Nikko's saboro tofu

Type of cuisine: Japanese

Hours: Sun-Thu 11am-12 midnight; Fri-Sat: 11am-1am

Seating: Total 160; tatami rooms (40), outdoor patio (45-60); handicap accessible

Price guide: $$ (Two can dine for $25-45); all major credit cards accepted

Reservations: for big parties

Chef speciality: saboro tofu, okonomiyaki (Japanese pizza), tuna/beef tataki

Spirits: Spirits + White Wine + Chardonnay Bin 65 Lindemans (AU); Pinot Auxerrois Gehringer Brothers VQA (CA); Bordeaux Blanc Mouton Cadet Baron Philippe de Rothschild, Sylvaner Alsace Hugel (FR); Niersteiner QBA Lois Guntrum, Piesporter Goldtropfchen Kab Rudolf Muller (DE); Chardonnay Sundial Fetzer Vineyards California, Fume Blanc Dry Creek Vineyards California, Zinfandel R.H. Philips (US). + Red Wine + Bordeaux A.C. Mouton Cadet Baron Philippe de Rothschild, Beaujolais Villages Georges DuBoeuf (FR); Chianti "Vernaiolo" 1994 (IT); Cabernet Sauvignon Woolbridge Robert Mondavi California (US). + Champagnes and Sparkling Wines + Henkell Trocken (DE); Domaine Chandon Blanc de Noirs Brut (CA,US); Cuvee Dom Perignon Moet et Chandod (FR). + House Wines + Bordeaux (white), Zinfandel (White), Bordeaux (red), Chardonnay (white), Japanese Plum Wine. + Whisky + Ballantine, Chivas Regal, Johnnie Walker (red/black), Glenfiddich Grants, J&B Rare, Crown Royal, Canadian Club, V.O Seagram. +Liquors+ Cointreau, Grand Marnier, Drambuie, Amaretto di Saronnno, Tia Maria, Kahlua, Baileys, Sambuca. Domestic and import beer. + Sake + Sake Gekkeikan, Sake Sho Chiku Bai, Chilled Draft Gekkeikan Sake.

The Scene: For Vancouverites, there are Japanese restaurants that serve sushi, teriyaki and noodles, and then there are those that serve tapas. Only a small handful of Japanese restaurants in Vancouver offer both varieties in one expansive menu. One of them is Nikko Japanese Restaurant.

At Nikko, you won't get bored of sushi. Leave it to Chef's Akira Omura San's imagination to add a creative flair to your dish. Whether it's a plate of heart-shaped sushi that tastes sweetly romantic, or caterpillar shaped sushi to please the children.

California, Kappa Maki, Tuna Sashimi,... One could go on and on about what Nikko can offer. But this modest restaurant's speciality is not among their wide selection of sushi and sashimi.

The tuna tataki, for example, is certainly a must-try; the fresh tuna is seared on the outside and served cold. The light citrus sauce used in its colourful presentation gives a very freshening flavour. A great appetizer to get your tastebuds started.

A truly popular dish is the saboro tofu. "There is one couple that has come here...four times a week for this dish," says Ray Lum, manager and part owner. The soft tofu is cooked in a sweet, salty, and ginger-infused special sauce. The silky-smooth texture of the tofu is well balanced with the firm consistency of the minced pork and mushroom topping.

Another not-to-miss is the Okonomiyaki (Japanese pizza)--it is the best in town.

Celebrities such as Bif Naked, Sean Penn, Peter Coyote and Rob Lowe are some of the loyal customers of Nikko. It is also a favourite among the Vancouver Canucks, as it is open seven days a week even during the late afternoon.

If you're lucky, you may encounter a celebrity or two at Nikko, but it's the food and warm service that will bring you back time and again.