Double Spicy Tuna Special Roll from Masa Japanese Restaurant

Happy Saturday! We attended Sunday's anticipated mass this evening and attended the Rising Hope Concert in support of Sancta Maria. Afterwards, we had dinner at Masa Japanese Restaurant, focusing on their appetizers and getting one special roll.

Ebi Katsu from Masa Japanese Restaurant
Deep fried breaded prawn with sauce

We ordered their Ebi Katsu, Croquette, and Pork Gyoza. They're all delicious! The pork gyoza is crispy on the outside and perfectly seasoned on the inside, which contrasts the soft and sweet croquette. Then, fresh shrimp coated by panko breading.

Croquette from Masa Japanese Restaurant
Deep fried breaded mashed squash with sauce

Pork Gyoza from Masa Japanese Restaurant
Deep fried dumplings with pork

Afterwards, I was still feeling hungry, so we chose the Double Spicy Tuna Special Roll, and it is spicy. Whew!

Double Spicy Tuna Special Roll from Masa Japanese Restaurant
Spicy tuna, cucumber roll with spicy crabmeat, Tempura flakes on top with spicy mayo

It's a happy dinner supporting our local small business. For future reference, below is a list of menu items we've tried from Masa.

Bento Box

• Teriaki (Beef) Bento Box
• Veggie Bento

Donburi (Rice Bowl)

• Chicken Katsu
• Unagi Don

Japanese Curry

• Assorted Katsu Curry
• Beef Curry
• Chicken Curry
• Shrimp Curry
• Veggie Curry

K-Meal (Korean Food)

• Bulgogi Jeongol
• Kimchi Fried Rice
• Deep Fried Chicken
• Korean Yangnyeom Chicken
• Soy Garlic Korean Boneless Chicken

Platter

• Salmon Teriyaki
• Tofu Teriyaki Platter
• Tonkatsu

Ramen

• Kara Miso Ramen
• Miso Ramen
• Shio Ramen
• Tonkatsu Ramen
• Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen

Special Roll

• Aburi Cheese Monster Roll
• Atlantic Salmon Oshi Sushi
• Crispy Jumbo Dynamite Roll
• Devil's Kiss
• Double Dragon
• Double Spicy Tuna Special Roll
• Grouse Mountain
• Juliet Roll
• Knights of the Round Table
• Romeo Roll
• Sake Bomb Roll
• Secret Garden Roll
• Tekka Bomb Roll
• Tuna Tataki Roll
• Volcano Roll (Salmon)

Starters

• Agedashi Tofu: Original and Diavolo
• Chicken Karaage
• Chicken Wings (salt and pepper with sweet chilli sauce)
• Creamy Prawn
• Croquette
• Ebi Katsu
• Gyoza (Pork)
• Gyoza (Veggie)
• Sushi Pizza: Original
• Takoyaki

Sweets

• Green Tea Mochi

Tempura

• Appetizer Tempura
• Assorted Tempura

U-Don

• Nabeyaki U-Don

Cheeseburger and Vegan Nuggets from Burger Crush

We received free burgers from Burger Crush the last time we dined here, and it's time to redeem them. For dinner tonight, we got a couple of single cheeseburgers with fries, and we also tried their vegan nuggets.

The previous two visits to this spot, I got their 'Veggie Style' Cheeseburger and Vegan Cheeseburgers, and it's not even close to how great the beef Cheeseburger is! I'm not big on burgers in general (I don't crave them) because I always thought the ratio between patty and bun was off. This is the first one that I didn't have to take a sip of my drink between bites. I love it.

Cheeseburger from Burger Crush
Brioche bun, smashed Canadian Angus beef patty, cheese, tomato, onion, lettuce, pickles, and secret crush sauce

Cheeseburger from Burger Crush

Vegan Nuggets from Burger Crush
Their house-made tofu nuggets served with Original Crush

I also surprisingly enjoyed their Vegan Nuggets. Hmmm. Who knew that tofu could be so awesome? I need more of this in my life, especially with their Original Crush Dip. I'll order this again just to try their other dips.

We'll be back since we have one more free burger card to use, and I can't wait to get more vegan nuggets.

Burger Crush has a small menu in which they specialize, and below is a list of everything we've tried.

Burgers

• Cheeseburger
• Vegan Cheeseburger
• 'Veggie Style' Cheeseburger

Fries & Sides

• French Fries (I always order them but don't take photos)
• Crush Fries
• Vegan Nuggets
• Dips
• Hot Crush
• Sweet Crush
• Herb Crush
• Original Crush (I tried it with the Vegan Nutts in this post)

Bacon Cheeseburger Fusion Dumpling from Brooklyn Dumpling Shop

I've had my eyes on the "Opening Soon" sign at the Brooklyn Dumpling Shop on Robson Street, and after what feels like a couple of years, they're finally open! For today's team lunch, the chosen theme is dumplings, and of course, we had to give this spot a try.

Bacon Cheeseburger Fusion Dumpling from Brooklyn Dumpling Shop

I got their Bacon Cheeseburger dumpling, and it's so unusual that I don't know how to feel about it. It's deep-fried dumplings filled with beef. It doesn't really taste like a burger because there's no lettuce. There's supposed to be bacon, cheese, ketchup, and onion, but none of those flavours came through. Okay, maybe I did taste a bit of cheese, but it's still just all beef.

I ordered their waffle fries as my side too, and it was alright. I'm willing to give them another try and will probably order one of their Classic Dumplings.

Original and Deluxe Sandwich from Popeyes

I feel like a headless chicken at work, and a chicken sandwich from Popeyes seems like the perfect dinner.

Spicy Chicken Sandwich from Popeyes

We ordered combo 1 and 2 from their menu, which are the Original Sandwich and Deluxe Sandwich, respectively. The Deluxe Sandwich comes with lettuce and tomatoes to make you feel less guilty for munching on crispy, juicy chicken. I got my Original Sandwich spicy while hubby went with a classic (i.e., no spice).

Classic Deluxe Chicken Sandwich from Popeyes

We got it with a side of Cajun Fries and Onion Rings. It was a great dinner before grabbing groceries at Costco.

Onion Rings from Popeyes

Below is a list of menu items we've tried from Popeyes.

• Cajun Fries
• Chicken Nuggets
• Chicken Sandwich (Spicy)
• Deluxe Chicken Sandwich (Classic)
• Flounder Fish Sandwich
• Ghost Pepper Chicken Sandwich
• Macaroni and Cheese
• Mashed Potatoes
• Onion Rings
• Signature Chicken
• Tenders

Spinach Ricotta Croissant and Croissandwich from Waves Coffee House

It's a non-working statutory holiday in BC for Remembrance Day. We stayed at home for most of the morning, and after lunch we walked to Waves Coffee in their West Broadway location, where we spent the next two or so hours, during which I finished many of my blog posts. Today, we treated ourselves to two croissant dishes and two of their holiday drinks.

I got the Spinach Ricotta Croissant and paired it with the White Matcha Latte, which is part of their Holiday Season menu.

Spinach Ricotta Croissant from Waves Coffee House
A baked in-house croissant stuffed with a paste made of delicate buttery ricotta combined with fresh spinach and seasonings.

White Matcha Latte from Waves Coffee House

Meanwhile, hubby chose the Eggnog Caramel Brûlée and paired it with their Croissandwich Sandwich.

Croissandwich Sandwich from Waves Coffee House
Baked in-house French croissant, egg, bacon, and cheddar cheese

Eggnog Caramel Brûlée from Waves Coffee House

Okay, what hubby got was better, and yes, that goes for both the drink and the food. I thought about asking him to switch, but I'm a big girl and can take responsibility for my order.

For future reference, below is a list of things you've had at Waves for when you come back next time.

Food

• A La Capresse Sandwich
• Bacon and Egg Bagel Sandwich
• Breakfast Bagel
• Calzone Classic Italian
• Chicken Fajitas Wrap
• Chicken Pesto Sandwich
• Croissandwich Sandwich
• Double Chocolate Muffin
• Ganache Decadence Cake
• Ham and Cheese Sandwich
• Italian Calzone
• Lemon Poppyseed Zucchini Muffin
• Lumberjack Breakfast Wrap
• Lemon Coconut Macaroon Bar
• Nanaimo Bar
• Oatmeal Cookie
• Spinach Feta Bistro
• Spinach Ricotta Croissant
• Sticky Toffee Pudding
• Tiramisu

Drinks

• Blue Spirulina Coconut Frapp-eh
• Dark Chocolate Belgian Mocha
• Eggnog Caramel Brûlée
• Hazelnut Mocha Frapp-eh
• Iced Dark Chocolate
• Mango Fruit Shake
• Matcha Frapp-eh
• Salted Caramel Eggnog Latte
• Salted Caramel Mocha
• Toffee Nut Latte
• White Chocolate Belgian Mocha
• White Matcha Latte

Everything Biscoff® at Tim Hortons

Happy Sunday! With our usual after Mass breakfast, we tried all the Biscoff® and featured items on the Tim Hortons menu.

We ordered the Biscoff® Latte, Biscoff® Boston Cream, and Biscoff® Croissant, plus we tried the Holiday Bear Donut, and Crème Brûlée Filled Timbit.

Biscoff® Latte from Tim Hortons

Biscoff® Boston Cream from Tim Hortons

The only Biscoff® item I'll order again is the Biscoff® croissant. The croissant is generously covered with the Biscoff® spread and the top has crushed biscuits too. The latte and Boston cream you can definitely skip.

Biscoff® Croissant from Tim Hortons

The Holiday Bear Donut is your chocolate donut designed with what's supposed to be a cute bear, but the mouth on mine is sliding off and the ears are nowhere to be found. It's funny.

Holiday Bear Donut from Tim Hortons

Lastly, the Crème Brûlée Filled Timbit is not filled with anything! I don't know if I received a different Timbit or what.

Crème Brûlée Filled Timbit from Tim Hortons

Overall, it's always fun to try new items at Tims so I can write about it here.

Pistachio Cream Puff and Sunshine Lemon Tea from Ele Cafe

After our Malaysian feast at John 3:16, we walked one block east to Ele Cafe for sweets and tea.

We sat in their corner booth, enjoying our tea served in a French press, which greatly amused my parents. It was quite funny!

Tea Time at Ele Cafe

They ordered tiramisu, which looked absolutely divine, while I ordered the last Pistachio Cream Puff. My dad had been eyeing my choice of dessert because, as he put it, it looked like a magnet. Hilarious!

Pistachio Cream Puff from Ele Cafe

This was a sweet way to end my special day, filled with love and surrounded by the people I cherish. I am reminded of how truly blessed I am. All glory to God. Thank you, Jesus.

Birthday Malaysian Feast at John 3:16 Malaysian Delights

For my birthday dinner celebration, I decided to enjoy Malaysian cuisine with the family, and to say that we ordered a lot is an understatement. My heart is filled with love and my tummy is filled with delicious Malaysian goodness. It was the first time my parents and siblings had tried Malaysian cuisine, and I was so happy with their reaction, especially my mom. She was so giddy and happy. Thank you, Mama, for giving birth to me!

Let's list down everything we ordered based on the order that they arrived at the table.

The first two dishes were the stir-fried Green Beans (our vegetarian dish) and Mamak Mee Goreng. I love the green beans stir-fried in shrimp paste. As Filipinos, we also used shrimp paste in some of our dishes, so this absolutely catered to our flavour profile.

Green Beans from John 3:16 Malaysian Delights

My mom was mind blown by the Mamak Mee Goreng; it's a sweet and savoury fried noodle dish which really hit the spot.

Mamak Mee Goreng from John 3:16 Malaysian Delights

After we nearly finished both dishes, the Chicken Satay and Beef Satay arrived with peanut sauce. We have our own version of skewered meat, but in the typical Filipino way, it’s sweet. This one is more savoury, but it was still a home run since I adore the peanut sauce.

Chicken Satay from John 3:16 Malaysian Delights

Beef Satay from Malaysian Delights

Then, what became the favourite dish of the evening: Beef Rendang (our beef dish) arrived with steamed rice. When I first tried John 3:16 (I assume this is the restaurant name), I made a note to myself to order the Beef Rendang again, and it’s as delicious as ever with tender meat and rich, creamy curry sauce.

Beef Rendang from John 3:16 Malaysian Delights

My other favourite arrived next: the Roti Canai came with a curry dip. My youngest sister described it as being like a flat croissant.

Roti Canai from John 3:16 Malaysian Delights

Speaking of my youngest sister, we ordered two Ayam Goreng (fried chicken) – one just for her and the other to share among everyone else. The fried chicken worked so well with the Rendang sauce. My mouth is watering again just thinking about it.

Ayam Goreng from John 3:16 Malaysian Delights

The last two dishes to get to the table were the Lamb Kapitan (our lamb dish) and Asam Curry Cod Fish. By the time they arrived, we were nearly full and out of rice. Both dishes were delicious, too. My brother specifically preferred the Asam Curry Cod Fish because even the mild version already had a nice kick to it.

Lamb Kapitan from John 3:16 Malaysian Delights

Asam Curry Cod Fish from John 3:16 Malaysian Delights

Oh, and I also ordered their Kari Laksa, but it seems like I didn't take a photo, which is fine because I haven't tried it. I got it for my mom.

For the next time I come back to John 3:16, below is a list of dishes I've tried here so far.

• Asam Curry Cod Fish
• Ayam Goreng (Fried Chicken)
• Beef Rendang
• Beef Satay
• Char Koay Teow
• Curry Chicken Puff
• Chicken Satay
• Green Beans (Stir-fried in shrimp paste)
• Kari Chicken
• Kari Laksa (For your mom/not yet tried by you)
• Lamb Kapitan
• Lor Bak
• Mamak Mee Goreng
• Nasi Goreng
• Nasi Lemak
• Roti Canai with curry sauce

Mr. Curry and Beef Curry from Mr. Japanese Curry

I was recently featured in the Employee Spotlight at work, and one of the questions they asked was, "What's your favorite food?" My answer: Curry. Japanese curry, Irish curry, Thai curry, Indian curry, Filipino curry - I absolutely love curry!

Beef Curry with Tonkatsu from Mr. Japanese Curry
Beef curry with stewed beef topped with sliced pork cutlet

Of course, for my birthday, Japanese curry is a must. Since my favorite Suika is still closed, we went to Mr. Japanese Curry instead, where I had my usual Beef Curry with Tonkatsu on top.

Mr. Curry from Mr. Japanese Curry
Beef curry with sliced grilled pork and onions in a homademade garlic soy sauce with fried shrimp, a hard boiled egg, and melted cheese

Hubby went for the namesake Mr. Curry and gave me a bite of each of the unique toppings. I am happy and in a food coma.

For future me, below is a list of curries from Mr. Japanese Curry that we've tried:

• Stamina Curry
• Menchi Katsu Curry
• Beef Curry
• Mr. Curry
• Tonkatsu Curry
• Chicken Katsu Curry
• Karaage Curry
• Ebi Curry
• Aji Fish Curry
• Omu-Cheese Curry
• Pumpkin Croquette Curry
• Vegan Chicken Curry
• Vegetable Curry
• Tofu Katsu Curry
• Chicken Teriyaki Curry

Eggel De Lox and Latkes Special from Solly's

It's my birthday! Thankfully, the Whitecaps FC doesn't have a game this weekend because they're through to the next round. Otherwise, it'll be another anxiety-filled birthday.

Matcha Latte from Solly's

Hot Chocolate from Solly's

I started my special day with Mass. I'm so grateful for the life and all the blessings I've received. Afterwards, we decided to walk along West Broadway and find a spot that we haven't tried that's already open at like 8:30 am. We reached Yukon with no luck.

Special Latkes from Solly's

I remember that we haven't tried the popular Solly's bagels. We stopped by and I finally got to try their Special Latkes (potato pancakes) and I got my "usual" bagel order of lox and since it's breakfast the Eggel De Lox was the right choice in between an everything bagel.

Eggel De Lox from Solly's
Solly's Eggel with spinach, red onions, dill cream cheese, topped with melted edam, & a piece of lox on top

Eggel De Lox from Solly's
Eggel De Lox from Solly's Solly's Eggel with spinach, red onions, dill cream cheese, topped with melted edam, & a piece of lox on top

It was so messy to eat, like wow. All the salmon, tomatoes, and egg fell out. It's a me problem. The salty savoury combination paired perfectly with my sweet hot chocolate.

Cheese Muffin from Solly's

I also got their cheese muffin because it looked so good in the display window. The texture reminded me of cheese cupcakes I enjoy in the Philippines growing up, but this one is not sweet.

Sham Style (XL) and Manoush'eh Special from Manoush'eh

This spot has been on my list of food to try in Vancouver. Manoush'eh on Davie between Granville and Seymour has a 4.9 Google Maps rating, so I went to check out how good it is. We weren't sure what to try, but there's a section of their menu called Soul of Damascus. I knew we were going to get the Manoush'eh Special because the restaurant name is in it.

The second choice was difficult since we were unsure. Hubby called it, and we got the Sham Style (XL), which is first on the list. When in doubt, always go for the top of the list.

Both items were top-notch in such a way that the bread/dough is the star, and they can get creative with their toppings.

Sham Style (XL) from Manoush'eh
Akawi cheese with parsley, sesame and black seeds

Personally, I enjoyed the Sham Style. The Akawi-style cheese is like mozzarella in flavor and worked so well with the random bites of sesame and black seeds.

Manoush'eh Special from Manoush'eh
Spiced ground beef on house-made flatbread topped with hot pepper paste, tomatoes, minced onions, pickles parsley, tahini sauce, and pomegranate molasses

The Manoush'eh Special is a perfect balance of savory and a little bit of spiciness. Okay, it was a lot of spicy. I love both dishes together because the Sham Style tones down the heat of the Manoush'eh Special.

Tantuni Bread and Lahmacun from Caspian Flame

Happy Monday! Today, we attended a Memorial Mass at Church, where we took the time to remember our dearly departed and offer prayers for their souls.

Afterward, my husband and I finally got to try Caspian Flame, a relatively new restaurant in town. This location was previously occupied by Bob Likes Thai Food, which closed down for a while before being replaced by Chicko Chicken. I'm not sure how long Chicko Chicken lasted, but now Caspian Flame has taken its place.

Since we're not familiar with Turkish food, we ordered dishes that looked appealing to us, and we were not disappointed.

Tantuni Bread from Caspian Flame
Juicy chopped AAA beef with tomato, red onion, & parsley, tucked in warm bread. Served with lemon and spicy chili pepper

Tantuni Bread from Caspian Flame
Juicy chopped AAA beef with tomato, red onion, & parsley, tucked in warm bread. Served with lemon and spicy chili pepper

We started with the Tantuni Bread, a sandwich filled with beef, and the Lahmacun, a flatbread topped with veal.

Lahmacun from Caspian Flame
Crispy thin flatbread topped with spiced ground veal, red onions, tomatoes, and parsley. Traditionally served with lemon, fresh parsley, and onion garnish.

Lahmacun from Caspian Flame
Crispy thin flatbread topped with spiced ground veal, red onions, tomatoes, and parsley. Traditionally served with lemon, fresh parsley, and onion garnish.

The winner in both dishes was the quality of the dough, both in the bun and the crust. I highly recommend supporting this local business and giving them a try.

All-Canadian Slam and Country-Fried Steak & Eggs from Denny's

Happy Sunday! After Mass, we decided to take some time and enjoy brunch at Denny's.

Country-Fried Steak & Eggs from Denny's
A Southern fried chopped beef steak smothered in rich country gravy. Served with two fresh eggs, crispy hash browns and toast

I ordered the Country-Fried Steak & Eggs, and it was delicious covered in gravy. I remember trying this the very first time I visited Denny's in Richmond, and it was so salty that I avoided Denny's ever since. However, the Denny's in their West Broadway location is definitely better than the location in Richmond.

All-Canadian Slam from Denny's
Three scrambled eggs with cheddar cheese blend, two bacon strips, two all-pork sausage links, crispy hash browns, and toast

Hubby went for the Canadian Slam. I'm unsure what makes it "Canadian" exactly, but it came with scrambled eggs with cheddar cheese blend, two bacon strips, pork sausage links, hash browns, and toast.

Build Your Own Sampler from Denny's
Bacon Cheddar Tots, Wavy-Cut Fries, and Onion Rings

For sharing, we got a Build Your Own Sampler with Loaded Bacon and Cheddar Tots, Wavy-Cut Fries, and Onion Rings. It's so great to snack on these while watching the second quarter of the NFL games on TV.

For reference, below is everything we've tried from Denny's / Bar One.

Signature Slams

• All-Canadian Slam / All-Canadian Diner Breakfast
• Lumberjack Slam

Signature Breakfasts

• Country-Fried Steak & Eggs
• Breakfast Poutine

Denny's Bennies

• Classic Benny / Classic Eggs Benedict
• Southwestern Benny
• Denny's Bennies Prime Rib

Savoury Omelettes

• Ultimate Omelette

Premium Pancakes

• Choconana Pancake Breakfast
• Hearty 9-Grain Pancake

Shareable Starters

• Zesty Chipotle Nachos
• Build Your Own Sampler (Bacon Cheddar Tots, Wavy-Cut Fries, and Onion Rings)
• Mozzarella Cheese Sticks

Desserts

• Cookies and Cream Cake
• Pecan Pie

Comforting Dinners

• Slow-Cooked Pot Roast
• Turkey & Dressing Dinner / Turkey Dinner

No Longer In the Menu?

• Brisket Poutine 
• Cheesy Tot Tower
• Fettuccini Marinara
• Loaded BBQ Chicken Tots
• Loaded Nachos
• Salted Caramel & Banana Cream Pancake 
• Thai Chili Chicken Bites

Mocha and Savoury Waffle from Dose Coffee

Happy Saturday morning! We attended Mass first thing today for All Saints' Day. Then, we waited for Dose Coffee to open at 9:00 a.m. It's our first time here! I went for a dark mocha while hubby got the Nutella mocha. I didn't get any photos because it was raining, and we decided to bring them home.

Spinach and Cheese Waffles from Dose Coffee

We also got their spinach and cheese waffles, which were fresh from the waffle maker. I saw the barista pull them out! We paired our drinks with the waffles, and I made grilled cheese too. We have a busy day ahead with open houses and running errands.

Spicy Piri-Piri Buddy Burger and BLT Chicken Cruncher from A&W

Have I told you that we stopped eating from most American fast-food chains? Because of that decision, we always default to Tim Hortons and A&W, which is what happened this evening.

Spicy Piri-Piri Beef Buddy Burger from A&W
A perfectly seasoned 1.6 oz grass-fed beef patty, topped with spicy piri-piri sauce, layers of crisp whole-leaf lettuce, sliced tomato and red onion, all sandwiches between a freshly toasted bun.

For dinner, we stopped by A&W for burgers. I went for the Spicy Piri-Piri Buddy Beef Burger, and it was glorious. The subtle spice from the piri-piri sauce balanced with the juicy beef is great.

BLT Chicken Cruncher from A&W
Juicy, crunchtastic chicken with bacon, layers of crisp lettuce, sliced tomato and our mayo, all sandwiches between a perfectly toasted brioche-style bun

Hubby went for the BLT Chicken Cruncher, and the combo of bacon and crispy chicken is great.

Of course, I enjoyed my meal with A&W root beer and our usual sides of sweet potato fries and onion rings.

Below is a list of menu items we've tried from A&W for future reference:

Breakfast

• All Canadian Special
• Bacon & Egger
• Classic Bacon & Eggs
• Pancakes with Syrup
• Sausage & Egger

Burgers

• Baby Burger
• Cheddar Bacon Uncle Burger
• Mama Burger
• Mozza Burger
• Spicy Piri-Piri Buddy Burger
• Teen Burger

Sides

• KitKat Turnover (limited time)
• Onion Rings
• Poutine
• Russet Thick-Cut Fries
• Sweet Potato Fries with Chipotle Mayonnaise
• Whistle Dog

Chicken

• BLT Chicken Cruncher
• Chicken Nuggets (limited time)
• Chicken Strips
• Chubby Chicken Cruncher
• Masala Veggie Burger
• Nashville Hot Chicken Cruncher