Humble looking izakaya with small seatings. Had ordered 10over dishes and majority of it was GUUd (pun intended). Slightly disappointed with the beef tongue cos it was so chewy and hard to eat. The gyoza hotpot and eel hot stone rice pot was average but not bad. Special mention to the pork jowl omg never knew pork had such a different dimension to it, both taste and texture wise. Brilliantly executed, it was being treated very simply being lightly barbequed and salted. You have to order the cod, it practically melts in your mouth. Their fried chicken wings and calamari too, were crispy and simply marinated, I love how they don't complicate flavours for simple dishes. Do order the Kimchi udon!! Refreshing and yummy! I could polish off a portion on my own read more

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I love this place so much. It was my go to years ago when I lived here and it is still as tastey as today when I visited. The price is great for the quantity of food, the food is tastey... there's nothing on the menu I didn't like. My fav is still the takoyaki. The fact that this place has been here for years competing with trendy and hip places around Robson speak volumes of the quality of food here. read more

Guu with Garlic - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

I give it only 3 star because of my extremely high expectations towards Izakayas (sorry guu it's not your fault). I used to have soke very nice Izakayas in Japan which offered why better food than this one. Here are some reviews specifically against each dish I tried: 1. Sashimi. Regular sushi restaurant level in Vancouver. I would say it's nice, but a bit overpriced, not too many selections either. 2. Marinated pork intestine. It was quite enjoyable. Good portion and the cabbage added a bit of freshness to blend with the fatty intestine. Would definitely help if they were deep fried - pork intestines could get quite overwhelming if chewing on it for too long 3. Deep fried lotus roots with cheddar cheese. This was definitely a wow. Was quite surprised to see this kind of irregular combination on the menu so decided to give it a try. It's like a deluxe version of cheddar flavor potato chip with much more tenderness but much less oiliness. Eat bite on it added a mouth full of warm cheesy flavor to the soft but crunchy lotus roots. Must try. 4. Calamari. This was gross. Personally I gave it 0 point. If you guy ever watched Gordon Ramsays kitchen nightmare you might remember how he reacted to a "watery calamari". This dish was exactly like that. Found some unknown liquid at the bottom of the bowl which should never exist in a calamari dish. Unforgivable. That sums up our trip to guu. Not a very impressive one... Best of luck to you if you're about to try it. Sorry didn't take any photos for other dishes than sashimi read more

Guu with Garlic - Sashimi - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Great food, great atmosphere, great service from our server Mizuki. If you've ever been to Japan or want to experience what a traditional Japanese Izakaya feels like, this is the place!!! read more

Guu with Garlic - Salmon - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Good small dishes and atmosphere , noisy and welcoming . The menu doesn't have pictures so use google picture and other ppls reviews. Lunch set is good too read more

This was the least expensive izakaya I've ever had. We ordered four dishes to share, and not only were they much larger portions than anticipated, but they were delicious. When we first arrived, there was a thirty minute wait. We had just biked around the city the whole day and were leaving in the morning. My boyfriend wasn't feeling too well, so we almost didn't wait. It's a good thing that two seats opened up at the bar rather quickly, because we would have totally missed out. My favorite was the pork belly in the ponzu sauce. It was savory and salty, chewy and tender. It was literally everything. The garlic shrimp were also good, but I almost preferred the mushrooms which had soaked up all the flavors of the juices (he doesn't agree...). The chicken karaage or was perfectly seasoned and fried. It was moist and juicy on the inside, but cripsy on the outside. The beef was my least favorite of the four, as I thought it seemed rushed and as if the sauce had not been incorporated correctly into the meat. It was passable and a huge portion, however. The next time I'm in Vancouver, we'll head back here again to try other items on the menu. I've already recommended it to a friend who is visiting next month. The only downside is that our server was wearing a braided bracelet, and every time she refilled our waters or reached for our plates, etc., the "dangling" part would get into our food and drinks, which was sort of gross. read more

Amazing Japanese food and hospitality. Feels like you are really in Japan. Highly recommend!

Sho and everyone here is super friendly. It really feels like you're in Japan. The food are above average especially the black cod my mom enjoys. Perfect place for bringing friends and family. read more

Guu with Garlic - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Lots of options, and all are really good. Kind of like a meal of many snacking items - but that gives you a good variety of items to have at one sitting. Really liked this place. read more

This place was on our list of places to check out for good eats in Vancouver this summer. After a day of biking and exploring Stanley Park, we come here for an early dinner. We were welcomed by the staff who all say a greeting in Japanese, and it continued throughout the evening, which made for a fun time. I really liked the vibe of the staff all working together in unison and they seem like they enjoy being there. The sashimi poke was fresh and nicely seasoned, refreshing with mango. My friends ordered an udon dish that was yummy. A side of kale, simple but good. I didn't take all the photos of what we ordered, but everything was thoroughly enjoyed. One pitcher of Sapporo to share among friends was just a good ending to a fun day. I would recommend this place and the cheerful ambiance! read more

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Easily one of my favorite restaurants in Vancouver. Despite the small size of the place, it is well-organized and cozy with a lively atmosphere. Guu is very reminiscent of an authentic Japanese izakaya. I recommend getting a reservation since this place gets busy fast. Dishes are small tapas style dishes so it is ideal for sharing with the table. Here are some of the plates my table ordered: Tuna tataki 5/5- An absolute must! Every time I come here, my table orders at least two orders of this dish. The tuna is perfectly seared, the sauce is tangy and complements the fried garlic that tops off the dish. Salmon Belly 4/5- Nice and crispy. A little too fatty for my taste. Kimchi Udon 5/5- Another staple at Guu. Perfect balance of tangy and creamy. Garlic Shrimp 3.5/5- The flavors on this dish are great, but there is more mushroom than shrimp so it isn't the best value. Ikamaru 3/5- This squid is served with japanese mayo which is a nice flavor combination, but this dish is just okay. Nothing special. Saikyo Miso Black Cod 5/5- My personal favorite. The fish was cooked perfectly and the saikyo miso and grated radish added nice flavor to the dish. read more

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The warmly lit wooden interior of Guu was filled with all sorts of folks: a family with young children, a group of 60-somethings enjoying their beers, a few millennials on a night out. It was an inviting sight. We opted for the patio and were promptly seated. The menu offered a variety of small bites and larger plates; we shared a pickled saba, oden, braised beef with burdock, and okonomiyaki, as well as the ramune-based drinks. Servers were warm and attentive and made great conversation. And the saba was perfect! I would have liked to have more sauce on the beef and something felt missing in the oden, but I still enjoyed the meal and experience immensely. I'd be curious to try one of the other locations in the future. read more

Best cod ever had in my life would go there again , of course I wish portions were bigger

4 stars for the grilled grouper head alone. So original, so messy, so very good... We had a bunch of other above average typical izakaya-style dishes here as well. The worst dish we had was the kaarage... It was cold when it arrived. Massive fail... Ambiance-wise, this place is maybe too bustling and too loud for me. But we still enjoyed our dinner. read more

By far, this is my favorite place to eat in all of Vancouver. This is comfort food at its best and my guests (natives from both Japan and Korea) loved everything we had (and we had about 15 different dishes). The wait can be brutal, but its worth it. It's also a fun place to drink and eat with friends, so if you can endure the wait you'll be rewarded. We are well off so we've been the the most expensive and trendy places in Vancouver, but this is the one place that always stands out as my favorite on the many trips I've taken there. The food just doesn't get any more tasty than this and the atmosphere feels very authentic Japanese. read more

I was surprised at how small this place was when we stepped in. They were welcoming and accommodated our large party. We did have a reservation though. I recommend making a reservation if you have a large party. Space is very limited. I honestly didn't expect much but I ended up loving the food. They brought out a tray of sides and let us pick two with our lunch entrees. That was really neat. I ordered the porkloin cutlet don. The portion was just right. It also came with miso soup. To put it simply, that meat was yummy! We enjoyed our meal and didn't feel rushed. read more

Mom had wanted a Korean/Japanese joint that she remembered coming to a few years back but I'm not much of a all you can eat person...and it was way further than we had anticipated. So we turned to trusty ol' Yelp to save the day. We chose this spot mainly because she saw a picture of a scallop dish! Which we didn't see on the menu. Not too bad of a wait for a Monday night, they told me 20 minutes, we were seated in 15 or so. Inside was chaotic and loud. Servers yelled out orders to the kitchen as they took them. I imagine this is what a hip/trendy Japanese joint is like over there? They had no rolls, but lots of stuff wth cheese which surprised me but also since I watch a lot of tastemade japan wasn't too shocked. They have a main menu and a special monthly menu. We ordered off of both. We ordered the 3 sashimi platter (3 types of fish, 2 pieces each), the chicken karrage with namban sauce (servers recommendation), and the pancake. I can't remember the proper names. The chicken was moist, kind of oily though. The sauce was weirdly good. The pancake wasn't bad, it wasn't as "fishy" smelling or tasting like at other places I've been, though mom commented that it seemed a little burnt. The inside was still soft, sorta mushy with squid pieces. The sashimi was awesome. It was soft, tender, and incredibly fresh. Like, it wasn't bad but it wasn't something I'd frequent, esp. since there are so many awesome options. I'm glad I got to check it out since they've won so many awards, it definitely is "guuuuud" :) read more

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QUALITY OF FOOD (5/5) The sashimi I ordered was so fresh I can taste the chill and tingleness when it touched my tongue. Portion was perfect and flavours were well balanced in terms of the carpaccio and tartare. Miso soup tasted like premium quality (not too rich and not too light, just the right amount of kelp, tofu, and green onions) Agadashi tofu was hot and soft...just melts in your mouth!! QUALITY OF SERVICE (5/5)    * Friendliness of Staff (5/5)    * Attentiveness/Speed (5/5) Server was extremely friendly and caring!! CLEANLINESS OF RESTAURANT (5/5) I went right when it opened so it was incredibly clean. RESTAURANT APPEARANCE/AMBIENCE (5/5) Nice decor and paintings on the walls. Traditional wooden tables, floors, walls and seating that give off a japanese vibe! Also had air conditioning which is always a cherry on top especially on hot summer days. VALUE OF MONEY (5/5) $16 for roughly 15 pieces of premium fresh sashimi!! Came with 2 FREE sides that were top quality as well as rice and miso soup. OVERALL EXPERIENCE (5/5) read more

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The food was amazing! There were three of us and was hard to narrow down the choices. So good! Definitely recommend. Call ahead for reservations as they are kinda small. read more

I love all the Guu locations! This one has a cute section where you take your shoes off and sit on the floor but also bar and regular tables. The saba fish was my favourite! Served on a sizzling hot plate with lots of sauce and veggies Big chicken was super good! So juicy, tender, crispy and flavourful. Ordered from the featured menu. Amberfish sashimi was fresh and delicious Scallop and cheese pizza was good because you can't go wrong with those ingredients but it was more normal than their other items. Basically just tasted like garlic bread with a tiny hint of scallop. read more

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It's been 3 years and I am surprised that I never wrote a review for this place. Probably because after every visit I am just laying in bed contemplating if I should visit the next day again. Not a resident of Vancouver city but every time I come up from Seattle I have to stop by Guu for dinner, treating myself to not only some authentic Japanese food, but also a true Japanese experience. They have an area with low tables where you can take off your shoes and sit on the floor cross-legged. So, make sure to wear socks if you happen to walk in at the time when they only have low tables open. They also have a bar area so if you come in by yourself you will most likely be seated there, quietly enjoying a delicious meal without any judgement. Food-wise: Their beef tataki is a must-order. I repeat, it is a must-order unless you can't stand raw beef. Squeeze some lemon juice on it and combine it with some raw onion. Oh, it just melts in your mouth. It's what makes me return to this place time after time. Usually will also order the takoyaki--the industry standard good. The last time I came back I tried the shrimp salad but didn't think it was worth it because of how little shimp you get for $10. But still, sitting at the bar area and watching the chefs put together every single dish, carefully plating and decorating them just makes me appreciate how meticulous Japanese people are. I went around Halloween and all the chefs and waiters dressed up with halloween decorations around the restaurant. Love the Japanese Izakaya vibe this place offers. read more

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I had the Ebi mayo, beef tataki, yaki udon, tuna tataki, takoyaki, salmon, and pork hotpot with ramen. They were all fantastic. The hotpot has a nice little spice to it. I would recommend getting the ramen with it. The salmon had a smoked taste to it. We got there about 5:30pm on a Monday and they were quick and efficient. Certainly recommend it read more

Guu with Garlic - Pork with ramen hot pot - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Amazing Japanese tapas restaurant! I loved the garlic twist on some of the dishes. My favorite dishes were the squid (I could taste the garlic flavor well), tuna tataki, and takoyaki. Everything was flavorful and tasted fresh. We also enjoyed the scallop pizza, kabocha, yakisoba, and unagi rice in stone pot. The customer service was fantastic - our waitresses checked in on us from time to time. We will gladly be back! read more

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Definitely a place I'd recommend to friends visiting Vancouver! Their ingredients are fresh, they churn out dishes very quickly, and their dishes are simple to the core and well executed. Some of their dishes were outstanding while others felt average, so it helps to come in knowing what's good because their menu is HUGE. Dishes that were average: the assorted oden and grilled pork cheek. They were both solid, but nothing out of the ordinary. A bit pricey for plain dishes. The outstanding dishes: BBQ eel bowl and the grilled salmon neck. The BBQ eel bowl was so good that I had to hold myself back from getting a second one. This dish has it all: sweetness from the BBQ marinade, umami from the eel and poached egg, and a bit of acidity from the pickled ginger. Mix it all together and let it sit in the hot stone pot, so the rice can get crispy at the bottom. As for the salmon neck, it was tender and juicy out of the grill. You can tell that it was marinated for a long time because it's super flavorful. read more

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Authentic Japanese food within walking distance of our hotel!? (Listel) Yes, please!! You know you're here when you see a bunch of people waiting outside in 30 degree weather!! That's how good it is!!! Luckily, my parents were able to get a reservation! Right when you walk in, you're greeted with cheering and welcomes from everyone that works here! This place is Izakaya style which means small, sharable plates. Here's the long list of tasty dishes we ordered! First up was a pitcher of Yuzu Mojito! That seriously tasted like juice!! It was so sweet! But it was so refreshing! The lemony Yuzu, chunks of lime, and mint made this drink so irresistible!! This drink is definitely one to try! Next up, FOOOOOD!!! First up, fried whole lobster! This thing was almost a food long! It very crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Although deep fried, it wasn't at all oily. It came with a tartar sauce dipping sauce. Next up was Pumpkin Croquet. First off, omg the presentation was glorious! A sphere covered in a pinky sauce with some of the pumpkin skin on top as garnish. This deep fried kombocha pumpkin even had a boiled egg inside. This too was crispy on the outside but nice and moist on the inside. The sauce it came with complemented this dish well. The unagi rice came next in a very hot stone pot. Again, the presentation of this dish was beautiful! Rice, unagi (eel), a runny egg, ginger, and nori (dried seaweed). Almost too pretty to eat! But we needed to mix it up to fully enjoy this dish! Once mixed up, we waited a couple minutes for the rice to get just a little crispy! Try it! It add some texture to the mushy rice. Up next, okonomiyaki! If you don't know what this is, it's a savory Japanese pancake. This one included seafood!!! It was crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. The sweet sauce and bonito (fish) flakes added to this dish. Now, onto the sashimi platters! The first platter we had included sockeye salmon, hamachi (yellow fin tuna), and seabreem. The second platter included sockeye salmon, hamachi belly and hamachi. Omg! These pieces were quality, thick cuts!! They didn't taste fishy at all! It came with shredded daikon and a shio leaf to add texture and some minty-ness! For some heartier dishes, we ordered the BBQ hanger steak, grilled salmon, pork cheeks, and beef tongue. Everything was so tender and came with their own unique sauces. These were gobbled up within 3 minutes!!! Overall, seriously good, quality, food and service! Our waters were never empty, food kept coming, and our waiter was very informative, friendly, and attentive despite the very busy restaurant. I really loved how each dish was carefully crafted with beautiful presentation and delicious sauces! Definitely a must try place! read more

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I'm from Portland, but every time I make my way up to BC, I always stop by Guu for a meal. Our first time there, we actually went back the same night to eat again. The last time we went, I ordered the grilled octopus, and it was the best I've ever had. The sauce on the side is incredibly good too. The Una-meshi is second favorite thing - a rice bowl with hot unagi on top, served in a stone bowl. You mix everything together to create the perfect bite and it's like an explosion of flavor. Must order! Next, the Seared Salmon Salad is something I always get. The salad is fresh, the salmon sear is on point, and the yuzu miso dressing tops it all off. Last but not least, the tempura banana dessert is the perfect way to end your meal. I love tempura bananas, and it's even better with the green tea ice cream. read more

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Went here for my birthday. Love the vibes in there We sat at the bar so it was nice to watch the chef make sushi and other dishes at the back One of my favorites must try item was the chicken avocado toast with cheese!!! definitely going back again read more

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Guu has multiple Japanese restaurants open all around Vancouver. If you're on Robson Street, you're probably already on the lookout for amazing restaurants - so do humanity a favor and look no further. This place gets jammed pack SUPER fast. We came here for dinner at 5:36 pm (the restaurant opens for dinner at 5:30), and we had to wait 45 minutes for our table. The host was a super kind, super happy gentleman who offered to call into other Guu locations to seat us (since the locations aren't that far apart). We kindly declined, as we had our eyes set on the Kabocha Croquettes. When we were finally seated, we ordered: KABOCHA CROQUETTES (5/5): Absolutely amazing. I can't begin to describe the delicate perfection of the mayo dressing + the kabocha exterior. Inside, you will find a lovely hardboile egg tucked away. Just an incredible appetizer dish. It would be a crime to forego this. SCALLOP MAYA PIZZA (5/5): Can I give this dish a 6 out of 5? Possibly one of the most delicious things I've ever tasted in my 21 years on this planet. Each bite of this pizza consisted of cheesy goodness and a powerful punch of scallop. They did not skimp on the seafood at all. MOCHI & SHRIMP GRATIN (3.5/5): I would have loved this dish more if the cream sauce didn't have such a strong gravy taste. At least that's what it reminded me of. I did love the mochi in it though - super chewy and just an interesting dish in general. It's also super heavy, so you're better of splitting this with a friend. POTATO MOCHI - (3/5): My friend probably liked this more than I did. This dish was strongly reminiscent of Porto's Fried Potato Balls, which I'm not too big a fan of (but everyone digs it!) The only difference is that there is cheese in the center of these chewy potato balls. Order at your own taste preferences. TACO RICE - (4/5): As a person who doesn't typically like Mexican flavors, I thought this dish was quite decent. It was a rather beautiful fusion, with both Eastern and Mexican flavors blending together nicely. Service was so kind. So nice. I left the restaurant in an infinitely better mood than before I entered it. The restaurant was so busy, and customers were asking the servers questions left and right, but they all handled everything with cheerful energy and kindness. I can't stress how wonderful they were enough. The prices for these dishes are incredibly reasonable. And by reasonable, I mean you're getting an amazing dining experience for relatively cheap. Guu's is a definite must-go to anyone visiting Vancouver. Yelp 100 Challenge 2017 (28/100) read more

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I was not impressed with Guu with Garlic. The beef and salmon tataki was over sauced and took away from the natural flavors of the beef and fish. The cheesecake is made fresh everyday with daily flavors. I ordered the edamame which was light and creamy with an edamame aftertaste. It was very unique and flavors were subtle but delicious. I came back the next day just for cheesecake but it was banana flavored and overpowered the delicate cheesecake taste. I didn't like it as much. The highlight of the night was the beef tongue and drinks.The beef tongue was tender but also chewy. I haven't had it with that texture before but was pleasantly surprised! I also really enjoyed the calpico plum wine with soda. Those are the only two items i would return for. Everything else on the menu seems fairly basic. The yellowtail belly was AWFUL and very FIRM. It felt very primal and made me feel sick.... like I just sunk my teeth into a fish i just caught out of water. i would not recommend sashimi. read more

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On a whim we decided to check this place out, as I love trying Japanese restaurants every where. But in particular was one of my favorite places in Vancouver to eat. The menu had a lot to choose from and we had a hard time figuring out what to eat. I can't turn down a plate of hamachi sashimi so we ordered that, some oden, garlic soy sauce salmon and garlic shrimp. We finished all of it and let me tell you, it was well worth it. The service was okay given that when we went, they squeezed us in onto the patio, with a whole lot of other people. I will definitely go back when we are safe to travel and I have another Seawheeze to run. read more

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Came by to try out the lunch menu and it was delicious! At only around $13 each, we tried their assorted sashimi (smaller portion than expected), unagi stone bowl rice (flavourful with a crispy rice crust at the end!) and the pork cutlet (came with two large cutlets and was fried expertly without being greasy! Another plus is that they give you side dishes to choose from and we got a small sampling of salad, radishes and mac salad. The portions themselves are quite good for a lunch size and all fish, proteins and flavours were on point! Overall, would recommend for their lunch menu! read more

This is the second visit to this location, ordered the wagyu tataki, and negitoro during both visits! Wagyu Tataki: (It was better the first time we ordered it.) Thicker cut than the usual beef tataki; slightly more on the chewier side. It pairs very well with the sauce. Good for the price. Negitoro with Garlic Bread: Never had anything like it.... IT. WAS. SO. GOOD. YOU HAVE TO ORDER IT!!!! Just thinking about it makes me want to drive all the way back to gastown to get it! You might think Negitoro is very typical... but with everything combined: Negitoro + house sauce + garlic bread = mind blowing dish!!! Everything mixed together just paired so well together!! *This is a must order!!! Salmon Dashichazuke: First time trying this traditional Japanese rice + soup bowl. It was really really good!! Portion was kind of small, not ideal to share. This dish is also worth trying! Ice cream on bread in a hot stone bowl: Another mind blowing order!!!! Loved it even thought Im not a fan of desserts. It arrived to our table with the coconut ice cream half melted. The ice cream it self was very tasty, it was not too sweet, had a very clear and simple coconut taste. The mind blowing part: the little slices of the bread were SOAKED with the melted ice cream on one side of the bread while the hot stone bowl was toasting it on the other side of the bread. IT WAS SO YUMMY!!! *This is a must order!! At first I was going to give this restaurant a 4 because the wagyu tataki dragged the points a little. After writing this review, it reminded me of how amazing this place was. Solid 5 star! read more

Guu with Garlic - Negitoro garlic bread - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Great food, open late, busy place, good service, boisterous & fun atmosphere. If you are looking for a quiet dinner, this is not the place for you. Food tend to be small portion but it is the quality of taste... everything we ordered was good, we ordered beef tongue with garlic- the sauce was so good, my husband & son enjoyed the beef tongue very much. We ordered the deep fried squid & chicken namban-almost like chicken karage. Both were good, squid came with spicy mayo. Chicken came with a pink looking tartar sauce. The deep fried chicken was so flavourful, you don't need the dipping sauce at all. Oden was good, does not come with rice, it will be $2 a bowl, yaki-udon with beef & mushrooms, not slot of beef but the flavour of the udon was very good. Had the spicy tuna poke bowl, the tuna definitely has a kick to it. Thoroughly enjoyed the meal! read more

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Food was good especially the yaki udon and the server was nice resturant was pretty clean

Awesome food. A little bit crowded, well worth the wait to get in. I ate there many years ago and really want to go back!

Took my guests from san francisco for dinner a few weeks ago. Their service was a bit slower than usual as the place was crowded. Reservation definitely recommended. Full size panels separated tables and food quality remained amazing. Thank goodness. read more

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Apparently the only places that are open after 9 PM on a Saturday evening are izakayas (pardon my Japanese). The grilled squid was delicious and the sashimi platter was some of the freshest sashimi I have ever tried. Honestly, I have never tasted such fresh melt in your mouth sashimi and will be hard pressed to find another place to compare. Sat at the bar and love the the morale of the staff that work here and watching them prepare each dish paying particular attention to the presentation. My only qualm was that we were seated in the corner of the bar area, which made it difficult to get in and out of our seats without other customers having to get up. Also, not the best place to have a conversation due to the noise level. Come here for the food. You won't regret it. read more

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Great izakaya restaurant with tapas meant to share. Everything was delicious. The eel over rice was especially good as well as the almond tofu and friend banana ice cream desserts. Better to make a reservation ahead of time as the wait gets really long. read more

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I am a fan of many Guu restaurants and Guu with Garlic on Robson street is no different. We went on a weekday afternoon and waited for them to open their door (to beat the crowd). I am glad we did because within 20 min, the restaurant was packed. Anyways, between the two of us, we sat at the bar and shared grilled squid, beef tongue, pork belly, grilled sausage, and kimchi & cheese risotto. It's always great sharing a few tasty tapa size dishes with cold beer so that even with a small party of two people, you get to sample several different things. We enjoyed the squid, the beef tongue and pork belly. The grilled sausage was just mediocre to us. The risotto is quite interesting and pack full of flavor. Although this is not our favorite Guu location, I'm a fan and would come back when I am in the area. read more

One of the best izakaya joints I've been to. Informal yet clean, bright and lively, it felt like a social gathering spot for locals and visitors alike. What we thoroughly enjoyed about this place (besides the food) was the fact that all of the staff members were on point - constantly clearing plates, refilling drinks, shouting out food orders to the cooks, then quickly serving the freshly made dishes to the customers to devour. My date and I sat at the bar, which, in my opinion, is one of the best seats in the house. We ordered some hot sake (to find solace from the cold, Canadian winter) and watched in admiration as the cooks did their thing. It's a privilege to dine out and have people serve you food & drink. It's even better to be able to sit comfortably and watch your dinner being made right in front of you. The Tuna Tataki is fresh, thick slices of perfectly seared albacore served with a drizzle of ponzu. The Ebi Mayo came with 6 large shrimp - lightly battered in tempura and dressed in a spicy mayo. Their Yaki Udon is like a Japanese take on beef stroganoff. We ordered a lot of dishes but a special shout out goes to the Tontoro (grilled pork cheek) and Scallop Pizza (baby scallops, mayo, topped with cheese). So good, we ordered them twice. Thank you, Guu! Garlic is sexy!! read more

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