Miku Restaurant – Aburi Sushi Gourmet Cuisine
70-200 Granville Street
604- 568-3900
http://mikurestaurant.com/
*Hours of operation: See end of post
I wanted to prove a point with the title of the blog this week. “Sushi Vancouver: Miku” is a representation of how we Google search. This simple combination of words summons information from various sources through the internet, sorting through pages and pages of content, and eventually arriving on a list of relevant websites and images. So when foodies come to a city like Vancouver, known for it’s fresh seafood and authentic sushi, I was not surprised to find that an average of 33,100 people worldwide search, “Sushi Vancouver” in any given month. With this in mind, I took a moment to Google in myself, and where does the #1 pin on Google Maps drop? B.C. Sushi.
Hahaha. This is something foodies LOL about.
Back to Miku. I call it the Miku Experience, because I think that it’s exactly that. Snuggled beside Canada Place, Miku has stunning views of the iconic white tents, the cruise ships, and the glistening blue ocean…especially on the patio. Opened only a few weeks ago, the restaurant’s interior combines West-Coast and Japanese elements. And the food? The creations on the high-end menu highlight unbeatably fresh seafood in a way that is both mouth-watering and eye-catching. Each dish appears to have a unique and careful story behind it – so much so that soy sauce and wasabi are withheld, except upon request – such that each taste can be experienced as the chef designed it to be. From start to finish, dining at Miku is gourmet and wonderfully indulgent.
The Ebi Fritter – white tiger prawns, herb beer battered, sweet chili aioli, chili powder, soy balsamic reduction. I love the crispiness and spice that surrounds the juicy tiger prawn. You’ll be growling for more!
Minami Chopped Salad – Including grilled corn, avocado, baby green, crispy tempeh and much more, this is a fairly simple, but well-executed salad. It works nicely in contrast to Miku’s creative and intricate signature items.
Aburi Salmon Oshi Sushi & Aburi Ebi (Prawn) Oshi Sushi – Aburi meaning seared, oshi describing the rectangular characteristic of the dish that achieved by packing all the ingredients in a wooden mold. This is Miku’s signature event. If you’re sitting at the bar, you can watch the chefs deftly pack, flip, slice, and sear the Miku specialty. Each piece is quickly torched over piece of charcoal, giving the fish a smoky flavour and a texture that will in your mouth. All three renditions (salmon, prawn and mackerel) are worthwhile.
Sunrise Roll, King Roll, Red Wave Roll, (Left to Right)
Sunrise Roll – My favourite of the bunch. The middle is wasabi marinated tuna, with cucumber to combat the spice. It’s then wrapped with tuna, and topped with pickled wasabi, chopped with jalapeno, fish roe and wasabi cream sauce. It’s pretty to look at, but it packs a good punch!
King Roll – Another glorious pairing of crispy prawn and spicy sauce.
Red Wave Roll – crab, avocado, wrapped in red tuna, masatake sauce. The Masatake sauce (a Korean-inspired mix of sesame oil and onion) is a unique addition that makes this roll special.
Top off the evening with something petite and sweet. Perhaps a scoop of vanilla or balsamic ice cream will tickle your fancy.
Presented in a lively dining room that glows from the ocean’s reflective light, the Miku experience is one that accurately represents what it means to dine in Vancouver. It celebrates the natural beauty of the city, the talent of Vancouver chefs, and the multicultural diversity that is a real and powerful presence in the city’s culture and cuisine. If you’re looking for the best sushi in downtown Vancouver, don’t fret when Miku doesn’t come up on your Google Search…it might just be the best secret you keep!
*Hours of Operation – I highly recommend that you make a reservation
11:30am – 12:00am – Monday to Saturday
11:30am – 11:00pm – Sunday
Lunch Hours:
11:30pm – 3:00pm – Monday to Sunday
Dinner Hours:
5:00pm – 11:00pm – Monday to Saturday; 5:00pm – 10:00pm – Sunday
Bar Bites Only:
3:00pm – 5:00pm – Monday to Sunday
Holiday Hours:
Hours of operation may vary on statutory holidays, please call the restaurant for details.
