Valentine’s Day
7.February.2013
We are happy to offer a special five-course set menu for Valentine’s Day! Be sure to book early as space is filling up. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Valentine’s Day Set Menu
$130 per couple
1st Course
Sashimi Platter for 2
Sashimi 6pc, smoked salmon 2p , oyster 2pc
2nd Course
Sable fish
3rd Course
Aburi Beef
4th Course
Sushi Platter for 2
Salmon oshi, Ebi oshi, Red Wave, Bincho, Hamachi 10 pc
Otoro Chirashi Tart
5th Course
Dessert
Chocolate Raspberry Cake
verbana infused strawberry compote, strawberry sorbet, balsamic ice cream.
Now open on Sundays!
30.September.2012
By popular demand, Miku is now open on Sundays for dinner, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Now you can get your aburi sushi fix seven days a week. We hope to see you soon!
Miku Restaurant to Move to Waterfront Location
20.July.2012
Aburi Restaurants Canada is pleased to announce the relocation of their award winning restaurant, Miku to the former location of Aqua Riva at 200 Granville Street. Miku has been a growing success since their opening in 2008 and have garnered a loyal customer base with their signature Aburi style sushi. “Our steady growth and great local support has prompted the need for a larger space,” states CEO, Seigo Nakamura, “the opportunity to be the first Japanese restaurant on the waterfront is something we felt we could not pass up on.” Being a mere four minute walk from their current location, Miku will undoubtedly retain it’s strong following while adding more seats and a spectacular view. The new restaurant will boast an amazing waterfront patio as well as an upscale lounge and private dining room. Planned relocation is for Spring of 2013.
Miku Restaurant would like to thank their current property management company as well as the patrons of the Guiness Tower at 1055 West Hastings Street, for a very successful four years.
Minami Restaurant Opening June 2012
22.May.2012
Seigo Nakamura, CEO of Aburi Restaurants Canada opens second restaurant in Vancouver
Aburi Restaurants Canada is pleased to announce the opening of its second Vancouver establishment, Minami Restaurant, on June 5, 2012 at 1118 Mainland Street in Yaletown. This is the sister project to Miku Restaurant, located in Coal Harbour, which opened in 2008. “I am thrilled to unveil my vision for Minami to the Vancouver community,” explains Seigo Nakamura, CEO of Aburi Restaurants Canada. While still playing an active role operating eight restaurants with his Japan-based company, Tora Corporation, Seigo is now focusing on North American expansion. “It is my goal to create an environment that is truly unique, combining the beauty of Japanese culinary flavours and textures, with the creative arts and quality service.”
Minami, written in Japanese kanji characters means ‘a beautiful wave,’ and is also the name of Seigo’s youngest daughter. Miku, his other Vancouver restaurant, was named after his eldest daughter.
Spanning over 8000 square feet of floor space, Minami will be a dynamic space for dining and entertaining, which will include two private dining rooms, a seated lounge, a hidden sun-filled patio and a custom-built sushi bar.
Award-winning design and architect firm, OMB, has transformed the space into a modern dining environment with influences of Japanese aesthetics. Project led by principal, Michelle Biggar, design elements are a creative interpretation of Minami’s meaning, and has been built using local and sustainable materials. As an addition, guests can expect to see stunning, vibrant murals covering feature walls by internationally renowned mural painter from Kyoto, Japan, Hideki Kimura.
The menu will offer signature favorites of the Aburi Restaurant brand, such as the Aburi Salmon Oshi Sushi and Chicken Nanban, along with innovative and contemporary Japanese cuisine exclusive to Minami. Seasonal and regional ingredients, as well as Ocean Wise seafood options are integrated into the dishes to reflect the diversity of responsible food choices. An essential element of the dining experience will be heightened by the chef’s Zekkei style of plating – a Japanese term literally translated to ‘a superb view,’ by incorporating specialty porcelain plate ware called Arita Yaki. Each piece has been handpicked by Seigo, and custom-designed by the pottery artisans of the Arita region in Japan.
The Minami bar will feature an extensive sake list, wine menu, and cocktail program designed by the highly-acclaimed 2010 Vancouver Magazine’s ‘Bartender of the Year,’ Shaun Layton.
The full website for Minami Restaurant will launch on June 15, 2012. For live updates, please follow our Twitter feed and find us on Facebook.
2011 Where to Dine Awards Finalist
2.May.2012
A heartfelt thank you to all our guests who voted us to be a finalist in the Best Japanese category at the 2011 Where to Dine Awards! Although, we didn’t take home the gold, we are completely honored to be a finalist and in the same category as Guu, Ki Modern Japanese, Hapa Izakaya and the winner, Tojo’s. Kazuhiro Hayashi, head sushi chef, Patrick Rider, Minami Manager and myself, Erica Pang, media and community relations representative for Miku attended the event held at the beautiful Ki Modern Japanese in the Shangri-La Hotel. The charming and entertaining Fred Lee emceed the awards ceremony along side Tim Pawsey. A great moment was honoring restaurant legend, Bud Kanke who is officially retiring from the industry after 40 years. Congratulations to all the winners and finalists! A huge thank you to Where Magazine for putting on such a wonderful event and of course, to Vancouver for being an amazing foodie city!
To view a list of all the winners, please check out Where to Dine Award Winners.
Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards 2012
24.April.2012
The Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards is one of the most talked about, anticipated culinary events of the year and yesterday was no exception. Over 700 guests including foodies, chefs, restauranteurs, front of house staff and sommeliers gathered at the Sheraton Wall Centre Hotel to celebrate the best of the Vancouver culinary community. Guests indulged on endless amounts of savory and sweet plates from the Sheraton, Two Rivers Specialty Meats, The Roaming Dragon and many more. The event was truly a special celebration of Vancouver’s diverse, skilled and passionate restaurant industry.
The event hosts, Fiona Forbes and Michael Eckford of Urban Rush did a fantastic job at leading the awards ceremony. The definite highlights of the night, were Kingyo’s crew chugging the bottle of wine and of course, Hawkworth Restaurant’s sweeping win. Manager, Gary Hutton and Media and Community Relations, Erica Pang attended the event, to represent Miku Restaurant as it was nominated in the Best Upscale Japanese category. Although we didn’t come home with gold, we are completely honored to in the same category as Tojo’s and Zest. A heartfelt congratulations to all the winners — all very well deserved! Special thanks to Lisa Nakamura Ngyuen of BC Business ‘The Social List’ for picture number 2!
For a full list of all the winners, check out Vancouver Magazine.
Miku Celebrates the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival
28.March.2012
SakuraB Bento Box (April 5th)
We are excited to announce Miku Restaurant’s collaboration with Tojo’s and five other local Japanese chefs from: Shuraku, Zest, Zen, & Toshi’s Sushi for a limited-edition bento box. Each chef has created a special dish that best represents the season of the cherry blossoms. Our head sushi chef, Kazuhiro Hayashi has created the ‘Sakura Oshi’ which consists of ebi and hotate pressed with house made ume sauce. The bloom of the cherry blossoms represent an important custom in Japan called hanami, literally meaning ‘viewing flowers.’ It’s said that the origin of hanami dates back to more than one thousand years ago when aristocrats enjoyed looking at beautiful cherry blossoms and writing poems. Nowadays, people all over world enjoy this tradition while feasting on a picnic style meal. Treat yourself on April 5th with SakuraB bento box and enjoy an afternoon lunch underneath a delightful cherry blossom tree!
> View the full menu and pre-order your SakuraB bento box (SOLD OUT!)
Hanami Select (April 5th-April 28th)
To celebrate the return of cherry blossoms this spring, Miku Restaurant will be featuring the ‘Hanami Select’ from April 5th-April 28th. The dish will be inspired by the beauty of the delicate petals of a sakura tree and the fresh flavors of spring. The dish is an assortment of flavors, featuring a Sakura roll filled with salmon, ebi, kanpyo, yamagobo, spinach, sakura denbu rice topped with pickled sakura blossom and wrapped in daikon. The selection also includes 3 pieces of Aburi saba, maguro and hotate sushi, Aburi beef, wasabi heirloom potato and spring pea salad and a snow crab and shrimp cake miso tartar. It will be available during dinner service for the price of $30.
> To view all restaurants featuring a Sakura Menu during the festival, click sakura map.
> For more info on the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival, visit the official website or JapanFairVancouver.com
OH! SUSHI
15.March.2012
Last weekend, I attended the 7th Annual Vancouver Women in Film Festival at Vancity Theatre. One of the featured films called ‘Oh! Sushi’ explores the origin of the BC roll. The director, Toshimi Ono leads audience into the Vancouver sushi culture to how it all began and what it has evolved into today. Two prominent sushi chefs, Hidekazu Kobotake of the popular downtown ‘fast food’ restaurant, Sushi Zero One and Tsutomu Hoshi of The Sandbar in Granville Island are interviewed in the film.
If you love sushi and is curious about Vancouver’s sushi culture, I highly recommend watching this heart warming film. If you missed the screening, OH! SUSHI will broadcast in Ontario (OMNI 2), Alberta and BC on OMNI TV Sunday, March 18th at 9pm ET, MT and PT (English version). Check your local listings for details!
To learn more about the film, please click here.
