The Bottom Line
Unusual and flavourful Tokyo-inspired tapas, great locations and reasonable prices make Hapa Izakaya a perfect date spot.
Hapa Izakaya in Kitsilano
1516 Yew St.
Vancouver, BC
604-738-4272
Hapa Izakaya in West End
1479 Robson St.
Vancouver, BC
604-689-4272
Pros
- Great locations in Kits--right by the beach--and the West End
- Izakaya-style tapas are perfect for sharing
- Delicious food with unexpected flavour combinations
- Great date spot
Cons
- Open for dinner only; no lunch
- No reservations taken at the West End location between 6pm - 8pm; can be long wait times
- Street parking may be difficult to find
Description
- Open Sunday - Thursday 5:30pm - 12am
Fridays & Saturdays 5:30pm - 1am - Chic, modern atmosphere with sleek, black interiors
- Most menu items $5 - $15
- More of an adult-oriented ambiance
Guide Review - Hapa Izakaya
You won't find sushi or traditional tempura at Hapa Izakaya. Styled after Japenese izakayas--"eating and drinking lounges"--Hapa serves up an eclectic menu of Tokyo-inspired tapas, incorporating unusual flavours and an array of Asian influences.
The signature dish is the delightful Ebi Mayo, tempura prawns tossed in a spicy mayonnaise sauce (that's not at all mayonnaise-y). Other favourites include Goma-ae, an unexpectedly-great dish of green beans, tuna sashimi and feta, and Cheese Tofu, a sweet cheese and maple syrup concoction that works perfectly as dessert. (There's no actual tofu in it.)
Most of the menu is tapas-style: smaller dishes designed to be sampled and shared. Cold tapas are under $6, hot tapas are under $8, and the rest of the menu is generally under $15. Two people can easily share four items and two glasses of wine for about $40.
The salad, noodle and rice dishes are larger and more entrée-like, though they too are better when shared. One hearty choice is the Ishi-Yaki, a Korean hot-stone-bowl mixture of rice, minced pork, egg, chives, and miso that finishes cooking at the table.
Both Hapa Izakayas--the one in Kits and the one in West End--make perfect date spots. The tapas are for sharing and the restaurants' sleek, modern elegance makes dressing up seem entirely appropriate.
There is one thing the Kits Hapa has over the West End version: a patio overlooking Kits Beach, where you can watch the sun set over the water.
Throw in the Ebi Mayo prawns and you have a perfect night out.
