Lunch from Masa Japanese Restaurant

In the last twelve weeks, I realized that we purchased and supported most of our favourite local restaurants like Suika, Lin Chinese Cuisine, and Sushivan. However, we have not ordered from Masa Japanese Restaurant, which is the closest Japanese cuisine source from our place.

With that, we ordered our favourite and have tried new dishes from Masa today.

Sushi & Roll Masa Special: Knights of the Round Table
Deep-fried sushi rice with 8 kinds of seafood and special sauce

The Knights of the Round Table was good, but I think the Masa Aburi Cheese Monster Roll is much better.

Assorted Katsu Curry
Japanese Curry with Tonkatsu, 2-pc Ebi Fry, and 1-pc Goroke with rice

I'm happy to be having Japanese curry again. The last time I ate curry was more than a month ago when we ordered from Suika.

Chicken Katsu
Deep-Fried Chicken Cutlet with Vegetable and Rice

The surprise of the day is the chicken katsu and how crispy it was when it arrived. The sauce it came with was delicious as well.

Lunch from MASA Japanese Restaurant

Happy Saturday! ハッピーサタデー

It is a clear, sunny day in Vancouver. Hubby decided to take a jog around the Seawall while I run errands, and once I am done, we met up near Granville Island.

For lunch today, we have decided to order from MASA Japanese Restaurant. It's a small local business near South Granville (along West Broadway at Hemlock Street). It's on the second floor of the building, on top of the Circle K convenience store.

They offer an extensive Japanese food menu ranging from sushi, sashimi, teriyaki, Japanese curry, udon, and even ramen. I've tried different MASA dishes in the past (it's one of our go-to places for Japanese comfort food), and for today we have ordered mostly new things.

Our order from MASA Japanese Restaurant for today

If you know me by now, I almost always order the same dish from restaurants. Why take the chance of ordering a bad dish when I am sure that I'll enjoy the one I want? 😁 However, I am willing to try appetizers and desserts at random.

My usual order from MASA is the Assorted Katsu Curry. The varying texture from the tonkatsu, eby fry, and goroke make it the best curry available. The goroke is soft and sweet, while the tonkatsu is the complete opposite, while the Ebi fry is the perfect middle ground. I enjoy the dish more than I should.

Crispy Jumbo Dynamite Roll (Deep-fried jumbo prawn with a crunchy exterior and special spicy sauce)

I have been going through the "MASA Specials" section of the menu. I have tried the Knights of the Round Table and MASA Aburi Cheese Monster Roll. Today, I ordered the Crispy Jumbo Dynamite Roll. It's spicy compared to the first two we've tried! I love how the top was crunchy, the middle is creamy, and the bottom is soft rice. I can eat more of this!

Chicken Wings (Salt and pepper with sweet chilli sauce)

I am unsure what I expected when I ordered Chicken Wings from a Japanese restaurant, but this was just sad. It was dry and disappointing, to say the least. Please don't order it in the future.

Creamy Prawn (Prawn with cream cheese stuffed into deep-fried dumplings)

The Creamy Prawn is like a heart attack waiting to happen. It was so sinfully delicious. It's dumplings stuffed with prawns and cream cheese (YES, CREAM CHEESE), then it was deep-fried. My mind is still being blown by the dish.

Shio Ramen (Soy Sauce Flavoured Soup Base with Chashu and Egg)

The ramen was hubby's order, so it'll be unfair for me to describe it since I didn't try it.

Hubby looked at the receipt, and it seems like we're only their second take-out customer. I know many people are suffering from job and income loss because of the pandemic, but if you have the means, please support and order from your local restaurants (instead of the big chains that have a higher chance of survival).

Stay safe. Be kind. Be calm. Be patient.

Previous post on MASA Japanese Restaurant:

• May 31, 2020
• February 21, 2020
• January 18, 2020
• January 6, 2020
• October 18, 2019
• July 24, 2019
• June 22, 2019
• May 12, 2019
• April 13, 2019
• January 19, 2019

Unagi Don from Masa Japanese Restaurant

Happy Friday! While the weekend beckons with its promise of relaxation, a bittersweet note hangs in the air. I'm working from home today, but my husband attends a weekend retreat in Mission, BC. Before he departed, we enjoyed a delicious lunch at Masa Japanese Restaurant, conveniently located nearby.

Unagi Don from Masa Japanese Restaurant
Steamed rice with BBQ sea eel and Japanese pickles

Being Friday and adhering to our Catholic beliefs, we opted for a pescetarian feast. My husband dove headfirst into the Unagi Don. This classic dish featured steamed rice as its foundation, the perfect canvas for the star of the show – a generous portion of BBQ sea eel. Japanese pickles added a delightful tangy counterpoint.

Veggie Curry from Masa Japanese Restaurant
Japanese curry with vegetable and rice

I gravitated towards my favourite—the Veggie Curry. This comforting dish showcased my love for Japanese curry in all its glory. Assorted vegetables—a vibrant medley of broccoli, carrots, potatoes, and mushrooms—swam in a rich, flavorful curry sauce.

Assorted Tempura from Masa Japanese Restaurant
4 pieces prawn, 4 pieces yam, and 1 piece broccoli

However, only a Japanese dining experience is complete with a shared appetizer; ours was no exception. We opted for the assorted tempura, a symphony of crispy perfection. Four juicy prawns sported a light and airy tempura batter, while four pieces of yam (sweet potato) offered a delightful sweetness. Even the lone piece of tempura broccoli held its own, its slightly bitter flavour adding a surprising complexity to the mix. Each piece was a textural delight, the light and crispy batter giving way to tender, cooked-through vegetables within.

Dinner at MASA Japanese Restaurant

The Whitecaps FC did not win, but did not lose against New York City FC today, but somehow a draw is still an unhappy result. To deal with the draw, we had dinner at Masa Japanese Restaurant.

The menu looks different, but the food is still delicious. I highly recommend any of their Masa Special Sushi. They all have been great so far.

• Knights of The Round Table
• Masa Aburi Cheese Monster Roll
• Crispy Jumbo Dynamite Roll
• Volcano Roll (Salmon)
• Devil's Kiss (no longer in the menu?)
• Double Dragon (below!)

Double Dragon
Unagi roll with double unagi, tobiko, green onion on top

Salmon Teriyaki Platter
 Grilled slice salmon with vegetable and rice

Assorted Katsu Curry
Japanese curry with tonkatsu, ebi fry 2 pieces, croquette 1 pc, and rice

I ordered my usual comfort food of Assorted Katsu Curry.

Deep Fried Chicken from Masa Japanese Restaurant

After our coffee date at Bean Around The World, I need to satify my cravings for crispy and comforting fried chicken. I decided that we should have dinner at Masa Japanese Restaurant for their Korean deep fried chicken.

Deep Fried Chicken from Masa Japanese Restaurant

For reference, since the beginning of 2024 below are our fried chicken adventure:

• LA Chicken
• Red Beef Noodle Kitchen
• HiFive Chicken
• Popeyes
• Church's Chicken
• Thai Express
• Ramen Gojiro
• Red Beef Noodle Kitchen

As we stepped into the cozy restaurant, the sound of music and lively chatter echoes. We received the menu and it changed in format, but the fried chicken is still there. Meanwhile, my husband went for the consistent Teriyaki Bento Box.

Deep Fried Chicken from Masa Japanese Restaurant

Our food arrived! My fried chicken craving was satisfied with the perfect golden crust, giving way to succulent tender meat.

Bento Box from MASA Japnese Restaurant

Happy Saturday! I got my annual haircut today. After that, we stopped by BC Culture Days: Discover Japan, organized by Pacific Arts Market. Unfortunately, the two vendors served sweet desserts, so we walked to MASA Japanese Restaurant in the same block.

I ordered my usual Assorted Katsu Curry while my husband got their beef teriyaki bento box.

Beef Teriyaki Bento Box from MASA Japanese Restaurant

Assorted Katsu Curry from MASA Japanese Restaurant

Since this was our first meal, I felt surprisingly full.

Dinner at Masa Japanese Restaurant

To end my day off, we had dinner at Masa Japanese Restaurant and I had my favourite Assorted Japanese Curry. We were also pleasantly surprised to see that they know have a Korean food section in the menu.

From the new section, we ordered the Kimchi Fried Rice and Korean fried chicken. I'm so happy for this addition!

Assorted Katsu Curry

Kimchi Fried Rice

The Kimchi Fried Rice is definitely better than Sushivan.

Korean Yangnyeom Chicken

I haven't had Korean fried chicken in a long time and I look forward to trying all the flavours that Masa has to offer.

Dinner at MASA Japanese Restaurant

Happy rainy Saturday in Vancouver!

After Mass today, we decided to have dinner somewhere that serves soup (i.e. pho or ramen or anything with noodles). I had a dentist appointment recently, and they just placed a temporary crown, and I am paranoid that it will crack, so I thought noodles would be soft enough not to cause any damage. Also, I am not allowed to eat anything crunchy (like chips), hard (like nuts and candy), and sticky (like gum). So, except for the chips, I don't eat nuts, candy, or gum regularly. We also changed our diet recently, and we don't buy chips anymore.

Anyway, as we were walking from the Church to our home, we kept pointing at different restaurants and whether they had noodles and if we had eaten there recently. So that went on until we reached MASA Japanese Restaurant.

Volcano Roll (Salmon)
Menu Description: Deep fried spicy salmon roll with spicy salad and sauce

I love the Volcano Roll; it was spicy good! Though, to be fair, I think I enjoyed all the rolls we've tried so far, like Crispy Jumbo Dynamite Roll, Devil's Kiss, Masa Aburi Cheese Monster Roll, and Knights of the Round Table.

Miso Chashu Ramen

Tonkotsu Ramen

Delicious ramen to warm the body and soul on this relatively cold night.

Dinner at Masa Japanese Restaurant

After the food day at PNE Fair, we went home to rest. Then, we walked to the nearby Masa Japanese Restaurant for soup for dinner. I just need something to warm my heart and tummy.

Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen
Pork tonkatsu flavoured soup base with chashu and egg.

The Spicy Tonkatsu Ramen hits the spot. It's hot, delicious, and filling.

Nabeyaki U-don
U-don with chicken, egg, vegetable, and tempura on the side

I'm so happy with my husband. He tried a new dish for us to enjoy. He ordered udon, and we were pleasantly surprised at its deliciousness. I'm now more open to trying udon at other restaurants now that we have a better idea of what to expect.

Tekka Bomb Roll
Spicy tuna roll with seared tuna and special spicy sauce

It's not the best roll from Masa. It's average at best, but it's definitely spicy.

Soy Garlic Korean Boneless Chicken

Dinner at Masa Restaurant

After doing a Costco grocery run with my parents and them dropping us off in our Vancouver apartment, we decided to treat them to early dinner at the closest Japanese restaurant at our place, Masa.

My dad had a Tonkotsu Ramen since it's cold outside. You should have seen the face of my mom eyeing the bowl of ramen. My mom had the Beef Teriyaki platter. I had my usual Assorted Katsu Curry while hubby had the Beef Curry. For sharing, we had one of their rolls.

Masa Aburi Cheese Monster Roll
Menu Description: Aburi Salmon, avocado, crab meat with cheddar & Mozza, tobiko

Assorted Katsy Curry
Menu Description: Japanese Curry with Tonkatsu, Ebi Fry 2pcs, Goroke 1pc, and rice.

Beef Curry
Menu Description: Japanese Curry with Beef & Rice

We loved the roll I picked. I can't wait to come back and try the other rolls.

Bulgogi Jeongol from Masa Japanese Restaurant

Happy Saturday dinner! I stayed home all day, but we went to Anticipated Sunday Mass at our local parish. Afterwards, we grabbed groceries, then dinner at Masa Japanese Restaurant.

We ordered the Bulgogi Jeongol. It is a Korean hot pot dish with beef and vegetables. I tried the soup base, and it's obviously beef broth. The banchan is a nice touch as a palate cleanser.

Bulgogi Jeongol
Korean hot pot dish consisting of deliciously marinated bulgogi, soup stock, and various vegetables.

We also ordered the Sake Bomb Roll because we are going through the Special Sushi list. It's spicy. Although, I realized I am not a fan of seared salmon on my roll.

Sake Bomb Roll
Spicy salmon roll with seared salmon and special spicy sauce.

Dinner at Masa Japanese Restaurant

The Vancouver Whitecaps FC have only two draws so far in the season, and they're both at home. So for both games, it felt like a loss. A win makes me happy (of course) while a loss is expected, so I'm upset, but not enough to stress-eat. A draw is painful because it means they had a chance to win but didn't.

Like in the last draw, we end up at Masa Japanese Restaurant to eat after the game. I didn't order my usual Assorted Curry but chose two rolls and a takoyaki.

Romeo Roll
Seared prawn, crabmeat, avo, cucumber, mozzarella, and balsamic

Juliet Roll
Seared jalapeno, crabmeat, avo, cucumber, mozzarella, and balsamic

Takoyaki
Deep-fried mixed tako ball with sauce

I hope the Whitecaps FC wins on Wednesday, but I expect them to lose because I do not want to be disappointed.

Atlantic Salmon Oshi Sushi from Masa Japanese Restaurant

Last night, I felt an acute pain on my right ear and I probably have an infection there. After Mass, we went to Downtown Vancouver to visit the two walk-in clinics open on Sundays and they're already both at capacity for the day. I sucked up the pain as we walked across Granville Bridge going home.

I told my husband I want ramen for comfort so we stopped by Masa Japanese Restaurant so I can get a bowl of ramen.

Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen
Pork tonkotsu flavoured soup base with chashu and egg

For sharing, I ordered Atlantic Salmon Oshi Sushi. I had Spicy Tonkatsu Ramen while my husband went for Tofu Teriyaki Platter.

Atlantic Salmon Oshi Sushi
Seared Atlantic salmon with special oshi sauce

If you're vegetarian and still want something delicious, the Tofu Teriyaki will definitely hit the spot. It's so good!

Tofu Teriyaki Platter
Deep-fried tofu with vegetable and rice

Mother's Day Lunch at MASA Japanese Restaurant

It's Mother's Day! We made a surprise breakfast for Mama, then we attended Mass at Holy Rosary Cathedral. Afterwards, we had lunch at MASA Japanese Restaurant.

Assorted Tempura

Kara Miso Ramen
Spicy miso flavoured soup base with chashu and egg.

Miso Ramen
Miso flavoured soup base with chashu and egg.

We love you, Ma!

Dinner at Masa Japanese Restaurant

After a fun Sunday of playing Pokemon Go, then attending Mass, we decided to have a delicious meal at Masa Japanese Restaurant.

Assorted Katsu Curry

Ramen

Chicken Karaage

Lunch with Parents at Masa Japanese Restaurant

It's Costco day which means late lunch with my parents. It's our "payment" for driving us home with our groceries from Costco.

Suika's Signature Beef Curry with Tonkatsu

This weekend was a symphony of savoury spices and rich curries, a dream come true for any self-proclaimed curry aficionado like myself. It all began last Friday with a delightful Veggie Curry at Masa Japanese Restaurant. The vibrant mix of vegetables swimming in a flavorful curry base was a lovely vegetarian indulgence.

But the journey didn't end there. Yesterday, I ventured into uncharted territory, exploring the world of Soup Curry Garaku in Richmond. This unique take on the classic Japanese curry, with its brothy base and explosion of textures, was a revelation.

And today? Today was all about returning to a beloved favourite – Suika's Signature Beef Curry. For me, a beef curry base reigns supreme. Its richer flavour and deeper colour offer a taste sensation that chicken curries, with their milder nature, simply can't compete with.

Signature Beef Curry from Suika
Suika original stewed beef tendon curry topped with tonkatsu (pork loin cutlet) and karaage (deep fried chicken)

Suika truly is my happy place. Their Beef Curry is perfection in a bowl—aromatic, flavorful, and deeply satisfying. To elevate this culinary masterpiece even further, I opted for a double dose of deliciousness—a crispy Tonkatsu (pork loin cutlet) and some juicy Karaage (deep-fried chicken). The contrasting textures—the melt-in-your-mouth pork and the satisfying crunch of the chicken—added another layer of enjoyment to this already phenomenal dish.

As I left Suika, my stomach and heart were even fuller. This weekend was a testament to Japanese curry's versatility and sheer deliciousness. From the classic comfort of a veggie curry to the adventurous world of soup curry, and finally, the return to a familiar favourite at Suika, each experience was unique and unforgettable.

Lunch at Masa Japanese Restaurant

Lunch at the closest Japanese Restaurant from our place.

Vege Gyoza: Pan Fried Dumplings with Vegetables

Assorted Katsu Curry: Japanese Curry with Tonkatsu, Ebi Fy 2 pcs, Goroke 1pc & rice (substitute white with black rice)

Tok Katsu: Deep Fried Pork Cutlet with Vegetable and Rice

Green Tea Mochi