I used to live three blocks from the Zakkushi on 4th ave and I still return again and again. The focus of Zakkushi is on their grill, which uses a high quality Japanese charcoal. I don’t know much about the technicalities, but the flavour from this grill is excellent. Smoky, charred, sweet. Mmmmm.

The first Zakkushi to open was on Denman St, then 4th Ave, and now Main St. The menus at each location are similar, but with a few things specific to each location. Looks like the Main St. location also does sushi rolls, which the other two don’t.

Anyway, enough of logistics…the food. Here are my all-time favourites:

• Zaru Tofu: fresh, soft, cold tofu on ice. If you love tofu, order this.
• Takowasa: diced octopus mixed with a wasabi dressing in a mini martini glass. Incredibly flavourful and fresh with that wasabi kick
• Yakitori (grilled items on bamboo sticks) – Asparamaki – tender green asparagus wrapped with fatty bacon and grilled. Harami – tender grilled beef topped with radish and ponzu sauce. Shiso Maki – juicy chicken with shisho leaf (note – shisho is a very strong herb. I like it, but it can be an acquired taste)
• Spinach salad with cripsy fried lotus root on top
• Mentai Kimchi Udon – the menu description reads: pan fried udon with seasoned fish roe and kimchi. Okay, to some this may sound funny. But trust me…it is SO DAMN GOOD. You have to try it.
• Banana Gyoza – deep fried bananas and ice cream for under $4? I’m in for dessert here

I find the prices at Zakkushi very reasonable. You can eat like a king for not much money. My meals for 2 average anywhere b/w $25 to $60. If you find Kingyo or Hapa too expensive for regular visits, go to Zakkushi.

One warning – Zakkushi is not the biggest restaurant.  They do take reservations, so call them if you have your heart set on a certain time.

Zakkushi Charcoal Grill Diner
3 locations (4th & Cypress, Denman & Robson, Main & 25th) – details here

True Confections (various locations including Kitsilano, Denman)
Sweet Obsessions at Trafalgars (Kitsilano)
Ganache Patisserie (although, they are not open late)

Once in a while, I will also go to Sweet Revenge on Main St (@26th), which is a small 30-seat licensed dessert bar in a “Lilliputian Room” serving up lovely tea, coffee in french presses, after dinner drinks, and a big selection of freshly made desserts.

Based on my visit last night, their most popular dessert is the Chocolate Pudding Cake, a delicious cake on the outside with a smooth custard chocolate middle. My apple pie was a generous portion and made with crispy pastry and a brown sugar topping. White chocolcate cheescake swimming in a freshly made berry sauce. A tall glass of berry trifle, including a luscious vanilla custard intermingling with the cake, berries, and Grand Marnier.

Here’s the menu if you want to read more.

Somebody pointed out to me that the crowd at Sweet Revenge is definitely not your standard Main St. crowd. I’d guess that many people come from all over the city and surrounding areas for the desserts here.

If your party is bigger than three people, expect a wait on the weekend. My party of four waited about 20 minute on Saturday night. Better yet, go to Sweet Revenge when you’re on a date – it’s a great, intimate setting for two.

Sweet Revenge Patisserie
4160 Main Street, Vancouver
604-TRY-SWEET  (604-879-7933)
Sunday – Thursday: 7 P.M. to 12 Midnight
Friday – Saturday:             7 P.M. to 1 A.M.

An izakaya is not your standard “”Japanese Restaurant” or Sushi Bar.  Traditionally it’s where you drink and have a bunch of small plates. Many izakayas in Vancouver also do some sushi and sashimi, but it’s not required…the focus is more on cooked food. I LOVE THEM. Beer/Sake and a bunch of food at an izakaya is one of my favourite pastimes.

Now, onto the meal:

The drinks: 2 bottle of Momokawa Pearl Sake – this is unfiltered sake, so it’s very cloudy. Don’t let that deter you from trying it though – the taste is great. And remember, cold sake is good sake. Hot sake bad. Bad!

The Food:
I don’t see a current menu online anywhere, but an older one is available in pictures here. I was too busy drinking sake, so I didn’t take great notes, but here’s what I remember us eating:

- Ebi Mayo – Deep fried prawns with a mayo sauce. Crispy and light. Every izakaya has their version. Kingyo is one of my faves.
- Fresh sashimi of the day: Scallop, Ebi, Hamachi, Salmon, Tuna
- Top standout of the night: Pressed mackerel sushi. Thick pieces of fresh, seared mackerel, on squares of rice with an uber yummy sauce. This was soooooo good. So good.
- Chicken Karaage with three dipping salts
- Thinly sliced beef tongue that you grill on a hot rock at your table. Tender and flavourful.
- Spiced & fried squid
- Tofu pot of crisy tofu & mushrooms
- Tako Wasabi – raw octopus marinated with pickles and wasabi rolled in nori. Yum.
- Standout #2 of the night: Shrimp tempura rice balls. Fried shrimp on top of a mound of sushi rice on top of crisp and light seaweed. Everyone at the table loved this dish
- Pork rice paper roll
- Grilled black cod/sable fish
- Grilled duck breast
- Standout #3 of the night: Grilled kobe beek steak. So flavourful. As my friend put it, “you can taste every cell of fat in the meat” mmmm.

There was more food, but I am getting way too hungry thinking about this.

Service was friendly and speedy. On a Tuesday night, we didn’t wait long for a table but Kingyo gets pretty busy on weekends and summer nights. They take a limited number of reservations each night so call ahead if you can.

Kingyo Izakaya
871 Denman St, Vancouver
604.608.1677

I  met a friend at Raincity Grill this past Saturday and we enjoyed some lovely eats along with our conversation:

- Raincity Grill used to provide a nice basket of jams, butter, and a mix of scones, croissants, and muffins to start brunch. They appear to have switched this to what their sister restaurant Nu provides, a small starter plate of a drink and pastry. This morning’s plate included a little cup of delicious pear cider and a cranberry lemon scone.

- Florentine Benedict with a potato hash and a very generous portion of hollandaise.

- Red wine & caramelized radicchio risotto topped with beets, beetroot, and beetroot paper. Delicious, but quite rich with an almost pickled flavour…not for everyone but I like it.

- Pemberton Meadows Beef Burger, with a side of crispy wedge fries. Huge burger – quite tasty, especially when I added a little extra salt on top ( for good measure of course!).

Service was professional and attentive. Raincity Grill has been around for ages, since 1992 according to the website. The room is clean & conservative and the food is well-prepared with a focus on local ingredients.

For some, it might seem to fancy or expensive for dinner. If so, consider going for lunch or brunch to enjoy the food. In the summer time, they even have their takeout window open and you can pick-up $11 fish & chips for the beach. Yum.

Raincity Grill
1193 Denman Street, Vancouver, BC
604.685.7337
Dinner from 5:00 pm, Monday to Sunday
Lunch 11:30 am – 2:30 pm , Monday to Friday
Brunch 10:30 am -2:30 pm, Saturday & Sunday