We love all Japanese food. As you can see in our 'About Us' section, sushi is top of our list. Naturally, we were intrigued by Redheads Japa Cafe. We went for a late lunch on a lazy Saturday.
The 11th Ave SW location is rather unassuming. Tucked away among office buildings and furniture stores, it's easy to miss. Picture a regular neighborhood cafe, with breakfast, sandwiches and coffee, and insert a unique Japanese menu.
V got the Miso Katsu Rice Burger combo with Chicken Karaage and miso soup. The "burger" had crispy breaded pork with a delicious umami miso flavour. That miso wasn't backing down- it was up front and centre. The lettuce gave it a crispy bite and the seaweed held it all together. It was a cross between a sushi cone and a burger, loaded with miso, without any greasy juices that make eating a burger messy. The rice burger was delicious, unique and good fun to eat.
The combo included Chicken Karaage and miso soup. The Chicken Karaage was tender and had a crunchy coating that's so very important in fried chicken. It came with a sweet and savrory dipping sauce. Pro tip: the dipping sauce is great for the very last bite of the rice burger that's all rice and no burger. The miso soup was your standard Japanese sushi restaurant soup. Good food all around.
P had the Katsu Curry, a staple in most restaurants in Japan. It's classic Japanese comfort food, and this was no exception. The sauce had that deep richness that Japanese Curry is famous for, and just the right balance of sweetness and spice. Like the Chicken Karaage, the breading on the pork gave it an excellent crunch, even when smothered in the creamy curry sauce. The dish also came with the green salad and ginger soy dressing that you find in most bento boxes at Japanese restaurants.
We wanted to order the Japa Doughnut for dessert, but they were sold out. We'll have to try it next time! We weren't disappointed for too long though, when our server recommended we try a Taiyaki. It wasn't even on the menu, and we didn't fully understand what it was, but we ordered it anyway. Taiyaki is a crispy waffle, filled with red bean paste - and it's shaped like a fish. Food shaped like other food is awesome! The red bean paste had a delicate sweetness, complemented nicely with caramel sauce and whipped cream. We're both fans!
We'll definitely be back at Redheads Japa Cafe. Perhaps for dinner with some sake!
V's Final Word: I have a theory on the evolution of this cafe. My theory (not backed by any research at all) is that it used to be a North American breakfast and lunch cafe, and was bought by Japanese owners. They then tweaked the menu a bit, added some awesome Japanese dishes and renamed it Japa cafe. If you know more than I do (considering I know nothing at all about the history of this cafe), let me know in the comments!
P's Final Word: Several years ago, (even before I met V!) I spent a few weeks in Japan. What really struck me was how few sushi restaurants there were. Most of the food was based around meat and rice, with curry rice being the most common. When I saw it on the menu here, I had to order it, and eating it instantly transported me back to Japan! Even with the non-Japanese decor, Redheads Japa Cafe felt absolutely authentic.
Price Range: Around $30 for lunch for two
Address: 638 11 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2R 1M7
Website: http://www.redheadscafe.com/