Toratatsu
735 Denman St
Vancouver, BC V6G2L6 (Map)
604-685-9399
(Web Site)
Price: $$$$$
Cuisine: Japanese
Toratatsu is the one and only truly good izakaya that Ravenous Rob has been able to find outside of Japan. Although the menu shows some West Coast influence, fusion cuisine has become standard fare for modern izakaya, and the inventive touches are all positive. The wide-ranging array of food here is consistently excellent, with standouts including marscapone tofu, miso grilled black cod with sweet potato, and the buta shabu salad, with thinly sliced roast pork and a light seasame dressing. The service here is overall good, but slightly hampered by the lack of an all-Japanese staff.