Review
The expectation for a restaurant with $$$$ and raves reviews, you come to expect a lot. You expect such a meal to change your life. The food is great, but not out of this world. If you’re a fan of fine dining and an atmosphere that is not tightly packed, then this place is a perfect choice for that. If you are looking for a meal that will make you rave about it for days and weeks, then this place may not be the place for that. Don’t set your expectations so high, which some of us do when we read and hear about a restaurant and how incredible it is, because you may set yourself up for disappointment. The service is top notch, you have waiters in full suits serving your meal, which is a nice touch, but not a must. They are attentive to your table and will make you feel at home. Not a place to frequent, but for some who enjoy a somewhat private and isolated good meal, this would be a place to go if you have some cash to spare.

Review
If you are a fan of pork, so is Shin Sen Gumi. They wrap anything they can find in bacon. If you come, sit at the bar, point at the mini skewers you desire, if you’re not a pork fan, they have many other items that fits any preference. The mini skewers are placed on a grill and seasoned with spices and salt. Yakitori is was originally for skewered chicken, but has expanded to other types of protein. Order from the menu if you like and if you order a beer, get ready for the loud roars from the staff shouting something in japanese in glee as though you’ve made their day by ordering a beer. Order as many different types of skewers as you can and enjoy them with the special spicy green sauce. This spicy sauce packs a punch, which makes you come back for more.

Review
If you hear Chinatown, the first thing that doesn’t come to mind is Banh Cuon. Nestled in a small strip mall in Chinatown lies Hoan Kiem, which is known for its banh cuon. Banh Cuon is rice based crepe filled with some sort of meat and vegetables, usually served with fish sauce and garnished with cilantro, cucumbers, and pork meatloaf. This place is also known for it’s Pho Ga or chicken Pho. The broth is hearty and homemade. If you’re feeling a cold coming down, stop by Hoan Kiem and grab a bowl, it’s tastes better than any medicine you’ll ever take. The hours are a bit inconvenient since it closes early for dinner hours, but a nice spot for a quick weekend lunch.

Review
To get to Bainbridge Island, take one of the ferries that take you from the port of Seattle over to many of the small islands just outside of Seattle. If you have a car, transport your car over as well to drive around and explore the island a bit. The island is home to a small pedestrian friendly mall and tucked in a busy little corner you can find Emmy’s Vege House which is a Vietnamese food stand that’s strictly vegan. Order up your food at the window and they’ll throw some vegan kabobs on the grill. The kabobs are a bit too salty for my taste, but it does have the same texture as regular meat kabobs. Change it up a bit and if you find yourself on this cozy this little, stop by and have a try.

Review
If you ever find yourself in the city of Victoria, British Columbia, and you’re looking for some decent pizza, try to stop by at Pizza Zone. It reminds you a bit of Pizza Hut, but better. There’s not much excitement in the city, if you like gardens then Buschart Gardens is about an hour bus drive away, but the highlight of the trip there was Pizza Zone and the meatlovers (420) pizza, but that isn’t saying much.

Review
Pike Place Market is a landmark in Seattle definitely worth chowveling to. The market is located right next to the beach and has a plethora of food choices and snacks along with boutique stores you usually don’t find anywhere else. If you are a fan of Starbucks, the OG store is located at Pike’s, this is where the empire began and it’s a zoo there, but don’t bring your laptop, there’s no room, but you can still people watch just like people do at regular Starbucks. The seafood is fresh and is known for colorful personalities selling the goods, with fish flying through the air. PETA had some issues with the throwing, but what’s the big deal, they’re already caught and dead, who cares if they get thrown to be cut up for dinner. Even with the lame boycotters, Pike Place is still a place anyone can enjoy and appreciate.

Review
In the popular confines of Pike’s Place, you will find a Chinese pastry stand. Forget the pastries and just go for the BBQ Pork Hom Bow. It could be the weather mixed with the warmed of the Hom Bow, but boy does the two fit together. One bite of the warm hom bow warms you right up just like a warm cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter’s day. If you are in the Seattle area, Hom Bow is a place to stop by for a quick snack while you trek through the craziness of Pike’s Place.

Review
How much more can you pimp out a hot dog? Mixing Japanese ingredients with good american hot dogs is one way. Japanese mayo, bento flakes, seaweed flakes, are just some of the things JapaDog incorporates. Thinking about the taste of a hot dog/sausage pretty much would go good with any ingredient. Instead of sauerkraut, what about korean kim chi? Is the next wave of hot dogs involve fused with cuisines from other countries? Maybe. Japadog is just the start, one thing that Japa does is bring the usual japanse restaurant customer service to a hot dog stand, which is one of the reasons why it is so popular. The food isn’t going to wow you, but they’re doing something different and unique, if you’re in Vancouver, this is a worth while place to travel.

Review
When you think good Mexican food outside of Mexico, you think San Diego. When you find good Mex on the total opposite side of San Diego, it’s a pleasant surprise. The taco plate special gives you quality tacos at just under 6 bucks, affordable for anyone. The quality of the tacos are similar to the roach coaches you find all over Los Angeles. To get an idea, I would put this place up there with the better tasty roach coaches. This place a chain up in the Seattle area, so if you see one driving around Seattle, stop by for a taco or two, just like desert, there’s always room for one taco.

Review
Vietnamese are known for their Pho and Spring Rolls. There are so many other great types of cuisines in the Vietnamese cultural menu to choose from. The broken rice dishes are good and other soup dishes are always a good choice and Green Leaf is one restaurant that does these other dishes right. If you are tired of the typical Vietnamese dishes, go to Green Leaf to try something else. It’s a bit on the outskirts of downtown Seattle, but worth a slight detour. Try the Hu Tieu soup, it’s rice noodles mixed with a plethora of seafood proteins.