Where to go for a date night? What restaurant have my wife and I not enjoyed yet? These questions are what allowed me to discover Humo Izakaya. During this search, I came across a winemaker's dinner to be taking place at Humo Izakaya….this caught my attention. And now that I think about it, I haven't been to one in a while. This winemaker's dinner was also a multi-course meal, another point in their favour. I looked at the menu for this event and was sold. Annnnd then came the brick wall…..the single date for this event occurs when I'm away at work 😭. That was when I decided to check out their regular menu. After reviewing the menu, I knew I would dine at Humo Izakaya.
It wasn't until we sat at our table that I remembered taking the wife to dine at an old restaurant at this location!
Before Humo Izakaya moved into its location overlooking City Park, this space housed Thai Terrace Restaurant - this was my previous visit. Unfortunately, Thai Terrace didn't last long, opening the opportunity to Humo Izakaya.
When looking at their website, you'll see that their cuisine is contemporary Asian/Latin. Now, this detail caught my attention, so I explored their menu further. I learned the "why" of choosing this fusion in my research. Chef Kai Koroll has been classically trained in Japanese cuisine, and his business partner, Alexandra Perras, infused her Mexican and Latin roots.
The idea for Humo Izakaya started when Perras and Koroll began working at Block One Restaurant at 50th Parallel Winery during their tenures together. If you're curious about this restaurant, check out my review. In 2022, the opportunity to turn this dream into a reality came to fruition when they purchased the former space of Thai Terrace.
Now, if you've got a penchant for boutique Mexcals, Japanese whiskey, Tequilas, and Sake, this cocktail menu is for you. Highlighting unique and quality alcohols, their cocktail menu shows an imaginative creativity for the dining experience. From the food menu to the beverage menu and the restaurant's ambiance, all evoke refined dining elegance with a casual feel. One thing they are upfront about on their menu is that they cater to an adult dining experience that is absent of minors. So, if you know any parents needing a date night without the kids, here's an excellent place for them to be adults and take a break from being parents.
Knowing that we are going with a primarily seafood selection of plates to share, I chose a bottle of white wine. Selecting a Chardonnay from Cawston, BC. The back label for this wine is perfect for wine nerds as it has printed on it the question - "How far down the rabbit hole do you want to go?" The information on this label supports this question. I rarely see this level of detail where they answer the question of What, When, Where, and How. Even the regular information on the volume of wine and alcohol % is presented with information on the parts per million of sulphuric dioxide added, total acidity, and Ph. Yup, how far down the rabbit hole do you want to go? This wine presented itself with a rich complexity. First, its colour is much richer and does not show any classic hues of a rich Chardonnay. Due to the skin contact, this wine has a burnt orange colouring. From the label and reading Low Intervention, I assume this wine is unfiltered due to its lack of clarity - I'm not saying it isn't good. This wine is DRY - no doubt about that. And it's acidity made it perfect for this meal, cleansing the palate with every sip. I wish I sipped it more independently, as its flavour profile was not that of your typical Chardonnay. This is a wine that shines with food. I loved how it interplayed with every course. I need to visit Cawston to visit this winery and sample more of its wines.
First course
Edamame with a shishito pesto. This version of edamame is fantastic! The shishito pesto is a tremendous additional flavour component that compliments the edamame.
Fried calamari with preserved lemon gel. Now, I was instantly impressed that they could do fried calamari AND still promise it to be gluten-free….yup they did. Elevated by the charred lemon wedge, little dollops of caviar and fresh components of parsley and Fresno peppers make this such an elegantly elevated version of fried calamari. Super crunchy batter with soft and chewy calamari accentuated by bursts of acidity…..🤤.
Second Course
Octopus carpaccio with squid ink chips. I'll start with the octopus carpaccio. As soon as I saw this on the menu, I knew it would be ordered. The octopus is cut with such delicate precision that it is so much more tender in this presentation than the texture I'm used to for octopus and highlighted by subtle sweet elements on the plate - sauces and pieces of citrus fruit. Then, you add the briny crunch of the squid ink chips. These were a sublime creation. So tasty that the wife and I finished the entire order.
Pan-seared Hokkaido scallops with dashi butter garnished with crispy shoestring potatoes. The scallops showed the broad skill set of this culinary team. Rich, delicate, and with immense umami flavour, this plate showed a different flavour profile/technique/enjoyment than the carpaccio. The soft, sweet scallop was perfectly cooked, accentuated by the crunch of the crispy shoestring potatoes. This dish is pure decadence of rich flavours.
Before the main course arrives, I visit the bathroom to check it out. As soon as I entered, I was impressed with the wallpaper and the overall look of this bathroom. I loved this wallpaper so much that I even took a selfie in front of it. BTW - notice my unique knot for this date night, "The Hourglass Knot." This bathroom shows that you don't need splashes of colour for a distinctive look. This monochromatic design is beautiful, primarily due to the wallpaper design—simple elegance.
The decor of the restaurant has green as the primary colour element. The artwork also features green accentuated by the plants all around - decked out on the bar, hanging around the tops of the columns and at the bases. Looking at the bar set up and decor felt like something stylized for a movie or TV show. I was mesmerized and couldn't help staring at it, trying to pinpoint which TV or Movie it reminded me of……even by the end of the meal I still couldn't think of it.
Main Course
Duck Ssäm - duck duo consisting of breast and confit leg. The wife and I were surprised that this dish is an assembly-required lettuce wrap! With house-made daikon kimchi, Korean chilli vinaigrette, serrano crema, and crispy rice noodles. Unaware of the full composition of this dish, we also ordered a side of charcoal grilled veg with an orange blossom cashew crema. The veggies in this side dish were absolutely delicious!!!! Expertly charred bok choi, asparagus, and zucchini. The duck Ssäm was fresh and delectable. The crispy noodles provided a great complimentary crunch to the crispy lettuce. The rich duck was tamed by the acidity of the kimchi and carried by the refreshing quality of the lettuce. The composition of the different textures and assembly of flavours was crafted with such skill that my taste buds were blown away….in a good way.
I enjoy restaurants serving shared plates like this—providing a more engaging and interactive dining experience. I find this style of dining also encourages more conversation. This restaurant is perfect for a date night or a small group of friends. As I post this a couple of weeks after dining here, I've noticed that their menu changes, allowing them to utilize fresh seasonal items. As for dietaries, they could easily handle celiac disease, so I do not doubt that they can handle other dietaries just as easily. Just make sure that you let them know about the dietary in advance. Would I go back…well, I have to, as I really want to try other items on the menu. So that's a ya.
Cheers 🥂
-BC Wine Nerd
Website: Humo Izakaya
Address: 210 Lawrence Ave
Phone #: 250-826-8216
Instagram: @humoizakaya
Dietaries: They can accommodate a variety of dietary restrictions, just make sure to inform.
Wine by the glass Menu: 81% 🇨🇦
Menu $: 🍷🍷🍷🍷
Menu $ Legend
🍷= Inexpensive. Entree items are $10 or less 🍷🍷= Moderately Expensive. Entree items fall in $10-$25 range
🍷🍷🍷= Expensive. Entree items fall in $25-50 range 🍷🍷🍷🍷= Very Expensive. Entree items are $50 or grater
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