Akari Japanese Restaurant

June 3, 20131 Comment

Akari Japanese Restaurant is located just off Lougheed Highway. It’s a fairly large restaurant, but I believe it’s owned by non-Japanese owners.

The restaurant is full of wooden decor and green plants. Seating is abundant and we were seated right away. It’s interesting that they also have some Korean dishes on their menu, so don’t expect authentic Japanese food here.

Chopped Scallop, Tobiko with Quail Egg, Tuna, and Salmon Nigiri

We chose to get some Nigiri to start. J chose the Salmon and Tuna to share, while I chose the Chopped Scallop and Tobiko with Quail Egg for myself. The Salmon and Tuna were both fresh and decent. I enjoyed the Chopped Scallop as it was loaded with scallops and topped with tobiko to add some crunch. The Tobiko with Quail Egg is a nigiri that I’ve seen in many people’s pictures but haven’t actually tried myself. I don’t know if I would order it again, since the raw egg on the top gives it a slimy texture and your mouth is just full of popping tobiko as you chew. Not exactly my favourite texture to bite into, but flavour-wise, it isn’t too bad.

Nabeyaki Udon

For myself, I was craving some warm udon. I ended up choosing the Nabeyaki Udon after staring at the extensive menu and being so indecisive. This was decent and came with two ebi tempuras. It was loaded with vegetables and a poached egg. Not bad!

Mul Naeng Myeon

J chose to get the Mul Naeng Myeon from the Korean menu. I took a bite from it and I thought it tasted better than the one at Kimbab Cheongkuk. It was a little spicy because of the mustard, but not bad!

Sushi Garden (Revisit)

May 28, 2013Leave a comment

Spicy Salmon Sashimi (1/2 order)

With my friends living in Vancouver or Coquitlam and myself in Richmond, we needed to find a meeting point right in the middle! And Burnaby seems to do the job! However, I’m not familiar with the restaurants in Burnaby, so I never know where to go… We ended up going to Sushi Garden since the food is cheap. Don’t expect amazing quality, but the price does it justice. SP and I shared half an order of Spicy Salmon Sashimi. I usually don’t order spicy sashimi because I can’t take much spice, but decided to give this a try. It didn’t end up to be too spicy and I loved the cucumbers that came along with it. Zesty flavour and I enjoyed the sauce. Definitely a good variation to typical salmon sashimi I always get.

Alaska Roll & Chopped Scallop Roll

We also ordered two rolls. I didn’t go for the unique rolls this time, but opted for the Chopped Scallop Roll. The rolls are a little on the smaller side, but it was decent. I wouldn’t say the scallops were too fresh. SP recommended the Alaska Roll, which had avocado, tobiko and was topped with salmon sashimi and a special sauce. This was quite good as the sauce was delicious, but I found that it was a little on the mushy side.

Takoyaki

SK ordered an udon as well as the Takoyaki. I took a piece of the Takoyaki and it was decent. Not a lot of filling, but at least the batter wasn’t mushy. Not bad for the price I guess.

Yaki Udon (Udon noodles stir fried with beef and veggies)

Lastly, SP and I shared the Yaki Udon with beef and veggies. It was topped with a large amount of shredded seaweed as well. The beef was definitely overcooked, and therefore extremely tough. The udon was decent although I wish it has a bit more sauce. Portion-wise, it was huge for only $7. Definitely not the best udon I’ve had though.

If you’re near the Metrotown area and looking for cheap sushi, then Sushi Garden is the place to go. Don’t expect outstanding service or quality, and you’ll be happy. The wait is quite long as they don’t take reservations, so we had to wait around 15 minutes for a table for 3. Oh, and let me remind you that the place is extremely cramped! So privacy isn’t the top priority here. I would suggest take-out if you want to eat comfortably!

Mimibuloveme

May 21, 2013May 21, 2013Leave a comment

I’ve been seeing everyone posting delicious dessert pictures from Mimibuloveme so I dragged J along to go check it out. Weirdly enough, the outside of their store says Bubble House. We were sort of confused for a second, but I walked closer and saw that they sold the same things I had saw on their Facebook page. I’m guessing they haven’t switched the sign from the previous shop?

The place is fairly small, and is actually the same location where Dots Desserts used to be. Their tables reminded me of what Dots had too. They also have this awesome panda bear sitting on a chair. Totally wanted to hug him.

They also have these paintings around the shop, and they also sell greeting cards with these characters.

Matcha Crepe – red bean, matcha ice cream

I chose the Matcha Crepe to share and it was filled with red bean and a few mochi balls inside and on the top. I wish they put more mochi balls, because those things are my favourite! It was then topped with a scoop of matcha ice cream on the side. Not bad! It’s also decently priced at around $5 compared to many other crepe places which charge at least $8.

Matcha Ice Cream

Because I enjoyed the Matcha Ice Cream so much, I asked for another scoop of it for just $1.50. Not bad at all considering a scoop of ice cream is usually over $3 at most dessert shops!

Overall, Mimibuloveme is a cute little shop to grab some desserts and chat with friends. I’m guessing that it gets really busy on weekends and late nights, and therefore hard to find a seat.

Mega Sushi

May 2, 20131 Comment

Mega Sushi opened last year in Steveston Village near Gary Point Park. It’s not exactly in the village area, so it’s quite hidden unless you are on your way to Gary Point Park. Parking is limited in front of the restaurant itself, but there are quite a few free street parking across and nearby the restaurant.

We were greeted in Japanese by the waitress, but J told me they were Korean. And yes, we ended up learning that they could speak Korean. So I guess it’s not exactly authentic Japanese food. The place was quite busy on the weekday for lunch and was slowly packed with people.

Nigiri – Unagi, Red Tuna, Hamachi, Salmon

The nigiri sushi were presented nicely on the plate. They were fresh and the rice was just the perfect amount. I normally only eat salmon, but it was nice to give some of the other fish a try. The Red Tuna had a softer texture, and since I enjoy fish that has more of a bite to it, I enjoyed the Hamachi which was closer to a salmon texture.

Crispy’n Crunchy Roll – dynamite roll with crispy temkasu, sweet and spicy sauce

The Crispy’n Crunchy Roll was on their special roll menu, and it was essentially a dynamite roll with a twist to it. It was covered with crispy temkasu, and drizzled with a sweet and spicy sauce. It definitely had lots of crunch to it, but it still didn’t feel too oily. The hint of spice was evened out with the sweetness of the sauce, so it wasn’t too spicy.

Mega Roll – deep fried salmon and green onion with spicy mayo

We also got the Mega Roll which was also under the special roll menu. This roll had seaweed on the outside, and it was then covered with batter and lightly fried to golden. I twas topped with imitation crab mixed with a spicy mayo sauce. On the top, were tobiko and golden yellow deep fried lotus chips. The lotus chips were my favourite as they added a crunch to it! I found this roll to be a little more spicy than the previous. Definitely a mouthful of flavour.

Tuna Tataki Nigiri

Lastly, we were presented with a complementary dish to our surprise. The waitress said this was the Tuna Tataki Nigiri. A lightly seared tuna on top of rice, with a special sauce and topped with alfalfa sprouts. Quite delicious and a nice unexpected treat.

Overall, I was quite satisfied with Mega Sushi. Food and service was up to par and they have large variety of specialty rolls, which seem to be attracting customers these days. It’s good to have another addition of Japanese food in the Steveston area.

Yuu Japanese Tapas

April 13, 2013April 26, 2013Leave a comment

Originally, we had wanted to go to Sushi Hachi, but it was closed on a Sunday! So instead, we went to mall across to look for food. I’ve walked by Yuu Japanese Tapas many times, but I haven’t tried it before, so I decided to give it a try.

The place doesn’t serve authentic Japanese food, but it does offer a large menu of different Japanese snacks, noodles, and desserts. I heard the owner speaking Chinese, so I was already a bit hesitant on how good the food would be. The place is filled with young diners and families though. I’m guessing it’s because the prices are decent.

Deep Fried Boneless Chicken

First, we got the Deep Fried Boneless Chicken as our appetizer. It’s basically chicken karaage and it came with a spicy mayo. This was alright, but I found the batter a little thick.

Ramen in Special Pork Bone (Tonkatsu) Soup Base

I got the Ramen in Special Pork Bone (Tonkatsu) Soup Base. It came with Cha-Siu, corn, leeks, and an egg with a half-runny yolk. The ramen, however, wasn’t that great. It reminded me of instant ramen. The soup base on the other hand, was rich, but salty. It says on their website, that the chef makes this daily.

Unagi Fried Udon

J got the Unagi Fried Udon. He said it was just alright. It looked nice when it was presented, but I guess it wasn’t anything spectacular.

Green Tea, Red Bean Parfait

Yuu has tons of desserts that look really good on their menu. We got the Green Tea, Red Bean Parfait, but I was quite disappointed with it! The green tea ice cream on the top was decent, and I loved the mochi that came with it. What disappointed me was that the rest of the cup was just filled with whip cream! And it wasn’t even good whip cream. I was expecting layers of different snacks since it’s a parfait… Chico on Robson definitely makes better parfaits!

Overall, I left quite disappointed with the food at Yuu. I can’t say the food is bad, but I was expecting better. The service was alright, as our server was quite friendly. However, I don’t think I would be coming back. I can get better food for similar prices elsewhere.

Sushi K Kamizato

April 1, 2013April 27, 2013Leave a comment

SP wanted to try Sushi K Kamizato, but it’s all the way in Coquitlam. Finally, we decided to go after our exam since it has some pretty good reviews! The restaurant is tucked away in a town center type of mall and is quite small.

When we arrived, we were surprised that the customers were mostly Caucasian. Usually, I look for Japanese customers to figure out if the place is authentic or not. But it does seem to be! The chef and lady, who seems to be the wife of the owner/chef, seemed to know every single customer. We almost felt a little strange since we were like foreigners in the restaurant. We were still greeted regardless, but the restaurant definitely has a loyal customer base.

The owner also seems to be a big fan of metallic rock music. The restaurant was playing rock music the whole time, except some of my friends found it a little too much for dinner.

Salmon and Tuna Karaage

We each received a complementary dish of Salmon and Tuna Karaage while we waited for out food. This was quite addicting with the chili mayo sauce.

Ebi Sunomono

C and M both got an Ebi Sunomono. Looked like the average appetizer.

Saba Pressed Sushi

They also got the Saba Pressed Sushi, which looked quite delicious!

Chicken Teriyaki Combo

C got the Chicken Teriyaki Combo which came with a side salad, rice and miso soup.

Grilled Aburi Saba Combo

M got the Grilled Aburi Saba Combo, which also came with a side salad, rice, and miso soup.

Spicy Chopped Scallop

Salmon Roll and Chopped Scallop Roll

Kamizato House Roll

For myself, I got the Kamizato House Roll. I actually didn’t find it as amazing as I had imagined. The top had some sort of mayo but it was also charred. I found that because it was charred, the flavour tasted a little burnt, which bothered me a little.It was basically a California roll with a little bit of salmon sashimi.

Chicken Yakiudon

I also got the Chicken Yakiudon which was a huge plate! I did find that the udon was a little undercooked as it was kind of hard. It also wasn’t what I had imagined and seemed quite simple. I was craving the one at Guu and it definitely wasn’t as good as that.

Spicy & Shout

Let it Beef

The specialty rolls definitely looked and tasted delicious according to my friends. I never actually tried them, but they seem to be what people come here for. Their ingredients are definitely fresh and I believe they cater to their loyal customer base. Overall, it wasn’t bad and I would love to come back to try their specialty rolls.

Ichi Rock [ra:ku]

March 16, 2013April 28, 2013Leave a comment

For dinner, we took a 15 minute walk to an area with more food. S had urbanspooned some popular restaurants, and Ichi Rock [ra:ku] had some pretty good ratings.

The place is essentially run by a young Japanese couple. The man is the one cooking and behind the sushi bar, and the lady does all the serving and order taking. The interior is decorated with a modern twist, with lots of Ikea lights (Don’t ask why I recognize them..). The restaurant itself is quite small and can probably only fit 30 people max. It was still almost half full on a weekday night. Not bad for a small business. Food of course came out a little slower since there is only one chef.

Green Tea

I was surprised that we were actually charged a $1 each for our green tea when I looked at the bill later. However, I was fine with that as the green tea didn’t seem to be too watered down. It also came in fancy little cups!

Risotto Roll – avocado, crab meat, chopped shrimp, cheese, mayo topped with honey mustard sauce (served warm)

S and I decided to share two items. They have a variety of special rolls, but the Risotto Roll especially stood out for us. It said it was served warm! I’ve never had warm sushi, so I was curious what it would be like. It was served on a plate covered in tin foil, and the sushi was covered with sauce, mayo and cheese. It was stringy and definitely reminded me of risotto! Japanese style of course! It was essentially a California roll, but with a twist to it. Quite creative and worth a try!

Okonomiyaki – Japanese style pancake with seafood

The second dish we chose was the Okonomiyaki. I really enjoyed this dish. You can choose from bacon, seafood, or vegetables, but we chose seafood. It was filled with oysters and squid and tons of cabbage. It was then covered with cheese, mayo, fish flakes, and seaweed. I loved how the cheese added a stringy texture to it and it almost felt like there wasn’t any batter to it. Really flavourful and the portion was huge. We ended up sharing it with the other girls.

Overall, I was quite content with the food at Ichi Rock. Although the service was slow, I can understand since they are run by only two people and the friendly service definitely makes up for it. They also have some homemade desserts that looked quite good. The prices are average – not exactly cheap, but not ridiculously expensive. After trying two Japanese restaurants in Calgary, I still find that Vancouver has better restaurants at a better price!

Koto Sushi Lounge

March 14, 2013April 28, 2013Leave a comment

Last week, I went to Calgary for a school competition. There was still snow on the streets and the temperature was in the negatives! Totally appreciate Vancouver weather now… Anyways, we were trying to figure out where to eat for a late lunch, but most places were not within walking distance. We walked out of the Westin Hotel, and one block down we saw Koto Sushi Lounge, so we decided to check it out.

The interior is quite nice. The place was filled with high tables and high booths. Unfortunately, we were eating at around 4 pm, so there was only one other table. There was also only one server working who definitely failed to give a good service. We understand that the place is completely empty, but doesn’t that mean that it’s easier to provide service to us since you only need to keep an eye on one table? But no – after waiting for 10 minutes waiting to place our orders, we literally had to walk up to her to give in our order sheet. The Japanese restaurants here seem to use order sheets a lot even though it’s not all-you-can-eat.

Spicy Salmon Crunchy – salmon mixed with volcano sauce, jalapeno pepper, fried red onion chips on top of a crunchy roll of tempura asparagus, tobiko and mayo
Koto San’s Seared Salmon Roll – seared salmon, Korean sweet and spicy sauce, imitation crabmeat, mayo, cucumber, avocado and sesame
Yammy Yammy Roll – avocado, yam tempura, mayo, mango sauce and crispy yam tempura slice

Our food, however, came quite quickly. We chose three of their specialty rolls. The one in the back was the Spicy Salmon Crunchy. It is definitely full of spice with the jalapeno pepper! At first, I ate the pepper on its own, which was definitely a bad idea, but when you eat the whole roll in one bite, the spiciness isn’t as apparent. In fact, it tasted much better with the spice mixed with the sauce.

In the middle is the Koto San’s Seared Salmon Roll. This was opposite to the first roll, where it was a little sweet with the mango. Definitely good to eat after the first one! A cleanser almost!

The roll in the very front, called Yammy Yammy Roll, was surprisingly really good. At first, I thought it would be a typical yam roll, but it actually had a spin to it. I loved how it came with yam chips, which were really crunchy and gave the roll a nice texture.

Overall, the food was alright. I found the sushi rice to be a bit hard though. The service was definitely poor. Even when we wanted to pay, it took forever to get her attention. The prices are also a bit pricey, but I guess it’s because it’s right in the heart of downtown with business people everywhere.