Here you will find a wide selection of the dim sum staples such as freshly steamed har gow (shrimp dumplings, pictured below), sticky rice wraps, and warm congee soup with classic add-ins (also pictured below). Or, if you like exploring deeper into deliciousness, go for more adventurous dim sum variations like chewy mushroom dumplings or crunchy bean curd and shrimp rolls.

The dining room is large and bright, with all the fixings necessary for a big Chinese wedding banquet (which do happen here quite often). You can expect a bit of a wait on Saturday mornings (as with most popular dim sum places), but with their decently priced menu and large selection of tasty dim sum, Fraser Court is a terrific place to take friends and family. Check out Fraser Court to sample some very competently prepared Chinese cuisine and experience a great Vancouver take on Chinese Canadian contemporary culture.

Har gow (shrimp dumplings) from Fraser Court dim sum seafood Chinese restaurant in Vancouver BC Canada.

More dumplings from Fraser Court dim sum Chinese food restaraunt in Vancouver BC Canada. Great seafood!

Bean curd and shrimp roll Chinese Dimsum from Fraser Court restaurant in east Vancouver BC Canada.

Chinese dim sum Sticky Rice from Fraser Court Seafood restaurant in Vancouver BC Canada.

Chinese style Congee from Fraser Court Chinese restaurant in Vancouver BC Canada.

The good sized and pleasant dining room of Whole Vegetarian is where you’ll find truly delicious Chinese vegetarian dishes, from the crispy and munchable Chef’s Special Chow Mein with imitation seafood (that tastes like the real thing!) to the creative and adventurous Seaweed and Soft Bean Curd Rolls.

Following the principles of traditional Buddhist-style vegetarian cooking, no garlic or onion is used in any of the dishes, but after the first bite you’ll discover that these kitchen restrictions have no effect on the overall flavor of these delightful dishes. My favorites such as the Sweet and Sour Pineapple Delight (a vegan-friendly version of the conventional sweet and sour pork) are always super fresh and mighty flavorful.

This inspired vegetarian restaurant fits in perfectly with the eclectic mix of dining options along the increasingly hip and trendy Main Street. With Whole Vegetarian’s great selection of large and affordable family-style dishes (all less than $15), the restaurant squarely hits the mark for Vancouverites and lucky visitors in-the-know. Here the tasty and satisfying eats might even fool a meat-eater’s eyes, while appealing to appetites of all persuasions.

Sweet and Sour Pineapple Delight (vegan) from Whole Vegetarian Cuisine restaurant in Vancouver BC Canada (Main Street).

Chef's Special Chow Mein (vegan, with simulated seafood) from Whole Vegetarian Cuisine, a vegetarian Chinese restaurant on Main Street in Vancouver BC Canada.

Another great Chinese vegetarian / vegan dish from Whole Vegetarian Chinese food restaurant on Main Street in Vancouver BC Canada.

About the Authors
Tony from RealMenEatGreen contributed to this article. Tony is a Vancouver based writer/blogger on masculinity, food, health, and man boobs.

This article was edited by Geoff from geoffmobile. Geoff also lives in Vancouver and leads a busy life as a software developer, video editor, and food enthusiast.

But in the meantime, we still have Congee Noodle House. This voluminous dining room is brightly lit and is full of clean but well-used tables and an efficient and experienced kitchen and wait staff. Come here late (until 2:00 am most nights!) and enjoy some decent and tasty Chinese dishes. Our favorites are the various offerings of Chinese congee – a porridge-like boiled rice soup that can be served plain (as pictured below), when it is mostly flavorless but incredibly comforting, detoxifying and warm, or with delights added such as assorted seafood, Chinese mushroom, beef, pork, duck, or egg. For complementary dishes, check out the crispy tofu and the green beans with pork (also pictured below).

This restaurant is one of the few options in the neighborhood for nourishing food in the wee hours after midnight. Another good choice would be Foundation (2301 Main St) just a short walk down Main. But of course both Congee Noodle House and Foundation make great destinations for lunch or dinner too. Eat on, Vancouver!

Plain congee garnished with green onion from Congee Noodle House Chinese Restaurant in Vancouver BC Canada.

Spicy Green Beans with pork from Congee Noodle House, a great Chinese restaurant in Vancouver Canada.

Crispy tofu from Congee Noodle House in Vancouver BC Canada, a wonderful Chinese restaurant in Mt. Pleasant.

At lunch time, most entrees are in the $10 to $14 range which is quite reasonable considering the restaurant’s convenient location and proximity to venues such as Rogers Arena, BC Place Stadium, the Queen Elizabeth Theatre and the Centre for Performing Arts. A 10 minute walk up Robson Street will bring you past the local library (book lovers unite!) to Vancouver’s famed upscale shopping district with the likes of Tommy Hilfiger, Le Chateau, and lululemon.

I ordered the Salmon Pesto Penne ($15, pictured below) which was served with diced tomatoes, broccoli, and walnuts in a pesto parmesan sauce. It tasted as good as it looked!

Stepping into Rosie’s and experiencing the comfort food and decor of a British Pub is a refreshing change from the mostly-similar and ultra-modern trendy places which seem to be popping up these days. Don’t expect to be wowed by super-slick staff sporting the latest in cosmetic enhancements – instead you’ll enjoy a down-to-earth dine on delicious and honestly good victuals.

Salmon Pesto Penne from Rosie's on Robson (British Pub-style restaurant in downtown Vancouver BC Canada)

Salmon pesto penne pasta from Rosie's on Robson, restaurant in downtown Vancouver BC Canada.

Pictured below is the enchilada platter I ordered, which is presented in a totally appetizing way that reminds me of a purposeful chaos or even a cacophony of delectable ingredients. Prices at the Naam are quite reasonable with most dishes in the $9 to $15 range.

Enchilada platter from the Naam vegetarian restaurant in Vancouver BC Canada.

Tempeh Reuben veggie burger platter from the Naam restaurant in Kitsilano Vancouver BC Canada.

Interior of the Naam vegetarian restaurant in Kitsilano Vancouver BC Canada (open 24 hours).

It’s a hole-in-the-wall Japanese restaurant on the edge of Yaletown that is popular for take-out but also has a few tables for eating in.

I ordered a bunch of my favorite items including the miso soup, ebi sunomono salad, chopped scallop roll, nigiri sushi (tamago, inari and ikura), and an unagi cone. My friend ordered the vegetarian bento box and an avocado roll.

Everything was really good, but one note is that the rice on the chopped scallop roll seemed not quite as fluffy as I usually like. But in general I have been happy with the quality of food at Yamato and the prices are quite reasonable for the downtown area (my meal including tax and tip came to $19).

I live in the area and Yamato is a place where I often bring my friends, who are visiting from other parts of the Lower Mainland.

I made a video of our food (that’s pretty appetizing I think) and you can watch it on Youtube (or on Blip.tv) or use the player below. Until next time, hope you enjoy the many amazing restaurants in Vancouver and the Greater Vancouver / BC Lower Mainland area.

Ebi Sunomono Salad from Yamato Sushi Japanese restaurant on Davie Street in downtown Vancouver BC Canada.

Chopped Scallop roll and assorted sushi from Yamato Sushi Japanese restaurant on Davie Street in downtown Vancouver BC Canada.

kissy of Coquitlam writes on dinehere.ca:

Love to be there. I have been in this restaurant a few time and every time I was there it was a pleasure for a spicy Korean style. The taste of the food was so impressive with a big portion of Kim chi and beef. Shabu hot pot beef was my favorite food there and big.. even it was a small size. The taste was rich with a healthy vegetable and tasty Kim Chi ingredients. The service was fast and excellent as well. Keep maintain the quality and services like this, I will be back again.

Prices for a full meal range between $10 and $20 per person depending on which dishes you order.

The spicy soft tofu soup (with seafood, pictured below) is $8.99 and comes with a side of rice and all the usual Korean accompaniment dishes like the kim-chee (traditional spicy cabbage), the candied cooked potatoes (my favorite), sprouts, and more. The soup and side dishes are a meal in themselves.

We also ordered some fancy salads such as the Smoked Salmon Salad ($7.99) and the Seafood Salad ($9.99) which were amazing “fusion” style dishes with great Korean influences but also making use of West Coast ingredients.

One great dish to order is the Dolsot Bibimbap ($9.99) – a healthy bowl filled with vegetables, rice, and meat. Here is a video of Gwyneth Paltrow showing how to make Bibimbap:

Below are some photos I took of the restaurant and our meal. I’ll definitely be back!

Korean food from Insadong Korean Restaurant in Coquitlam BC Canada.

Spicy soft tofu soup from Insadong Korean Restaurant in Coquitlam BC Canada.

Smoked Salmon Salad ($7.99) from Insadong Restaurant

Korean Seafood Salad from Insadong Restaurant in Coquitlam, BC, Canada.

Insadong Korean Restaurant interior (Coquitlam BC Canada)

Photo gallery of Insadong Korean Restaurant on Flickr

The restaurant has very reasonable prices, and quite fresh ingredients. [On my visit in 2008] I enjoyed the Tako Sunomono (octopus, $3.25, pictured below), the Alaska Roll ($3.75, also pictured below), and the Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese Roll ($3.95, pictured below). I also added two pieces of nigiri sushi, the Tamago (egg) and Inari (sweet bean curd wrapper), which were only $1 each.

The restaurant also caters to vegetarians, with a good selection of vegetarian rolls (also pictured below). For more info and another photo, view Part 1.

Update: Jan. 24th 2010. I visited Sushi California again and made a video of my visit. Watch on Youtube or use the player below.

Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese sushi roll ($3.95) and Tamago and Inari nigiri sushi ($1 each)

Tako sunomono (octopus salad with rice noodles and sweet vinegar broth) – $3.25

Japanese Vegetarian sushi rolls at Sushi California

More of the sushi feast. Delicious Japanese food!! The total bill per person before tax and tip was only $12.95.

I think that every successful restaurant needs a “concept”, a unique identity, something that differentiates itself in such an incredibly fierce competitive market that supports the dining industry in Vancouver.

It’s an industry which demands continuous hard work from employees and owners with little respite, where margins are typically low and consumer opinion (or a lack thereof) can make or break a business.

But the rewards from running a restaurant are high: an idea, creative vision, a passion for food and culture – all these can be transformed into a physical space that is temporarily occupied by visitors who seek to experience new tastes, sensations, socialize, be merry, and above all, satisfy their appetites with delicious, healthy food.

I tend to think about restaurants as “experience engines”. As a software developer I like to look at things in terms of the input, output, and transformations that occur during a process. For a restaurant, there are the physical ingredients and energy needed to prepare food – these are the obvious inputs. But there are also the less tangible things, like the moods and attitudes of the serving staff, the restaurant decor, the background music, and then of course the restaurant guests themselves.

But I digress, I really should be talking about the food at Posh.

Posh is an example of an expanding, successful home-grown restaurant chain with an excellent concept: Japanese Sukiyaki (wikipedia).

So what is Sukiyaki you may ask? Well, it’s a form of Hot Pot, where you have a gas burner at your table with a large cast-iron pot filled with a bubbling broth. The broth is made with a combination of Sukiyaki Sauce (soya sauce, sugar, and mirin) and cabbage. You add thinly sliced raw beef into the pot along with assorted vegetables, tofu, noodles and seafood, and everything cooks right in front of you.

The nice thing is that you decide exactly what you want to eat, and if you particularly like a certain item, such as the fish cakes (yum!), just order more of it! Or if you’re vegetarian, there are plenty of options such as tofu, spinach, and several types of mushrooms to make a soup that fits your diet.

Amazingly, Posh provides an “all you can eat” experience for $11.88 per person for lunch, or $15.88 per person for dinner. The restaurant always seems packed at peak times, so it’s a good idea to try making a reservation and coming early to put your name in the queue just in case.

Posh’s other locations include Richmond (map, 1123 – 3779 Sexsmith Road, Richmond, BC, Canada, phone: 604-303-7674), Burnaby (map, 105 – 6462 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC, Canada, phone: 604-434-7674), and Victoria (map, 102 – 1063 Fort Street, Victoria, BC, Canada, phone: 250-382-7674).

Below are some photos from our dinner at Posh on West Broadway. Hope you enjoy!

Everything cooking away at Posh Japanese Hot Pot restaurant in Vancouver.

Guava yogurt mixed drink - nice and refreshing! From Posh restaurant in Vancouver.

More hotpot cooking at Posh in Vancouver.

Vegetarian hot pot ingredients from Posh in Vancouver. Mushrooms, spinach, tofu.

Posh on Broadway Photo Gallery by Geoff Peters.

Restaurant review of Posh by Angela Murrills from the Georgia Straight.

Blog from owner of the Posh restaurant chain.

Posh restaurant on Twitter.

Popular with the after-bar crowd, Tsui Hang is open very late at night (even until 3 or 4 in the morning – but be sure to call them to confirm) and gets busy with talkative night-clubbers recovering from an evening dancing and imbibing.

The airy dining room is well lit and nicely maintained with some beautiful oriental vases displayed high above the dining room floor. Upon overhearing me remarking to my friend on the vases, the waiter interjected that they are “not real”. But although the decorative vases may be imitations, the food at Tsui Hang is definitely the real thing. If you’re a fan of Chinese seafood dishes, you’ll appreciate the menu (which is quite extensive and has a variety of vegetarian items too).

We ordered the Sauteed Rock Cod Fillets ($14.50, pictured below) and the Mixed Seafood Chow Mein ($13.50, also pictured below). The food was really tasty, the fish tender and enveloped in a delectable and nuanced sauce – even receiving positive comments from my dining companion who is of Asian descent. We also ordered a bowl of steamed rice ($2.00) which was quite large and nicely accompanied the two dishes.

Looking for something quick and on-the-go? Tsui Hang also has a take out window facing Davie Street which offers specials like sweet and sour pork on rice and chow mein for around $5.00.

Sauteed Rock Cod Fillets ($14.50) from Tsui Hang Village Chinese Restaurant on Granville Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Mixed Seafood Chow Mein ($13.50) from Tsui Hang Village Restaurant in downtown Vancouver BC Canada (Granville Entertainment district).

Another shot of the same Mixed Seafood Chow Mein dish from Tsui Hang Chienese Restaurant on Granville Street in Vancouver.

Their location in Burnaby (map, #201-4361 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC, phone: 604-439-8882) is about a 5 minute walk from the Patterson Skytrain station.

Fish on Rice’s Vancouver restaurant (map, 1414 W. Broadway, Vancouver, BC, phone: 604-732-0112) is located at Broadway and Hemlock (one block from Granville), and has a patio.

“All you can eat” sushi is a very popular phenomenon in Vancouver, and Fish on Rice does it well. The Japanese buffet at Fish and Rice costs $11.95 for lunch (served from 11am to 2:30pm) or $20.95 for dinner (served between 4:30pm and 10:30pm). Their happy hour ($13.95) is between 4:30pm and 6pm.

At Fish on Rice, similar to other All You Can Eat places in town, you make your order by writing desired quantities next to items on a little piece of paper. Pass the paper to your server, and the food will start arriving as it’s ready. Take care: if you write an order that’s too large, the food will just keep coming! Or if you didn’t order enough, you can request more forms when you need them.

At the Burnaby location, there are many large private tatami booths with inset tables (where you take your shoes off to dine while sitting on cushions) – these are great for large groups or families. There are also a bunch of regular booths and tables for couples or smaller parties.

Below are some pictures of the delicious sushi and other Japanese items we ordered. Note that the restaurant serves all the popular kinds of sushi such as California Roll and BC Roll, but being sushi aficionados we ordered a bunch of less common items to explore the large and varied menu.

Nigiri Sushi pieces from Fish On Rice Japanese Cuisine Restaurant

Assorted Tuna and Salmon Sashimi from Fish on Rice Japanese Cuisine (all you can eat) in Burnaby BC Canada.

Teriyaki Vegetables from Fish on Rice Japanese Cuisine (AYCE sushi) in Burnaby BC Canada

Vegetarian Udon Noodles from Fish on Rice Japanese Restaurant in Burnaby BC Canada (All You Can Eat).

Inari (sweet bean curd wrapper) nigiri sushi (from Fish on Rice All You Can Japanese Cuisine in Burnaby)

Vegetable Tempura (pictured in front) plus other assorted Japanese dishes (from Fish on Rice Japanese All you can eat buffet restaurant).

View from the back of a BC Ferry

BC Ferries take passengers around beautiful British Columbia (BC) Canada by sea. Start off in bustling and cosmopolitan Vancouver, and ride the ferry over to Vancouver Island. On the island you’ll find Victoria, the capital city of BC and a popular tourist destination.

Looking for a longer trip further off the beaten path? Visit the smaller towns on the Island such as Tofino, Ucluelet, Naniamo, Qualicum Beach, Courtenay, and more. The ferries will also take you to the serene and scenic Gulf Islands.

This summer I left the mainland quite a few times, and fortunately for me, there is food service available on board the ferries and in the terminal cafeterias.

Pictured below is some sushi and a ham sandwich (around $10) purchased from the Bread Garden cafeteria at the Swartz Bay Terminal. I bought it while I was waiting in line to go back to Vancouver (incidentally after playing a piano gig in Victoria with vocalist Peggy Hogan’s group – live recording here).

I am a little hesitant to admit that after my 4th ferry trip this summer I started developing a taste for – or rather, an addiction to – the Bread Garden sushi. It is now one of my favorite items offered by the BC Ferries food service – but sushi aficionados will tell you that is a far cry from what you can find in most land-based sushi restaurants in Vancouver or Victoria. One upside about the Bread Garden sushi is that a generous amount of wasabi and pickled ginger is provided, as well as chopsticks.

I put together a short travel video (accessible in the player below, or on Youtube) from a trip I took last year on BC Ferries from Vancouver to Victoria. The video shows some of the food and shopping available at the Tsawassen Terminal and sunset views of the Gulf Islands taken from the ferry itself.

The music in the video is my jazz band, the Geoff Peters Trio, performing live at Cactus Club in West Vancouver on New Years Eve 2007. I (Geoff Peters) was playing piano and joining me was Mark White (bass) and Brennan Saul (drums).

For more ferry food, check out my photo of the salmon entree from the on-board BC Ferries White Spot cafeteria, or the smoked salmon bagel I had at the BC Ferries Tsawassen Terminal (on the Vancouver side). Happy sailing!

BC Ferries Bread Garden Sushi (California roll, around $5)

Ham and swiss sandwich from the BC Ferries Cafeteria (around $5.00)

Check out Seb’s Market Cafe (map, website, 592 East Broadway, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, phone: 604-298-4403).

Owner operator Francois Godbout found success in the Vancouver film industry catering business before deciding to open a home-style, family-friendly breakfast and brunch place in a neighborhood that is growing and becoming more “happening” by the day.

A friend of mine is a regular customer here, and he recommended that we try it one Saturday morning. The food was fantastic – I had the Smoked Salmon Scrambled Eggs (pictured below, $9.00) which were made with smoked salmon (of course!), red onions, and cheese, and served with homecut potatoes, toast, and homemade preserves. I also enjoyed the freshly squeezed orange juice (also pictured below) which was the real thing (and had no sugar added so it was a little bit tart, but very refreshing nevertheless).

My friend is a bit worried that if more people discover this secret amazing brunch place, it may get too busy! But that would be a sign of success for Seb’s and in the event they needed to expand, I’m sure they could handle it quite well.

Smoked salmon scrambled eggs ($9.00) from Seb's Market Cafe in Mt. Pleasant area of Vancouver BC Canada.

Freshly squeezed orange juice from Seb's, a great breakfast and brunch place in East Vancouver.

This area of Granville Street is a colorful mixture of new, high-end restaurants, older greasy spoon places, night clubs with pounding beats, and a couple of remaining sex shops left over from seedier days. The street is in transition with the sidewalk widening almost complete, making it a safer place to walk at night (along with the sometimes rowdy crowds of night-clubbers). It’s only a five minute walk from the upscale Yaletown shopping and restaurant district to the east, and about the same distance to Burrard Street to the west and beyond that the West End residential neighborhood.

Some of my favorite items to order at the Templeton are the Macaroni and Cheese (around $10, served with fresh tomato salsa, three kinds of cheese, and an organic green salad), and the Med Quesadilla (also around $10, made with artichoke hearts, sun dried tomatoes, green olives, aged white cheddar, fresh tomato salsa and sour cream). On my last visit however, I had already eaten something substantial earlier in the evening, so opted for the ultra healthy and “good for you” Dinner Salad (around $6.50, pictured below).

The Templeton is one of the few dining spots that is open with full service food late at night in the downtown area. I was there a little after 10:00pm on a Sunday night and they did Last Call for food at around 10:30pm. That’s pretty good for a Sunday. If it’s late and you’re hungry, it’s worth a shot – why not give them a call (604-685-4612) to find out if they’re open? =)

For more photos (and info about their breakfasts) please view Part 3, Part 2, or Part 1.

Dinner Salad from the Templeton on Granville Street in downtown Vancouver BC Canada.

The Georgia Straight, a local Vancouver newspaper, writes in their dining guide:

Traditional barbecue in a young, fun, attitude-free environment.

I enjoyed some beer with friends, and also ordered a delicious burger item, the Drunk and Dirty Chicken ($11.99, pictured below) which their menu describes as chicken “grilled with your choice of: teriyaki, cajun, bbq or pesto – topped with cheddar cheese and bacon”. It was reasonably priced, a good sized portion, and mighty delicious.

View Part 1 for another photo.

Drunk and dirty chicken ($11.99) from Dix BBQ and Brewery in Vancouver BC Canada.

From a recent press release by H-Mart Online:

As you enter the store, your eyes are greeted with a foyer full of small electrics, including rice steamers and griddles. From there, you enter a world of household necessities including ‘Joy Gloves.’ Which brings up a point. Some product names just don’t come through translation to have the same impact in English as they did in their native country’s language.

[...] The prepared foods are tasty as well. The kim-chee from the refrigerator case is top notch, as are the fried beef and sesame chicken. In the freezers are everything from squid and octopus to red bean ice cream. Try some of the gyoza or steamed dumplings for a treat. There are also frozen ducks in the case labeled ‘duck, parts missing.’ It’s best to not think too hard about which parts are absent.

I really like their gyoza and kim-chee, as well as their prepackaged sushi which becomes discounted near the end of the day.

But a little-known feature of this grocery store is the food court that is at the north side facing Robson street. Here you can get a variety of popular Korean dishes such as the spicy tofu soup, spicy beef broth, seafood pancake, and many more (menu shown below).

I tried the Item #5 which is described as “Mixed Vegetables and Rice in a Stone Hot Pot” ($8.50, pictured below) – it is called Bibimbap in Korean.

The ingredients are arranged artfully on rice in a super-hot stone bowl, and it’s up to you to mix them up and wait a couple minutes for everything to cook.

In the photos below I’ve shown what the dish looks like before and after mixing the ingredients. It tasted fabulous – the combination of rice, egg, vegetables, and meat was quite filling and satisfying but also was non-greasy and seemed healthy.

The stone bowl remains piping hot for a long time; after resting my chopsticks on it for a minute the wood became almost too hot to touch. The dish is served with some kim-chee (spicy Korean pickled cabbage) and a warm soup broth with green onions.

After enjoying Item #5 for a second time, I’ve decided to make the H-Mart Korean Supermarket one of my regular dining spots. Visiting the food fair is like taking a mini vacation to Korea – most of the other patrons seem to be talking in Korean, and many of the signs are in both Korean and English.

Bibimbap Korean food ($8.50) from H-Mart Market in Vancouver BC Canada - before mixing the ingredients.

Korean Bibimbap dish after mixing the ingredients in the hot stone bowl.

H-Mart Korean Food Fair Menu, located on Robson Street in downtown Vancouver.

Beyond Robson has a review of the H-Mart food court from 2007.

I have a friend who follows a raw vegan diet, which means that he doesn’t eat any animal-related products (vegan) and foods must be unprocessed and not heated above 46 degrees Celsius (raw). He blogs about the Raw Vegan lifestyle on Eat Raw Vegan. I was interested to see what a Raw Vegan meal would taste like!

Raw Vegan food preparation takes a lot of creativity to make food that is satisfying and interesting to eat without using cooked or processed ingredients, and without meat or dairy products. Amazingly, all the dishes pictured below are raw vegan dishes. I must say that I was quite happy and full after the meal.

The Raw Vegan Cashew Alfredo Zucchini Linguini ($10, pictured below) was made with zucchini “newdles” smothered in a rich white cashew cream. It was served with a green leaf salad. It tasted cool and refreshing, and was amazingly creamy considering that no dairy products were used.

The Maui Waui raw vegan pizza ($6.00, also pictured below) is a sun-dried tomato and fresh tomato herb sauce topped with a mix of tenderized kale and seasonal greens then topped with fresh pineapple bits and a crumbly walnut “cheez”. It is served with a sprouted sunflower and buckwheat, flax and carrot crust.

For an appetizer we also tried the Raw Vegan Zucchini Hummus and Crackers ($7.50, pictured below). This tasted amazingly good, better than ordinary hummus I thought! The bean-free garlicky hummus dip is served with house-dehydrated crackers.

Other notable items included the Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice ($5.25, pictured below) – this is heavenly if you like orange juice; in fact I thought it was some of the best orange juice I have had in Vancouver! The raw vegan chocolate cake (also pictured below) was really fudgey and chocolatey, a treat not to miss!

The restaurant is open every day from 11am until 5pm.

Raw Vegan Cashew Alfredo Zucchini Linguini, from Gorilla Food in Vancouver. $10.00

Maui Waui Pizza ($6.00) raw vegan food from Gorilla Food restaurant in downtown Vancouver.

Fresh orange juice ($5.25) and Green Glory drink ($5.50) from Gorilla Foods in Vancouver.

Raw Vegan Zucchini Hummus and Crackers ($7.50) from Gorilla Foods in Vancouver.

Raw Vegan Chocolate Cake! (From Gorilla Food in Vancouver, downtown).

IKEA is famous for the clean and modern design of their reasonably priced home furnishings and accessories. Their stores are “family friendly” which means there is a room filled with balls for kids to play in (one of my favorite places to go when I was a kid), and a bunch of kid-friendly items such as hotdogs and meatballs on the menu at their restaurant.

I went on a visit to Ikea on a Sunday afternoon, mainly to try their restaurant. The food at the restaurant is fairly inexpensive, because they know if people feel comforted by good food, they might be more inclined to spend hundreds of dollars on that new couch, table, or desk. It sure worked for me – I really only intended to visit the restaurant and then have a quick look around the store, and I ended up spending over $300 on various items. Yikes!

Being a Swedish company, Ikea features some Swedish items on their menu including the meatballs (pictured below) which cost around $7 for 15 meatballs with potatoes or fries (or $6.49 for 10 meatballs, potatoes, fries, and a soft drink). They also have some really tasty cold smoked salmon dishes such as the Gravlax with mustard and dill (also pictured below, around $5.00). For dessert they offer some nice pastries and cakes, such as the one pictured below (around $2.00).

If you like pasta, you can get a plate of Organic Pasta for $1.99. Their menu describes this dish as, “organic pasta with organic vegetarian tomato sauce” and says the pasta is available after 11am. But if you go before 11am you can get a $1.00 (yes, that’s one dollar) breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausages, and home fries. Their hope is that you’ll spend much more on the home furnishings and accessories. After all, you are already there, so why not pick up a TV stand, lamp, and chaise lounge or two?

Ikea Swedish Meatballs from Ikea in Coquitlam (a suburb of Vancouver BC Canada). Around $7.00.

Ikea Swedish Gravlax with Mustard and Dill (smoked salmon, delicious!). Around $5.00. From Ikea in Coquitlam BC Canada, a suburb of Vancouver.

Swedish Dessert pastry from Ikea restaurant in Coquitlam BC Canada (a suburb of Vancouver). Around $2.00.

I made a visit to Urban Sushi on Granville Street in downtown Vancouver and enjoyed their Chirashi Don sushi (pictured in video below, $11.95) which their menu describes as “various raw fishes on top of sushi rice”. My friend Yang ordered the Oshinko Roll (Japanese pickle) and the Dynamite Roll ($3.95).

The Chirashi Don sushi was really delicious and I had fun making a video of the food (which you can see on Youtube by clicking here or by using the player below).

Urban Sushi is located in the downtown Vancouver business district and is a short walk from Vancouver’s cruise ship terminal (Canada Place), the new Vancouver Trade and Convention centre, and the Granville Skytrain station. The room is pleasant and efficient with long tables and big windows overlooking the Louis Vuitton store across the street.

The restaurant offers sushi delivery/catering service (for orders $50 and up), to nearby offices and apartments. Check out their web site for more details.

Urban Sushi in downtown Vancouver BC Canada (Business district). Chirashi Don bowl sushi $11.95.

Where.ca writes (click here to read review):

Butterknife-tender roast lamb and crusty whole-wheat pizza are the specialties in this traditional Greco-Roman family restaurant.

Located in the heart of the trendy Kitsilano neighborhood, Simpatico is nestled amongst many interesting independent shops ranging from clothing and fashion to hobbies and pets. Simpatico is about 5 blocks up the hill from the popular Kits Beach (English Bay), which the Vancouver Parks Board describes as:

Kitsilano Beach: a happening place geared for the younger set (teens to thirties) with a lovely outlook spanning from open bay, to North Shore mountains to Stanley Park

At Simpatico Restaurant, we were greeted by a friendly server who guided us to a table with a blue checkered tablecloth by the window. The main dining room is bright and airy with several skylights, and a large number of healthy plants all around the room. The couple next to us were speaking Greek and there was a large well-dressed family group at another table who were having a great time.

My friend and I both ordered the same thing: the Lamb Souvlakia (pictured below) which came with Greek salad, rice, potatoes, and a skewer of premium lamb garnished with fresh herbs. The dish was a reasonable $13.99 and was quite a generous portion.

I’ll definitely be back to try their pizza, which the server said is one of their specialties.

Lamb Souvlakia ($13.99) from Simpatico Greek Restaurant in Kitsilano, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

A closeup shot of the Lamb Souvlaki from Simpatico Greek Restaurant in Kitsilano, Vancouver.

KimHo has some nice photos online, which you can view by clicking here, and writes, “Food was better than expected, despite my crazy comments about the rolls, sushi and sashimi”.

I had a huge feast: ordered the Sashimi Dinner ($18.95) and shared a spicy tuna roll and gyoza with a friend ($1.48 each). My total bill came to $21.91 before tax and tip, and I was really full. Two of my friends say they come here every week and always order the sushi boat (which looks incredible and costs around $40, but that’s for two people so again it’s a good deal).

This restaurant is extremely easy to get to, even from downtown Vancouver. Hop on the Skytrain and head out to the New Westminster station (about 25 minutes). Walk east down the stairs off the platform, and look across the street (8th street), and you’ll see it. The restaurant is quite large inside, tidy, and is complete with a small fountain and some private booths/tatami rooms.

Below are some pictures I took of the food, using my wide angle lens this time.

Sashimi dinner (also included ebi sunomono, tempura, miso soup, and dessert).

Japanese Gyoza and spicy tuna roll from Ki Sushi in New Westminister.

Ebi Sunomono salad and Miso Soup

Some more sushi rolls from Ki Sushi in New West.

Tempura from Ki Sushi in New Westminister BC Canada.

Spicy Tuna roll from Ki Sushi in New Westminster BC.

Another photo of the Sashimi Dinner from Ki Sushi (formerly Kirin Sushi) in New Westminster.

The restaurant is run by mostly Japanese students who are very efficient at serving big lineups quickly. Fast food is the name of the game here – Ebi Ten seems to have taken a cue from McDonalds and if there is a big line, someone might take your order while you are still in line, so that when you get to the cashier your food will soon be ready.

Pictured below is some of the ready-made sushi that is available in the refrigerated display case at the entrance to the restaurant. A roll such as the ones pictured costs in the range of $1.75 to $3.00 depending on the type. I really like the Ebi Ten Roll (pictured below) and the Tuna Avocado Roll (also pictured below). Other fun treats to try are the Takoyaki, the battered and deep fried octopus balls which are served with a topping of mayonnaise (not pictured), and the green Seaweed Salad (pictured below) which has a delicate, slightly salty flavor and is a little bit chewy.

Ebi Ten Japanese Restaurant is within walking distance of the major theatres such as the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, the Playhouse, as well as the sports stadiums (GM Place Stadium and BC Place Stadium), making it a good place to go to grab a quick bite before a concert, theatre play, or game.

Don’t expect haute cuisine here – the food is simply cheap, fast, filling, and can satisfy a sushi or teriyaki craving.

For more photos and info please view: Part 1, Part 2.

Tuna and Avocado Roll Sushi from Ebi Ten Japanese Restaurant in Vancouver BC Canada.

Ebi Ten Roll (around $3) from Ebi Ten Japanese restaurant in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Seaweed Salad from Ebi Ten Japanese Restaurant in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

hisashi_rocks, a reviewer on Menuism, writes (click here to read review):

They may not have the best sushi ever but they have the best affordable sushi in town. Some people probably prefer Sushi Garden to this one but not me. One of my favourites.

I visited on a friend’s recommendation and I was impressed by the generosity of the portions, especially the Sashimi for One Person, which was gigantic and good quality ($12, pictured below). Other dishes we ate are also pictured below. I’ll definitely visit Asakusa again soon.

Tako sunomono ($3.50) from Asakusa Japanese restaurant in Burnaby

Sushi from Asakusa Japanese Restaurant in Burnaby

Sashimi for One Person ($12.00) from Asakusa in Burnaby

More sushi from Asakusa Japanese Restaurant near Metrotown.

Miso soup ($1.00) and tea from Asakusa Japanese restaurant in Burnaby, BC, Canada.

dlxowhd, a reviewer on DineHere.ca writes (click here to read review):

simply put, this restaurant will give you the best bang for your buck.
just go and order sasimi and see it for yourself.
they are so huge that it makes you wonder how they make money.
this place is also very busy, therefore high turnover, so food (especially sushi and sasimi) is always fresh and tasty.
i love the ‘awesome’ roll and ‘red’ roll.. beef roll is also very good.
service is solid but can be improved.
i think waitresses are understaffed and they need to hire more waitresses..

For more photos and info, please view Part 2 or Part 1.

Dragon Roll ($5.50) and Red Roll ($4.95) from Sushi Town in Burnaby, BC, Canada.

House Roll ($4.95) from Sushi Town Japanese Restaurant in Burnaby, BC, Canada.

Awesome Roll sushi ($6.95) from the awesome Japanese restaurant Sushi Town in Burnaby, BC, Canada.

Seafood Sunomono salad ($3.75) from Sushi Town Japanese Restaurant in Burnaby BC Canada.

Miso Soup ($1.00) from Sushi Town in Burnaby BC Canada.

Rasputin45, a reviewer on Dinehere.ca writes (click here to read review):

Best rolls in town! We stop by here often when we are in the Main Street area. The seekh kebab (lamb sausage) roll is excellent and unlike anything else I have had in this city.

Mia Stainsby of the Vancouver Sun writes (click here to read article):

Predominantly takeout with lots of choices. Excellent value for tasty kebabs, tandoori dishes, curries, and wraps, all under $10.

You can view their menu and order online by clicking here. I tried some of their rolls, and I must say they are really delicious!!

Wraps from Tandoori Delight foods in Vancouver

More wraps from Tandoori Delight foods

Kababs from Tandoori Delight Foods

Indian food take out in Vancouver from Tandoori Delight Foods

I ordered one of their sushi combinations ($6.65, shown in video below) which included 4 pieces of Nigiri sushi, a California roll, and miso soup. It was presented nicely and tasted good.

For a direct link to the video I made, please click here. For some more photos please view Part 1.

Sushi combo ($6.65 including Miso Soup) from Yamato Sushi in Vancouver.

(please read to the end for the free coupon info)

Their menu is almost the same – a selection of pastas, sandwiches, burgers, and fancier items such as seafood, steak, and appies, priced quite reasonably for the downtown neighborhood. (The restaurant is part of the Hampton Inn and Suites hotel and is immediately across the street from BC Place Stadium.)

I had ordered several different cream-based pastas from Zachary’s on my previous visits, but for some reason the flavors of the sauce seemed a bit off, maybe a strange aftertaste -it’s hard to describe, but I can tell when a restaurant does its pasta sauce right. This time I was extremely happy to take the first few bites of my gorgonzola penne ($12.95, pictured below) and finally encounter a pasta sauce that frankly delighted my tastebuds with honestly good and sophisticated creamy sensations. The aftertaste was clean and faded away quickly, preparing my palate for the next bite. I made it through the entire, generous dish without getting tired of the ingredients, which is a problem I run into when eating huge amounts of pasta at places like Antons in Burnaby. (Well, thinking again, it was good except to maybe the third or second to last bite, but this was pretty much the best as I could expect for a pasta costing $12.95).

For more info, check out my reviews from previous visits Part 5, Part 4, Part 3, Part 2, Part 1

Gorgonzola Penne Pasta from Zachary's on Robson ($12.95)

Free Coupon! I was given two coupons by the restaurant in my bill, and I would like to give them away to some readers of this site who are interested in trying the food. The first coupon has $3 Off Lunch (“Join us for lunch and receive $3 off per couple or $1.50 for a single lunch, Valid until June 30th, 2009″), and the second coupon has $5 off dinner for a couple on one side, and on the other side, a pre-game event prime rib dinner special for $13.95.

Please note that in order to get these discounts you’ll need to get the actual coupon from me, since they won’t accept printouts. If you’d like a coupon, please email me (geoff@gpeters.com) and first person who emails me will get one coupon. Second person will get the other coupon. You can pick the coupon up from me in Yaletown.

I’ll post a message here when the coupons are gone.

The mall closes at 9pm most weekdays, and if you head down to the food court at around 7:30pm or 8pm you can fill up on some really cheap food, such as the “buy one get one free sushi” (pictured below) or a heaping plate of Chinese fast food for $5.  The sushi pictured in the video below was $10 for everything, including all-you-can-drink Miso Soup.

The food court has sleek, modern decor with cool lighting and funky chairs.

Ebi (shrimp) sushi, salmon, tuna, and unagi (BBQ eel) from Pacific Centre mall food court.

The food court has sleek, modern decor with cool lighting and neat chairs.

California Roll from Pacific Centre food court in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

My family always goes there for big get-togethers and it is always a marvellous feast that satisfies everyone. This time, I brought my video camera along and took a video of the dishes as they arrived (see player below, or click here to view on Youtube). Because of the low light the video is kind of grainy, but you can get the idea!

Prices are affordable, within the $15 to $25 per person for a large banquet (or slighly more depending on how many crabs and seafood items you order).

Below I’ve also included photos of the crab and chicken hot pot that I took in my previous visit (see Part 1 of my review).

Chinese style hot and spicy crab from Ridge Garden Restaurant in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Chicken and black fungus hot pot from Ridge Garden Chinese restaurant in Vancouver, BC, Canada

In case you haven’t heard of the Vancouver Flea Market before, here’s a little description from their web site:

The Vancouver Flea Market is a thriving environment where all kinds of dealers and sellers propose their treasures. Here you will find all kinds of things from collectibles and memorabilia to everyday household items as well all the things you thought you didn’t need!

The market is a 5 – 10 minute walk from the Main Street Skytrain station. Admission to the market is only 75 cents, and that lets you into the main showroom where you can browse all the tables of endless cool stuff (I picked up a piece of fools gold crystal for $8), and into their busy cafeteria which serves filling, hot American-style food at very low prices.

Speaking of the food, we tried the Traditional Burger (an amazing deal at $3.85, shown in video below) and the T.O.C. Omelette ($4.50, also shown in video below), which was a 3-egg omelette with tomato, onions, cheese, toast, and a small coffee. I opted to get an apple juice instead of the coffee and it only added about 40 cents to the price. The food is quite similar to Denny’s restaurant but is cheaper, and the atmosphere is not as fancy as Denny’s.

I made a video of the dishes, which you can view by clicking here, or use the player below. I’ve also included a photo of the menu below.

Vancouver flea market cafeteria menu

I went for lunch at their location at Georgia and Seymour in downtown Vancouver, and enjoyed the Chipotle Chicken Quesadilla with Caesar Salad (pictured below, $10.99 before tax). The restaurant gets quite busy at lunch, and I think the chef didn’t have very much time for presenting the dish, because it wasn’t impeccably styled like you might find at a high-end restaurant. But the quesadillas tasted great, really satisfying, and I liked the home-made black bean salsa that they used (which had some corn niblets).

The chicken, chipotle mayo, black bean salsa and cheese were accompanied by an amazing sour cream cilantro sauce and some ordinary salsa. It was good value to get a half Caesar salad included in the price. I’ll definitely go back and order this again!

The restaurant is conveniently located within walking distance of Vancouver’s sports stadiums (GM Place Stadium and BC Place Stadium), as well as the Vancouver main library downtown and the Queen Elizabeth theatre. It is accessible by either the Stadium skytrain station or the Granville skytrain station.

White Spot is open for breakfast starting at 6:30am, and is popular for brunch and dinner as well.

For more info, check out my previous reviews: Part 4 – Kitsilano Location, Part 3 – BC Ferries, Part 2 – Salmon Burger, Part 1 – Chicken Gai Yang.

Chipotle Chicken Quesadilla & Caesar ($10.99) from White Spot restaurant in Vancouver.

At Calhoun’s, pick out an entree from the deli-style refrigerated display case, and then pay first before eating. If they’re not too busy they’ll bring the food out to your table once they heat it up, or else they’ll put it on the counter beside the espresso machine.

Calhouns also offers a catering service (more details) to the Vancouver area. My office uses them sometimes for catering lunch meetings.

Calhouns has a bakery on site, and their sourdough bread is incredibly fresh. They make some of the best sandwiches in town, and I usually order the Shrimp Sandwich with Avocado ($7.50, also pictured below).  Every month I look forward to eating the shrimp sandwich after an evening of performing music with the Sybaritic String Band. Calhoun’s has live jazz music on Tuesday and Sunday evenings, and Latin dancing on Thursday nights.

Located near the University of British Columbia, Calhoun’s is a popular hangout and studying place for UBC students. They have Wifi internet access available.

For another photo of the shrimp sandwich, please view Part 1.

Perogies with bacon, sour cream and salsa ($7.00) from Calhoun's Bakery and Cafe in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Shrimp Sandwich ($8.00) from Calhoun's Bakery and Cafe in Vancouver BC Canada.

The restaurant has several locations around the Vancouver area, including the Kitsilano location (which I visited), Surrey and Delta, Richmond, Burnaby, Langley, Aldergrove, Coquitlam, and more (even Victoria and Naniamo too). View their web site for a list of their other locations.

White Spot is a great place to go for a relaxing breakfast or brunch, or a casual dinner or lunch too. I had a gift certificate coupon that I had won in a 5k race, so was able to get one of their Legendary Burger Platters for free, which normally costs $8.99 (and comes with fries and coleslaw). My friend ate the burger platter with fries and I ordered another Legendary Burger platter with a Caesar Salad, which was $9.98 (pictured below). Yum! Be sure to ask for lettuce and tomato on your burger if you like it, as the toppings are no extra charge.

For more photos from White Spot please view my previous reviews: Part 3 – BC Ferries, Part 2 – Salmon Burger, Part 1 – Chicken Gai Yang.

Legendary Burger Platter (with Caesar salad, $9.98) from White Spot restaurant in Kitsilano, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

I can see why he likes it: the prices at Mr. Sushi are reasonable, the quality quite high, and the service friendly. The menu has both vegetarian and non-vegetarian items, with some really creative rolls as well as the standard Japanese food you can expect to find around town.

I started the meal off with some Japanese green tea, along with a bowl of steaming Miso Soup ($1.00, pictured below) and a cold Ebi Sunomono Salad ($3.50, also pictured below).

Jason Chin writes on EatVancouver.net (click here to read review):

I asked about the absolute best item on the menu and was eventually steered towards the apparently very popular Crazy Boy Roll ($5.95). A bit of an unorthodox roll, the crazy boy is crab, cucumber and avocado roll served tempura style (battered and deep fried). It is then sliced lengthwise and served like boat with optional hot sauce (siracha).

The Crazy Boy Roll appealed to me as well, and I gave it a try ($5.95, pictured below). Mine had the siracha hot sauce, and it was very hot! I would recommend it without the hot sauce unless you are familiar with the siracha sauce and know what you are getting into. (I actually have a bottle of the siracha sauce at home and I like putting it on my kraft dinner sometimes, along with black pepper, Parmesan cheese, and ketchup. But I digress!)

I also ordered a 1/2 Spider Roll ($5.95, also pictured below), which thankfully doesn’t feature a real spider, but instead a variety of soft shell crab. It was very easy to eat and tantalized my taste buds terrifically!

This satisfying meal came to $16.40 before tax and tip.

Being somewhat arithmetically challenged, I used GeoTip, my handy Cell Phone Tip Calculator program (free download click here), and I figured out that I should pay a total of about $20 (with 5% tax and 15% tip).

Of course if you feeling a little less adventurous or are on a budget, there are plenty of combinations at Mr Sushi which are in the $8 – 12 range for a complete dinner.

Ebi sunomono salad ($3.50) at Mr. Sushi Japanese Restaurant in Vancouver.

Crazy Boy Roll ($5.95) from Mr. Sushi Japanese restaurant in downtown Vancouver.

1/2 Spider Roll (Soft Shell Crab, $5.95) from Mr. Sushi Japanese restaurant in Vancouver, Canada.

Miso soup ($1.00) and Green Tea (included with meal) from Mr. Sushi Japanese Restaurant in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Christine G. Louie writes in the Peak, SFU’s student newspaper (click here to read article):

The Umai tofu salad ($5.75) is a great summer salad, and incredibly cheap considering the size and content of the salad. The salad consists of a heaping bed of crisp iceberg lettuce, generous amounts of shredded carrots and beets, cubes of fresh tofu and peanut buttery gomae spinach. Finally, the salad is topped off with a generous amount of a refreshing ginger miso dressing that pulls all the ingredients together. Chilled slices of cucumber and tomato adorn the rim of the large, white plate. I’m not a vegetable or tofu fan, and I love this salad.

The Clubhouse is about a 15 minute walk from Yaletown, a scenic stroll over the Cambie bridge that is stunning at night. It’s also close to major Vancouver transit routes which you can find using Google Transit or Translink.

Pictured below is the large Mixed Seafood Okonomiyaki Pizza served on yakisoba noodles ($16.50). This was really delicious and very filling (I took some of it home and enjoyed a snack later in the evening). Christine writes in her review, “Okonomiyaki is a flat, savory pancake, similar to a latke, but made with flour, shredded cabbage, egg, and other various ingredients. It takes about 20 minutes to cook on the griddle, arrives piping hot, and is covered in a tasty Japanese sauce…” Thanks Christine!

Also pictured below is the pan fried garlic butter squid ($6.95). Yum!

For another photo and more info please view Part 1.

Mixed Seafood Okonomiyaki Japanese pizza served on Yakisoba noodles ($16.50) from Clubhouse Restaurant in Vancouver.

Garlic Butter Squid ($6.95) from Clubhouse Japanese Restaurant in Vancouver.

Pictured below is the Smoked Turkey Panino ($8.49) which was really tasty, as well as a Tall Caffe Americano ($2.45). I don’t usually drink coffee, but I’m sure glad that I made the exception and tried the coffee at Caffe Artigiano!

Check out their web site for a list of their other locations in Vancouver and Calgary.

Smoked Turkey Panino ($8.49) and Tall Caffe Americano ($2.45) from Caffe Artigiano in Burnaby.

At lunch time, there are some great specials which include a salad, spring roll, a main entree and rice for $8.00 before tax and tip. Service is fast and attentive, and the restaurant’s decor is pleasant and inviting. Urban Thai Bistro also serves a good selection of vegetarian and tofu dishes which make it a regular place to visit for some of my vegetarian friends. Dinner time prices are also reasonable, in the $12 to $18 per person range.

Pictured below is Lunch Special 76S ($8.00), which their menu describes as beef with green curry paste, eggplants, bell peppers, peas, basil leaves and coconut milk. It is also served with a spring roll and a green salad (not pictured).

For more photos and info, please view Part 3, Part 2, and Part 1. Their menu is also available on their website.

Beef with green curry paste, eggplants, bell peppers, peas, basil leaves & coconut milk

Angela Murrills writes in the Georgia Straight (click here to read review):

Weekdays at noon it feels like small-town France, where everyone decamps from their office for a couple of hours during which the mark of a truly civilized country parking is free by law. A fresh-fish dish or two, grilled prawns, moules frites, quiche or a sandwich it’s all competently made, sans froufrou, and mostly under $10.

Christine G. Louie describes the food at Salade de Fruits (writing in the Peak, SFU’s student newspaper, click here to read review):

The moules et frites ($11.99) arrived with puffs of steam wafting up, the P.E.I. mussels fat, perfectly steamed little morsels sitting in the most fragrant of broths. Accompanying the pot of shiny black shells lay a stack of fresh-cooked pomme frites, still glistening from their bath of hot oil. Crispy, golden-brown, and thinly sliced, the pomme frites were perfect for dipping into the pool of broth or the little container of their homemade mayonnaise. The calamari dish came in thick ringlets, fried to a glorious golden-brown, and looking ravishingly hot. The smoked-salmon baguette was clean tasting, jazzed up with capers and sweet onions, and sandwiched in the same lovely bread. The steak dish was pounded into a thin large slab, arrived on top of a layer of gravy-smothered frites.

Wow, I love those descriptions, thanks Christine!

Pictured below is some of the food we enjoyed: the Saumon Sauvage (Wild salmon entree, around $16), the Calmars à la Nage (Calamari dish, $9.99), and the Escargots à l’Ail (snail in garlic, $5.99, a French delicacy!). My friend also ordered the T-Bone Steak served with fresh crab (not pictured), which he described as juicy and of really high quality (he’s a regular of steak places around town).

Saumon Sauvage (Wild Salmon entree, $16.99) from Salade De Fruits French restaurant in Vancouver

Calamari dish (Calmars à la Nage, $9.99) from Salade De Fruits French restaurant in Vancouver

Escargots à l'Ail ($5.99) - Snail in garlic, a French delicacy! Food from Salade De Fruits French restaurant in Vancouver.

Fresh baguette (French bread) included with the meal at Salade de Fruits French restaurant in Vancouver

I was really quite impressed by the quality of the food (we ordered vegetarian selections this time, but the menu has a good selection of non-vegetarian items as well). To start we enjoyed an appetizer of Onion Bhaji ($6.99, pictured below) which were deep fried and crispy, similar to Pekora but without the meat. Hub-uk (click here for their Onion Bhaji recipe) describes what makes up an Onion Bhaji:

The basic recipe consists of onions being chopped and then made into a sort of batter with chickpea or gram flour, spices, and sometimes with herbs, then fried until golden. They have a mild taste and are not hot.

For the main course, we tried the Bombay Aloo ($10.95, pictured below), a tasty dish of diced potatoes cooked with cumin seed & specialty spices, and the Vegetable Korma ($10.95, also pictured below), which is made with carrots, cauliflowers, and broccoli cooked in the restaurant’s own special cream sauce. We also had an order of Pulao Rice ($3.50), and Garlic Naan bread ($2.25), which their menu describes as “white flour leavened bread coated with garlic”. Yum!

nanashi, a reviewer on DineHere.ca (click here to read review) writes:

Being from West Bengal, and growing up on Indian food most of my life I’m always looking for a taste of home. I discovered the Indian Oven last year and have found my self routinely selecting it for take out, over other Indian restaurants in Vancouver. The Indian Oven specializes mostly in North Indian cuisine, which is quite common among Indian restaurants in North America… Tandoori/tikk/kebab specialties of this restaurant are far above most of the other restaurants in west part of Vancouver.

The restaurant also has free delivery within a 5km radius (click here for their take out and delivery menu), and 10% off for pick-up orders.

Indian food from Indian Oven restaurant in Vancouver: Garlic Naan bread ($2.25), Bombay Aloo ($10.95), Vegetable Korma ($10.95)

Onion Bhajis ($6.99, appetizer from Indian Oven restaurant in Vancouver).

Closeup of Vegetable Korma ($10.95) from Indian Oven restaurant in Vancouver.

Garlic Naan bread from Indian Oven restaurant in Vancouver ($2.25)

Thanks to Norma for the yummy photos of the pizza below.

Please click here to view the restaurant’s menu.

Yummy pizza from Sarpino's pizza restaurant in Vancouver

Closeup of Pizza from Sarpino's pizza restaurant in Vancouver

Cheese Pizza from Sarpino's Pizza Delivery and Take Out in Vancouver