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    Ki-Isu Japanese Restaurant

    3.6 (119 reviews)
    ModerateJapanese, Sushi Bars
    Closed • 11:30 am - 9:15 pm

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    Ki-Isu Japanese Restaurant Photos

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    KI-ISU JAPANESE RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Lunch Special C (beef teriyaki)
    Ellen H.

    I went to this restaurant twice within a month. The first time the experience was pleasant, service was prompt and friendly, the food tastes good, and the price was very reasonable. I ordered lunch special C (beef teriyaki). I would have rated 4 stars for this occasion. I happened to be in the same area again a couple weeks later. Because of the good previous experience, I ate at this restaurant again. This time the experience wasn't as pleasant, the service was still friendly. However, once I sat down and touched the table with my forehands, I felt it was sticky. The table was not wiped thoroughly and the servers were too busy. So I got some napkins and wiped the table myself. I ordered the spicy chicken donburi. it was the right temperature (hot) and the right spicyness. I did not regret ordering it. But when I tasted my friend's sushi from lunch special C (the same one I ordered during the previous visit), I immediately could tell it was not as fresh as last time. So my conclusion is the freshness of the food is not consistent.

    Alan C.

    I typically come here on Tuesday nights after running with the Van Run meetup sushi run group. I find the service here to be generally good to excellent depending on who is working there on any given night. Compared to other yaletown Japanese restaurants the prices are reasonable and are on the lower end of the range. This is more of a Japanese fusion restaurant with lots of specialty rolls which are heavily sauced. The fish is fresh and i have consistently had good meals here. A solid mid-range sushi restaurant.

    Raya S.

    Good sushi but I just ordered the regular rolls. If you order smart you will get a lot for your $. I will be going back to try special rolls. I ordered salmon avocado and dynamite rolls. They were good quality but nothing unique from any other sushi place.

    two trays of sushi
    Naomi T.

    My friend and I were planning to eat at a park in Yaletown so we grabbed sushi from Ki-Isu. We got the Dynamite combo and the Ki-isu Combo. The sushi was fresh and tasty and you can wait outside and they'll bring the food out to you if you get takeout. They are also open for dine in now. The only thing was that I didn't know the Ki-isu combo would be so small. It would be good if they could list how many pieces each combo had?

    Tuna roll, dynamite roll, California roll - together in a combo deal
    Krista M.

    I don't think I could've received worse service. Unbelievable. The place isn't very big, I don't know if the waitresses were overwhelmed with to go orders and sit down orders but wow it was bad. I asked for a water and it never arrived. I politely reminded the waitress and she brought one over. Having traveled all day, I was quite parched and quickly drank what she brought. It was not refilled until I requested another water. It took forever to receive my bill and even then the waitress was not friendly. I don't understand. The sushi was decent - very cheap. I would not return based on the service and quality of sushi.

    Seriously delicious sushi!! Super fresh and tasty. Great service and decent pricing. Definitely coming back for more!
    Christa N.

    Incredible sushi! Super delicious, speedy service and well priced. So stoked to have found this gem! Will definitely be eating here again soon!!

    Brown rice salmon cake, and the tuna cake (forgot it's name)
    Sangeetha M.

    This is definitely a place I'm going to keep going back to! Great sushi, they were quick and the prices are amazing! Came with a couple friends, we got a large sake, salmon sashimi, 3 rolls and the total was about $65. It's close to the sky train station as well. Crunch crunch - wow! Must get. That's all I'm going to say. Get the full order, as each piece is quite small. I liked that though, there wasn't a lot of rice. I came here just for the brown rice salmon cake so definitely got that. I'm a little confused why it's called that but the rice isn't brown. Am I missing something? We wanted another one so we asked our server, and she recommended the tuna cake that was similar to the salmon cake. Forget the salmon!! The tuna was so much better!!! And I love salmon more than anything else so really, get the tuna. Our server was really nice and friendly. The only downside is they closed pretty early. It was a Thursday and they closed at 9:15pm. I also don't think there's a way to make a reservation.

    Chirashi Donburi
    Jeanie P.

    I'll start off by letting you know that I'm a sushi junkie. I started eating sushi about 35 years ago and I typically eat it at least once per week and often 2 or 3 times a week. I've gone to a countless number of different sushi restaurants. I have several favorites but Ki Ishu is the one I go to most often. There are 4 types (or 4-star ratings) of sushi restaurants ( as per my chart). 1 star is inexpensive, large quantity (lots of rice but thin fish) lower to good quality. 2 star is good quality, quantity, and price. 3 star is great quality, reasonable quantity, and price varies. 4 star is a high-end restaurant with smaller portions, higher prices, and quality is great. I aim for 3 star. I like lots of fresh fish, minimal rice and to pay a reasonable price for it. Ki Ishu is it hands down. Fresh fish that glistens, best rice out of all my favorite places, portions are great and all at a reasonable, if not, great prices. It's not a fancy place but it's clean and the decor is really nice. The service is fabulous. I have had to wait sometimes but that's only when they are busy not because they are ignoring you. They always remember me and my order. Tea is served promptly and hot (unless they are super busy, which is understandable). They have a few tables outside. The bathrooms are ok...clean but very small. My other favorite sushi places are great too but the prices are higher. I often get the Chirashi Bowl which is min 13 good sized pieces of fresh sashimi (menu reads 12) on a big bowl of rice. They always add higher end pieces like Toro (tuna belly), Hamachi (yellowtail), and tako (octopus) or ebi (shrimp raw or cooked). You get a bowl of miso soup and green tea of course...all $19. They have a good selection of "worth it" appies. The salads are unique and fabulous. The rolls are great (not mostly rice) even the rice tastes great. I uploaded a pic. you can't see the rice but it's there :)

    Salmon maki with cream cheese
    Nidhi P.

    I was told this Japanese restaurant is a must try so today I did, and it was definitely worth the try. We ordered the spicy combo, lunch box B and salmon maki with cream cheese. All the items were good and more than sufficient for 2 people. The crocket lunch box was fresh and the croket was crispy and hot. The spicy combo was fresh and great for the price. However, I wish they added more of the spicy sauce in the roll. Salmon maki was good and it was $4.50 with cream cheese. They are not dining in yet, so we did a take out and enjoyed it in a park. I would definitely recommend this restaurant in Yaletown and I'm going back.

    Aburi Tuna Stack
    Chaiwat S.

    I'm surprised to see this quality around this neighborhood. Food was not overpriced and quality was up to the bar. Unfortunately, toro stack is no longer served here and black rice is not available during COVID-19.

    Rida W.

    Me and my family have been eating here since 2016 and it's 2020 now and we are still in love with this place. Their sushi and lunch & dinner boxes are amazing and their prices are very reasonable! Crunch crunch roll is one of our favourites and the environment is also very cozy. Definitely a 5 star review as 10+ year customer

    Kenneth N.

    these Korean-owned sushi places are really picking it up! Ordered their signature sushi roll, the Crunch crunch roll, tuna w/ their spicy house sauce, and tempura bits, have to say it's worth a repeat, and def the full roll next time. just trying to watch my weight and ate the 1/2 roll ;) nice typical yaletown decor, a lot of black, and friendly service. even a few patio tables for those who want fresh air or check out the eye candy.

    Chicken Teriyaki Don
    Roberta T.

    This place is just ok. The best thing is the location because I like a lot pacific st and it is close to my work. I went for lunch and I noticed the floor was very dirty with wasabi and old food. It didn't make sense to be like that since the restaurant is quite small and was almost empty. I had Beef teriyaki Don ($10) and I tasted ok. The rice comes on the side which I dont really like. i would prefer having the rice with the beef in the same bowl. In my opinion there are better beef teriyaki don in the same area with better price too. My friends also noticed that it was pricey comparing to Umeda, Sushi Maro and Yamato.

    Crunch Crunch Roll

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    5 years ago

    The best. Interesting fusion rolls. Fresh. Delish. One of the only places in Van where you can sit outside and eat sushi.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ki-Isu Japanese Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

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    Tozen Sushi Bar

    Tozen Sushi Bar

    4.5(84 reviews)
    1.1 km•Fairview Slopes

    From the moment I arrived, everything felt thoughtful and beautifully considered -- from the…read moregracious manner of the lovely hostess and staff, to their impeccable presentation and dress, to the exquisite ceramic dishes on which each course was served. A special thank you to Michael, whose patience, knowledge, and gracious manner made such a difference. His recommendations were impeccable, and he took the time to guide me through the menu with such care. And Chef Mr. Hoon's creations were extraordinary. And his team most impressive! The miso sable was quite simply the most delicious I have ever tasted, and the Kamatoro Bluefin Tuna was exceptional. The quality was unparalleled, the presentation exquisite, and every detail reflected such care and artistry. Simply a beautiful experience from beginning to end.

    Amazing!!! From making the reservation and having to change it due to a delayed airline flight the…read morestaff at Tozen were exceptional. We literally dropped our bags at the front desk of our hotel and ran to the restaurant - got there at 8:45 got seated and that's when we knew it was all worth it! Sat at the sushi bar and had interaction with chef throughout our dinner. This place is definitely going down as one of our favorites while traveling. The Foie Gras was seriously top of our picks for the night.....a must. We actually ordered it twice. Lol-

    Photos
    Tozen Sushi Bar - A world of sushi

    A world of sushi

    Tozen Sushi Bar - Explosive tuna bomb

    Explosive tuna bomb

    Tozen Sushi Bar - Green Dragon

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    Green Dragon

    Miku

    Miku

    4.4(2.6k reviews)
    1.7 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)

    Marulilu Cafe - Unagi onigiri set ($15.00)

    Marulilu Cafe

    4.0(305 reviews)
    1.3 km•Mount Pleasant
    •$$

    Marulilu cafe has been opened for many years and I'm pleased to say the their quality and taste…read morehaven't changed. The exterior looks very rundown, and the store sign is somewhat disappearing. Basically, the exterior is not well maintained and if I didn't know about this place i wouldn't even notice its existence. The interior is very basic and lack of decors. There's usually only one staff member up front. You'd order at the cashier and pay first. The restaurant is quite small and can get busy during peak times. They serve delicious Japanese staples such as hamburger, omelette rice, and also Western options such as waffles and sausages. The portion is good and price is also reasonable. Drinks are also yummy. I had a lavender latte.

    A friend has been wanting to try this place for a few years, so we decided to give a try together…read more When we got there, it was a little hard to recognize because the outside signage was in terrible shape, and we could barely make out the name of it. As we entered, it's exactly as others have described - very tiny, homely and quaint. We were seated immediately, were given menu's and instructed to order at the front counter when ready. Once we ordered and paid, the food probably took less than 7 minutes to come out - so quite fast. I tried both the Omu Curry Rice with Pork Cutlet and the Omu Hayashi Rice with Nikomi Hamburger Patty. Both looked very home-cooking style dishes, but in a good way that is very different from what you can find in a Japanese restaurant in Vancouver. Flavours were good, the portion sizes were generous and the prices were reasonable. Staff were very friendly. They made sure so thank us before we went out the door. Overall, a very pleasant experience. I liked the food, and always supportive a hard-working family. I'd come back again.

    Photos
    Marulilu Cafe - Interior

    Interior

    Marulilu Cafe - Omelette rice

    Omelette rice

    Marulilu Cafe - Shop exterior

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    Shop exterior

    Saku

    Saku

    4.3(301 reviews)
    1.3 km•Fairview Slopes
    •$$

    This place is extraordinary. Everything was fried to perfection. We were also told that the panko…read moreis created fresh everyday from a local bakery in Vancouver. I would recommend chicken or shrimp if you want a protein. I had the tonkatsu (pork) which was a little tougher. The thinly sliced pork with cheese inside was the best bite I had. I also enjoyed the katsu nabe but the soup does affect the texture of the fried pork. There was also unlimited rice, cabbage salad, and sesame sauce here. Amazing! My husband ordered the curry chicken katsu which was excellent and our friends ordered the Zenbu Katsu which was plenty to share between two people. The staff are very sweet and attentive and the restaurant is clean and simple.

    I had no idea that katsu could taste this GOOD. I mean, all katsu I've had prior to eating at Saku…read morejust pales in comparison. Who knew??? My hubs and I vacationed in Vancouver a few weeks ago in late April. We had seen the long lines for dinner at Saku when we were here more than a year ago. So, we decided to give them a try for a late lunch around 2pm on a Wednesday afternoon. No wait. We got seated right away. We liked how spacious and airy the dining room was. Our wait staff were friendly and on point. They were considerate about answering our questions about the food and food allergies. I ordered the chicken thigh katsu ($26 Can) and my hubs got the chicken thigh curry ($28.50 Can). No dairy involved in either dish which I was happy about because I have challenges digesting milk protein. Yes, it's kinda pricey. Yes, it's totally worth it. The katsu is light, crispy, fried perfectly, not greasy, and comes with unlimited rice, miso soup, finely chopped cabbage salad, and an addictively delicious sesame dressing. My hubs' curry sauce was served on the side so he could pour out as much or as little as he wanted. All in all, it was a very pleasant and satisfying meal. Saku is top notch for katsu. You won't believe how good katsu can be until you try it.

    Photos
    Saku
    Saku
    Saku

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    Minami - Aburi Oshi Trio and Classic Nigiri

    Minami

    4.1(848 reviews)
    0.3 km•Yaletown, Downtown
    •$$$

    We loved our dinner at Minami. We came on a Friday night with an infant and sat in the back…read morecourtyard area. The staff was welcoming and kind. The food was amazing. We loved the pressed sushi. The salmon oshi was probably our favorite. The ebi oshi was delicious as well. We also got the duck breast and Brussel sprouts. The drinks were great as well - I had the daiquiri and the ginza margarita.

    If you haven't had aburi sushi, this is the place to fix that. Minami is the sister restaurant to…read moreMiku and they're the ones who brought the flame-seared style to Vancouver, so they know exactly what they're doing. Each piece gets torched over charcoal which gives it this smoky, melt-in-your-mouth quality, and the specialty sauces mean you don't even reach for the soy (they will also say to your face not to, so unless you want to endure their judgement--which my husband happily does--I'd stay away from soy sauce for the aburi. Their salmon oshi is well known, I love the ebi oshi the most but definitely get both and decide for yourself. The whole menu delivers though, from the sashimi to the rolls to the cocktails, all of it beautifully plated without feeling fussy. The space is nice too, took a big group of family here once after an event and they all loved it. And if you're here in the summer ask about the garden patio out back. It's an elevated experience but never stuffy. Perfect for a date night or when you want to treat yourself. Reservations are a good idea because it fills up. Easily one of my favourite spots in Yaletown though!

    Photos
    Minami - Stunning artwork

    Stunning artwork

    Minami - Minami zen has three courses, and this is one of them.

    Minami zen has three courses, and this is one of them.

    Minami - Minami Martini ... Kyoto Sparkles

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    Minami Martini ... Kyoto Sparkles

    Okeya Kyujiro

    Okeya Kyujiro

    4.8(45 reviews)
    0.4 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

    Ki-Isu Japanese Restaurant - japanese - Updated September 2026

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