Category Archives: Food

Your guide to some of the best and inviting food establishments.

03.05.25
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In Vancouver for Fan Expo and Their Partnership with GRETA Bar & Arcade Games

Greta Sports Bar than Nerd50 W Cordova St
Vancouver, BC 

Hours: 4 p.m.–2 a.m. daily
Phone: (604) 423-3081
Menu: gretabar.com

GRETA Bar YVR is more of a sports bar than an arcade for video game enthusiasts to hang out in. And when this franchise type operation has outlets in Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, I’m sure the population of geeks is higher, and hopefully there’s a lot more space to play other electronic games too! When Fan Expo Vancouver selected this place to host an after-party of sorts, the business which opened in 2022 better be able to hold a ton of people. When this the convention had sold out attendance on Saturday, packing in over 10,000 people, the ticketed party most likely attracted 2-3% of that number.

Three comic book artists took part in the Comics Xplosion and as for where that took place, even I struggled to figure out where this operation can set up a safe space for them to draw. The mezzanine would be the best area when I was here before the event. It ran on February 22, with Benjamin Su, Dave McCaig and Mike Rooth drawing anything they could think of. Afterwards, the artwork was auctioned off. Although I wasn’t around at the start (was dining elsewhere), I managed to get here in time to see how the last hour went.

But to give the establishment a proper assessment, I went in a Thursday for a bite, because I was already in the area, and returned Friday to play some video games. The promotion for a free hour’s worth of unlimited gameplay to anyone showing their convention badge convinced me to return. While I got a lot of tickets because of one game, none of the swag at the redemption booth interested me. Unlike the prizes one can find at a normal arcade, this one is more about marketing this establishment with the t-shirts, lanywards and caps.

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01.08.25
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Sushi on Shelbourne in Saanich, BC. The Choices and Construction Woes

Screenshot 2025-01-07 at 10.16.44 PM

Once upon a time, the price of take out sushi at Fujiya’s grocery store in Victoria, BC was the best in town. Those were the pre-pandemic years and before Saanich’s Shelbourne Street Improvement Project ripped the road apart. As a result, plenty of nearby businesses saw less traffic and one casualty is this grocery store deciding it’s time to raise their prices! Even after the job is more or less done, I saw no price reduction as life resumes in 2025. Most of that block is patched up, but there’s still construction that’s become a barrier as people drive through.

I can understand the need to mark up their products to make up for lost venues, but will every supporter of this local operation want to continue even after the construction is done? While I can drive straight down Shelbourne to Sushi Island, I can get my basic two favourite rolls for about 2/3rds of the price than the $9 average price I’m seeing most trays marked as. And as for how often I’ve seen tuna and salmon rolls offered, it’s been seldom. It’s doubtful that I’m showing up at the wrong time.

When I’ve spotted three other fast food options where I can buy sushi along this street corridor, the choices are finally better, but not necessarily competitive. I hate to admit that Walmart’s plates are relatively tasty. Price-wise, it’s about the same as Fujiya’s, and while the big box operation doesn’t have tuna on the menu, it seems they have a supplier for all the salmon they love to regularly offer. They’re farmed fish rather than wildly caught, and when I’m lazy to head to other operations, I’ll grab a plate just to satisfy that itch my tastebuds want for raw fish.

Sushi MagoThankfully, Sushi Island (where people can get the best value) is across the street. As for Sushi Mago, they’re a stone’s throw away from where I live, and I can walk down to grab something and go home. A drive makes it quicker. Although this operation’s offerings are pricier than the other two, but not as super tasty (Island wins hands down), it’s a price I’m willing to pay for the convenience.

12.04.24
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A Lil’ Taste of Philly at Serena’s Pizzeria and Hoagies

menu766 Fort St
Victoria, BC

Hours: 11 am to 9pm daily
Website: https://www.serenas.ca/
Phone: (778) 433-9696

Throughout my search for a proper Philly Cheesesteak outside the City of Brotherly Love, my quest is not over. Even though Serena’s Pizzeria and Hoagies certainly deliver in taste, the best greasy spoon diner style I had was while making a stop in South Lake Tahoe. If I remember right, I ate at Little Philly Cheesesteaks, and it was so sloppy, slippery and oh so good left an impression. Sadly, they closed a long time ago.

But the further away one gets from the State that gave rise to this sandwich, any operation’s claim needs to be tested against those memories. What I sampled warmed me all over. On the chilly day my buddy and I visited, we were searching for crispy fried chicken and found the advertising for House of Chicken, misleading. The offerings may have been for Doordash delivery rather than in-house. Although we looked at the menu, we were not in the mood for Pakistani style food and opted to leave.

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11.06.24
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Sometimes Finding The One Japanese Place to Regularly Hit Isn’t All That “Yoshi”

20240929_124317Gateway Village
771 Vernon Ave
Victoria, BC

Hours: 12:00pm to 8:00pm Daily
Phone: (250) 475-3900
Menu: yoshisushi.ca

ES: In anime, “Yoshi” (where the I is silent) can mean, let’s do it, but in truth, it means excellence, and as a fixture in Victoria for such a long time, I’m sort of inclined to agree Yoshi Sushi is a great place to give your taste buds a treat. Had I truly wanted to go crazy, I could’ve gone for the massive platter of sashimi on my birthday to really experience all the wonders, but to be honest blowfish wasn’t on the menu and what’s offered are the safe staples.

The exception is with a soft shell crab roll, which when properly still warm, can do wonders to excite the taste buds. Or should I say the baos?

DK: My experience with the Japanese language pretty much begins and ends with doing flashcards with my roommate in the TRU dorms before tossing rotten vegetables into the parking lot from our balcony. Don’t know if he ever passed that test, but we did make room in the fridge for more eggs and bacon for our roommates to “borrow.” 

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07.17.24
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[Vancouver, BC] The Fast and the Furious with Ramen Danbo on Robson St.

20240216_2203321333 Robson St
Vancouver, BC

Hours: Daily from 11p.m to 11 p.m.
Menu: ramendanbo.com
Phone: (604) 559-8112

On a chilly night, sometimes a warm dish of ramen is required to chase the blues away. Technically, we’re now in summer, and it’s a great time to explore the big city, or the adjacent municipality like Richmond. Trying to find a bite late at night isn’t all that tough, but when my appetite strikes closer to midnight, the options are fewer. Thankfully, Ramen Danbo came to the rescue! With this chain opening operations all around the world (almost), I had to check out this operation. Every time I’m on the Robson strip, I see lineups. 

The buzz is in the broth, and it’s all about what’s in the white tonkotsu (pork bone) soup. Part of the process is now “mass-produced” so that it can be shipped to outlets so it can be brewed properly in house. Unlike open window operations, I couldn’t get to see how it’s made (when compared to another place I hit while in town).

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07.03.24
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[Seattle, WA] A Doh at The Dough Zone

20240301_165356815 Pine St
Seattle, WA

Hours: 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Website: doughzonedumplinghouse.com
Phone: (206) 682-6666

I don’t find the trend of choosing what you want to eat in advance all that unusual these days. This is more common in metropolises than anyplace else, and when operations like The Dough Zone to be as speedy as possible, I wonder if diner satisfaction is on top of the restaurant manager’s mind? I get the feeling they’re trying to the McDonalds of the Asian fast food scene when considering it is a franchise operation stretching from Washington State to California (and Texas).

If anyone wants to grab a quick bite here during the busy hours, I don’t recommend it. It’s best to reserve in advance. When the operation I went to is in the beating heart of the convention centre alley, they’re very popular. Also, when I didn’t want to stray too far when there were evening activities, they were pretty much the only choice unless I wanted to pay more at the bar that’s located at the Summit Building.

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