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    Kingyo

    4.4 (1.3k reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 2:30 PM, 4:30 PM - 10:00 PM

    Kingyo Photos

    Business Info

    KINGYO ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Kingyo

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    Reviews With Photos

    Hamachi collar
    Aiden Y.

    This is our fave restaurant in Vancouver! The Wagyu and Kobe beef on hot stones are what dreams are made of! They have wonderful drinks as well like the mango lychee soda. Service is attentive and ambiance feels like you stepped into a local's spot in Tokyo. Def make reservations. They get packed, cheers!

    Beef carpaccio
    Derek T.

    A whole lot of options here so we'll see how helpful I can be with writing a review. They serve a course menu which is nice and cut out for all you decision paralysis people. We enjoyed the beef carpaccio, yellowtail croquet, miso uni udon, miso black cod, and cheese ice cream that made up the course menu. Portions were good and flavors robust, what more do you need? Oh, for a party of four, quite a bit more. We tried the tomato kimchi which is more like a spiced tomato, so don't expect the fermented spiciness of korean kimchi. Tan tan noodle was pretty standard, can't say it's mindblowing, but a nice take on it! I love myself beef tongue, so evidently I loved cooking it on a stone grill (which is quite literally a heated up stone). Pressed salmon sushi was a unique take with flavors I haven't really considered before for salmon. Make a reservation as this place is crowded even on weekdays. You won't regret eating here though!

    Stone Grilled Wagyu Beef
    Crystal Z.

    Ambiance - casual, relaxed, can accommodate small to large parties, love the small details of this restaurant (drinking glass, napkins, etc.) Service - exceptional, servers were nice and friendly, food came out at a good pace Food - fish quality was great, uni miso udon was more on the saltier side but udon was cooked to perfection, our famous almond tofu is a must get!

    Uni miso cream udon
    Denise T.

    I really enjoy dining here; I've been here 3x in the past 10 months. Delicious food, good service, and a very chill atmosphere. The past few times I've visited with no reso, a handful of tables were still available for walk-ins. ** are repeat orders. Food is almost always a hit. I'd love to come try more teishoku / lunch bowl items. ** uni miso udon - best combo. we asked for a second spoon to lick off the remaining sauce. ** assorted sashimi - yummy. scallop is sweeet, bluefin is meltyy. hamachi is perfect texture just how I like it. quality has been there without fail on my visits. never fishy. ** corn ribs - deep fry aroma is lovely, always sweet and flavourful. my most recent visit, it seems they were heavy handed on the sauce so it was unfortunately a little saltier than usual. * beef croquettes - liked these a lot, tender filling, beefy taste. * uni ramen - seems to be off their menu, or may have been seasonal back in Oct 2025. too strong in taste but not much of an uni flavour I could pinpoint. good toppings though. * desserts - very fun, no notes. Highly recommend checking out Kingyo.

    Fried seaweed (amazing) and spicy tuna tartare (I think, maybe salmon).
    Anandi R.

    This was a different sort of Japanese restaurant than we've been to (more izakaya than sushi though they had both), and it was incredible! Fresh food, excellent quality, good portion size. Service was kind and quick. Interior was cozy and Japanese themed. We'd absolutely come back. The salmon sashimi was SO GOOD. They clearly take great pride in their food - lovely presentation, high quality, nice atmosphere.

    seafood sizzler bowl
    Quyen P.

    I was in Vancouver for the day and had heard so many great things about this place, so I came in with pretty high expectations. We arrived around 2 PM for our reservation and were greeted warmly right away, which made for a great first impression. The restaurant itself is beautiful. The bamboo divider running through the middle of the space gave it a cozy, modern Japanese-inspired feel, and the overall atmosphere was probably my favorite part of the experience. As for the food, unfortunately it didn't quite live up to the hype for me. I ordered the seafood sizzler bowl, and while it wasn't bad by any means, it felt underwhelming for the price. The bowl was mostly rice, with a few small prawns, tiny scallops, a little roe, and some crab mixed in. I was expecting something more seafood-forward, so it ended up feeling more like a deconstructed fried rice than the premium dish I had envisioned. Same with the unagi bowl, couple small pieces of unagi cut up... The appetizers were actually the highlight of the meal and ended up being more memorable than my main course. I kept waiting for a dish to really wow me, but nothing stood out enough to make me crave a return visit. Maybe I just ordered the wrong items, because I know this place has plenty of fans. Overall, I'm glad I tried it, but based on this visit, I don't see myself making a special trip back.

    Summer L.

    Best experience ever!!! We had an early birthday celebration here. Everything was on point! The service was fast, friendly, everyone checked on us so often, well taken care of. Food was amazing, the sashimi basically melt in my mouth. Udon was so creamy and tasty. Drinks are creative and good. They even offered a panna cotta for my birthday

    Bluefin tuna
    Deanne M.

    Came here for dinner and had a great meal here We made a reservation beforehand because we heard the wait time can get pretty long. All the food was delicious, and fish tasted really fresh. We especially liked the calamari and karaage here, but all the dishes were top notch. Service was friendly and attentive as well

    Phyllis L.

    Wow! I have heard a lot about this spot but I would definitely say the praise is deserved after coming here for lunch. Managed to get one of their limited sets that day and was so amazed by the selection - you even get to choose the main dishes, and we opted for sashimi and steak. So delicious! Got a couple appys to share as well, and the salmon tartare was definitely the highlight with the delicious sockeye salmon. The hot stone was a fun experience as well! The curry pork katsu was great as well - the curry had delicious sweet onions that brought a wonderful balance to the dish. Great service, beautiful decor, I will be back!

    Grilled black cod special
    Evan C.

    Had to follow up here with a new review as I came with my wife and they had the amazing bento box special - which they only have 12 of in a single day! Wow. I always love this place as the quality of all their dishes is very special and the service is excellent too. So what's in the bento today? Special lunch Bento - in order from top left: tataki, chicken breast, Karaage, spinach, eel wit tofu, hamachi, 2nd row: seafood uke, pork belly, shrimp Ebi, salmon tartare, cucumber, Brussels sprouts - I also got sashimi rice bowl and black cod. The sashimi was good, it came with ikura as well which I love. The black cod is heavenly. So smooth and tasty, the sauce on it really works well and its just grilled perfectly. - the Brussel sprouts and shrimp Ebi were good. - the salmon tartare was awesome. Great flavour. - the other seafood sashimi like sides were all really tasty - the Karaage is very tasty but not crispy - the only one that was just so so was chicken breast. Definitely worth coming in for the lunch bento.

    Stella G.

    This was my first time at this Japanese restaurant, and the atmosphere and food were fantastic! The prices were reasonable, and the service was incredibly warm and friendly. I highly recommend it! I'll definitely come back next time and bring my friends to try other dishes on the menu.

    Stephanie M.

    We came on a Thursday night with reservations for 8pm. The place was popping. Lots of people inside and if we didn't reserve we would have had to sit at the communal table. I've been coming here for 10+ years and I always get the beef tongue, chicken karage and the ebi mayo. Those are my staple orders and those are the things that they are best at. I mean with the beef tongue it doesn't take much to make it good. The hot stone comes piping hot and perfect for searing of the meat. You need to do it fast or the stone will cool down. The chicken karage is so juicy and fragrant. They put just enough seasoning on it. The ebi mayo is huge and goes so well with beer. The 2 seasonal dishes or specials of the day weren't as good and I wouldn't get it again. My advice would be to just stick to their best well known dishes and if you want to come definitely make reservations (ESPECIALLY on the weekends the wait can get up to 1 hour)

    Grilled Pork cheek
    Doreen T.

    My friend and I had been wanting to try the Japanese tapas at Kingyo, but the only dinner reservation available that night we visited was at 9:45 PM. We decided to take a chance and walked 1.5 miles from our hotel to see if there were any last-minute cancellations. Luckily we were seated at the long shared table when we arrived at 7:45 PM. We shared the fried corn, grilled pork cheek, uni and crab udon, and negitoro sushi. A big thanks to our attentive waitress for letting us know the sushi came with only three pieces and offering to upgrade it to four. We were glad we did because it was incredibly fresh and delicious. The fried corn was flavorful and fun to eat, and the uni and crab udon was rich and decadent. The grilled pork cheek, however, was a bit too fatty for our taste. We're more accustomed to the leaner cuts served at Korean BBQ. When we asked if that was how it's typically prepared, the waitress kindly checked with her manager and proactively took it off the bill, even though we didn't request that. To top it off, they called me shortly after we left because I had accidentally left my umbrella behind, it was such thoughtful service! We'll definitely be back at Kingyo the next time we're in Vancouver.

    Front of restaurant~

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    Page 1 of 33

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    Guu with Garlic - Fish carpaccio

    Guu with Garlic

    4.3(1.1k reviews)
    0.2 kmWest 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.

    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 - 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(216 reviews)
    1.5 kmDowntown, Granville Entertainment District
    $$

    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.

    Very nice inside this restaurant! Love the small cat decor…read more Food came in a timely manner, and the portion size was good. Tempura was fresh and crispy. Would skip on the ice cream next time, doesn't taste like hokkaido milk much. Service was friendly. You can self order on the kiosk next to every table.

    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(44 reviews)
    2.1 kmYaletown, 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.

    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.

    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(841 reviews)
    1.1 kmDowntown, 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!

    Great izakaya experience in Vancouver. The ambiance is fun and lively with quick service. In…read moreaddition to the usual menu items there are daily specials. My favorite dish was the yaki udon!

    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

    Kingyo - japanese - Updated August 2026

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