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.
0 Comments
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. 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. 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. 101 W Cordova Street, Vancouver (Gastown)
I went to La Casita with my friend Douglas to celebrate National Taco Day (October 4), which coincidentally was on a Tueday! There are a lot of taco restaurants in Gastown, and La Casita is a brilliant example of this. We were at La Casita around 6:30, which I thought would have been a busy time but surprisingly was not. After being seated relatively quickly, we got our drinks and complimentary chips with two different kinds of salsa. Tacos were on special that day for 4 for $10 with choices such as fish, carnitas, chicken, mixed veggies, and others - the exact ones that I chose! The tacos were delicious, with my favourite one being the mixed veggie taco, which had potatoes, cauliflower, and a really great crema fresca. On the flip side, I didn't really like the fish taco - fish tacos that I have had in the past were usually fried but this one had fish that looks like it came from a can, which was interesting. In all, the tacos were delicious and the decor of La Casita is super quirky with pinatas hanging from the ceiling. The one thing that brought me down was the service - the restaurant wasn't super busy during the time and it took a long time for our order to be taken. However, the food was delicious and further proves that our taco scene is unique and amazing. 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! 12 Water Street, Vancouver (Gastown) | 4288 Main Street, Vancouver (Main Street)
I've begun to realize how many vegetarian/vegan friends I have as well as how abundant Vancouver's vegetarian/vegan scene has become! Spoiler alert: vegetarian food is awesome! One evening I went with my old friend Rebbecca to Meet, which is a vegan restaurant that boasts a super chill vibe and delicious vegan fare. The original location is on Main Street, but earlier in 2016, they opened a second location in Gastown! The restaurant is located in the inner courtyard behind Coffeebar, and it is all kinds of perfect. One of the walls even opens up to the courtyard, giving off the feeling of eating outside while sitting comfortably inside. We showed up around 6:30, which was apparently the perfect time. After about 10 minutes, we got our table, and once we started dinner, we looked to see that it was not only packed inside but outside as well - the wait was apparently 45 minutes to get in! The food was incredible - I tried their Mac and Cheese, which, when vegan, uses no cheese at all. Regardless, it was incredibly flavourful and delicious and didn't taste any different from regular Mac and Cheese. Rebbecca had the organic quinoa and roasted yam salad which looked incredible, and she enjoyed! Great atmosphere and service at Meet! The one thing I will say about the place is due to its popularity and busy-ness, it gets quite loud, so talking and catching up becomes a challenge. If you are looking for a quieter place to talk to someone, Meet might not be your place. Nevertheless, Meet has got me all hyped up for vegetarian and vegan food and I will definitely be back again! 307 Cordova Street, Vancouver (Gastown)
TASTE: 4/5 SERVICE: 3/5 PRICE: $$ I swear, I'm not a greedy pig. But The Greedy Pig, a cozy little nook in Gastown, serves up all things pork and it's amazing. Perfect on a chilly night, their sandwiches filled with hearty helpings of meat is every meat lover's dream. So vegetarians, beware. Unfortunately I was feeling under the weather the entire week and the days that followed, but I do not regret my decision to go and have their pulled pork sandwich. The tangy sauce that slathered the braised pork totally livened up my senses - way better than eating plain bread. Because of my sickness (boo) I couldn't join my friend Mateo in a drink either. They have a selection of $8 creative cocktails and some red and white wines to choose from. It's a really cozy ambiance as well, with vintage booths, wooden high tables and very dim, with the only lights coming from the tiny candles sitting on all the tables. So if you're in the mood for meat, go check out The Greedy pig. Or, if meat is your thing but you're not really feeling it that day, check out their other options like their Mac & Cheese, Grilled Cheese Sandwich, or Root Vegetable Pot Pie. 322 West Hastings Street, Vancouver (Gastown) - multiple locations
Who doesn't love a good taco? If you are in need of an authentic Mexican street tacos, La Taqueria is your solution to your cravings. With plenty of meat and vegetarian options to choose from, there is something for everyone. And while some of the fillings are more on the adventurous side of things, the wait is super quick, the presentation is beautiful and the taste is incredible. In a tiny shop on West Hastings, the smells of spices fill the room. The staff are incredibly friendly and share their experience with you. They know each taco inside and out, so whether you are looking for something basic, spicy, or wanting to take a step on the wild side, they can help you find your fit. You can get 4 meat tacos for $9.50 and 4 veggie tacos for $7.50 and mix and match. After all, who says that you just have to stick to one filling? I personally had the Al Pastor (marinated pork), pescado (fish), and two tinga de hongos (sauteed mushrooms). While I have no idea what any of that means, I do know that it was super delicious and that I highly recommend La Taqueria! 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. |
Tags
All
|
Delicious Destinations