Monkfish Liver
Guu Original Thurlow

Guu Original Thurlow

838 Thurlow Street Vancouver, BC V6E 1W2, V6E1W2, United States

Fish • Asian • Tapas • Japanese


"This is a small establishment just off Robson on Thurlow St. We didn't have reservations but we arrived just before they opened on Friday at 5pm and there was already a small crowd waiting for the doors to open. Getting there early when you don't have reservations is your best bet for getting in as otherwise the place fills up fast. Thankfully they have lots of sushi-bar seating which is where most walk-ins were seated. Since we had a baby (and stroller) in tow, we were seated at one of the tables and told we could have it for two hours before it was booked for a reservation. No problem!The menu is small but concise and daily specials offered.Here's what we tried:- Yellowtail Tuna: 4 pieces of super fresh yummy tuna- Chicken Karaage: a small plate of freshly fried pieces of chicken. Yum!- Ebi mayo: loved the cook on these shrimp - they were still juicy and perfectly done. Although I wish the coating was more crispy but I can see how it becomes a trade-off. The spicy mayo sauce is excellent.- Sashimi Salad: fresh pieces of scallop, salmon and I think mackerel were served on a bed of mixed greens topped with a house dressing. Loved the freshness once again of the sashimi pieces. The salad was nice as well albeit a bit overdressed in my opinion.- Grilled pork cheeks: the most disappointing of dishes. Not that it was bad, but it was nothing special. I thought the cheeks would be more tender but they were tough and chewy.- Beef tataki: thicker cuts of beef perfectly seared and served with a delightful sauce.My husband thoroughly enjoyed eating here (his first time!) and I've been here a few times already on previous trips. All in all a solid 4.5 star meal. Service was prompt. All the employees take part in greeting customers as they arrive so it can get loud - they also shout out orders to the chefs. So be forewarned if you happen to have a sleeping baby in tow (like we did)."

Sakana Japanese Cuisine

Sakana Japanese Cuisine

6950 Lebanon Rd, Frisco, TX 75034, United States

Full • Sushi • Casual • Cheese


"Let’s see where to start. We did the $80 omakase. Started with an appetizer plate with 5 very distinct dishes. Each dish made to tantalize your taste buds and tickle the textures of what your mouth is not accustomed to. Each was different but the mystery of it was very refreshing. Each following dish gave you a little taste of why this restaurant is a little different from the rest. It is a small place but made to make you feel like you have your own personal chef. The chawamushi was definitely why I’d come back. It was very different. It’s almost like a warm tofu dish but it’s eggs apparently. At the bottom are myriads of mysterious pieces of randomness that makes the very peculiar dish memorable. Fish, chicken, pork possibly. Hard to tell but incredible nonetheless. It’s salty yet subtle. Sweet but delicate. Perfectly hot and deliciously inviting umami to wake up your taste buds. Now not everyone might enjoy this place. You would have to like sushi and fish. The one incredible and pleasant surprise was the asparagus. Yea I thought I was going crazy too. This asparagus was the most bewildering asparagus I have ever tasted. It was perfectly cooked and somehow, the aftertaste was not just savory but creamy. I kept staring at the center of the asparagus to see if there was milk or cream or something strange like that inside it. Like it was filled with some type of cheese or something I couldn’t even understand. Maybe it was the type of asparagus but it honestly looked normal. Something magical was done to it making me feel a little irritable. I haven’t the faintest clue as to how to cook asparagus this way. Next time, I’m taking my kids to go on what I hope to be a slightly different omakase adventure. Call in advance and let them know during reserving the table that you want omakase. Oh and ask them if they have bluefin tuna belly. They didn’t have it this time but they do have it here and there. Very few sushi places have bluefin tuna belly. It’s rare and sort of like an A5 wagyu of tuna. And try the black cod also. It’s grille with maybe a little soy sauce and mirin from what I can taste. Enjoy this place. Support this tiny little restaurant. I hope it can stay around for years to come for everyone to try at least once."