Tsunami Sushi (map, 238 – 1025 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604-687-8744) is a Japanese sushi restaurant located in the heart of downtown Vancouver on the trendy Robson Street shopping strip (near Burrard Street). At Tsunami, there are boats floating around a central “chef island”. The chefs load the boats with a steady stream of tasty sushi rolls and pieces, which you can grab to eat as they float by. It’s not a fixed price for “all you can eat” however: at the end of the meal, they count up how many empty plates you have and charge you based on how much you ate. Nevertheless, this is a cool concept that makes for a fun dining experience. The quality of the sushi is quite high.

kenjisan10, a reviewer on DineHere.ca writes (read review):

I was at Tsunami’s the other night and had a great meal. My wife and I have been regulars for many years and think the sushi tastes very authentic and is reasonably priced. I’m Japanese and have taken my friends from Japan there and they say the same thing… good “aji” or flavor. Hilary Duff and her entourage were right next to us and apparently (according to the staff) always makes a point to eat there when she is in town. Well she may not be a sushi expert but she can certainly afford to go anywhere where wants. I’m impressed she’s a regular.

The price per person is in the $15 to $30 range, depending on how hungry you are. Pictured below are some of the dishes that we ate.

Hakkasan Contemporary Chinese Cuisine (web site, map, 110 – 2188 No. 5 Road, Richmond, BC, Canada, phone: 604-273-9191) is a new restaurant serving modern Chinese food, surprisingly located in the middle of an industrial park! The restaurant is a 10 to 15 minute taxi-ride from the Vancouver International Airport and is also short drive from the large Ikea furniture store in Richmond.

Patatas, a reviewer on DineHere.ca (read review), writes:

Diamond in the Rough
Really awkward to get to, but totally worth the trip in the end. It’s a beautiful place (as you may be able to see from the website) and the food is amazing. Great Chinese food, awesome list of teas, try everything!

It may seem strange when you step in and there’s only one or two other tables in the restaurant, but then, depending when you go, it generally fills up. I’ve gone on a Saturday for lunch, and a weeknight for dinner, and both times it was empty at first, but filled up later. So go a little later for the atmosphere, I guess.

Pictured below are some of the creative contemporary Chinese dishes that the restaurant serves (thanks to Yvonne for the great photos).

So if you’re up for a little adventure and are looking for a taste above the ordinary, consider checking out Hakkasan Chinese Restaurant. Afterwards, be sure to let everyone know your experience by leaving a comment below.

Update, June 14th 2008: Christina has posted an excellent review of the food with photos on her web site (click here).

Honjin Sushi Japanese Restaurant (menu, map, 138 Davie Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604-688-8808) is an upscale sushi restaurant in the Yaletown neighborhood of downtown Vancouver. It is one of my favorite places to go for lunch with coworkers. I enjoyed a true sushi feast (pictured below) and the total price including tax and tip came to $25 per person (for six people). After your meal, you might want to enjoy a walk along the False Creek waterfront seawall, which is just steps away. The restaurant is also very close to the Yaletown Canada Line Skytrain Station which will be operational in 2009. In the meantime it is a 5 minute taxi ride from most downtown hotels. For the printable menu, please click here, and for more photos please view Part 2.

Ebi Sunomono Salad – with shrimp, $3.50

Sunshine roll with mango (other pieces not pictured, $11.95)

Dynamite Roll (shrimp tempura) – $4.25

Tuna and salmon sashimi (9 pieces, $11.50)

Tuna and Salmon Nigiri Sushi (Tuna: $1.50 per piece, Sockeye Salmon: $2.00 per piece)

Click here for the printable menu.