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Once again, meeting up with Choobee for lunch meant traveling deep into the Westside of Vancouver. Why you might ask? Well, apparently, she doesn't acknowledge there is anything East of Main Street. It might as well be a vast expanse of nothingness. Could she be a Westside snob? Possibly. But more likely is that she is just plain lazy and couldn't be troubled to drive that far... So therefore, I made my way out to Kits to meet her at Hu Tong for some Beijing cuisine.
We began with some appies including the Smashed Cucumber and Honey Tofu. Although dressed in plenty of garlic and sesame, the cucumber itself was quite bland. Naturally, it is often used as a counterbalance to the heavier spicy dishes, but I would've liked to see more seasoning to bring the cucumber to life. Texturally, it was crunchy and fresh. As for the tofu, it was pressed, hence being firm in texture. With a light crispiness, it had a good overall feel. It was dressed in a sweet glaze that was syrupy, yet ultimately impactful.
For some odd reason, I decided to order the Preserved Egg with Ginger. Although easily replicated at home, I was dying to eat preserved egg. I guess that would be somewhat ironic due to the latest buzz about the eggs originating out of China (think chemicals). This was simple, yet pleasant with a soft runny yolk with grated ginger and a vinegary soy dressing. Onto something bigger (relatively), we tried the Braised Ribs. These were fall-off-the-bone tender where the meat was really moist and fatty. The first few bites revealed plenty of cinnamon, star anise and cloves. The flavours were sweet and impactful.
Seemingly the same, but completely different, we had the Brisket Hot Pot. With small fatty chunks of meat, it was sitting in a greasy sauce that exhibited a certain sweetness that was counteracted by a spicy finish. This was thanks to the chili flakes and Szechuan peppercorns. Again, there was a hit of five-spice and a touch of cumin. We also tried the Stir Fried Noodles that were accented by fatty pork and green beans. As for the noodles themselves, they were chewy, somewhat dry and plenty greasy. However, when we mixed the accompanying ginger black vinegar, it brought the dish alive with acidity and sweetness.
Lastly, we had the Stuffed Bun which was modest with the egg and chive filling. It was more bready than anything else. We weren't exactly impressed with this version as it was heavy and lacking in any discernible flavours or appealing textures. Overall, we were moderately satisfied with our meal at Hu Tong. It wasn't like we didn't like the food, it was just that there was nothing that really jumped out at us, especially at the high prices.
The Good:
- Something different (not a whole lot of other Beijing-type restaurants out there)
- Apprehensively friendly service
The Bad:
- Expensive
- Okay food, but hardly memorable
After an epic fail of a restaurant invite (as in "we weren't expecting you"), Miss Y and I were in search for eats. Being a Monday night, options were indeed limited. Despite driving all-the-way from Deep Cove into Downtown, we passed by restaurants that were either uninteresting or closed. Hence, we went to an ol' standby being Guu with Garlic. Not that we weren't tempted by other restaurants nearby namely Pizza Fabrika and Hokkaido Ramen Santouka. I guess, I'll be paying Lower Robson another visit sometime soon!
After we ordered, the food came faster than an out-of-control car (like the one I witnessed smashing into a pole on Kingsway in front of Dollarama). The Duck Salad with roasted duck, greens, mushrooms, garlic chips and wasabi dressing arrived first. I found the duck itself to be rather hard and lacking in moisture. The salad underneath was fresh and crisp, but the wasabi dressing was extremely light (and there wasn't much of it). Thankfully, the garlic chips and mushrooms helped add a touch of flavour. Next, we had my personal favourite, the Ebi Mayo. This was prepared nicely as the large prawns were meaty with a slight snap. Crispy and not doughy, the batter clung tightly onto each prawn. We found the mayo to be balanced with a good amount of sweetness tempered by acidity and a spicy finish.
Luckily for us, the menu at Guu is pretty focused, hence, there was no way that Miss Y would order her usual strange items. She insisted on an udon of some type, so we ended up with the Yaki Udon consisting of pan fried udon with beef, mushroom, green onion, soy sauce and butter. As expected, the flavours were subtle with only a background saltiness combined with the aromatic butter. The noodles were chewy and toothsome while the modest amount of beef was sliced thin and tender. Next up was the Tontoro or grilled pork cheek with yuzu ponzu sauce. I really enjoyed this dish as the pork cheek was expertly prepared where it was succulent, exhibiting its classic chewy-rebound texture. Furthermore, the appetizing acidity from the yuzu ponzu sauce brightened up pieces of pork where it wasn't overly salty either.
Another solid offering was the Salmon Sashimi with avocado and sesame dressing. The little nuggets of salmon were buttery and fresh while the avocado was a bit brown (could be from the dressing as well). No matter though as it was buttery and ultimately tasted fine. What brought the whole thing together was the aromatic nuttiness of the creamy sesame dressing that had the right balance of sweet and salty. To get some more veggies, we got the Fried Eggplant soaked in soy sauce that was tender and full of flavour. It wasn't spongy though, rather it ate more like a soft squash. Flavourwise, it was mild (surprisingly not salty at all) with a background sweetness.
Lastly, we had the Deep Fried Japanese Sweet Potato tossed in a sweet sticky soy glaze & sesame. This ate like a dessert as it was fitting as our final dish. The potatoes were firm while still soft inside. There was a slight crispy exterior shell that was enveloped by a molasses-type soy glaze. This was really sweet, but tasty nonetheless. With that, our meal came to an end much like it always does at Guu - enjoyable (while not particularly outstanding either) and relatively inexpensive.
The Good:
- Reasonably-priced
- Decent service
- Decent eats
The Bad:
- A little less refined than other Izakayas
- Seating isn't the most comfortable, but that is par with the course
At one point last year, I was frequenting Warrior Grill out at Strawberry Hill. Yah, I realized that it wasn't "true" Mongolian BBQ, but really, it was okay for an inexpensive lunch that wasn't a burger. Suddenly it closed and there went one of my go-to places. Then recently, a new Mongolian BBQ opened up in Newton where the old C-Lover's used to be located. With strangely the same setup (and equipment) as the defunct Warrior Grill, I am wondering if there has been a reincarnation here (albeit with different owners).
Initially, I was planning on doing the all-u-can-eat, but then it donned on me that I neither had the time nor the appetite to do such a thing. Besides, the large bowl provided was more than enough for me to cram all the food I needed for lunch. With a modest selection of veggies and noodles, I gingerly and sparsely loaded up my bowl. Nothing was particularly amiss here as things looked fresh. Onto the meats, I went for everything including beef, chicken, pork and lamb. After than, I chose my sauces and made a bloody mess of things. There must be a better way of doing things... Maybe bigger spoons? A dispenser? Otherwise, the sauces get all mixed up anyways due to spillage.
Once constructed, my masterpiece was piled high with ingredients. The Tetris-like precision meant that even a light wind would send it toppling over. Not too long after, it was swooped up and prepared on the flattop. Similarly to the old Warrior Grill, the fact they don't have an actual Mongolian grill meant that the food may have not necessarily cooked as fast. As a result, caramelization would be less and moisture at the bottom of the plate would be an issue. On the other hand, I found it acceptable and it ended up being a hearty meal on the cheap. Although it isn't the sexiest place nor was it amazing food, the fact that the owners were super accommodating and friendly makes me want to visit them again.
The Good:
- Inexpensive
- Really nice owners (especially the lady)
The Bad:
- Limited selection
- Flattop can only do so much
Okay, what are some of the most popular things to eat in Montreal? Poutine would be an obvious one as well as smoked meat and bagels. Well, how about combining the bagel with smoked meat? That's the idea behind Rosemary Rocksalt. And the co-founder is none other than Joel Siegal's daughter, Parise. Oh, and if you didn't know already, Joel Siegal is famous for his Montreal-style bagels which are found at his 2 stores in Vancouver. Miss Y and I had a small taste of the Rosemary Rocksalt during Tasting Plates Main Street where we vowed to return for a proper meal.
That we did prior to my hockey game where I thought it would be a light enough meal. Go figure, a heavy bagel with fatty meat... Maybe I don't understand the idea of a light meal. We decided to share a few items including the Large Montreal Smoked Meat on a Rosemary Rocksalt Bagel. The well-marbled meat was moist and needed very little effort to chew. It was nicely cured where it was purposefully salty with some peppery notes. Although I'm not completely convinced smoked meat belongs in a bagel (too chewy and there is a hole in the middle), the bagel itself was firm and toothsome with nice aromatics. Suprisingly, the side of Fries were better than expected. Slightly oversalted, these were lightly crispy with the goodness of soft potato inside.
With a not-so-discreet hint, Miss Y seemed to want the Lox & Cream Cheese on an Everything Bagel. The bagel itself had a nice sesame and poppy seed crust on the outside which added a crunchy texture to contrast the chewy inside. With a liberal spread of cream cheese and enough smoked salmon, capers and onion on top, this was pleasant enough. Overall, we thought the bagels at Rosemary Rocksalt were good while the addition of smoked meat was something different. As mentioned before, I'm not totally convinced at the combination since I would prefer light rye. Yet, it isn't necessarily a bad thing either.
The Good:
- Fatty, melt-in-your-mouth smoked meat
- Nicely textured and flavoured bagels
The Bad:
- Chewy dense bagel + melt-in-mouth meat = mess with things falling out all over the place
- On the pricier side
Sometimes, tough decisions need to be made. Decisions that involve our very being and the existence of Earth... Like who to eat with after Friday night hockey! Did you expect something more deep and meaningful? #firstworldproblems So my dilemma was whether to join Milhouse and Gadget Girl in some quick eats (not necessarily good eats either) and then a night of role-playing games or head Downtown with Miss Y for Izakaya. Let me see here... Unidentified eats vs. Kingyo with the gorgeous Miss Y... Guess who won?
It was actually a great idea to visit Kingyo as I haven't been to the place in 5 years. We started off with something light in the Fresh Sashimi Salad consisting of salmon, tuna and hamachi atop organic greens dressed with a soy vinaigrette and garlic oil. This was a pleasant dish with vibrant cuts of sashimi that had a nice sheen and a fresh taste (as best as flash frozen can get). I found the dressing to be plenty appetizing with a nice acidity that was balanced off by a savory sweetness. The pieces of ponzu jelly added another layer of salty tanginess. Next up was the Stone-Grilled Beef Tongue with yuzu red pepper paste. After nearly 7 years of offering it to Miss Y, she finally accepted my tongue! Woohoo! With a quick sear on the hot stone, each thin slice of tongue was predictably chewy (tongue is not tender unless you stew it). Tart and slightly aromatic, the paste was a mild compliment to the tongue.
Onto one of my favourite Japanese dishes was the Ebi Mayo made of tempura-battered tiger prawns with spicy chili mayo. These were impressive too look at but we found the batter to be slightly too dense. Therefore, the crunch was rather firm and somewhat doughy inside. On the other hand, the prawns were large and had a meaty snap. As per the description, the mayo was spicy with a tang rather then the usual sweet version. Moving onto a larger dish, we tried the Stone-Grilled "Kakuni Bibimbap" with slowly stewed tender pork belly "kakuni", Korean-style pickles, nori and green onions on Koshihikari rice in a sizzing stone bowl. This was a substantial amount of food, in particular, the pork belly (which was succulent and meaty with a beautiful roasted flavour). After a quick mix and then squashing the rice onto the sides of the bowl, we waited until a caramelized crust had formed. This was aided by the sweet sauce which was nicely accented by the crunchy and tangy pickles. The chewy short-grain rice held up well to the ingredients, which was key to this dish.
With Miss Y still chewing away on the one piece of tongue she agreed to eat, another plate of chewy meat arrived being the Grilled Pork Cheek marinated in Kingyo's original miso marinade with homemade blended spice on the side. Now when I said chewy, it wasn't in a negative manner. Pork cheek, similarly to tongue, needs to be braised in order for it to become tender. Simply grilled, it came out with a bouncy chew which was complimented by a nice exterior char. Tastewise, it was mildly salty and a touch sweet that was balanced out by the spicy condiment. The squeeze of lemon was key too as it lightened things up. Miss Y loves udon, so it was a given we tried the Kingyo-Style Peperoncino with Japanese anchovy, cabbage, green onions, chili strings and nori. We found the dish to be rather salty due to the anchovies, but for me, it was just right. The noodles were still chewy while slightly wet from the cabbage.
For dessert, we had the Blue Cheese Ice Cream with walnuts and apple compote. As much as we were warned that there was a considerable amount of blue cheese in the mix, it wasn't overpowering. We liked the sharpness combined with the mild sweetness of the ice cream. The apples were tender and only slightly sweet while the walnuts added a nice crunch. After all this food, we were plenty satisfied and felt it was money well spent. Turns out Milhouse ended up suffering through a visit to Pho Hoa... I guess I made the right decision! Anyways, 5 years later and we still find that Kingyo continues to deliver good eats late into the night.
The Good:
- Solidly crafted eats
- We felt the service was very good
The Bad:
- A bit pricier than other Izakayas
With Whipping Girl being all-grown up and such, she now has plenty of responsibilities. Naturally, she had to furnish her new digs with the important stuff, like a big screen TV and bar stools. But what about a bed and washer/dryer??? Well, she finally got her bed from Ikea and needed me to help build it for her. No problemo, I've built enough Ikea furniture in my lifetime that I have nightmares about Lack (no not Eddie) and Malm... But to make things extra sweet, it meant she was going to treat me to dinner! Since it was cold and dreary, we decided to hit up Ramengers on Kingsway.
To start things off, we decided to get a regular-sized order of the Cheese Tonkotsu Ramen which was only topped with a moderate amount of melting, stringy cheese. That was a good thing as it didn't overwhelm the ramen. The ramen itself was toothsome and plentiful as it seemed like a never-ending bowl. As for the tonkotsu broth, it wasn't overly salty while still exhibiting some natural pork flavour. It wasn't particularly silky, but that didn't hurt things much. The piece of chashu was torched on one side where it exhibited an appealing smokiness. I found the meat to be a bit salty though with parts that melted-in-my-mouth with others being a bit chewy. The egg was beautifully soft and well-seasoned. To contrast this bowl, we got the large size of the Pork Bone Ramen which was distinctively Korean-inspired. It was a combination of ramen and spicy pork bone soup which worked in our opinion. The level of spiciness was just enough where it didn't make us sweat, but still had an impact. We found the soup to have depth-of-flavour and a lasting impression. The pork bones were meaty and consisted of super tender meat.
For our sides, we had the Unagi Don which featured chewy flavoured rice. The piece of unagi was buttery, only mildly glazed and smoky. Combined with the cabbage, each spoonful had a nice balance of flavours and textures. Lastly, we had the Chashu Rice Bomb that was also nicely spiced. There was a good balance of salty, spicy and sweet. The rice was chewy while the chashu was a bit salty and dry. If we looked solely on the ramen at Ramengers, it more than held its own amongst the other options in town and specifically, its closest rival in Kamamarui Ramen in Burnaby. Now with her Ikea bed built, Whipping Girl only needs a washer and dryer. And no matter what food she tried to treat me with, I'm not moving those!
The Good:
- Large portions (even for regular)
- Nice people
- Decent eats
The Bad:
- Seating is really tight (really!)
- Parking lot is worse
It also seems like there are as many Japanese restaurants along Hastings in North Burnaby as there are Italian restaurants. Now, for an area that has traditionally been Italian, it is somewhat of an oddity. But hey, I guess it shouldn't be a surprise as the same could be said about the entire stretch of Lonsdale in North Van and Broadway in Vancouver. One quick search and there are well over 1000 Japanese restaurants in the GVRD. As I've said over and over again, a very small percentage are actually Japanese owned and operated. Yet, Kazu Japanese Restaurant happens to be one of those and conveniently right along the aforementioned Hastings.
Despite the torrential downpour, I dragged the family out for some authentic Japanese that didn't include monstrous specialty rolls doused in an array of multi-coloured sauces (although I do like them when done well). We started out with an order of Assorted Sashimi consisting of tuna, tako, salmon, ebi, hokkigai and hamachi. Carefully prepared and plated, the pieces exhibited a nice sheen and fresh demeanor (as much as flash frozen can get). I found the hamachi especially nice being buttery with a rebound and tasting naturally sweet. Onto a few basic rolls, we had the Salmon Maki and BC Roll. At first, the rice was slightly warm, but one cooled, it had an appealing chewiness with mild flavours. The salmon skin in the BC Roll was slightly crispy with a good amount of meat attached. As for the Salmon Maki, the fish was aesthetically-pleasing and sweet tasting.
For the kiddies, we ordered the Nabeyaki Udon consisting of a modest amount of ingredients including spinach, shiitake, egg, ebi tempura, chicken and pink kamaboko. There was a decent amount of slippery chewy udon noodles bathed in a slightly sweet broth. We found the dashi to be on the milder side where the bonito was not very apparent. Also for the kiddies, we got some Chicken Karaage which my son devoured. I sampled some and understood his enthusiasm as each piece was evenly crispy on the outside with well-rendered skin. Additionally, the dish was easy on the grease. Inside, the meat was juicy and moist while seasoned just enough while not being salty.
Since he was so happy with the chicken karaage, my son started to ignore the Prawn Tempura (which is usually his favourite). Again, after dining on several pieces myself, I began to understand why he wasn't that thrilled with it. Although the ebi was large with a sweet meaty snap, the tempura batter was too doughy and laid on thick. Hence, the crispiness was only available in spots. And as it cooled, the exterior texture only got soggier. Arriving next were the Fried Shrimp Heads from our assorted sashimi. Viv and I love it when we get head... er... Anyways, these were fried up crunchy where the shell was completely edible without cutting up the inside of our mouths. With a squeeze of lemon, that was all that was needed to brighten things up.
Lastly, we added the Oyako Don just in case we weren't full. Well, we were full and Viv had a nice lunch the next day. The fluffy rice was topped with a good amount of moist chicken, egg and white onion. We would've liked to see the rice a bit more chewy, as it got even softer with the topping and sauce. And about that sauce, it was definitely sweeter and we could've used a bit more of it. Although the meal was far from outstanding, Kazu offered up authentic Japanese eats that was a nice break from the usual places along Hastings in Burnaby.
The Good:
- Friendly people
- Things are done right for those who care
- Simple and focused menu
The Bad:
- A bit pricier than the others nearby
- Limited menu for some
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