Came early for dinner on a weeknight. We were seated immediately. The waiter seemed a bit down and the energy was low and not super inviting. Regardless, he was attentive. We ordered plum sake, salmon oshi, veggie okonomiyaki, wild ramp ice cream. There is a note on the menu that the okonomiyaki would take 30 mins to prepare. This was accurate for us. The plum sake was refreshing and tasted like a spiked blend of apple/plum/grape juice. The salmon oshi was delicious. The salmon melted in my mouth, and everything was balanced and flavored pretty perfectly to have a satisfying bite each time. I would happily order this again. The okonomiyaki was just okay for us. There was some variation in texture with the different veggies in the pancake, and the plant based mayo was surprisingly good. The flavor of the pancake though was pretty mellow and one-note throughout. After a few bites it wasn't as fun to eat, and the dish itself was pretty heavy. Would be better as a dish to share with a few others. I was excited about the icecream flavors. The strangest flavor we found was the wild ramp ice cream. The flavor is sweet and creamy with a distinct taste of leek. It actually wasn't bad, but definitely threw my brain for a loop trying to make sense of what I was eating. The serving size was just right for 2 to split. Overall, a solid dining spot with thoughtful plating. The interior is clean, feels upscale, and has big windows at the front that open when it's nice out. Would come again to try some of their other dishes! read more

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I ordered the karaage. It was disappointing. A dry and chewy small portion that did not come with any dipping sauce, and def wasn't enough. I ended up ordering the spicy tuna roll as well. Very few of the rolls that one would expect to be regular menu items rolls were offered. It was an over priced meal, especially for commercial drive. The service was fine, but nothing special either. read more

It's been years since I last visited Kishimoto, back when my husband and I were still friends. One thing I always remembered was their beautiful presentation. They used to serve dishes with dramatic dry ice effects, and it definitely left an impression. Fast forward to today, the restaurant has evolved. The menu feels more refined, with a stronger focus on traditional Japanese dishes while still adding creative touches. Prices have gone up too (their Yam Roll is now $11) but the quality of the food definitely lived up to the experience. I highly recommend their Gindara Misozuke (Miso sablefish) served on cedar wood that the chef torched right at our table. The fish were incredibly tender and such a fun experience. Their Chicken Teriyaki is not your typical teriyaki rice bowl. It came with pickles and lots of fresh greens Overall, the service and food are good. The is kind of pricy especially for their rolls. read more

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we were visiting from the US and found this restaurant from recommendations. It was absolutely fantastic and I'm very picky about Japanese food because I've traveled to Japan quite a bit. I know what it's supposed to taste like. I think the service was great. The ambience was fun and the food was absolutely delicious, especially the okonomiyaki. read more

A great place to eat! I love how their food is artistic, imaginative and it tastes delicious! The chefs there are very creative in their dishes which makes it very unique. I like how they support local farmers in BC and their place is clean and tidy. ​​​​​​​​​​The service is good as well. ​ read more

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A hidden gem! I never like dessert but as you can see from the photos - I very much enjoyed the honey ice cream. Everything was so good! I had the assorted oshi which was incredible. Loads of great wines to pair. And such lovely, calm staff who pay just the right attention to you. I recommend sitting at the sushi bar so you can watch the chefs work. Highly recommend!! read more

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I had been to Kishimoto many years ago but did not decide to return until recently when I was in the area. The menu seems to have shrunken since then with less options for sushi rolls and is more streamlined to basic sushi, nigiris, and rolls. My boyfriend and I walked in on a Sunday and managed to get sat at the bar seating within an hour of waiting. The restaurant is cozy and there is limited seating so reservations are probably preferred. Since we weren't super hungry, we opted to share a few items and went with staples such as the salmon oshi, bluefin tuna nigiri, and the wagyu udon noodle soup. The bluefin was amazing and melted in my mouth - a close contender considering I was not in Japan. Salmon oshi was standard - I think the sauce on top was a nice change to the usual slices of jalapeño. What really amazed me was the noodle soup. The noodles were hand made and the broth was savoury, deep, and flavourful. We both wanted to slurp every last drop of soup up because it could not be wasted! I also liked the good variety of toppings and would definitely return to have this noodle soup again. If I recall correctly, Kishimoto has always been on the higher end of the price scale but you will definitely receive what you paid for in quality, service, and deliciousness. read more

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Food here is AMAZING!!!! The details that the chefs put in on every dishes are remarkable and artistic. We are frequent visitors to this delicious restaurant every time we visit Vancouver from the WA States. Just look at the photos and presentations of all the yummy and mouth watering dishes. Continue to come and highly recommended it. read more

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Good food, good service. A bit on the pricey side but food was very fresh. Really liked the duck soba. read more

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Incredible dining experience, one of my favourite restaurants on The Drive! Great atmosphere, feels like you're transported to a nice restaurant in Japan. The food is delicious. Best karage in Vancouver, soba noodles were delicious and the sushi isn always fresh. My favourite part of the meal is when the chef comes to your table to walk you through the elements of the dessert. Don't skip the dessert, the ice cream is made in-house read more

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Kishimoto has always been one of my go to places for a fabulous meal. It's been a while since I was last there, but today they were totally on the mark. We started with grilled asparagus with mushrooms and their cold soba noodles. Then we had the seasonal tempura, okonomiyaki, and salmon ishinabe. Dessert was Yuzu ice cream and elderflower and honey ice cream. Each dish complimented the others and the desserts capped off an amazing experience. I was happy to see that Kishimoto is still one of my main spots for excellent dining. The service was superb, and I can't recommend this place highly enough. read more

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My cousins brought us here for dinner. Came here pretty late, within last hour of closing so no wait. Service was also fast, and since we were one of the last ones in the house we got a special treat! Caterpillar roll - Cute roll with a caterpillar face... Good amount of unagi inside and good ratio of filling to rice. Would recommend Kaarage - Fried chicken. Very lightly battered but well seasoned. Slightly cripsy and still very tasty! Salmon OSHI - Pressed sushi with salmon and a loads of sauce. Good balance of everything on top of the rice. Lightly torched to give it a nice char flavour and smell. Nice to try, but I suspect getting more would become very filling. Smoked OSHI - Got a taste of the house special. 10/10 for presentation as it come in a clear bowl of smoked where it is released only at your table. The smoke over powers the butane torch flavour adding a more natural and enjoyable scent to the sushi. read more

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We went to Kishimoto Japanese Restaurant on Commercial Drive in Vancouver for a birthday celebration, and it was a unique experience! Kishimoto is not just a regular Japanese restaurant. They always make new dishes, and each plate looks like a piece of art. It's like eating in a pretty art gallery! We ordered the following dishes, and the dishes with * have more details. - Chirashi Donburi * - Unagi Oshi - Morel Gyoza * - Salmon Sashimi - Chopped Scallop Roll - Seasonal Tempura * Chirashi Donburi - It came with a chart showing each item. The presentation was so colourful! The sushi rice was pink and topped with seared fresh fish and other yummy toppings. So good! Morel Gyoza - It was a gyoza stuffed with morel mushrooms and homemade. You couldn't find this kind of gyoza anywhere else! So unique! Seasonal Tempura - It looked like a mini garden on our plate. The presentation was top-notch! We had a great time at Kishimoto and can't wait to return for the next occasion! Food: 4/5 Should Try! Service: 4/5 Kids: 4/5 Yay! Price: $80-$90 spent per person (dinner) Presentation: Parking: metered parking on the street Tips: * charge for tea and serve it in a small pot. * have limited space; good for small groups. * recommend making reservations. * good spot for dates and special occasion celebrations. Would I Return: Yes ‍ read more

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Food was excellent. Service was very good. Ambiance was pleasureable. BUT I bit in to a piece of their sashimi & unfortunately found a 1 cm piece of metal staple or maybe a piece of barbed wire from the tarpoon that killed it? I didn't complain & ate the rest of my meal, but I would never go back to this place ever again. Way too expensive when you have an experience like that! And I lived in Tokyo for a year in 1989 & certainly never had that happen. I love all Japanese food & people, & have never had that ever happen in Canada. So whilst this place may be "considered" one of the high-end japanese restaurants in our fine city, I disagree. Never going back ever! Beware & don't eat with gusto & swallow too fast. Definitely no "GOMBATE" if you care for your own safety. read more

If I could eat the salmon oshi every day, i would!! My mom also loved her shiso ume roll and my parents said the nigiri they had was some of the best they've tried. Would definitely recommend! read more

Kishimoto Japanese Kitchen - Yam roll and Salmon Oshi - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Pretty nice Japanese restaurant doing things other Japanese restaurants in town don't do, but it's ultimately way overpriced for what you get. They have an all-vegan section of the menu, which is what got us in the door. We ordered: -Shiso Ume Roll ($8). Simple maki (6 pcs) with shiso leaf, sour plum, kombu and cucumber. Not bad. Definitely overpriced. -Veggie Roll ($14). Definitely a step above the average veggie roll, but horrendously overpriced (and it used to be $17!). -Dashi Chazuke ($23). Maybe the highlight for us -- grilled mixed mushrooms, rice, seaweed, rice crackers (apparently, though I didn't notice any), served in a delicious sesame broth. Wonderful flavours and textures. Pretty small portion for the price, but the execution was spot on. -Veggie Okonomiyaki ($27). Huge portion, very well-made, though too much mayo. The pancake part was decadent, with a nice batter, cabbage, onions, and mushrooms. Really tasty, but it's decadent and even a bit much to handle for 2 people. A main criticism I have is that their vegan menu has basically no dishes that are protein-centric: no tofu dishes or anything. The food quality was generally very good (albeit overpriced), but the menu curation could use some work to be more balanced. Good, friendly service, creative food, pleasant atmosphere. I'd return if they revamp the vegan menu, even at the current (unjustifiably high) price level. read more

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I made reservation by phone. Bookings are available for 5pm, 6:45pm and 8pm and limited to 1.5 hours. We arrived early about 6:20pm and they seated us. It wasn't too crowded yet. It's a cute little place and service was great. We ordered the following to share: Spicy chopped scallop roll Bluefin negitoro roll Spicy tuna oshi Nabeyaki udon Veggie okonomiyaki Salmon oshi Homemade gyoza Smoked oshi Everything was delicious. I was excited to try oshi since we do not have that in California. Tbh, it tasted the same as other sushi. I enjoyed the smoked flavor of the smoked sushi. The spicy chopped scallop roll was my favorite. So yummy. My least favorite was the homemade gyoza. The Gorgonzola was too strong. It overpower the gyoza. The Nabeyaki udon broth was spectacular. Wagyu Stock soup was so oishii. I couldn't stop slurping up the soup. read more

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I have been waiting for a chance to try this highly rated restaurant in Vancouver for a while now. We were able to come on a weekday and found street parking to be still pretty limited. After circling for a few minutes around the block, we were able to find parking on the street within the same block of the restaurant. Contrary to how busy the overall block was, Kishimoto was not full and were seated right away. The interior was casual, relaxed, and pretty loud with folks enjoying Japanese food with their family and friends. It did not feel like I was transported to Japan per se but it still felt warm and welcoming. We tried smoked oshi salmon nigiri, agedashi mochi, assorted sashimi (3 kinds - $30), daily specials - Isaki and Uni, and Gindara Misozuke. Opening the smoked oshi salmon nigiri glass container full of smoke was quite an experience. I enjoyed the unique smoky flavor in this unique salmon nigiri but I was ready to move onto other dishes. Agedashi mochi was elegant in presentation but lacked the savory punch in my opinion. The daily specials were Isaki and Uni and they were very fresh and probably the highlight of our meal. The sashimi plate was very good and quite fresh as they claimed. Gindara Mosizuke was pretty unique and it reminded me of one of my favorite dishes, Misoyaki Butterfish, which I would have preferred. It seems to me that Kishimoto caters more to the Western customers as they have a lot more offerings in their special rolls and focus on visual presentations. The range of their offerings on nigiri sushi and sashimi varieties was mediocre at best, although the quality of their fish was very good. All in all, I dare say that a place like Tom Sushi offers more value for those who seek traditional nigiri and sashimi. read more

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- The exterior of the restaurant is poorly maintained - The bathroom facilities are well-kept - Service was poor--it took nearly 30 minutes to receive our bill - Tables are cramped but the overall ambience is pleasant - The biggest disappointment was the significant difference between the business owner's Yelp photos and the actual dishes served at the restaurant - The Chirashi Donburi was particularly misleading--while Yelp photos show a generous 6×4 array of beautiful fish, we received a $65 dish with a sparse 4×4 layer of paper-thin fish over unremarkable rice We Also Ordered: - Spring vegetable gommae (spring special) - Mushroom and fiddlehead - Smoked salmon oshi (avoid if you're not a fan of smoky flavors) read more

Great experience, the food was amazing, some really great tasting dishes. One of my best Sushi experiences from a taste perspective. Spicy Salmon sashimi was excellent. The service was a bit slow with bringing drinks but picked up once the plates started coming. Overall a great experience and an extremely tasty dinner read more

No words to describe this gem. Absolutely amazing and my favorite sushi spot in Vancouver. We ordered the salmon and ebi oshi, seafood okonomiyaki, chu toro nigiri and the warabi mochi. The oshi sushi is so good in Vancouver but this tops it all! They had so much flavor, the ebi oshi almost tasted like a lemony pasta which was wild and mindblowing and the salmon one tasted a little spicy and creamy which was so good. I'm a big salmon fan so any salmon sushi will be satisfying. The seafood okonomiyaki for us was a lot and I think I couldn't finish it at all. My partner said it tasted like a "big crab casserole" if you like that you can go for it but for me it was a bit much but I tried it anyway. The chu toro here won my heart. They told me the chu toro was a good choice because it was prime time for it to be served. They got the freshest fish and gave it to us in nigiri form with just a little wasabi on top and that- my friend, won the best sushi I had in my entire life. And for that, this gets a million stars. I definitely would recommend asking the waiter what they recommend for nigiri because they have the latest list on the freshest fish. The warabi mochi came super traditional and I was shocked but I shouldn't have been because everything seems to be super authentic here but I'm used to warabi mochi coming in green matcha cubes with ice cream (I'm from NY OK we don't have amazing Japanese food like here - affordable ones at least) but this came the way it's supposed to be in Japan! I was so happy this restaurant made my entire night and I left so satisfied and literally in joy. Thank you, Kishimoto, for making sushi so good and so affordable! (PS- meaning affordable for a New Yorker bc the sushi in New York is 3x more expensive) read more

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If I could give this place 10 stars I easily would! We started off with the homemade pickles. Surprised how refreshing this dish was. It was almost like a pleasant palate cleanser - just the right combination of sweet mixed in with the perfect acidity. It was our first time here so we had to try the Chirashi Donburi which was a lot smaller than it looked in photos but tasted as great as it looked. There was an assortment of fresh fish with every bite delivering such amazing flavors. The star of the night was the smoked Oshi. Wow! You get this heavenly taste of cherry wood smoke with every bite of the salmon and it leaves you wanting more. Service was also top notch! I recommend making a reservation. You will NOT be disappointed. read more

Kishimoto Japanese Kitchen - Homemade Pickles - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Took my nephew here for his birthday. I wanted him to try a quality Japanese eatery before he set out to university. Everything was so delicious! We had the Chirashi Donburi which came with a reference chart to show what each spoonful of item is. Miso soup was so rich and flavorful with a tomato base. Ebi Oshi and Unagi Oshi were delicious. Spicy Tuna Oshi had just the right kick and creaminess. Probably the best chicken Karaage I've had. Duck Soba is such a nice segway from the regular cold buckwheat soba. Finished off with the Dragon Roll, Caterpillar Roll and Chopped Scallop Roll. Service, ambience and quality were all fantastic! I hadn't been here in nearly 10 years and the quality is still there. read more

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So, the real question is not whether the food is awesome, it is! It is not whether the service is amazing, it is! The real question is whether a 45min-1 hr wait is worth it ?! Depending on the size of thr group, the wait times could even be greater than that. For us, it was a simple party of 2, which was a much easier configuration to manage, and even then we had a 45 minute wait time. I was here a decade ago, and although time has lapsed, the food is still exception. This is a great place for great japanese dining. If there is one negative the decor hasn't changed in 10 years, but then again, given the narrow room, it is hard to do much with what they have. So to answer the question, is the wait worth it....., YES! Loved it z! Thank you! read more

Kishimoto Japanese Kitchen - Uni Nigiri. Beautiful.. - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Out of everything Kishimoto serves, the Smoked Oshi Sushi is easily the star dish. It's a single piece of Salmon Oshi Sushi that's seared and infused with delicious cherry wood smoke. The combination is an earthy, smokey initial flavor profile that hits your senses, followed by the delectable melt-in-your-mouth texture and taste of the Salmon Oshi. I had the pleasure of trying this amazing piece of smokey nigiri, on my last trip to Vancouver - and it was the best sushi I had that week, perhaps even in the last year! Check out my full review, at https://umamiology.com/best-aburi-sushi-in-vancouver-bc/ read more

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The food was average and the service only mid-level for the price. I came to Canada hoping for good sushi, but it ended up being worse than even the fast-food style sushi from Costco read more

Kishimoto is a nice little gem on Commercial Drive. I've been really enjoying ordering for takeout as this place is quite tiny. Recos: - Karaage 5/5: Really nicely made-- well seasoned and crispy - OMG Roll 5/5: I wasn't sure what to expect with a roll like this as none of the other places I typically go to have a roll similar to this but I love what they've done with it. It's a simple roll with such nice texture to it because of the crunch from the tempura bits. The umami flavour that's here is just so well balanced you'll eat the whole roll before you know it. -Salmon oshi 4/5: It's a well done Salmon oshi roll. It's probably not my favourite place to get oshi but this hits the spot when I'm craving Oshi read more

Kishimoto Japanese Kitchen - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

I came to Kishimoto with some friends and it was my first time back since the pandemic. Previously they did not take reservations but they do now during the pandemic. They hold your spot for 15 minutes if you are late and otherwise have a 90 min seating window. Tables were decently separated and menus were done via QR code. I got the duck soba which was very delicious. I was a bit fan of the flavour of the soup and quite enjoyed all the duck pieces. I got their salmon oshi as they are known for their oshi and did have to say it wasn't how I remembered it a few years ago. Compared to other restaurants, there is a lot more jalapeño than other places that serve oshi so that made it extra spicy. They did have a good amount of salmon which was nice. Overall not bad for oshi but since there have been some other restaurants that have done it better. Overall very friendly staff and I am a big fan of their food! read more

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Have been meaning to go to Kishimoto for a long time but either forget or when I do go, they are either closed or have a long waiting time. I had a craving for some good sushi and decided to make the trek to do a take out order. I ordered the sous vide duck soba, Hamachili jalapeno roll, and aburi salmon oshi roll. With a 10% pick up discount, the total came out to be approximately $46. The sous vide duck soba was tasty and but the sauce was slightly saltier than expected. However, it came with at least 7 decent pieces of tender duck - a decent value for $18. One of my favourite sashimi is hamachi so was looking forward to the Hamachili jalapeno roll. It came with 8 pieces for $15 but the hamachi quality and taste was pretty disappointing. I would not recommend. It's pretty hard to ruin aburi sushi and the salmon oshi roll, 7 pieces for $16, was pretty tasty. The seared salmon with jalapeno also had additional salmon in the middle, which was a nice surprise. Not the best aburi I've had but was a solid choice and a much better choice than the disappointing Hamachili jalapeno roll. Solid authentic Japanese joint but seems to be a bit hyped from my take out experience. May have to do an in-restaurant visit to get the full experience. read more

Kishimoto Japanese Kitchen - Hamachili jalapeno roll (left) and Salmon oshi roll (right) - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Kishimoto offers a wide range of delicious and fresh sushi and Japanese food. The seafood was consistently fresh and flavourful, and the sushi was clearly well made. Only problem is perhaps they are a bit too popular or inefficient. We had put a second order shortly after we finished the initial plate of sushi, but the second order took an additional 45 minutes to get to our table. So, put in your full orders immediately! read more

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Delicious. A slightly more upscale restaurant. I have heard the sushi is good but that is not what we were there for. We shared a bunch of dishes. The eggplant and the cauliflower dishes were delicious. The seafood okonomiyaki was fantastic. Presentation was beautiful. It is the little details, like the amazing presentation which is why you are paying slightly more. We loved it and would definitely go back. read more

We made a reservation ahead of time to avoid the wait. Street parking was available as long as you were patient. Because the seating was limited, they put the plexiglass divider between the seats and the staff all wore the masks. The staff was very friendly and helpful. We ordered salmon Oshi, spicy tuna, dragon rolls, 3 kinds of sashimi, black cod misozuke, Ebi Oshisushi, Okonomiyaki, vegetable tempura and sake. The service was upbeat and efficient. All the food was phenomenal and we were impressed by the creativities of art and ingredients. Every bite was a joy. Great experience and we will be back!! read more

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This is the third attempt to come here when they decided to arbitrarily close the restaurant despite their hours of operation. (July 3). Are you operating a business or having a hobby? read more

The flavours, the presentation, are simply perfect!!! Such a treat, never have not been thrilled to spend time there!

Unlike most I was never a huge fan of Kishimoto and after a recent revisit don't think I'll ever be . There's nothing intrinsically wrong with their menu but guess we're just not quite the right match for each other . It happens . While it's kinda neat to have a lit candle accompanying basically any roll you order , it's not cool to swap out the Hokkaido hotate for two tiny pieces of uni in the sashimi ( 4 kinds ) set . Funny we did also order the Hokkaido scallops as a hot dish and they're totally available so what gives ? It's also NOT cool to charge an unreasonable amount for just a side of steamed rice . How unreasonable you ask ? Let's just say it's more than anything I've ever paid or expected to fork out . Nickel and dime-ing customers is annoying at best and bad practice in general and will remain so in my book always . read more

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Some of the best sushi outside Japan... and I've eaten sushi in Japan. And not just the standards (though their take on standards was great). Make sure to have whatever is on special. read more

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Probably my favourite Japanese restaurant of those I visited during my recent Vancouver trip. Felt safe as the staff blocked off every other table for physical distancing. Amazingly fresh and innovative food. My favourites were the nasu dengaku (fried eggplant with sweet saikyo miso sauce), the hotate nigiri, and the black cod misozuke. The presentation of the smoked oshi had a wow factor and there was a definite smokiness that was imparted to the oshi. No advance reservations but the 45 min wait was well worth it. read more

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Insanely delicious!!! Wow! Came here due to a recommendation from an old college friend and it blew my mind!!!! From the excellent level of service to the super tasty food, this is now for sure in the Vancouver restaurant rotation. We usually only have about a week in Van, so try and hit up the old faves but thank goodness we got in a new fave. Sushi and sashimi were super fresh. Traditional tofu dishes were tasty without being overpowering. Desserts were unique and creative. Pricier? Yes. Worth it? Without a doubt. Will definitely be back. read more

Still my fave Japanese spot in the city! I love their aburi oshi sushi, especially the tuna and salmon! Also recommend their seared fish and ordering a few pieces of nigiri. The tuna is made with crispy rice and that combination with the fresh chopped tuna is perfect. I like their salmon oshi sushi more than miku honestly. If you want something more filling, their ishiyaki and soba are also good. I love their okonomiyaki too, which is such a good comfort food. Their fish is just always very fresh, and their seasonal menu makes every visit feel like a new experience while holding onto their classics. read more

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Kishikoto Japanese Kitchen Great food, service and ambiance! Not your typical Japanese restaurant. Food: Everything's delicious. Must-try: Veggie Okonomiyaki Service: Great team, very accommodating! Atmosphere: Clean and nice place to dine in. read more

Kishimoto Japanese Kitchen - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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