My mom was so impressed with our first trip to Sushi Park (review here) that she chose the restaurant again for her birthday lunch. Her birthday is now a good month and a half ago, but I'm slowly but surely getting through a backlog of posts.
We arrived around 12:30 on a Sunday with my aunt and cousin in tow, and the restaurant was pretty empty. It stayed empty for the entire duration of our meal, with the occasional customer coming in to pick up their take-out order. I guess sushi isn't people's first choice when deciding on what to eat for Sunday brunch.
Not much had changed since our last visit. We were sat at their largest table, on the opposite side of where we sat last time. Service was still as friendly and attentive as before, with the sushi chef even personally delivering some of the items to our table.
Like last time, the waitress dropped off bowls of complimentary miso soup (normally $2.50 each) and a large bowl of green salad (normally $4.50). Still standard stuff, but much appreciated.
Squid is always a must-get at any Japanese restaurant I go to, so we put in an order for their rendition of ika karaage ($6.00), or deep fried squid. It was served with a side of spicy mayo for dipping. The squid tentacles were good, but we were hoping for a lot more. The "cup" was tiny in itself and was filled mostly with a bed of shredded radish with the handful of tentacles on top. Eh, can't complain with the price.
Because we had a bigger group with us this time, we chose the deluxe sashimi (20 pieces for $32.00) which comes served on a wooden bridge. The assorted pieces are chef's choice, and came with salmon, sockeye salmon, tuna, tako (octopus), tai (red snapper), and amaebi (sweet shrimp). All of the pieces were thickly cut and decently fresh. The heads of the shrimp are also saved and deep fried, providing a crunchy little snack for you to suck on. My mom was all about it.
We also got an order of prawn tempura (6 pieces for $10.00) since we were quite impressed with the dish last time. It was still served hot and fresh out of the fryer, but there was almost too much batter this time. If you compare this picture to the last review, you can clearly see the difference.
As a filler dish, we got their chicken teriyaki don ($9.00). We had their unagi don last time, and this just cemented the fact that their rice bowls are definitely worth getting. The chicken was nice and juicy, and served over a bed of rice and bean sprouts. My brother hogged this dish after his first bite.
Onto the sushi rolls!
The tiger roll ($12.00), as seen in the first picture, was a dynamite roll (imitation crab meat and prawn tempura) topped with ebi and avocado. Pretty standard. It came drizzled with their favourite spicy mayo and eel sauce to use.
A repeat order of their Boston roll ($15.00), which is a dynamite roll (imitation crab meat and prawn tempura), topped with grilled salmon and drizzled again with eel sauce and spicy mayo. I much prefer the grilled salmon topping to the ebi and avocado in the tiger roll. It's just so much creamier and softer, and still as good as I remember!
We also got their spider roll ($7.50) which is synonymous with deep fried soft shell crab due to the tentacles resembling spider legs. The roll was also stuffed with imitation crab meat, which sort of overwhelmed any flavour of the soft shell crab. The end pieces are usually the best part of this roll at any restaurant, so fight for those if you can!
We also added an order of their chopped scallop roll ($7.00). The scallops were sweet and fresh, and they give you a decent amount without too much rice filler around the edges. Good stuff.
After we were finished, we threw our napkins onto our plates, signalling that we were full and done. To our surprise, one of the sushi chefs came over and presented us with deep fried salmon head/collar. Served over a bed of mixed greens, the gesture was incredibly nice of him.
Back in the day, my family frequented Furusato on Whyte Ave quite reguarly, and their salmon head was the best thing to order from there. This just brought back all those memories of eating at that restaurant. We haven't been back for quite some time now after hearing that the quality of the food has gone down with the change of owners, but who knows? Maybe it's time to do a re-visit.
Anyways, it takes some work to eat this dish since you have to basically scavenge the meat that is left on the collar, but it's definitely worth it. It's usually a piece of the fish that is discarded after all the sashimi is cut off, but the meat around the area is so succulent to go to waste. Thank you Sushi Park!
Overall, still a great place to grab sushi while in St. Albert! I haven't been to Yuzen or Ohana-Ya to properly make a comparison, but those are definitely on the list. Just give me some time.
Sushi Park
9 St Anne St.
St. Albert, AB
(780) 418-1335
- CT
The northeast is a barren wasteland in terms of food and dining options. I live right at the north cusp of city border limits, so I reserve the right to poke fun at it. With more development, hopefully it will get better, but unfortunately for now, we'll have to live with fast food establishments and generic chains.
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not against chains; they serve their purpose by selling predictable food that appeals to all tastes (cc: Earls, Joey's, Moxie's, and the like). But they can get pretty boring after a while.
Original Joe's have several locations throughout the city, but the Hollick Kenyon branch is my neighbourhood OJ's. It can get pretty busy during peak times, especially during the summer when the patio is open. That's because there are literally no other options in the area.
The restaurant/bar hybrid has many high-tops but I don't particularly enjoy eating my meals at such elevated heights, so we settled in at a booth near the corner of the restaurant. I've been here a couple of times with friends when looking for something close and convenient, and OJ's certainly fits the bill considering it's only a 2 minute drive away from my house.
This visit was probably from 2 months ago when ST and I planned an impromptu hang-out session, but all of my experiences at this OJ's have been pretty much the same: okay food at decent prices, a loud bar-like atmosphere, and friendly and cheery service.
Lighting was a bit of a buzzkill so sorry if the photos look like they're blanketed in darkness. ST had just come from a workout so she was craving meat, and lots of it. She ended up choosing the Carolina pulled pork sandwich ($13.75): tender pork, cooked low and slow, mopped in their peppered bbq sauce, and topped with honey slaw on a fresh white bun. What I appreciate about OJ's is that you actually have a choice of two sides when ordering any of their burgers or sandwiches, and there's more than just fries and salad to choose from. ST ended up getting homecut fries with gravy and garlic mashed potatoes. Carbs on carbs, she's my kind of friend.
The menu isn't all that enticing to me, so I usually get the applewood salmon club ($15.00, see the first picture): oven roasted applewood salmon, served on a toasted brioche bun with roasted red pepper aioli, lettuce, tomato, peppered bacon and fresh avocado. For my sides, I chose the honey slaw as well as upgraded to sweet potato fries for an extra $2.00. I tell myself it's healthier than getting a burger, but it's pretty much the same thing. The salmon could be a touch dry but overall, it's still a tasty sandwich.
Solid eats, convenient location, but there's just so much more to explore rather than settling for OJ's. Oh, the places you'll go!
Original Joe's
5247 167 Ave NW
Edmonton, AB
(780) 406-0050
- CT
There's only a sprinkling of Shanghainese restaurants in Edmonton, and while I haven't been to every single one, Shanghai 456 would probably rank at the top of the list.
Previously housed in the cafeteria of the now-defunct Edmonton City Centre airport, Shanghai 456 now resides in an equally odd and out of place location, that being a west-end industrial park. You know the saying -- if you build it, they will come? It seems as if the owners of Shanghai 456 are really gunning for this whole "hidden gem" aesthetic.
My mom and my sister loooooves this place, so we find ourselves here on the occasion that they're craving xiao long bao. Which in their case, is pretty often.
One of our staple orders, and probably the most recognizable Shanghainese dish being served up at Chinese restaurants, Shanghai noodles. Mixed with bean sprouts, cabbage, mushrooms, and pork, the noodles exhibited nice wok hei, that is, the breath of the wok. Good caramelization and sear of the ingredients, and quite a strong garlic flavour as well.
One of my sister's favourite items, although I'm not really partial to it myself, dan dan noodles (spicy peanut sauce noodle with x.o. sauce). It tastes almost like watery peanut butter with a few spices thrown in. It was also served lukewarm at best, so maybe that's why I didn't enjoy it as much as she does. But to each their own.
Almost every single table will have a steamer on it, so you know this is a must-order. A thin wrapper encases a tender, well-seasoned pork filling, with warm delicious soup bursting at the seams. A basket of 6 xiao long bao will set you back at about $7.50. A bargain, if you ask me.
Aside from the xiao long bao, we always make an order of the pan fried pork dumplings, or wor tip. It basically has the same flavours as the xiao long bao, along with the characteristic hot, steaming broth, but the thicker wrapper is pan-fried to a nice crisp, providing some contrast in texture. They also have beef wor tip, but I find the seasoning for the beef too gingery and harsh-tasting. My advice, stick with the pork.
My mom likes to order these -- Shanghai homemade pan fried beef buns. They're only available on Sundays and public holidays apparently. Pretty much the same filling as the beef wor tip, but encased in a fluffy bun that is pan fried.
She also likes to order the shredded turnip and ham puff pastry. Two things that Shanghai 456 knows how to do, dumplings and puff pastry. These are deep fried flaky baseballs (essentially) encasing a mound of shredded vegetables and ham.
At the end of your meal, Shanghai 456 will bring out a complimentary dessert. Sometimes it's jello, sometimes it's almond cookies, and other times, it's their lotus blossoms (puff pastry filled with black sesame paste). I didn't want to leave it up to chance so I requested that we make a separate order for these. Crispy, flaky puff pastry surrounding a gritty, nutty filling of black sesame. One of my favourite things here.
I don't even want to think about the amount of lard or butter that goes into making these small little flowers, so just shhhhhh and let me live my life.
Shortly thereafter, the waitress brought out our second dessert which was complimentary. Black sesame paste filled sticky rice flour balls (I really enjoy their menu descriptions btw). Similar to a mochi in terms of chewiness, although not as smooth. The fact that it had black sesame, and the fact that it was free? A win-win anyhow.
Service is a little spotty, but it's understandable since there's only two waitresses manning a busy floor at times. But the food speaks for itself, and good things come to those who wait.
Shanghai 456
14456 118 Ave NW
Edmonton, AB
(780) 451-8333
- CT
Block 1912 is a Whyte Ave institution. Filled with mismatched tables, chairs, and sofas, it's a cozy and charming spot, perfect for winding down with a coffee, catching up with friends, and/or grabbing an after dinner dessert. The clientele varies from young and old, to students, couples, and families.
While their menu includes sandwiches and other savoury options, who are you kidding? You're here for dessert.
It was surprisingly busy for a weekday evening, with most tables and couches being accounted for. I guess everyone had the same idea during the after dinner lull. Even if you're full, there's always a second stomach for something sweet.
Their display case might actually be heaven on earth. Not to mention, it's HUGE and spans twice the length that you see above. With so much variety and tempting options, it's definitely a decision that shouldn't be taken lightly.
Most of their dessert options range from $6-$7, which is reasonable considering the size of some of them. The lineup has some staples that I always see (for example, their oreo cheesecake is a popular one), but they make an effort to change it up now and then with creative and inventive flavours. While they aren't as sophisticated and refined as Duchess Bake Shop, they have a distinct homemade feel to them.
SC decided on the chai mango crème brûlée ($6.00). Breaking the torched sugar crust, SC thought that the custard underneath was a little too stiff. Probably from sitting in a refrigerated case all day. To me, the chai flavour tasted just like gingerbread, which is fitting considering that chai usually contains warming spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and nutmeg. Good, but nothing mind-blowing.
MZ chose the berry panna cotta ($7.00) which comes swimming in a bowl of fruits and their juices. Again, the panna cotta suffered the same fate as the crème brûlée, being a little too thick, but I appreciate the fact that you can see real flecks of vanilla bean. Also a great gluten free option, as indicated by the little description on their name cards.
Being the Asian that I am, I had to get the raspberry green tea white chocolate cake ($7.00). Okay, maybe I didn't have to, but anything green tea or black sesame and I'm sold. It was a certainly a mouthful to order, but this ended up being my favourite thing that I've tried so far at Block 1912! The cake consisted of thin, alternating layers of green tea sponge, vanilla buttercream, and raspberry puree. White chocolate curls provided a nice decorative touch around the outside (it's a well known baker's trick to hide any imperfections), while a single raspberry was like the cherry on top.
The nice thing about this cake was that it wasn't too sweet. The raspberry was the perfect tart complement to offset the usual cloyingness of white chocolate. I just hope that this cake becomes popular enough to become a mainstay in the dessert cabinet. Please, Block 1912, just for me?
Block 1912
10361 82 Ave NW
Edmonton, AB
(780) 433-6575
- CT
