Food & Drink
THE 5 BEST SUSHI PLACES IN SURREY CENTRAL
Got a hankering for sushi, but you don’t want to go all the way to Vancouver for some divine tekka don? Well, I have the answer for you. I just found the best sushiyas in Surrey’s Central City area and I’m willing to share my findings.
I love sushi and I had a delicious time sampling this popular cuisine in the many restaurants scattered around the Surrey Central area. The following are my five favourites (in no particular order).
Sushi King • #102-10344 King George Boulevard
Sushi King is a newly opened establishment situated in the heart of the up and coming Central City area. Boasting trendy décor and an impressive menu including a varied drinks selection with beer, wine, sake and “saketails” such the Samurai or the sake-tini, a creative take on the classic martini.
Sitting in the restaurant, the ambience was unmistakably Yaletown chic, with a chalkboard menu on the wall, a high ceiling and minimalist tables and chairs. The wait staff, dressed in the de rigour black, set a contemporary tone.
The many choices on the lunch menu made for a prolonged deliberation on ordering, but my lunch companion and I finally decided on the Dyna Box lunch special. This box is served with miso soup, rice, green salad, tempura (prawn, squash, and yam), 6 piece dynamite roll and a choice of chicken, beef, salmon, or tofu teriyaki. That was a LOT of food — artfully arranged, and scrumptious. A truly satisfying lunch!
Sushi King is a great place to gather with friends to quench your craving for a little (or a lot) of Japanese specialties — try their unique “build your own” Sushi Cup.
Sushi & Roll • #103 – 10241 King George Boulevard
This restaurant is an unexpected delight — hidden in the heart of the city, Sushi & Roll has an extensive menu with several one-of-a-kind concoctions. I was tempted to try one of their special rolls, like: Burning Cheese which is spicy tuna, cream cheese with a special sauce and masago on top, or their Crazy Rabbit Roll: that is sweet potato tempura, crab, unagi, tamago and ebi all rolled inside cucumber but I decided to leave those for another visit and I order the Chirashi Don Buri instead.
I did not regret it. This dish features five different kinds of raw fish salmon, tuna, tai (snapper), tako, (octopus), and ebi served on a bowl of rice with tamago (egg). The assortment of fish was fresh with a firm texture and a subtle flavour complemented by the softness of the egg and the rice was tender. A satisfying and filling meal.
One of my two dining companions chose the Tuna Don Buri. She remarked that the tuna was exceptionally fresh and firm and the rice was perfect. She enjoyed it immensely but thought it needed a little something extra — instead of only sashimi and rice.
My other companion ordered the Veggie Bento Box. His meal came with a miso soup and a large lunch box filled with a combination of delicacies. A savoury tofu teriyaki gently fried with a mild sauce made a pleasing main portion. The box included a crisp salad, a potato croquette, a six piece avocado roll, pork gyoza and an orange half and was more than ample for a hungry diner.
We were pleasantly surprised by the quality of our meals from the palate pleasing food to the friendly and efficient service. We left the restaurant full and happy. Sushi and Roll is without a doubt a must try for anyone who loves sushi.
Fukuda Sushi • 10537 King George Boulevard
When I mentioned my quest to find the five best sushi restaurants in Surrey Central to a friend of mine, she immediately demanded that we go to Fukuda Sushi.
Fukuda is a small, cozy restaurant with a neighbourly feel. The server/hostess was friendly, chatty and helpful from the moment we walked in the door. We were in luck as we had just missed the lunch rush, and the restaurant had only a few other patrons when we settled into our seats.
Fukuda, although small, has a varied menu with a lot of choices ranging from the typical offering of sushi rolls, don buri and sashimi. It took me a while to decide what to order with so much to choose from. Finally, I opted for the Spider Roll: a mouth-watering combination of crab leg tempura, avocado, tobiko and a special sauce and an order of edamame. My friend ordered her usual — the lunch combo sushi — an amazing array of tasty sushi rolls with a miso soup on the side.
Even though Fukuda Sushi is a small establishment, the food is great — fresh fish, succulent rice and a friendly, unassuming atmosphere with great service. A must-try when a craving for sushi hits. Oh, and they deliver too!
Izumo Sushi • 13631 100 Avenue
Located in a small strip mall across the street from Holland Park and Central City Mall, this tiny restaurant is a cozy spot to enjoy an enticing lunch or dinner.
The considerable menu offers an array of Japanese fare ranging from appetizers to dinner boxes and everything in between. Once again, I was torn as to what to choose — with so many choices, it was difficult to choose! Finally, we decided to share a few dishes and ordered Spicy Agedashi Tofu, Tuna Tataki and the Fall in Love roll.
The server took our order and brought our tea with a friendly smile and pleasant demeanor. Since it was mid-week and just before the noon-time rush, the restaurant was quiet and soothing. We did not have to wait long before our meal appeared at our table.
The tofu dish was superb the delicately fried batter enclosing the soft texture of the tofu. The dipping sauce enhanced the subtle flavour of the dish. Agedashi tofu is a favourite of mine and this one did not disappoint.
I had never had Tuna Tataki before, but now that I have, I highly recommend it, especially if you love tuna! Lightly seared with a smoky flavour, the tuna cuts rested atop a fresh, crisp lettuce salad, garnished with a lemon slice. The tuna melted in my mouth and the bright salad complemented the fish well.
Izumo Sushi offers more than 15 special rolls with unique names like: Tomato Princess roll, Knock Out roll, Goldilocks roll and Oh My Gosh roll all intriguing choices. The Fall in Love roll that we ordered was a stellar choice, Smoked salmon, smooth avocado, cream cheese and yam tempura rolled rolled inside a deep-fried yam sweet chili-mayo coating. Heaven in every bite.
This quaint sushi place is worth a try and I will most certainly return (if only to sample the other special rolls!!)
Tokachi Japanese Restaurant • 10767 King George Boulevard
Stepping into Tokachi is like entering a sushiya in Tokyo. From the minimalist décor to the authentically dressed servers, Tokachi is an unquestionable experience. Offering seats at simple tables or in traditional tatami rooms, with a wide-ranging menu — this restaurant has something to please every palate.
The server was very helpful, answering our questions and explaining some of the unfamiliar items.
The Umeshiso Maki roll (pickled plum & Japanese basil) intrigued me but I decided to pass on it when the server pointed out that the plum was very sour and was an acquired taste. I settled for the Special roll (tuna, smoked salmon egg and tobiko). My lunch companions ordered Edamame and Tuna Tataki (seared tuna with ponzu sauce); and Deep-fried Roll (salmon, snapper, scallop and avocado in tempura batter) with an order of gyoza.
The dishes, from the appetizers to our main choices were amazing fresh, appetizing and delicious! The Tuna Tataki, while satisfying was not quite as flavourful as the same dish from Izumo, but the presentation was outstanding. My Special Roll was beautiful — an innovative fusion of tuna and smoked salmon. The star of the meal, though, was the Deep-fried Roll.
The creative combination of salmon, snapper, scallop and avocado in the delicate deep-fried batter was artfully displayed on the plate and tantalizing to the taste buds. It is easy to see why Tokachi Japanese restaurant has been one of the most popular sushi places in Surrey for 22 years! A must try place if you love sushi.
Tucked away on the edge of the Strawberry Hill Shopping Centre is Bandra Cafe, one of the best places for brunch in Surrey. It offers unique menu items that are not only full of flavour but are pretty just to look at. If you’re looking for something different than your basic pancake breakfast, this is the place for you.
Bandra Cafe serves Bombay-style cuisine that is chock full of flavour and spice. On our visit, we ordered the Bandra Benny and it did not disappoint. Just like your standard eggs Benedict it came with poached eggs, bacon, and hollandaise sauce, but was served on top of chili-cheese toast. It gave it the perfect kick that you wouldn’t normally find in an eggs Benedict, setting Bandra Cafe apart from all the other brunch spots in the city. On the side, there were crispy potato wedges and some sliced avocado.
Bandra Benny (Marco Ovies / Surrey604)
We also ordered their dalgona coffee, which we had never tried before. It came with whipped coffee on top of steamed milk. Our waiter politely helped us out and instructed us that we needed to stir the drink (we had just gone right in for the sip and it left us with a coffee mustache that wasn’t noticeable until we got home). The drink both looked impressive and tasted great.
Dalgona coffee (Marco Ovies / Surrey604)
But Bandra Cafe doesn’t just do eggs Benedict. They also serve kanda poha (a popular Bombay breakfast with flattened rice, onions, peanuts, herbs, and spices, topped with coconut and sev), Kheema Par Eedu Skillet (kheema, potato salli, fried eggs, and pav bread, described on the menu as the “Bombay breakfast of champions”), and even a vegan platter (avocado, grilled tofu, vegetables, and salad with tahini almond dressing). You can also order small bites and drinks to share if you’re coming to visit later in the evening with friends.
The cafe itself is very modern looking with a plant wall at the entrance with a neon sign that reads “Good Brews, Good Bites.” The service was excellent and we’re excited to go back again to try the rest of their menu.
Bandra Cafe is open Monday to Thursday from 11am to 10pm, and Friday to Sunday from 11am to 11pm.
Bandra Cafe
Address: 7310 #110 120th St.
There are so many different sushi spots in Surrey that sometimes it can be hard to choose. That’s why we’ve created a list of the best sushi restaurants in Surrey to satisfy your next sushi craving.
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MaguroGuy has an excellent assortment of sushi and delicious Japanese dishes. We’d recommend visiting for their lunch special Udon Set which comes with a dynamite roll, tuna, salmon, and ebi nigiri, tempura, Seafood udon (small), and a green salad.
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What makes Sushi Mori so special? Well for starters there is a tree in the middle of the restaurant. They also make some great sushi and have plenty of specialty rolls to try like their Spicy Sunflower Roll which has crab meat, cucumber, avocado, and prawn tempura covered with spicy salmon and topped with tempura flakes, shredded red beet, spicy mayo, and aioli sauce.
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Kami Sushi is the best place to grab a filling and affordable lunch. The best thing to order is one of their lunch combinations that are available from 11:30 to 3:30 pm. We love their combo B which comes with four pieces of sushi, three pieces of their Reno roll, four pieces of the spicy love roll, and tempura udon for $19.95. You get a great assortment of food for a great price.
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Sushi California has a great assortment of different rolls, potentially the largest selection in all of Surrey. They have over 67 different rolls you can choose from, and that’s not even including nigiri or any of the other things on their menu. The only other sushi spot that could compete is the next one on our list.
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Psi Sushi & Roll is another Surrey favourite that has plenty on their menu. They also have some very unique rolls like their Flying Unicorn Roll which has crabmeat and cream cheese and is deep fried with melted mozzarella cheese.
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If you’re searching for your next picnic meal look no further than Sushi Street. They offer these sushi boxes that can feed one to four people that are perfect to take with you. We’d recommend trying Street Box #2 which can feed up to four people and has a Crazy Roll, Dragon roll, Dynamite roll, Philadelphia roll, Chicken wings, Edamame, vegetable sticks, and five kinds of special sauce.
If you’re looking for the next great sushi spot, look no further than Sushi Street. Located close to the King George Skytrain Station, this place should be your go-to for sushi takeout.
Sushi Street specializes in only takeout and offers quick and delicious Japanese cuisine. They specialize in bento boxes, sushi combos, and ready-to-eat foods that you can just grab and go. But probably the coolest thing they offer is their sushi boxes.
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You heard right, sushi in a box. They offer two different boxes that can feed anywhere from 1 to 4 people. Their Street Box 1 which can feed one to two people has a crazy roll, Philadelphia roll, dynamite roll, chicken wings, edamame, vegetable sticks, and four kinds of special sauce.
If you’re looking for more food you can get the Street Box 2 which feeds three to four people and has a crazy roll, dragon roll, dynamite roll, Philadelphia roll, chicken wings, edamame, vegetable sticks, and five kinds of special sauce. This is the perfect meal to grab on your way to a picnic over at Holland Park across the street.
But don’t worry, you can also order individual rolls if you’re just eating for one. They also serve inari which is sushi rice packed into a tofu pouch topped with all sorts of sushi ingredients. We’d recommend ordering the Inari Unagi or the Inari Spicy Salmon.
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While Sushi Street does specialize in takeout, they do have some seats inside to sit down and enjoy your food. But regardless of whetheryou eat in or take out, we promise you’ll love the food. Be sure to visit this new Surrey hidden gem soon!
Located in the heart of Newton is Fab Burgers Inc., the home of Surrey’s “monster burgers.” What is a monster burger you may ask? Well, it’s about as intimidating as it sounds.
Fab Burger Inc. has six monster burgers on their menu, and one of their most famous ones is the Fab Meaty Muncher which comes with breaded crispy chicken, a beef patty, chicken bacon, cheddar cheese, purple slaw, pickles, tomatoes, an onion ring, and their signature FAB sauce. It’s piled high and requires some maneuvering to be able to take a bite.
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If that’s still a little too small for you, you can order their Sweet Temptation Burger which comes with three patties of your choice of chicken or beef (yes you heard right, three patties), topped with lettuce, sauteed onions, tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and finished with barbeque sauce. It’s the biggest burger on their menu and definitely deserves the name “monster burger.”
But don’t worry, they also serve regular-sized burgers for those who don’t have a monster appetite. The Flamin’ Nacho Burger is a fan favourite and has a beef patty topped with fresh salsa, onions, jalapenos, sour cream, guacamole, nacho chips, and topped with cheddar cheese.
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If burgers aren’t your thing, Fab Burger Inc. also sells other foods like Chicken and Waffles and BBQ Lamb Chops which are marinated with their in-house blend of seasonings and sauces and served with fries, coleslaw, and a drink.
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So whether you’re craving a monster burger, or just want something on the smaller side to eat, Fab Burger Inc. has it all. Be sure to visit the next time you’re craving a good burger.
Fab Burger Inc.
Address: 7320 King George Blvd #108
You can only drink so much Starbucks before you get sick of it. That’s why we’ve made this list of the best coffee shops in Surrey so you can switch it up. Whether it’s because of the great atmosphere or unique drinks, these are the best places to get coffee in Surrey.
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If you’re a student in Surrey then you need to visit Coffee Monster. It is the best place to get some late-night studying done. Every table has access to an outlet and it’s open until 10 pm. Plus, they have some delicious drinks like their Spanish Latte which you can order hot or iced.
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Bandra Cafe is one of the first Indian-style cafes in the Greater Vancouver area and has some exceptional drinks and eats to show for it. Bandra Cafe tries to copy the vibe of the area in Bombay with the same name by creating a similar atmosphere by having “dark wooden chairs and white table tops” and also by selling “dishes like salli chicken, kheema pan and mawa cake.” This is definitely a very unique cafe that you need to visit.
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If you’re looking for one of the trendiest cafes in Surrey, then West Village Cafe is the spot for you. With a very clean and minimalistic interior and some fancy food to eat, this might be the fanciest café in Surrey. Not only does West Village Cafe serve your coffee shop classics like lattes and pastries, but they also serve alcoholic drinks and food like tacos, a chimichurri salmon and vegetable bowl, local craft beer on tap, and more! If you’re feeling extra fancy you should head in for one of their Bailey’s coffees.
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Espresso Cafe is located in the heart of Newton and has a very homely atmosphere to it. From the fireplace to the home-style baked goods, there is so much to love about Espresso Cafe. We’d recommend ordering one of their filo spinach feta pastries which are delicious. They have an always expanding menu and plenty of specialty drinks on rotation so be sure to visit Espresso Cafe.
The GrassRoots Cafe is a student-owned and operated café located on the Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) Surrey campus. They serve “alcoholic beverages and KPU brewed beer on tap, delicious food, snacks, coffee drinks and healthy alternative options such as vegan and gluten-free meals.” They also host a bunch of different activities like slam poetry, movie marathons, and more! Plus, if you’re a KPU student you can get a 5% discount.
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When a café has been around since 1949, then you know it has to be good. Prairie Cafe offers some classic vintage breakfast and coffee. They do classic American breakfast as well as Asian dishes like chicken Teriyaki, wonton soup, and chicken pan-fried noodles. If you’re looking for a blast from the past then you need to visit Prairie Cafe.
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