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Yeah Vancouver, I'd Tap(a) That
Tapa love around Vancouver
- 1809
- 434
7 Places
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Robin’s 3-star review: Guuuuu! What did you doooooo?? Have they been doing this the whole time?? Since when does grilled eel come with bright orange cheese melted on top?! Jeebus, I'm no connoisseur but that *can't* be authentic. It just can't. I still mostly like it -- the food is good, the servers are fun, the chefs are entertaining -- but I'm going to be the odd (wo)man out here. Guu exists for those who want to food-adventure, but not that far. For those who want some "authentic Japanese" but only a wee bit of it. It's an izakaya for those who want in the game, but don't want to change it. Great for the masses, but not for me. -
Robin’s 2-star review: Umm, I think I may have missed something? This came so highly recommend that I was super jazzed to finally check out Gyoza King. Maybe it's because I can't eat glutinous products and didn't try the gyoza that they are the "king" of, or maybe the chefs were just having an offish night - but regardless of the cause, the food here was less than "just okay". I didn't like it. There I said it. Not only did I not like it, but I barely touched any of it. It's a rare day on earth that I don't finish a piece of grilled meat, but this particular meat was so over-sauced and dry that I just couldn't stomach it. And the yakitori sauce? Intensely sweet and way too thick, it was slopped on the chicken skewers with little care - not the standard I've come to expect from Vancouver robata. And that was just the yakitori. The rest of the meal was no better; the saba miso was slathered in that same careless sauce and was extraordinarily dry. So dry in fact that it almost tasted like the aforementioned chicken (for the record, saba miso is no poultry. It's a fish). The rest of the meal was some variation on this sad tale (ie; bland, sauced, and not properly prepared) so I'll spare the details. Suffice it to say I went home hungry. On the plus side, I did like the plum wine and the servers were nice. But nice people serving plum wine does not a customer make. -
Robin’s 5-star review: TWELVE dollars for a half-liter of wine?! Now *this* is why Zakkushi is authentic: izakayas are for big drinking, small bites, and good friends. I love this place for *not* doting on me, for *not* waiting on me hand and foot, for feeding me tiny tasty morsels of grilled goodness, for offering cheap drinks, and for accommodating my big laughs. Charcoal all the time! -
Robin’s 4-star review: Oh Salt, you savoury sodium centre, you. I adore your cured meats and cheesy goodness. Your wine pairings make my toes wiggle with delight, and I find your handwritten chalkboard menus irresistibly charming. I think you may have even had me in mind when you chose your brick walled, concrete floored, communal tabled space. We're meant for one another, Salt... now if I could only afford to see you every night :) -
Robin’s 5-star review: How was this not a 5-star before? How did I miss out on that sacred fifth golden moment? I swear, Kingyo is tops when it comes to Japanese tapas in this town. So professional, so energetic, so much fun, the atmosphere is a downpour of positivity ensuring an almost guaranteed amazing meal, no matter the food. Buttery when it needs to be, crisp when it matters, the food always -- always -- blows me away. Consistant. Delicious. Fresh. We're such an incredibly spoiled city. What an amazing izakaya Kingyo is. -
Robin’s 4-star review: That's it, I'm riding this Suika train all the way back to the West End! Who knew such an amazing and authentic Japanese izakaya would exist outside of my favourite little corner of the city? Well, a lot of people, apparently -- this place is *always* packed. And for good reason: this little brother (sister?) of Kingyo (one of the absolute best izakayas Vancouver has to offer) is spacious and comfortable while maintaining the typical dark, slightly edgy feel of a traditional Japanese tapas joint. It's cool, but not too cool, if you know what I mean. Like, c'mon: this is Kits, people. But the food! The fooooood. The food is unreal. Sashimi Shake Salad (impressive in both taste and presentation), Tuna Tataki, Pork Belly get in muh belleh. The Grilled. Sablefish. People. Honestly, order anything on the menu, hell, order errthang on that menu and prepare to be wowed. Awesome ambiance; limited (but present! Proper-like) scotch menu; loud and energetic staff -- this is the Suika train. I encourage you to hop on. -
Robin’s 4-star review: Those in the know, know that I am no sucker for flashy izakayas. Especially when the izakaya in question is located in Kitsitlano. By the beach. And I'm to be there on a weekend. But I'm an open-minded soul, so when two of my very best friends announced that they'd planned a big dinner here, at Hapa Kits, I was naturally a bit hesitant but more than happy to oblige. Atmosphere or no, Hapa offers up some damn good food. Besides, it's nothing a little wine can't help, right? Well, yes -- but it turns out the extra wine was *so* unnecessary. Aside from the amazing company I had that night, the service was top notch. Even though the staff were clearly slammed, our table was well-tended to, looked after, checked up on. And the food was Un. Real. A set menu for our table of 20 came out in well-spaced intervals, with a varied progression from light to heavy (for those of us who made it to the end of the 3 hour meal, the last few dishes helped aid our soon-to-be-sleepy-time), with a little bit for everyone. The clear winner of the night, however, was the sablefish. Buttery, smooth, with a crisp skin, and slathered in miso-sake gloriousness, this fish made me wish I could have had the entire plate to myself. Absolute perfection. I don't know that I'd recommend coming here on a date, or even in a smaller group, but this is the perfect spot for a big group of friends to chill out and get fat on delicious Japanese tapas. Pro tip: call ahead, and introduce yourself to your waitstaff. They're people too, you know.
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