Hiyaku Buffet

Okay, here we go with another Asian buffet, but this time, it has pretty good reviews.  In fact, it has a 4.1 average rating on Google.  Yes, yes, I know that Google may not be the most reliable place to get a restaurant review, but I decided to check it out myself.  The place is fairly new and sports a pretty large parking lot.  That is completely necessary because the restaurant is fairly large and for the time being, it is generally packed (for all the times I drove by, which was 8 or 9 times). 

Upon walking into the place, it was pretty clear they do a good job in keeping things clean.  Sure, the place is new, but for all the time we were there, the food was replaced quickly and the counters were kept relatively clean (until the next person messed it up).  The buffet started with a selection of Fruit (Watermelon, Orange Slices, Honeydew, Banana Salad and Lemon Wedges).  It was okay, but the fruit was a bit lackluster.  Right next to it, we found Jello, Mango Jelly, Canned Peaches, Banana Pudding and Tapioca Pudding.  Once again, not super inspiring, but I liked the mango jelly (despite not tasting too much like mango).  Next section over, we had some Asian Appetizers including Edamame, Sliced Beef Shank, Seaweed Salad, Marinated Pig's Ear, Cucumber Salad and Cold Chicken Feet.  Yes, this would not be everyone's fancy, no matter what ethnicity.  However, I'm strange and I ate everything here.  Pretty decent.  

So let's get to the good stuff right?  They had Cocktail Prawns, Mussels and Snow Crab on ice right after the fruit, quasi-desserts and Asian bites.  They kept these stocked at all times and the snow crab was quite meaty and had a nice rebound texture.  We got our fill of that.  Right around the corner, we found the Sashimi.  The sashimi (as stated in the picture) is only available during dinner and featured Red Snapper, Atlantic Salmon and Tuna.  There was also some Wood Ear Salad, Fish Skin Salad, Seaweed Salad and Tako Wasabi.

There was quite the selection of Maki Sushi available.  Many were based on California rolls or Dynamite Rolls and then topped with various fish, fruit or vegetables. I found the rice to be just slightly gummy, but otherwise, had a good chew still and was mildly seasoned. The amount of rice was average, so it wasn't cumbersome to eat the sushi, but for an experienced buffet eater, you would be best to only eat a modest amount of these.

There was a small selection of Nigiri as well.  This included Kani, Tamago, Mackerel, Inari, Wakame, Red Snapper, Atlantic Salmon and Tuna.  The ratio of rice to fish was quite good.  Normally, we would find too much rice and a thin sliver of fish, not here though.  Around the corner, we found some Fried Sushi and also more fried things in the Glutinous Sesame Balls, Tempura Fish, Chicken Katsu and Tempura Vegetables.  Nothing out of the ordinary here, but the veggies were kinda of greasy though.

Moving along, we got to the meat of the buffet, literally.  We had Teriyaki Chicken, Beef Short Ribs, Grilled Salmon and Octopus.  Chicken was decently tender and flavorful while the shortribs were tender and sweet.  They were a bit fatty though.  Salmon was overcooked whereas the octopus was tender with a chew.  Right next to it, we found Chicken Gyoza, Pan Fried Sole and Beef Ribs.  I liked the sole as it was crispy but still flaky inside.

The next station featured the second best thing (for me that is) in the Salt & Pepper Crabs.  These were full of meat which was fresh being delicate with a slight bounce (and not mushy). The Salt & Pepper Shrimp were good too but without being deveined, it was slightly a turnoff.  The Salt & Pepper Calamari was good though with a chewy, but tender texture.  Baked oysters were great too being fresh (they were going fast!).  Rounding the corner, there was an array of steamers with mostly Steamed Buns.  I didn't try those.  I did sample the Deep Fried Shrimp, which were not bad as well as the crunchy Spring Rolls.  The Deep Fried Chicken Wings were juicy with crispy rendered skin.

I really love Steamed Scallops in the shell with vermicelli.  So I was happy to see them.  However, those must've been the smallest scallops I've ever seen.  No matter, it still tasted good and I had a few of them.  The Honey Shrimp were tasty, but the batter had gotten soft, so it wasn't crispy anymore.  We also found some Mushrooms and Potatoes (that I didn't try).  Shockingly, the Gai Lan was outstanding.  Not only were they fresh and cooked perfectly (being crunchy), the seasoning was on point.  So tasty!  The Chili Chicken, Chicken & Broccoli and Mongolian Beef were okay, but you could skip it for more seafood!

We had even more seafood in Steamed Clams, Cajun Seafood Boil, Stir-Fried Shrimp and Crayfish.  Really enjoyed the clams as they were buttery and plump.  Seafood boil was slightly spicy and garlicky but the blue crabs were difficult to eat.  Shrimp was alright being cold-water crunchy.  Didn't touch the crayfish as they are notoriously a lot of work for very little meat.  Yes, that is Orange Chicken you see in the picture and no, it wasn't as good as Panda Express.  However, they were serviceable, being not as flavorful.  We had the requisite Fried Noodles and Fried Rice.  Both were acceptable.

We finally got to the Desserts and there was a selection of cake squares and cookies.  I didn't have any of these because I was more interested in the individually-packaged ice cream and popsicles.  These were actually decent quality and I loved how they offered these rather than messy soft-serve machines and even messier scoop yourself ice cream.  Overall, I enjoyed Hiyaku Buffet.  Of course we need reasonable expectations when it comes to buffets in general, but Hiyaku's food was decent in quality and execution.  Seafood was fresh and refilled often.  I would come back if I was back in town.

The Good:
- Food is fresh
- Lots of selection
- Clean

The Bad:
- Fruit was so-so
- Desserts were so-so (except for the ice cream and popsicles

Father's Day Brunch @ Coast Langley City Hotel & Convention Centre

After going to The Victor in the The Parq hotel for Mother's Day, we decided to go for something out of Downtown Vancouver for Father's Day.  We went back to the well and headed out into Langley to The Coast Hotel for their bunch buffet.  I've been here a few times before and for special occasions, the cost is a bit higher, but the selection increases as well.  Normally, the brunch goes for $44.95 for adults, but for Father's Day, it was $68.00.

They hold the brunch in their ballroom and in the centre we found a Charcuterie Board, Salads and Seafood (Clams, Mussels & Cocktail Shrimp).  The meat and cheese board was pretty fruitful while the grilled veggies was one of my favourites.  As for the seafood, the clams were buttery while the mussels were plump.  The cocktail shrimp were quite large (yes, an oxymoron) and cold-water crunchy.

Some of the food stations spilled outside of the ballroom including Dim Sum and Sushi.  We found cute bunny Custard Buns, Shrimp Dumplings and Sticky Rice (wrapped in lotus leaves) in steamers.  These were actually quite decent.  The selection of sushi was sufficient and it was more or less acceptable given this was a buffet.  Of course it would never be confused with sushi found at a good Japanese restaurant.  There was also 2 Soups available: Seafood Chowder & Beef Chili.  Both were good with the chowder being creamy and loaded with seafood.

Naturally, there was also a Breakfast Station with all the usual items including Hashbrowns, Scrambled Eggs, Sausages (Pork & also Turkey), Bacon, Corned Beef Hash and Black Bean & Corn Hash.  Nothing out of the ordinary here with things being solid.  Eggs were still fluffy and not overdone.  Bacon was meaty and crispy.  Loved the soft poached eggs atop the corned beef hash.

They have a made-to-order Eggs Benedict Station that features 4 versions.  These included Mushroom, Cajun Shrimp, Smoked Salmon and Honey Ham.  For a buffet, these turned out to be more-than-acceptable.  The English muffin was lightly-toasted, so it was still a bit soft.  Eggs were poached to our liking and we chose runny.  On top, the Hollandaise was decent being silky and buttery.  On the opposite side of this station was made-to-order omelettes, but we didn't get any of them. 

Adjacent to the eggs benny was the Carvery.  It consisted of sausages, ribs, Ham, Smoked Brisket, Prime Rib and Angus Beef.  Ribs were actually quite good being tender and meaty.  Brisket didn't look very promising at first, but it was quite moist, even for the flat.  It was decently flavourful with some smokiness.  As for the prime rib, it was tender and medium-rare.

The last section consisted of random dishes that included Spring Rolls, Fried Shrimp, Burnt Ends and Crispy Pork Belly.  Moving on from that, we found Grilled Lamb T-Bone and Lobster Mac n' Cheese as well as Basil Fried Rice, Roast Potatoes and Whipped Potato Gratin.  I didn't actually get to eat everything here, but ironically, the one thing that I really enjoyed, the Sablefish & Salmon, I didn't get a picture of it.  The fish was not overcooked being buttery and soft. 

Also spilling outside of the ballroom, we found a decent Dessert spread.  We found a variety of small bites, cakes, chocolate fountain and mini-desserts.  My favourite was the Calamnsi Tart as it was bright and featured a firm buttery crust.  Loved the Mango Sago Pannacotta.  Tasted like the actual thing but being a bit custardy.  Right behind the dessert station, we found 3 juices including Cranberry, Orange and Apple.  Even further back, there was a small station for kids that included chicken nuggets.  Yes, this brunch buffet was not without choice and for the money, totally worth it.  If you are in the area or want to go for a Sunday drive, you will be pleasantly-surprised.

The Good:
- Lots of variety
- Generally well-prepared eats
- Well-priced

The Bad:
- Not the fanciest setting, but it doesn't matter to me

Moj Masti

We all know that there are plenty of Indian restaurants in town that offer a buffet of some sort.  They vary very much in selection and of course quality.  I've had some good ones recently and I feel that they were a good value.  Many of them are around $20.00 for the dinner buffet.  Of course we have the granddaddy of them all in Tandoori Flame which boasts up to 150 items.  However, that comes with a cost ranging from $37.00 to $43.00 for dinner.  What if one wanted a comprehensive Indian buffet that serves 50 different items, but only for $23.00?  Well, that would be Moj Masti out on King George Highway.  We dropped by to see how it stacks up to the other choices in town.

One look at the buffet section of the restaurant and it was pretty clear they were nearly offering their whole menu.  Starting with the Appies, we found a whole bunch of fried things like Paneer Bites, Samosas, Spring Rolls, Dahi Kebab, Paneer Sticks, Soya Chaap, Jalapeno Poppers, Paneer Tikka and Soya Chaap Manchurian.  My favourites of the bunch included the crispy spring rolls, the texturally appealing soya chaap (according to me, because I like them) and the samosas with a crunchy exterior and soft fluffy potato filling.  However, the paneer was on the firmer side and it was tough to eat more than a few pieces.

Moving over one section, we found Vegetable Soup, Vegetarian Noodles, Pasta, Sarson Ka Saag, Lahari Cholay, Kadi, Dal Makhani and Paneer Makhani. Despite not looking appetizing, the pasta was quite tasty.  It had a butter chicken-esque sauce and it was rich and flavourful.  The  vegetarian theme of this section didn't dilute the flavours nor the impact.

The last section had the meat curries including Goat Curry, Lamb Curry, Butter Chicken, Kadai Chicken, Fish Pakora, Chicken Soup, Chicken Tikka and Tandoori Chicken.  I thought the goat was delicious with an earthy notes and rich meaty tones.  The meat itself was gelatinous and super tender.  Lamb curry was on the same wavelength.  The dark meat chicken was juicy and well-marinated, but could've used more charring.

Also included with the buffet was made-to-order Naan.  We got both the regular and garlic versions.  Despite not having an aggressive char from the tandoor, the naan was still quite good.  it was crispy and nutty with a soft chewy interior.  We also had some drinks including the Masti Pacific Breeze, Masti Mock Mango Martini and Mango Shake (wasn't sure of the first drink).  I really liked the shake as it was a mango lassi but more creamy.

Moving onto the sweets, they had an attended Pani Puri station where they help prepare the classic street food, but also can combine the chickpeas from the buffet to make Channa Puri.  Right next to this station was a selection of random cookies and even mini-donuts.  Nothing particularly mind-blowing, but something for the kiddies.  For me it was all about the puri and that tangy tamarind and herbaceous coriander leaf water.

In addition to the aforementioned sweets, there was also Kheer and Custard.  I enjoyed these as the sweetness was balanced and hence, both were rather refreshing.  The bits of fruit in the custard added natural sweetness.  They also had a Chai machine and I chose to try the Ginger Chai.  It was also just sweet enough and plenty aromatic with a slight gingery finish.  Overall, the buffet at Moj Masti is a good value with lots of variety for everyone.  It is tough to find affordable, yet tasty eats these days, so it is nice to see that some of these places still exist.

The Good:

- Reasonably-priced

- Relatively good eats

- Lots of selection for the price

The Bad:

- Food could've been turned over a bit more (some items were near empty)

The Victor (Mother's Day Brunch)

Normally, we don't celebrate Mother's Day on the actual day.  Being practical people that we are, we tend to avoid the crowds and the inflated prices that are generally found at restaurants.  Hence, we do it the day before or maybe even the week afterwards.  However, there are perks to do it on the actual day.  One of which is the elaborate brunches available at many of the hotel restaurants in town.  This year, we did do a proper Mother's Day at The Victor located in the Parq Hotel.  I've been to the Sunday Disco Brunch here before and it was great.  So we knew what to expect this time around.

To facilitate the Sunday brunch buffet, they have to spread out the food into different sections.  The main part of the spread is near the sushi bar, with the bar itself being the main focal point.  The "lineup" starts with some smaller items and Salads.  I didn't include the romaine and mesclun greens but they served as the base for the rest of the items and the salad dressings.  One item of note was the devilled eggs, they were really salty.

 

Once past the salads and little bites, we moved onto the Sushi Rolls as well as some Poké.  In general, the rolls were pretty typical, yet did feature some chewy sushi rice and fresh ingredients.  I thought the poke was quite good with large chunks of either salmon or ahi tuna mixed with their respective sauces.  I wished there was some rice to go with it.

 

Onto the showstopper section, we found a selection of Oysters on the half shell, Cocktail Prawns and split Snow Crab Legs.  Even though I would've preferred king crab, that would've put the cost up by a lot.  With that being said, the snow crab legs were pretty large and meaty.  Not bad.  Oysters were shucked well and they weren't too big, hence they went down easy.

 

Over at the Carvery, we found BBQ pork which was decent and BBQ Salmon, which was a bit over and dry.  The Ham was great being baked until super tender and buttery.  As much as it wasn't really a carvery item, the Shakshuka was tasty with silky eggs in a earthy, tangy and slightly spicy tomato sauce.  Right beside it, the Prime Rib Roast was tender, juicy and mostly medium-rare.

 

Adjacent to the Carvery was a selection of Breakfast Items that featured sausages, bacon, smashed potatoes and scrambled eggs.  As you can see, the eggs were completely runny and not cooked to oblivion.  Hence, they were silky and soft.  The bacon was lean and crispy while the sausages were meaty and well-seared.  Potatoes were crispy with a soft interior while tossed with peppers and onions.  Although I didn't have one, you could get a custom omelette as well.

 

Over at the bar, we found a Dessert Spread with different cakes, cupcakes and cookies.  I particularly enjoyed the carrot cake as it was moist, nutty and sweet.  Back across the sushi bar, we found a Power Bowl station with the usual ingredients as well as a bunch of fruit such as orange slices, green & red grapes, strawberries, pineapple and watermelon. 

 

Finally, one cannot leave any buffet brunch at The Victor without hitting up their famous Candy Bar.  Now the picture you see above is from their Disco Brunch because the one at the Mother's Day Brunch was super busy and some items were getting empty (although they were constantly refilling).  So this is a much better picture.  Overall, the brunch was quite good with quality items that were generally well-prepared.  Sure, it is pricey, but you must take into account the service, Downtown location, quality and selection of food as well as the beautiful dining space.

The Good:

- Generally solid eats

- Nice dining space

- Excellent service

The Bad:

- Since they have to makeshift their buffet stations, sometimes there is a bottleneck at the start of the lineup

- Dessert selection is fine, but could be more refined