Hiraku Sushi is a small Japanese sushi restaurant, but when it comes to the food and service, it’s definitely not small. Located in a great area, the atmosphere of the restaurant is warm and welcoming, and this is beneficial when it’s the rainy seasons in Vancouver. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve gone in, soaking wet from the rain, and been greeted by all of the staff. This always brings a smile to my face. As soon as you walk into the restaurant, someone brings you to a table, and immediately asks you what you’d like to drink. There are a big variety drinks from Canada and Japan. I always get a Japanese soda called Ramune, where you have to use a plastic tool to pop a marble into the drink to open it. It’s really fun to see my dad get scared by it. Food wise, they have amazing boxes, filled with not only sushi, but other Japanese food I’ve never heard of before. The box I usually get has a bowl of warm rice, crispy vegetable tempura in a sweet sauce, steamy deep fried tofu on teriyaki soaked beans (my personal favourite), a fresh salad with tangy dressing, transparent noodles in a sweet vinegar base with fresh vegetables, and delicious avocado kappa rolls. If you’re on the run, you can get amazing take-out from there. After you finish eating, you have time to absorb the design of the restaurant. The walls are covered with bright, modern paintings, and gorgeous architecture. You can order ice cream, which comes in two flavours: green tea and mango. They come with two scoops, and sprinkles on the top. When you’re done your ice cream, they hand you the bill with a chocolate for each customer at your table. When leaving, all the staff, even the chefs, take time to say good bye and thank you. The service at Hiraku is some of the best service I’ve ever had. All of the staff help each other out, and the workers never seem to stop working, which is something I appreciate. My family has been very, very impressed with this restaurant, and we have so many fun memories going there. We plan on going as much as possible!
