Please note that I was invited to try out this package by VANEATS.ca, the package was complimentary but all additional dishes I paid for separately.
Here is what you get with the package, which is $18:
A. Kushikatsu Set, Rajio’s specialty! 6 delicious deep fried skewers (be sure to try it with all the different sauces like tartar, lemon salt, teriyaki yuzu kosho, onion)
B. Dynamic Balsamic Sweet & Sour Pork Rib, pan-fried stewed pork rib marinated in Rajio’s original balsamic sweet sour sauce
C. Mini Carpaccio, chef’s choice of 3 kinds of fresh fish
D. Today’s Cold Tapas, chef offers a variety of daily options
So without further ado, lets get going!
Every meal starts with a complimentary cabbage that is lightly covered in a miso dressing that packs quite a punch. I love it.
You can then choose any of the Cold Tapas that are either on the Fresh Sheet or on their regular menu. We chose the Seafood Marinated Mekabu Cold Tofu which is seaweed kelp “Mekabu” with scallop, ikura and topshell on cold tofu. This dish is served in a cute cup. The Cold Tofu is almost dessert like in texture (creamy and slightly sweet) topped with Mekabu which is similar to wakame and a bit of fish.
In addition to the package, we also ordered Tako Wasabi and the Corn Karaage. The way the Tako Wasabi is served here is one of my favourites in the city, as it’s not too slimy and has just the perfect kick of wasabi. It’s served with a couple sheets of nori. How I eat it is kind of like putting together a cigar, adding the tako wasabi lengthwise in the nori and folding it over.
The Corn Karaage is a must order here. Not only is it served differently than Suika (as you can see, it’s whole rather than battered bits of corn), but the taste is incredible. I didn’t think you could beat the Corn Karaage at Suika but I prefer this one much more. The flavours are amazing and the corn itself is crunchy and infused with the slightly salty flavouring on top. Definitely one of my favourite dishes during this dinner.
The next dish from the package is the Mini Carpaccio – it’s a half size of their normal carpaccio served with three different kinds of fish: salmon, yellow tail and tuna presented beautifully with their signature garlic chips in a sesame-soy oil vinaigrette. I love the different textures on this dish with taro ‘chips’ and garlic chips giving it a great crunch.
Next up was our Kushikatsu set. Kushikatsu is deep fried skewers and this particular one comes with 6 skewers – a pair of 3 different types. We had chicken, scallop and lotus root. It is served with different sauces including tartar, lemon salt, teriyaki, onion and soy. Depending on your taste and the types of skewers you order, you can dress them accordingly. My personal favourite is the lemon salt!
For the chicken, I used the teriyaki sauce. The chicken is nice and soft on the inside and compliments well with the teriyaki.
For the scallop I used the tartar sauce, the scallop is this huge lollipop and it still very moist and tender inside! The tartar sauce goes well with it.
Finally for the lotus root, I used lemon salt. Reason being is that lotus root is generally bland and I thought that lemon salt would give it a nice kick – it did.
We also ordered the Negitoro Battera separately which came next. Brian and I are big fans of negitoro and this pressed sushi was a great take on the negitoro roll we’re used to.
Topped with japanese pickle, tobiko and a sweet sauce, it’s a nice, refreshing roll to compliment your meal.
Finally, the main event. Well, I’d like to think of it as the main event – the Dynamic Balsamic Sweet & sour Pork Rib. This pan fried stewed pork rib that’s marinated in their balsamic sweet sour sauce is what legends are made of. Seriously, the meat is tender and the flavours are slightly sweet and sour to create an interesting play of taste in your mouth. It’s not your typical “sweet and sour” sauce that you would get at a Chinese hole in the wall – this has more finesse to it. Even if you don’t get the package, you’ll have to try this dish out.
I definitely think that this package is worth the money paid – $18 for skewers, a tapa, carpaccio and the pork rib is enough to feed two people.
To purchase a Dining Pass, check out VanEats Rockin Rajio page!