Rating / 4 out of 5 stars

The Kaboom Box is a bright red food cart on the corner of Granville and Robson. Beside it is a sandwich board sporting a humorous, fierce looking cartoon logo of a fish shaped like a bomb. 

The menu is simple. The concept is to serve the best that BC has to offer: a handful of Oceanwise Certified seafood; lean meat such as the venison burger for the meat eater; and house made veggie burger for the vegetarians.

(Above: Gulf Island fried oyster po’boy. Panko breaded and smeared with house-made tartar sauce.)

We shared the Gulf Island fried oyster Po’ boy burger with a side of BC poutine. The locally and sustainably harvested oysters are topped with house-made tarter sauce and served on a crusty bun. The Po’ boy was messy and surprisingly good. The oysters were deep fried in panko batter to a perfect crisp with no remnants of a fishy taste. And the house made tarter house with slaw was a nice change of pace. I was seriously debating on seconds.

(Above: The Kaboom Box folks working it out on Granville Street.)

Although it doesn’t say on the menu, you can get a side (rather than a whole order) of poutine, which tasted much better than it looked on the sandwich board photograph. Crispy fries topped with creamy mushroom gravy, cheese curds and green onions. The richness from the mushroom gravy and cheese curds gave the poutine a buttery taste and the green onions provided a nice, refreshing balance.

(Above: Fries topped with locally harvest mushroom gravy and cheese curds.)

Our bill including a bottled water, taxes and tips came to just under $15. We enjoyed our meal at Kaboom box and we recommend you hit these guys up on Granville street. You can’t miss the big red cart with the graffiti all over.

Perfect for: Tasty, made to order protein on the run.

The Details

Robson and Granville (Northwest Corner)
604.788.6367
thekaboombox.com
@TheKaboomBox

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Rating / 3 out of 5 stars

Fresh Catch is a fish market in Honolulu’s University district that also doubles as a restaurant and take out joint. The unassuming shop sporting a smiling octopus and smokey windows appears dodgy from the outside, but the food inside is fresh, simple and tasty.

(Above: Fresh Tuna Poke with two scoops of rice.)

Inside, Fresh Catch indeed resembles more a fish market than restaurant — the front fridge filled with buckets of seafood for the picking overseen by a creepy Captain Highliner-like figure. All the patrons passing through opted for takeout rather than the nautical picnic setup in the dining area.

Everything on the menu looks like picnic-ready grub, from the meaty plate lunches to the sauteed shrimp and seafood sandwiches. We sampled the fried tuna poke. Which, instead of the traditional raw fish, features lightly seared chunks of tuna swimming in Fresh Catch’s own soy, sesame oil, chili and onion soaked poke sauce and served with two scoops of rice.

(Above: Old man captain highliner keeps watch over his fishy friends.)

Our poke was accompanied by a crab sandwich: generous shreds of fresh crab meat tossed in mayo in a super soft hoagie topped with lettuce and tomatoes. The crab salad tasted a bit under seasoned, but the the sandwich was a delight to eat as each pillowy bite was rewarded with a meaty chunk of fresh crab.

(Above: Big crab salad sandwich on a soft hoagie topped with lettuce and tomatoes.)

Our meal came to under $17 with taxes and tips — good value for fresh, simply prepared food on the go.

Perfect for: seaside picnic on the go.

The Details

3109 Waialae Avenue, Honolulu
808.735.7653
freshcatch808.com

Rating / 4 out of 5 stars

Chasing down a shrimp truck amidst the backdrop of paradise would seem nothing less than a fantastical food lover’s dream. Unfortunately for us, it will remain a dream a bit longer. We were unable to make a drive up the famed North Shores of Hawaii to visit those trucks. Instead we closed in on Blue Water Shrimp & Seafood Company, part of the open air food court at the International Market Place in Waikiki.

(Above: a plate of seafood bounty — shrimp scampi, veggies an Ahi Tuna, Furikake style.)

No need to stand on ceremony here. It’s a pretty casual affair: some garden furniture scattered amidst the cluster of restaurants for diners to work on their meal. Blue Water started out as a humble shrimp truck, so much of its menu reflects simplicity: fresh fish, oyster, steak, and of course shrimp — all humbly prepared in a backyard barbeque fashion.

Case and I shared a double combo: shrimp scampi lathered in a buttery, garlic sauce served with a scoop of rice, veggies, half a corn and grilled Ahi tuna — Furikake style (encrusted in a jacket of sesame seeds and fried crispy on one side). It felt like a summer family reunion on a plate.

(Above: Coke? Why not?)

Our meal with a coke, tax and tip was a mere $20, quite possibly the best meal served up on a plastic plate we’ve had. The portions are generous, the food honest, and the people friendly, everything that makes us fond of Hawaii.

Perfect for: the best meal you’ll likely have on a plastic plate.

The Details

2330 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu
808.923.2529
hawaiishrimptruck.com

Rating / 4 out of 5 stars

Original Halibuts II on Northeast Alberta Street in Portland, is a fish and chip restaurant wrapped in a Blues lounge. While Original Halibuts next door resembles what most of us would recognized as a seaside chip shop, Halibuts II marries the odd couple of Blues and fish and chips.

(Above: Deep fried, coconut encrusted prawns on a stick.)

We wandered into Original Halibuts I, the kitschy takeout side of the restaurant with a variety of sea creatures scattered along on the walls. Daily specials are scribbled on a chalk board in the front. Friendly, but stern looking folks with smocks and rubber gloves motioned for us to head to Halibuts II for a sit down meal.

Halibuts II is a Blues lounge furnished with a small bar, a drum set, a microphone and some tables. The walls were covered with photographs of jazz and blues musicians. There’s a slight scent of stale smoke mixed with malt vinegar in the air.

(Above: Happy hour with a pint of Pabst Blue Ribbon and a Pina Colada. Happy indeed.)

We arrived at happy hour, a perfect time to sample what Halibuts II has to offer. We each ordered a basket of one piece fish and chips and three pieces of coconut prawns. Fish and chips wouldn’t be complete without a cold pint of beer (Pabst Blue Ribbon on tap) and a Pina Colada.

The fish was great: crispy, lightly battered and gently seasoned. The fish itself was flaky and moist and quickly devoured. Although slightly under seasoned, the fries were addictive and tasty. The oddly flat shaped, skewered coconut prawns were good, but just a tad overcooked.

(Above: One piece cod and chips.)

Our bill including tips came to just under $22, which is just an insane bargain. The service was friendly and the food decently executed — definitely worth a a return visit.

Perfect for: Fish and Chips with a dash of Blues.

The Details

2527 Northeast Alberta Street, Portland
503.808.9601
halibuts.squarespace.com

Rating / 4 out of 5 stars

Fortune House Seafood Restaurant in Metrotown serves up consistently solid dim sum in a more upscale than usual environment. Dim Sum can be both a harrowing and rewarding experience. Regardless of the venue, it usually involves some sort of physical activity (primarily concerning the elbows). Fortune House is no different, although its comparatively luxurious decor necessitates are more subtle approach — arrive early, or take a number and wait. Elbows are a last resort.

(Clockwise: 1. Spare Ribs in Black Bean Sauce. 2. XO Sauce. 3. Chicken Feet.)

There is no cart service here (that would be uncivilized) — orders are placed by marking off desired dishes on menu sheets and handing it off to your server. Case and I ordered a few dim sum standards. The chicken feet was fall apart tender and bathed in a beautiful savoury sauce; the steamed spare ribs gently seasoned and tender; while the shrimp and chive dumpling proportionately balanced with the right amount of meat and thickness of dumpling skin.

(Top to bottom: 1. Steamed Bean Curd, Scallops and Enoki Mushrooms. 2. Baked Red Bean and Tapioca Dessert.)

We followed up with some dishes not found in all dim sum restaurants. The steamed bean curd with scallops and enoki mushrooms were awash with a light cornstarch glaze; while the baked red bean and tapioca dessert was a crunchy delight on the outside and sweetly soft on the inside.

Our meal came to $35 including taxes and tips, which is certainly on the pricier end of dim sum. However, the quality of food at Fortune House has always been solid.

Perfect for: solid Dim Sum while waiting for the mall to open.

The Details

4700 Kingsway, Burnaby
604.438.8686
fortunehouserestaurant.com