The Japanese I find are superb at balancing the new and foreign with the old and traditional. Looking at food alone, on the traditional side they have their tea ceremony and the multi-course traditional dinner that is kaiseki-ryōri 懐石料理. But on the other hand, the Japanese have a knack for taking a foreign cuisine and putting their own twist on it -- this love of japanizing western food is called yōshoku 洋食 -- at which point it would proliferate to such popularity and familiarity that it become essentially Japanese.
Just to name a few mouthwatering examples: korokke コロッケ is a croquette-like, crumbed and deep-fried mashed potatoes that is popular at home as well as at food stands; naporitan ナポリタン is the japanese answer to spaghetti neapolitan served in many western-style restaurants; hamburg steak ハンバーグ, a variation of the salisbury minced meat steak; and kasutera カステラ, a highly popular sponge cake that is an adaptation of the portuguese pão de lo.
Now I don't know if a nori topped hotdog, with a name like japadog, would get to such popularity and familiarity. I'd venture, perhaps not in Japan. But in Vancouver, it certainly has come a long way into reaching that status.
Looking at the queue inside its bricks & mortar shop at Robson St would be enough to pique anyone's curiosity. But this is also the reason why I probably wouldn't come back again, unless if I happen to be in the area, outside of lunch time peak hours, and in the mood for splurging.
The kurobuta terimayo -- self-billed as "one of the must eat items in the world" -- was pleasant enough, the sausage is definitely juicy, the teriyaki & mayo combo sauce is a winning one, the shredded nori adds nothing. But essentially the makeover is not different enough to be truly outstanding. I do like the aonori shaked fries -- the seaweed flavour here is more pronounced.
In all honesty, I probably should instead order dogs with a bolder japanese flavour like the grated daikon topped oroshi; and the okonomi topped with the quintessentially japanese smokey bonito flakes.
Japadog
530 Robson St
Vancouver BRITISH COLUMBIA
Open Monday-Saturday 11am-10pm, Sunday 11am-8pm
Now I don't know if a nori topped hotdog, with a name like japadog, would get to such popularity and familiarity. I'd venture, perhaps not in Japan. But in Vancouver, it certainly has come a long way into reaching that status.
Looking at the queue inside its bricks & mortar shop at Robson St would be enough to pique anyone's curiosity. But this is also the reason why I probably wouldn't come back again, unless if I happen to be in the area, outside of lunch time peak hours, and in the mood for splurging.
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| Kurobuta terimayo - $6.75 |
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| Aonori shaked fries |
In all honesty, I probably should instead order dogs with a bolder japanese flavour like the grated daikon topped oroshi; and the okonomi topped with the quintessentially japanese smokey bonito flakes.
Japadog
530 Robson St
Vancouver BRITISH COLUMBIA
Open Monday-Saturday 11am-10pm, Sunday 11am-8pm