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.
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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. 420 Richards Street, Vancouver (Gastown)
I went to check out The Poke Guy ahead of a review for The Peak. It was my very first time trying poke, and it was incredible! Poke is a fish salad found in Hawaiian cuisine, and one bite of this transported me instantly to Hawaii! The aestehtic of the restaurant which is very close to SFU's Harbour Center campus, has a very beachy vibe: clean white walls, wooden furniture and vibrant green plants. The greatest thing about The Poke Guy is the amount of choice that you have when it comes to what you want to eat. First off, you get to choose the size: the Little Guy, which consists of two scoops of protein and up to 5 sides, or the Big Guy, which consists of three scoops of protein and unlimited sides. There are daily proteins that rotate though, like Tako (octopus) and shrimp, as well as mainstays such as Ahi tuna and Lomi Lomi salmon. There is also the choice between white and brown rice or a salad base, and a number of sides such as imitation crab, avocado, corn, fresh mango, and others. You also get a choice of dressings as well as "crunch" toppings like nori (seaweed), crispy onions and pork rinds. I had the Little Guy with half white rice and half salad, Lomi Lomi salmon (which is fresh salmon marinated with vinegar, tomato, parsley and onions) and a bit of Ahi tuna, added imitation crab meat and mango and topped with nori. It was, in a word, delicious! One bite and I could feel the Hawaiian sunshine! The other cool thing about The Poke Guy is that all of their utensils and packaging are compostable. The staff are also incredibly helpful, and you can sample the different proteins to see which one you like! With poke becoming so popular in the city, the lunch rush at The Poke Guy means that the popular proteins and sides get sold out quickly and aren't replaced for the rest of the day. The Poke Guy is on the rise and looking to add more food options and potentially be open for dinner as well, and definitely is the one to watch. Guu with Otokomae - 375 Water Street, Vancouver (Gastown)
With so many locations to choose from, Guu Izakaya introduces patrons to Japanese tapas with a unique twist in a cool environment. It was my first time at Guu, and my friend Eivan and I went to the one in Gastown, or Guu with Otokomae (which translates to 'handsome man', apparently). We were seated fairly quickly at a cozy table. The interior is super cool at the Gastown location, with rustic wooden furniture and a haunting bar area. After being told by Eivan that I was to take the wheel on ordering (despite having never been to Guu), I had ordered for us takoyaki, karaage, and my favourite, cheese and mushroom bibimbap. The food came out really quick, and just like it was described online, each dish was presented in a very unique and beautiful way and it was so, so delicious! Each of the locations offer unique twists and menus - I'm eager to try out the other ones real soon! 115 West 2nd Avenue, Vancouver (Olympic Village/False Creek)
I have nothing but good things to say about Bao Down and now their new restaurant location. Bao Down Gastropub + Raw Bar rang in 2016 with a bang, bringing to Olympic Village a vibrant take on Thai food. The first Bao Down opened in Gastown as a petite stand that served up steamed bao (buns) with incredible combinations of fillings, adding a unique twist to the typical bao. Bringing the creativity to the next level, Bao Down Gastroppub + Raw Bar brought with it new takes to traditional Thai dishes. They also have raw oysters to shuck, if you're down for some shellfish! I went with my friend Christian to catch up, and I'm so glad that we got to try Bao Down in the midst of its grand opening. I had some Vancouver brewed 33 Acres beer to go with my VeVo Pad Thai, while Christian had the Fly Rice. The flavours were authentic and definitely had a Canadian spin to it. Really good food, friendly and knowledgeable waiters/waitresses, and an all around cool vibe. If you are familiar with the wall mural at the Gastown location, you will be blown away by the one in the Olympic Village location! Go check them out for lunch and dinner for a good time! I also heard through the grapevine that they have a Hawaiian-style weekend brunch available now too! 12 Powell Street, Vancouver (Gastown)
This place is awesome. Bao Down in Gastown is described on Yelp as "Asian Fusion" known for it's "twist on traditional Asian Bao". In case you aren't familiar with bao, it is a type of steamed bun that Chinese have for tea or breakfast. They usually have various fillings in them such as custard, red bean or meat (but not together, because that would be weird). With attention grabbing names like Two Worlds Collide!!! and Bao Chicka Bao Bao, Bao Down created a new spin on a classic Asian dish. I had the Jaws Bao, which had coconut crusted Vietnamese catfish, kimchi tartar sauce, Thai vinaigrette tossed cabbage and microgreens. It definitely is the perfect size for a snack or a light dinner. Also, if you are a Yelper, make sure you check in to get the Bao Beignets for free! (Because who doesn't love free things?) NEW: check out their new and expanded location in False Creek: Bao Down Gastropub & Raw Bar. |
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