Could foodies in Vancouver be any more blessed?
Not only do we get to indulge in local wine, beer, and farm-fresh ingredients grown from the soil of our province, but we also get to indulge in some of the highest-quality ingredients from around the world, particularly when it comes to seafood.
And this month we get to enjoy a taste of it all for free.
Hosted by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), The Japanese Seafood Fair in Vancouver will offer seafood lovers free one-bite sample dishes made with premium seafood imported directly from Japan. Known for its high quality and cultivated through centuries-old traditions and advanced freezing technology, Japanese seafood is world-renowned for its subtle flavours, extreme freshness, and endless delicacies.
This year’s festival will take place from March 1 to 10, with nine participating restaurants, each serving a unique dish highlighting a seafood product of their choice. We’re talking Sea Bream Crudo, Scallop Sashimi with Miso and Shiso sauce and so much more.
The event aims to celebrate the high-quality Japanese products available in Canada and the restaurants that truly know how to make those ingredients sing.
This year’s participating restaurants include:
- Sake Dining Hashigo serving Scallop Matsumae Duke + Draft Sake Rairaku Sparkling or Scallop Wasabi
- Kingyo Izakaya serving Goma-Hama
- Takenaka serving Hokkaido Marinated Fresh Scallops with house-made dressing
- Suika Izakaya serving Miso-Soy Yellowtail Carpaccio
- Noah’s Cafe serving Sea Bream Crudo
- RAISU serving Scallop Sashimi with Miso and Shiso Sauce
- Zakkushi on Main serving Spicy Hotate Poke or Negi Shio Hotate
- New Fuji serving Hotate Kimchi
- Rajio serving One Bite Scallop with Uni
This festival is sure to pique the interests and appetites of a lot of hungry locals, so we highly recommend making reservations at each restaurant as early as possible to guarantee your seat and your free one-bite dish.
Please note that free samples are only available for the customers ordering at least one regular menu item per person at the participating restaurants at the time of the event except Takenaka's sampling booth at Kawaii Japan Market between March 1st and 3rd.
The same free plate will be available at Takenaka’s East Georgia Street location from March 4 to 10. Sake Dining Hashigo will also offer an exclusive experience of pairing a sample plate with Fresh Draft Sake “Namasake,” both restaurants adhering to the same ordering conditions to qualify for the offer.
Additionally, each restaurant has a limited number of plates per day, so be aware of the limitations in capacity for each location. You can learn more about each participating restaurant and each free dish they’ll be offering by visiting the festival’s information page HERE.
Whether you love seafood, or simply love free food, this is an unbelievable opportunity to dine at some of the best restaurants in town while enjoying some of the best ingredients in the world.
Learn more about the event here or visit jetro.go.jp/canada/events/current.
