604: Matsuzushi (Port Moody)

I'm sorry to disappoint, but this place didn't make it to my favorite. I know a lot of people really like this place because of the price point and that the restaurant is operated by a Japanese couple. $35 for their omakase sushi is a steal but without the prestigious sushi handout served onto your plate, which isn't available during the pandemic anyway, the sushi is just mediocre. Everything is fresh but I can tell that their fish is local. Don't get me wrong! I'm all for supporting local businesses and products, but there's a reason why it's cheaper than the traditional omakases. A lot of the 'pricier' omakases import their fish from Japan, and offer higher grade sashimi, so it's pricier.

For $35 I can get any nigiri set anywhere. I don't have to drive all the way to Port Moody. The three sets of aburi rolls I got from Fusion Core last week were only $36, and I think I had more satisfaction from their oshi sets.

I mean if you live in the Tri-city, then maybe it's worthwhile for you, but if you have to drive all the way out there for their omakase nigiri set, then let me save you the trouble.

📍Lcoation: Here

💵 Price: $35 for the omakase (excluding tax)

🤤Taste: 3 / 5

🕯Atmosphere: 3 / 5

🪑Seating: 2.8 / 5

📈 Price Performance ratio: 3 / 5

Retention Rate: Not for me

ℙ𝕣𝕠𝕤:

• Operated by a Japanese couple

• Fresh nigiri offered

• Comes with a bowl of miso soup

• Cheapest omakase offered in the lower mainland

ℂ𝕠𝕟𝕤:

• Not worth the drive for just a nigiri omakase set

• Price performance ratio did not meet expectations

𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:

• If you live in the Tri-city then maybe it's worth the drive, but otherwise, let me save you the trouble

• Fish is locally sourced and not imported from Japan (You pay what you get)

604: Bánh Mì Très Bon (Richmond)

I came here for the Vietnamese Sub cause I am determined to search for THE perfect cold cut Bann Mi. I ordered the trio and to my surprise, they are a lot smaller than what I expected.

Their special sub is better than the one I had last week. They are more generous with the mayo and sauce, but it's pricier. I think they should add more cold cut though, and the chicken and pork are pretty bland. One bite, two-bite, and all the miniature Banh Mi's were gone.

I also ordered their shrimp & pork tapioca dumplings (Bánh bột lọc) and they were delicious! The dumpling skins were like Al Dante 😂. It’s very chewy and springy and I think they went crazy on the herb and white pepper, which is excellent cause it greatly enhances the flavor.

Overall it’s a pleasant experience. They have great customer service and a lovely ambiance, but I’m not sure if it’s good enough for me to come back.

📍Location: Here

💵 Price: $12 for the trio sub and $12 for the dumplings

🤤Taste: 3.3 / 5

🕯Atmosphere: 4 / 5

🪑Seating: 3 / 5

📈 Price Performance ratio: 3 / 5

Retention Rate: 50%

ℙ𝕣𝕠𝕤:

🥟 Love the texture of the shrimp & pork tapioca dumplings (Bánh bột lọc)

🥟 flavourful filling

🥟 the skin is springy and chewy

ℂ𝕠𝕟𝕤:

🌯 Quite bland

🌯 Bite size sub (but it comes in three)

🌯 Expensive

𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:

🌯 Probably wouldn't come back for their subs

🥟 May come back for their Bánh bột lọc but it's quite pricey, so I'm hesistating.

🌯 Overall, excellent ambiance and great customer service

604: Lemon Tree (Richmond)

Many bloggers from Instagram claimed that they make the best bubble waffles, so I had to pay them a visit to verify this.

Like Eggette House, they also have a combo deal but a dollar more expensive than them, which is still a great value, but I still decided to opt out of the drink. Without the drink, it costs $4.80 for a waffle.

The waffle isn't greasy and it's ultra crispy but it's missing the mouthfeel. The weird thing is that when I broke the bubble in half, there's a lot of fluff inside. The waffle is aromatic but the custard and buttery flavor tasted artificial - like butter versus margarine.

Overall, I think it's a great bubble waffle! I liked it enough to rank it as my top three favorite bubble waffles in Vancity, but my favorite is still from the Bubble Waffle Cafe in Aberdeen.

I'd say the quality of our average bubble waffles here in Vancouver exceeds the majority of the cafes in Hong Kong. One interesting point my friend brought up is that the rent in Hong Kong is expensive, so they skimp out on the batter, making their waffles crispy but lack substance in each bubble.

📍Location: Here

💵 Price: $7.99 for a combo or $4.8 for a waffle

🤤Taste: 4.5 / 5

🕯Atmosphere: NA

🪑Seating: NA

📈 Price Performance ratio: 4.6 / 5

Retention Rate: 100%

ℙ𝕣𝕠𝕤:

🧇 ultra crispy

🧇 aromatic

🧇 not greasy

🧇 good value when ordered with a drink (but I opted out the drink 😅)

ℂ𝕠𝕟𝕤:

🧇 The buttery or custard flavor tasted artificial. it’s almost like having margarine spread instead of butter.

🧇 it has a lot of fluff inside when u break the bubble apart, but the mouthfeel isn’t there

𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:

🧇 great waffle. I’d say top three in Vancity?

🧇 my favorite is still from 🥇 Aberdeen Bubble waffle cafe🥈Eggette House