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Okay, I've read the reviews. Actually, I've even heard from first-hand experiences about the mediocre food at Yokohama Teppanyaki out in Steveston. So what prompted me to drive all the way out there (from North Burnaby) to have a questionable meal? LOL, yes, it was the cursed Groupon. Hey why not, it was cheap (there was a further discount) and I've never tried it out. I think Nora scolded me about going there. I don't blame her, but we need to try the crappy stuff so we can appreciate the good things more right? Don't take things for granted??? I guess we were about to find out!
So similar to many other Teppanyaki joints, we were seated at a 4-sided station that had 2 grills. Being a party of 2, we were with another group of 4. So be prepared to be a bit social. Otherwise, make a reservation of 8 and you will be will all friends. So before we got to the cooked food, we were served a plate consisting of Miso Soup, Green Salad and Edamame. There is not much to comment on this other than the miso soup was your standard offering from a non-Authentic Japanese restaurant. The green salad was fresh and the dressing was a bit bland. Edamame was well, edamame. Next, we were presented with a plate that sported on Onigiri and 2 pieces of Sushi which appeared to be a form of BC Roll (we were never told what it was). These were okay, nothing special. I found the rice in the roll to be too soft while the onigiri was better.
Interestingly, for the teppanyaki, we were started with the Veggies and Fried Rice before the proteins. Usually, it goes the other way around. Not a man of many words, our chef was nice and tried his hardest. That was about it as the entertainment value was below average. A mix of zucchini, sprouts and mushrooms, our veggies were well-seasoned and had enough caramelization. For some, this might've been a bit too salty, yet that is probably where the fried rice came into play. The rice was pretty good where it was chewy and aromatic from the flattop fry. Since there was a good amount of butter and seasoning used, it was blessed with plenty of flavour on its own.
Onto the meats of the meal, we were served a portion of Striploin with garlic. With all things considered, the quality of the steak was actually quite good. It was moist and tender despite the slight overcook (we would've preferred medium-rare, it was closer to medium). Again, the chef was not shy with the butter and seasoning, so it did taste good. It didn't look like a lot of steak (especially all cut up), but it was sufficient. Our last 2 proteins consisted of Shrimp and Basa. Not particularly large, the 3 shrimp were good but not very satisfying. I wish we have at least 2 more. There was a buttery snap and once again, very well-seasoned. As for the basa, the fish is one of most inexpensive on the market, but at the same time, I don't particularly mind it. It was soft and flaky (as it tends to be, very forgiving) while once again, aggressively seasoned.
For dessert, we were given the option between Green Tea or Mango Ice Cream. We got one of each and well, they were pretty standard. At the very least, they were creamy and not icy. So at the end of it, I would say the Teppanyaki experience at Yokohama was exactly as expected - average at best. Now with that in mind, it wasn't terrible either. But given that Yokohama is located in Steveston, I wouldn't drive all the way there unless you live nearby and bought a Groupon. However, this needs to be said - with the mediocre choices for Teppanyaki in the GVRD, it isn't as if there are many better ones too.
The Good:
- Inexpensive if you have a Groupon (which seems to be an ongoing offer)
- Decent service
- Acceptable food
The Bad:
- Meh experience all-around
- Low entertainment value
Let's get something out of the way first - I love Pepper Lunch. Yes it is true, the sizzling meat (or sometimes no meat) arriving on a hot teppan means intoxicating aromas and for the duration of your meal, it ensures it stays hot. I've tried the others in town and nope, they aren't as good. So when I got an invite to try some of their new items, they didn't have to ask twice. I brought along Viv this time as she has never had Pepper Lunch (although she has tried the competitors).
Before we got to the main items, we sampled their Gyoza (both chicken and beef versions) served on a hot teppan. These sported a thin dumpling skin that was cooked through while still appealingly chewy (it could've been a touch crispier on the bottom though). Inside, I found the beef and cabbage filling to be more loose and exhibit a more robust flavour as opposed to the denser, more mild chicken. The first sizzling item to arrive was the 300g Kobe Burger with corn, carrots, green beans, rice, miso soup, drink and mochi ice cream (dinner special at $18.95!!!). This "steak" meant business as it was thick and rather large. Due to that, the centre took a while to cook and in reality, only made it to medium. Not a problem for us as it was juicy, tender and succulent. The caramelization of the meat meant there was a smoky sear while there was a dash of black pepper and garlic butter on the outside. I found that adding just a bit of their sweet sauce elevated the meat even more so.
Next up was the Prawns & Sliced Angus Beef which was the other option for the $18.99 dinner special. After a few rotations on the teppan, it was nicely caramelized resulting in a medium-rare doneness. Tender with a meaty chew, the beef was seasoned similarly to the Kobe burger with black pepper and garlic butter. This went well with the side of rice and the saltier sauce. We had to remember to toss the sprouts around to get them cooked through. Interestingly plated (use your imagination), the Veggie Mushroom Burger consisted of the aforementioned ingredient and soy protein. The result was a meaty patty that had no meat at all. I found the taste of mushroom very strong (maybe too much?), but that meant there was no absence of flavour either.
My favourite (and echoed by others at the table) was the Maple-Flavoured Pork Steak. We could smell the intoxicating aroma as it sizzled. One bite and it delivered on the promise from the smell. It was beautifully caramelized where the sweetness was intense, yet not overpowering. There was an equal amount of savoury elements to provide balance. I found the tender chewiness of the meat to be on point where the fat content was just enough to provide both aromatics and succulence. Our last dish was the Yaki Udon with the choice of beef or pork. This was tasty with chewy seared noodles laced with an equal amount of sweetness and saltiness. The abundance of bonito on top added that fishy, briny, sweet and salty quality to the dish. There you have it, another tasty visit to Pepper Lunch. The highlight for me was the Maple Pork, I would order that again and again.
*All food, beverages and gratuities were complimentary*
The Good:
- Fairly large portion sizes
- Reasonably-priced with all things considered
- No absence of caramelized flavours
The Bad:
- The DIY portion requires some skill to ensure optimum tastiness (ie. pay attention to it)
If you haven't noticed, one of the fastest growing Asian chain restaurants has been Bubble Waffle Cafe. Starting as a humble little food stall in Aberdeen Centre specializing in bubble waffles as well as DIY soup noodles, they have expanded to several locations. One of the newer spots happens to also be in the former Iron Kitchen (think of it as Pepper Lunch lite). But instead of completely transforming into a full-blown Bubble Waffle, the place operates as half-BWC and half Iron Kitchen. Judes, Boss Woman and I decided to check the place out after softball one night.
I started with a side order of their Chicken Nuggets and boy were they oil-soaked. So much so, that the plate was greasy. In turn, the exterior was only crispy on the top as the bottom was oily and soft. The meat was tender and well-seasoned though with a mild saltiness. I also got an order of Takoyaki since they ran out of squid. Turned out to be a good decision as they were pretty good. Now, they were not prepared the traditional way, but that didn't matter as the exterior was lightly crispy that gave way to a fluffy soft interior that consisted of 2 pieces of tako (that wasn't too chewy).
For my main, I had the Angus Beef Teppan with rice, corn and tater tots. Okay, I know they are not exactly the same, but I would like to state that Pepper Lunch has nothing to worry about. This version here was serviceable but hardly memorable. The Korean sauce was just sweet while the dish was uninspiring. The tatar tots were oil-logged and overfried. I did like the tender slices of beef though. Boss Woman ended up with the Lamb Teppan which was similar to mine but only with a meat change. Hence, it wasn't that different other than the fact there was the classic lamb gaminess and slightly drier meat,
Judes went for something that shouldn't be in a hot teppan IMO with the Hainanese Chicken. Since the rice was not flavoured, the dish was not really representative of the authentic version. Furthermore, the chicken continued to overcook in the hot teppan. As a chicken dish, it was fine, but hardly a Hainanese chicken. We ended things off with a classic Bubble Waffle. Sure, it wasn't as fancy as some of the newer spots in town, but really, it sometimes just comes down to the basics. This one was crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside with a light sweetness. Good in my books. As for the teppan, I was on the fence. Sure, it did the job, but really, Pepper Lunch is remarkably better for the same price.
The Good:
- Solid bubble waffles
- Interesting mix of 2 restaurants
The Bad:
- Teppan ok, but nowhere as good as Pepper Lunch
- More care could be put into the preparation
After an epic 13-item tasting at the new location of Pepper Lunch on Cambie, we were to embark on another sizzling cast iron adventure at the newly opened Teppan Kitchen in the Harbour Centre food court. This time around, it was a ChineseBites event with more people to help us eat the barrage of food coming our way. In addition to the food court vs. full-service restaurant difference, Teppan Kitchen also offers up various Malaysian dishes as well as iced beverages.
In terms of food, we kicked things off with the "A" Grade Rib Eye Beef Teppan Rice that wasn't all-that-sizzling. I inquired about this and normally, the cast iron plate would be hotter. As a result, the meat was a bit chewy without the benefit of any caramelization. Also, the rice stayed rather wet rather than becoming nutty and chewy. There was plenty of garlickiness that was further amped by the addition of sauce (at our own discretion). Of course the sweet corn added both flavour and texture, while the mozzarella cheese was definitely interesting. In contrast to the beef, the Citrus Grilled Pork Cheek Teppan Rice was the beneficiary of a proper sear. Hence, there was some crispiness to go with the bouncy texture of the cheek. Although the rice had a chance to caramelize, it was still a bit soggy. Again, there was not absence of garlickiness and cheesiness.
Onto a Malay offering, we had the Hainanese Chicken with the usual chicken oil rice, ginger green onion condiment and sweet chili sauce. We found the chicken to be a little overdone while the skin was not properly gelatinzed. With that being said, it was still very acceptable as it was meaty and not dry. When dipped into the sauces, there was no absence of flavour nor eating enjoyment. As for the rice, it was nutty, chewy and impactful. Moving in another direction, we had the Seafood Pasta with Tomato Sauce next. This was actually quite good with chewy noodles coated in a tangy and sweet sauce that was seafoody as well. The fish was flaky and moist while the shrimp were cold-water crunchy (albeit rather salty though).
Back to another Malay offering, we had the Curry Beef Brisket with rice. Although the sauce was a bit thin, it was still decent with the aromatics from the coconut milk accented by a mild spiciness. The big chunks of brisket were fatty and generally tender while the potato did not disintegrate despite being soft. Overall, it went well with the rice, but flavours were not complex being mainly salty. A surprisingly impactful item was the Wok Fried Udon with chicken and spicy sausage as it was dressed with a good amount of togarashi. Another layer of flavour was develop by the fried shallots and garlic. There was plenty of depth and body provided by the seared sausage and chicken as well.
From salty to spicy, we moved onto a dish that was far too sweet. The Smoked Salmon Pasta with citrus cream sauce was actually pretty good with seared al dente pasta that was dressed with plenty of cheese and a rich sauce. In addition, the plethora of salmon was buttery and tender despite the sear. Yet as mentioned, the dish suffered from too much sugar. Another interesting item was the Beef Bolognese served with rice and egg. We already knew that the rice was not particularly dry to begin with and the sauce just served to make it even more wet. On the other hand, the sauce was rather appealing with a certain tart brightness complimented by an balanced savoury and sweetness.
Lastly, we had the Seafood Laksa which was actually not bad, considering we were eating in a food court at a non-Malay stall. Sure the broth was rather thin, but at the same time, it wasn't devoid of flavour either. There was definitely the aromatics from the coconut milk and a moderate amount of spice. The combination of rice noodles and egg noodles were on point. I would've liked to see more seafoodiness, but this was fine for the venue. In fact, that is pretty much the summary of Teppan Kitchen. We could go on and on with the comparisons with Pepper Lunch, but it is not the same. In the end, Teppan Kitchen offers up a decent quick service meal that is not hard on the wallet.
*All food and beverages were complimentary*
The Good:
- Well-priced
- Surprisingly decent Malay options
The Bad:
- Rice could be less wet
- Teppan can be more hot
Posts
Okay, I've read the reviews. Actually, I've even heard from first-hand experiences about the mediocre food at Yokohama Teppanyaki out in Steveston. So what prompted me to drive all the way out there (from North Burnaby) to have a questionable meal? LOL, yes, it was the cursed Groupon. Hey why not, it was cheap (there was a further discount) and I've never tried it out. I think Nora scolded me about going there. I don't blame her, but we need to try the crappy stuff so we can appreciate the good things more right? Don't take things for granted??? I guess we were about to find out!
So similar to many other Teppanyaki joints, we were seated at a 4-sided station that had 2 grills. Being a party of 2, we were with another group of 4. So be prepared to be a bit social. Otherwise, make a reservation of 8 and you will be will all friends. So before we got to the cooked food, we were served a plate consisting of Miso Soup, Green Salad and Edamame. There is not much to comment on this other than the miso soup was your standard offering from a non-Authentic Japanese restaurant. The green salad was fresh and the dressing was a bit bland. Edamame was well, edamame. Next, we were presented with a plate that sported on Onigiri and 2 pieces of Sushi which appeared to be a form of BC Roll (we were never told what it was). These were okay, nothing special. I found the rice in the roll to be too soft while the onigiri was better. 
Interestingly, for the teppanyaki, we were started with the Veggies and Fried Rice before the proteins. Usually, it goes the other way around. Not a man of many words, our chef was nice and tried his hardest. That was about it as the entertainment value was below average. A mix of zucchini, sprouts and mushrooms, our veggies were well-seasoned and had enough caramelization. For some, this might've been a bit too salty, yet that is probably where the fried rice came into play. The rice was pretty good where it was chewy and aromatic from the flattop fry. Since there was a good amount of butter and seasoning used, it was blessed with plenty of flavour on its own.
Onto the meats of the meal, we were served a portion of Striploin with garlic. With all things considered, the quality of the steak was actually quite good. It was moist and tender despite the slight overcook (we would've preferred medium-rare, it was closer to medium). Again, the chef was not shy with the butter and seasoning, so it did taste good. It didn't look like a lot of steak (especially all cut up), but it was sufficient. Our last 2 proteins consisted of Shrimp and Basa. Not particularly large, the 3 shrimp were good but not very satisfying. I wish we have at least 2 more. There was a buttery snap and once again, very well-seasoned. As for the basa, the fish is one of most inexpensive on the market, but at the same time, I don't particularly mind it. It was soft and flaky (as it tends to be, very forgiving) while once again, aggressively seasoned.
For dessert, we were given the option between Green Tea or Mango Ice Cream. We got one of each and well, they were pretty standard. At the very least, they were creamy and not icy. So at the end of it, I would say the Teppanyaki experience at Yokohama was exactly as expected - average at best. Now with that in mind, it wasn't terrible either. But given that Yokohama is located in Steveston, I wouldn't drive all the way there unless you live nearby and bought a Groupon. However, this needs to be said - with the mediocre choices for Teppanyaki in the GVRD, it isn't as if there are many better ones too.
