For anyone planning their Halloween week somewhat late, we got a guide for you, as published on our sister site, Otakunoculture.com! Coming soon is a guide to haunted eateries. While it’s doubtful that you’ll get a supernatural encounter, maybe if you tip your waitress well, she may have a tale to tell that hasn’t been told yet from the fine folks of Ghostly Walks.
Tag Archives: Victoria
Not So Hot, When The Ingredients Are Wrong with The Hot Dog Guys’ Tillicum Operation
3170 Tillicum Rd
Victoria, BC
Hours: Daily from 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Menu: thehotdogguy.ca
Phone: (250) 882-7199
The Hot Dog Guys at Tillicum Mall know their way around a good dog. The selection depends on what customers request or what’s on their menu, and they clearly have a passion for the craft. The catch is that their location inside the mall comes with limitations. For example, they can’t serve a true Chicago-style dog since they don’t have access to poppy seed buns, fresh tomatoes, or other toppings that require more storage and prep space.
I respect that they’re making the best of what they have, but the “mall setup” inevitably caps their potential. A great hot dog should have fresh toppings and some creative flair, and that’s difficult to deliver without a proper kitchen. While I enjoyed my visit, I left uncertain if I’d return—more because of the environment than the people running the place.
That said, the menu does tempt with regional inspirations like the Seattle Dog and the Portlander. Unfortunately, without the right tools, these creations don’t quite hit their mark. When I tried their basic dog, it was fine, but the roller-style heating left me wishing for something grilled to order. I imagine mall restrictions prevent them from cooking the way they’d prefer, which is a shame.
Los Panas Kitchen, the Perfect Place Venezuela Comfort Food in Victoria, BC
Market Square
560 Johnson St
Victoria, BC
Hours: 11:00 am to 5:00pm, Thurs to Sunday
Website: https://www.instagram.com/lospanaskitchen/
Phone: (647) 861-9446
Los Panas Kitchen can sometimes be hard to find as they’re a food truck style operation, and they only operate when the weather cooperates. During the summer, they’ve been very busy, attending local fairs and setting up camp elsewhere than their traditional location. That makes life tough for me when the desire to want their food products hits, and I find they’re not at their usual Market Square location.
That’s because what they serve are delicious Venezuelan arepas and patacones! The fried plantains are the bomb, and I doubt I can even replicate how they prepare it at home. There’s a soft crisp to them which is perfect when other proteins like pork are piled on top. As for whether they serve enough in each individual order, I could probably debate that, as I got a ton of meat but not enough of this fruit. Continue reading
Top Picks from the 2023 Victoria Fringe to Check Out!
The annual Victoria Fringe Festival is here, and what I offer is my nerd’s guide on what to see. As the show has officially started today, not everything will be offered from the get go. The fun really begins Friday, and as it stretches from one weekend to another, there’s plenty to see and do. And without further adieu, these are my top picks in no particular order. The links go to show dates and how to purchase tickets.
Dave and Jon’s Mixtape
Aug 24 05:00 pm Aug 25 08:15 pm Aug 26 02:15 pm Aug 27 03:45 pm Sep 02 04:30 pm Dave and Jon are talented Improv artists, and by combining that with music, this show will no doubt be interesting to see. Just what kind of curves can be thrown at them depends on whether they can combine Ozzy with Pee Wee Herman, and anything else audiences can throw at them.
Oh My MAiiZ Nixtamal Tortillería and the Taste of the Exotic!
MAiiZ Nixtamal Tortillería
540 Fisgard St
Victoria, BC
Hours: Daily 11 AM to 6 PM
Website: https://maiiz.ca
Phone: (778) 433-1544
MaiiZ is the home to more than just tortillas. Here, they serve all the basics of Mexican food–tamales, tacos and quesadillas. I visited one week for their mushroom tacos, another for their huitlacoches (corn smut) and finally grasshoppers! Regarding the former, these shrooms were slow cooked and basted in a special recipe to bring out the extra flavour. And anyone willing to accept that eating bugs isn’t gross, these insectas aren’t just randomly plucked from anywhere!
One layer of the flatbread isn’t enough to hold some of these tacos. Depending on the ingredient, two gets used to keep everything from sagging. When I first visited, I was curious about the fungi, and the woodsy scents and flavours that made my mouth salivate are perfect. In the middle are a wonderful mix of fresh cilantro, cabbage and pickled red onion. I prefer mild salsa so that my mouth isn’t burning afterwards, but maybe next time I’ll go all the way.
Not Necessarily Coocoo for Coco Grill at Victoria, BC’s Inner Harbour
1 Dallas Rd
Victoria, BC
Hours: Daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
(varies on weekends)
Website: http://cocogrillvictoria.com
Phone: (250) 589-0729
DK: I’ve never seen a group of kitchen staff having more fun than the ladies at Coco. Multiple times during our visit, they were doubled-over in laughter. You’ve gotta be doing something right if your staff is having a riot while smack-dab in the middle of a high-volume tourist trap. But is eating their food as enjoyable as making it seem to be?
ES: That depends on whether everything on the menu is considered authentic to Polynesia. To be specific, I’ve always wanted to try Hawaiian food. It’s not always about eating spam. One look at what Cocos menu offers got half my taste buds salivating. Although ceviche is considered Peruvian, can that region be considered close enough? What say you, Don?
twohungryblokes.com 