320 Cambie Street, Vancouver (Gastown)
This little place is the perfect answer to those that are obsessed with meatballs. Tucked away on Cambie Street close to Victory Square, Kofta Meatball Kitchen boasts big, hand rolled meatballs in cute little bowls of pasta. I went with my friend Joshua and the whole concept of the restaurant was quite endearing to me. I personally am a huge fan of meatballs so I knew that a trip to Kofta was definitely needed. The space inside is super spacious and can fit a lot of people, and one of the walls facing the street is a garage door which can open during the super hot summer days. There is also an entire wall of little succulent plants which I love! At Kofta you can choose to have meatball baguettes (think meatball sub at Subway, but a little more refined) or a meatball bowl, either premade or one that you can build yourself. Being a huge fan of macaroni and cheese, I had the Six Pack Mac, which was macaroni and cheese and three savory beef and ricotta meatballs. The other bowls amazing too, such as the Kofta Poutine, the BBQ Feast, or a Low-Carbonara with zoodles (zucchini noodles) as opposed to pasta. I loved what I had and I definitely will make a trip back because I love the idea of the place! The only thing was that the meatballs were a little bland, but it was made up for with the sauce in the macaroni.
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15171 Russell Ave, Surrey (White Rock)
On a beautiful summery day, I spent the day with Eleanor in White Rock. Our first stop was brunch at The Wooden Spoon Co.! This super tiny and modern looking restaurant is best-known for their brunch, but are also open for lunch and dinner. You can make reservations ahead of time, and that is usually recommended because they get super busy super quick! The menu had a lot of yummy looking food choices, making it super difficult to choose just one thing to have! But since Eleanor had been to The Wooden Spoon before, upon her recommendation we both had eggs bennys! I ended up having the SoCal, which had spiced chicken, avocado, and sweet corn relish under two poached eggs, and Eleanor had The Wooden, which had maple bacon and carmelized onions under two poached eggs. Both of these were also served with potato fritters, which were a refreshing take on the usual potato hashbrowns, and a quinoa salad. This cute little restaurant with quick access to White Rock beach is the perfect start to any beach day, and I hope to go back really soon! 546 West Broadway, Vancouver
Places dedicated to breakfast/brunch are super awesome. Even better are places dedicated to one particular brunch item, which in Yolks' case is eggs benedict (henceforth referred to as an eggs benny). Truth be told, I was never really a fan of eggs growing up. My appreciation for them only started with scrambled eggs when I was about 11 or 12. Any other method of cooking eggs - hard/soft boiled, poached, sunny side up - was not for me. I still have this resistance to this day, though I am slowly becoming more appreciative of eggs beyond their scrambled and omelette form. Since I was coming to a place that is known throughoutthe city for their eggs bennys (and people wait in lines for them!), then I knew that it would be foolish to get anything else. I went with my friend Jamie to celebrate the end of final exams, and we went to the more conveniently located West Broadway location (their commissary is on East Hastings at Commercial, a particularly run down and more difficult part of town to get to, though it can be done!). At Yolks, you are able to build your eggs benny, so I went with the classic English muffin with maple ham, the poached egg (of course) and topped with aged white cheddar, as well as added a side of the famous lemon truffle hashbrowns. Everything was incredible and tasty, and it helped my appreciation for poached eggs more and more! Yolks does not take reservations, and because of its popularity you might find yourself waiting for a bit. But I promise, it's worth it! Also, check out how ya girl was featured on Yolks' Instagram! 212 E Georgia Street, Vancouver (Chinatown)
Located in Chinatown and about a 5 minute walk from the Main Street Skytrain station, Caffe Brixton is your typical neighbourhood joint with plenty of food and drink choices. The food wasn't awful by any means - the burger I had was really great - but it wasn't stand out, amazing food either. It was just another place. The one thing I will give Brixton credit for is its flexibility when it comes to serving of vegetarian options. I met up with my friend Caron after a long time apart, and the first thing I remembered thinking was the lack of help the one poor server had. Despite the restaurant being about 45% full, part of that 45% was a big party, with a couple other tables here and there, Caron and I included. We weren't given menus until about 5 minutes after we gingerly sat ourselves, and then it took another 10 minutes to actually get our order to the lone server. I sympathized with the waiter, but we were also running on a tight timeline. Eventually we were able to order our food, with both of us getting hand-helds. Caron had the beef dip while I had the bacon cheddar cheeseburger. As mentioned above, the food was not standout by any means, and the server did everything he could. But my question is: where are the rest of his fellow servers? Shout out to Caron for the fantastic photos! 43 W Hastings Street, Vancouver (Gastown)
Save On Meats is part butcher, part diner, but all around amazing. With your typical tiled floor, big booths and long bar, walking into Save On Meats is like walking into the 1950s with a cool Vancouver twist. I've been to SOM twice so far, once for their all-day breakfast and once for ice cream. Any place that serves all-day breakfast is a winner for me. With a menu that has true diner classics like burgers, milkshakes, and even a Salisbury steak if you're feeling particularly fancy, there is something for everyone. Things do sell out quite quickly, like their apple pie, so get in there early so that you don't have to face the disappointment at the prospect of no pie a la mode for the day. A community staple, SOM also has the token program, where tokens can be purchased for $2.25 and given to a person who may be in need so that they can receive some food, which is a really cool endeavour to try and increase inclusivity in the neighbourhood. Come by for the food and stay for the experience. Also, their sausage is incredible. 601 Expo Blvd, Vancouver (Stadium-Chinatown)
If you are craving fusion and you really don't want to talk too far, then get yourself on the Skytrain and head to Tako, which is just steps from the Stadium-Chinatown Skytrain station. It is the perfect food stop before any game or concert happening at Rogers Arena, provided you are adventurous and have an open mind about fusion food. A self-proclaimed Korean taco shop, the fusion of Mexican cuisine with a Korean spin is quite refreshing though it is not an entirely new concept (see: Coquitlam's Tacoreano), but if we're measuring by convenience, then Tako wins. The space that used to occupy some kind of coffee shop or convenience store has brightened up with bright yellow walls and sleek bar tables, and plugs galore. The minute you walk in, you are greeted with a cheery hello and an eclectic mix of kimchi and cheese. It could make Mexican or Korean food purists squirm, but I found the mix oddly enticing. I went with my friend Elijah to try something different, and we were not disappointed! We both opted for quesadillas: one order of the kimchi quesadilla (Pan-fried kimchi, bulgogi, corn, red onion, cheese) and the Omma quesadilla (Bulgogi, mushroom, cheese, red onion), both of which were $8.95 a piece. They also serve up little tacos, burritos, poutine and Bibimbap bowls to throw in a little more Korean. All in all, the flavours were amazing together: who would have thought that kimchi and cheese together would taste so amazing? Aside from delicious food, Tako's location is prime, being just steps away from Roger's Arena and the Cineplex in International Village. So if you are looking for a pre or post-show snack that's not too expensive and you want to err on the side of adventure, then Tako is your place. 622 W Pender Street, Vancouver (Downtown)
Vancouver has no shortage of fusion restaurants, and Gyoza Bar shows great promise among the landscape in Vancouver's fusion eateries. Located on the edge of Gastown, Gyoza Bar brings a fresh take on Japanese cuisine that isn't sushi. Rather, it showcases ramen bowls, extensive bao boards and the beloved dumpling - the gyoza. I went to Gyoza Bar with my friend Jamie, and we decided to get a couple plates to share. The menu was bursting with incredible dishes that all sounded incredibly delicious, and after a lot of deliberating we decided on getting the Japanese curry poutine, the lettuce wrapped crispy chicken tacos and of course, a platter of the pork teppan gyoza. Because did you really go to Gyoza Bar if you didn't have gyoza? Teppan is a style of Japanese cuisine that use iron griddle to cook food, and in this case, it was cooking the gyoza. Pork gyoza is a classic, and it was absolutely delicious! Our gyoza was served with a spicy mayo and umami soy dipping sauce, which really enhanced the flavours of it. I loved all of the dishes that night, but the gyoza was probably my favourite because it is so simple and yet so tasty! If you ever come to Gyoza Bar, the teppan gyoza is an absolute must. The Japanese curry poutine was definitely the most eclectic dish that we ordered and definitely was the epitome of fusion. Japanese curry is different from Indian curry in that it is less spicy and is typically very thick, making for an excellent gravy to pour over top of thick cut fries. The poutine was topped with pulled pork, pickled jalepenos and cheddar cheese. Reading the menu description honestly sounded so wrong, but somehow ended up tasting really good! I have tried many different kinds of poutine, but this is one for the books. Finally, the lettuce wrapped crispy chicken tacos were also quite delicious, although the name of the dish was a little misguided. There was no crispy chicken, but there were 5 deep fried gyoza which were delicious on their own. Using lettuce as the "taco shell", we placed the crispy gyoza inside and topped it with sriacha aioli, pico de gallo, and guacamole. While the dish sounded strange yet again, it still tasted really good. The deep friend gyoza really gave a nice crunch, but I wasn't too hot about the pico de gallo. All in all, Gyoza bar offered a fun and exotic atmosphere with dishes that are just as fun and exotic. It definitely requires a step - nay, a leap - outside of your comfort zone, but I promise that you will be rewarded with delicious food and a great experience. 100-2970 Glen Drive, Coquitlam
If you are a fan of both Mexican and Korean cuisine and have always had a difficult time choosing between the two, look no further than Coquitlam's Tacoreano, metro Vancouver's answer to fresh tacos with an Asian twist. I had passed by Tacoreano a number of times and finally had an opportunity to try it with some friends, and I was shocked at how delicious and innovative this fusion was. I was admittedly a little wary, seeing as I had never had Korean food before, but the mix of flavours was truly out of this world. Tacoreano serves up a wide variety of tacos, burritos and quesadillas with Asian flavours mixed in, making for a delicious experience that is hard to find in the Lower Mainland. The restaurant has a long communal table running through the center with three other 2-person tables and a cozy nook area, making the restaurant quite small. A lit up sign that boasts the name of the restaurant hangs over top of the long table, giving the restaurant a very cozy and Tumblr-worthy interior. Along the wall there is a selection of hot sauces to stay true to the Mexican side of the restaurant, next to the pitchers of cold water and hot tea to stay true to the Asian side. The tacos were incredible - I had one pork taco (pork marinated with red pepper paste, cabbage, salsa, pickled radish, miso crema) and the shrimp taco (sizzling shrimp, sliced avocado, garnish with sour cream and cilantro). We also shared the very typical Pinata nachos. All of the dishes sound really innovative, most notably the strawberry taco that has brie cheese, basil and honey among other things. If you're not feeling tacos but still want to check it out, Tacoreano also serves up rice bowls that feature various proteins, kimchee and salsa fresca - an odd, yet satisfying fusion. The service was quick and friendly, and also a strange hybrid of fast food joint and sit down restaurant. The server will come and take your order, and you go up to pay for your food at the end of your meal. I don't really know what to say to that. The important thing is that the food came out in a timely fashion and that it looked and tasted delicious! With the new Evergreen Extension, I will definitely be making a point to go into Coquitlam, and Tacoreano, more often, to try out as many dishes as possible. 415 Dunsmuir Street, Vancouver (Downtown)
When you were a kid, your parents probably told you to eat your greens, and you would begrudgingly do so and spit them out afterwards. But at Field and Social, you won't just eat your greens - you'll keep coming back for them. Field and Social has taken the noble side salad and turned it into the main event. Served up in beautiful ceramic bowls, their salads are the full meal deal without feeling guilty about anything. But these aren't your typical salads with too much dressing and a few forgettable croutons. Those that work Field and Social take pride in the creation of their salads, making it a perfect lunch choice for the many businesses that work in the same area. The interior space is beautiful, with clean white walls and wooden communal tables while still keeping the concrete integrity of its previous life. The decal on the wall next to the entrance reads "have a field day", and if the interior doesn't already draw you in, the salads will make sure that you stay there. I had the Rustic Orzo, which had roasted chicken breast, orzo, walnuts, sundried tomatoes, bacon and Grana Padano cheese on top of a bed of romaine lettuce and kale, topped with a basil and white Balsamic dressing. Just writing that out makes me think back to this gorgeous salad, which was so simple and yet so tasty. You may wonder why even bother spending so much money on a salad (mine was $11; the most expensive one costs $14.50). I suppose there is something unusual about going out to eat a salad when you could very well make it at home on your own, but Field and Social offers a new way to lunch, one that looks and feels a lot healthier than most others. Best of all, they source local and fresh ingredients to use in their salads, making it an even bigger win. So if you are ever looking for a lunch option that is guilt free, have a field day and go over to Field and Social. You can also tell your parents that you eat your greens now! 306 Water Street, Vancouver (Gastown)
Gastown has been blessed with another poke shop, and now The Poke Guy on Richards Street has some serious competition to watch out for. The Poke Shop, located on Water Street, is the latest poke restaurant to join the growing Vancouver trend. Located in another basement, I was first drawn to The Poke Shop by their colourful sign that pointed into the restaurant. Walking inside, I was greeted with a burst of colour, with a long Hawaiian style mural running along one of the walls and a gorgeous wooden communal table with gorgeous blue glass running through the center of it. Starting at $12.95 for a large bowl, you are given a base of rice or salad, two scoops of protein and unlimited toppings. Unlimited. As in, top it until you drop it (but don't drop it, because you will be sad). As with The Poke Guy there are multiple toppings to choose from, however, you need to be careful about some of the toppings that you choose, as premium toppings are an extra $1, like avocado. However, the poke bowl was amazing. Their toppings were plentiful and abundant, which was really great to see. I chose the wild sockeye salmon and Ahi tuna on white Japonica rice, topped with avocado, corn, green onion, and many other things I don't remember, and topped off with miso sauce. It was incredibly fresh and delicious, though the fish wasn't as marinated or flavourful. If you're looking to diversify your poke pallet, consider The Poke Shop, right across from the steam clock. You'll instantly forget that you're in rainy Vancouver. |
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