Guu Richmond - Richmond, BC

Mr. Piglet and I haven't been to this Guu in a few years but on this particular weekday, we couldn't decide where to go eat so we drove to Aberdeen Mall and figured we'd end up at some restaurant in the mall.  As we arrive to the corner where all of the restaurants are located, I hear the familiar yelling...  IRASHAIMASE!  Yeah, we're going to Guu.

Guu Richmond is kind of like that red-haired cousin - not as popular and colorful as the other Vancouver Guu locations but still a part of the family.  And what is Guu?  It is a Japanese tapas place - an izakaya - where people go to drink and eat smaller portioned food.  You can compare it to a pub or bar but that would be incorrect as the food is more substantial, prepared with much more gusto and the tastes and flavors are out of the box.  This is the only location to serve traditional sushi but Mr. Piglet and I opt against it as you can get great sushi from many other places in Richmond and their specials menu calls to us.  As we are both coming from the gym (with the amount of eating out we do, it's a necessary evil), we decide on a few lighter options....  Whatever that means...

Aigamo Salad - $5.80

Roasted duck and mushroom on greens with wasabi dressing and garlic chips

The duck is cooked really well and super tender - even though it's got that layer of fat, the whole thing really just melts in your mouth.  The wasabi citrus dressing lightens the whole dish and gives it that nice refreshing note.  There's also that nice crunch of garlic chips, soft mushrooms and crunchy peppers.  Mr. Piglet doesn't generally care for salads but he enjoyed this one.

Salmon Yukke - $4.80

Chopped salmon with garlic sauce, green onion and pine nuts

This dish comes with a raw egg which is then mixed into the salmon to create this gooey mass that looks unappetizing but when placed into the prawn cracker is super delicious.  Guu does the texture thing like no other - the salmon and egg are super soft but then there are hints of sesame and garlic with crunch from the onions and prawn cracker and nutty flavor from the pine nuts.

Grilled Whole Squid with Spicy Mayo - $6.80

It is what it is.  Nicely grilled and super tender - not chewy at all which is always the fear of having grilled squid.  We're not sure how it was marinated or seasoned but we detect nice citrus notes which is nicely balance by the delicious spicy mayo.

Karubi - $5.80

BBQ garlic sauce marinated beef ribs

They look and smell great but this turns out to be the black sheep of the evening - they arrive on the cold side and are a lot tougher and chewier than I expected them to be.  The taste of the garlic and sweet soy is great but the temperature and texture are ruined for us.

Bibimbap - $8.90

Mixed seafood and vegetables on rice in stone bowl

A traditionally Korean dish but Guu does it justice here - it arrives magma-hot and mixed tableside by the server who purposely squishes the rice against the sides of the bowl.  And why??  Because the bowl then sears the rice, creating a crackly burntish mix of rice, sauce and veggies.  Oh yeah...  This bowl has it all - a mix of tastes, textures and temperatures.  Spicy kimchi, hot rice, crunchy bean sprouts, soft salmon, chewy squid and crunchy rice.  The stone bowl is so hot, the rice stays smoking hot until the very end of our meal.  Excellent.


On this particular weekday, it's the only restaurant in the mall that has any patrons and there's a reason why.  Hot towels on seating, attentive service, loud yelling, electric ambiance, excellent food and free-flowing cocktails and beer - what else could you ask for??  Guu Richmond might be the red-haired cousin but it still can still pack a punch.  The Piglets haven't been here for a long time but it now seems too long and we'll definitely be back sooner rather than later.

Empty bowls and full stomach...  Bon appetite!


Pros:

• Excellent service
• Very good food, cocktails and beer
• Extensive menu and a variety of specials
• Free parking
• No waiting - we've never had to wait for a table at this location

Cons:

• Portions are smaller so a meal can get pricey
• Washrooms are shared - it's basically the public mall facilities that you'll be using