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    Guu with Otokomae

    3.7 (396 reviews)
    ModerateJapanese, Tapas Bars
    Open 11:30 am - 11:00 pm

    Order Guu with Otokomae Takeout or Delivery

    Guu with Otokomae Photos

    Business Info

    GUU WITH OTOKOMAE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials

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    Reviews With Photos

    White Sangria is soooo good
    John O.

    Guu is the noise your stomach makes when you're hungry. This is where you take care of that in style. The Guu family of restaurants was the first izakaya in Vancouver. Since their start in 1993, they have grown to five locations in Vancouver and one in Toronto. Each is different from the others in atmosphere and culinary emphasis. Traditionally, izakayas were establishments where one could find good camaraderie, food , and drink. In North America, it's pretty much just food and drink. This Guu is probably the most innovative and experimental. They like to put their twist on the cocktails and the food. White Sangria was absolutely delicious. The dominant flavor was lychee and you can't go wrong with that. The Guuu'd Yaki Udon was probably the only menu item kept from the early days. It's still a winner. Salmon and Seven Friends (I count eight) was wonderful. Some of the friends may be a bit off putting for some,but wrap them up in the nori and be amazed.

    Miso cod
    Grace N.

    We came in on a very wet and rainy late afternoon after walking around Gastown. This place is so cute and it's an izakaya. Their menu is surprisingly very small, and their special izakaya menu is also limited in my opinion. Lots of similar items... We got grilled miso cod, sashimi salad, beef tataki salad (which was a bit disappointing from the photos we saw), salmon belly, which was huge and yummy, but on the salty side, hamachi carpaccio (first time saw it came in a bowl with salad), pork sausage on grill, which was not what we expected. We also got a Japanese style gobo soup with beef gristle, cheese rice grilled bowl, deep fried squid, and chicken bang bang salad. Overall the good was satisfactory and the service was great. And it was a good shelter from the wet and cold weather.

    Takowasa
    Helen C.

    Honestly, I'm pretty surprised how low the reviews on this restaurant is. I swung by for dinner on a Saturday and had an incredible experience at this izakaya. If you want a table, you probably want to make a reservation, but if you don't mind sitting at the bar and you have a small party, you can probably get away with it. Their menu has so many unique items and everything is super high quality. Takowasa (4.25/5): Super fresh wasabi with tenderr pieces of octopus made for a delicious and unique appetizer. Pork Cheek with Kanzuri Ponzu (4.25/5): This may be biased because pork cheek is my favorite cut of pork, but it's cooked just right with the fat crispy and the entire cut is just cooked so it doesn't feel chewy at all. Paired with fresh green onions, this is an amazing side. Salmon with Seven Friends (4/5): This felt like the Japanese version of bibimbap without rice. Definitely worth trying if you haven't had it before, but I will say it is less salmon forward than the name may imply. Guuu'd Burning Pudding (4/5): A great version of the classic creme brulee. I did enjoy the theatrics of them presenting it still flaming at your table. You can definitely still taste the alcohol a bit though even after you dig in.

    Pork cheek w/ ponzu sauce
    Jason L.

    Came here because we were craving Guu after having it last month. For food, we had the following: Deep fried chopped octopus (daily special) - light batter, slightly oily as it coated my lips. The octopus was quite chewy and large in size, making it an experience when chewing lol. It could've benefited from a longer tenderizing process. This was served with salt and lemon, no sauce. We found this to be the only miss of the night. Pan fried tuna belly (daily special) - quite soft, almost creamy, not overall salty from the sauce. Take note you are eating for texture here as tuna is not typically flavourful. Flounder carpaccio (daily special) - vinegarette is not overpowering but adds flavour to the bite. Greens and onions are fresh and balance against the slightly creamy texture of the flounder Pork cheek with ponzu sauce - pork cheek is yummy! Having the outer slices and working your way into the fattier pieces showcases different aspects of the pork. The wasabi hit me in the throat by my own doing but I enjoyed the kick regardless LOL Pork belly kakuni - Our last dish of the night, which was (unexpectedly) a Japanese style Peking duck. Pork was hella soft, having been stewed in a syrupy broth. The tortilla could've came out slightly warmer but that's only a small nitpick. In terms of braising, this is as fine as braising can get. It was filling and we enjoyed every bite of it. For drinks, we had: Long island iced tea - This was a solid take on the long island. Bubbly from the coke, the alcohol mixed well to create a light zesty sweetness. Similar to a fizzy VLT iced tea. Despite the lightness, it still packed a punch for me which I appreciated. lalalychee - nothing to write home about unfortunately, if we had to summarize it, it would be "tall glass of soho"

    Takowasa - marinated octopus & wasabi-stem served w/ 6 pieces of roasted seaweed 4.9
    Kathy P.

    We had a GUU'd time eating GUU'd food and drinking GUU'd beer. We have been eating at GUU With Otokomae in Gastown for many, many years and we always have a fantastic time. The low lighting, music blasting, friendly staff gives off a fun vibe. The food hasn't changed much. We ordered exactly what we have been ordering all these years and it still tasted delicious. My all time favourite dish here is the deep fried cheese. On the table: Panko Brie Cheese - deep-fried breaded brie cheese w/ mango & blueberry sauce 9.9 Takowasa - marinated octopus & wasabi-stem served w/ 6 pieces of roasted seaweed 4.9 Ikamaru Grilled Squid - grilled marinated squid 11 Negitoro Garlic - chopped tuna belly & avocado w/ garlic baguette, green onion wasabi sauce, seaweed sauce 8.9 Wagyu Beef Tataki - thinly sliced, seared WAGYU BEEF w/ original onion sauce, garlic chips, green onion 11.8 Today's Sashimi Salad - today's assorted sashimi on greens dressed w/ guuu'd dressing & wasabi mayo 11.8

    Wagyu beef tataki
    Luke Y.

    Price/quality (4/4): Came here with a friend on a Thursday night. The food was good, though what really knocked it out of the park that night was the lobster tail. It's rare to find a lobster tail at that price level, and even rarer to find one as tasty. Service (1/1): Service was friendly and effective. Would I come here again: Yes

    Evelyn W.

    Salmon with 7 friends This was recommended by a friend, and I love it! Raw sockeye, 7 kinds of Japanese side dishes, natto, fried garlic slices, pickled radish, pickled plums, etc., mixed with seaweed and wrapped in seaweed, the taste and texture are very complex. If you can't accept natto, you may want to avoid it. Cheese Tofu SOOO delicious, with a little more honey and caramel sauce on top of the cheesy tofu I used to have, so it was sweet overall. It's dense but not greasy Sashimi Salad One of my friends' favorite dishes. There are scallops and yellowtail in the sashimi. The large pieces are also very fresh. Surprisingly, there are shredded radish underneath, but I don't think the sauce is refreshing enough, it's not Japanese vinaigrette, it's mayo Tenderloin Beef Bibimbap Probably the most average dish in the whole place. Too little sauce, so some are bland. At the beginning, the rice is sticky if the eggs are not coagulated, and the dry and fragrant rice is more delicious when there is rice in the back.

    Kurtis J.

    Visiting Vancouver we thought it best to tackle this cuisine and it didn't disappoint. It's a tapas-style menu, mostly small shareable dishes so take advantage of that with your mate. The only real criticism was the octopus was very over cooked other than that, the sashimi is what dreams are made of and the udon noodles were soft enough to sleep on.

    Sashimi Salad
    PenguinC L.

    Just went to this restaurant earlier today. We went with my family to try something new, and we were craving Japanese cuisine. Food was good. The sashimi salad was fairly large, with diced tuna, partially grilled salmon (my favourite), and scallops. Great portion and taste for $15.80! The grilled salmon bento box tasted good. 2 pieces of grilled salmon were provided, garnishes, a veggie salad with dressing, rice, and a potato salad. Great portion for only $15.80. The grilled mackerel bento box, like the others, was cheap and large ($14). Everything was the same between the two bento boxes except the fish served. I found the mackerel to be a little over salted... rice, salads, and garnishes were all decent. Miso soups were served with the bento boxes, also a bit too salty for me. Still drinkable, with an abundance of tofu, seaweed, and green onion. Service was good, immediately provided us with menus and water/tea right as we were seated. Food took about 15-20 minutes to come. The atmosphere was nice with quiet music playing in the background. If you're someone that can't walk very well up/down stairs, you have to walk up two flights of stairs to reach the seating area. Overall, good place for a meal on a cold rainy day! May come back again with friends to bring

    Takoyaki
    Trey T.

    It's almost like being transported to Japan! Great lunch specials and such nice presentation. Pros: -Negitoro Garlic was SO BOMB!!! Highly recommended. It's like a fish spread over garlic bread! -Staff is very friendly and attentive! Cons: -I'm not sure why we were served hot tea in a regular glass... -The Agedashi Tofu was unique... the tofu was like encased with a gel and there was a lot of dashi in the bowl, like tofu-gel soup. Haha

    salmon w seven friends3
    Annie Z.

    This place is a fantastic lunch choice--ample seating, cheap prices, and unique options! Guu with Otokomae deserves more than 3 stars. I shared the Salmon with Seven Friends dish and Mackerel Lunch. The former was SUCH a unique, fun, and flavorful dish. It came with a bunch of ingredients ranging from different textures & flavors, all cut into tiny bite sized pieces. Then I mixed everything together and ate it with seaweed. This is the first time I genuinely enjoyed natto! I also tried the mackerel dish which was incredibly delicious thanks to the oily skin. The hack is to use the rice from that dish with the Salmon with Seven Friends mixture. Everything was a great price and I would come here again!

    Stephanie L.

    Was venturing around downtown Vancouver and came to this place! It's a restaurant with a brick wall and rustic aesthetic with a bar that gives it a hip and trendy vibe. The waitress was very nice and offered us tea many times and the restaurant is kind enough to provide coat racks for our winter coats. Overall a nice ambience and a good place to chat with friends since it's on the quieter side (at least when we went). The food however was kind of disappointing. I felt like the price points were a bit high for the quality and the flavors weren't anything that wow-ed me away. My boyfriend ordered a dish that barely gave any sashimi. I ordered a miso mackerel bento that was tasty but sort of felt easily replicated at home in my opinion.

    Dark miso soup. I liked the flavor.
    Anna S.

    This is a quintessential Japanese restaurant in a Western setting. Reminds of the Elephant Bar in Nagoya. Still a western vibe but very popular with Asians. They were able to get all 11 of us at a table last minute. The other Guus actually laughed at us over the phone when we asked to seat 11. The service started fine BUT they forgot to take our order at the other side of the table. Our food came out slowly. My partner ordered appetizers first so maybe they thought we did order? We only were the third party to come in. No excuse to say they were too busy to take our order. Everything went downhill from there. They totally forgot two black cod dishes, 3 bibimbap dishes, and a order of truffle fries. My older kid was starving waiting for his rice dish. He kept saying: I'll give them 2 stars. They were apologetic but they were short staffed. They didn't give us our miso soup when the other side of our table did. The first dish was done 20 minutes before we even got our miso soup. Do better.

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    Page 1 of 10

    Guu with Otokomae Reviews in Other Languages

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    Miku

    Miku

    4.4(2.6k reviews)
    0.3 kmDowntown
    $$$

    We had an incredible experience at Miku…read more I've been to the Toronto location before and loved it, but the Vancouver location is even better and has a larger menu. Every dish was delicious, with the highlight being the salmon oshi sushi. The Miku roll was also excellent. From the beginning the servers were really friendly and attentive. They also allowed us to switch to a table by the window after confirming it was available (we totally understood if the table was already reserved). It was perfect for a date night and I look forward to coming back!

    WOW!! I got several recs to go here and I can see why it's such a hot spot. I looked a week in…read moreadvance for a reservation and was able to get one for 7pm for just myself. I was seated at the bar, which was lovely. Huge glass bar, gorgeous view, very lively. They seated me next to another party of 1 and the atmosphere was so great that her and I actually connected and became friends. The service was amazing. The server gave me so much info about the restaurant and offerings, but it felt fun and conversational and not like I was being flooded with information. He knew exactly when to check on me and was able to guide me in the ordering process since I was unfamiliar with the menu. I ended up getting a lovely 9oz pour of sav blanc to pair with my meal. The edamame was lovely. Way too much for one person, but not expensive. Ended up sharing with other solo diners. The tofu salad was incredible. I have never had anything like that in my life. It doesn't sound exciting, but it is a true adventure in textures and flavors. I wish I could recreate it, but it was just too special to even attempt. I got their specialty, which was a salmon aburri sushi. It melted in my mouth. So much flavor, perfect texture. I like sushi, but am not an adventurous eater in the world of seafood, so played it safe. This is a meal I will think about for years. The gal next to me got a sampler platter and said the salmon was her fave, so I am so happy I got a plate full of it. Will be back 100 times over.

    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)
    1.8 kmWest End
    $$

    A coworker and I went to this place (thanks to Yelp reviews)…read more Really good and fresh fish. Super friendly staff

    Maybe it's an American thing to linger and enjoy a dining experience. To stay longer than needed to…read moresoak up the ambiance and give a good moment some extra time for memories. But in other parts of the world the meal is what's important and so is a quick turn around. Guu with Garlic reminded me a lot of the Izakaya restaurants I found under the train lines of Tokyo in many ways, including the amount of time it felt right to stay. The food came out quick, the servers took orders quicker, and the alcohol came out chilled and as nice contrast to the hot food. Looking around and you see the hand written menu on blackboard surfaces on the walls and this feeling of authenticity. The heat of the flames from the kitchen can be felt and seen if you sit at the bar. And the flavors just hit all the right notes. Starting with appetizers, a section izakayas shine at, the first dish we got was their scallop and mayo pizza. With a crispy crunch on the bottom and crust, this reminds you of the flavors of a baked volcano roll or scallop roll you can find in almost any North American sushi restaurant. Just like that dish, it's important to eat it while it's still hot so it doesn't get gross and 느끼 에. Then came the yellowtail tuna "tempura" pieces. Thick pieces of yellowtail tuna flash fried for just the right crisp on the outside with slight pink of the fish inside. It is meaty without being oily or fatty. Great bite. The beef tongue after was interesting. From the color of the sauce it accompanies it you would think it would be heavy in flavor but it is actually light and citrusy. A good cut into the richer tones of the beef tongue. The yaki udon was one of the best I ever had. It was smokey without being overpowering. The beef was thin and tender and balanced well with the mushrooms it also came with. The udon noodles stayed bouncy and chewy which I didn't expect from being grilled. Very tasty and highly recommend this dish. For our final bite we shared a hot stone bowl of their pork and cabbage rice. With the hot stone bowl constantly cooking even after this dish arrived it was imperative to stir the ingredients together constantly for the first two minutes. It allowed for the runny egg to meld with the rice and the crispy texture of some ingredients was a nice bonus. All in all, I loved eating here and if my appetite was bigger I would've tried more on their menu. A solid place to eat with a great atmosphere, if you're looking for delicious food that won't take too much of your time but still lingers in your memories you have to check out Guu with Garlic.

    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 - Una-Meshi

    Una-Meshi

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

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    The delicious individual bite of their yellowfin tuna tempura

    Saku

    Saku

    4.5(522 reviews)
    1.7 kmWest End
    $$

    Eating at Saku has totally reset my katsu scale because this is far and away the best katsu I've…read morehad. They make their own panko and the chicken katsu was cooked perfectly. It was so light and crispy and the chicken was tender and juicy. Saku's katsu was so good that when I think about the katsus I've had is the past at other places I realize now they were just decent katsu. Other highlights here are their house made sesame dressing - so good. They sliced the cabbage salad so thin that in combination with the sesame dressing it was a great combo. I usually don't like that much raw cabbage but I ate every bit of it. The ambience is airy and cool. The staff were really great and asked us about any allergies. We'd walked by this place before and seen a line out the door. Now we know why.

    I came back for dinner. Had the Rosu nabe this time (last time I had the regular Rosu)…read more The pork katsu comes served in a (super hot) cast iron dish with a nabe broth with onions and eggs cracked into it. Still comes with a little side of pickles, and unlimited rice, cabbage, and miso soup. No katsu sauce. The katsu was fried to perfection. Juicy, tender, cant complain. But since they serve it in a broth, it does get soggy really quick. Still good, but after a few minutes its just soggy. The broth is nice with rice; comforting kind of meal. The unlimited rice/soup/cabbage is just icing on the cake. My dining partner had the Kake udon (pretty good, noodles good texture and slightly smaller strands than most places) and Menchi Cheese side - basically a pork meatball with cheese and deep fried katsu-style, served with katsu sauce. This was excellent. My original review still stands. Excellent katsu, plus they have the consistency and reliability. $28-30/meal and its plenty of food for 1, especially with unlimited cabbage/rice/soup. Restaurant is nice and comfortable, good spacing and not cramped. Easy recommend. 5/5.

    Photos
    Saku - Inside

    Inside

    Saku - Zenbu set with refillable soup, rice and salad

    Zenbu set with refillable soup, rice and salad

    Saku - Zenbu katsu

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    Zenbu katsu

    Okeya Kyujiro

    Okeya Kyujiro

    4.8(42 reviews)
    1.2 kmYaletown, Downtown

    I made a reservation at Okeya Kyujiro for my partner's 40th birthday, and he had the best time…read more Honestly, it was one of the most memorable omakase experiences I've had in Vancouver. Okeya Kyujiro is a Michelin one-star theatrical omakase restaurant, and when they say theatrical, they mean it! From the moment you're welcomed by smiling ushers in kimono to the closing tea ceremony, every movement feels intentional, precise, and elevated. The ambiance is serene and anticipatory. At the start, guests sit in silence as a black screen conceals the chefs. You see their shadows moving behind it. A bell rings, the screen lifts, and the performance begins. Dinner is a 25+ course experience priced at $325 per person. It's undeniably a splurge, but for a milestone celebration, it feels justified. The menu is seafood-forward, with many ingredients flown in from Japan. Each ingredient is presented before preparation, then carefully assembled and served directly from chef to guest. Courses arrive one by one, never rushed. The service team moves seamlessly in the background, refilling water and attending to drinks (available as an add-on) without disrupting the flow. The finale is a matcha ceremony, whisked in front of you with the same quiet precision that defines the evening. When the final sip is taken, the bell chimes once more, the chefs and staff bow, and the screens close. It was a beautifully choreographed dining experience, perfect for marking a special moment, and one I'd gladly return to for the next celebration.

    Service was really amazing with servers explaining each dish and drinks were always topped off…read more Food was good, but maybe this isn't quite my style of omakase compared to the other ones I've tried. This is a more theatrical style so expect louder music and a more theatrical experience (eg one of the servers played the flute for the guests celebrating birthdays). I prefer a more intimidate and interactive style of omakase where you can talk with the chefs. This lunch also felt a little fast in terms of progression of the meal. Some of the dishes were very tasty while others didn't wow us. With drinks, we were quite full despite some reviews saying portion is on the smaller size. Our total was around $500 with drinks for 2 people. A really good experience for omakase, especially if you are looking for a unique experience though not my favourite one I've tried.

    Photos
    Okeya Kyujiro - Inside the waiting area before being taken to your seat.

    Inside the waiting area before being taken to your seat.

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

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

    Okeya Kyujiro - A5 wagyu sukiyaki

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    A5 wagyu sukiyaki

    Guu Original Thurlow - Pumpkin croquette

    Guu Original Thurlow

    4.1(839 reviews)
    1.1 kmDowntown, West End
    $$

    Restaurant is very small so reservations (thru open table) is high recommended!…read more Street parking in downtown area is crazy, make sure to give yourself plenty of time to make your resos Staff is very nice, we were running late and calledI to see if we can push back our reservation 15 mins and they did. My daughter spilled water and the staff was very kind about it, I felt so bad! Food is amazing, everything has its unique flavor and texture. All is so good is all I can say!! We had left over fried rice and ate it next morning cold but was still so delicious!! Love that you can order the sashimi combo (choose 3) and get a little of everything. We got spot prawn, salmon and yellow tail... so so so good Restaurant is very small so it does feel crowded and can get very noisy. We went with 2 younger kids and they weren't bothered. The booth seats are high so no boosters are needed. Food is so good!! The only complaint is noise level/ crowded space but it can't be helped since it's a small shop and the food is totally worth it

    I came here for dinner on a weeknight with two foodie friends of mine. Said friends lived in Japan…read morefor over a decade and they've dined here often in the past, saying it's very "authentic" Izakaya and it reminds them of their past life in Japan (which they miss a lot). Me, I know nothing about Izakaya or what is or isn't authentic Japanese cuisine, so this review is coming from someone with zero knowledge or expectation of any specific foods or experiences. Despite it being a weeknight, the place was packed. It was good that we had a reservation. There was a couple in line before me and they were walk-ins, and there were no available seats for them. I noted how small this place was, and crowded, with the tables close together and a long bar with a counter and barstools there (also close together). Our reserved table was right by the front door - literally, - so every time the door opened, we got a gust of cold air (and it was a cold February night when we were there). I kept my coat on. Truth be known, I was not very comfortable. Also, it was loud. Very loud. I like how the staff shout Japanese greetings to diners whenever they enter but between the frequent shouts and the sheer volume of chatter from all the diners, all sitting close together in close proximity, it was kinda hard to hear what my friends were saying during our dinner. That said, the environment was super vibrant and, again, my friends said this was very typical of an Izakaya in Japan. Food-wise, I have no idea what my friends ordered. The menu was primarily available by way of a QR code and I had no idea what the dishes were, so I deferred to my friends' knowledge. But I can attest that all the dishes were DELICIOUS. We had some sort of Japanese street food "pancakes" (they were wonderful). We had some sort of stirfry beef with noodles (amazing). We had two types of sashimi (omg both were so fresh and so so good!). We had a few other dishes that I can't recall, but I remember I loved them. So.... the food here was GREAT. Service was also attentive which I hadn't expected, being as busy as the restaurant was. I really liked this place but I'll probably go back in the summertime when the weather is nicer as I was cold there, and I'd dine at an off-time, when the volume wasn't so loud. (I'm too old for the loudness!).

    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

    Hello Nori

    Hello Nori

    4.5(323 reviews)
    1.1 kmWest End
    $$

    This is a good spot to grab a bite and take a break from shopping on Robson. It's very spacious…read moreinside with modern aesthetics and the hostess was welcoming. Every guest is seated around the bar where they can watch the rolls being made fresh. Upon being seated you place your order by marking a piece of paper. We started off with cocktails: kaiju en neguroni and peach pafekuto and they were both refreshing. We each ordered a few rolls and my fave is the unagi hand roll. The unagi was flame-torched right in front of me. Prices are on the expensive side with small portions, but everything tasted fresh.

    Hello Nori was our last lunch before checking out and heading to the airport, and it was such a…read moresolid way to end the trip. We picked up the 16-piece Premium Cut Rolls (toro, yellowtail, scallop, and truffle lobster), and the quality really showed in the taste. Everything was clean, fresh, and well-balanced -- no heavy sauces, no distractions, just really good fish. The toro was rich and smooth, the scallop was buttery, and the truffle lobster added a nice depth without overpowering the roll. Pickup was quick and seamless, and the food was packaged well for eating on the go before a flight. Portions are standard, but the flavor and quality are absolutely the highlight here. If you care more about how sushi tastes than flashy extras, Hello Nori is a great choice. Would happily come back next time.

    Photos
    Hello Nori  - Interiors - seating area

    Interiors - seating area

    Hello Nori  - Salmon oshi ($8) and ebi oshi ($8)

    Salmon oshi ($8) and ebi oshi ($8)

    Hello Nori  - Wagyu handroll

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    Wagyu handroll

    Shizen Ya

    Shizen Ya

    4.3(615 reviews)
    1.1 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

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    View of restaurant

    Guu with Otokomae - japanese - Updated June 2026

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