ShuRaku Japanese Restaurant (map, web site, 833 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604-687-6622) is a new Japanese restaurant downtown (at the former location of Kitto Japanese Restaurant) that is getting rave reviews for its outstanding, upscale Japanese cuisine.
The menu has a wonderful array of tasty dishes and they have wonderful drinks to go along with the food.  The service is attentive and the ambiance is divine due to the gorgeously designed interior.  Definitely a place to check out!
We went all out and ordered a huge feast, including a bottle of Dreamy Moon Sake (not pictured, $34). Below are pictured some of the items we ordered. The food was very creatively and artistically presented, and tasted great, but I wasn’t entirely full after the meal. Maybe that was a good thing – better than being too full, I guess! I think that ShuRaku is one of those places that favors quality over quantity.
The meal was a treat for the senses and tastebuds. One of my friends commented that he thinks that ShuRaku is better value than (but nearly at the level of quality as) Vancouver’s famed Japanese restaurant, Tojo’s. ShuRaku is a place I would bring an out-of-town guest who I wanted to impress, and not entirely break the bank while doing so.
Roulette Roll ($12) from Shuraku Japanese Restaurant in Vancouver.
Enoki Mushroom and pork ($5.60) from Shuraku Japanese Restaurant on Granville in downtown Vancouver.
5 kinds of Sashimi ($24) from ShuRaku Japanese Restaurant in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Deep fried prawn (came with Sashimi) from ShuRaku Japanese Restaurant in Vancouver.
Fresh oysters ($12 for 5 oysters) from ShuRaku Japanese Restaurant in Vancouver.
Ika Sumi Pasta ($8.75) - a salad made with squid ink pasta and fresh vegetables, from ShuRaku Japanese restaurant.
Salmon Foie Gras appetizer ($7.00) from ShuRaku Japanese Restaurant in Vancouver.
Beef Asparagus ($6.25) from ShuRaku Japanese Restaurant in Vancouver.
Another shot of the "5 kinds of Sashimi" (with glowing ice cubes that give it an interesting lighting effect) from ShuRaku Japanese restaurant
The chicken enchiladas with verde sauce are exactly like they are in a local place in small town Mexico. Others have had the burritos and salads and are always happy.
The atmoshpere is good too with the cheesy Mexican soaps and gameshows on the TV, and the service is decent – the woman who runs the place is always smiling and happy, even though her English is limited.
Pictured below is the Chicken Enchilada that I ate (for around $9), which I thought was really tasty. I went with a large group of coworkers and we agreed that it was a satisfying Mexican lunch. The place is decorated in a simple style that reminds me of some of the inexpensive but honestly-good restaurants in Mexico I visited which were mainly frequented by locals.
Chicken Enchilada from Tacos Mexico Rico Mexican Restaurant in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
I made another visit to the Yaletown Brew Pub (web site, map, 1111 Mainland St., Vancouver BC Canada, phone: 604-681-2739) and enjoyed their Mac and Cheese lunch entree (pictured below) which was served with Chorizo sausage and lots of premium cheese. The accompanying salad had goat cheese crumbled on it. Yum! It was around $14 for the lunch.
For more info on the Yaletown Brewing Company, please view Part 2 and Part 1. The restaurant is offering a special 3 course meal during Dine Out Vancouver 2009.
Video from Yaletown Brewing Company:
Macaroni and Cheese with Chorizo sausage (around $14) with lots of premium cheese. Salad had goat cheese crumbled on it. From Yaletown Brew Pub in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
