Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Aiyaohno Cafe

    4.6 (31 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

    Aiyaohno Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    AIYAOHNO CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Aiyaohno Cafe

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    there's something quietly magical about this little café, tucked into a heritage building downtown, beautiful wrought iron gate
    Nat L.

    there's something quietly magical about this little café, tucked into a heritage building at 425 carrall street, in between chinatown and gastown. sky high ceilings, crown moulding, wrought iron gate and a giant arched window flood the room with light, giving the space a grand yet approachable feel. modern sconces and patterned carpet warm it up, and the tables fill with people leaning in over conversations or tapping quietly away on laptops. the story behind the café makes it even more special. owners greg and bev set out to create a spot that blends coffee culture with creative, healthy, japanese inspired dishes and it shows in every detail. the menu goes well beyond your standard café fare, alongside espresso, americanos, teas, and a line up of creative drinks (the kind that practically beg for a return visit), they serve breakfast, sandwiches, rice bowls, and noodles. my order was the iced strawberry oat matcha latte, a showstopper in looks and taste: ruby red strawberry puree at the base, a slim layer of oat milk in the middle, and a deep crown of uji matcha on top. earthy, creamy, just sweet enough, refreshing without ever being overly sweet. next time, i've already got my eye on their omurice. finding the place feels like part of the adventure. not gonna lie, it's in a sketchier part of town, the code to get in is 8888 at the building directory, wait for the buzz, and step inside to discover this hidden gem. open tuesday to saturday, 8am to 3pm, this japanese inspired café is more than just a caffeine stop. it's a place where supporting local means something tangible, where the owner's vision comes to life, and where every visit feels like you've stumbled onto a secret worth keeping.

    $10 fresh mango sago coconut pomelo drink
    Thanh L.

    Came for their Light Up Chinatown special drink! Definitely overpriced but considering it's for a festival, it's ok. It was yummy, refreshing, and not too sweet. I wish that there was more sago in it. At the time when I came, the service was not great. The person at the front was very curt. The food and other items look good so I would come back in the future.

    Vegan chick'n caesar sandwich, matcha mochi, iced sencha with kinome and guava
    Dana S.

    Small Japanese-inspired cafe - I'm not actually sure how exactly to describe it; I think the owners are Japanese, and the food is inspired by Japanese countryside cafes but also incorporates their own ideas. They sell coffee and tea, specializing in matcha, as well as light meals and some baked goods. The menu is vegetable-forward and health-conscious with seafood, vegetarian, and vegan options. You can also buy tins of matcha. You need to be buzzed in to enter the building. There's a sign posted at the door with the number to dial. I didn't have to announce myself or anything, they just let me in when I buzzed. I tried their vegan chick'n caesar sandwich, matcha coconut mochi, and the Koolfest iced sencha with kinome and guava. Really good all around. The sandwich had a slightly different flavour from the typical caesar I was expecting - more mustardy - but was very tasty. It was a little messy because there was so much stuffed into the sandwich. The matcha mochi (like a butter mochi) had a VERY satisfying texture, super soft with a little bit of a crisp surface. The drink was also really good. I really liked the real guava puree. The kinome flavour was unique but subtle. I found the environment here to be unpretentious and comfortable despite the neighbourhood. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable about the matcha they sell. I am definitely interested in coming back to try something with matcha.

    Natasha M.

    came for Hot Chocolate Festival 2025. interesting location since it's in the lobby of a building (think hotel coffee shop) and need to be buzzed in to enter, which is nice considering the sketchiness of downtown. the small cafe was already packed, so we sat on one of the lobby sofas. we tried the white chocolate strawberry matcha latte which came with a boozy truffle. loved that they used mk matcha. it was creamy, earthy, and punchy from the strawberry. husband said truffle was good (didn't try since i was preggers). wouldn't come back for the vibes, but definitely want to try their food and other drinks next time!

    The cafe is located in dog friendly work building. So it's really awesome they allow dogs in when you are here
    Feifei R.

    Love this place. Since I found it last summer, this has been my go to place for a quick lunch and morning coffees. Really fresh ingredients, vegetarian and pescatarian options. I love their matcha, juices smoothies, dandan noodle bowls, and sable fish bowls. Bev and Greg are a pair of very cute couple who ran this place! Bev chats you up and makes you feel at home! The office building where this cafe is at allows dogs, so sometimes when I baby sat my friend's dogs, I bring them here to hang out in the building's couch area while enjoying my coffee! Such a treat for me and my friends!

    Smoked salmon sandwich and vegan chive dumplings.
    Kathryn W.

    This is a relatively hidden cafe in Vancouver. I is worth a visit with its delicious menu items and drinks. The cafe is run by a couple, with the mugs being handmade by them! The vegan dumplings were my favourite and would go back for it again! The Hojichai latte was a nice warm beverage. They also sell super cute merch at the store. There is limited seating inside, so it can very difficult with a group. Definitely a spot to catch up with a friend.

    Aline S.

    We went here for the Hot Chocolate Festival 2025. At first, we were a bit sceptical considering the location but it's actually located at the bottom of a secured building. You have to buzz in to enter. We tried the 'Penicillin for the Geisha' hot chocolate and their matcha latte. We both loved the drinks, the matcha latte was the best I ever tasted in the city and unlike other hot chocolate drinks in the city, this one is not overly sweet. Will come back again to try their food.

    Spicy Albacore Poke, Matcha cookie, and Strawberry Matcha
    Kylie R.

    i highly recommend this cafe, i had a wholesome conversation with Bev one of the owners of aiyaohno cafe. she told me about what living in vancouver is like and her love for thrifting. the cafe is small with limited seating which i did not mind. i ordered the spicy albacore poke which was served with warm rice and savory chili oil. i also ordered their popular strawberry matcha latte which was divine !! it was creamy and wasn't too sweet. i also ordered their homemade matcha cookie which paired well with my drink. overall this is now my new favorite cafe, and i cannot wait to be back.

    Miso sake glazed sablefish bento (lunch combo with rice and vegetables)
    Ashley N.

    My first time visiting this spot since it used to be the Iktsu matcha/coffee stand! I'm glad that another kind and friendly couple has opened shop here. To get into the building, you have to wave to the owner through the takeout window and she has to come around and open the door for you. A bit inconvenient for everyone, but that's the building security. It's a cozy seating area with a few tables and couches. The cups they serve water/drinks in are so unique - I believe they are hand-built ceramics with interesting shapes! Not my favourite, but it gave a cool touch to the cafe. The smoked sockeye salmon sandwich was delicious! The lightly toasted milk bread was soft to bite into, with the smoky fish balanced with the vegetables. I'd like to try some of their other sandwiches! The miso sake glazed sablefish lunch combo was so tasty - the fish was perfectly seasoned and cooked. The purple rice was soft and fluffy - my friend and I even asked the owners what rice blend and rice cooker they use! The vegetable and salad mix was good too. I could have done with less rice and more fish to balance out the whole dish, as I felt the rice ratio was large. I can't wait to visit again and try their matcha latte!

    a picture of a coffee shop
    Audrey T.

    Stopped by for a nice post-workout lunch. I got the roast miso sake sablefish ($18.50). Really enjoyed the fish over the bed of rice and the salad as well. Very well dressed. It's also hot chocolate festival -- so it was extra busy today for the first day! I got the plum wine hot chocolate and it comes with an amazingly delicious truffle.

    sesame dan dan ramen
    Joanne V.

    This place was SO GOOD! The first time I tried it was a few months ago, I had their Sakura latte and the vegan BLT sandwich and I was in LOVE! There's something about the word "vegan" that intimates people and honestly I wasn't too keen about it too. But this place proved me wrong. I went again last month and I ordered the sesame dan dan ramen! Boy was that ever delicious!! I also ordered the hojicha latte. Yummy!! Also, the owners are super friendly and helpful. Feel free to ask them any questions about their food, they are very easy to talk to! :)

    Obaachan's plum wine stash with umeshu chocolate truffle ($8.75)
    Bee E.

    First time checking out Aiyaohno Cafe. The entrance door is locked on the weekend so just wait for someone to let you in. Shared an obaachan's plum wine stash ($8.75), matcha kinako soybean walnut powder cookie ($4.50), creamy shiso pesto udon ($14.50) and roast miso sake sablefish ($18.50). The hot chocolate special was rich but not too sweet, with a subtle sour end note. The matcha kinako cookie was fantastic (great chew, nutty). Miso cod was incredibly tender. Pesto udon special was an interesting fusion dish with plenty of vegetables. Will come back soon try more things.

    Flat white, Kyoto Ume Matcha highball
    Kay F.

    Located in the old Iktsuarpok Coffee Stand, they also have a storefront with a small seating area. The couple behind the counter are just as friendly and serve a variety of drinks and food. We got a flat white as well as one of their special summer drinks - ume matcha tonic which reminded me of their take on an espresso tonic. I quite enjoyed their flat white and would definitely recommend this place when in the area amongst tough competition with other outstanding coffee spots and cafes in the area.

    Sq.shaped Brownies, Round shaped Raspberry Cheesecake

    See all

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Love this place so much! The food, atmosphere, and services here are amazing. I will definitely come back and recommend it to my friend

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Matt B.
    36
    1553
    2486

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    The people were great, the udon and salad soggy and flavorless. Absolutely not as expected based on reviews.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Cafes 2,693 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Shizen Ya

    Shizen Ya

    4.3(615 reviews)
    1.4 kmDowntown
    $$

    Fresh, Beautiful, and Consistently Great! ​I returned to…read moreShizenya after a while, and it reminded me why I love this place. Even on a Thursday night, the restaurant was nearly full, which speaks to its popularity. ​I ordered the Tako Sunomono and the Premium Chirashi Don. ​Tako Sunomono: The octopus was perfectly tender and the vinegar dressing was refreshing--exactly what I needed to wash away the fatigue of the day. ​Premium Chirashi Don: The presentation was stunning and immediately worked up my appetite. Every piece of seafood was incredibly fresh and of high quality. You can really taste the difference here. ​If you're looking for healthy, fresh, and beautifully presented Japanese cuisine, Shizenya is a must-visit. Highly recommended!

    This was my favorite meal of our entire trip to Vancouver. The decor is small and intimate. They…read moredid offer us a highchair and did wipe down the inside of the chair but the outside was fairly dirty so my toddler opted for a regular chair. Children utensils provided which was very much appreciated. Restroom in the back was clean. The food was fresh and delicious. SAKURA BLOSSOM ROLL - brown rice - comes with a lot and delicious UNI TEMAKI (2pc) - my husband and I each had one. very refreshing with the uni and the brown rice. SOCKEYE SALMON SASHIMI- very fresh and thick slices. I had one piece - good. MENTAIKO YAKI UDON - My favorite food item from our entire trip. Omg. I can sit there all day long and just eat this. I always order this when I see it on the menu and some places really don't do a good job. VEGETABLE UDON SOUP - for our toddler

    Photos
    Shizen Ya - Inside the restaurant

    Inside the restaurant

    Shizen Ya - Sockeye salmon sashimi 5 piece

    Sockeye salmon sashimi 5 piece

    Shizen Ya - View of restaurant

    See all

    View of restaurant

    Manoush'eh - zatar and cheese manousheh

    Manoush'eh

    4.8(272 reviews)
    1.6 kmGranville Entertainment District, Downtown
    $

    The food was absolutely incredible. Growing up in the Middle East, I've always been on the lookout…read morefor truly good, home-style food, and this completely delivered. We ordered the Lahm b Ajeen w Jabneh, Zaatar w Jabneh, and the spicy chicken reinvented flatbread (which didn't even make it to a photo because we devoured it so fast). The texture, flavor, everything was spot on. The place itself is a small, cozy hole-in-the-wall with charming, authentic décor. The service was just as impressive, super quick, warm, and welcoming. I'd 100% recommend this spot without hesitation.

    we came here near closing, so i'm assuming maybe it wasn't at its best, and i honestly feel kinda…read moreguilty writing this review. but i have to be honest about our experience. the food tasted really bland overall, especially the lahm bi ajeen. it didn't taste well seasoned at all and honestly tasted nothing like the versions i've had before. coming from LA, i feel like i've had a lot of really flavorful middle eastern food, so maybe my standards are higher. usually lahm bi ajeen has this rich savory flavor with warm spices, slight acidity, juicy meat, and a crispy thin crust that almost has a little char to it. this one felt flat flavor wise and the crust wasn't crispy or well baked. it lacked that depth and spice that makes the dish so addictive. maybe we just came at a bad time, but overall it was disappointing for us.

    Photos
    Manoush'eh
    Manoush'eh - Catering

    Catering

    Manoush'eh

    See all

    Nuba in Gastown - Chicken shish tawook

    Nuba in Gastown

    4.0(837 reviews)
    0.4 kmDowntown
    $$$

    We ordered a bunch of dishes to share…read more Lunch Plate Chicken: Grilled Mount Lehman chicken breast marinated in paprika, thyme, lemon [GF] Lunch Plate Lamb: lamb skewer. Grilled to perfection. [GF] Lunch Plate Prawns: Grilled to perfection with a spicy marinate Mjadra: Organic green lentils and rice with onions [VE+GF] Najib's Special: Crispy cauliflower tossed with lemon and sea salt, served with tahini. [VE+GF] Falafel Served with hummus, house salad, pickled cabbage, and organic brown rice, as well as pita, tahini, tzatziki, and hot sauce The shrimp were perfectly cooked. The cauliflower was delicious. The lamb skewers was a touch gamey for me. All of the sauces and dips were tasty, but the tzatziki was especially a favorite.

    Loved the ambiance at this Nuba in Gastown. Definitely an authentic vibe going on here. We were…read morehere for lunch, so I don't know what the vibe is like in the evenings. It would have been nice to have some Arabic or oriental music playing in the background. Maybe also some rose saboun in the bathroom would have been nice!! (Ok I'm overdoing it...just sharing my two cents!) Overall food was good, but I think service could be improved. We ordered the cold mezze sampler platter for 3, and we were a party of 4 adults. The portion was good and everything was delicious. I'm GF, and they serve the dips with lettuce for free (or you can order a side of cucumbers for a small charge). The presentation was lovely. The only thing I didn't like was after a while all of the dips just get mushed together and you kinda don't know what you're eating anymore...Also we all loved the jalapeno hummus the most. We asked for arak and it wasn't served the right way...Our server forgot to bring an extra empty glass so that we can mix the arak with water (in the proportional way that we'd like). I asked for an empty glass for mixing in addition to another drinking glass because mine was broken (crack was big and the glass should be chucked out). Server forgot to get an empty mixing glass. We ordered a taouk pita wrap, but we got served a taouk platter instead. Anyhow she just wasn't very attentive. The mixed grill mezze platter was mostly yummy except for the kafta. All of us at the table couldn't have more than a bite of it. The meat was undercooked, and the taste of the lamb was too strong and off. Definitely didn't taste like the kafta we know. The chicken and the cauliflower were delicious. I'd be tempted to try Nuba at another location and sample other things off their menu. Happy eating!!

    Photos
    Nuba in Gastown - Bar seating

    Bar seating

    Nuba in Gastown - Garden Falafel

    Garden Falafel

    Nuba in Gastown - Espresso Martini

    See all

    Espresso Martini

    Desi Indian Lounge - Shimla kebab w/ tamarind and green chutney

    Desi Indian Lounge

    4.8(29 reviews)
    2.0 kmDowntown

    I started a "dinner club" with two good friends, and I got to choose the first place to dine at…read more Our aim is to explore new restaurants and/or new cuisines, and since I've heard great things about this Indian restaurant and I'm unfamiliar with this cuisine, I chose Desi Lounge as our inaugural place. I made reservations for us for 4pm, so as to take advantage of their Happy Hour. We went earlier today (a Wednesday) and the place was empty at 4pm. I think it fills up later, for dinner. (I still advise making reservations as you never really know if it's going to be busy). Right off the bat, we were blown away by the interior. It is gorgeous! Small, but gorgeous. The murals, the chandeliers, the bar....and omg, the bathrooms. If you visit, you MUST check out the bathrooms. They have the most fabulous sinks I have ever seen. They didn't have a large selection of HH offerings, unfortunately, but what they did have was amazingly good. My friends who were extremely knowledgeable on Indian cuisine ordered for us, and we shared 3 different small plates (tandoori vegetable momos, cochin cauliflower bites, and some sort of delicious fried onions), and 2 desserts (soan paid malai khwaab, and foxtail millet pudding). And just...wow, everything was SO SO good. The three appetizers were so flavorful and the desserts, unlike anything I've ever had before and simply delicious. We also had drinks (but, of course!). One friend had a mango lassi which she loved, one friend had a high ball which she loved, and I had a mango mojito which I loved. (See a pattern? lol). All was great. Our server, Leesa (not sure of spelling) was so incredibly personable and lovely, and a gentleman I gather is the owner came by twice to make sure everything was okay. We felt like VIPs, with all the care and attention we got. Seriously, the folks here could not be nicer. I'm already planning on bringing my two daughters here. I know they'll love this place. Heck, anyone would love this place. My friends and I all plan on returning. Great great place!

    UPDATE: I have updated this review to 4 stars after the…read moreowner reached out to me regarding my initial visit. I came back with a friend. We came around 4pm and had a couple of drinks from the regular menu plus the Kerala pepper chicken the momos and the veggie fritters. Again, the food is very good and the prices were reasonable. I will have to come back late night to see if the happy hour issue is rectified at that time as I see the menu is still the exact same as before. ********* Came here after hearing about the recent celebrity visit. First of all, the food is very good the portions are also decent and the prices are reasonable. I would have liked to have come back here for the lunch special as it's walking distance for me, but my visit left a bad taste in my mouth, which I will detail below. The dishes are inventive. There are the usual suspects, but also some that aren't often see at most Indian restaurants in Metro Van. The staff is also very attentive and friendly. The cocktails are pricey, but interesting. The decor is trendy. The bathrooms have an interesting sink feature that I have not seen before. If you're into social media, there's definitely some photo opportunities here. The service is a bit weird as there isn't really a dedicated server for the table. So, basically, we had all sorts of different people taking our drink and food orders, bringing us food, refilling our water and checking in on us. On the plus, it means that you are checked on a lot. On the minus, it is a bit inconsistent because there isn't one single person who knows what is going on with the table, but more a revolving door. For instance, one staff member came and took our drink order, however the wrong drink ended up being made and brought to me by the bartender, even though the drinks had been extensively discussed with the original server. So there's definitely communication issues. My biggest gripe with this restaurant is that we were denied ordering from the happy hour menu by the manager. I did not want to argue about it at the time as the bartender was told in front of us to deny us the happy hour menu, from which we wanted to order some cocktails. At this point, we had already ordered several menu items (in fact so many that the server had advised us we had more than enough food and that we did not need to order an additional dish we were considering) plus full priced cocktails. So it's not like they weren't making money off our table. The reason we were given, which I believe was told to the bartender (to be clear, I do not believe the bartender was at fault, but simply the messenger in this situation), was that the happy hour was only a summer thing. Again, we visually saw the manager instruct the bartender to tell us these things -- they were literally standing in front of our table, less than 5 feet away. This was not only unprofessional, but I found it incredibly dishonest. It was mid-December when we were at the restaurant, 3.5 months after summer had ended. The happy hour menu is literally the first page in the menu book. If a restaurant doesn't want to honour their own happy hour menu, it costs very little to simply reprint the happy hour menu, remove that page completely, or cross it out, if they really want to be cheap. At minimum, they should have honoured the menu for patrons that they gave it to and then rectified the situation for future. For this reason, I cannot recommend this establishment even though the food was very good and I would have otherwise come back and supported this small business.

    Photos
    Desi Indian Lounge - Happy Hour

    Happy Hour

    Desi Indian Lounge
    Desi Indian Lounge

    See all

    Aiyaohno Cafe - cafes - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...