Vancouver Magazine
Beijing Mansion Hosts Chinese Restaurant Awards New Wave 2023 Dinner
A Guide to the City’s Best Omakase
5 Croissants to Try at the 2023 Vancouver Croissant Crawl
The Best Drinks to Bring to a Holiday Party (and Their Zero-Proof Alternatives)
The Wine List: 6 Wines for Every Holiday Wine Drinker on Your List
Nightcap: Spiked Horchata
PHOTOS: Dr. Peter Centre’s Passions Gala and the BC Children’s Hospital’s Crystal Ball
Gift Idea: Buy Everyone You Know Tickets to the Circus
5 Things to Do in Vancouver This Week (December 4-10)
Escape to Osoyoos: Your Winter Wonderland Awaits
Your 2023/2024 Ultimate Local Winter Getaway Guide
Kamloops Unscripted: The Most Intriguing Fall Destination of 2023
2023 Gift Guide: 7 Gifts for People Who Need to Chill the Hell Out
2023 Gift Guide: 8 Gorgeous Gifts from Vancouver Jewellery Designers
Local Gift Guide 2023: For Everyone on Your Holiday Shopping List
Kingyo (Gold) remains the city’s most polished (yet jubilant) celebration of Japanese izakaya dishes-one that unfolds in a brassy, convivial atmosphere. Judges go in the evening for beef tongue, grilled pork cheeks, and miso black cod. But the lunch has been a well-kept secret: “The pork-loin tonkatsu is delightful and-served with a DIY sesame sauce in a mortar-and-pestle-it’s fun, too.” Kishimoto (Silver) nabbed attention this year for bringing great sushi to a grateful Commercial Drive. Presentation is key here, with boards of sashimi and spicy chopped scallop rolls arriving as staged and gorgeous as miniature opera sets. Guu (Bronze) was our first izakaya 20 years ago, and judges still love it for catering to homesick Japanese students and off-duty chefs. Small plates and cheap drinks (and one loud party) keep judges going. (Try the delightfully seasoned beef tataki.)
