GOODS: Coal Harbour’s Hapa Umi Set To Become 4th Hapa Izakaya This Wednesday

The new Hapa Izakaya will be located at 110-909 West Cordova in Vancouver, BC | 604.420.4272 | www.HapaIzakaya.com

The GOODS from Hapa Izakaya

Vancouver, BC | Lea and Justin Ault of Vancouver’s Hapa Izakaya restaurant group are pleased to announce the opening of a Hapa Izakaya in the Coal Harbour neighbourhood, on Wednesday, March 7, 2012. The transformation is already under way at 909 West Cordova (Waterfront Centre), at their former Hapa Umi restaurant location, across the street from the Vancouver Convention Centre.

Hapa Umi opened as a higher-end “sister” restaurant to Vancouver’s famed Hapa Izakayas in March of 2011. Over the past year, critics and guests alike have praised Hapa Umi for its wide range of exceptional Japanese and Japanese-inspired dishes including a large selection of Ocean WiseÔ sustainable sashimi and sushi favorites. After listening to a great deal of guest feedback, however, the Aults felt there was an even greater, un-met demand for an izakaya-style restaurant in the Coal Harbour area. Read more

First Look Inside Hapa Izakaya’s New Upscale “Hapa Umi” Concept

I took a good gander inside the new Hapa concept today. Scout broke the news of Hapa Umi’s coming back in late December 2010:

Justin and Lea Ault of Hapa Izakaya have secured the old Metro restaurant location next to the Pan Pacific. The pair, with three cool Hapas already in their stable (Kits, Robson, Yaletown), aim to open a new Japanese concept that is “a couple notches up” from the free-wheeling casualness that their brand is known for. “I don’t want to say it will be fine dining,” says Justin, “but it will be more sophisticated.”

The name is Hapa Umi, umi being the Japanese word for “ocean”. I imagine that means that we can expect lots of seafood, especially manifested in quality, “full-on” sushi. Justin assures me that Hapa Umi will still serve plenty of the familiar small plates and izakaya favourites, too, so I’m not imagining a second coming of Tojo’s. That said, the company’s chefs are more than capable of doing more than just basic izakaya fare (witness the always inventive, hand-written special lists at each location), so it’ll certainly be interesting to see them go farther off the reservation than they have before (with presumably high food costs, too). Executing the elevated theme will be head chef Tomoki Yamasaki (from the Robson location), who is joined by the formally trained Tetsuya Shimizu, lately of the raw bar at Yaletown’s Blue Water Cafe. I trust service will get a lift as well (the GM is Kevin Banno, a managerial veteran of the Cactus empire).

Metro was left largely intact when it shuttered in the early summer of 2009 (pretty much everything is still there, down to the silverware and linen). It was an ideal get for the right concept, and I can’t think of a tighter one than this. For those unfamiliar with the space, it sports an open kitchen that connects to a bar in a huge U-shape, a 30 seat lounge, 35 seat patio, 12 seat private room and 100 seat floor. Local design house M Studios will give it a makeover – replacing carpets, upholstery, banquettes and so forth – but we can expect a quick turnaround. It could be open as early as the middle of February, but March is more realistic.

March indeed. They’re looking at the 10th now. Take a look… Read more

New Upscale Hapa Izakaya Joint “Hapa Umi” Hiring All Positions

Hapa Izakaya locations are at 1479 Robson St, 1516 Yew St and 1193 Hamilton St. | Visit www.hapaizakaya.com

Job posting from Scout supporter Hapa Izakaya

Vancouver, BC | Hapa Izakaya Restaurants Ltd. is excited to announce the launch of its new restaurant, Hapa Umi, opening by March 2011 in downtown Vancouver’s waterfront area, across the street from the Vancouver Convention Centre. The restaurant will offer an upscale twist on what Hapa Izakaya has been doing with great success since opening on Robson in 2003. Hapa Umi is now hiring for all positions. Details after the jump… Read more

Hapa Izayaka To Open “Hapa Umi” In The Old Metro Spot In March

Justin and Lea Ault of Hapa Izakaya have secured the old Metro restaurant location next to the Pan Pacific. The pair, with three cool Hapas already in their stable (Kits, Robson, Yaletown), aim to open a new Japanese concept that is “a couple notches up” from the free-wheeling casualness that their brand is known for. “I don’t want to say it will be fine dining,” says Justin, “but it will be more sophisticated.”

The name is Hapa Umi, umi being the Japanese word for “ocean”. I imagine that means that we can expect lots of seafood, especially manifested in quality, “full-on” sushi. Justin assures me that Hapa Umi will still serve plenty of the familiar small plates and izakaya favourites, too, so I’m not imagining a second coming of Tojo’s. That said, the company’s chefs are more than capable of doing more than just basic izakaya fare (witness the always inventive, hand-written special lists at each location), so it’ll certainly be interesting to see them go farther off the reservation than they have before (with presumably high food costs, too). Executing the elevated theme will be head chef Tomoki Yamasaki (from the Robson location), who is joined by the formally trained Tetsuya Shimizu, lately of the raw bar at Yaletown’s Blue Water Cafe. I trust service will get a lift as well (the GM is Kevin Banno, a managerial veteran of the Cactus empire). Read more

The “Hapa Izakaya” Joints Have Joined The Scout Community…

All three locations of Hapa Izakaya are now proud member supporters of Scout. We will be publishing their news and press releases on our front page and hosting a page for them in our list of recommended places to check out. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank them for their support of our little website. Click ahead to read on or jump directly to their Scout page… Read more

First Look Inside Hapa Izakaya’s Sweet New Yaletown Location…

A couple of weeks ago Scout broke the news that Yaletown was soon to be blessed with the third location of Justin and Lea Ault’s kickass and standard setting Hapa Izakaya (they’d picked up the dormant former Shiru-Bay Chopstick Cafe spot at 1193 Hamilton Street). I met up with Justin yesterday at the construction site and was surprised by how far they’ve come already. They now look to be no more than two days and one permit away (I say crossing fingers and knocking on wood). For those eagerly anticipating the food, the menu appears to be an amalgam of the Robson and Kits locations, though I imagine head chef Hokuto Yamanaka and his sous Tomoki Yamasaki will get tangential whenever the fancy strikes. We’re looking forward to it just as much as you are!

ALL ANTICIPATED OPENINGS

Popular “Hapa Izakaya” To Land On Yaletown’s Hamilton Street

Hapa Izakaya, arguably Vancouver’s hippest Japanese joint with locations on Robson and Yew, will soon be opening their third outlet in the city. Owners Justin and Lea Ault have picked up the old Shiru-Bay Chopstick Cafe spot at 1193 Hamilton Street, right next door to the Cactus Club in Yaletown, and hope to have it ready by next month (January) if all goes according to plan. (image courtesy of HapaIzakaya.com)

UPDATE: photos from the construction site…

ALL ANTICIPATED OPENINGS