we were a party of three, visiting saku in burquitlam on 567 clarke road for the very first time. we arrived around 7:00 pm and put our names on the waitlist. the approximate wait time was 33 minutes, and the waitlist was pretty accurate.
the place isn't very big, and the dimensions of the restaurant are irregular. it's bright with high ceilings, pleasant aesthetics, muted colors, and a stylish minimalist design interior with busy tiles that remind me of a french style bistro.
as we waited outside, we noticed the lively atmosphere. despite the small size, the space felt open and welcoming. once seated, we were promptly greeted by a friendly server and used the qr code to retrieve the menu. shortly after we placed our order, our server brought us a mortar and pestle with sesame seeds, lemon salt, and some other condiments. the server explained that we could grind the sesame seeds and mix them with the condiments to create our own personalized dipping sauce. this interactive element added a fun touch to the dining experience.
we started with the shredded cabbage salad and miso soup, both of which were included with our meals. the shredded cabbage salad was incredibly fresh and crisp, with a light and tangy sesame salad dressing that was perfectly balanced. the miso soup was warm and comforting, with a rich umami flavour that was just right. surprisingly, these simple starters turned out to be my favourite part of the meal.
for the main course, we shared the zenbu katsu platter (rosu, hire, chicken thigh, 2 piece cheese, 1 piece ebi, 1piece hotate and 2 piece vegetables) and one order of the oyster katsu. in addition, we ordered another serving of soup and salad. the pork cutlet was perfectly breaded and fried to a golden crisp. while it wasn't as juicy as expected, the meat was fairly tender on the inside, with a crunchy exterior that provided a contrast in textures. the chicken felt dry, and was more like chicken breast instead of chicken thighs. the meats were difficult to distinguish, the dish was served with a side of rice, pickles, and a small bowl of tonkatsu and tartar sauce.
throughout our meal, the service was attentive without being intrusive. the staff were knowledgeable and eager to ensure we had a great dining experience.
overall, our visit to saku in burquitlam was a memorable experience. the combination of the stylish ambiance, interactive elements, and delicious food made for a delightful evening. our meal was very filling. after eating all the deep fried foods, is it wrong that i liked the sesame dressing with the shredded cabbage salad and miso soup the most? read more