HAPA IZAKAYA I, TORONTO (LITTLE ITALY)
Saturday, December 28, 2013
The main reason for coming here was to see my high school friend who works here, who didn't work the day I went. The second reason for coming here was because I bought a Groupon for Hapa Izakaya before this summer, and never got the chance to go because I was away on my Asia trip.
When I came back, Hapa was closed because of the flood that happened in Toronto, and I only got to go visit when it re-opened. We went for a early Sunday dinner, during their Hapa Hour: 1730-1900, which offers a selection of their tapas at half the price, but we couldn't order those because we already had a 50% off Groupon.
When I came back, Hapa was closed because of the flood that happened in Toronto, and I only got to go visit when it re-opened. We went for a early Sunday dinner, during their Hapa Hour: 1730-1900, which offers a selection of their tapas at half the price, but we couldn't order those because we already had a 50% off Groupon.
Tuna Salsa served with plantain chips
We all liked this fingerish food: the finely chopped up tomato, tuna, avocado, seaweed, and tangy vinaigrette all spooned up on a crispy chip. Very good for sharing because I was already fed up with it after 2 chips cause I'm not a chip fan.
Crab Tempura Roll
Spicy Baja Roll
There's pork belly in this roll. And cheese, and chili. But with all that rice and spiciness, I didn't really taste the pork belly at all. Maybe this would be better if it was just "Spicy Baja"
Renkon Gyoza Tempura
Thin slices of lotus root sandwiching a very flavourful nced pork mixture, tempura'd, and served with a ponzu or yuzu (I really don't know the difference between the two that well) soy sauce. I would order this again because it's not something I would cook on my own as it requires deep frying.
Hapa Hot Wings
Before eating at Hapa, I read a few reviews, and most reviewers didn't enjoy these wings much. The wings are of a larger than most wings place size, and deep fried with a thin crispy, spicy batter which I liked. The chilli-soy sauce was thick, and upped the otherwise plain chicken wings.
Pork Ishiyaki
Many elements in this hot stone bowl: miso marinated minced pork, Chinese chives + flower, tomato, lettuce, all topped on a bed of rice and topped with a miso spiked gochujang and egg. The pork, seasoned heavily with miso and cooking wine, went extremely well with the chives. If the tomatoes (which were warm by the time you mix it, let it rest, and eat it) were to be substituted with chopped fresh kimchi, this dish would get a 10 (out of 10) from me.
Ankimo - Smoked Sea Fois Gras
I've been wanting to eat Monkfish liver ever since I saw it on food blog A Life Worth Eating - it looks so delicious and the blogger's description confirmed it. When I saw the little cup of layered greens, beige, white, and orange, my heart sank, but I had to give it a try anyway. I would've liked this to be presented differently, and not in a cup where I had to struggle to pick a bit of everything in a spoon to eat in one bite. But the liver itself? Was rich and everything I had dreamed of it to be. I would be fine if they didn't serve this with the seaweed, ponzu jelly, daikon, lettuce, and tobiko.
Halibut Taco
Kobe Beef
The beef is fully cooked and served on a sizzling hot plate (see the steam?) - good for those who don't like it medium rare. The dipping sauce is ponzu tinged.
Our waitress asked if we wanted an egg with this dish (because it doesn't originally come with an egg), and I said "Yes". This rice is for those who enjoy teriyaki sauce and the deep taste of sauteed mushrooms *raises hand*
Kabocha Pudding
Very creamy texture, with an obvious kabocha (Japanese pumpkin) flavour, which we all really liked.
Kinako Panna Cotta
Soybean flour panna cotta. It is much softer and smoother than other panna cotta's I've tried, but the kinako is not special enough for me to want it again.
Upon walking inside, the dim, relaxing atmosphere sucks you towards a candlelit table, where you can easily hold a conversation with those around you without the "Pardon me?" and shouts from across the table (as you would have to do in Guu).
X
MUAH MUAH MUAH
VICKI CHOWDER
P/S
The girls I live with love sashimi. After Julie discovered a fish market that distributes sashimi grade salmon and tuna to all the Japanese restaurants in Waterloo, we've been getting a weekly dose of salmon sashimi.
This is how I attained nicer skin - by eating so much fatty salmon
Happy Holidays dear readers!
