email to thelook2009@gmail.com.

Youth Video Contest

THELOOK09 - Youth Video Contest

Attention Youtube fans! Are you interested in the world of fashion design, modelling, makeup, or hair artistry? Here’s your chance to get noticed!

Create a 30 second video blog answering the question “What does living a healthy lifestyle mean to you?” and upload it to Youtube, you’ll get a chance to win two VIP Passes to the fashion show, and have the opportunity to meet some of Vancouver’s top fashion designers, TV personalities, and other people like yourself who are interested in fashion and healthy living.

When you upload your video, make it a video response to this video, which explains the contest rules. The full contest details can be found here. VLOG contest is about Healthy Lifestyle is open to all ages.

Click above for more details on THELOOK09 Youth Fashion Show in Vancouver BC Canada.

THELOOK09 Youth Fashion Show

• On Tuesday, May 12th 2009 (Same night as the election)
• 7:30pm – 9:30pm
• The Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver (open to all)
• 950 W 41 Avenue (map)
• $10 a ticket
• Tickets: 604-257-5114 or email thelook2009@gmail.com.
• More info: www.thelook09.wordpress.com

Monk’s Grill, Steakhouse & Bar (web site, map, 4555 Blackcomb Way, Whistler, BC, Canada, phone: 604-932-9677)

A popular steakhouse in Whistler, Monk’s Grill is located next to the ski runs at Blackcomb Mountain, right in front of the Wizard Express chair lift. The restaurant has ski in / ski out access and is next door to the Fairmont Chateau Whistler. It is also within walking distance to the Four Seasons Resort & Spa in Whistler.

During the summer, Monk’s Grill is in the centre of the Whistler “Summer Family zone” which includes activites such as: 18 hole Links mini putt, flying trapeze, farmer’s market & crafts fair, Kiss the Sky bungy, climbing wall, and horseback rides.

Chef Shaun Anderson and Monk’s kitchen create “a fusion-style menu with a French/European background” (from their website). Their Spring menu which runs till April 30th features a choice of:

Pan Roasted Wentzel Duck Breast, Lotus Root Chips, Shanghai Bok Choy, Oven Dried Blueberry Jus

or

8oz NY Strip loin, Melted Cambozola Cheese, Roasted Garlic Jus

or

Herb Crusted Wild B.C. Salmon, Warm Beet Salad, Potato & Baby Carrot Salad, Mustard & Goat Cheese Vinaigrette

plus an appetizer and a dessert for $35.00.

I’m interested to make a trip out to Whistler in the coming months to give Monk’s a try. Feel free to leave comments below, regarding your experiences at Monk’s Grill in Whistler!

Monk's Grill, restaurant in Whistler BC Canada

Kingyo Japanese Izakaya (map, web site, visitor reviews, 871 Denman Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604-608-1677)

Izakaya is a Japanese word for a drinking place that also serves food. Wikipedia has a bunch of details; here is a brief excerpt:

The name “izakaya” is a compound word consisting of “i ” (to remain) and “sakaya” (sake shop), showing that izakaya originate from sake shops which allowed customers to remain on the premises to drink.

Vancouver is one of the lucky food cities around the world where you can find a Japanese Izakaya restaurant outside of Japan. Kingyo, located in downtown Vancouver’s West End, is an upscale and trendy Izakaya that provides a modern, intimate, and tantalyzing taste of contemporary Japanese food and drink.

Rated as one of Canada and Vancouver’s best new restaurants of 2007 by enRoute Magazine (the inflight magazine of Air Canada), Kingyo consistently gets glowing reviews by visitors for its friendly staff, creative and innovative menu, and great service (check out some of the reviews at Dinehere.ca).

GoodEats88, a reviewer on DineHere.ca writes (click here to read review):

Upon entering the restaurant, we were greeted warmly by the staff and shown to a table quite quickly. Nice hot towels were served to us and our drink orders taken. There was a daily special sheet folded into the menu and the difficult thing was deciding on what to try. We asked the server and he recommended a few dishes. Knowing it was izakaya (tapas), we weren’t expecting huge portions, but trying out several sharing plates. We started with the ahi tuna sashimi (melts in your mouth), then had the calamari (loved how it was made) followed with the Ebi Mayo and the Black Cod.

Below are some pictures of the food that I enjoyed with my friend. Everything was really tasty and I’ll definitely go back again for more.

Salmon Sushi ($8.80) from Kingyo in Vancouver

Three kinds of Japanese sashimi from Kingyo ($18)

more of the sashimi (prawn)

more sashimi

Sashimi

Japanese Tuna Pizza (with chopsticks?) - $7.80

Simpatico Ristorante (map, 2222 West 4th Ave, Vancouver, BC, Canada, 604-733-6824) is one of Vancouver’s oldest Greek restaurants, a long standing place for tasty and authentic Greek food since 1969.

Where.ca writes (click here to read review):

Butterknife-tender roast lamb and crusty whole-wheat pizza are the specialties in this traditional Greco-Roman family restaurant.

Located in the heart of the trendy Kitsilano neighborhood, Simpatico is nestled amongst many interesting independent shops ranging from clothing and fashion to hobbies and pets. Simpatico is about 5 blocks up the hill from the popular Kits Beach (English Bay), which the Vancouver Parks Board describes as:

Kitsilano Beach: a happening place geared for the younger set (teens to thirties) with a lovely outlook spanning from open bay, to North Shore mountains to Stanley Park

At Simpatico Restaurant, we were greeted by a friendly server who guided us to a table with a blue checkered tablecloth by the window. The main dining room is bright and airy with several skylights, and a large number of healthy plants all around the room. The couple next to us were speaking Greek and there was a large well-dressed family group at another table who were having a great time.

My friend and I both ordered the same thing: the Lamb Souvlakia (pictured below) which came with Greek salad, rice, potatoes, and a skewer of premium lamb garnished with fresh herbs. The dish was a reasonable $13.99 and was quite a generous portion.

I’ll definitely be back to try their pizza, which the server said is one of their specialties.

Lamb Souvlakia ($13.99) from Simpatico Greek Restaurant in Kitsilano, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

A closeup shot of the Lamb Souvlaki from Simpatico Greek Restaurant in Kitsilano, Vancouver.

The Keg Steakhouse and Bar (web site, map, 1499 Anderson Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604-685-4735) is one of my friend’s favorite places to go for a relaxed and satisfying Steak dinner in Vancouver. Located on Granville Island, this is a very popular location of the successful Keg steakhouse restaurant chain.

One dining tip that’s worth noting is that the place really starts getting busy after 5pm on a Saturday. We arrived at 4:30pm and were seated right away, and enjoyed a lengthy and enjoyable meal including drinks, salad, appetizers, steak dinner, and even some ice cream for dessert.

After my meal (which is pictured below, except for the ice cream which I didn’t snap a picture of), I exclaimed, “it’s dinners like these that make me think that Life is Good!” I don’t usually write things like this, but I think that those of us who are fortunate enough to be able to afford a fancy steak dinner should really think about how we can give back to our communities and help out those who are not so fortunate (link to Vancouver charities directory)

I also wanted to mention that the Calamari at the Keg is a really creative dish (pictured below, $9.95) where the ringlets of squid are lightly battered and fried, and then tossed with a sweet tangy sauce, kind of like a teriyaki sauce. It is served with a side of more spicy hot sauce as well as a lemon to squeeze onto the calamari if desired. It’s quite a taste sensation, maybe not for everyone, but definitely is a yummy dish to try for adventurous diners!

Another thing to note is that if you order one of the Keg Classic Dinners (such as the Sirloin, Prime Rib, or Teriyaki Sirloin – $24.95), the dinner will include a Caesar salad (such as the one pictured below). If you order a steak that is not listed in the “Classic Dinners” section of the menu, such as a 14 oz New York Steak ($32.95) the salad is not included (but can be added on if requested).

For more photos and info please view Part 2 and Part 1.

Caesar salad at the Keg Steakhouse on Granville Island in Vancouver BC Canada.

Calamari Appetizer at the Keg Steakhouse ($9.95) restaurant in Vancouver.

Teriyaki Sirloin steak (medium rare) with Baked Potato and vegetables from the Keg Steakhouse in Vancouver. ($24.95 including Caesar salad)

Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice from the Keg Steak Restaurant in Vancouver BC Canada (Granville Island). ($3.95 for a large)

r.tl regional tasting lounge (web site, map, 1130 Mainland Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604-638-1550) is a recent (and notable!) addition to the upscale Yaletown restaurant and shopping district of downtown Vancouver.

Late on a Saturday night, a friend and I were wandering the misty streets of this former warehouse district, and poked our heads into a bunch of nice looking restaurants such as Capones Jazz Club (which has live jazz every night), George Lounge (a cocktail bar), and Milestones (a chain restaurant with upscale decor). After a glass of wine and a chicken salad at Milestones, we were looking to go some place “cooler” and chill out the rest of the evening.

We meandered over to Mainland Street and were intrigued by the mysterious looking sign that simply said “r.tl”, like some kind of secret code for a fabulous New York hideaway that only a few locals know about. This may be closer to reality than one may think – Vancouver’s food scene is getting to be well known on the international stage, offering some dining experiences that are as every bit exciting and substantial as the most prized eateries in New York and Paris.

While making trips around the world to try new restaurants may be a pastime of the privileged few, r.tl has a new concept that lets the ingredients, recipes, and traditions of fine regional cuisines of the world appear in the easily accessed (and perhaps more affordable) realm of its sleek, laid-back dining room. r.tl is called a “regional tasting lounge” for a reason, as the restaurant rotates its menu every quarter through different culinary locales, choosing two complimentary world regions to accompany the local fare of Coastal British Columbia.

Currently r.tl is featuring Portugal and France along with the BC region. My friend and I were really amazed by the taste of the Pacific mussels we ordered, which were served in a kind of corn-chowder sauce with some chorizo sausage (around $11). The drinks list at r.tl is extensive, including a selection of hand-picked, rare wines and cocktails from around the world.

I was fortunate to visit another time to try some of their Canapes (pictured below) which are miniature versions of some of their larger dishes.

Check out the restaurant’s web site for their menu and more info.

Negroni (drink) - A bitter drink that's great preparation for a meal and an Apertif. Tanqueray gin, Campari, Cinzano Rosso on the rocks.

Nicoise Salad - fresh micro greens, quail eggs, haricot vert nicoise olives, fingerling potato and seared albacore tuna

Prawns Piri Piri - pan seared wild sea tiger prawns with traditional Portuguese chili sauce

Pate au Foie Gras de Canard - Duck liver pate with pickled red torpedo onions

The bar at r.tl regional tasting lounge in Yaletown, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Dining room at r.tl regional tasting lounge restaurant in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Crab cakes from r.tl restaurant in Yaletown.

Duck Liver Pâté and baguette

r.tl regional tasting lounge

The entree sized version of the salad, La Petite Salad Niçoise, with fresh micro greens, quail eggs, haricot vert niçoise olives, fingerling potato, seared albacore tuna

Tomokazu Japanese Restaurant (map, 201-1128 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone 604-677-0426) is one of my favorite restaurants in Vancouver for “all you can eat” sushi. A couple of weeks ago I went there with my family (after running in the UBC triathlon) and we enjoyed a big feast. Price was around $22 per person. I made a video of the dishes which you can view at blip.tv, Youtube, or by using the player below.

For more photos please view Part 3, Part 2, or Part 1.

“all you can eat”
sushi buffet

Here are the dishes and items featured in the video:

wasabi (Japanese horseradish)
green tea
chopsticks
ebi sunomono (shrimp and vermicelli salad)
tuna tataki (cooked on outside)
spinach gomae (with sesame paste)
miso soup
raw oysters (kaki pon)
assorted sashimi (raw fish)
tuna and salmon
spicy salmon sashimi
salmon teriyaki
agedashi tofu
oyster motoyaki (baked)
prawn tempura
nigiri sushi
maki sushi (rolls)
Alaska roll
California roll (very popular)
BC Roll (salmon + skin)
futomaki + seafood cones
yam tempura roll
chopped scallop cones
Abalone sushi (rare)

Click above to view Tomokazu Japanese Restaurant (Video) from Vancouver, BC, Canada

I made a visit to Cassis Bistro (map, web site, visitor reviews, 420 West Pender St. Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604-605-0420) and was really impressed. Cassis Bistro is a French tapas bistro hidden away in a somewhat seedier area of downtown Vancouver on the edge of Gastown (about two blocks from the Granville Skytrain station).

Ron Brill of Martiniboys (click here to read review) writes of “…elegantly simple, modern tapas fare…alluring French flavours…” and I concur. Cassis Bistro is definitely deserving of the positive buzz it has been getting recently.

Pictured below are some of the items we ordered. First was the complimentary amuse bouche, which was olives and antipasto served with French bread. The olives and antipasto were served in an interesting narrow tray and whetted the appetite perfectly. For an appetizer, we ordered a crepe with Brie cheese (around $10), which tasted great. Looking at the photo brings back fond memories! For the main course I ordered the Duck a l’Orange ($17.50). The menu describes this item as:

Duck and oranges: a combination popular in many countries. This dish consists of Muscovy duck braised with oranges.

Let me say, the Duck a l’Orange was fantastic (or should I say merveilleux “en Francais”). I am a huge fan of orange juice and oranges in general, and duck is always a special treat for me since I don’t cook it at home. So this was a match made in heaven.

We also ordered a side dish of some vegetables: beets and zucchini (also pictured below, around $5). This went very well with a side of bechamel sauce.

Amuse bouche (olives and antipasto) with French bread at Cassis Bistro in downtown Vancouver.

Crepe with Brie Cheese from Cassis French Bistro restaurant in Downtown Vancouver BC Canada.

Duck a l'orange (Duck and Oranges), $17.50 from Cassis Bistro, a French restaurant in downtown Vancouver BC Canada.

Side order of market fresh vegetables from Cassis Bistro in Vancouver (beets and zucchini) - around $5.00.

The Speakeasy on Granville (map, 921 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604-685-5531) is a pub located on the downtown Granville strip between Smithe and Nelson (closer to Smithe).

Digging up on Wikipedia reveals a bit about the history of the Speakeasy:

A speakeasy was an establishment which illegally sold alcoholic beverages during the period of United States history known as Prohibition (1920–1932, longer in some states).

Darien, a writer from Vancouver, comments on yelp.ca (click here to read review):

The drink prices are downtown average and the place is deceptively large. I often come to this spot when I want to get a drink late on a Friday or Saturday night. Due to the size of the room, one tends to be able to sit down most times during the evening. This is certainly not a destination, but true to the name is a relaxed place to unwind.

Pictured below are the nachos and beer that I ordered with my friends. The food tasted great, and was around $10.

Nachos from the Speakeasy on Granville (pub in downtown Vancouver).

Cafe Crepe (map, 796 Granville St, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604-806-0834) is a restaurant that serves freshly made French style crepes, sandwiches, and Foot Long hot dogs.

The crepes are made in front of you, by smartly dressed chefs, at round grills at the restaurant’s front window. They are made sweet (try chocolate, or apple and cinnamon) or savory (pick from ham, cheese, or a bunch of other ingredients such as mushroom or spinach). Crepes (such as the ones pictured below) cost in the range of $5 to $8 depending on the ingredients. I really like the rich Emmenthal cheese and spongy crepe batter. For the Foot Long hot dog (pictured below, around $5) be sure to try their French mustard and maybe even mayo if you’re a fan.

There are two locations of Cafe Crepe very near to each other on Granville Street downtown. The smaller one (796 Granville, Cafe Crepe “express”) is located next to Future Shop just north of Granville and Robson. The larger one, further down Granville near the Commodore Ballroom (map, 874 Granville St, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604-806-084), has more sit-down tables and even a private room for parties in the back.

Sometimes they get pretty busy and there might be a bit of a wait, especially if you want to eat-in. Take out orders are usually quite fast.

The other locations of Cafe Crepe in Vancouver are:

Robson Shopping District (map, 1032 Robson St, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604-488-0045)

South Granville (map, 2861 Granville St, Vancouver, BC, Canada, 604-488-1326)

UBC Campus (map, 103-2151 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada, 604-221-1142).

French Hot Dog from Cafe Crepe (yum) - click photo for larger version

Ham and Cheese Crepe from Cafe Crepe in downtown Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Cafe Crepe logo on a take-out bag with a glass of wine.

Another photo of the crepe from Cafe Crepe restaurant in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Ki Sushi (map, visitor reviews, 31 Eighth St., New Westminster, BC, Canada, phone: 604-521-1833), formerly named Kirin Sushi, is a favorite place for many of my friends to fill up on tasty, fresh, and affordable sushi and other Japanese items.

KimHo has some nice photos online, which you can view by clicking here, and writes, “Food was better than expected, despite my crazy comments about the rolls, sushi and sashimi”.

I had a huge feast: ordered the Sashimi Dinner ($18.95) and shared a spicy tuna roll and gyoza with a friend ($1.48 each). My total bill came to $21.91 before tax and tip, and I was really full. Two of my friends say they come here every week and always order the sushi boat (which looks incredible and costs around $40, but that’s for two people so again it’s a good deal).

This restaurant is extremely easy to get to, even from downtown Vancouver. Hop on the Skytrain and head out to the New Westminster station (about 25 minutes). Walk east down the stairs off the platform, and look across the street (8th street), and you’ll see it. The restaurant is quite large inside, tidy, and is complete with a small fountain and some private booths/tatami rooms.

Below are some pictures I took of the food, using my wide angle lens this time.

Sashimi dinner (also included ebi sunomono, tempura, miso soup, and dessert).

Japanese Gyoza and spicy tuna roll from Ki Sushi in New Westminister.

Ebi Sunomono salad and Miso Soup

Some more sushi rolls from Ki Sushi in New West.

Tempura from Ki Sushi in New Westminister BC Canada.

Spicy Tuna roll from Ki Sushi in New Westminster BC.

Another photo of the Sashimi Dinner from Ki Sushi (formerly Kirin Sushi) in New Westminster.

YEW restaurant + bar (map, web site, 791 West Georgia St, Vancouver, Canada, phone 604-692-4939) is located in the Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver, one of Vancouver’s most luxurious hotels.

We enjoyed their special menu for Dine Out Vancouver 2009, which was $38 per person before tax, tip, gratuity, and drinks. The atmosphere is awesome, the service is impeccable, and the restaurant’s food is very impressive. We were a little cowed by the wine list, which had the cheapest wine by the glass at $9.00 and a half litre for $30. So we didn’t order drinks, but the food (as shown below) was fabulous.

I made a video of the dishes (which you can view using the player below).

The menu that was offered that evening is below:

YEW restaurant Dine Out Vancouver 2009 Menu:
$38 (excludes taxes, gratuity and alcohol)
Cuisine Type:
West Coast

RED SALAD
Slow Poached Pear, Beets & Goat Cheese, Red Leaves, Roasted Peppers
– or –

CAULIFLOWER
Cauliflower Soup with Black Cod Cake & Parsley Coulis
– or –

SABLEFISH
Soy Glazed Sablefish, Scallion Pancake,
Micro Broccoli & Mushroom Salad

PASTA
Wild Mushroom Gemelli, Basil Stewed Artichokes & Olives
– or –

SALMON
Miso Broiled Salmon, Chinese Broccoli, Baby Shiitakes,
Squash & Plum Purée
– or –

VENISON
Braised Nicola Valley Venison Shoulder, Winter Greens,
Risotto Milanese

CHERRY
Whipped Morello Cheesecake, Cherry Crumble and
Jubilee Glaze
– or –

CHOCOLATE
Milk Chocolate Cream, Salted Caramel & Cinnamon Meringue
– or –

PINEAPPLE
Pineapple Carpaccio, Lime Sorbet, Coconut Wafers

Still from the video (Yew Restaurant in Vancouver)

Kirin Restaurant (map, web site, Vancouver West at City Square Mall,
201 City Square, 555 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, phone: 604-879-8038) is a fancy Cantonese restaurant that serves delectable Chinese seafood dishes and dim sum in an upscale atmosphere.

We enjoyed a banquet meal at the Kirin on New Years Day 2009, and I took a video of the dishes (you can view it using the player below). The food was really amazing, although a foodie friend commented that the Kirin is a bit pricy to visit just for a casual dinner (save it for a special occasion!).

The menu included the following dishes:

crab meat and fish maw thick soup
sauteed scallop, prawn and chicken
deep fried crab claw wrapped with minced prawn
Peking duck skin with crepe
minced duck with lettuce wrap
live lobster in two kinds of flavor
sauteed beef tenderloin
bok choy and abalone mushroom
lo hon vegetable
stewed e fu noodle
Yang Chow Fried Rice
two kinds of dim sum dessert (cookies and coconut jello)
sweet tapioca soup (dessert)

Still image from the video (Lobster) from the Kirin Chinese Restaurant in Vancouver (City Square).

I made another visit to Sushi Town (map, visitor reviews, 5935 East Hastings, Burnaby, BC, Canada, phone 604-294-6155) and enjoyed a big feast. Highly recommended.

For more photos and info please view Part 3, Part 2, or Part 1.

Uni sushi (sea urchin, $2.50), Ikura sushi (salmon roe, $1.80), Sashimi ($13.95) from Sushi Town restaurant in Burnaby, BC, Canada.

Assorted Sashimi from Sushi Town ($13.95) in Burnaby, BC, Canada.

Soft shell crab ($6.95) from Sushi Town in Burnaby, BC, Canada.

Mangodise Roll ($4.95) and Spider Roll ($6.95) from Sushi Town in Burnaby, BC, Canada.

Awesome Roll from Sushi Town ($6.95) in Burnaby, BC, Canada.

Another pic of the Awesome Roll

Seafood Sunomono ($3.75) from Sushi Town in Burnaby, BC, Canada.

Miso Soup from Sushi Town ($1.00). Had some egg in it!

Ebi Ten Japanese Fast Food (map, 388 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604-689-9938) is a bright, bustling take-out restaurant across from the Vancouver Main Library downtown that serves inexpensive sushi, teriyaki, tempura, and other tasty Japanese food selections.

The restaurant is run by mostly Japanese students who are very efficient at serving big lineups quickly. Fast food is the name of the game here – Ebi Ten seems to have taken a cue from McDonalds and if there is a big line, someone might take your order while you are still in line, so that when you get to the cashier your food will soon be ready.

Pictured below is some of the ready-made sushi that is available in the refrigerated display case at the entrance to the restaurant. A roll such as the ones pictured costs in the range of $1.75 to $3.00 depending on the type. I really like the Ebi Ten Roll (pictured below) and the Tuna Avocado Roll (also pictured below). Other fun treats to try are the Takoyaki, the battered and deep fried octopus balls which are served with a topping of mayonnaise (not pictured), and the green Seaweed Salad (pictured below) which has a delicate, slightly salty flavor and is a little bit chewy.

Ebi Ten Japanese Restaurant is within walking distance of the major theatres such as the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, the Playhouse, as well as the sports stadiums (GM Place Stadium and BC Place Stadium), making it a good place to go to grab a quick bite before a concert, theatre play, or game.

Don’t expect haute cuisine here – the food is simply cheap, fast, filling, and can satisfy a sushi or teriyaki craving.

For more photos and info please view: Part 1, Part 2.

Tuna and Avocado Roll Sushi from Ebi Ten Japanese Restaurant in Vancouver BC Canada.

Ebi Ten Roll (around $3) from Ebi Ten Japanese restaurant in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Seaweed Salad from Ebi Ten Japanese Restaurant in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Asakusa Sushi (map, visitor reviews, 4729 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC, Canada, phone: 604-436-5505) is a hole-in-the-wall Japanese restaurant across from Metrotown mall that is the favorite of some true sushi aficionados.

hisashi_rocks, a reviewer on Menuism, writes (click here to read review):

They may not have the best sushi ever but they have the best affordable sushi in town. Some people probably prefer Sushi Garden to this one but not me. One of my favourites.

I visited on a friend’s recommendation and I was impressed by the generosity of the portions, especially the Sashimi for One Person, which was gigantic and good quality ($12, pictured below). Other dishes we ate are also pictured below. I’ll definitely visit Asakusa again soon.

Tako sunomono ($3.50) from Asakusa Japanese restaurant in Burnaby

Sushi from Asakusa Japanese Restaurant in Burnaby

Sashimi for One Person ($12.00) from Asakusa in Burnaby

More sushi from Asakusa Japanese Restaurant near Metrotown.

Miso soup ($1.00) and tea from Asakusa Japanese restaurant in Burnaby, BC, Canada.

ShuRaku Japanese Restaurant (map, web site, 833 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604-687-6622) is a new Japanese restaurant downtown (at the former location of Kitto Japanese Restaurant) that is getting rave reviews for its outstanding, upscale Japanese cuisine.

oishii, a reviewer on UrbanSpoon writes (click here to read review):

The menu has a wonderful array of tasty dishes and they have wonderful drinks to go along with the food.  The service is attentive and the ambiance is divine due to the gorgeously designed interior.  Definitely a place to check out!

We went all out and ordered a huge feast, including a bottle of Dreamy Moon Sake (not pictured, $34). Below are pictured some of the items we ordered. The food was very creatively and artistically presented, and tasted great, but I wasn’t entirely full after the meal. Maybe that was a good thing – better than being too full, I guess! I think that ShuRaku is one of those places that favors quality over quantity.

The meal was a treat for the senses and tastebuds. One of my friends commented that he thinks that ShuRaku is better value than (but nearly at the level of quality as) Vancouver’s famed Japanese restaurant, Tojo’s. ShuRaku is a place I would bring an out-of-town guest who I wanted to impress, and not entirely break the bank while doing so.

Roulette Roll ($12) from Shuraku Japanese Restaurant in Vancouver.

Enoki Mushroom and pork ($5.60) from Shuraku Japanese Restaurant on Granville in downtown Vancouver.

5 kinds of Sashimi ($24) from ShuRaku Japanese Restaurant in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Deep fried prawn (came with Sashimi) from ShuRaku Japanese Restaurant in Vancouver.

Fresh oysters ($12 for 5 oysters) from ShuRaku Japanese Restaurant in Vancouver.

Ika Sumi Pasta ($8.75) - a salad made with squid ink pasta and fresh vegetables, from ShuRaku Japanese restaurant.

Salmon Foie Gras appetizer ($7.00) from ShuRaku Japanese Restaurant in Vancouver.

Beef Asparagus ($6.25) from ShuRaku Japanese Restaurant in Vancouver.

Another shot of the "5 kinds of Sashimi" (with glowing ice cubes that give it an interesting lighting effect) from ShuRaku Japanese restaurant

A nice dessert, the marble cheesecake ($6.99)

Tacos Mexico Rico (map, visitor reviews, 309 West Pender, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604-688-7426) serves authentic Mexican food in a casual, unpretentious atmosphere.

eastvanstones, a reviewer on DineHere.ca writes (click here to read review):

The chicken enchiladas with verde sauce are exactly like they are in a local place in small town Mexico. Others have had the burritos and salads and are always happy.

The atmoshpere is good too with the cheesy Mexican soaps and gameshows on the TV, and the service is decent – the woman who runs the place is always smiling and happy, even though her English is limited.

Pictured below is the Chicken Enchilada that I ate (for around $9), which I thought was really tasty. I went with a large group of coworkers and we agreed that it was a satisfying Mexican lunch. The place is decorated in a simple style that reminds me of some of the inexpensive but honestly-good restaurants in Mexico I visited which were mainly frequented by locals.

Chicken Enchilada from Tacos Mexico Rico Mexican Restaurant in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

I made another visit to the Yaletown Brew Pub (web site, map, 1111 Mainland St., Vancouver BC Canada, phone: 604-681-2739) and enjoyed their Mac and Cheese lunch entree (pictured below) which was served with Chorizo sausage and lots of premium cheese. The accompanying salad had goat cheese crumbled on it. Yum! It was around $14 for the lunch.

For more info on the Yaletown Brewing Company, please view Part 2 and Part 1. The restaurant is offering a special 3 course meal during Dine Out Vancouver 2009.

Macaroni and Cheese with Chorizo sausage (around $14) with lots of premium cheese. Salad had goat cheese crumbled on it. From Yaletown Brew Pub in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Wild Rice (web site, map, 117 W. Pender, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604-642-288) is a stylish, modern, and upscale restaurant on the edge of Vancouver’s Chinatown that serves innovative Chinese cuisine.

Wild Rice is one of the only restaurants in Vancouver with a menu that takes familiar Chinese dishes and re-imagines them in a marvellous fusion between new and old-world Chinese cuisine and high-end Western-style tapas.

40something, a reviewer on DineHere.ca writes (click here to read review):

The decor is polished and dark with mute dark green panel lighting. Wear black my dear! Very Sean Connery turtle neck. BTW The prices reflect the ambiance.

[...] The food was pretty darn good. Like with other outings, we ordered and shared. It was eclectic and all nicely presented, yet seemed more like elaborate tapas then meals. Our service was good (I guess that has changed for the better recently given the older reviews). And our wait staff seemed knowledgeable and attentive enough.

The restaurant is offering a special menu for Dine Out Vancouver 2009. I have copied it from their website and included it below. Vegetarian (vegan) items are indicated with a “v” symbol.

3-COURSE MENU OPTIONS:
available wednesday, january 14 through sunday, february 1, 2009.
please note that, during dine out, our regular a la carte menu will not be available

1st course:
bc side stripe shrimp congee or
hot & sour soup or
wonton soup with pork dumplings

2nd course:
yarrow meadows duck confit on shanghai noodle or
local mushroom & baby bok choy on noodle or
free range kung po chicken on jasmine rice

3rd course:
red bean panna cotta or
seasonal berry dumplings or
tea cup chocolate pudding

$18 per person. optional VQA wine pairings available.

Pictured below are some of the dishes we tried last week. It was a real feast!

Peking style duck pancakes from Wild Rice restaurant in Vancouver. Made with yarrow meadows duck breast, scallion pancakes, and hoisin $18

Spicy kung po chicken with twice cooked peanuts from Wild Rice restaurant in Vancouver. Made with Maple Hill free range chicken, broccoli, and rice noodles $18

Side stripe shrimp congee from Wild Rice restaurant in Vancouver. A modern take on traditional Chinese soup. Made from brown rice $9

Ma po doufu from Wild Rice restaurant in Vancouver. Made with tempura eggplant, chili jam $11

Gai lan (Chinese brocolli) and crisped shallots from Wild Rice restaurant in Vancouver. $7 (side dish)

Local fruit dumplings (dessert) from Wild Rice restaurant in Vancouver. Star anise caramel, vanilla doufu ‘ice cream’. $8. The Caramel sauce was stupendous!

Jules Bistro (web site, map, visitor reviews, 216 Abbott St., Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604-669-0033) is a upscale but casual French bistro in Gastown that is attracting the talk of the town.

asianfusion, a reviewer from Seattle on DineHere.ca writes (click here to read review):

“Very French” – The husband and I had dinner here last night and had a very enjoyable evening. Steak Frites were tasty as was my halibut. Creative wine list made up of BC and French reds. This place reminds me of many Paris bistro’s with it ambiance and joie de vie.

artfuldodger writes on the same site (click here to read):

I love the size of the restaurant. It is intimate yet it avoids the slightly cramped feeling of, say, Pied-a-Terre or Grub. The design is cool too: exposed brick wall, mod furniture and woodiness.

To start, I ordered an amazing sounding soup from their menu, the Bisque de Homard et Dungeness Crabe ($12, pictured below) which is lobster and dungeness crab bisque served with croutons, Rouille and Gruyere cheese. It tasted even better than it looked, and I’m a big fan of both lobster and crab so this was the perfect combination. Now I want to go to Paris, right away!! Speaking of Gruyere cheese, over the holidays I tried an incredible smoked Gruyere – I think it’s quickly becoming one of my favorite kinds of cheeses.

I was then treated to the Coq au Vin aux carottes fondantes et choux de Bruxelles braises ($19, also pictured below) which is braised hen in red wine with glazed carrots and brussel sprouts. I noticed that this item is no longer listed on their online menu so they may have changed things up since I visited (Dec. 9th 2008). I really enjoyed this dish and would definitely order it again.

Like many of our city’s higher-end restaurants, Jules Bistro is also a popular hangout for some Vancouver celebrities and public figures. A friend reports that Gordon Campbell was dining at the next table to him, the night after I visited. After noticing Hon. Campbell, my friend chatted with the waitress and she said that the Premier had winked at her when ordering his soft drink, saying that he was the designated driver. Apparently that didn’t stop our Premier from having a raucous good time.

Future music star hopefuls might also want to pay Jules a visit, as k-dawg73 writes: “Famed music manager Bruce Allen came in and sat down at the table next to us with a group of 6 other people.”

Bisque de Homard et King Crab ($11) - Lobster and King Crab Bisque Served with Croutons, Rouille and Gruyere Cheese from Jules Bistro in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Coq au Vin aux Carottes Fondantes et Choux de Bruxelles Braises ($19) - Braised Hen in Red Wine with Glazed Carrots and Brussel Sprouts from Jules Restaurant in Gastown, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Anducci’s Restaurant (map, visitor reviews, 608 Dunsmuir St, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604-696-5558) is a newly opened pub-style Italian restaurant at the old location of the Jester’s pub at the St. Regis Hotel downtown.

sumiln, a reviewer on DineHere.ca (click here to read review) writes:

Service was attentive and the 3 pizzas we ordered were really nice. Thin crusted and tasty we all agreed, very like (my own) homemade. Wine reasonably priced; however, they were out our first two choices. Not too worry, very close to the office so will likely quickly become one of our lunch repertoires.

We started off with the Tomato and Boccicini salad (the “Caprese” salad, $11, pictured below) which was nicely presented and tasty. I then ordered a scrumptious pasta dish with salmon that had some fancy Italian name (also pictured below, $12.00). My friend had a mug of Guiness beer ($6.00) and the mixed seafood spaghettini ($14, not pictured). A good time was had by all!

Caprese salad (Tomato and boccocini) $11 from Anducci's pub in downtown Vancouver.

Italian pasta with salmon from Anducci's Pub restaurant in downtown Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Sushi Town (map, visitor reviews, 5935 East Hastings, Burnaby, BC, Canada, phone 604-294-6155) is one of my favorite sushi restaurants in the Vancouver area. I went for another visit with a friend and enjoyed some of their specialty rolls (please see pictures below). The prices are very reasonable, and I think the quality of the sushi is quite high. All the food pictured below came to $29.51 including tax – a satisfying meal for 2 people!

dlxowhd, a reviewer on DineHere.ca writes (click here to read review):

simply put, this restaurant will give you the best bang for your buck.
just go and order sasimi and see it for yourself.
they are so huge that it makes you wonder how they make money.
this place is also very busy, therefore high turnover, so food (especially sushi and sasimi) is always fresh and tasty.
i love the ‘awesome’ roll and ‘red’ roll.. beef roll is also very good.
service is solid but can be improved.
i think waitresses are understaffed and they need to hire more waitresses..

For more photos and info, please view Part 2 or Part 1.

Dragon Roll ($5.50) and Red Roll ($4.95) from Sushi Town in Burnaby, BC, Canada.

House Roll ($4.95) from Sushi Town Japanese Restaurant in Burnaby, BC, Canada.

Awesome Roll sushi ($6.95) from the awesome Japanese restaurant Sushi Town in Burnaby, BC, Canada.

Seafood Sunomono salad ($3.75) from Sushi Town Japanese Restaurant in Burnaby BC Canada.

Miso Soup ($1.00) from Sushi Town in Burnaby BC Canada.

New India Buffet & Restaurant (map, visitor reviews, 805 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone 604-874-5800) offers buffet-style Indian dining with great views of downtown Vancouver and a large patio.

Price for dinner buffet (all you can eat) is very reasonable (around $12.95), and the buffet has a good selection of vegetarian and non-vegetarian Indian items (some pictured below). In the evenings, there is free parking underground off Willow Street.

agentdenver, a reviewer on DineHere.ca writes (click here to read review):

It’s winter and you want to take your special someone out for a romantic Indian buffet. Where would you go that has the most variety of food, good tasting curry ,and great view of the heart of Vancouver? New India.

As soon as you walk into the building, you can smell the spice. At winter time, they have their famous lamb curry.

Update: Dec. 23, 2008 – I added a new Youtube video of the lunch buffet which you can view by clicking here or use the player below.

Lunch Buffet ($11.95) from New India Buffet restaurant in Vancouver (Great Indian food with a view)

Tandoori Delight (map, online orders and menu, 205 51st East, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604-324-1212) is an Indian food takeout restaurant on the corner of Main Street and E. 51st Street in Vancouver.

Rasputin45, a reviewer on Dinehere.ca writes (click here to read review):

Best rolls in town! We stop by here often when we are in the Main Street area. The seekh kebab (lamb sausage) roll is excellent and unlike anything else I have had in this city.

Mia Stainsby of the Vancouver Sun writes (click here to read article):

Predominantly takeout with lots of choices. Excellent value for tasty kebabs, tandoori dishes, curries, and wraps, all under $10.

You can view their menu and order online by clicking here. I tried some of their rolls, and I must say they are really delicious!!

Wraps from Tandoori Delight foods in Vancouver

More wraps from Tandoori Delight foods

Kababs from Tandoori Delight Foods

Indian food take out in Vancouver from Tandoori Delight Foods

Looking for a personal chef in Vancouver to dazzle you with delicious cuisine in your home?

Chef Chop Chop (web site) offers personal chef services in the Vancouver area. Chef writes,

Enjoy an eclectic meal from the comfort of your home with Family and Friends while your personal “Chef Chop Chop” creates an unforgettable dining event.

Here are some photos of the chef’s food (photo portfolio by Geoff Peters). Be sure to visit the chef’s web site for more info about his services.

Soup

Oysters

Seafood

Rack of Lamb

Pot of seafood

Dessert

Yamato Sushi Restaurant (map, 616 Davie St, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604-682-5494) is a hole-in-the-wall Japanese restaurant in downtown Vancouver with amazingly low prices (considering its downtown location) and pretty good quality for the money.

I ordered one of their sushi combinations ($6.65, shown in video below) which included 4 pieces of Nigiri sushi, a California roll, and miso soup. It was presented nicely and tasted good.

For a direct link to the video I made, please click here. For some more photos please view Part 1.

Sushi combo ($6.65 including Miso Soup) from Yamato Sushi in Vancouver.

Chill Winston (web site, map, 3 Alexander St., Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604-288-9575) is a hip, young restaurant in Gastown with upscale and contemporary Pacific Northwest style food.

Bonka, a reviewer on Dinehere.ca writes (click here to read review):

Great place to “chill”. I’ve come here a few times before (always during the dinner hour) and have likened each experience. It’s decorated like a lounge with large (and comfortable) low chairs. [...]the dishes are prepared impeccably well. I will return to try out their brunch/lunch menus.

The crowd is mostly well-heeled twenty and thirty-somethings, who get together to have a good time. The low-light atmosphere is happy, relaxed, and at times boisterous, with much cavorting, indulging, romancing, and “chilling” going on.

To start, I had the Duck Bacon Unwrapped Scallops ($13, pictured below) which their menu describes as “Baja scallop and citrus ceviche topped with coffee and molasses cured duck bacon on brioche”. Phew, that’s quite a description, but my interest was piqued by the creative combination of ingredients. Fusion at its best, I thought while munching contentedly on every last bit of the Ceviche.

The main course I tried was the Sea Tiger Prawns ($25, also pictured below), which are grilled prawns in a lemon basil oil with a spinach and almond risotto. My dining companion commented that the chef had presented this dish differently on a previous visit (my serving was more “aggressive” looking, kind of like an angry crab). An angry crab made of risotto and prawns is an angry crab that I would like to meet again!

Sea Tiger Prawns ($25) from Chill Winston in Gastown, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Duck Bacon Unwrapped Scallops from Chill Winston in Gastown, Vancouver ($13)

I made another lunch time visit to Zachary’s on Robson (map, web site, 121 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC, phone 604-605-1472) and was very pleased with the food this time. Apparently the restaurant is under new management, and I think the chefs are really on the ball now.

(please read to the end for the free coupon info)

Their menu is almost the same – a selection of pastas, sandwiches, burgers, and fancier items such as seafood, steak, and appies, priced quite reasonably for the downtown neighborhood. (The restaurant is part of the Hampton Inn and Suites hotel and is immediately across the street from BC Place Stadium.)

I had ordered several different cream-based pastas from Zachary’s on my previous visits, but for some reason the flavors of the sauce seemed a bit off, maybe a strange aftertaste -it’s hard to describe, but I can tell when a restaurant does its pasta sauce right. This time I was extremely happy to take the first few bites of my gorgonzola penne ($12.95, pictured below) and finally encounter a pasta sauce that frankly delighted my tastebuds with honestly good and sophisticated creamy sensations. The aftertaste was clean and faded away quickly, preparing my palate for the next bite. I made it through the entire, generous dish without getting tired of the ingredients, which is a problem I run into when eating huge amounts of pasta at places like Antons in Burnaby. (Well, thinking again, it was good except to maybe the third or second to last bite, but this was pretty much the best as I could expect for a pasta costing $12.95).

For more info, check out my reviews from previous visits Part 5, Part 4, Part 3, Part 2, Part 1

Gorgonzola Penne Pasta from Zachary's on Robson ($12.95)

Free Coupon! I was given two coupons by the restaurant in my bill, and I would like to give them away to some readers of this site who are interested in trying the food. The first coupon has $3 Off Lunch (”Join us for lunch and receive $3 off per couple or $1.50 for a single lunch, Valid until June 30th, 2009″), and the second coupon has $5 off dinner for a couple on one side, and on the other side, a pre-game event prime rib dinner special for $13.95.

Please note that in order to get these discounts you’ll need to get the actual coupon from me, since they won’t accept printouts. If you’d like a coupon, please email me (geoff@gpeters.com) and first person who emails me will get one coupon. Second person will get the other coupon. You can pick the coupon up from me in Yaletown.

I’ll post a message here when the coupons are gone.

Jonker St Restaurant (web site, map, 1128 Pacific Blvd, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone 604-688-8565) is a Malaysian cuisine restaurant in Yaletown (downtown Vancouver) that has been getting rave reviews.

ak1951, a reviewer on DineHere.ca (click here to read review) writes:

Being a ‘peranakan’ and foodie, we were pleasantly surprised that the quality of food at this outlet surpassed that one could find in Singapore or Malaysia particularly, the prawn noodles, roti canai and the chilli crab.Therefore, I would strongly recommend anyone who wishes to relish authetic Malaysian food.

Restaurant is small and affords the staff and owner were very friendly and helpful.

The restaurant’s menu is available on their web site. We were a large group (7 people) and luckily the restaurant had room for us. Below are some pictures of the food we ordered. The first dish pictured is the Nasi Jambori ($14.90) which their menu describes as:

A must try! A merriment of three unique flavours! Sampler of chicken curry, beef rendang, prawn sambal on a platter with egg, side salad, pappadum cracker & jambori rice.

Prices are reasonable, with most dishes in the $9 to $12 range.

For a friend on a Gluten Free diet, the restaurant unfortunately only had one choice on the menu that she could eat. I was really satisfied with my Nasi Jambori.

My coworkers and I agree that the flavors of the dishes were excellent and that we’d like to visit Jonker St. Restaurant again!

Nasi Jambori from Jonker Street Malaysian Restaurant - Sampler of chicken curry, beef rendang, prawn sambal on a platter with egg, side salad, pappadum cracker & jambori rice. $14.90

Food from Jonker Street Malaysian Restaurant in downtown Vancouver

Curry from Jonker Street Malaysian Restaurant in Vancouver.

More Malaysian food.

Malaysian food in Vancouver

Even more Malaysian food

Malaysian Curry from Jonker Street Restaurant, Vancouver