Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Marulilu Cafe


I absolutely adore this cozy little brunch cafe. With our conflicting work schedule, this has been an overdue brunch date with Panda. We both woke up early and started our day with some food. It is my first time dining at this restaurant and it is definitely a great recommendation from Panda. To my surprise, it is actually a Japanese-style brunch/lunch restaurant. It attracts many locals and Japanese families.

The interior of the cafe is not fancy, but in my opinion, very cute. It is laid back and casual. The food tasted great! And the price is very reasonable as well. The menu features traditional breakfast items, Japanese lunch sets, and Japanese snacks.

Salmon Eggs Benedict with 2 Hashbrowns ($7.99)
Absolutely love their hollandaise sauce. Thick and flavourful, yet it is not heavy with MSG. The poached egg is slightly over cooked, but 75% of the yolk is still runny. They used a generous amount of smoked salmon as well. Very good for the price. The hash was a tad too oily for my taste, but it had a nice crisp to it and tasted great. Their eggs benny is definitely worth a try.

Okonomiyaki: with cheese and seafood ($8.99)
This is a Japanese pancake, topped with teriyaki sauce and Japanese mayo. One of the best okonomiyaki I have had in Vancouver. It is thick and tasty. The batter was nicely prepared, as it was not overly soggy and does not easily fall apart. Very impressed. Highly recommended by Hippo.

Real Fruit Smoothies: 16oz ($4.95) Choice of Milk, Soy, Plain Yogurt, or Vanilla Yogurt (additional $0.50)
Peach Mango with Vanilla Yogurt ($5.45) - left
Mixed Berry Banana with Vanilla Yogurt ($5.45) - right
Both amazing. Highly recommended. I can taste the fresh fruits. The vanilla yogurt was a great addition to the smoothie; makes a thick and tasty smoothie. Surprisingly, the smoothie came last, after our meals. I was watching them freshly prepare our drinks.

I really enjoyed my brunch at Marulilu Cafe. Everything was nicely prepared and tasted amazing. No complaints. Excellent experience. We were both very satisfied and full after devouring all the food above. Initially, Panda said we had to get their waffles in the end, but it seems like we have to postpone that to our next brunch visit!


Location: On West Broadway and Cambie Street. Very convenient, as it is close to the Canada Line. Paid meter parking on Broadway.

Food: Amazing. Thoroughly enjoyed everything we ordered.
Service: Friendly staff. You order up front and they serve the food to your table.
Price: The total came to $31 with tax for two people for brunch. It can be very well-priced if you don't order the smoothies and get a glass of water instead.
Recommended? Yes. A very cozy fusion Japanese brunch cafe!

- Hippo


Marulilu Cafe
451 West Broadway
Vancouver, B.C.
Phone: 604-568-4211

Marulilu Cafe on Urbanspoon

Monday, March 25, 2013

Tung Hing Bakery

If you walk down Kingsway in Vancouver, it is a strip of Vietnamese and Banh Mi heaven. We were in the area and I suddenly started craving for a Banh Mi snack. Of course, we were traveling in the wrong direction, so Meko made a quick U-turn and stopped at Tung Hing Bakery. When we got there, they actually ran out of bread. This was actually a good thing! They started to bake fresh bread in the oven. We had to wait for 15 minutes for the buns to be done. And it was definitely well worth the wait. Nothing can compare to a delicious-fresh-out-of-the-oven sandwich bun!

Within the 15 minute we have been standing and waiting. A line up actually started to form behind us. It may be deceptive when you walk into this empty bakery, but Tung Hing is actually a high traffic bakery. The service is quick with customers stepping in and out.

Tung Hing Bakery features Chinese/Vietnamese style fresh buns and pastries. They also have a Banh Mi bar, where they make your sandwich right in front of you (similar to Subway). These Vietnamese submarines are delicious! Banh Mi, which directly means 'bread' consist of your selected meat and vegetables (cucumber, pickled daikon, carrots, cilantro, and pepper).

House Special Banh Mi ($3.25)
Includes 3 different Vietnamese ham/meat and vegetables in a 12" French baguette. Really good!

I watched the employees freshly prep all the ingredients behind the counter. She was shredding the garlic chicken. It is real chicken breast pieces! Not a mix of dark, white, intestinal pieces. I was very impressed! Great quality for the price you are paying.

 
All the Banh Mi prices are taxes in. Please note that starting April 2, 2013, they actually have a slight price increase of 25 cents on all their Banh Mi submarines.

Food: Great! We tried all of the different variety of Banh Mi at Tung Hing Bakery and none of them disappointed us! Our recommendations are the House Special and also the Honey Garlic Sausage.
Service: Courteous bakery clerks and quick preparation of the sandwiches.
Price: Each Banh Mi are very reasonable at $3-$4 each, taxes in.
Recommended? Yes!

- Hippo


Tung Hing Bakery 同慶餅家
1198 Kingsway
Vancouver, B.C.
Phone: 604-875-3394

Tung Hing Bakery 同慶餅家 on Urbanspoon

Friday, March 22, 2013

Bob's Submarine Sandwiches

Wow. Bob's Submarine Sandwiches is the perfect place for a carnivore! Unlike most healthy sandwiches joint, Bob's Submarine is a meat eater's heaven. For example, Subway features a large piece of bread and focuses on the add-on fresh vegetables. The meaty ingredient is often the more expensive component of a sandwich. Bob's Submarine managed to overflow the sandwich with delicious meat for a very reasonable price.

Please note that the sandwiches are huge! I definitely recommend sharing with a friend. I will probably not devour a 12" submarine sandwich all to myself, despite how delicious it is. My stomach will not be happy with the overwhelming amount of meat they include. We purchased two submarines, 6" and 12". We were only able to finish the 12" and we both felt stuffed and satisfied. It does get quite messy after a couple of bites. I am glad we got take out and I can happily enjoy this at home with my fork and knife.

Pepperoni and Salami 6" Submarine ($4.90)
Vegetable toppings include: lettuce, tomato, mushroom, caramelized onion, and cheese. As you notice from the photo, the quantity of meat they used is monstrous. The pepperoni and salami is very tasty, although it may get a little salty when too much is devoured. It is tender and moist - cooked just right. Very satisfied. Recommended by Hippo!

Super Sub 12" Submarine: salami, pepperoni, capicolla, steak ($11.80)
Another one of their hot submarine sandwiches, topped with the same vegetables as the previous one. This one has all their variety of meat. We actually found the steak slices too dry and lacking flavour. Nonetheless, I still enjoyed it, as it complemented the salty salami and pepperoni. My sandwich actually began to fall apart after my first few bites. Prepare to get your hands greasy and eat like an animal! There is no getting out of it, no matter how neat you are. 

Each 6" sub is approximately $4-$6. Each 12" sub is approximately $8-12. Very cheap for the quality and quantity you are receiving. Plus, it flows quite well with my attempt on a low carb diet (which can be difficult, I love bread and rice too much!). Forget Subway; I am going to always head to Bob's Submarine Sandwiches for delicious, fresh, and cheap sandwiches!

Location: On Cook Road and No. 3 Road. In the plaza across from Richmond Center. A couple minutes away from the Brighouse Canada Line Station. There is parking in front of the restaurant.

Food: Very good for the price paid. Quality and quantity both achieved. Note: eating may be very messy!
Service: N/A. We ordered take out. Meko noticed they were all Korean, not sure if that matters.
Price: We spent a total of $16 including tax for two people.
Recommended? I really enjoyed this cheap eat place! I will be trying their breakfast sandwiches on my next visit.

- Hippo


Bob's Submarine Sandwiches
6390 No. 3 Road
Richmond, B.C.
Phone: 604-273-6710

Bob's Submarine Sandwiches on Urbanspoon

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Waffle and Berries

Waffle and Berries
So a couple weeks ago, I was excited and ready to try this Waffle & Berries place I have heard so  much about. They close at 5pm on a weekend, so we decided to have a light morning snack, then head towards Downtown for some waffles at around 2pm. When we got there, we found out they ran out of waffles! I was really disappointed... So this weekend, we called them too many times throughout the morning to inquire about their waffle status. They reassured us they do have waffles, so we quickly sped there and was ready to devour some Belgian waffles.

Behind the counters.
Interior of Waffle & Berries.
When we got to Waffles & Berries, there were a couple of tables available. It appeared to be slowing down, so we just headed up to the counter and started to order. By the time we finished ordering, the tables were actually all filled up. My tip: grab a table, then head over to the counter to order. They are a coffee shop, so they do not take reservations. Similar to Starbucks, you order your coffee, then you seat yourself.

I was having a bit of difficulty deciding the toppings for my waffle. The servers all recommended the Belgian dark chocolate, strawberries, and whipped cream. The toppings are all additional charges. I am not a whipped cream fan, so I opt for the vanilla ice cream instead. But they sold out of ice cream that day, so I chose another berry for my waffle.

 
Liege Waffle: topped with Belgian dark chocolate, strawberries, and blueberries ($8.45)
In terms of appearance, the ones with whipped cream is definitely more appealing. But this combination was better than it appeared. The waffle is freshly made. It had a nice chew to it with a crunchy exterior and moist interior. If the waffle is eaten alone, it is actually quite sweet. So I definitely recommend the dark chocolate to complement the sweetness. The fruits were fresh, but it was not in season, so not as ripe and sweet as it can be. Not their fault though. In hindsight, I should have gotten the whipped cream for some additional moisture to this snack.

 
Liege Waffle: topped with nutella, blueberries, and blackberries ($8.45)
This combination is slightly more dry. I definitely prefer the drizzling Belgian dark chocolate over the nutella spread. Again, whipped cream or ice cream is recommended. But overall, these waffle and berries combination were quite tasty. The portion is actually quite large as compared to many other coffee shops. Definitely not a snack and can be a satisfying breakfast.

Belgium Milk Hot Chocolate ($3.95) - left
Belgium Dark Hot Chocolate ($3.95) - right
Both highly recommended by Hippo! Made with real chocolate pieces. You can actually see the chocolate solidifying in my last few sips. I really enjoyed my Dark Hot Chocolate with only a hint of sweetness, yet not bitter. It is actually quite thick and filling. Very comparable to the Blenz Belgium Dark Hot Chocolate. When I tried Meko's Milk Hot Chocolate, it has the same consistency, but definitely sweeter. From the flavour, it appears they have used Belgium Dark Chocolate pieces and also condensed milk as the sweetener. Very delicious with great aroma.

My friend also visited Waffle & Berries with his girlfriend. Above is his photo of waffles with mixed berries, dark chocolate, and whipped cream! Photo credits to Flash.

A few outdoor seating for the warmer summer days!

Location: On West Pender Street, off Nicola Street. It is the Coal Harbour area, so the majority of the parking is paid street meter. Price is not as bad as I thought it would be, it is $2 per hour. On a nice sunny day, a walk down to the nearby seawall is perfect with a cup of coffee.

Food: Freshly made and tasty. Generous portions. Great sweet treat and options for those who prefer their food and drinks to be less sweet.
Service: The drinks are served in the front counter. However, they do bring the waffles to your table and collect your plates afterwards.
Price: We had a Groupon that cost us only $15 with tax for the above two waffles and drinks.
Recommended? Great coffee shop to relax or catch up with a friend.

- Hippo


Waffle & Berries
1467 West Pender Street
Vancouver, B.C.
Phone: 604-710-5279

Waffle & Berries on Urbanspoon

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

La Belle Patate

It is a casual Saturday night, just chilling with the boys. Of course, these bottomless pit guys are always starving. So at like 1 am, someone thought it was a great idea to consume some carbs and fatten ourselves up with some poutine. "Did you know La Belle Patate directly translates into the beautiful potato?" is the first thing Panda said to me when he suggested heading downtown for a late night snack.

Honestly, I have yet to dine at a specialty poutine restaurant. Does New York Fries count? Probably not. La Belle Patate serves authentic Quebecois cuisine. I was half excited and half worried that I will turn to a big pieces of fat the next morning. Nonetheless, I am always down for food - despite the time and place. Knowing that it is almost 2 am, I most definitely will not be finishing a whole plate of poutine to myself. I opt to share with my friend and asked him to surprise me.

La Belle Poutine: smoked meat, beef ($12)
There are two options for sizes with this specialty poutine (medium or large). I believe this is a large size. My goodness, it was HUGE. It was packed with fries in the bottom mixed with gravy. Then topped with cheese curds, smoked meat, and beef. It was so good! The smoked meat was delicious. The fries were fresh and crunchy. The gravy tasted fantastic! I personally prefer melted cheese, but cheese curd is the way to go for poutine. Very impressed!

The rest of the guys each ordered their own poutine.


If mine was large, I assume this is the medium size. This is in those container you find for most take out Chinese restaurants. It is massive and one of my friends actually finished it. He felt so disgusted when I showed him a picture of what he ate the next day! I liked how they serve it in a takeout container, since most people usually can not finish it in one sitting. Another one of my friends ate a few bites and packed it home. He microwaved the poutine the next day and said it still tasted great.

Location: On Davies Street, between Bute Street and Jervis Street. There are paid meter parking on Davies Street. I like the fact that it opens late every night.

Food: Great poutine. For the price you are paying, you are actually getting quality food. Unlike the junk you receive in fast food chains. I suggest sharing.
Service: Very quick. Despite being served in a take out container, they came out to our table and asked whether there is anything we needed.
Price: Approximately $6 to $13.50 for a poutine.
Recommended? Yes! I look forward to try their Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwich on my next visit.

- Hippo


La Belle Patate
1215 Davie Street
Vancouver, B.C.
Phone: 604-569-1215

La Belle Patate on Urbanspoon

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Sushiholic

I have been to Sushiholic many times since it first opened its door back in late 2010. I always received great experience here, but this time I was a little disappointed. When we stepped in, we were seated right away. It was near the door, so it was chilly when the doors opened and closed, but it is a small restaurant, can't complain. We ordered a couple of nigiri to start and a few rolls to share. The nigiri came right away. The rolls however, took almost 30 minutes to come out.

Seared Toro Nigiri ($1.75/piece)
Very delicious and reasonably priced. Recommended by Hippo!

We were starving as 8pm was ticking by. There was 4 chefs standing behind the counter. Not all working though. I understand that each chef has their own specialty and cannot perform their own role until another chef has done their part. Finally, the California Roll and Yam Tempura Roll was served.

 
California Roll ($3.25) and Yam Tempura Roll ($3.75)
The California Roll was tasty. But I was very disappointed in the Yam Tempura Roll. It could have been a great roll with the inclusion of avocado and cucumber. The crispness of the tempura batter has gotten soft. My guess was that the yam was deep fried half an hour ago, but the sushi chef did not roll it up and serve it immediately. Letting a tempura sit for a while definitely makes it cold and soft. Not good at all.

A few minutes later, the Sushiholic specialty rolls came out together.

Red Roll: chopped scallop with mayo, cucumber, spicy tuna, and crispy bits on top ($8.95)
Both rolls as delicious as I remembered it. The Red Roll is actually my favourite. You can taste both the fresh scallops and the marinated spicy tuna. Recommended by Hippo!

Dragon Roll: prawn tempera, mayo, cucumber, avocado, crispy bits and unagi on top ($11.95)
The Dragon Roll was good as well, but I felt that it is pricey, considering we can't taste the prawn tempura, as the unagi and avocado flavour overpowered it. There should be a crunch from the tempura, but because it took so long for the chef to roll it up, there was no crunch and was just another soft, chewy texture.

In the end of the day, I still enjoyed the food. But it was not the best experience I had at Sushiholic. The food remains solid, other than the tempura portion. Perhaps they have a few new staff members? I will still return nonetheless.


Location: Quite convenient as it is off Highway 1, Rupert exit. Located on the corner of Broadway and Rupert Street. You can't miss it with the flashy red and white banner. There is approximately 5 parking spots in the back. But you can also park on Broadway and Rupert Street for free. Please note: they are closed between lunch and dinner hours.

Food: Very solid. Great food every time I come.
Service: Below average. We always had to ask for tea and request them to take our plates away.
Price: The total came to $35 with tax for two people.
Recommended? Despite the soggy tempura, I will still recommend this sushi joint!

- Hippo


Sushiholic
3311 East Broadway
Vancouver, B.C.
Phone: 604-879-4881

Sushiholic Japanese Restaurant on Urbanspoon

Friday, March 8, 2013

Cafe Crema

Cafe Crema is a family owned coffee shop at the heart of Ambleside. Located right by the waters. Many locals will grab a cup of coffee here and walk along the shore or just relax on the beach. I just grabbed a quick breakfast to go. Notice that the photo is taken on a brown paper bag!

Breakfast Sandwich: eggs and bacon
Very satisfied. The eggs are seasoned with black pepper and the bacon is not over cooked until it is dried and crispy.

My first few bites.

Food: I enjoyed the breakfast sandwich.
Service: Friendly and amiable.
Recommended? I actually like many of the small and cozy coffee shops in Ambleside. Such as Savary Island Pie Company and Amadeo on Marine Drive.

- Hippo


Cafe Crema
1495 Bellevue Avenue
West Vancouver, B.C.
Phone: 604-922-2294

Cafe Crema on Urbanspoon