Hakkaku Ramen- Tastes like a Yummy Garden.

Weird name, I know. I will explain the reasoning behind this name a little later.

Hakkaku Ramen is located in North Burnaby which is great for locals because they no longer have to venture too far to find a decent ramen place.

They have a parking lot in the back so I would advise you to park there instead as street parking is limited.

It has a very mom and pop feel to the restaurant. Unlike downtown ramen restaurants with open kitchens and screaming staff, you won't find any of that fancy stuff going on here.

Meta Knight ordered the Light Shio w/ Fat Chashu Ramen + Extra Chashu ($8.45) and I think he kind of regretted not getting the Shoyu broth because it lacked a bit of flavour. At the same time, he chose the 'light' version of broth so maybe that's why.

His chashu on the other hand was quite delicious and fatty without being overly oily.

I ordered the Shoyu Veggie Ramen ($7.95) and boy did it surprise me when it arrived at the table. I was honestly expecting a very lackluster veggie ramen from this place but because I was feeling healthy that day, I didn't want to go with anything else. The abundance of veggies in my ramen made it look like I was eating a garden! A yummy garden that is.

Look at all those veggies! :D This was heaven for me. Honestly. I actually had to pack 1/3 of it home because it was that filling.

All in all, Kakkaku Ramen serves up some decent ramen at an affordable price so I would definitely come back whenever I'm in the area and craving some piping hot noodles in soup.  

Service Rating; 3/5
Food Rating; 3.5/5
Price: $

Overall Rating; 3.5/5

Happy Eating!

courtesy of http://veryhilarious.com/just-ramen/

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Potter's Garden Korean BBQ - Amazingly Authentic Korean Food

I occasionaly meet up with two friends who also went to Korea for international exchange around the same time I went and each time we choose to eat at a Korean restaurant so we can reminisce about our past.

Last time we ate at the newly opened K-Town BBQ in Richmond. This time, we gave Potter's Garden Korean BBQ a try because I heard they have good lunch specials.

They are located next to Denny's near the Metrotown area.

Their lunch specials range from $6.95 to $13.95 and the menu is quite diverse. You can get anything from cold noodles (naengmyun) to Korean beef (bulgolgi) to rice cake and dumpling soup (tteok manduguk).

The typical banchans including bean sprouts, seaweed, and kimchi. The traditional way of serving kimchi is to provide a pair of scissors for the patrons so they can cut it up before eating. They did this here which added to the authenticity of the restaurant.

I ordered the Tteok Manduguk ($8.95) which is a Korean style rice cake and dumpling soup. I could tell the dumplings were made in house because of the unrefined edges and fresh pork/chive filling. I really appreciate places that make every part of their food from scratch. It really shows their dedication to their craft.

The broth is worth mentioning as it is to die for. I can easily drink this broth every day and be content for the rest of my life. :D

Blondie ordered the Galbi + Doenjang jiggae ($11.95) which is stew made with Korean soybean paste. 

The tofu soup came with a bowl of rice which was great because it probably wouldn't have been filling without it. He thoroughly enjoyed the galbi.

JJ ordered the Chicken Bulgogi + Naeung Myun ($12.95) which is Korean style chicken with cold noodles.

Naeng Myun brings back so many lovely memories. I loved eating it in Korea because it helped combat the blistering heat. The broth will usually contain a few ice cubes but his didn't have any. Nonetheless, he loved it a lot but thought it was way too spicy. His mouth was on fire by the end of it.

Potter's Garden is no doubt one of the more authentic Korean restaurants in Vancouver and I would highly recommend this place for lunch. They serve a lot of unusual and authentic Korean items that you just can't find anywhere else.

Based on these reasons:

• affordable lunch specials
• food made from scratch and with love <3
• located just minutes away from Metrotown

Service Rating: 3.5/5
Food Rating: 4/5
Price: $-$$

Overall Rating: 4/5

Happy Eating!


courtesy of http://www.mememaker.net/meme/you-heard-your-first-k-pop-song-tell-me-more-about-how-you-always-loved-korean-c/

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Haroo Korean Homestyle Cuisine - Who Loves Dukboki?!

You would think in Richmond where Asian cuisine reignes supreme (Iron Chef America reference anyone?), it would be very easy to find authentic, homestyle Korean cooking. But nope, there are very few Korean restaurants like that. That is, until I found out about Haroo. 

One dish I always love to get from any Korean restaurant is Dukboki. This is a very popular Korean snack and one I've had far too often when I was studying in Seoul. These can usually be found at street carts or little mom and pop shops and it consists of rice cakes in a spicy Korean sauce (called gochujang).

The dinner items at Haroo are not cheap so just an FYI. I did hear however that the lunch specials are way more affordable so maybe next time I'll go for that instead.

Their banchans (Korean side dishes) were very interesting vibrantly coloured. On the left, you have a tiny sample of their seafood pancake and on the right is a simple green salad.

You also get a small sampling of their porridge and a bit or sardines.

These banchans are what you would typically expect to see at most Korean restaurants. It includes kimchi, sweet potatoes, beansprouts, seaweed, and eggplant.

Rae ordered the Beef Haemul Sundudu ($9.95) which is a traditional tofu soup. The clear broth surprised us as we were completely expecting a red and spicy broth.

The Dukboki ($13.95) was actually quite expensive but we ordered it anyways because we heard good things about this place. It definitely did not disappoint. The red chili taste was not overwhelming spicy but still gave a good kick at the end.

Overall, the food here tastes just like your Korean friend's mom's cooking so it is incredibly comforting and welcoming. The prices are a bit steep for dinner so I would suggest coming here for lunch if it is your first time.

Service Rating: 4.5/5
Food Rating: 4/5
Price: $$

Overall Rating: 4/5

Happy Eating!

<-- if you've been to Korea before, you'll know what I'm talkin' about
courtesy of http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/3oqeu5/

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Maria's Taverna (Kits) - Can't Go Wrong With Melty Goat Cheese

I don't frequent Greek restaurants in Vancouver because I tend to find them quite pricey for average food. Since I discovered Stephos, I have been even more reluctant to eat at any other Greek restaurant just because their prices are so cheap!

After a meeting, we all decided to go to Maria's Taverna in Kits for a friend's birthday dinner.

I noticed a lot of their clientele were older and probably people who live around the Kits area.

The Pita Bread is complimentary and endless but to have Tzatsiki with it will cost you an extra $5.95.

Saganki ($7.95) is pretty much pan fried goat cheese. It comes sizzling on a hot skillet and the waitress will squeeze lemon on it for some extra acidity and flavour.

 If you are not worried about your waistline, get this because it tastes marvelous. I can never get enough of ooey gooey cheese on bread. 

I chose the charbroiled version of Kalamari called Kalamari Skara ($16.95) which comes with greek salad, two potato wedges, tzatziki, rice pilaf, and a few pieces of grilled squid. It looks a little underwhelming for 17 bucks doesn't it?

Though it tasted quite delicious, I would have preferred to have been served the tentacles along with the squid heads because that's my favourite part. Also judging from the burnt ashy taste I got from most of the squid, they should probably clean their grill a little bit more.

Kleftiko ($18.95) was a highly recommended dish which most of the people at my table ordered. The giant hunk of meat is the roasted shoulder of lamb and from the sample I got to try, the meat was melt in your mouth tender. It was so tender a knife was not even needed to cut through it.

The Kalamari Dinner ($16.95) is the same thing as mine except the squid was fried. Also, they received tentacles!! Jealous...

Anyways, Maria's Taverna is a solid Greek establishment if you are ever in the mood for melty goat cheese or tzatziki on pita. 

Service Rating: 3/5

Food Rating: 3.5/5

Price: $$$ ($20-30)

Overall Rating: 3.5/5

Happy Eating!

 <-- photogenic goat

courtesy of http://www.kulfoto.com/animals-pictures/40494/ridiculously-photogenic-goat

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Earl of Sandwich (Las Vegas) - Best. Sandwich. Ever.

The one place I always recommend people to visit in Las Vegas is home to the greatest hot sandwich ever. Earl of Sandwich. It is located inside Miracle Miles Shop next to Planet Hollywood hotel.

I wrote about Earl of Sandwich once already (post here) and in the post I had nothing but good things to say. I honestly wish the franchises could expand into Canada so I can save up and own one of them.

One of the reasons why I love it so much is because it is open 24 hours so you can grab one at any time of the day! Want to have it for breakfast and again at 3am after clubbing? Why the heck not?!? :D

Busy bees working the assembly line fast and efficiently.

One way to combat the Vegas heat is to drink Fat Tuesday or the Earl Grey Lemonade ($1.99). It is part earl grey tea, part lemonade. You would never think they go together but the combination of tea and lemonade is just magic. It's not too sweet yet it quenches your thirst.

Feeling in need of some healthier food, I opted for the Earl's Cobb Salad ($6.49) even though I really wanted their sandwiches. After having a taste of this salad, all my cravings for their sandwich went away. This was SO FREAKING GOOD. The buttermilk ranch dressing was light yet creamy and tasting the freshness of all the cucumbers, tomatoes, and lettuce made me a happy girl.

They always wrap your sandwich into a little brick of gold. When unwrapping the gold foil, I always picture myself as Charlie opening up the foil off the Wonka bar with so much hope and anticipation.

The Tuna Melt ($6.49) is Meta Knight's favourite sandwich of all time and it consists of Albacore tuna salad and swiss cheese. This is one heavy sandwich so really be hungry if you want to eat this.

I always go for the Hawaiian BBQ ($6.49) at least once in Vegas because I am in love with the fact that they use fresh pineapples in their sandwiches. In addition to the pineapples, there are also grilled chicken, ham, Swiss cheese, and Hawaiian BBQ sauce.

If you can only go to Earl of Sandwich once during your trip in Vegas (although I don't know why you would only go once..it's da bomb), I would suggest ordering The Full Montagu ($6.49). This is named after  John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich. I know. There is such a person! He invented the much beloved sandwich we all eat today. Anyways, The Full Montagu contains roasted beef (insert drool here), turkey, Swiss cheese, sharp cheddar, lettuce, tomato, and mustard sauce. The roast beef is always slightly pink, tender and just plain delicious.

In a span of approx 3 and a half days, Meta Knight and I visited Earl of Sandwich a total of 3 times. That is once a day!! I dare you to beat us. :D

For a list of my Vegas eats, check it out here:

Jean Philippe- post
Wicked Spoon Buffet - post
Hard Rock Cafe - post
Lobster Me - post
Bellagio Buffet - post

Service Rating: N/A
Food Rating: 5/5
Price: $

Overall Rating: 5/5

Happy Eating!


courtesy of http://sites.psu.edu/anderson/2012/11/28/earl-of-sandwich

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