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"Japanese"
It was strange, while we were in NYC we didn’t really have too much Asian food. If there’s one thing we do it better here in Vancouver, it’s definitely that. I guess we’re used to always having a plethora of delicious Asian cuisine at cheap prices within steps of wherever we are so we take it for granted most times. However, our good friend CRPP said that we had to visit Momofuku Noodle Bar while we were in NYC. And as we all know, I love ramen so how could I say no?
I really loved the atmosphere inside. It’s really catered towards people who are constantly on the go and are probably on a quick lunch. We stopped by after our absolute last shopping session.
We started off with the pork buns which CRPP specifically told us we had to try. The buns were soft and delicious like the Siopao buns I oh so love. It had pork, hoisin sauce, scallions, and thinly sliced cucumbers. Perfect appetizer.
I could eat ramen everyday and still love it. For my main meal I decided to go with the Spicy Miso Ramen which had smoked chicken, Swiss chard, and sesame. The noodles were soft and chewy and the broth not too spicy or salty. It was just right :) Even in the absurd NYC heat, I thoroughly enjoyed this big bowl of noodles that left my stomach feeling tres happy.
Momofuku Noodle Bar is located at:
171 1st Ave
New York, NY
Continuing on my “extended” birthday adventures, Krissy and Faye took me to Hapa Izakaya for some Japanese eats. With it being one of Vancouver’s first gorgeous days this season, we sat on their sunny Yaletown patio to properly enjoy the weather.
Words that came to mind to describe Hapa Izakaya’s atmosphere would be sleek, modern, and lively. Because many of their menu items are tapas and share plates, I recommend coming with a group of friends to really get the most out of it.
With Hapa’s trusty allergy sheet in hand (Faye is allergic to dairy, shellfish AND usually eats a vegan diet!) here’s what we ordered:
Ebi Mayo
Tempura wild prawns tossed in a spicy mayonnaise sauce
Crab Tempura Roll
Dungeness crab, avocado and asparagus
Hapa Taster Plate (Choose three from their Taster list)
Beef short ribs, karaage & wild salmon
The best item hands down was the Ebi Mayo. In addition, I loved that the beef short ribs were topped with sesame chili sauce, which added flavour without it being overwhelmingly spicy. The Karaage was tender and really good as well! Next time, I would probably branch out and order the Bintoro and other tuna dishes (which at this point I still have a weird thing with not liking tuna).
So that’s all for this lovely casual Yaletown Japanese joint, which I highly recommend if you’re in the area. Happy food adventuring!
Hapa Izakaya is located at:
1193 Hamilton Street
Vancouver, BC
http://hapaizakaya.com
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There are only a few restaurants that I will go to more than once or twice because I would much rather try and discover new places. However, once you find something you love it’s really hard to keep yourself from coming back. This is the case for the tasty Tan Tan Noodle which you can get at Nan Chuu Japanese Izakaya in Richmond.
I first fell in love with the Tan Tan Noodle at G-Men Ramen in Richmond and was heartbroken the day it closed down. Not going to lie, it was bleak for the next couple months that followed. That’s why when I got word that G-Men Ramen had reopened as Nan Chuu Japanese Izakaya, I immediately rushed down to see if my beloved Tan Tan Noodle had returned. It had. *cue The Turtle’s Happy Together*
The Tan Tan noodle is a nice blend of the sweetness of the peanut butter with a hint of spicy. The soup is on the thicker side which will leave you in a food coma once you’re done slurping up the whole bowl. It’s also topped with pork that is always cooked past the point of perfection that is beyond soft and deeeeelicious!
When you go, I also recommend the Ebi Mayo. Deep fried shrimp topped with a delicious mayonnaise sauce? How can you say no?
So go check it out! It will definitely not disappoint.
Nan Chuu Japanese Izakaya is located at:
8391 Alexandra Rd
Richmond, BC
To check out my attempt at making a home made version of the Tan Tan Noodle, check out my entry in the “recipes” section.
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