I am not really a big fan of bubble teas. I come here mostly for the food of Taiwanese taste. The set meals on the menu is quite a bargain. For less than $10, you can leave the restaurant very happy and satisfied. I often would order one more bowl of rice in addition to the one included in the meal, because the main dish and the 3 little side dishes altogether are simply too sumptious and delicious. It's actually like two meals to me. They serve Taiwanese sausages and smelly tofu too, har. One of my kids' favourite is the fried spicy chicken, though it's too much for me. They offer a large assortment of cool drinks, but I enjoy their hot brews in those glass teapots the most. My only complaint is their slow service, though the girls all try to look at their prettiest and tidiest and they can be quite sweet. Oh, yes, it's a bit cheaper too if you order it as take-away's.

I ventured here with my family once and got stopped at the doors because of the kids *laugh*. It was daytime, but still, minors were not allowed, we were told, but we managed to get ushered into a small spot where we could sit down and enjoy a cheery meal with the kids. It's obviously a favourite hangout for the local pilots and it's really cool to see planes out there. The view is marvellous indeed. The atmosphere was great. I saw on blackboard about fishing lessons being offered too. Quite a community gathering here.

I wanted to make this place my hang-out once more, after it had changed from Venice Cafe to Alleluia, but the food I could get even at such a cheap price did not get me hooked. It's like a canteen to some of the people I know -- food and drinks are decent for a very good price. I just can't be bothered to switch my car into this area from Westminster Highway, then try find a parking space. Sometimes I'd want to sit down and try to pick some food from the menu at a leisurely pace so I can enjoy a feast of a good meal, but the waitress always seems in a hurry and quite discouraging when it comes to ordering too much food. Very funny *laugh*

I am so hooked on this place that I'd frequent it too much, so much that I'd have to give it a break before I start going the rounds again for lunch, snack and dinner, hehe. Let me list what I like so much about this place:-

1. Pricing -- what more can you ask if you can get a toro sushi for $1.50 a piece, a decent meal for less than $10?
2. Sushi -- they put up on the wall big photos of all the sushi available on their menu. It's a large assortment and a delight to the eye. The sushi may not compete with the much pricier sushi places out there or as creative, but the price is competitive and the quality is always very good -- fresh and delicious....and, most important of all, just the right temperature!
3. Fried dishes -- highly recommended, all of them, heh! Prawn tempura, cream croquette, spring rolls, chicken karage, pork/chicken katsu....the list is long.
4. Chef's special -- Spicy tuna is one of my favourite dishes. Give it a try!
5. Drinks -- you can find an array of drinks from Japan in their cooler, which is a great delight, though this will add a few dollars more to your meal.
6. Snacks -- they sell all sorts of Pokka *laugh*
7. Service -- they're all Japanese, from what I can gather. This woman with a happy smiling face is another reason why I'd come back for more, heh.
8. Decor -- very simple and casual, typical of such a place in Japan. The TV is showing everything from Japan. The owner obviously is a big fan of hockey, putting up a big flag in support of the Canucks. There's a big world atlas along with world flags.

The only thing that concerns me is their apparent need for more helpers. Still, I don't see a huge deterioration in the food and service so far.

I've never been keen about pizza and all that pasta. I used to come here only for the kids. They had to drag me here, though I always enjoyed their rice bowls a lot. I found all that red in the decor intolerable too, har. Now that it's renovated, all's changed! They're stressing fresh and cool, from what I've seen. Now, every dish I've tasted certainly is fresh, fresh, fresh. I enjoy everything from start to end -- Caesar's salad, pizza, pasta, rice bowls, yum yum. It's ranked very high up with my local favourites now. I am guessing all this change for the better is due to the fact that BP has made this restaurant in Richmond their headquarters. Let's hope they'll continue with all this new freshness over the years.

This is currently my favourite for Richmond in this category for a number of reasons:-

1. Meatloaf - the best I've had.
2. Macaroni and Cheese - my little girl's own favourite and I always can't resist stealing a few spoonfuls.
3. The place is sunny and airy during the day, though it's on a street busy with cars going into No. 3 Rd along Westminster Highway. At night, the street is a lot quieter and the candlelight adds to the ambience.
4. I love how you can watch the several chefs cook in the open kitchen.
5. Service not too bad -- the few servers probably too busy sometimes but they still try to pay you the due attention when they come to your table. The big glass of cool water is always refreshing.
6. You can park for free. Just prepay the fee for 2 hours, I think, then have it reduced from the bill at the restaurant.