Opah - Irvine

13122 Jamboree Blvd.

Irvine, CA 92602
opahrestaurant.com

Hubby decided to surprise me with dinner at Opah the day before Valentine's Day. There used to be one in RSM and I'd heard the raves when it first came to Irvine when we were still living there but thought I would just be disappointed so we never tried it. Hubby's coworker recommended it though so he decided to give it a shot.

We ordered the BBQ Pork, Mango & Brie Spring Rolls ($12) for an appetizer and I had a Mango Martini. I didn't take a picture (actually I forgot my camera and had to make due with my phone) but they were both good.
Hubby asked our waiter for his recommendation after learning they were sold out of prime rib. Water gushed about the pork chops or rather Double Cut Maple Infused Pork Chops with Sweet Potato Fries ($27) so despite not really being a pork chop fan, hubby went for it. He actually really enjoyed it, too. Sorry, no pic.
I ordered the Hazelnut Crusted Halibut with Papaya Relish ($26) as I am a hazelnut fanatic. The super crappy picture above is of my dish. It was quite delicious! We were quite pleased with our meal thus far and I was wondering why the heck we hadn't come here years ago.
Although we were pretty full, I was determined to try one of their desserts since it was a special occasion so we ordered the Vanilla Creme Brulee ($8), which was also yummy. Here's the requisite crappy phone pic. It was dark in the restaurant and my phone doesn't have a flash.

Crown Bakery - Las Vegas, NV

4355 Spring Mountain Road
Las Vegas, NV 89102

I was craving some baked goods while in Vegas and the good folks on Yelp led me to Crown Bakery. It's located upstairs (above Tea Station) and is a cute, if small, Korean bakery. I'm afraid I don't remember what I got, but I can assure you it was good. I grabbed 4 items that looked interesting and headed to the counter to pay. The sweet Korean lady saw me looking at the picture she had on the wall of her daughter (and I was holding my then-almost-2-year-old daughter) and jokingly told me how her 9 month old was so huge and heavy she was puffing after carrying her up the stairs to the shop.
Anyway, here are the goodies:

Light, fluffy texture, not too sweet. Crown Bakery is a winner! Too bad I don't live in Vegas anymore.

Hachi - Las Vegas, NV

11011 West Charleston Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89135
ilovehachi.com

Hachi is located inside the Red Rock Casino. When we went to visit my parents in Vegas last September, my mom took us to eat here. It's a long, skinny restaurant, with shiny, modernish red, black and white decor. Here's what we ordered: edamame, little sumpin' sumpin roll (cali roll topped with tuna & cilantro), 8-ball roll (soft shell crab, bell pepper, seared yellowtail, avocado & garlic ponzu), marijane roll (crispy coconut shrimp, eel, shiso, mango puree, avocado, spicy mayo & eel sauce), seared beef roll (with yuzu soy) and smack roll (it was on a special menu, don't know what was in it but boy was it tasty).
I loved all of it!!

For dessert, a trio of creme brulee: green tea, ginger & macadamia. I'm not that crazy about ginger so that was my least fave but the other 2 were good!

A+ for Hachi!

Nautical Nellies Steak & Seafood - Victoria, B.C.

1001 Wharf Street
Victoria, B.C. Canada
V8W 1T6
nauticalnelliesrestaurant.com

After searching fruitlessly for someplace to eat dinner, we stumbled into Nautical Nellies. It looked like one of those trendy, overpriced places so we didn't have high expectations. I ordered the Seafood Trio ($27.50): sweet chili glazed prawns, bourbon bbq halibut & lemongrass ginger salmon which came with green beans and mashed potatoes. I think Hubby ordered the Classif Surf & Turf ($42.50): filet mignon & baked lobster tail. I'm not positive though, but it's the only thing on the menu that seems to match the picture I took.

Unfortunately I don't remember how the food was. I don't recall hating it, so I think I must've liked it. But it was a bit overpriced.

Old Vic Fish & Chips - Victoria, B.C.

1316 Broad Street
Victoria, B.C. Canada

We spotted this place as we walked around Victoria. The sign outside said "Voted Victoria's Best" so in we went. Pretty basic interior. We sat in a booth and ordered - what else - fish & chips (Cod & Halibut). Hubby liked the cod, I liked the halibut.

SalaThai - Vancouver, B.C.

102-888 Burrard Street
Vancouver, B.C. Canada
V6Z IX9
salathai.ca


I am always craving Thai food and I spotted this place while strolling around Vancouver. It was much too cute to pass up! Decorated to the nines in full out Thai style. I wish I took some pictures of the interior but it was jam packed full and didn't feel like being the lame tourist taking pictures of the restaurant decor.
I always order the following things at a Thai restaurant: Thai iced tea, tod mun (fish cakes) and larb kai (minced chicken and chilis with lime juice). Hubby ordered some tom yum talay (hot & sour seafood soup) and ruam mit ("an exceptional dish of assorted seafood with homemade spicy curry coconut sauce, bell pepper & served on a sizzling plate").

We were pleasantly delighted with the deliciousness. No wonder they were packed, and with Asians, too. You know you gotta worry when there's no Asian customer in sight at an Asian restaurant. I especially liked how generous they were with the cucumber in the fish cake sauce. Some places are way too skimpy, or *gasping in horror* don't give you any at all!
I must return to this place if I'm back in Vancouver!

Imperial Chinese Seafood Restaurant - Vancouver, B.C.

355 Burrard Street
Vancouver, B.C. Canada
V6C 2G8
imperialrest.com


I was determined to eat dim sum while in Vancouver and we found this place within walking distance of our hotel. We were a little disappointed to have to order off a menu rather than pick items off the carts. It's just a fun part of the dim sum experience! Although with the menu you can plan your meal better and make sure you order all the stuff you want. Sometimes with the carts you get full and THEN they bring out some new stuff you forgot you liked to eat! So anyway we ordered our standard dim sum faire..steamped shrimp dumplings, siu mai, fried taro balls, salty fried squid, bbq pork buns, chicken feet (hubby only - I don't like food that makes you work that hard for so little return), sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaf, egg tarts and deep fried bean paste balls, etc.
I only took one crappy picture so I apologize:

The food was decent. I think I'd try another dim sum place though the next time we're in Vancouver (if and whenever that may be!)