ShiZenYa, Vancouver: Too healthy for my palette!

Was around the VGH area, and saw the high ratings of this place! Gluten-free, organic, natural, brown rice? Sure, why not give healthy a try?

Restaurant: Shizen Ya (visit their website here)

Location: 1102 West Broadway, Vancouver
Cuisine: Japanese, Sushi, Brown Rice, Gluten-free, organic
Price range: $15-$20




Date of visit: September 14, 2013
Atmosphere: 4/5
Staff/service: 4/5
Food variety: 4/5
Food quality: 4/5
Buck worthy? 3/5

It was a cute little store with an interesting menu. Their gluten-free menu consisted of mainly quinoa-based dishes, with a few vegetarian options. Intrigued, I ordered a Sakura Blossom Roll ($12.95). This wasn't as bad a it looked, the flavors were well-rounded and the ingredients were fresh. It consisted of smoked salmon, salmon, avocado, real crab meat, cucumber, wrapped in brown rice. The salad in the middle however, was disastrous. Besides being bitter, the leaves weren't very fresh at all.

Adorables ordered their Dinner Combo A Kheema Curry ($14.95). It consisted of miso soup, ebi sunomono, sashimi, and curry with rice. The miso soup had veggies in it, interesting. Ebi sunomono was made with tiger prawns and... not your typical glass vermicelli. It looked more like brown rice vermicelli. Adorables seemed to find the sashimi acceptable though.

Last but not least, the chicken curry. Paired with brown rice, this didn't taste one bit Japanese. It was a very strong curry flavor and herby-- no milky flavor that I'm used to for sure. Saw some unsatisfied expressions on his face, taking that as the curry wasn't enjoyable for him either xD It also was a bit dry and barely any chicken in there, loaded with a myriad of beans though.

Honestly, I'll just stick to my "unhealthy" Japanese food. This was far too health-conscious that it lost the meaning of food. If this is the price to pay for my health (maybe not even that much of a difference), I'd rather starve (maybe not literally though... MUST KEEP EATING). Munch on!! <3

Random picture of the night scenery ^-^ The beauty that is named, Vancouver~