Your guide to some of the best and inviting food establishments.
Mazazu Crepe
4151 Hazelbridge Way, Unit 3110
Aberdeen Centre
Richmond, BC
Beard Papa’s
4151 Hazelbridge Way, Unit 3160
Aberdeen Centre
Richmond, BC
(604) 295-8193
The Food Court in Aberdeen Centre is impressive for what it offers, but if one is focused on only Japanese food, there’s two other places to try too.
Aberdeen Centre
4151 Hazelbridge Way
Richmond, BC
(604) 270-1234
Shopping malls can be evil and there’s not many I truly like to frequent in Victoria, or in Vancouver for that matter. But in Richmond, there’s one that I’d consider the galactic center of my universe for all the Asian food I can enjoy.
Back in the day I thought Yaohan Centre was good, but no, it pales in comparison to what Aberdeen Centre offers now. From Japan to China, you can almost find anything you remember from home here.
And my fondness for takoyaki can be found at Ajijiman Hanabi than at any other place in the district of Richmond or Vancouver. For $3.75, you can order 6 pieces of these warm gooey octopus balls. With shaved bonito leaves on top, it gives a great texture to complement the chewiness of the meal itself.
Cafe Mozart Restaurant
829 Front Street
Leavenworth, Washington
(509) 548-0600
I’ve had German food before and usually, never found it hugely spectacular. Maybe that’s because there’s only one place back home (The Rathskeller) that I’m aware of which never really exemplified the best of what this regional style of food offers. To really enjoy the basics, I had to find more than just the differences in how the food is cooked.
While in a tourist town like Leavenworth, I set aside my reservations and parlayed into a restaurant named after my favourite composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. With a bit of Yvonne’s heritage in tow, she could tell me more about the intricacies of what makes a good sauerkraut.
Barb & Ed’s Drive In
601 Basin St NW
Ephrata, Washington
(509) 754-2037
It’s amazing in what I can notice when my name is out there in lights and cruising down Basin St. Okay, I don’t really own this diner or even cook here, but I can dream.
Apparently this place reopened not too long ago, and locals have praised it’s return. As a fellow Ed, I have to applaud more than just that.
This place was probably once a real drive-in at some point in time, and there’s an atmosphere in here that’s reminiscent of an era long gone. It has a very simplistic casual vibe that I could just feel by looking around. I’m at home, even though the eyes say otherwise.
El Caporal
201 West University Way
Ellensburg, Washington
(509) 962-5528
Ellensburg, Washington is a heaven for rock hounds, but for food, that depends on where you go and if you’re willing to hunt around for it.
Yvonne and I should’ve went further down the block than to hit the first restaurant we saw. I thought Mexican would be good on another go during the roadtrip, but not here. Temperatures were high and we both waited until the weather was cool enough to head out. I noticed El Caporal won many local awards which were proudly displayed by their front door, and we both agreed that none of them feel justified.
Cougar Bar & Grill
1689 Lewis River Rd
Cougar, Washington 98616
(360) 238-5252
Nestled near the base of Mount St. Helens is a town where there’s more than just one type wildlife for one to hunt for. For some people, it’s like the last vestige of humanity before Big Foot comes knocking at your door or it’s the last resort for folks like me before I go venturing near a volcano that nearly blew off its top back in the 80’s.
There’s an aptly named Volcano Burger ($8.95) that I had to try at the Cougar Bar & Grill. For the chili lover, this meal can set you simmering with delight. For the hamburger lover, you’ll wonder what the fuss is about.
If there were a few veggies added to the meal and they were propped up to mimic a forest, I’d say the cooks here were making a statement. Culinary art would be imitating history. In this case, when there’s a lava flow coming your way, that forest is going to burn. I imagined the fries were the woods, and they were certainly crisped up nice.
