604: Minami (Yaletown)

Correct me if i am wrong, but rumor has it that Miku and Minami were the first restaurants here in Vancouver that started the aburi frenzy, and they have gained popularity from their signature aburi rolls. Recent years the intensity of rivalry has increased greatly for them, and many restaurants have started following suit and included aburi rolls into their menu. As a result, other than their ambiance, I think they have lost a huge competitive edge. When I first tried Miku, I fell head over heels with their aburi sushi. Years later, after trying many other restaurants and coming back to the sister restaurant, Minami, I would say that many restaurants have far exceeded their quality.

This time during the Vancouver Dine out, after some careful calculations and analysis, I decided to opt-out of their dine out menu. It was not worth it. I didn't want to be restricted with their selections when I could have paid the same price for better things. Here we ordered the steak, aburi sampler and the rolls. The rolls were not spectacular and the aburi had too much rice with a thin sheet of torched sashimi with an unnoticeable layer of mayo sauce... Very much like the ones from Green Leaf (I applaud to their excellent copycat skills). While restaurants that offer better value and taste include: Victoria sushi from New Westminster, Richmond Sushi Lover, Sushi Modo from Burnaby, and Uma Sushi on west 8th. (Sorry, Green Leaf Sushi didn’t make it to the list. It’s just as unimpressive as Minami).

Unless it's for special events, I wouldn't return just for their aburi, and definitely not for the Vancouver dine out menu. For all you see in the photos, it's equivalent to their dinner menu minus a dessert but only cost $33 pp. We went to Nero's after for dessert and only costed $10. with two bills together, it's still cheaper than their lunch or dinner dine out menu, and I wasn't restricted with their options either.

One note worth mentioning is that their steak is spectacular. In fact, I may consider returning for their steak on special occasions.

Location: Here

Menu: Here

💵 Price:$35 pp (lunch)

🤤Taste:

🍣 : 3 / 5

🥩: 4.7 / 5

📈 Price Performance ratio: 3 / 5

Retention Rate: 100% for the 🥩

🕯Atmosphere: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🪑Seating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📍 yaletown

Pros:

• Spectacular Steak 🥩 ! 👍🏻🥳

• Good ambiance and customer service

Cons:

• We opt out of their dine out menus. It's a terrible deal 🌚

• Aburi - had too much rice. Sashimi layer was too thin, and had too little mayo sauce 🌚

604: Wang's Shanghai Cuisine (Vancouver)

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/20e9c4_56f77433eff7495fb072ed91842ae047/720p/mp4/file.mp4

This restaurant was recommended by a friend, whom we used to have our regular meet-ups at Top Shanghai. So when she mentioned this place, I knew that her recommendation would be reliable (not to mention that her fiance is also Shanghainese so it's definitely reliable).

I've never had such amazing green onion pancakes before, and so it deserves a detailed review in Chinese as well. I think it's the best scallion pancakes I've ever had and we all had to order seconds. The outside is ultra flaky and the inside is soft and slightly chewy. The photos I took don't do justice! I'm pretty certain that they added lard in the dough and deep fried this, but it wasn't too greasy or filling at all. This delicacy was worth every single calorie.

The steamed soup dumplings (Xiao Long Bao), pan fried dumplings, and pork buns are all of high quality, but I still think Top Shanghai Cuisine still has it marginally better. Mainly because they've used leaner pork in this restaurant, which is healthier, but as a result, the flavor of the broth isn't as rich. Regardless, I would also say that this restaurant far exceeds the renowned restaurant in Shanghai, Jia Jia Tang Bao, known for their soup dumplings (I think their skin is slightly gummy).

The dumpling skins were rolled out one by one and I'm quite pleased with how thin they can roll em'. Whether it's the steam or fried dumplings or the buns, each of them is filled with flavourful soup.

Out of curiosity, I ordered the sticky rice dumplings as well, but that was just okay. It's a bit bland. The beef roll was also so-so. I've had better ones (I.e. Xi'An Cuisine at the Public Market).

Too bad this restaurant opens at 5:00 pm, otherwise, I'd totally make a trip over for their scallion pancakes and a cup of soy for breaky! And I love supporting small local businesses!

Location: Here

Price: $65 for everything you see here

Overall Taste: 4.7 / 5

Xiao Long Bao: 4.6 / 5

Pan Fried Dumplings: 4/5

Fried Pork Buns: 4.4/5

Beef Roll: 3/5

Sticky Rice Dumplings: 3.5 / 5

Atmosphere: ⭐️⭐️

Seating: ⭐️⭐️

Price Performance ratio: 5/5

Joyee Cooks: Thai Style Burger Patty

Recipe altered from blue ribbon, hot model, Cheff Coco's original recipe:

Ingredients:

• Minced pork 300 gram

• 1/2 onion (diced and cooked till translucent)

• 2 tbs breadcrumbs (opt out if you are on a keto diet, but discard 1/2 an egg)

• 2 tbs yellow or red curry paste

• 4 lemon leaves (stem removed and finely chopped)

• 1 egg

• 1 tbs fish sauce

• a dash of salt

• a dash of pepper

• 2 tsp sesame oil

Procedure:

1.) Add diced onion into minced pork. Combine well.

2.) Add egg and mix well

3.) Add condiments and mix well (except for oil)

4) Add curry leaves, then sesame oil and mix well.

5.) Heat cast iron pan or wok with a tablespoon of oil.

6.) Scoop pork mixture and mold it into a burger patty form and place it gently onto the preheated pan. Brown both sides

7.) Add 3 tbs of water into the pan and cover it with a lid. let it steam cook until all the water evaporates. Flip the patty to the other side and repeat the process.

8.) Once all the water evaporates, turn off the heat and let it sit in the pan for 5 minutes (to ensure it's totally cooked through)

9.) Serve

* If you are unable to find curry leaves, you may substitute it with 3 tbs finely chopped lemon grass. Or add both if you have them!

Her original recipe could be found here

Ideas: Serve with rice or pasta

Taste: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗

Recipe keeper? Yes

Pros:

- healthy

-aromatic but not overpowering.

- No sugar which means it’s Keto friendly!!

Cons: NA