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.