530342 Wed Jun 18 12:30:36 -0700 2008 11 57 Western Canada 0 3791584 3 buddies and myself are traveling to your lovely city at the end of this month for a bit of fun and having lived in Japan I've forgotten what it's like to be in a Japanese Izakaya....so what are your thoughts as to what is the best Izakaya that Vancouver has to offer? I'm also partial to tatami mats. Honti ni doomo arigatoo in advance. Wed Jun 18 12:30:38 -0700 2008 201152 jmajor 1 3792001 If you are looking for a Japan-like experience...then go to a Guu. For a full-on ladder-crawl....do the izakaya crawl along Robson and Denman: http://www.chow.com/stories/10980 Wed Jun 18 14:15:45 -0700 2008 3791584 145820 fmed 2 3792482 I am no expert on izakaya and sadly have not yet made it to Japan to sample the real thing, but I second the Guu recco and suggest you try the original one on Robson, if only for its proximity to several others should you elect to do a crawl per fmed's link. To whet your appetite, here's my ramble on a recent very satisfying feed there: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/526290 I'm also a fan of Zakkushi but only frequent the closer-to-me Kits (4th and Burrard) location which is very small -- the Denman one is much larger and I believe has a similar selection of delightfully broiled and flamed things on sticks. It has the advantage not only of size but of being close to original Guu and several others (Kingyo, downtown Hapa, even Korean izakaya-style restos if you feel like extending your mandate -- more on those available on this board courtesy of the esteemed fmed). Have fun and let us know where you end up! Wed Jun 18 16:59:55 -0700 2008 3792001 169233 grayelf 3 3793299 Thank you gentleman, and/or ladies if the case may be. I think I'll definitely go with the GUU rec. As someone who has been fortunate to sample all manner of foodstuffs, particularly seafood, I would be hard pressed to discover that "- Tako wasabi" can actually contain shark's fin, which is typically ridiculously expensive...seems more plausible if it is simply dried/reconstituted jellyfish but I'll give it a go. nankotsu karaage...takes me way back..they really do love this stuff ...nowadays one can argue that it's nature's glucosamine! Thank you both for the links. Wed Jun 18 23:33:22 -0700 2008 3792482 201152 jmajor 4 3794042 I think I read somewhere that it is dogfish which is technically a type of shark but perhaps someone (fmed?) with more 411 will chime in. Whatever, it tastes good :-). I haven't worked up the courage to try the cartilage yet ...sometimes it's better if you don't know what something is... Thu Jun 19 08:19:01 -0700 2008 3793299 169233 grayelf 5 3794116 Yes that was me. Dogfish is often called Shark for that added cache. Thu Jun 19 08:36:47 -0700 2008 3794042 145820 fmed 6 3794412 Ok now you guys have really assured that I will try this dish!! Dogfish still doesn't make much sense in terms of the amount of waste of material, but then again I've heard of worse abuses in the kitchen...I wonder if it might be skate instead? Skate is popular with Korean dishes and sometimes is used, if you know how to prepare it, to pass off as a "poor man's" scallop. Thu Jun 19 09:49:03 -0700 2008 3794116 201152 jmajor 7 3795406 I believe that the gelatin around the octopus is the "shark fin". Here's a quick Google: http://www.ecplaza.net/tradeleads/seller/4281597/sell_dried_processed.html BTW -- Dogfish is often a processed into dogfood, fertilizer, generic protien for other stuff, I believe, so you don't really "waste" any of it. They are aloso served as food -- eg fish and chips. Thu Jun 19 14:22:38 -0700 2008 3794412 145820 fmed 8 3811167 Wow dogfish fish and chips...now that's different, at least to me, who serves that in town? Tue Jun 24 20:24:10 -0700 2008 3795406 201152 jmajor 9 3811183 I don't know of any around here. They call it "rock salmon" in England. Tue Jun 24 20:29:09 -0700 2008 3811167 145820 fmed 1 3811408 If you are looking for good atmosphere and pretty good food with a few drinks, you should go to Hapa on Robson downtown. The place is always busy on weekends. Go to the Robson one only, not the Kits one. Tue Jun 24 22:24:12 -0700 2008 3791584 203626 Ryu69 1 3875144 pics Wed Jul 16 15:38:53 -0700 2008 3791584 201152 jmajor