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    Bento Cafe

    3.8 (11 reviews)

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    BENTO CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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    Kay F.

    A nice place for a quick grab and go dinner. They also have seating inside if you want to dine in. Thursday to Sunday - they are open until 7:30. By the time I went in, they were sold out of their usual prepped boxes but you can still order one if you don't mind waiting. I didn't get a chance to try one of their set meals but will need to the next time I'm in the neighbourhood although they are a bit on the pricier side.

    Salmon aburi lunch set
    Min A.

    We went for lunch on Friday and it wasn't busy as they have limited bento box menu. We both enjoyed salmon Oishi bento boxes. It had lightly torched salmon oishi 6 pieces, small udon soup w/ 1/2 boiled egg, and 4 small side dishes, pickled cucumbers, soft tofu, and 2 more perhaps pickled but not sure what they were, one I liked the other I thought was ok. It came with a green grape and small piece of mandarin orange as dessert, each bento was $26. We also ordered hojicha hot tea which was from a tea bag. We liked it but would say it's pricey esp for a work weekday lunch but guess with the variety, the presentation and the great service, it's an experience.

    Nat L.

    had lunch with a girlfriend at bento cafe on west 1st ave around 1:45 pm on a wednesday, scored street parking nearby, and felt like the universe was briefly on our side. inside, the space is quiet and understated in the best way. light wood tables and soft neutral tones set a calm, relaxed mood. it's the kind of comfortable neighbourhood spot where time quietly slips away. our hour disappeared faster than expected, and we easily could've lingered longer if not for the very real threat of a parking ticket waiting outside. the menu is simple and friendly, with clear photos of the bento sets that make decision making refreshingly low stress. there's a self serve water station and a fridge stocked with brightly coloured chirashi bowls and sushi that look fresh, healthy, and genuinely tempting, ideal for a quick grab and go. the whole setup gives off balance, ease, and everyday comfort. bento cafe follows the idea of teishoku, a traditional japanese set meal designed to feel complete rather than indulgent. instead of one oversized plate, you get a thoughtful lineup: a main, soup, rice or noodles, plus a few small sides. each one plays its part, something warm, something light, something savoury, something fresh, with seasonal touches that keep things interesting. i ordered the aburi salmon oshi and udon set, along with a hot matcha latte made with oat milk. my girlfriend went for the tonjiru and onigiri set, choosing two onigiri from salmon, unagi, tuna mayo, ebi mayo, mentaiko, and takana, paired with pork miso soup and green tea. our drinks arrived first. i genuinely couldn't tell whether latte art had been attempted. if there was a design, it was lost on me. unfortunately, the matcha latte itself fell a little flat, the flavour so subtle it almost disappeared. the bento, though, was quietly satisfying. not heavy, but surprisingly filling, to the point where my girlfriend couldn't quite finish everything. her stew was hearty and comforting. each small dish brought something different to the table: bocconcini with tomato and pesto that felt unexpectedly western but somehow worked, a cool and refreshing sesame jellyfish salad, a soft bite of tofu, and a generous bowl of udon that grounded the whole meal. the aburi salmon was fine, though it didn't quite deliver the smoky, seared punch i was hoping for. they also have a rewards program, which feels perfectly suited to a place like this, somewhere you could easily make part of your regular lunch rotation. bento cafe isn't about bold flavours or big statements. it's about comfort, calm, and reliability. while i'd skip the matcha latte next time, i'd happily return for the food, the relaxed atmosphere, and ideally, a longer parking metre.

    Salmon on pickled vegetables

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    1 month ago

    Great and authentic teishoku set meals! Strongly recommended for people who want real Japanese food.

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    Miku

    Miku

    4.4(2.6k reviews)
    3.0 km•Downtown
    •$$$

    I've been to Miku several times, and today I finally decided to write a proper review. First, I…read morewant to praise the service. Every time I come, I can feel the professionalism and attentiveness of the staff. From seating to ordering, and then to the care during the meal, everything is done with great finesse, making me feel comfortable and at ease. The unique politeness and meticulousness of Japanese service are naturally reflected here. The food is also a reason I want to come back. Whether it's the freshness of the ingredients, the presentation, or the taste, you can feel the attention to detail. Japanese cuisine emphasizes the quality of the ingredients themselves, and Miku presents this refinement beautifully. Every dish is pleasing to the eye and has a layered flavor. I also love the ambiance. The overall design is simple, elegant, and has a very comfortable Japanese aesthetic. The lighting, seating, and spatial layout all create a relaxing atmosphere without feeling overly decorated; instead, they have a high-quality feel. As for the atmosphere, I think it's what makes this place so special. Elegant and quiet, yet not too formal, it's suitable for dates or enjoying a good meal with friends. Sitting there slowly eating and chatting makes the whole dining experience particularly comfortable. After several visits, I still feel that Miku is a restaurant worth returning to again and again. It's not just because of any one dish, but because the service, cuisine, environment, and atmosphere combine to create a very pleasant experience every time I come.

    Normally a restaurant with great views has mediocre food. Miku breaks this norm by serving…read moreexcellent seafood and sushi all while proving an amazing view of the sea and north Vancouver. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the sushi and sashimi, which was sourced sustainably. The drinks were also great and options plentiful. Service was attentive and adequate. Not a standout part of the experience but far from bad. Miku was recommended by a local and we can see why!

    Photos
    Miku - Inside the restaurant

    Inside the restaurant

    Miku - Spicy edamame (CAD $8)

    Spicy edamame (CAD $8)

    Miku - Little emperor (CAD $10) and Aka miso old fashioned (CAD $24)

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    Little emperor (CAD $10) and Aka miso old fashioned (CAD $24)

    Guu with Garlic - Fish carpaccio

    Guu with Garlic

    4.3(1.1k reviews)
    2.3 km•West End
    •$$

    Guu with Garlic has become one of my favorite Japanese restaurants in Vancouver. It's an energetic…read moreizakaya with a fun atmosphere without feeling over the top. One of the best parts is the ever-changing menu of daily specials alongside the regular menu, so there's always something new to try while still coming back to your favorites. This visit we ordered the shrimp garlic fried rice, Agedashi Nasu, Grilled Squid with Garlic Mayo, and an assortment of sashimi. The shrimp garlic fried rice is an absolute must every time. It's packed with flavor, perfectly seasoned, and somehow manages to be comforting without feeling too heavy. It is a large dish and can easily be shared by 3-4, depending on what else you order. We also love the Agedashi Nasu here with melt-in-your-mouth eggplant wrapped in a light, delicate coating that soaks up the savory broth. Service is always quick and organized, even when the restaurant is busy. Dishes arrive as they're ready, making it easy to share everything around the table, which is exactly how an izakaya experience should feel. If it's your first visit, don't skip the shrimp garlic fried rice, and make sure to check out the daily specials before ordering. They often feature seasonal dishes that aren't available on the regular menu and are well worth trying.

    Great ambiance for a night out with friends for drinks and small bites. I like ordering a few…read morethings for the table to share so we can try more of the items. It really depends on how many people you come with though because the dishes are on the smaller side so you might need to make 2 orders of a dish for sharing. Okonomiyaki, gyoza, sukiyaki and udon are usually my go-tos for sharing.

    Photos
    Guu with Garlic - Same decor as 20+yrs ago when this was our go-to place for drinks & snacks!!

    Same decor as 20+yrs ago when this was our go-to place for drinks & snacks!!

    Guu with Garlic - The delicious individual bite of their yellowfin tuna tempura

    The delicious individual bite of their yellowfin tuna tempura

    Guu with Garlic - Una-Meshi

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    Una-Meshi

    Tendon Kohaku - EBI TENDON

    Tendon Kohaku

    4.3(218 reviews)
    2.1 km•Downtown, Granville Entertainment District
    •$$

    Very clean and zen restaurant when we went there early around 11am on a weekday for a quick bite…read morebefore heading to airport ; We had spicy beef udon, takoyaki and salmon handroll; they were all good; wish we had bigger appetite and longer stay to try more items on the menu ; Friendly service too :)

    As a Washington resident I did not know that the Vancouver Tendon Kohaku's menu was much smaller…read moreand the less formal vibe. I thought it was a nice change of scenery to be honest also I did miss some items I originally wanted and planned to try. There were some of the main dishes, like the bowls, and also mainly udon. The chicken karaage was extremely tender and fresh, you could tell because it was hot which was nice! The udon in both the curry and rose cream udon was very soft and tender as well, tender than what I usually have for udon. If you like your noodles al dante I don't think it'll quite fit your taste but I personally really enjoyed it! As for the taste the spicy rose cream udon tasted exactly like Buldak Ramen's Carbonara flavor, and everyone at my table agreed. The garlic bread was nice tho. To be completely honest staff and workers aren't very attentive, the restaurant wasn't full and I could see the workers standing around. Our table had to ask for water multiple times. Other than that however they're very kind.

    Photos
    Tendon Kohaku - Inside

    Inside

    Tendon Kohaku - Tiramisu

    Tiramisu

    Tendon Kohaku - Hokkaido milk tea

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    Hokkaido milk tea

    Okeya Kyujiro

    Okeya Kyujiro

    4.8(45 reviews)
    2.0 km•Yaletown, Downtown

    I went here for a special occasion dinner. Reservations are highly recommended because they are…read morevery small - 12 diners per sitting and 2 sittings per night. I made reservations about 4 months in advance. Upon arrival, one of the hostesses opened the door for us, and asked us to wait in a very ornate waiting area. We only waited a couple of minutes before another hostess seated us at the main seating area. The space is very dark, and only lit with candles while the rest of the diners trickled in. During that time they take drink orders, which is limited to sake, wine, beer and a few non-alcoholic drinks. Of note, they don't provide a drink menu, so we were a little surprised by the cost - the yuzu sake and the plum wine were $30 each. My non-alcoholic drink was $12, but a fair size. The theatrical portion started a few minutes later than the official start time - closer to 6pm. The shades lifted, the lights turned on, and the chefs introduced themselves. And from that moment on, they immediately went to work preparing our meal. They operate like clockwork to show the ingredients whole to the diners, and then preparing them, and serving them. Soon as the one dish was completed by all the diners, the next round came shortly after. Over 20+ dishes, there was very little wait time in between each. Each time a dish was served, a hostess was there to describe the dish and provided tips on how best to eat it. The food was overall was very good. I thought a few items were very average, most of them were very good, and a select few were truly outstanding. Most of the ingredients are imported from Japan, so I would imagine that it's part of the reason it's so expensive. This is definitely a splurge meal. I think half the diners at our sitting was celebrating a birthday. On the most part, the food is very good, watching the chefs at work is part of the entertainment, and the service is excellent. It's not some place I could afford to go to often, but glad to do it at least this one time.

    Drove from seattle to make it to the lunch here - what a fantastic experience. Everything from The…read moreentrance to the end was ceremonial. You start in a small waiting room thoughtfully decorated with cultural touches before being welcomed into an intimate dining area that seats only about 12-14 people. The service was attentive and personal throughout. When it came to drinks, they first asked what we generally enjoyed rather than immediately pushing specific options. Once we narrowed it down to dry sake, our server kindly brought over several bottles and gave us a detailed explanation of each one before we made our choice. Lunch consisted of around 15 courses, with most served nigiri-style. Everything tasted incredibly fresh, and I loved the thoughtful combinations of flavors and textures throughout the progression. Each piece felt distinct without trying too hard to be complicated.The experience finished beautifully with ice cream and matcha--a simple, elegant ending to a memorable meal. Absolutely worth the drive from Seattle. This wasn't just lunch; the intimate setting, pacing, presentation, and hospitality made the whole experience feel special from beginning to end.

    Photos
    Okeya Kyujiro - Waiting area

    Waiting area

    Okeya Kyujiro - Hokkaido uni with caviar

    Hokkaido uni with caviar

    Okeya Kyujiro - Lychee jelly w/ brown sugar syrup, ginger icecream monaka, crown melon + japanese orange

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    Lychee jelly w/ brown sugar syrup, ginger icecream monaka, crown melon + japanese orange

    Guu Original Thurlow - Pumpkin croquette

    Guu Original Thurlow

    4.1(843 reviews)
    2.1 km•Downtown, West End
    •$$

    Found this little Izakaya spot while visiting Vancouver and it was such a great experience. It's as…read moreauthentic as it gets and reminds me a lot of Japan when I visited in 2025. This place gets busy, so I highly recommend reserving a table online (via OpenTable) but we did show up early to see if there was walk-in seating available. Luckily, we did get the last 2 seats at the bar. The staff are so friendly and cheery. They greet customers that come in and thank every customer when they leave. People who haven't been to an izakaya may think it's loud and noisy, but the point of izakayas is they're supposed to be vibrant, high energy, and filled with cheerful chatter. Think of a tapas-style pub/bar for people to unwind and gather to chat after a long day at work. I loved the atmosphere, as it's casual, entertaining, and lively. The food was great and I couldn't think of a dish I didn't like. The sashimi were so fresh and high quality. Of course they use freshly grated wasabi too. The hanger steak was cooked perfectly and super tender and flavorful. The saba mackerel is grilled to perfection and reminds me of the ones I ate in Japan. I'm not a big fan of bonito but the yaki udon was so tasty, I still ate it with the bonito flakes on top! I would love to come back or go to their Toronto (closer to me) location next!

    Authentic Japanese Izakaya vibes here! Guu is the first to…read moredo it here in Vancouver, and the quality of all their dishes shine through. I love that they have daily specials from their chefs (shoutout to Kei and Shota!) which are creative, combining classic creations with their own twists. Service is pretty good and the staff are always friendly and accommodating.

    Photos
    Guu Original Thurlow
    Guu Original Thurlow - Fried pork belly

    Fried pork belly

    Guu Original Thurlow - Eel with rice

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    Eel with rice

    Bento Cafe - japanese - Updated September 2026

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