There are so many restaurants in Vancouver that I don’t think I can even count how many there actually are. Definitely lots of variety and hidden gems all over the lower mainland. I really mean it when I say that my favourite hobbies are drinking and eating. I wouldn’t say that I’m a Vancouver foodie that knows where all the right spots are, but I do know a thing or two when it comes to finding new places to visit.

There are so many different types of food that the lower mainland offers but I would have to say that my favourite type of food has to be Japanese food. Ichiro, in Stevenston Richmond, has to be my favourite Japanese restaurant. It is a little further to get there but the food is worth it, trust me. I’ve been going to Ichiro with my family for the past eight years. It’s an authentic Japanese family-owned restaurant right by the waters. Meaning, that they get their fish and ingredients fresh. I usually prefer to go during lunch times as they have tons of bento lunch sets as a special. I usually get the “Karage and Katsu” set, which comes with chicken karage and pork katsu, with a side of rice, miso soup, and lots of veggies. This box set is to die for and the sockeye salmon sashimi will melt in your mouth like butter. Trust me, when I say that you won’t be disappointed when you visit.

Aside from sushi, my second favourite meal would have to be the classic, steak and mashed potatoes. I mean, who doesn’t love a good classic dinner? I’ve been to a lot of steakhouses and I can safely say that Black and Blue in downtown Vancouver has to be my favourite. It is a little bit on the pricey side, so I only go there once in a while as a treat. As many times as I’ve tried to replicate the meal that I had from here. it will never be the same. I typically order the New York Striploin, medium, with mashed potatoes, and sautee mushroom on the side. The mashed potatoes are so incredibly creamy and the sautee mushrooms with truffle oil are just amazing. The main course is chef’s kiss. If you think I was done, the dessert is also amazing. Their famous dessert is the butter cake, again, I’ve also tried to replicate my own butter cake and it has never tasted anywhere close to Black and Blue’s. If you have a chance to go here, I highly recommend it and if you only have a short amount of time, I would also recommend stopping in quickly for desserts.

I am a sucker when it comes to anything katsu-related. Saku is one of the many restaurants that had opened in the last year. One of the many things I love about this place is that they have a very simple menu. Sometimes when I go to certain restaurants and they have over 50 dishes on their menu, it makes it really tough for me to decide and order. Whenever I’m in the mood for something filling, Saku is one of the top three choices for me. I always get the Pork Cheese Katsu, which is deep-fried breaded aged mozzarella wrapped with thinly sliced pork. Just thinking about that right now is making my mouth water. The portion side might look small, but trust me when I say that it will fill you up quickly. Every time that I’ve gone, I always have leftovers to take home.

Now it’s time for some post-meal treats for those of you who prefer things on the sweeter side. My favourite ice cream for as long as I can remember has been Ernest Ice Cream. This is a family-owned ice cream shop that has been around for almost over a decade now. They have over 20 flavours of ice cream plus seasonal flavours. Recently they have also added vegan recipes to their menu! My favourite flavours are London Fog and Salted Caramel, with a large waffle cone. Not only can you enjoy your ice cream there, but you can also buy yourself a pint to take home. Which is an awesome but dangerous thing since I buy about two everything I go and I finish them within a few days. As you can probably tell, I have an ice cream addiction and it’s never going to ever go away.

Wanna know what else I have an addiction to? Is milk tea. In some places of the world, they’re either called milk tea, bubble tea, or boba. When I say I have an addiction, I mean I “accidentally” spend $80 a month buying bubble tea for a few months straight. You already know that my bank account hated me for those few months. Milk tea originally started in Taiwan, and consists of tapioca pearls (the black chewy balls) and a base of either black tea, green tea, or herbal tea. Nowadays, they ordered a variety of different types of drinks such as slush, smoothies, and fruit tea. Those options are all very tasty but I’m a class milk tea kind of girl, so I usually either get the signature milk tea or a Thai milk tea. Another reason why I love milk tea is that most bubble tea shops here are open till 11:00 pm. Which makes it the perfect late-night snack!

As I mentioned, my hobbies are drinking and eating. I hope I didn’t make your mouth water too much from talking about food. These are just a few of my hidden gem places in the lower mainland but I am constantly on the hunt for more places to visit. Whether it’s sweet or savoury, you can bet that I will be there. I never really considered myself to be a foodie but after talking about this, maybe you say that I’m an inspired Vancouver foodie in the making. Make sure to keep your tummy full and that smile on your face when ordering food.