Kiroshiu Sushi Express (at Granville and Nelson, downtown Vancouver) is a new addition to the Granville strip that offers mainly take-out sushi rolls at rock-bottom prices. You can get a “sushi burrito” such as the one pictured below for only $2.00 (or $2.50 depending on the ingredients). These un-cut sushi rolls are the perfect snack food and are easy to eat without chopsticks. Obviously this restaurant is trying to compete with the $1.50 pizza place next door.

Sonomama Japanese Restaurant (web site, 980 Granville St., Vancouver, phone 604-662-3770) is a relatively new addition to downtown’s Granville Street strip, amidst the nightclubs and fast food restaurants near the corner of Granville and Nelson. A lot of care has obviously gone into the design and decor of this restaurant: it’s an ultra-modern and stylish room with huge vaulted ceilings, a glowing wrap-around sushi bar, tables and a few comfortable booths. For best value, be sure to try items from the combination menu, such as one of the sushi combinations ($10 to $13) or the Chirashi and Udon combo ($12.95). Chirashi-don (pictured below) is a bowl filled with rice and topped with fresh seafood, and the combo also came with a bowl of hot udon-noodle soup.

Update (Jan 1, 2008): Sonomama has closed and there is a new Indian restaurant there now.