Showing posts with label Dine In. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dine In. Show all posts

Saturday, December 13, 2025

Testing Out Yar Café (Soft Opening Review!)

Happy Saturday! I absolutely love lazy weekends with no errands in sight. After sleeping in and enjoying a relaxing brunch at home, I decided it was time to hunt down a new coffee shop to hang out and finally be productive (time to write some blog posts!).


Mocha from Yar Café

During my search, a new spot called Yar Café popped up on Google Maps in West Broadway, right near the old Toys R' Us location. They are still in their soft opening phase, having only started their journey two weeks ago. It's so exciting to catch a new business early! Naturally, I ordered too much! Here's the rundown:

I started with an 8 oz Mocha, which was definitely on the bitter side. I paired it with the gorgeous Pistachio Kunafa Croissant. Inside, the croissant was packed with crunchy, sweet, shredded pastry (kunafa) soaked in a sugary syrup. Unfortunately, the croissant itself tasted stale. A quick reheat would have brought it back to life, I think.


Pistachio Kunafa Croissant from Yar Café

A quick peek inside the Pistachio Kunafa Croissant from Yar Café

Then, Hubby joined me straight from his dental appointment, and we ordered three more things! The Iced Persian Latte was super pretty, strong, and bitter—perfect for a late afternoon jolt. We also grabbed their Beef Sandwich for a late lunch, which was packed with sliced beef, a house sauce, peppery arugula, tomato, and Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheeses. It was a delicious, satisfying sandwich, though not exactly mind-blowing.


Iced Persian Latte from Yar Café

Beef Sandwich (House-style) from Yar Café
Sliced beef, house sauce, arugula, tomato, Monterey Jack, and cheddar cheese

Finally, we tried the Tiramisu Danish. It featured sweet tiramisu filling inside what should have been a flaky pastry, but sadly, the bread was stale again, which was really disappointing.


Tiramisu Danish from Yar Café

My verdict for future me (and you!): Definitely order their drinks, which are unique and strong. But for now, until they sort out the freshness, skip the food!

Friday, December 12, 2025

Bubble Waffle from Cha House

I was still feeling a little hungry after our quick dinner at Edo Japan and well, the craving was real!

We headed over to Cha House immediately for a dessert fix. I ordered their signature Bubble Waffle, and it was exactly what I needed to finish off the night. It was absolutely perfect: soft, wonderfully pillowy, and perfectly sweet.


Bubble Waffle from Cha House

Instant happiness! What a delicious end to a long, busy Friday.

Sukiyaki Beef Bento and Crispy Tofu Bento from Edo Japan

Happy Friday! It was a very long day; I worked in the office today because we're totally swamped finishing up year-end tasks. After finally clocking out and before we tackled some Christmas shopping, we grabbed a quick dinner at Edo Japan in their Pacific Centre location.

Hubby was in a classic mood and went for the Sukiyaki Beef Bento. It was a huge plate featuring tender, savory Sukiyaki Beef, plus a satisfying little mix of sides: four pieces of Cali Roll and two crunchy pieces of Tempura Shrimp.


Sukiyaki Beef Bento from Edo Japan with 2-piece Tempura Shrimp and 4-piece Cali Roll

Meanwhile, my tofu phase is still going strong! I ordered the Crispy Tofu Bento. My plate came with perfectly golden and crispy cubes of tofu drizzled with a sweet and savory sauce, plus two spring rolls and two flavorful gyoza.


Crispy Tofu Bento from Edo Japan with 2-piece Spring Roll and 2-piece Gyoza

Everything on my plate was great, especially the tofu and the gyoza! However, here's a note for future visits: skip the spring rolls. They didn't have much flavor, and honestly, the crispy tofu is more than enough to satisfy that fried craving.

After that quick fuel-up, we are ready to hit the shops!

Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Company Christmas Party from JOEY Burrard

Happy Wednesday and Merry Christmas! Today was our company Christmas party, and it was a blast. We started the evening by spending a fun 90 minutes being kids again, playing all the best arcade games at The Rec Room!

After all that competitive energy, we took a leisurely stroll over to the JOEY Burrard location for dinner. This was my first time dining at JOEY, and I was so excited to see how they stack up against classic Vancouver spots like The Keg, Earls, and Cactus Club. (This is my third Christmas party with my current employer; we did Cactus Club first, The Keg last year, and now JOEY!)

I started with the Korean Fried Cauliflower, and honestly, my mind was blown. I was chatting and taking a few bites, and then it dawned on me: this is not chicken! I seriously had to bite into the middle to double-check that it was actually cauliflower. The flavor was spot-on, and the texture was shockingly like chicken.


Korean Fried Cauliflower from JOEY Burrard
Sweet & spicy Koren chili glaze, pickled fresnos, watermelon radish

For my main dish, I went for the Herb Crush Salmon with truffle beurre blanc, preserved tomatoes, creamy mashed potatoes, and snap peas. I know, I'm that unusual person who orders salmon even when the restaurant is known for steak! While it was fresh and beautifully plated, it wasn't super flavorful. I have to say, The Keg's salmon dish still holds the top spot for me.


Herb Crush Salmon from JOEY Burrard
Truffle beurre blanc, preserved tomatoes, creamy mushroom potatoes, and snap peas

To end the meal, I ordered the Warm Italian Donuts with vanilla mascarpone cream and lemon curd. They were pillowy soft and perfectly tart... but man, it was disappointing that they weren't actually warm.


Warm Italian Donuts from JOEY Burrard
Vanilla mascarpone cream and lemon curd

Overall, it was a fun day of celebrating! Now, I know which of the big three has the best salmon.

Thursday, November 27, 2025

Boneless Chicken Thighs and Skewers from Nando's

For dinner tonight, we decided on some flame-grilled deliciousness and headed over to Nando's at their Davie Street location. We always love their signature peri peri chicken!


Boneless Chicken Thigh with Spiced Rice and PERI-Fries from Nando's

Hubby went with the classic combo: the Two Boneless Thighs served with a side of Spiced Rice and PERI-Fries. Meanwhile, I opted for the Chicken Thigh Skewers, accompanied by sides of Golden Cauliflower and Roasted Brussel Sprouts.


Chicken Thigh Skewers with Golden Cauliflower and Roasted Brussel Sprouts from Nando's

It was a great meal overall, but I have a few notes for my next visit (and for anyone else planning a trip!):

  • Spice Level: I think the sweet spot is definitely the third level of spice (Medium or Hot, depending on how they name it that day!). Anything higher is just spicy without enough flavor to truly enjoy the chicken and the marinade.

  • Sides: Next time, I'm going to skip the cauliflower; it was just a little too saucy and rich, and the chicken is definitely the star of the show. The Peri Peri Rice is a must-have, though! It works so perfectly with the chicken and is a great vehicle for the sauce.

A solid dinner date! I'm already looking forward to my next peri peri fix.

PERI-PERI Chicken

  • Chicken Thigh Skewers
  • 2 Boneless Thighs

Sides

  • PERI-Fries
  • Spiced Rice
  • Golden Cauliflower
  • Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Creamy Classic Tori Paitan from JINYA Ramen Bar

Happy Thursday! It was a chilly day, which meant the theme for team lunch could not have been more perfect: Ramen!

We took a quick walk over to our usual spot, Jinya Ramen, which is always a reliable choice for a cozy lunch. I decided to branch out from my usual favorites and ordered the Chef's special of the month: the Creamy Classic Tori Paitan.

Creamy Classic Tori Paitan from JINYA Ramen Bar
Chicken broth: chicken chashu, dehydrated tomato, enoki mushroom tempura, seared corn rib, spinach, butter and chili thread. Served with thick noodles.

Wow, it was delicious! The broth was incredibly comforting and rich (exactly what I needed on a colder day). I especially enjoyed the unexpected addition of the dehydrated tomato. It provided a wonderful, tangy contrast to the rich, creamy texture of the tori paitan broth. Overall, this was a surprisingly successful and delicious Chef's special. Definitely one I recommend if it pops up again!

I've had quite a few bowls here over the years. Below is a list of the ramen dishes I've enjoyed at Jinya so far:

Saturday, November 22, 2025

Hot Chocolate Date at The Belgian Chocolate Cafe

Today was a big day! We had a noon meeting with RBC to finalize our mortgage (huge relief!), and now we have about three hours to kill before BC Place opens its gates for the Whitecaps game. Our first stop for a mid-afternoon treat? The Belgian Chocolate Cafe!

We've actually known about this cozy little spot for years, but we've never properly had the chance to stop by. It was the perfect little "hot chocolate date" to celebrate the mortgage finalization and fuel up for the game.


Hot Chocolate from The Belgian Chocolate Cafe

Butter Croissant from The Belgian Chocolate Cafe

For my order, I kept it classic with a Hot Chocolate and a perfectly flaky Butter Croissant. Hubby, naturally, went for something a bit sweeter, choosing the rich Hazelnut Hot Chocolate alongside a beautiful Pistachio Croissant.


Hazelnut Hot Chocolate from The Belgian Chocolate Cafe

Pistachio Croissant from The Belgian Chocolate Cake

It was such a fun, cozy break. Now I have a serious sugar and chocolate rush! I think I might have too much energy before the game kicks off. Now the real question is: where should we go next to kill the last hour?

Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Tofu Teriyaki from Kinkura Sushi + Sake

I keep having long days at work. I enjoy it, but I'm absolutely exhausted by the end of the day. For dinner, we stopped by Kinkura Sushi in Davie before walking home.


Dinner at Kinkura Sushi + Sake

I ordered a healthy Tofu Teriyaki while hubby got the Giant Chicken Katsu.


Tofu Terkiyaki from Kinkura Sushi + Sake

I love their teriyaki tofu, especially the sautéed vegetables at the bottom that are covered in the teriyaki sauce. Hubby's katsu is huge, but we both think the pork version is better there.


Giant Chicken Katsu from Kinkura Sushi + Sake

For sharing, we ordered the Chef's Roll, which was totally unexpected. Instead of seaweed, they use a rice wrapper (like what you get on a Vietnamese summer roll). Inside is fresh seaweed and cucumber, all covered in a sweet umami sauce.


Chef Roll from Kinkura Sushi + Sake
Rice paper, tuna, sockeye salmon, ebi, chopped scallop, avo, and cucumber

It was such a delicious dinner. For future me, below is a list menu items you've tried at Kinkura so far:

Mushroom Mozza Mama Burger from A&W

The burger phase continues as hubby and I grabbed lunch at A&W today.

Hubby went for the seasonal Mushroom Mozza Mama burger. While it doesn't look very appetizing, if you're a mushroom lover, this fast food burger is worth a try.


Mushroom Mozzarella Mama Burger from A&W
Sink your teeth into the deliciousness of cremini mushrooms, real mozzarella cheese, grilled onions and grainy Dijon aioli, all topped on succulent grass-fed beef.

Meanwhile, I got the Spicy Chicken Burger. Hubby said it looked a bit sad. I don't think there's any sauce on it. It was just a good chicken strip, tomato, and lettuce in between two soft buns.


Spicy Chicken Burger from A&W

We got our usual side of onion rings and sweet potato fries.

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

Breakfast

Burgers

Sides

Chicken

Tuesday, November 18, 2025

Smokehouse Burger from Browns Socialhouse

I'm going through a burger phase, which means ordering Smokehouse Burger from Browns Socialhouse when we had team lunch there today to welcome a new colleague.


Smokehouse Burger from Browns Socialhouse
Cheddar, bacon, caramelized shallot, iceberg lettuce, tomato, pickle, BBQ sauce, and chipotle aioli

The barbecue sauce was excellent in the burger, but I feel like Burger Crush ruined burgers for me. This is good, don't get me wrong, but it's not the best burger in the world.


Saturday, November 15, 2025

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

Donburi (Rice Bowl)

Japanese Curry

K-Meal (Korean Food)

Platter

Ramen

Special Roll

Starters

Sweets

Tempura

U-Don

Thursday, November 13, 2025

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

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.

Wednesday, November 12, 2025

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.

Tuesday, November 11, 2025

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

Drinks

Sunday, November 9, 2025

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.

Saturday, November 8, 2025

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.

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