Having been to the Hapa Izakaya on Robson Street in Vancouver, I had very high expectations for their first foray into Toronto. After coming here about a week after their grand opening, I am so happy that Hapa decided to come to Toronto.
Atmosphere: Friendly staff and classy interior, yet not pretentious. Great date night place.
Two of us spent around $35 each including drinks. We ordered:
- Aburi Saba: Seared marinated mackerel sashimi. Awesome presentation on this dish (blowtorched at your table) and the taste was excellent. Very fresh tasting
- Halibut Taco: More of a wrap than a taco, but still excellent. Halibut tasted very good and the Jalapeno tartar sauce adds a kick to this
- Gindara: Baked sablefish, sake-miso marinade. This was my favourite dish. The sablefish melts in your mouth and the skin was perfectly crispy. This dish instantly brought me back to memories of the amazing seafood in Vancouver.
- Polenta Fries: This didn't stand out as much as the others, but was still delicious
- Pork Belly Lettuce Wraps: The pork belly was perfectly cooked and it reminded me of peking duck. I love pork belly and this dish reminded me why.
Guu comparisons will probably be made, but I don't think it's apples-to-apples. I got a very different vibe from Hapa. Guu feels more casual and playful, while Hapa feels more formal and classy. I love both Guu and Hapa and I think it's refreshing to have an izakaya place in Toronto that doesn't strive to be like Guu. This place is a must-try.