Goldfish Pacific Kitchen (web site, 1118 Mainland Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604 689-8318) offers West Coast and Pacific Rim cuisine in a trendy, upscale, and lively atmosphere.

This downtown Vancouver restaurant focuses on seafood, with selections such as the ling cod (served with ginger, baby bok-choy vegetable, and a black bean reduction, $22, pictured below), and the wild BC salmon (with Asian BBQ sauce and a snow pea salad, $22, also pictured below). We also tried and enjoyed the miso sake asparagus roll ($8, with mushrooms, marinated tofu, spicy hoisin glaze, pictured below), the wok tossed squid (not pictured, $8), and the creme brulee for dessert (pictured below, $8, served with yummy shortbread cookies).

The restaurant has hip, tasteful decor that is reminiscent of the modern restaurants in recent James Bond movies, and can easily accommodate large groups or provide a more intimate atmosphere for a romantic dinner. Goldfish Pacific Kitchen also has an extensive wine list and a lively bar area that is popular with the upwardly mobile urban socialites of Vancouver’s “yuppie” Yaletown neighborhood.

Unfortunately the restaurant does not cater very well to vegetarians, with only two vegetarian main courses (although the kitchen would most likely accommodate special dietary needs if required). Valet parking is available, and the restaurant is quite near to the Canada Line train station which will be operational in 2009. Visit their web site for the Goldfish menu and more info.

Ling Cod seafood at Goldfish Pacific Kitchen ($22)

Wild BC Salmon at Goldfish Pacific Kitchen ($22)

Miso sake asparagus roll at Goldfish Pacific Kitchen ($8) – the sake is quite strong in this dish!!

Creme Brulee for dessert ($8). The shortbread cookies were so tasty!

Kuroshio Sushi Express (map, 1011 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604-623-3388) is a take-out sushi restaurant in the Granville Street night-club and entertainment district, near the corner of Granville and Nelson Street downtown.

Their best deal is a huge sushi “burrito” ($1.88 plus tax, various kinds), which is a sushi roll that is not cut into pieces. Click here for a picture of the Sushi Burrito.

Pictured below is the Teriyaki Chicken Roll ($3.75) and the Veggie Roll (avocado, cucumber, lettuce, carrot, diakon radish, and inari, $3.00) which were both delicious. The restaurant also prepares large sushi party trays for $25 on special order – be sure to call them a day in advance if you’re ordering the party tray. The restaurant is open late every day, from 12pm to 3am on weekdays and from 5pm to 3am on Saturday and Sunday. For more info please view Part 2 and Part 1.
Teriyaki Chicken roll sushi ($3.75) and Vegetarian Sushi ($3.00)

Ben Z Noodle House (map, 536 Seymour St, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604-688-8385) offers tasty Vietnamese cuisine such as Pho noodle soup, spring rolls, salad rolls, curry, and meat skewers. It’s located in downtown Vancouver within walking distance of Canada Place, the Pan Pacific Hotel, and Vancouver ‘s cruise ship terminal. It’s also close to the Granville Street Skytrain station and the Four Seasons Hotel. The restaurant’s menu has lots of pictures, making ordering easy even for those who are not so familiar with Vietnamese cuisine. The atmosphere is casual and the service is quite efficient. Prices are reasonable with most dishes under $10.

See Part 1 for more photos and info.

Combo A (around $9.95) – Vietnamese Spring Rolls and Salad Roll, Vermicelli noodles, and Vietnamese BBQ meat balls.