Namoo

Port Moody, a relatively sleepy suburb of Vancouver. Often overlooked in favour of Coquitlam, it isn't known for being a food mecca. However, if you look closely enough or if you are fortunate enough to live in the community, you will find hidden gems such as Rehanah's Roti and Rosa's. With the huge representation of Japanese cuisine in the lower mainland, this may be one of the last places you would find good Japanese food. Today, Pomegranate and I put this to the test in our visit to Namoo, which incidentally is run by Koreans. Hey, I have no issue with that since I don't mind going to Sushi Town and Sushi Oyama. It's not really all that important who makes the food, the food does all the talking.

We started with something that is usually one of the purest indicators of freshness - sashimi. As you can see in the picture, there is a nice fresh gloss to the tuna and salmon. And it was fresh in terms of texture and taste. No mushiness here. Pomegranate wanted to try the Ebi Gyoza and when they arrived, they sure looked good. However, it was a complete miss in my books. First of all, there was no indication on the menu that it would be fried. There is a big difference between deep-fried and pan-fried gyozas. Secondly, the dumpling wrapper was way too thick resulting in a crusty and doughy texture. It was akin to pie crust, whereas it should have been crunchy and light. One positive was that the shrimp were big and just cooked.

For me, I always try out the nigiri at Japanese restaurants. Since there is a big piece of rice underneath each piece, it is a great way of assessing if the sushi rice was made properly. We got 1 pc of tuna, 1 pc inari and 2 pieces of unagi. I found the sushi rice to be a bit dry; although I could detect some flavour which is a good thing. Tuna and unagi were decent, so the nigiri was passable. We ended up ordering 2 specialty rolls which consisted of the Dragon and Red Dragon. Essentially the same roll inside (California Roll), the outside was quite a bit different. The dragon roll was pretty much like any other variation at other Japanese restaurants. California roll on the inside with avocado, unagi, tobiko and teriyaki sauce on the outside. With the same dry sushi rice, the roll suffered a bit texturally; but made up with a nice balance of ingredients.

The Red Dragon Roll was a bit strange. At first, we couldn't even see the darn thing since it was covered completely by fried taro. I tried removing the taro in hopes of taking a nicer photo with no success. What I did do was destroy the roll by removing the spicy tuna sitting atop the California Roll. We actually liked this roll. With the combination of a standard California roll, with the spicy tuna on top combined with a sweet dressing and crisp fried taro, there were many different flavours and textures at work. This was a pretty nice way to finish off our meal at Namoo. Overall, it was non-offensive and decent. Sure, there were a few issues, such as the dry rice and the gyozas; but nothing was terrible. In fact, there were a few surprises. Of course, there are better choices for Japanese food such as Fuji Sushi which is nearby. Yet, Namoo is alright considering its location.

The Good:
- Ingredients are fresh
- Service is efficient and friendly

The Bad:
- Sushi rice can be better (a bit dry)
- It's not cheap

Jimoco Cafe

A while back, I had visited Las Tortas and struck up a conversation with a total stranger about food. Gee, that's not really a stretch for me eh? Well, I was obsessed with getting the window seat that I had to squeeze by her and then with my picture-taking, it was natural that someone would be curious. I gave her my card and she eventually emailed me some choice restaurants to try. One of them resides on Austin Ave out in Coquitlam. Jimoco Cafe is quite non-descript and I passed right by it the first time. I swung around the block and parked my car in the one of the spaces in this "strip mall". Literally, it's a small strip of stores with a recessed parking lot on a major street.

So the "draw" here at Jimoco is the "special" (which has been running since it opened last year) where you can get 2-for-1 pastas. It appears that the special does draw in many different types of customers, from young university students to older couples. Viv and I scanned the menu and thought that they must be kidding about the 2-for-1. Why? Well, the prices all hover around $10.00-$14.00. That means both of us can have our own pastas for roughly that price. That's a freakin' steal! Wait... I guess we really should try the food before we pass judgment eh?

Feeling a little bit guilty of the cheap prices, we added a Calamari to start (isn't it this always the case?). For $6.00, we thought it was cheap (just like X-Site Bistro). However, too bad it was so oil-logged, the plate resembled an abstract piece of art with oil replacing the paint. The calamari itself wasn't too bad. It was tender and the batter decently light despite the copious amount of well-used oil. Unfortunately due to the oil, I would say this was a miss.

For my pasta, I chose the Linguine alla Vongole and I give them high marks for using fresh clams. However, there was an absence of clam flavour in the dish. I did like the al dente (quite al dente actually) pasta with plenty of garlic and olive oil. In addition to the absence of clam flavour, there should've been a bit more white wine as well. I think adding a bit of clam juice or a touch of canned clams would've helped. Viv had the Penne al Forno and it was nicely baked with tonnes of oozing cheese. Predictably in this dish, the penne was not as al dente. There was plenty of flavour in the form of bacon and tomato. There was quite a lot of grease due to the large amount of cheese. Overall, this was a pretty average pasta. But whatever the case, for the price we paid, it was decent. Of course if we had to pay the regular prices, I might not be as enthusiastic. Yet, once again, we need to be realistic about our expectations when considering that 2 people could potentially eat for less than $15.00, tax and tip inclusive.

The Good:
- Dirt cheap
- Pretty modern and clean dining space
- Cheery staff

The Bad:
- Portions are small; but 2-for-1, who cares?
- Limited menu other than pastas

Rehanah's Roti & Trinidadian

Port Moody, one of the last places I've yet to blog about. There hasn't been a particular reason that has prevented me from doing so. Hey, I used to live in Coquitlam and I would often dine here. Now, with a quaint little place such as Port Moody, you'd expect to find places like Pajo's at Rocky Point or Saint Street Grill right on the main strip. It would not be an obvious choice if you were looking for an authentic Caribbean roti. Yah, that's what I thought when I first spotted Rehanah's Roti nestled among other restaurants. It's a small place; but you can't miss it with it's red awning and unique name. Even though it was late in the afternoon, there were people waiting for their orders. Appearing to be a one-woman operation, there was a slight wait. At first, I was asked if I was from Trinadad. Interesting question; however, I do have Asian friends who have come from there. She was curious how I knew about the place. Well, partly because I pass by it often and that Frank from Calypso had mentioned it too.

I originally wanted to try the Goat Roti; but I chose a more conservative choice in the Chicken Roti. I could've had it spicy or medium. I went for medium since the last time I chose spicy (House of Dosas), it was as hot going in as it was going out (TMI!). When I went to grab the takeout bag, I was surprised how heavy it was. This thing has got some substance to it! If you are familiar with the Malaysian or Thai roti, it's rather flaky. The one here is much thinner and chewier. For this application, it is absolutely the perfect texture and consistency. It helps hold the massive amount of chicken and potatoes in while you eat it. And about that filling, for being a "medium", it was pretty darn spicy. Not crazy spicy; yet there was a real kick from the curry. I can only imagine how hot the spicy is! The chicken was tender while the potatoes were creamy soft. I was only planning to eat half; but I ended up eating the whole darn thing. I shouldn't have done that since I was just about to go play hockey.

So I make a return visit in hopes of trying out the Goat Roti to no avail. They're sold out! Undeterred, I went for the Shrimp Roti not expecting much. I bit into it expecting shrimp and what I got were tonnes of perfectly cooked crunchy prawns! Combined with the same delicious curry and soft potatoes, this was a nice treat. Again, I was only planning to eat half and finished the whole darn thing!

The Good:
- Really large and full of stuff
- It's spicy (if you like spicy that is)
- Roti has a nice chewy texture

The Bad:
- Not cheap
- Not close for most people (close enough for me to revisit!)

House of Dosas

Alright, this was the last late night hockey on Wednesday for awhile. Apparently, Brit will be off limits during the Olympics. So, I really needed to make our post-hockey meal count. Seeing how Kim had mentioned that House of Dosas is now open 24 hours, it looked like a good bet. It's definitely something different, especially in a sea of Northern Indian cuisine. You see, most of what you see as "Indian" food is actually from the Punjab. Dosas are representative of Southern Indian cuisine. Made of lentil flour, these "crepes" are often filled with potato, paneer and curries.

Initially, I was a bit weary of heading over to House of Dosas for late night eats. Hey, it can be quite spicy, depending on the filling. Probably not the best idea just before bedtime. Whatever the case, I was willing to take the chance. I ended up getting the Lamb Dosa. Nothing particularly interesting with that choice except for the fact I asked for it to be spicy. When I mean spicy, I mean "burning in your mouth, on your tongue, down your esophagus, warm-in-your-tummy hot". While eating it, I had to resist drinking any water. While trying to rest my mouth, I was able to enjoy the thin, crispy dosa. Served on the side was Sambar and the usual chutneys - coconut and spicy tomato.

I found that the lamb filling inside the dosa to be quite plentiful and of course spicy. The lamb itself was tender. Polka King chose a milder Lamb Palak Dosa and it too was full of filling. Compared to Mayuri and Desi Dosa Madras, I think the one I had here at the House of Dosas to be better in terms of the dosa and filling. I would come here again even if it were not 2:00am. I'll just skip the spicy version because I paid for it dearly 5 hours later...

The Good:
- Light, crispy dosa
- Plenty of filling
- Very nice staff

The Bad:
- Place could be tidier

Nancy Wonton House

*Restaurant is now closed*

Poor Polka King. Suffering from the flu, it didn't look good for him to play any late night hockey. But a nice power nap seemed to reinvigorate him enough to participate. The first thing I said to him while picking him up was that he needed a nice bowl of congee. Yes, the Chinese rice gruel which is usually a vessel for such things like century duck eggs, pork blood, liver, kidney and stomach. For some, if they weren't sick before, just thinking about this might make them hurl. Fortunately, Polka King is Chinese, he's used to it... My recommendation was to go out for a nice steaming hot bowl of congee for his sore throat after hockey. I always devise a plan to make people eat out with me. This was no different.

So after a spirited game, we quickly got ready to go and headed off to Nancy Wonton House. I've always wondered about this place. It's been at its location on Victoria for quite some time; but I've never had a chance to try it. From the outside, it looks like any other Chinese wonton joint with its bright lighting to the gaudy yellow signage. I think we arrived as they were preparing to close, so we hurried up and ordered and even paid before starting to eat. Since Polka King was ordering the congee already, I decided to try their Wonton Noodles and a plate of Yeung Chow Fried Rice (Pork & Shrimp Fried Rice). I gotta say that it was a pleasant surprise when the wonton noodles arrived. By just looking at it, I knew this was going to be one fantastic bowl of noodles. First of all, the predominantly shrimp wontons were freakin' huge. Second, the noodles were thin and slightly translucent (a sign of perfectly cooked wonton noodles). Third, the broth was a nice rich colour and steaming hot. I dug in and boy, those noodles had a chewiness and bounce that we all look for in a good bowl of wonton noodles. The soup was indeed flavourful without being salty. The wontons were jam-packed with crunchy shrimp and only a modest amount of pork. Absolutely delicious!

Polka King's Minced Beef Congee was also pretty solid. Thick, burning hot and full of hand-minced tender beef, the congee had a nice consistency. Neither being too salty or under-seasoned, it did not reek of MSG. At the end, it did begin to get a bit watery. Congee Noodle King is better; but this was still quite good. Our dish of Yeung Chow Fried Rice also appeared to be quite good despite the curiously small shrimp. The rice was firm and there was plenty of shrimp and BBQ pork. There was just the right amount of salt and the dish wasn't oily. The only criticism would be that the fried rice was a little on the dry side. However, there was very little to complain about the food here at Nancy Wonton House. Also, with relatively cheap prices, I can see myself coming here for more eats, even if Polka King didn't have a sore throat.

Alright, within a few weeks, we returned to Nancy Wonton House since my aunt and uncle were in town for a visit. They wanted to eat some good ol' wonton noodles and congee for lunch. Well, I could've taken them to Congee Noodle House, Congee Noodle King or even McNoodle; but with NWH fresh in my mind, here we are again. Now, in respect to the Wonton Noodles, it looked the same and really, the wontons and broth were no different than before. However, the noodles were not. Unlike the first time where it was chewy and a bit translucent. These ones resembled the texture of instant shrimp noodles instead. Was it cooked too long? Not enough lye? Whatever the case, they were not as good as before. So make your own conclusions with that.

We ordered 3 bowls of congee: Preserved Egg and Salted Pork, Chicken and Offal. All three were solid with plenty of ingredients within a thick lightly seasoned congee. Other than a few clumps of rice, the Salted Fish and Chicken Fried Rice was pretty solid. The rice was dry (a tad oily) and well seasoned with the salty essence from the fish. It's an acquired taste (it can smell up a room!). So our second visit was pretty solid other than the noodles. I can only assume that it was an aberration since everything else here is pretty good.

The Good:
- Inexpensive
- Excellent wonton noodles
- Good portions

The Bad:
- I can't get over the tacky signage (I know, it's not really all that important)
- It's cash only

Axum Ethiopian Restaurant

Tonight was another random meet up with Kim and Elaine & Chris of Parker Pages. It's really nice to meetup with fellow bloggers, especially ones that know something about the food we were about to eat. You see, I'm not well-versed with Ethiopian food and African food for all that matter. I think there are roughly a dozen Ethiopian restaurants in the GVRD, so it's a bit difficult to get much exposure. However, when it was suggested that we go try Axum, I was all for it. It's been too much sushi and ramen lately anyways.

I arrived at the same time as Elaine & Chris and they were there to witness my obsession with taking pictures of the restaurant exterior (Kim's obsession too!). It's a modest place, located across the street from The Brave Bull. They might consider fixing the peeling signage since it might be only "ESTRANT" pretty soon. After a short wait, Kim arrived and we got down to ordering some grub. The Vegetarian Combo seemed like a good value for $10.00. We had a choice of 4 "from the above items" on the menu. Curiously, there were only 4 items "above". So essentially, we had as much choice as a voter in a Communist state. However, it only appears to be a printing error, since there are actually 5 items to choose from. So from what I can gather, the 4 items that we did end up getting were (clockwise from the top left): Miser Wot, Kik Alicha, Spinach Gomen and Tikil Gomen. Both the Miser Wot and Kik Alicha were a bit spicy and predictably had a "refried bean" mixed with lentil texture. The Spinach Gomen had the consistency of Palak Paneer without the cheese. I wasn't a big fan of the cabbage, it was a bit slimy (but still a bit crunchy). All 4 were served atop a large Injera (which is a spongy pancake-like bread). At first, they look like rolled up face towels; but in reality, they are soft and fluffy with a lemony flavour. We also got 2 big plates of Injera as eating vessels/utensils. Yes, in Ethiopia, they eat with their hands, no fork or knives here. We did cheat with a spoon though...

The most interesting dish of the night had to be the Gored Gored. Essentially raw beef warmed in spiced butter, the owner (?) was a bit concerned that we didn't know what we were getting ourselves into. Hey, we're game for almost anything! Okay, I really liked the flavour profile since it was indeed buttery and a bit spicy. However, I found it tender and chewy at the same time (sounds weird I know). I realize that uncooked lean beef will be a bit tough especially if it isn't an expensive cut. But it was tender in some spots and quite chewy in others. Served on the side was a home made cheese which looked a little like dry ricotta. It was a bit bland.

We ended up getting one protein from each meat section. For our chicken dish, we selected the Doro Alicha Wot which is essentially a chicken curry. As stated on the menu, the sauce was quite mild with some sweetness. Kim and I agreed that we prefer dark meat as opposed to the breast meat used here (a bit dry); but then again, that is just a personal preference. Elaine and I thought the Fish Tibs was the highlight of the night. Not as oily nor spicy as the Lega Tibs, the fish was perfectly cooked. Tender and flaky while still retaining its shape, the mild sauce did not hide the natural sweetness of the fish.

Curioulsy, the Lega Tibs was cooked in the same sauce as the Fish Tibs. But, the flavour profile was completely different. It was a spicier and had a really large oil slick on the top. Chris informed me it was ghee and it was indeed butter, especially when it totally soaked my piece of Injera. I also suspect the fattiness of the lamb contributed to the slick. The lamb itself had a nice gaminess to it and most pieces were quite tender.
At this point we were really quite full. There was not way we could finish the rest of the Injera. Total carb overload. Being that I am not really all that familiar with Ethiopian cuisine, I can't say this was better or worse than any previous experience. What I do know is that the meal was definitely different and a pretty good value. The best thing of all was obvious: great company, fun banter and food. You can't really lose with that combination.

The Good:
- Good value
- Something a bit different
- Friendly owner (?)

The Bad:
- I personally didn't like the textures of the proteins other than the fish (but that's the way it should be, so ignore me if you don't share the same preference)

Mama's Chinese Kitchen

*Restaurant now closed*

Despite what you think, I do eat at home. In fact, I love cooking. However, taking a look in the fridge revealed that I only had condiments. A ketchup-mustard casserole didn't seem all that appealing. So Viv and I decided to pay Stupidstore a visit. I have a love-hate relationship with this place. On one hand, the prices are quite good and I actually find PC products to be decent. But, with this comes compromises. Shopping there is an exercise in frustration. If people drove the way they pushed carts, there would be mass chaos on the streets. Anyways, on our way there, I noticed a new restaurant on Broadway near Rupert named Mama's Chinese Kitchen. A bit intrigued, Viv and I paid it a visit afterwards.

When we walked in, there was no mama and it sure didn't look like a Chinese kitchen. Rather, 2 fellows operated the place and it looked like a quasi-Japanese, Chinese food fair joint. We were a bit nervous. Strangely, Viv noticed the daily feature board and there were items written strictly in Chinese. That was a bit more reassuring. We were going to try their $4.99 dinner special (Rice with 2 items); but the nice man suggested we try some freshly cooked items instead. We concurred and got 3 items to share. Our first dish was the Salted Fish and Chicken Fried Rice. It arrived freshly wok-fried and it was pretty darn good. There was no absence of salted fish flavour throughout the mostly well-cooked rice. I say mostly because there was the occasional rice clump due to the fact they used fresh rice. We also got the House Special Fried Noodle and it was also pretty good. Chicken, squid, shrimp, fish, BBQ pork, shiitake and Shanghai bak choy rested atop crispy fried noodles. From the moist fish to the crunchy bak choy, all the ingredients were properly cooked. By this time we were a bit confused why this little place could produce such decent food.

By the time we got our Broccoli Beef, the chef had taken a seat beside us and was chatting with a friend. Trying not to get noticed, I quickly snapped a photo. However, he noticed and remarked in Cantonese to his friend, "hey, that guy just took a picture of the broccoli!". Hearing this, I told him I love taking photos of food. Then he went on to say that his food was big restaurant quality. The reason? He was a former chef at Floata. Now that explains everything. No wonder the food was so decent. It didn't blow me away; but it was pretty darn good for the prices. Nothing much is over $10.00. He went on to say he can cook us anything as long as they have the raw materials - even lobster in cream sauce. Nice.

The Good:
- Nothing much over $10.00
- Pretty decent for such a small place
- Friendly owners

The Bad:
- For the limited places to sit, they're uncomfortable
- The ready-made stuff looks a bit unappetizing