Van Love Sushi and More

Posted on September 4, 2025 by steve

I was very impressed by this charming sushi restaurant at the quiet end of Robson Street.

The place bills itself as Ukrainian sushi, but it is in fact, well, sushi. There is a selection of Ukrainian souvenirs available to support the Ukrainian war effort, but beyond that, it’s a normal sushi restaurant with some pleasant twists.

Unlike many sushi restaurants, the selection of different types of fish is somewhat limited. Most of the dishes focus on tuna, salmon, or shrimp but they’re combined in interesting and tasty ways.

Note that the menu has been expanded from anything that I found online. It’s now much more polished and has more offerings, including not just sushi but also coffees and desserts.

The combo offerings for lunch are a particularly good deal. They include a very tasty miso soup with the interesting addition of sesame seeds and your choice of many different flavors of hot tea.

We tried both the orange and the mint teas, and they were both delicious. The two combos we tried both came with four pieces of nigiri consisting of tuna, shrimp, and salmon, and then an eight-piece roll selection. One included the BC roll which is similar to a California roll but incorporates cooked salmon.

The other was my favorite. It was a spicy salmon roll which had the interesting presentation of placing the spicy salmon mixture on top of each slice of a roll similar to a California roll. This provided a generous helping of the spicy salmon which was very nicely seasoned and just the right spice level.

The service was extremely friendly and helpful. Our leftovers were packed up in a very delightful looking to-go box, and we were even given cups to take the rest of our hot tea with us. All in all, one of the better sushi choices along Robson.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/vanlove-sushi-and-more-vancouver

Yasma

Posted on August 23, 2025 by steve

I’m a big fan of Lebanese food. We often have it for lunch. Because Yasma is only open for dinner, we lived here for a couple of years before we got around to trying it. But I’m sure glad we did.

The flavors here are at a complexity level above any Lebanese food that I’ve had elsewhere. Even the common dishes, such as hummus, baba ghanoush, and tabbouleh, all contain ingredients and spices that make them stand out and add a terrific level of complexity. For example, the tabbouleh includes not just interesting seasonings but also pomegranate seeds. It was not the only dish that was served with the addition of pomegranate. There was also a delightfully spicy sauce that seemed to be comprised of both pomegranate and harissa.
The chef’s tasting menu is a terrific way to sample most of the dishes on the menu. Our favorites turned out to be most of the cold course dishes that were served in the first of three rounds. This included:

– Hummus
– Baba ghanoush
– Tabbouleh
– A spice tray with a selection of olives

As you would expect from a high-end Lebanese restaurant, the pitas are perfectly puffed and delicate.

The hot dishes included lamb and chicken and were served on the traditional garlic sauce.
The tasting menu concluded with an assortment of bite-sized pieces of baklava.

If there was one shortcoming, it was the wine list. The white wines seemed to be of a singular note, although they were offered from four different countries. Unfortunately, they were out of the French Chardonnay, so I might be inclined to bring my own bottle the next time, assuming they have a corkage fee.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/yasma-vancouver

Tetsu Sushi Bar

Posted on August 22, 2025 by steve

Vancouver’s West End has a wealth of exquisite omakase experiences. Tetsu is a standout among them for a few reasons:

1. It’s been around longer than some
2. It has been recognized among the top 50 restaurants in all of Canada
3. It has consecutive years of Michelin recommendations

But the reason that I particularly like Tetsu is because you can enjoy a wonderful omakase experience while sitting at a table for two and enjoying intimate conversation, rather than feeling like you have to be focused on the chef preparing each dish. (The restaurant is tiny—twelve seats total, of which up to four may be at the sushi bar.)

That’s not to say that the food is not still the primary focus. Everything that we had was absolutely delightful, and the variety made the meal consistently interesting without getting into what I sometimes call nigiri fatigue.

I particularly found the miso soup at the start of the meal a good example of what makes for a great omakase. The serving was just enough to really enjoy the flavors without getting too full to enjoy the coming 20 courses. There was a complexity to it that I have not encountered in any miso soup before.

This was followed by an assortment of appetizers that were each distinct and unique among all of the omakase experiences I’ve encountered. As is often the case, sometimes the seemingly simplest things are the standouts. I was particularly fond of the corn chowder that came with this course.

I also really liked the decision to serve nearly all of the nigiri dishes in pairs. Rather than being handed nigiri one at a time, as is so often the case in an omakase restaurant. Here two pieces are plated together allowing you to compare and contrast the subtleties between the different preparations.

It would be hard to pick a favorite amongst all of the nigiri served. There were a total of 14 offerings, and each had a distinct place in the sequence (with the possible exception of the spot prawn, which I still find to be a gooey mess).

Certainly, the octopus was by far the most tender I had ever been served. It had been simmered, but still, I’ve never had octopus that melted in my mouth before. The citrus pepper paste served on the Hokkaido scallop was another standout. My wife, who doesn’t particularly like eggs, was surprised that the Tamago (which had been torched to create a brulee on top) was among her favorites.

Many 20-course meals end with a succession of desserts, each trying to top the previous one. Here they instead picked what I think was a stellar way to end the meal with a flavorful and yet light white coffee pudding.

In the end, we felt we had had just the right amount of food and certainly had gotten our $200 worth from this remarkable experience.

It’s difficult online to determine what the beverage offerings are, so we had brought a bottle of champagne, which I always find to be the perfect accompaniment for sushi. It turns out that they do have a limited wine list that includes one champagne, and the pricing is reasonable. If you like sake (which we don’t particularly care for), there is an extensive sake list available.

The service was certainly Michelin-caliber: precise, friendly, and informative. This is definitely a restaurant we will be returning to time and again.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/tetsu-sushi-bar-vancouver

Kintaro Ramen

Posted on August 20, 2025 by steve

The mark of good ramen is that the broth is hot and flavorful, and that the noodles are still ardent when served, the vegetables still a bit crisp. This place has it down pat. I had the spicy garlic ramen with a medium thick broth. The scoop of garlic on top was a bit overwhelming until mixed in, and then it was just right. The spice level was also perfect. It’s nice to have the option of pork shoulder rather than pork belly. It was lean and tender.

We also had gyoza, which was perfectly seared, nd edamame, which made a nice starter. Service was friendly.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/kintaro-ramen-vancouver

Tavola

Posted on July 19, 2025 by steve

Charming Italian restaurant just off of Denman and Robson. Despite the bustling neighborhood, the outdoor dining is surprisingly serene, nestled in a quiet residential respite from the traffic.

We went for Saturday brunch and ate outside. The “Toast” we chose was sautéed mushroom, and it was delicious, and plenty for two to share. We also had the day’s frittata, which was filled with an assortment of fresh vegetables and came with a tasty side salad.

The wine list offers mainly Italian wines, with about 1/3 of them by the glass.

Service was friendly and the atmosphere is great.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/tavola-vancouver

A&W Alberni

Posted on June 2, 2025 by steve

This is a lovely A&W location, spotless and well-managed. The interior is fairly new and quite pleasant. The staff at the counter were very friendly, and it was easy to order. Such a novelty to actually speak to a human and get good customer service in a fast food restaurant!

The food was all prepared to order, so it took a few minutes while we sat at a table with our drinks.

And speaking of service, they even brought our trays to our table. It’s been a while since that happened at a fast food place.

We had the Teen Burgers, and they are just what I am looking for in a burger: reasonable size patty, cheddar cheese, bacon, lettuce, onion slice, tomato, pickles, and good sauces. I upgraded the fries on my combo to onion rings for just two dollars, and they were delicious, nicely breaded and delicately crispy.

We definitely will be back.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/a-and-w-vancouver

Homer St. Cafe and Bar

Posted on May 27, 2025 by steve

I love this funky, historic bistro with lots of small spaces and a very interesting menu. The specialty here is rotisserie chicken, and it’s definitely worth trying. It’s right up there with the Michelin-starred Benoit in New York City.

The baby back ribs are also good, especially if you like North Carolina style mustard BBQ sauce.

The star of our meal was a special: chicken fried oyster mushrooms. These were delicately fried and served with a delicious mushroom dipping sauce.

The other standout was the cole slaw that accompanied the ribs. I wouldn’t have said coleslaw needed kale, but it was terrific—not too rich or sweet, and nice and crispy carrots and cabbage.

The wine list and cocktails are very well thought out. The BC wines by the glass were excellent, and someone really likes bitter aperitifs like Amari. I certainly do!

Our server was also the bartender, and they were terrific.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/homer-st-cafe-and-bar-vancouver

Joey Burrard

Posted on May 24, 2025 by steve

I really enjoy the diverse menu at Joey. There’s something for everyone. There’s another Joey just a few blocks down Burrard. I like the ambience of that one slightly more, but otherwise they are very similar. Service at both is excellent. Appreciate the complementary sparkling wine at check in.

This time we had the Gyoza and the Hummus as starters. Both were good. I’d definitely have the hummus again. It was served with tzatziki, olives, currants, and lots of crispy fried pita.

The Farmer’s Salad was wonderful. A great mix of fruit, lettuce, veggies, and champagne vinaigrette.

The Chili chicken was okay. I loved the crisp wontons, but the chicken could have been a lot spicier.

Nice wine list, especially by the bottle.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/joey-burrard-vancouver-4

Coast Restaurant

Posted on May 18, 2025 by steve

Same excellent service and management as Black and Blue, next door.

We came at lunch time on Sunday, when it is also happy hour. What a great deal! Wines by the glass for $5, and great small plates.

The sushi assortment was perfectly prepared, with a nice mixture of rolls, nigiri, and sashimi.

The salmon flatbread was also notable, made with mascarpone instead of the usual feta or ricotta. Perfectly crisped crust.

We’ll definitely be back. Happy hour on weekdays starts early, at 2pm, and there is also a lobster dinner Sunday evenings.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/coast-restaurant-vancouver

Browns Crafthouse UBC

Posted on May 12, 2025 by steve

What a great meal we had here! The vibe is great, the servers are enthusiastic, and the food is terrific. It’s a nice combination of healthy choices, pub food, and interesting cocktails.