Paul’s Sub Shop: Hot and Messy Sub… Just How I Like it

It’s been a number of years since I last visited Paul’s Sub Shop. This small, non-descript shop located on Imperial Street is next to one of our go-to local pizza places (Bella Pizza).

Sashimiya: High-End Take-Out

One of the things that we seem to be seeing a lot more of (perhaps due to Covid) is many restaurants and food shops pivoting to take-out only. Sashimiya is one of the places that doesn’t offer dine-in seating. Instead, they act as a combination of Japanese grocery store and take-out shop where you can get freshly made sushi and sashimi that rivals any high-end Japanese restaurant.

Bánh Mì Très Bon: Modern Vietnamese Cafe

Bánh Mì Très Bon has been on my radar for quite some time… not just for their banh mi either. We visited in early December (Covid safety protocols were in effect) and the pretty interior is a stark contrast to hole-in-the-wall Vietnamese places.

Banh Mi Saigon: Banh Mi Dac Biet

If you asked what the perfect sandwich is, the banh mi would definitely rank high up there. There’s something about that freshly baked, crusty bread stuffed with flavours that explode in your mouth that just speaks so much more than a plain old bologna sandwich.

Takenaka: Takeout Bento and Chirashi

Never has takeout food looked or tasted so good. Such are the thoughts that filled the minds of many people (including myself) as images of impressive bento boxes, chirashi bowls and sushi filled up instafeeds for the last few months. Takenaka is strictly takeout focused, working out of a commissary kitchen in East Vancouver, but also runs a food truck and offers pickup from Konbiniya Japan Centre on Robson Street in downtown.

Hanoi Old Quarter: Chicken Wings and Banh Cuon

Hanoi Old Quarter is one of the many Vietnamese restaurants that dot Victoria Drive. The sister restaurant to Mr Red Cafe, Hanoi Old Quarter similarly focusses on northern Vietnamese cuisine.

Viet Mama Cafe: Bánh Cuốn and Spring Rolls

Something that seems to have picked up more steam in the Vancouver food scene lately is bánh cuốn. Similar to Chinese rice rolls, bánh cuốn rice sheets tend to be much thinner and more delicate. I decided to try the ones at Viet Mama Cafe on Victoria Drive as I’ve been hearing good things about this place.

Purebread (Mt Pleasant): Carbs Galore

We’ve been fans of Purebread ever since we first visited their Whistler location many moons ago. Since that time, they’ve actually opened a number of locations in Vancouver, including this one location on E 5th Avenue in the Mount Pleasant area.

AJ’s Brooklyn Pizza Joint: Brooklyn-Style Pizza

AJ’s is a popular pizza joint on Broadway known for their thin Brooklyn-style pizzas (although they also have thick crust Detroit-style pizzas as well). I’ve been meaning to try this place for a while and finally managed to visit in late October.

Masa Japanese Restaurant: 2nd Floor Japanese Eats

Masa Japanese Restaurant is located on the corner of Hemlock and West Broadway on the 2nd floor, overlooking the small mini mall below. I fondly remember having our first Japanese restaurant date at a now defunct Japanese restaurant in the same location many moons ago.

FusionCore Japanese Eatery: Solid Take-Out Only Spot

Recently, I noticed a Japanese place show up on my radar that’s located in a mini mall along the busy Burnaby/New Westminster border. From past experience, most of these places are just your run-of-the-mill quick sushi places that are nothing to write home about. So I was actually pleasantly surprised by the variety of Japanese fare that FusionCore serves up.

Grand Crystal Seafood Restaurant: Dim Sum and Lobster Sticky Rice

One of the things that we’ve missed a lot during the pandemic is going out to enjoy dim sum.. I don’t mean the crowded restaurants or the loud din from the hustle and bustle of the kitchen mixed with the incessant tableside conversations that sounds more like screaming matches instead of civilized discussions. No, it’s mainly about the food.