Kissa Tanto has a lot of positive reviews and recommendations from Vancouver locals so we opt out for a try. We ordered octopus salad, egg omelette (hidden menu), and seafood Udon. This place is a mix of Japanese and Western (fusion restaurant), the food is not traditional Japanese or Western. The $68 egg omelette with black truffle is the highlight of the night. No doubt that the price is expensive but worth a try. Octopus salad and Udon are not really stand out, pretty much something you can get everywhere in Vancouver easily. The environment is similar to a wine bar setting, which is great for hangout or dating. One drawback that some reviews had been mention is a bit pressure to sell the special of the night, order more food and dessert. Highly recommended for the egg omelette!! read more

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Got recommendations from friends, and the food was rich and flavourful! Enjoyed this restaurant as a cozy, nice vibe for a group or couple to get together. I tried the tasting menu and enjoyed the black truffle omelette and the sparkling green tea the most! read more

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UGH Kissa Tanto is SO good. There are just so many elements of cooking and taste that were so memorable to me that I actively fantasize about. Me and my partner were seated as walk-ins but be sure to get there early because there are other people vying for seats as well and you want to beat out your competition (or you can just get a reservation, whatever). The location itself is nestled in Chinatown and you have to walk up a flight of stairs (I don't think I saw an elevator so not sure about accessibility) to a speakeasy-like, art deco atmosphere. The service was fantastic and personable and you can tell that they are all really passionate about food. I had gotten the Octopus Salad, Tajarin, Charcoal Udon, and then Yuzu cream for dessert. The Octopus Salad was super memorable because of the parsley vinagerette in the middle where you dip your radishes and radicchio in and that was the true star of the dish. Because the dish centers around octopus, you would think that it would be more memorable but to me, the octopus was more of an afterthought. It was light fried resulting in a kind of weird gummy texture but it was such an experiential and engaging way of eating the dish that I can overlook. I really did enjoy this dish. The Tajarin is one of the most memorable pastas that I have eaten with everything being made from scratch and everything was so fresh and good. If you get anything here, get this because every bite was brimming with umami fusion and despite my partner not wanting to order this because he doesn't like mushrooms, it ended up being his favorite dish. The Charcoal Udon was also very good but a bit too salty for me. The seafood was really well cooked but the sweetness of the crab was masked by the salty Calabrian chili sauce. The homemade udon noodles were chewy, bouncy... I truly cannot say enough good things about the noodle dishes here. Finally, the Yuzu cream was the perfect dessert. Sweet, tart, balanced, nutty, crunchy. The attention to detail with the little drops of olive oil made my dessert feel like art and the olive oil made the yuzu cream pop out alot more. It hit every mark on the target for me as it was interesting taste wise as well as texture wise. While I usually want to go back to restaurants to try other menu items, I want to get my same exact order again next time because everything was THAT good. read more

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Wow oh WOW! Ate here for an early Valentine's Day dinner and boy were we amazed. First of all, service was amazing, our server was very informative, explained all the dishes for us and gave us recommendations. The food was insanely delicious, flavours that I haven't tasted before. The charcoal noodles and pork were my favorite. The restaurant opens late and is busy (for good reason). The decor is dim and provides a nice intimate setting. I will be back here for sure to try other items on the menu! read more

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Espresso martini Japanese G&T 15 Amaro long Island ice tea 15 Burrata Salad 35 Fish crudo 24 Octopus salad 24 Charcoal upon 49 Organic half fish 37 Seasonal vegetables 17 Fine dinning my friends love it I was still pretty hungry afterwards read more

Kissa Tanto - Espresso martini - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Though the restaurant itself isn't situated in the most attractive of neighborhoods, Kissa Tanto is indeed a surprise upgrade to the culinary standards of Chinatown that mostly features Chinese bakeries and cash-only Chinese restaurants. The restaurant entrance brings you up a flight of stairs and transports you into a room filled with elegance and intimacy. The restaurant showcases its bar (and bartenders) in the middle and has plenty of seating. Though I must warn you that they do not seat tables larger than 6. The cuisine is a mix of Italian-Japanese fusion and is fairly good. Though we did not try the main courses, we picked several of their specials and favorites. The food is quite rich and decadent and I strongly recommend ordering less rather than more. Paired with cocktails and wine, the experience provides a wonderful evening filled with "mmm's" and "Yums". Ultimately, would I say this is an iconic restaurant for Vancouver? No, not anymore. The food here is on the higher end of prices but there are many other restaurants of the same caliber that doesn't make Kissa Tanto stand out, to me. Definitely worth a visit to experience a night out in this side of town! read more

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My husband and I went on a double date to Kissa Tanto, one of the few restaurants in Vancouver to have recently earned a Michelin star. Dining in a Michelin star restaurant has never been and still isn't something I aim to do in life. Kissa Tanto is a restaurant that I've been wanting to try for quite a few years now, since long before it was awarded a Michelin star.   On our table we had: Tonno Mantecato, Fish Crudo, Burrata salad, Dandelion Pappardelle, Tajarin, Truffle Omelette (feature item, not on the menu), Seasonal Vegetables, Tiramisu, and Affogato. Everything was delicious; however, in all honesty, none of us thought the food was soooooo delicious that it merited the Michelin star or the prices they charge. Portions were extremely small. Our server said the dishes were designed to be eaten family style. Well, for family style dishes that are meant to be shared...I would have expected larger portions. My personal favourite amongst all of the dishes was the Tajarin. My second favourite was the Fish Crudo. Service was excellent for most of the evening. They were good about cleaning our table and changing our plates & utensils in between each dish that was served.  However, I do have to admit that towards the latter part of the evening they failed to check on us as often. I'm someone who likes to drink a lot of hot water and while they came around to refill my hot water earlier in the evening, they did not top up my hot water later in the evening.  Service: Good Parking:  Paid parking on the street Location: In Chinatown. On Pender St. between Main St. and Gore Ave. read more

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We have a very delicious meal here. I came in knowing I have to order the fish crudo and tajarin. They were phenomenal. The fish crudo was a very small portion but was so refreshing and light. The tajarin lived up to the hype, had the texture of rice noodles and was just simply elegant. We also tested the fried olives, which was just ok, don't highly recommend it. Tagliatelle was delicious, so was spaghetonni. Out of all the dishes, we were most impressed with tajarin, fish crudo, spaghetonni and last tagliatelle. We went all in with the pastas and we were happy about it. read more

Kissa Tanto - Spaghetonni, fish crudo, tajarin, tagliatelle - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Five stars all around!!! Incredible service, food and ambience. We got resos at the bar which was fun because we got to watch all the cocktails being made in front of us. Every bartender and server was very attentive and the vibe was really relaxed and not at all pretentious. We ordered the $155/head chefs tasting menu and wow was it so worth it! My husband is pescatarian and they made an absolutely delicious seven course menu for us. Every dish was outstanding, but one of my faves was the king crab omelette (so silky!!!) and the charcoal udon (omg!! So good). The presentation was also stunning and the ingredients used were so fresh. Oh also the starter oysters were prob the best oysters I've ever had!! The drinks were also a huge hit! We got two cocktails each to start then moved to wine. Everything was so perfect! The whole restaurant itself kind of feels like a joint you'd find tucked away in NYC. Love love love! Will be back! read more

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DH and I have spent years pondering Kissa Tanto (Key-Sa not Kiss-A, for the record) and for whatever reason the journey was always thwarted. This year we really wanted to branch out from our usual favorite which has never ever failed us everrrrrrr (we are Annalena hipsters... loved it before it was cool to!). When you're spending ~$550 on food and drink, you tend to compare it with other $550 dollar meals you're having and in Vancouver, I have experienced that a handful of times with varying degrees of success. The one that never fails is mentioned above. So... using that as the bar for a perfect meal, I offer you the following review. To enter KT, you climb up a flight of tiled stairs (don't bring granny here, I didn't see an elevator though perhaps there is one?) and as we were in the first seating of the night, we were in queue to get seated. It was handled efficiently. The lowered lights, plush benches, and generally cozy feel is warm and welcoming. The bar is beautiful, truly and we were very quickly greeted by a server. For so few tables, I will say that it's not the quietest spot - a few times we had a hard time hearing the food descriptions. That said, ambiance, 5 star. Our server was lovely and offered recommendations. We opted for omakase which is not on the website menu and I'm sure pricing varies. On our night, it was 155/person, served family style. We had two cocktails, some sake for the meal, and closed it off with a digestif. The expedited the timeline for us because we had a little one at home but I thought that was actually the correct pacing for the meal. I had a Japanese whiskey sour with yuzu, the husband had something that resembled a gimlet. Both cocktails were perfectly prepared. Mine had been shaken with the eggwhite to velvet and this was probably one of the best cocktails I've had outside of home in a long time. First Course: Fried olives with Yuzu - we both enjoyed them very much and I believe even people who aren't generally olive fans would enjoy. Second Course: Octopus Salad - the octopus was perfection, though I felt like there wasn't enough octopus compared to the piles of daikon. Still, a lovely salad, sauce was unreal. Third Course: Fish belly in a.. hmmm. I can't actually remember the butter sauce detail but the fish was cooked perfectly. I would argue, however, this was a portion for one. Fourth Course, the mother effing showstopper: An omelette bathing in a pecorino sauce, topped with a generous helping of shaved alba truffle. Sex on a plate. This dish made my eyes well up with joy and will live in my top 10 things I have ever eaten ever. The omelette was unbelievable. I actually thought it might have been sousvided to get what can only be described as fluffy and dense simultaneously. Truly beautiful. Fifth Course: Duck agnolotti in a squash butter sauce. Richly flavoured, great texture. Lovely dish. Perhaps a little small for two people (there were 13 on the plate) Sixth Course: Duck Maget... was not my favourite. Somehow the duck was tough and I felt like it actually needed the mushrooms and sauce. I love duck, but this felt like it needed a couple components to shine - a starch, perhaps. Seventh Course: Raspberry Olive Oil Cake, Tea Ice Cream / Gelato... no complaints here. But Tara! Why only three stars? We left hungry. For 550 bucks, tip in, we should not leave hungry. We actually questioned whether only one meal was ordered. And while delicious, the positive recommendation did not match the meal. I feel like it's one of the rare times that it has happened in a restaurant of this quality and for that, I can't give it the full five. read more

Amazing service from start to finish! You'll probably want to make a reservation. Chances are it'll be a month from now, but you'll understand why everyone wants to dine here. If you arrive shortly after the restaurant opens, you'll see Chef Joël Watanabe welcoming guests up the stairs to the second floor dining room. That's just the beginning of the welcoming feeling you'll get when you dine here. You'll be surrounded by people celebrating - birthdays, anniversaries, and engagements just to name a few of the ones happening when I was there. When you look at the menu, you'll have a tough time deciding. Also, the off-menu specials sound amazing! The communication among the team in the dining room was silent but efficient. Food was beautifully presented and delicious beyond belief! Just get here already... after you make a reservation! read more

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This is my second time at Kissa Tanto. I had a good experience the first time but did not quite enjoy it the second time. This time one dish in particular we ordered caused some trouble for us - mainly related to how the situation was handled. We ordered an off menu item which was recommended to us by the server, the black truffle omelet. While the omelet was good, one member of our party found a sharp piece of plastic in the egg, and another found egg shells. The server informed us that the plastic is likely from the container in which the truffle is stored in to maintain freshness. Mistakes like this are understandable - however, we feel the point at which the service was lacking was when we were asked what we thought a reasonable solution would be, including replacing the dish or another option. We stated that we wanted some time to think about it - as we were unsure if we wanted to try the dish again if there was both plastic as well as eggshells in the dish. The server stated she would talk to the chef and ask if there were any additional solutions in the interim and we thought that was a good plan. A few minutes later another black truffle omelet was brought to our table prior to us asking for another or determining if we even wanted to try the dish again. At the end of the night we were still charged for the black truffle omelet dish. I do not have issue with being charged for the dish since we did eat it in the end - however, we feel that the lack of clear communication between the server, whoever she claimed to have went to talk to in the kitchen, and whoever decided to bring us a second attempt at the dish though we stated we wanted some time to come to a decision on what to do left a bitter taste in our mouths. We felt not listened to, and felt that the issue was brushed under the rug with no reasonable resolution. We received a single apology when we brought it up and it was simply not mentioned again. I have recommended Kissa Tanto to many friends visiting the city but do not think I will be suggesting this restaurant any longer. It's great that a restaurant with many accolades is present in Vancouver's China Town but I did not enjoy my experience here this time. read more

My friend had a recommendation to try Kissa Tanto for our birthdays. I would recommend to make a reservation a couple weeks prior, as they fill up quickly! First impressions of this place: the interior design was immaculate and so was the energy of this place. The service was amazing as well -- I don't think I've had such excellent service in a while! Our water glasses was literally never empty and they wiped the tables clean after each item. New cutlery was also given between courses. Not only that, our waiter had extensive knowledge on the menu. We were thoroughly impressed! For food, we started off with the octopus salad ($24) for an appetizer. It was the favourite between the both of us. The octopus was tender, not overly chewy, and tasted amazing with their citrus-y sauce. The daikon and lettuce accompaniment was refreshing between bites of fried octupus and also cleared our palettes. Following, we had the Tajarin ($33), which is a pasta dish that was super cheesy, but not artificial tasting. In comparison, it felt slightly airy and fluffy and not heavy on the stomach. The pasta itself had the texture/taste of rice noodles. Definitely made and cooked well, but I don't think I would be reordering this one. We also ordered the Sablefish ($47), which was super delicious. The fish was fragile and soft, and paired perfectly with the tanginess and milkiness of the sauce. However, for the price, the piece of fish was way too small and we would prefer to order the whole fried fish next time instead. Ending off our meal with 2 desserts: Tiramisu ($14) and Cannoli with Ice Cream ($17). The tiramisu had a strong coffee taste but not overpowering. Alcohol taste is subtle and not overly sweet. The dessert didn't feel heavy even with the mascarpone cheese and thick layer of cream on top. It also came in a generous size. Great way to end off a meal! The cannoli with azuki bean ice cream is part of their special menu. Topped off with umeboshi powder, the ice cream was both salty and sweet. Definitely unique and kind of addicting to eat. The savoury, crispy, cannoli shell was house made and buttery, with filling that was not too sweet. Filling also had small chocolate pieces, providing a slight bitterness taste. It was okay but nothing too special. For drinks, I ordered the China Doll ($16). I'm someone that usually likes a strong alcoholic drink but this one took it to the next level. The gin taste in the beginning gave the drink a huge kick, followed by the taste of cognac and ginger was definitely a little overwhelming for me. I also ordered a whiskey highball ($13) afterwards, which is just my preferred drink when dining out. I also really like Suntory whiskey so this was the perfect drink for me. My friend ordered My Private Tokyo ($16). Tasted sweet and fruity, with a generous layer of egg whites at the top that doesn't dissolve quickly. Subtle alcohol taste and a perfect drink for people who like a lighter alcoholic beverage. It was also nostalgic for those who used to eat salted dry plums as a child. For 2 people, they recommend getting 2 appetizers, 2 mains, and 1 side. I was definitely full after what we ordered, but probably because we had ordered 2 desserts instead. Definitely is a splurge to visit this restaurant, but I would recommend coming for an occasion! read more

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It's Friday night and dined in for pre-Valentine's dinner and it's our first time at Kissa Tanto and won't be our last. I love the decor as inspired Tokyo jazz cafes. The food (Italian & Japanese) and experience with Belinda S. made us feel so welcomed and at home. I liked our table as I felt safe dining in by the window and space around us. We throughly enjoyed each dish! Carne Cruda - Snake River Farms wagyu, nashi pear, charred scallion soy, parmesan, arima sansho, gnocco fritto. My goodness, this was so delicious! Mezzi Rigatoni - nut fed pork ragu, tomato xo butter, sesame crumb. Homemade pasta and loved the crunch from that sesame crumb Organic Half Chicken - shio koji dipping sauce, herbed oil. It was so tender and flavourful. Sablefish - nanban oyster mushrooms, chili salmoriglio, marinated currants, pine nuts, sunchoke purée. My favourite dish as it was cooked perfectly and the flavours made this dish come alive! - Yaki Onigiri- grilled pressed rice stuffed with himematsu mushrooms, Parmesan, roasted chicken consommé, pickled shiso, Piave vecchio. Crunch crunch. Fantastic flavours with each bite. Memorable experience dining at Kissa Tanto. read more

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This review is for reservation only! Made a reservation to celebrate the upcoming birthday over OpenTable but got canceled for no reasons nor explanation nor call beforehand. I tried to call back immediately but didn't get through. First time to experience this, especially from a Michelins Recognized restaurant. Shockingl Unbelievable! read more

Kissa Tanto - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

As you ascend the steps and reach the top you feel as though you've gone back in time. Super cozy little restaurant with a huge bar. We sat in a corner bench seat with a window view. Reminiscing about the past as kids coming to Chinatown to shop with our moms and having weekend dim sum as we wait for our much anticipated dishes to arrive. We decided to go with the chef's tasting menu for $120 pp and it's a wonderful way to try almost all the dishes. Hers a summary of what we had. Fish crudo tasty and super yum! Will order again Autumn salad, mixed beets and thinly sliced radishes. Sauce is tart from the yuzu dressing. Truffled omelette super soft, fluffy goodness with a layer of pecorino cheese and topped with shaved truffles and cream sauce. Terrine of pasta mushrooms yummy like ramen noodles but a little salty. Braised greens with walnuts and Pork chop with beans and enoki mushrooms braised very moist and tender. Chocolate dessert- forgot the name. We'd drink if we could but we don't so I can't speak to their extensive list of yummy sounding cocktails. Too bad you'll just have to go try for yourself! We'll be back!! read more

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Beautiful food with exceptional service. We had the burrata saald, fish crudo which was great, pasta with mushrooms and brown butter and egg, charcoal udon with seafood, rice dish, spring salmon, wagyu beef, steak, yuzu custard and cannoli for dinner. Such pretty food. My faves were the crudo and udon and yuzu custard with rhubarb read more

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It is so hard to get a reservation here but that's because this is arguably one of the best restaurants in the city. Tonight we got to try the Omakase dinner (yes it exists here!). The cool thing is you can choose from a $120-$400 (or more) per person. It's of course a surprise what you're going to get, and we got some yummy dishes! The A5 Wagyu was just like butter. The service was impeccable and we definitely will come back. read more

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4.5 stars. Great meal at Kissa Tanto. We got here around 5:45 p.m. Good to be there before the bustling crowd came in. Excellent service. MUST-GET: Octopus salad- everything about this dish is fantastic. Octopus is smoked and then flash fried. The result is a super tender octopus with crispiness on the outside. The sauce is divine. I also like how the daikon was slightly pickled without the pungent vinegrette & endive leaves which are delicious with the dressing. Our toddler polished off every little bit of the sauce on this one and wouldn't give the empty plate to the waiter until every drop on the plate was scooped up! The rest of the items were solid: Whole fried fish - expertly prepared so you could get every bit of the fish easily with two spoons. A little bit greasy on the stomach. But the best part with a crispy bits close to the bones. Summer gem salad: The dressing incredible and the ingredients fresh. Charcoal udon with seafood: this is Kissa Tanto's answer to Italian squid ink pasta. But I still like Italian version slightly better. The udon was a little too easy to slip through the fork. Fish crudo: we tried so many version of this dish in Vancouver and Victoria already. This one was solid but nothing spectacular. read more

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had the pleasure of dining at Kissa Tanto in Vancouver, and it was a truly unique and memorable experience. Located in the heart of Chinatown, this restaurant brilliantly fuses Japanese and Italian cuisines, creating a dining experience that's unlike any other. read more

Dining out again and we start out with a bang! Rusty on ordering at fine dining establishments but everything was so good! Service is always amazing here. Would order everthing we had all over again - Fish crudo - Octopus salad - Fried stuffed olives - Beef Ragu pasta - Whole Fried fish - Celeriac Agedashi - Tiramisu for a perfect finish read more

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I was excited to try this place but was sorely disappointed. We went with the Omakase dinner (they get you to choose a range $150-$300 per person and we decided to go with around $200/person). The first two dishes, the olives and the octopus tased like they were deep fried in pork fat and had a very offensive and strong gamy taste to them. Our waitress insisted that this was from smoking the octopus. We then had steak that was very rare and chewy (even though we had specifically mentioned we do not like rare or raw meat at the beginning of our dinner), and to top it off they brought us a sorbet for dinner that was so terribly bitter it was not edible. And out waitress thought that was funny and said I guess it definitely cleanses your palate. The only good thing about this place was the overall service. I am baffled at how they were give a Michelin Star! Perhaps Michelin has lowered their standards or this place has lost its touch since they were given their star. Would not recommend. read more

Ever since The Michelin Guide awarded and recognized some local Vancouver restaurants we made sure Kissa Tanto was on the top of our to list! After several tries of reserving a table of the holiday we decided to test our luck with a walking in seating! We arrived before opening and was fortunate to grab a table and was fully ready to feast when seated! We ordered the Margret Duck Breast + Sablefish + Yaki Onigiri + Fish Crudo + Octopus Salad + Charcoal Udon + KT Cannoli. Their dishes were fresh and a crescendo of flavours. The starters were simple and light in flavour. And as you move into the mains the flavours become bolder. A favourite was the sablefish with its minty and citrusy chili salmoriglio sauce - a very refreshing take on this dish. All in all it was a great meal and was a great way to end off 2022! read more

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Best meal I've ever had, hands down. Still dreaming about the beef cheek pasta purses and it's been almost a year. Hoping we're going back for my birthday. The service was white glove but still felt casual. If you've ever been to Papas Bros in Dallas, that was the level of service. It was busy to be sure yet intimate. Again, I can't wait to go back! read more

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My all time fav restaurant in Vancouver!! Of all time ! The cocktails..10/10 The food is unforgettable. The service is Michelin. Try: the snake river steak tartare, the tajarin, the stuffed olives. The udon with snow crab and prawns. I dream about their pastas. You will too! read more

Opened in 2016, Kissa Tanto is a modern Italian-Japanese fusion restaurant located in Chinatown. 'Kissa' refers to the jazz cafés that became popular in the '50 and '60s in Tokyo, while 'tanto' refers to 'so much' in Italian. We came as a group of 6, and I believe that's the largest table you can sit at. We ordered a ton of dishes but here are our favourites: Fish Crudo ($24): One of the most beautiful plates during that night. Tangy, refreshing and fishy (but in a good way ). Carne Cruda ($25) Wagyu topped with parmesan, served with gnocco fritto--fried dough--which is eaten like crackers. The crackers themselves are DELICIOUS. Tajarin ($33) Among the most popular dishes. Mezzi Rigatoni ($33) Nut-fed pork ragu, tomato xo butter. We also added burrata for extra richness, because why not? Another tasty dish. Nettle Pappardelle ($35) Smoked pork, spicy salami. This was definitely my favourite, but unfortunately no photos! Lamb ($48) Fennel and chili rubbed lamb sirloin. I'm not the biggest fan of lamb since I usually find it quite gamey, but this dish was delicious. Would recommend! 12 oz. AAA Rib Eye ($110) Beef tare, miso sauce, topped with pecorino. The steak was incredibly tender and flavourful. This was our most expensive dish of the night, but we would highly recommend to try this if you can! Featured Truffle Omelette ($55) Truffles, brown butter fontina fonduta. This is the featured omelette that can only be made if the head chef is in the house. By far the fluffiest and softest omelette I've ever had. Is it worth it? Really depends. Desserts were all delicious, and we'd highly recommend their My Private Tokyo for the cocktails. This was truly a fun experience and the service was phenomenal. read more

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The service was exceptional, the prices were good as well. The place is a little small but pretty comfy. It had a dark room lighting so not ideal for pics haha the food was great! The pasta options were very good, and the fish was great as well. Overall I'd come back here again! read more

I'm not sure I can really explain how amazing this Italian/Japanese fusion restaurant is. The decor is eclectic and beautiful. I love the music they were playing and the stack of vinyl they have behind the bar. We sat at the bar and Avi was our bartender/server. Let me start by stating how brilliant Avi was as our host. His craft cocktail skills were amazing and his attentiveness to our needs/wants was also great. Had a number of cocktails including the old fashioned, the Jefferson's County, and the Salaryman's song. We decided to do the upgraded omakase service and I'm so glad we did. Started with the pickle plate with an assortment of pickled goods including burdock root. Then we proceeded to the octopus salad which really treated the octopus well and the green dressing was amazing. Then came the wagyu with mushroom dipping broth. This was a home run. They did not overcomplicate this gorgeous cut of meat. The dipping broth was so perfectly matched with the wagyu. I remember thinking "this is the 3rd course, where can they go from here?" Then they brought out the Japanese omelette with black truffle butter and cheese. Have you ever had an omelette top a wagyu dish? I hadn't until that night. Absolutely mind blowing. Everyone eating around us that were also having the omelette also were reacting to how bonkers this dish was. The next dish was a pappardelle which was good and straightforward. This was followed by the ribeye which was great, but odd that we had to beef dishes. The closer was a take on tiramisu which was wonderful and Avi suggested a great sake to pair with the dessert and finish my night. This is easily one of the most memorable meals of my life and the wagyu and the omelette were some of the best food ever had by anyone. This place has vision and you can taste the passion in the menu. Truly a wonderful meal. I'll definitely be back. read more

Kissa Tanto - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Wow... this place has the presence of a Michelin star restaurant. Everything is quite impressive from a restaurant aesthetic, service, and vibe. With that said, the food is good, but lacked a little of that "wow" factor other than the presentation. Super enjoyable experience and the cocktails here are bomb! Loved our bartender who was absolutely amazing. I'll definitely be back to try more dishes and I am sure to be impressed the next time to bump this up to 5 stars. Such a hidden gem with tons of potential to really shine bright in this city! read more

Kissa Tanto - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

I don't even know where to begin. We decided to get the omakase for $120 a person - worth every penny. We had so many choices and courses, we were sooooo stuffed at the end. The fish crudo has always been my fave, and they've had this dish for years! I'm so glad they still have it. Came with the carne cruda which was super cheesy just the way I like it. It was almost like a saltier version of yukhae- a Korean raw beef dish and with more dept. I don't know what the did to that potato, but god damn, melts in your mouth. The turnips/parsnips were surprisingly, really delicious. Still crunchy. Octopus salad, wow. Just enough crunch with the cabbage and the octopus wasn't chewy at all. Pastas: they said not to mix the uni in but I still think it tastes better when mixed in Squid ink pasta was nice and al dente - can tell if it was the squid ink pasta or the rigatoni that had a little kick! Both very lovely. I think the only minor disappointment wasn't the meat itself but the sauce was very salty for my taste, but at least the meat was tender. Desserts were a great way to end the epic meal because it wasn't too sweet and it was a great palate cleanser at the end. read more

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Came back after quite a few years. I had really low expectations, but my husband really loved it last time, so here we are. The menu has changed quite a bit, thank god. Beet burrata salad to start was good. Tuna for the main was exceptional. The revolting tiramisu is still on the menu so I ordered the yuzu cream with quince instead and it was very good. Great service, but they could do with lower the music a little when it's so full. The same odd mix of people as last time, but that does make it interesting for people watching. I won't wait 4 years to try it again although it is somewhat pricey. read more

We just finished a wonderful dinner at the bar at Kissa Tanto - truly exceptional! Our first experience ordering the special omelet with truffles (not on the main menu) - absolutely delicious!! The 1/2 chicken was amazing as always - rivaling almost every other chicken in the city IOHO - and there are some great ones out there (Elisa for example). A true stand out was our server who multitasked as bartender and server for us and others - Casandra (sp?). When we interface with exceptional people in the F&B industry, we always make a note of it and Casandra makes the grade in our book. We are already planning our return to Kissa Tanto. David & Sandy read more

Kissa Tanto has been on my list of places to try for a while. The concept of Japanese and Italian intrigued me. We finally made a reso so it was in the calendar (book far in advance!) -- it's def a planned meal and not a "pop in" type of spot unfortunately. This is probably why it was on my list for so long haha. Also the location is questionable... Street parking only and because of the area, you have to be more selective with where you park lol. We ordered omakase for table of four. They have a sliding scale of price points which is kinda cool cuz they customize the menu based on your budget. We asked for the $125 menu. The oysters were very salty with the caviar and wakame -- a bit too overpowering for the oysters. The wagyu was just ok tbh. It was lean and cut super tiny. We all agreed it tasted similar to the steak tartare (gasp I know lol). The octopus salad was very good and I would get it again. Both pastas (rigatoni and spaghettini) were just ok. Al dente but the spaghettini sat a little too long before service maybe, cuz it was a little clumpy. Good egg yolk flavour and I liked how both had Asian flavours but with Italian pastas. The lamb was delicious. The rub is divine. It was tender and so very balanced in flavours. The whole fish was very wow for the eyes and very tasty. The mascarpone polenta was very tasty. I wish the rice chip was a bit more crunchy to give it some texture since the polenta is quite thick and rich. The yaki onigiri was good. I was happy to see a rice dish since it is Japanese after all. Desserts were probably most memorable, aside from the lamb. I thought it was so creative to do a tiramisu that was tofu based with plum wine soaked lady fingers. The "panna cotta" with pear, pistachios was sooooo good. All in all, I'd say a solid 4 out of 5. - Service was impeccable. - Some great dishes but for "omakase", it seemed like they just picked a bunch of dishes out of their menu. It wasn't as progressional or thought through as most tasting menus or omakases. - I don't know if I completely get the concept. They do a lot of Italian dishes using Japanese (or rather "Asian" ingredients) and vice versa. I don't know if the flavours are truly a marriage of both. Perhaps my expectations were too high. read more

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Love the staff here. Love. Feel like one of the fam. The food is always amazing, consistent, and delicious. There's such originality and flavor in the dishes. My favorite place to go out to nowadays. Pros: - phenomenal service - best food in the city - beautiful decor Note: I rarely drink, but the odd time I do, the cocktails are well balanced (and strong-for me at least) and it's a treat to watch the bartenders execute their art. Take a seat at the bar the off chance you get. read more

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Had high hopes for this place and left the meal feeling not as satisfied as I would have liked. To be fair, service was great, atmosphere was nice, but the food was alright and not amazing. They have a large drink menu to chose from, including cocktails, wine, and sake. This menu is quite extensive. We both enjoyed our drinks. As for the food, they have a selection of appetizers, pastas, mains and sides. Our server recommended for two people, to get two appetizers, a pasta, a main, and a side. Since we weren't super hungry, we went with two appetizers and two pastas. First we had the carne cruda. The flavours were strong, but it all worked together. This was probably our favourite dish of the night. The octopus salad was beautifully plated. It didn't feel very heavy even though the octopus was fried. The octopus was tender and crisp on the outside. I wish there was a little more octopus, and not as many radishes. Next up were the pasta dishes, which honestly were a bit of a letdown. The tajarin had a flavour that we both didn't really enjoy. Maybe it was the amount of cheese grated on top. But it felt one note and didn't have as much of an umami taste that I had hoped for from the mushrooms. The other dish was the charcoal udon. For the price, I actually thought the portion was quite small. I didn't like the texture of the udon as it was a bit too hard, and I prefer a chewier noodle. Also, it didn't seem like a lot of seafood. My friend thought the sauce was a bit too acidic from the tomatoes. Overall, the food was just okay. Maybe my expectations were too high, but I just wasn't that impressed, especially considering the prices too. read more

Kissa Tanto - Carne cruda - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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This is an interesting restaurant concept which offers a unique fusion cuisine of Japanese Italian fare. It's a juxtaposition of great proportions. The resto is located in Chinatown on Pender street and the impression walking in from the street screams separation. Yet the message imprinted on the glass door is "all are welcome please come in". Interior is cozy European style with luxe velvet booths on one side and an airy dining room on the other side. Servers are efficient and made sure to explain the small menu in great detail. The recommendation is tasting menu and several dishes for the table. Cocktail menu had some interesting offerings but tasted otherwise. Servers quite pushy for more alcohol and cocktail orders. We tried the fish crudo, carne crudo, octopus salad, charcoal udon, Tajario egg pasta, for mains the salmon, magret duck, and the eggplant side. Both the crudos were nicely done, didn't enjoy the octopus, it was quite chewy with a few salad leaves and daikon slices. The salmon and duck entrees were quite regular. All the plating and accompaniments to the dishes are similar in look and taste. The menu only had two dessert options and one special dessert the mochi tart which which we tried. Overall not overly impressed with the menu or restaurant. The menu is best experienced regular style one appetizer and main for each person based on taste and size. Perhaps in that way one might appreciate the offerings but it still would not have affected the taste of the dishes I don't see the Michelin quality here. A one time deal for me. read more

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Dimensions. That's what I kept thinking whenever I took a taste of any sauce, condiment or food item placed in front of me here... Whether tasting miso butter and olive oil with the house bread - this was something familiar yet an interesting blend of flavors... or an incredible green sauce that came with our crispy octopus salad and radish appetizer ...this was memorably ridiculous. Your taste buds search for the edge of its flavor only to discover that it morphs into another flavor and changes direction and to another layer and packs a spicy heat. Really Wow. The Tsukune Agnolotti pasta was small but packed a complex and hearty punch with flavors of roasted chicken, shiso, sesame etc... it had so much paradox: light but heavy, creamy but not, small but large flavor.. and so good. I was so surprised how it all could fit in such a small package! The special of the day was some sort of pork cut with veggies... this meat came covered with veggies and when they were put aside to reveal the pork, the aromas that wafted out was instantly mouth watering... this was quite the memorable experience as well and I don't know if it was cooked soude vide but the meat was so juicy and tender... the taste was reminiscent of a hint of ham yet so much more than that and it had just the right balance of meat and fat. Yum. Since we were here for a birthday, we couldn't leave without trying a couple desserts, but we found these to be less impressive... tiramisu had a lot more cream than cake and our slice may have been a corner piece as part had 2 layers and part had one.. and another dish was like a dense yogurt creme with olive oil crumble on top and some citrus ... This grew on me the more I ate it but tbh I would probably pass on the desserts next time. Prices for what we got overall was more than fair though and I would definitely look forward to trying more items on this menu another time! read more

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Cute spot, loved the interior and our server was really friendly and knowledgeable. Great energy. Reserving a spot was not easy and I've only heard great things so the bar was pretty high. To start I had to try the octopus salad. The octopus pieces were soooo delicious, best octopus I've had. I think I was told they are sous vide and then fried. The salad dressing was good and refreshing especially for the summer. However the the rest was mostly radish which I didn't love. The Mezzi Rigatoni was alright. Flavour was there but it didn't quite hit the spot for me. Not sure exactly what it was. I also think for me personally if the pasta was cooked for an extra 30 seconds it would have been on point. I tried the whole fried fish too. The fish of the day was a local rock fish. It was fried to perfection. I love how it's not greasy nor is it breaded. It's so simple though so I thought it's a bit too pricey for what it is. Their drinks selection is good. I tried the my private Tokyo. I could drink a few of these! The plum on the glass was a bit much for me but otherwise amazing. I like the place for the interior and vibe but it's not a place I would be dying to book and book far in advance. read more

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A high 4 stars! My partner booked my birthday dinner as a surprise. He brought me to the heart of Chinatown, and we walked right past Kissa's address. We had to backtrack to notice the little entrance between two shops. We went upstairs, and I was transported into a dark, romantic, and stylish art deco restaurant! I was immediately impressed with the vibe, even before getting any food. RESERVATIONS: Made for a Wednesday night at 5:30pm a few days in advance. Apparently we were lucky to get this opening! THE SERVICE: Excellent, very friendly and accommodating. We brought our baby in a stroller, and they didn't mind (the booth next to us also had a ~5 year old) but FYI they don't have high chairs. THE COST: $181.55 CAD before tips. A bit pricey! Worth a special occasion. THE FOOD: DRINKS * Ol' Satchmo ($14) - 4 stars Super tasty, sharp with the ginger, but the salt was strong and there was almost too much of it. * Dark End of the Street ($15) - 4 stars My partner's review: Whiskey-like with herbacious elements and a hint of citrus. TO BEGIN WITH * Carne Cruda ($19) - 5 stars This was fantastic. Fresh, large chunks of wagyu with a layer of light cheese. * Pancetta Di Testa (special. $21) - 3 stars I thought the pancetta was way too rubbery/chewy, but my partner enjoyed it. TENDER TO THE TOOTH * Tajarin ($27) - 4 stars A tasty buttery sauce, simple and well-made. The pasta was a bit thin and soft - stuck together a bit. * Duck Agnolotti ($28) - 4 stars Heavier than the Tajarin, the meat filling was flavor-packed and tasty. DESSERT * Tiramisu ($10) - 4 stars Moist, soft, fluffy, tasty! read more

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We had such high hopes coming here. I don't live in Vancouver anymore, but grew up here and have always wanted to try. We managed to secure a booking at 8:45, booking a few weeks ahead and pretty much made plans around it. Upon entering, we were impressed by the decor. It's cozy, intimate and felt like a trip back in time. Our server looked like Leonard from Big Bang theory- let's call him Leonard) The tonno mantecanto was good but the potato made the dish too heavy. The tajarin and dandelion pappardelle came next. We had the tajarin first as it looked lighter. It was lukewarm, almost a cold dish. We had the other pasta next. We really enjoyed the pappardelle (maybe because it was hot ). When the server came to ask how it was, a friend asked if the tajarin was supposed to be be served cold. Leonard looked at my friend and said it was supposed to be warm. And proceeded to clear our plates. I then chimed in and said the reason he asked us because our dish was cold. To my surprise, he looked at me coldly and said "did you take photos?" Uh ... were we not allowed to take photos ???? I said we did but very quickly. His response was "well that's why". He walked away. Leonard then came back to refill our waters (which he did a fine job of, btw). I told him that we had the tarajin first and the pappardelle next and that the pappardelle was still hot, and that we just wanted to tell him for his feedback, and that I don't appreciate his dismissive response. He ignored me and walked away again. He came back and said "I wasn't being dismissive". Ok. Sorry at this point, I was flabbergasted. I did not expect to come into a so-called Michelin starred restaurant to get into an argument. I then told him that all we were doing is to provide feedback and not asking for anything in return. We don't need a new dish, we intend to pay for it, and that it was strictly for feedback. The rest of the dishes that came just couldn't cover that disgusting flavour from our server. read more

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