Hot Stone Pho and Rice Noodle Beef Stew from Delicious Pho

The restaurant at 255 Robson Street has always been a pho spot, but it seems like they've changed names from Vietnamese Noodle House to Delicious Pho. Today, hubby and I met with my parents, and we had lunch at Delicious Pho because dad wanted it.

Hot Stone Pho from Delicious Pho

Hubby ordered the interesting and quite impressive Hot Stone Pho. I bet this will be perfect in winter so that your pho doesn't get too cold quickly. The array of meat and the chewy noodle is perfect. We shared and finished this one.

Beef Stew from Delicious Pho

I got the beef stew because I thought it would come with a bowl of rice. Instead, what I got is like a beef stew noodle soup. I'm not complaining because it's delicious, but I truly miss rice when it's covered by saucy beef stew.

It's always such a blessing to take the day off (I'm on annual leave today!) and spend time with my parents.

Breakfast Platter from Nablus Shawarma & Grill

Happy Thursday! I love our company-paid team lunch, especially the chosen theme for each week. It's a great excuse to try new nearby restaurants and cuisine. This week, the competition winner chose Middle Eastern food, and our office in Vancouver ran with that decision and decided to try the relatively newly opened Nablus Shawarma & Grill.

The evening before, I sent Gemini a copy of their menu and asked which dish I should order (i.e., the best one from the region). Nablus is a Palestinian restaurant (according to their website), and I haven't been to one before.

Gemini said to order the Nablus Breakfast Platter (Foul, Hummus, Falafel) for a well-rounded and authentic Palestinian breakfast/brunch experience. I followed AI and ordered it.

Nablus Breakfast Platter from Nablus Shawarma & Grill
A hearty combination of foul (fava bean stew), hummus, 4 pieces of falafel, served with fresh pita bread, pickles, and olive oil

I absolutely love their falafel. It's crispy and extremely flavourful; I dare say it's the best one in Downtown Vancouver. My previous favourite was the one from Döner Kebab in Kitsilano.

The hummus and foul (fava bean stew) were generously covered with olive oil, which felt greasy, but I can never say no to a creamy hummus. The fava bean stew is new to me, and since I have zero idea what it should taste like, I can't say if it's any good. I'm not a fan of it, though.

I usually don't order drinks from restaurants but needed to try Laban Ayran, which is a yogurt-based drink. It was tart and, well, it tastes like yogurt. I'm unsure what else they added to it, but it's great as a palate cleanser.

Will I come back to Nablus? Yes, and I'll try their Saj next time!

Meat Lovers Plate from Jerusalem Shawarma

Thursday is the ultimate cheat day. For dinner today, hubby and I went to Jerusalem Shawarma and it was packed! We ordered and shared the meat lovers plate.

It's too much food for one person! It came with so many things it's honestly overwhelming. It has rice and garlic potatoes for carbohydrates, salad topped with pita crackers to make you feel healthy, creamy hummus for extra flavor, and protein in the form of beef donair, chicken shawarma, and beef shawarma. All flavorful and delicious.

Meat Lovers Plate from Jerusalem Shawarma
Chicken shawarma, beef shawarma, and beef donair laid on a bed of rice and garlic potatoes alongside salad and hummus

Below is a list of platters I have tried from here and will continue to update this list.

• Meat Lovers Plate
• Vegetarian Plate

Vegan Kare-Kare Kulinarya Filipino Eatery

Sarap! After Mass today, we took a walk. In my head, I wanted to go to Surrey for the Filipino Fiesta Extravaganza for Filipino food. When we reached Commercial Drive (after walking from Maple Street along West Broadway), we did a quick Google search just to confirm if it was still in the same location. To my horror, hubby found out that it had been postponed.

Since I still wanted Filipino food, we walked north from Broadway to Kulinarya Filipino Eatery to get my Filipino food fix. Since it was lunch time, we were able to order from the available rice combo meals.

I went for vegan kare-kare. It's a peanut sauce-based stew that's creamy, rich, and goes exceptionally well with rice. Since it's vegan, it came with bok choy, eggplant, and green beans. The usual version comes with beef, but I have always preferred the meatless version. I asked for bagoong (fermented fish or shrimp paste) for an additional umami bomb. It's perfect. I daresay that this is the best kare-kare I've had in Vancouver.

Vegan Kare-Kare Rice Combo Meal from Kulinarya Filipino Eatery
Bok choy, eggplant, and green beans in a rich savoury peanut sauce with jasmine rice

We have had food from Kulinarya before, but it's always been delivered, so it's truly hard to assess how good the food is until enjoyed in the restaurant.

Hubby went for the lechon kawali (fried pork belly) combo with rice, liver sauce (sarsa), and pickled papaya (atchara). In general, I don't eat anything too fatty so while I appreciate the piece he shared, I hate the feeling of fat in my mouth. I did enjoy the atchara though. 

Lechon Kawali Rice Combo Meal from Kulinarya Filipino Eatery
Fried pork belly, served with sweetened liver sauce with jasmine rice, house pickled papaya, and fried egg

For sharing, we got spring rolls (lumpiang shanghai). It's perfectly crispy outside and stuffed with pork inside. I enjoy the sweet dipping sauce it came with. However, the best lumpia in Metro Vancouver is still from Little Ongpin.

Spring Rolls from Kulinarya Filipino Eatery
Hand-rolled ground pork and vegetables, with sweet chili dip

To end our already wonderful meal, we shared a classic Halo-Halo, which is perfect to beat the summer heat.

Halo-Halo from Kulinarya Filipino Eatery
Shaved ice cream with green jelly, sweet beans, tapioca, pearls, coconut jelly topped with ube ice cream, purple yam, leche flan, and pinipig 

Below is a list of the dishes we have tried from Kulinarya so far:

• Batil Patong Noodles (not in the menu)
• Beef Kaldereta
• Canton Pancit Bihon
• Cassava Cake
• Chicken Adobo
• Daing na Bangus
• Halo-Halo
• Kare-Kare
• Laing (not in menu)
• Lechon Kawali
• Spring Rolls
• Ube Brownie
• Turon (not in menu)
• Vegan Kare-Kare

Masala Magic from Ignite Pizzeria

Happy Thursday! Today's team lunch theme is pizza, and we decided to try something new by walking to Ignite Pizzeria at their Yaletown location. I went for the 10-inch (personal size) Masala Magic.

Masala Magic from Ignite Pizzeria
Tandoori sauce, mozzarella, spinach, red onion, garlic, and mixed mushroom

The tandoori sauce had a subtle flavor that played so well with the earthy mushroom and sharp onion. I really enjoyed it, but I'm excited to work my way through their pizza menu to find my favorite.

Masala Magic from Ignite Pizzeria
Tandoori sauce, mozzarella, spinach, red onion, garlic, and mixed forest mushrooms

After we'd devoured our pizza, I couldn't resist getting their tiramisu, which was heavenly and the perfect ending to a busy day (I ate it at home after dinner with my husband).

Vegan Cheeseburger and Crush Fries from Burger Crush

It's a scorching hot and sunny Tuesday. Instead of cooking at home, I asked my hubby if we could have dinner outside. He agreed, so I made him a little list of restaurants I tried as part of my company-paid team lunch that he has not yet tried. One of those places is Burger Crush.

Cheeseburger from Burger Crush
Hand-pressed beef patty

Hubby went for a single cheeseburger, which was absolutely mouthwatering. The juicy tender beef between the soft bun was covered in melty cheese. Then, you get those fresh tomatoes and lettuce. It's a classic delicious burger.

Vegan Cheeseburger from Burger Crush
House-made vegan patty served with vegan cheeseon a vegan bun

Meanwhile, I went for the Vegan Cheeseburger. It has the same fresh tomatoes and lettuce as the beef cheeseburger. However, the soft buns and melted cheese are all vegan. Thankfully, their vegan patty is not Beyond Meat or similar; they made their own, which is better. Since I'm not vegan, I'll get the cheeseburger next time since it was perfect.

Crush Fries from Burger Crush
Topped with fried onions, cheese and original Crush Sauce

We also had Crush Fries! I have been wanting to try this when I was here last time, so I'm glad to share one with my love. Their fries are almost shoestring in thickness and so crispy. The fries, onions, cheese, and sauce make it worthwhile.

Will we be back? Absolutely!

Camp Day Donut from Tim Hortons

Happy Sunday! This morning, as part of our breakfast routine, we indulged in a Camp Day Donut. While I'd like to think I'm being kind and altruistic by supporting the fundraiser, the truth is, I'll try any new donut from Tim Hortons.

Camp Day Donut from Tim Hortons

Spaghetti & Meatballs and Coconut Cream Ravioli from Basil Pasta Bar

Happy Thursday! For dinner, we stopped by Basil Pasta Bar. It's our first time eating in the restaurant since we always have their food delivered.

Spaghetti & Meatballs from Basil Pasta Bar
Spicy rose sauce with 6 meatballs, mushrooms, tomatoes, red onions & spinach. Garnished with mozzarella cheese.

Spaghetti & Meatballs from Basil Pasta Bar
Spicy rose sauce with 6 meatballs, mushrooms, tomatoes, red onions & spinach. Garnished with mozzarella cheese.

I went for the Spaghetti & Meatballs while hubby chose the Coconut Cream Ravioli.

Coconut Cream Ravioli from Basil Pasta Bar
Coconut cream sauce with chicken, mushrooms, asparagus, red onions & peas. Garnished with coconut flakes & fresh basil

Coconut Cream Ravioli from Basil Pasta Bar
Coconut cream sauce with chicken, mushrooms, asparagus, red onions & peas. Garnished with coconut flakes & fresh basil

Below is a list of House Special Pastas we have tried so far from Basil Pasta Bar:

• Pesto Shrimo Linguine
• Maple Bacon Conchiolie
• Coconut Cream Ravioli
• Spaghetti Carbonara
• BC Smoked Salmon Fettuccine
• Spaghetti & Meatballs
• Lemon Chicken Fettuccine

Crispy Tofu with Mix Vegetables over rice from Dingding Restaurant

Happy Thursday! Today's team lunch theme is Chinese food, and we decided to try out the nearby Dingding Restaurant. In an effort to make healthier choices, I opted for the lunch special: Crispy Tofu with Mixed Vegetables over rice.

Crispy Tofu with Mix Vegetables over rice from Dingding Restaurant

Double Bacon Benny and Smashed Avocado Benny at Tap and Barrel Bridges

Happy Sunday! Today, we continued our annual tradition of celebrating one of our many relationship milestones with a delicious brunch at Tap and Barrel Bridges.

As usual, we started our meal with an order of nachos to share.

Nachos from Tap and Barrel Bridges
Cumin-dusted tortilla chips, cheddar, feta, smoked mozzarella, pickled jalapeños, black olives, pico de gallo, green onion, cilantro, and sour cream

My hubby indulged in the Double Bacon Benny, which was absolutely delicious. Even though I'm not usually a big fan of bacon, I have to admit that this dish was something I'd definitely order again.

Double Bacon Benny from Tap and Barrel Bridges
Bacon, Bacon jam, poached aggs, Cajun spice, hollandaise, English muffin, garlic mayo, and micro greens with crispy potatoes

On the other hand, I opted for the healthier Smashed Avocado Benny, which is a great vegetarian option. However, I have to say that it wasn't quite as flavorful as the bacon Benny.

Smashed Avocado Benny from Tap and Barrel Bridges
Avocado, tomato, poached eggs, cajun spice, hollandaise, english muffin, garlic mayo, and micro greens with crispy potatoes

For future reference, here's a list of all the dishes we've tried from Tap and Barrel Bridges so far:

Weekend and Holiday Brunch

• Double Bacon Benny
• Smashed Avocado Benny
• Hearty Hash Bowl with southern fried chicken
• Pesto Prawn Benny (no longer in the menu)

Start and Share

• Fresh Guac & Chips
• Nachos
• Nachos with beef barbacoa

Mains

• Fried Chicken Mac & Cheese
• Creole Sirloin
• Pesto Chicken Linguine with add-on of Creole Ocean Wise Prawns (no longer in the menu)

Hand-Stretched Pizza

• Pesto Prawn Pizza (no longer in the menu)

Dessert

• Sticky Toffee Pudding

Beijing Zha-Jiang Mian from Happy Noodle House

Happy Thursday! Hubby and I had dinner at Happy Noodle House before crossing the Granville Bridge on our walk home.

I stuck with my usual Tan-Tan Noodles, and as expected, it was delicious. The perfectly cooked noodles were covered in a spicy, peanut sauce that I couldn't get enough of.

Tan-Tan Noodles from Happy Noodle House

Hubby decided to try the Beijing Zha-Jiang Mian. We had no idea what it was, so he did some research before the food arrived. This savory noodle dish is covered in fried bean sauce and has iterations in other countries, including Korea's popular jajangmyeon.

Beijing Zha-Jiang Mian from Happy Noodle House

For something healthier, we shared a plate of tofu with shitake mushroom and bok choy. It was stir-fried and seasoned lightly, with the bamboo shoots providing an extra layer of flavor.

Tofu with shiitake mushrooms and bok choy from Happy Noodle House

For future me, below is a list of food items you have tried from Happy Noodle House so far.

Dim Sum

• Xiao-long bao Steamed Buns
• Pan-Fried Pork Buns
• Beef Roll
• Chive Pockets
• Hot Chili Wontons

Sauce Noodles

• Beijing Zha-Jiang Mian
• Tan-Tan Noodles

Stir-Fried Noodles

• House Special Chow Mein 

Vegetables & Tofu

• Tofu with shiitake mushrooms and bok choy

Canada Celebration Donut from Tim Hortons

Good morning! To celebrate Canada Day, we enjoyed our usual Sunday breakfast with a donut from the iconic Tim Hortons.

Canada Celebration Donut from Tim Hortons

The Canadian Celebration Donut was topped with festive pink and red sprinkles.

Mama Burger with lettuce wraps from A&W

Happy Friday! After running errands today, my hubby and I grabbed a quick dinner at A&W. He went for the Mozza Burger with a side of onion rings.

Mozza Burger from A&W

I opted for the Mama Burger and swapped the buns with a lettuce wrap. I paired it with my favourite sweet potato fries.

Mama Burger swapped buns with lettuce from A&W

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
• Teen Burger

Sides

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

Chicken

• Chicken Nuggets (limited time)
• Chicken Strips
• Nashville Hot Chicken Cruncher

Ramen Combo from H-Kitchen

Happy Thursday! Today's team lunch theme is Korean food. For the first time, we tried H-Kitchen, located inside the nearby H-Mart. I couldn't resist ordering one of my favorite Korean dishes: ramen. On a chilly day, there's nothing better than savoring the rich broth and slurping down the chewy noodles.

Korean Ramen Combo
comes with kimbap

The meal also came with kimbap, which made it an even more fantastic deal at $14.99 (plus tax).

Yakiniku Party for four at Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ

Happy Saturday! For late lunch / early dinner, we went to Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ to celebrate mom's birthday. We ordered their Yakiniku Party for four (even though there's five of us). It was a lot of fun grilling and enjoying delicious food.

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ

Some of the BBQ Items that's part of the Yakiniku Party

The Yakiniku Party includes prime kalbi short rib, filet mignon, umakara ribeye, bistro hanger steak, new york steak, yaki-shabu beef, chicken, umakara pork, kalbi chuck rib, and shrimps.

It also came with the following starts (see photos!) and napa kimchi (which I forgot to take a picture).

Gyu-Kaku Salad

Miso Soup

Chicken Garlic Noodles

Gyu-Sushi
With premium roast beef, Japanese shoyu BBQ sauce, and kuki-wasabi on the side

Edamame

Japanese Chicken Karaage 
Juicy Japanese fried chicken served with chili mayo sauce

Spicy Tuna Volcano
Spicy tuna on crispy fried rice, drizzled with Japanese shoyu BBQ sauce

S'mores
Classic campfire s'mores. Roasted marshmallows over the grill

Worth it!

Brie & Mushroom Veggie Burger and BC Chicken Burger from White Spot

Happy Wednesday! It's my mom's birthday, and I was lucky enough to have lunch with her since she's also in Downtown Vancouver. We decided to try out White Spot.

BC Chicken Burger from White Spot
Chargrilled fresh BC chicken breast, cheddar cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, red onion, and Triple "O" sauce

Brie & Mushroom Veggie Burger from White Spot
Our crispy veggie patty with Brie, caramelized onions, roasted mushrooms, arugula, tomato and mayo

My hubby went for the BC Chicken Burger. I, on the other hand, opted for the Brie & Mushroom Veggie Burger and swapped the buns for a lettuce wrap, which was surprisingly delicious. I loved the fresh, crunchy lettuce.

Here's a list of everything we've tried from White Spot so far:

Snack & Share

• Cheesy Bacon Perogies
• Coconut Prawns
• The Spot's Zoo Sticks
• Poutine
• Garlic Parmesan Fries
• Onion Rings
• Southwest Chicken Quesadilla
• Dippin' Chicken with honey mustard sauce
• Spinach & Artichoke Quesadilla (no longer in the menu)

Spot's Classics & More

• Chicken Caesar Wrap

Pastas & Bowls

• Seafood Fettuccine (no longer in the menu)
• Spaghetti with Meatballs (no longer in the menu)

Hearty Dishes & Mains

• The Spot’s Fish & Chips
• Baby Back Ribs

Burgers

• Avocado Impossible™ Burger
• The Legendary
• Bacon Cheddar Bigger Burger
• Monty Mushroom Bigger Burger
• West Coast Salmon Burger (no longer in the menu)
• BC Chicken Burger
• Brie & Mushroom Veggie Burger
• Pacific Northwest Salmon Burger
• Gochujang Fried Chicken Burger
• Bacon Wrapped Cheddar Burger (limited time item)
• Wagyu Cheddar Burger (limited time item)

Desserts Menu

• Salted Caramel Brownie (no longer in the menu)
• Chocolate Cake Slice with Ice Cream (no longer in the menu)
• Hot Fudge Brownie (no longer in the menu)

Drinks Menu

Non-Alcoholic

• Our Famous Milkshakes: Chocolate

Pork BBQ, Laing, and Bicol Express from Cucina Balai | Pinoy Festival 2025

It's a beautiful cloudy Saturday, and we made it to Swangard Stadium just in time for lunch. I haven't had Filipino food in what feels like forever, so I'm thrilled to be at Pinoy Festival for a delicious meal. We browsed the different food vendors and their menus before deciding on Cucina Balai.

Cucina Balai

Their rice meal with pork barbecue and laing looked amazing, so we ordered that. Then, we added Bicol Express as a side. Everything we tried was absolutely delicious. If I wasn't trying to be health-conscious, I could easily finish the whole thing by myself!

Breakfast at modus coffee

Happy Saturday! This morning, I had my twice-yearly dentist appointment. Afterward, we decided to take a leisurely stroll to Kingsway to catch Bus 19 to Swangard Stadium. Before reaching Kingsway, we made a pit stop at Modus Coffee to refuel with a hearty breakfast.

Breakfast at modus coffee

Sausage Roll from modus coffee
longanisa sausage, fennel, puff pastry, served with banana ketchup

Mushroom Bun from modus coffee
herbs, bechamel, mushrooms, garlic confit on milk bread

We indulged in two savory pastries: mushroom buns (I simply can't resist mushrooms!) and a sausage roll made with sweet and savory longanisa sausage. As for drinks, I stuck to my usual mocha, while my hubby opted for the Modus Americano.

I absolutely love slowing down at coffee shops and just watching the world go by. There's a certain level of peace and comfort in being able to do this.

Thai Iced Tea from Blenz Coffee

TGIF! I finally got to take a well-deserved day off from work to just sleep in and relax. After a leisurely lunch at home, hubby and I strolled to our neighborhood Blenz Coffee so I could do some blogging.

Thai Iced Tea from Blenz Coffee

Hubby ordered the limited edition Thai Iced Tea, which was surprisingly delicious.

Al Pastor Tacos from Patron Tacos & Cantina

Happy Thursday! For team lunch today, the chosen theme is Mexican, so we headed to our go-to spot, Patron Tacos & Cantina. When I was in Mexico City two weeks ago, I ordered Al Pastor Tacos from the five taquerias we visited. Now that I'm back in Vancouver, it's time to try and compare the Al Pastor.

Al Pastor Tacos from Patron Tacos & Cantina

Unfortunately, Patron's version is not good enough. The meat was dry and not as flavorful, which I guess is to be expected since we're no longer in Mexico. The serving is huge and, of course, more expensive, which is also to be expected.

Jamaica from Patron Tacos & Cantina

Overall, I'll try other taquerias in Vancouver to see if any of them can match up to the wonderful flavors I enjoyed in Mexico.