Ethnic Eats – Sampling the World’s Cuisine Without Leaving Vancouver

When my friend first mentioned that Bistro Sakana had a Healthy Sushi lunch special, my first thoughts were that I was in some serious trouble, because here I’ve been going happily along thinking that sushi was healthy and now I was about to be proven wrong. Thankfully that is not the case. The Health Guidance website lists many health benefits of sushi and it turns out that Bistro Sakana has simply come up with a way to make it even more healthy. That’s Yaletown for you.

But following hot on the heels of a large poutine, I will happily take all the extra healthy choices I can find. The Healthy Lunch Special comes with a green salad with tangy citrus dressing and soba noodles, miso soup, a side of Agedashi tofu in broth with daikon shredded daikon on top, your choice of a California or Avocado roll made with brown rice, a side of white rice and of course tea. Because we are rebels and leery of being too healthy, I had a chopped scallop cone and Tricia had a mango roll as well Actually, I had a chopped scallop roll, which was not what I wanted, but that was really the only complaint.

We’ve had the healthy lunch a couple of times now and it’s a good option if you’re feeling like something light and good for you. The tastes in the various dishes are complementary in the extreme, so you get a little bit of salt in the miso and tofu, a bit of tang in the salad dressing and then the hearty, earthy taste of brown rice, etc. I wouldn’t the healthy lunch special if you’re extremely hungry – although the number and variety of dishes does seem to satisfy…something in the place of a hearty meal – but you can always order something extra off the regular menu as well and failing that, they have an excellent sushi and hot menu. I keep meaning to go back and try some of my old favorites, then end up defaulting back to the special. What I like about is that it’s almost ridiculously healthy, the kind of food that you feel good eating, but it also has the bonus of tasting good as well.

The place is pretty tiny and fills up fast at lunch, so go early or be prepared to wait. There is also a small patio that should be open as soon as the weather is warmer, but we all know by now that sitting in the sun just isn’t good for you. Not even the healthy lunch can help you with that.

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Bistro Sakana
1123 Mainland Street, Vancouver