Kissa Tanto has been on my radar for awhile. Many friends & acquaintances have shared their dining experience on how awesome the food was - so I just knew I'd have to try it! Ok be warned - make a reservation early - by that I mean weeks in advance or you will be stuck scrambling for alternatives. Now they will have some limited availability online, ie 9pm on a Tuesday night - yikes! So yeah really heed my warning or you will regret. Trust me on that! As they say in the real estate industry - location, location, location. KT is located in a - shall I say - an intresting part of town! If you know Vancouver you'll know exactly what I mean. KT is rated - a top 100 restaurant in Canada, which is an amazing accomplishment for having only been opened for just over 2 years! I was surprised by its location in Chinatown as opposed to say - downtown Vancouver. However due to Vancouvers high rental/lease rates I can understand the reasoning for this location. The crowd hanging around outside on Pender street up & down the block can be a bit - 'off putting.' But don't let that keep you away from eating at KT. Would I park my car here at night or during the day for that matter - uhh no! Now the food - what an amazing delight to have finally eaten at KT!!! Bravo! Dining here was an exquisite experience like none I've had before! All the dishes rocked my taste buds to maximum sensation! For drinks we had a vodka on ice & a My Private Tokyo - so tasty amazing!!! What a drink! We started with an amazing Octopus Salad. Wow I have never had a salad like this in my life!!! My taste buds were exploding in delight! If we hadn't been sitting so close to the next table I was would have been - ooohing & aaahing quite loudly! Yikes! Up next was the Agnolotti Duck - my gosh I was amazed by this small but oh so filling plate!!! Loved it! Then came the Japanese Eggplant - a twist on eggplant I was not expecting! Very good! Lastly the 'pièce de résistance' - the fried Ocean Perch Rockfish!!! Hallelujah I wanted to start singing after every bite!!! The sauce that came with it was the perfect add on. However, because of its exquisite taste it might not appeal to all so I recommend you ask for the green sauce that is in the Octopus Salad plate - try that with the fish! We shared a divine Japanese Cheesecake for dessert & it hit the spot - in all the right places!!! Superb masterclass at its best! No wonder KT has received numerous kudos & accolades - top restaurant, top chef, top menu, etc. Bravo! Will definitely be going back ASAP!!! read more

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Sat at the bar and had the best conversation with the bartender. So friendly and knowledgeable about the menu and drinks. The vibes were incredible and I can't wait to go back! read more

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Easily a top 5 all time meal. Literally everything was the best in class. Fried stuffed olives - I could 100! Octopus salad - fresh and bright with a dressing to die for. Mushroom pasta -maybe 2nd best pasta of my life. Whole fried fish - crazy good, sweet and succulent. Drinks and sake - top notch. Service- Daniel and crew cared for us with attentive care, good humor and appreciative hospitality. read more

Kissa Tanto - This picture is not the best but the mushroom pasta is. - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

A good friend got us a reservation at this lovely and wonderful Michelin-star restaurant, and we enjoyed everything so much. We got a table by the window, and ordered some pretty non-alcoholic drinks. The wait staff was friendly, prompt and well-informed. The ambience was cozy and sophisticated. My friend and I opted for the omakase menu (chef's choice), and they asked about allergens, preferences, and price ranges. Once we decided, we got a parade of delicious and innovative dishes, one after another, that included everything from incredible omelette to scallops and house-made pasta. We thoroughly enjoyed every single dish and left satisfied, promising to return. read more

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Wow, Kissa Tanto is very average. Disappointed with the flavours, even with so many expensive ingredients (truffles, yuzu) they managed to have uninspiring food. It's not bad but it certainly isn't worth it's $$$ price tag. Plating is hit and miss. You come here for the atmosphere and drinks. Not for a palatable fine dining experience. read more

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Everything was really good but salty. 3 out of 5 because of that. This place is apparently run by the ppl who do Bao Bei. I thought the food at Bao Bei was also on the very salty side. Must just be what the team likes. Carne Cruda was awesome. But salty. Loved the pear in it. The soy flavor was prominent but good. Just a little salty. Wasn't too into the Tonno Mantecato. It was a bit weird, but the tobiko bruschetta was interesting and fun to eat. A little salty. The pasta was great as well. The shishito sausage was great. But again, the sauce was very salty. Felt like a really fancy hamburger helper. Sorry :-P The beef was done well. The creamy sauce was a little salty. Polenta was great too! The curry sauce was a little salty but I liked the corn. The tiramisu was actually amazing. One of the best tiramisu I've had in a long time! And not salty! Woo! The cocktails (1 not pictured) were both great. It's not cheap but I thought the price and portion sizes were fine. Staff were friendly and charming. Nice decor. Cool place. Hand sanitizer at each table. Staff wearing masks. I passed out when I got home because I was a little tipsy, and after I woke up a couple hours later, downed 2 cans of Perrier. read more

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Interesting and provoking cuisine with very good and attentive staff. The room is small but intimate. Well put without being over the top. Food is the stand out without a doubt. My favorite was the udon. read more

Kissa tanto is another one of my favourite restaurants in Vancouver. As soon as you walk up the stairs you instantly feel like you are being transported back in time to a 1960's jazz club. The room and decor are beautiful. I've been here at least 10 times and every time the service, food and vibe have been wonderful. The atmosphere and setting is quite intimate, so it makes a great place for dates. If I were to base my rating solely on my last trip there, I would probably only give it 4 stars, as I didn't love everything I tried. But based on all my past experiences, and how much I look forward to eating here I'm giving it a 5. Some of the dishes are hit and miss, so from now on I'm just going to stick to my favourites. The pasta and seafood is what they excel at in my opinion. The tajarin has got to be one of my favourite pasta dishes in the city. The pasta itself is so light it's almost a cross between noodle and pasta and with the mushrooms and sauce, the flavour I can't fully describe, but it makes me nostalgic, it's so simple yet so delish. If truffles are available, I highly recommend having some shavings on top. I've tried some of the other pastas, and they have all been wonderful, but For me nothing is as memorable as the tajarin. Another very special dish is the Octopus salad. The octopus is karage like and it is served with radicchio and watermelon radish in a beautiful verde sauce. The fish crudo is another top recommendation. The fish is so smooth and delicate and pairs perfectly with all the other flavours in the dish. I have always wanted to try the whole fried fish, but it has been sold out every time before I get there. For drinks the my private Tokyo- is probably my favourite cocktail in the city. It's slightly on the sweeter side, but not too sweet and the Hawaiian plum salt on the rim is so good I have to hold myself back from licking it off the glass. The Singapore sling is also a good option of your looking for something slightly stronger. I highly recommend dessert as well. The tiramisu is one of my favourites. It's lighter than your usual tiramisu. The dessert feature has always been delicious as well, I've yet to be disappointed. There's only been a few dishes here that I haven't loved. Namely, the Tonno Montaceto I just found too rich, and the pork main, the flavours were delicious but the pork was a little rubbery. Other than that everything I've tried here has been wonderful. Can't recommend this place enough! read more

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I am not sure why this restaurant has less that 5 stars.. Absolutely generous I have been here over a dozen of times and besides my bread being slightly overtoasted in Tonno Montecato have never gotten disappointed. The service is great, they all look very aware, presentable and clean. The manager is always present. Food is served in a timely manner and all the dishes are properly explained. You can taste the love being put in ALL the food from appetizers to desserts. Highly Recommend! read more

Amazing fusion of Japanese and Italian cuisines that is worth trying if you are in Vancouver. The ambiance is cozy and all food portions are on the smaller side. The food is expensive but it was expected as it's a Michelin rated restaurant. Each dish was well crafted and loved every bite of it. The yuzu cream dessert stood out and was amazing. read more

First time at Kissa Tanto but big fan of the Japanese-Italian cuisine and this restaurant does not disappoint. Some serious stars are... the stuffed olives. They don't look like much but they are a burst of flavor and so addicting. I'd go back just for the olives. The charcoal udon with crab... so much flavor and the perfect amount of spice from the Calabrian chili sauce. The mushroom pasta... tasted like the most refined elevated version of Kraft Mac n cheese and I mean that in the best way possible. And the A5 wagyu was just incredible, so buttery. Truly can't recommend enough! I'll definitely be back. read more

Kissa Tanto - 4 oz A5 Wagyu - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

I had an impromptu dinner with my husband there last night. I've always wanted to try the restaurant since it is #10 of 100 best restaurants in Canada in 2018 but heard resos needed to be 3 months in advance. We walked in at 6:30 and lucked out! They had a table for us! We weren't very hungry so ordered the house bread, the octopus salad and the pizzocheri pasta. The house bread came with a chili and honey butter and really high quality ev olive oil. The butter was light and had a nice subtle but pronounced flavour as you chew the bread. The sourdough wasn't as nice as my husbands (:P). We thought the crust tasted burnt and it wasn't sour enough and didnt have a sweet sourdough after taste. We followed the bread up w the octopus salad which was gorgeous. I loved the purple endives, so sweet and clean tasting. The parsley dressing was so good and not too tangy. The octopus was so tender not chewy at all. Last we had the pasta. It was flavourful with the cheese sauce and surprising melt filling. We loved that the pasta was rolled so thin and had a bite to it when we bit into it. So good. Really wanted to try the tiramisu but it had plum wine in it and my husband wouldn't allow me to have it since I'm pregnant. So boo to that. Atmosphere is fantastic and magical as if you have traveled back in time to an upscale retro dining establishment. I'd definitely visit again. read more

Kissa Tanto - Pizzocherri(?) pasta $29 - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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The food was just "ok" for the prices charged. The only dish that was relatively tasty was the carne cruda. Everything else we ordered (Tonno Mantecato, charcoal udon, magnet duck breast, lemon dessert (Costco pound cake was more moist)) was just okay. The location of the restaurant was not in the best part of town (especially at night when all the shops were closed). read more

Hey Kissa Tanto, cancelling an OpenTable confirmed birthday dinner reservation was unprofessional and disappointing.

I'm giving only four star and largely due to the price. It was nothing spectacular, other than the odd paring of flavors, that actually work well together. I was traveling along, walked through some rough spots of town to land in a retro Asian Italian fusion destination. I grateful I did, be use the ambience was a great way to end a lovely visit to Vancouver. I enjoy my meal along side two other solo patrons, and the bartender engaged in thoughtful dialogue while also dropping some neighborhood and local knowledge. It was a pleasant experience and would highly recommend. I had wine from a decent selection. read more

Kissa Tanto - Black ink pasta with seafood and seaweed to infuse the Asian flavor... delish! - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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I'm very glad my fellow Yelp Elite friend suggested this gem! The novelty was so intriguing. French/Japanese fusion? Qu'est-ce que c'est? What is this? It's fusion food without a home but it will keep you interested with every bite. We ordered a pasta dish that reminded me of cacio e pepe with Asian noodles. Another dish was the octopus salad (looks different from the pics on Yelp bc there was no greens ... just radishes as the base). Still, absolutely beautiful. There was a lemony cream dessert that was absolutely delicious. I'd order it again. The drinks are gems. We ordered four and believe me... they will get you tipsy. My favorite was the espresso martini. It hit all the right notes! The Tokyo drink (plum wine) was overrated for my taste -- probably because it was a bit sour and not strong enough. Lovely ambiance, good date spot. read more

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This place is amazingly good. The flavours, the textures... everything. Such a creative way of combining, mixing and manipulating ingredients. Had the carne cruda, octopus salad, menchi katsu and I forgot what else (I believe it was the seasonal fish), and oh my goodness is all I can say. Such a unique yet delightful flavour profile. Definitely would recommend checking this place out. read more

Kissa Tanto - Menchi Katsu, Carne Cruda, Octopus salad - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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We went here with high expectations, given the Michelin star rating. I love Japanese food, and thought the Italian-Japanese fusion would be interesting to try. Service - very pleasant, prompt, professional server and staff who regularly come by to fill water, change dishes, clean. your table, etc. Ambience - in Chinatown, so a little grungy, but soft lighting and booths make for an eclectic vibe without the high-end fancy feel where you feel like you need to dress up. Simple wooden tables and overall an intimate feel. Food - the fish and meat were very fresh, tender, and melt-in-your mouth textures. The chicken was amazing but we were so full from the appetizers we couldn't finish it. The sauces were decadent, but a few dishes had an overwhelming olive oil or parmesan flavour to it. I get the Italian part, but subtle flavours would have been better. Dishes were small as most fine dining is, but because of the decadent, rich sauces, they are very filling. Best dishes - charcoal udon, organic half chicken, tonno montecato Ok dishes with good base meat but the sauces and flavours confused my palate - duck (sweet sauce around it was weird), fish crudo (too strong olive oil taste), spaghettoni and carne cruda (both had too much parmesan, should have it on the side) Drinks - Private Tokyo was delicious! I love sweet cocktails and this one was one of a kind and had me licking the plum powder off the glass. The waiter's recommended sake was lovely. Our bill for 4 people came to about $431 plus tip. read more

I went in with very high expectations - on concept, accolades etc, but for me and my dining partner, it was just okay. Our server was really nice, and service was exceptional. The place itself and the ambiance was spacious, unique with that perfect mix of quiet-lively feel, especially from our seat in a booth by the windows. The menu read really well and the ingredients were fresh. But, there was just something about the combination of flavours, textures and temperature that just did not wow. Value wise, the portions did not exactly match the price tag given other experiences I have had in the past. I certainly feel I could have stretched that dollar at other finer dining places I have been to so far in the city / other cities. So, there are definitely pros and cons. The meal was not bad by any means, but just okay. read more

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This place is worth the hype. We took the 10:15p reservation on a Friday because that's what you do for truly epic cuisine. The chefs dishes are imaginative, unique, and insanely delicious. Hands down one of the best meals I've ever had in my life. read more

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From a carnivore's perspective, this is a 'meh' 3 star restaurant. From a vegan perspective, this is a solid 4.5 stars, but I'm bumping it up to 5 because the restaurant has great service, nice ambience, and is accommodating of dietary requirements. It is very popular, so I would suggest making a reservation, as this place was pretty packed (and also pretty loud). DAILY SPECIALS Pork Leg (4/5) The pork leg was average, but I'm giving it a 4 because the mushrooms and charred broccoli that came with it was so delicious and worthy of 5 stars. Pork Ragu Pasta (3/5) Pretty average, but not too bad. Probably wouldn't get it again. A LA CARTE Chicken (3/5) Also pretty average. It was prepared in two ways, and my family all preferred the style without the chimichurri on top. VEGAN Adegashi chickpea tofu (4.5/5) Really delicious, as the tofu was super flavourful and crispy, and the mushrooms on top were great. The mushroom dashi was too salty though. Vegan pasta (2/5) Okay this is not really their fault, but they made me an olive pasta and I HATE OLIVES. It was better than I expected though I still didn't like it. The tomato sauce was fresh and the pasta was cooked nicely, so 2 stars for that. Squash (4.5/5) They made this vegan and it tasted so good! The squash was cooked nicely and was super flavourful. It could have been a little softer, but it was still tasty. I didn't like the poached apples (but I hate poached fruit so that's just me - my mom liked it) but the sauce was so tasty! Overall, I would skip this place if you're a meat eater. However, if you're vegan or vegetarian I definitely recommend giving this place a try! I'll be back to try their vegan tasting menu for sure. No olives though! read more

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This was an amazing experience! We went with a group of friends and shared a wonderful dinner! Lots of laughs and Great environment. The service was very professional and the food was great read more

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Service was excellent. I was appreciative that they viewed my critique as criticism but as an opportunity to improve. Food was excellently prepared. I ordered the omakase. read more

This is a little near China town gem. Great Asian Italian pasta and seafood fusion in a 50's style dining room. Great cocktails and drink list. Pricey but good food, go in a group and order lots of sharing dishes. read more

Kissa Tanto is such a gem in Vancouver. The times I have dined here has always been a treat with top notch service and food. I decided to come here for my birthday and it happened to be shortly after they received their Michelin star. Kissa Tanto is a Japanese-Italian fusion restaurant with share plates style cuisine and creative cocktails. We decided to order an appetizer, pasta dish, a protein (fish) dish, a side and dessert between two people. The octopus salad was one of our favourites and so much care is put into this dish. First brined, then grilled, then fried and served on a delicious sauce and greens. We also enjoyed the parpadelle which was cooked Al dente with a hearty sauce. The sablefish was buttery and tasty, a bit on the small side, so you'll have to savour every bite! For our side we got the yaki onigiri, a nice carb side dish with a bit of crunch! We ended with tiramisu which I believe has some Asian ingredients (plum?) but it tasted like a typical Tiramisu, which I loved anyway. Thanks for the birthday candle! read more

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Finally went back to one of my fav Van rests and it was very delicious as the first time. Started with the Octopus salad which is smoked & fried octopus with fresh & picked radish, mustard greens, in a parsley, clam sauce. The clam sauce is not overwhelming. The menu says chili but it was mild. Then the star of the evening was taijin pasta. It derives from a region in Italy, and it's thin home made pasta with egg yolk (I know what you're thinking) but it's too eggy because of the miso flavor hence the perfect combo of Italian Japanese which this restaurant is known for. I deducted 1 star as would give this place 5 stars but there was a big bug that kept flying around our table as we were seated next to lots of succulents and you wouldn't expect that from this type of restaurant. read more

Such a unique and beautiful menu! If you are a bit more adventurous eater, I don't think you could go wrong here. The staff was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. My only regret is not doing the chef tasting menu! read more

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Kissa Tanto for Christmas Eve dinner. They are Italian-Japanese cuisine in a chic space inspired by 1960s Tokyo jazz cafes. Their daily special included fresh truffle risotto.. to die for! However, the dish we would love to recommend is their lamb! It was a unique taste with fennel and chili rubbed crust. Never had anything like this! read more

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I am from Toronto and dined at Kissa Tanto with my husband in September. We paid $125 pp for the Omakase. Both the food & customer service were excellent...top notch...Michelin worthy. I told many of my friends. A month later I flew back from Toronto and was looking forward to dining at KT again. I dined with my 2 friends for a birthday dinner, and after hearing what was offered, we decided to spend $175pp for the luxury ingredients Omakase, which promised to be spectacular. In our initial conversation with the server, we informed her of my gluten sensitivity and that one person doesn't eat beef. She assured us that we would not be served pasta & that in lieu of the wagyu my friend would get a great substitute. Nothing came. For an additional $50 pp, What did we get?? 2 Oz wagyu & 9 tiny pieces of king crab. All other menu items were basically the same as the basic Omakase we had the month before. We received the same size portions for 3 people that we received for 2 people and $525 vs $250. We did get a 3rd Chawanmushi ($40). This does not make sense. Our server told us for the additional $50 pp, we would get WHITE truffles & wagyu beef. Black truffles omelette appeared at the table so I thought white truffles would appear later. It never did. When I asked the server about it, she said the white were too expensive. Why did you upsell us on white truffles then not come back to inform us that it wasn't happening? We would have gone with the lower priced Omakase. This felt deceptive. I have a gluten sensitivity & received udon noodles with gluten! When the dish was served, we questioned the server who confidently assured us they were gluten free. A few minutes later, another server came to advised us that the noodles were in fact not gluten-free. Why were we served a $49 noodle family style sharing dish when we were told we would not be served pasta? The server said that yes, there's gluten & the next dish would be gluten free. This same server had told us that we wouldn't be served pasta due to the gluten sensitivity at the table! Additionally, all dishes are the same size irregardless of the number of people at the table. We were told this was because the dishes are meant to be eaten "family style". This doesn't make any sense considering we were given the same amount of food for 3 people as I had when it was just my husband and I. As well, at one point during our meal, 3 dishes were dropped off at our table. It was difficult to enjoy each dish as there was no change of plates and the food was getting cold. Discards/garbage were not cleared from our table until almost the end of the meal. This was not representative of the amazing service I experienced during my first visit. After our meal we spoke with Justin the manager and his attitude was not what you would expect at this level of dining. He made us feel like we didn't know much and was actually insulting when he said had they known we wanted quantity vs quality, they would have suggested the basic Omakase. I am a foodie who flies around the world in search of amazing food and experiences. Although our first visit was amazing, unfortunately our second was not. We did not receive a friendly greeting by the host, who made it seem like we were fortunate to be let into your restaurant and were not treated like welcomed guests or valued customers. Overall the poor customer service, inconsistency, and lack of additional food for the 3rd person has changed my initial thoughts about this restaurant. Our dinner was extremely disappointing and it was frustrating dealing with Justin. Clearly this role of manager is beyond his capabilities. While this restaurant has been awarded a Michelin Star, my second experience here has been far from worthy of a Michelin Star. Diner Beware! read more

Kissa...how would you finish that sentence? A Kissa is a kind of Japanese jazz cafe where the music is cool and the young female servers are hot and wear short skirts sans upes. Tanto means 'a lot" or "much" in Italian. In Spanglish it means "Kiss something stupid", or "Kiss something, stupid". Now blend all three. This place is located in the pork belly of Chinatown. Step over the street sleepers and walk all the way past the half way houses. Right across from the $1 Meat Store you will find a plain door that opens to a low lit flight of stairs leading up to a retro Speakeasy and what will quickly be the hottest table in town.Tell'em John Gotti (or perhaps Gyoza) sent ya's. It was like dining on the set of Flower Drum Song and I expected to see Jake Gittes in a corner booth daubing nose with a napkin. The interior is totally trick and slick and so Shanghai chic. Booths, tables, a comfortable bar and an incredible Japanese Italian mashed up menu. If they add a Schnitzel or Knockwurst you'd have an Axis Powers food fantasy. It's either a Japanese rave party on the Spanish Steps or Silvio Berlusconi let loose in the Ginza (lock up your daughters) with wild, crazy good food. The Vibe: Who goes there? After only three weeks in, it's pretty much supportive industry insiders, fanatic foodies, family and friends kinda like when you sold term insurance way back when. Nod your head to the trombone and Hammond B-3 tracks, cool sounds and way cool food from start to last lick. The Staff: Exuberant. Happy to be there and happy you're there too. They were completely knowledgeable about the complex menu and puppy friendly. The Bar Program. Enlightened. Yes, they had a Singapore Sling right outta Raffles Hotel Long Bar. (No, they didn't make it with Sloe Gin as that's evil anyway). It came with a large ice cube resting on a large ice cube and surrounded by crushed ice, Gin, Benedictine, Cherry Brandy, Angostura Bitters, Lime Juice, a Pineapple Heart and, yes, an Umbrella. Hey, isn't that Graham Greene that just walked in? My Private Tokyo made me act not so private. It was Amaretto, Umeshu (distilled alcohol from sugar and Ume fruit), Plum Wine, Martini Dry Vermouth, Lemon, Egg Whites, Plum Sea Salt and it was simply plum good. I thought I could hear Marlon mumbling his burning desire for Hana-ogi. And if that wasn't enough I washed those down with a Chocho Soda. This had Aperol, Bittersweet Vermouth, Brut, a Blood orange round and was so refreshing I decided to forego sleep until I made it back to the rental car. The Food: This kitchen is definitely thinking outside the Bento Box. For example, the hot House Baked Sour Dough Bread comes with Nori Butter and Olive Oil sharing half of the same cup. So go ahead, sop till you drop. The Gem Salad (you can't just live on fried foods, or can you?). This gem was just picked farm fresh Micro Greens with Pistachios and fried cubes of house made Mortadella masquerading as croutons with Bonito Flakes and Anchovy Bangna Cauda Dressing. I hunted down all the Mortadella squares and pushed them to the side and ate every last one at the end as a special treat. The Fritelli de Melanzane (eggplant fritters to you), were settled in a bath of Yuzu Gribiche, Basil, Bonito Salt, Shaved Katsuo (Skip Jack). A dish that is not to be skipped, Jack. It was like Fried Baba Ghanoush or Japatalian Felafel. The Special Tonno Mancato was really a sort of hip Brandade. Let's call it a Bran-Daddy-o. A Confit of Yellowtail Tuna, Smoked Potato, Furikake (something sea weedy and a wee seedy to sprinkle on anything that needs a good sprinkle), and Bruschetta loaded with Tobiko (Flying Fish Roe). As an added plus you can pop those little fishy boba beads on the roof of your mouth for hours instead of making conversation. The Millefoglio Tonkatsu was spoon tender Squid and paper thin Pork Cutlet layered into a Babka and then presented as a log cut into two bite bites served with a square of Pickled Cabbage (they must have bought one of those little plastic Rice Cube makers at Ming Ho Restaurant Supply up the street, like I did). It comes with a "C" cup of Miso-Sesame Sauce, and Baby Pickled Asparagus. This dish took more prep than the Manhattan Project. It was well worth the effort. (Tonkatsu, yes, Nuclear Arms...the jury is still out). Just Desserts: The house made Whupped Umeboshi (Little Plums), Honey Ricotta Zeppole with Cherry Blossom Sugar served in a small lake of Miso-Caramel was wonderful. Light tennis balls of soft sweet filling in side a crisp wrapper. Go ahead, whup my umeboshi, give me three Zeppole and then schlep-a me home. Kissa Tanto may well be the most exciting, interesting, conceptually successful, well thought out new dining destination between Vancouver and all the way down to Trump's wall site at the Mexican border. Kissa me...often. read more

Kissa Tanto - Cat got your Tonkatsu? - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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I came here on a date last Thursday and thoroughly enjoyed the ambiance of the place and the service. We booked a month in advance and we're seated at the cute nook by the window! The server was very knowledgeable about how the flavours of the cocktails are and how the food was cooked. Checked in to make sure we were happy throughout the evening. Music wasn't loud. Bathrooms were clean. Pricey but was well worth it. Proper unpretentious fine dining experience . Highly recommend! Definitely get the plum cocktail and the fried rockfish dish. Those were my favorites! read more

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Don't be fooled by the Michelin star...not worth the $200+ cost because after cocktails and wine, it's $400 per person. This is not a Japanese restaurant fusion because it is mainly Italian. I would say that it would be on to pass on Kissa Tanto. There are much, much better restaurants such as Blue Water Cafe for true culinary experiences. read more

Always a good time at the Kissa Tanto. Amazing food and service. Also very interesting cocktail selections. Highly recommend! read more

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Had an absolute blast here, we've been meaning to try this place for a while. The food is amazing and the staff are great. The drinks here are unreal too. Definitely will be back soon! read more

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Food was amazing. Atmosphere was surreal. I grew up in Chinatown from 3 to 25 yrs old so I'm a bit biased. All these years, I've never been on the second floor of chinatown. Great restoration of an old place. Sat by the window watching appartment across the street with elder Chinese in their homes felt like a movie from 60s. The neon purple sign gave a very nostalgic feel. Food was unlike any Westcoast dining I had before. This is Japanese/Italian at it's finest. Had the gem salad, pork croquette, duck tortellinis, sous vide tenderloin. All were amazing, and I'm hard to impress. My new best of Vancouver restaurant. But I'm biased because Chinatown always has a special place in my heart. read more

Kissa Tanto - View off the balcony on to nostalgic appartment accross the street. - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Great evening! Food was very good, but I agree with a few other reviews a bit salty. We had two appetizers: octopus salad and the carne crudo followed by the albacore tuna and tarajin pasta. For dessert, we had the Yuzu creme- this was by far, the star of the show. Truly one of the best desserts I've ever had. The ambiance was fun, but the chairs were a bit uncomfortable. They did a great job at social distancing the tables and the service was amazing. One thing to note is that this place is in a "not so great" area. We parked on the street in front of the restaurant and it was fine, but I wouldn't walk around alone at night. Definitely suggest paying Kissa Tanto a visit if you're in town. read more

Kissa Tanto was voted Best New Restaurant in 2016 by Air Canada's enRoute Magazine, and Best New Restaurant in 2017 by Canada's 100 Best, so you can believe I was excited to finally get to try it after over a year of hearing about it. I had a really fun dining experience here which I would rate as a 4.5 because it wasn't perfect, but still very very enjoyable! Although you need to make reservations at least 3-4 weeks in advance, the restaurant also sets aside some tables (and bar seating) every night for walk-ins. Best advice I can give you is to arrive early (my friend and I arrived at 5:15, 15 minutes before they open) so you can be pretty much guaranteed a seat right away. The decor of the restaurant is beautiful! It's got this old-school, kind of Prohibition-era style going on, and almost feels like a speakeasy. Very sophisticated, old-school glam. The vibes would make this a great date spot. For food, my friend and I shared a few things, which ended up being a perfectly sufficient amount. We had the house bread, frittelle di melanzane, fish crudo, and tajarin pasta. The house bread is a sourdough which comes with olive oil and rotating butter. Ours was miso butter and it was so unique. It's so difficult to describe the exact flavour, and the only word I could think of was "umami." It was light, not exactly salty, but still had this rich, savoury quality to it, and was lovely. I absolutely LOVED the fish crudo, and thought it was a wonderful way to start off the meal. When it first arrived at our table, I was already thrilled because it was just so damn beautiful with all the colours from the various ingredients and the olive oil all over the plate. I can't really say the dish was anything super novel, but I thought it was a well thought out and well executed dish. There were so many different textures coming from the different ingredients: crunchiness from the almonds and the crisp, fresh radishes; soft plumpness from the olives... and there was just the right amount of seasoning and acidity so everything felt balanced. I thought it was such a bright, eye-catching, flavourful yet light dish that I honestly cannot recommend enough. The frittelle di melanzane is like a fried garlic eggplant fritter, and the dish comes with yuzu gribiche, basil and bonito salt, and shaved katsuo. The dish is presented like takoyaki, in that the fritters are round and there are the bonito flakes/shaved katsuo on top. I found it a bit off-putting though, because it doesn't taste like takoyaki, but also doesn't taste like eggplant at all. I thought there was a bit of a cheesy taste and texture to it, although it wasn't a very strong flavour. I did like that the texture of the fritter was very smooth and creamy, and overall the fritter felt very light and quite delicate. Would have liked more yuzu flavour to come through in the sauce, I suppose it was overpowered by the other ingredients. This dish was just mediocre for me and I probably wouldn't get it again. It was my first time eating tajarin noodles, ever, and I loved the texture of them here, as they were cooked perfectly and had just the right amount of bounce and chewiness. The dish is quite simple, with just butter, roasted mushroom, and miso-cured yolk, but the ingredients come together really well to just create this overall, again, umami kind of flavour. Maybe earthy is a good way to describe it... I mean, there were a lot of mushrooms. Both my friend and I found the dish to be a little bit over-salted, but still enjoyed it. I liked that overall it was very rich and big on flavour, yet still felt light - I didn't feel like I was being weighed down by carbs after eating it. We decided to try the tiramisu for dessert, because the description, which said it was made with whipped soy, plum wine, and mascarpone sounded really interesting. We were a little bit disappointed, because flavour-wise it wasn't anything too special - just your typical tiramisu, although a really lovely and light one. Definitely sweeter than your average tiramisu and lighter/lacking in that bitter, coffee flavour. I didn't mind it, but I also wasn't wowed. I got their feature cocktail of the night, the KT 75 which is Kissa Tanto's take on a French 75. It has some jasmine infused gin, lemon juice, and sparkling wine, and is delicious, light and refreshing. I loved that some floral notes actually came through. I will also note that it was pretty boozy - would recommend. Even though not all of the dishes blew me away, I still loved trying the different dishes and thought the quality of the food and experience was up there. Our server was lovely, bubbly and friendly, the space was so pleasant to be in, and overall the experience was just really enjoyable and fun, and I left feeling very satisfied. I also found the prices to be quite reasonable for the quality. There are definitely other items on the menu I want to try, and I plan on visiting again! read more

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If there's a restaurant that would make me a vegetarian, it'd be Kissa Tanto. All the zucchini and beets are as delicious as the carbs and meat! I truly enjoyed our meal that evening. We started with the house bread, which comes with honey butter and olive oil and wow, the honey butter was tasty! The fish crudo was just alright to me, compared to what I have had before. The octopus salad is good as well! The pasta dishes were amazing! The tarjarin tasted light and creamy at the same time. The duck pasta and the pizzocheri are as delicious! I would come back just for the pasta dishes alone! The strip loin, accompanied by marinated beets is good. I think the marinated beets taste exceptionally good. The side dish, roasted zucchini clearly stole the show as well! It is light and tasty altogether. As for the cocktails, my private Tokyo is delicious! I don't remember the names of the rest but they are all pretty visually! I hope Vancouver will have more restaurants with food that jots my taste buds like Kissa Tanto. read more

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Went to Kissa Tanto tonight to celebrate a friend's birthday. Kissa Tanto is located on East Pender Street near Gore Street in Vancouver's Chinatown. On recommendations of a friend, luckily we had made reservations in advance as there was already a small line-up outside the restaurant when we arrived at 5:25, the restaurant opens promptly at 5:30 and tables filled up quite a quickly. The restaurant decor feels reminiscent of classic restaurant from the '50s. There is a long 14 seat bar along one wall where patrons can sit and enjoy a cocktail while waiting for a table. We ordered cocktails which were delicious. The wait staff are amazing. Friendly, attentive while not being intrusive. We sampled five dishes all were delectable but my personal favourite was the whole deep fried fish and tonight's feature was whole grouper. The fish is dusted in a light coating of potato flour and that's it. This leaves the simple, clean flavour of the fish shine through. Love, love, love this place and definitely on my list of must return tos and recommends! Well worth a trip to Vancouver's original Chinatown. read more

Kissa Tanto - Whole deep fried grouper which is the featured catch of the day with a side of eggplant topped with béchamel sauce. #Yummy - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

LOVE the food here. Pricing is somewhat high but it's definitely worth it. I really liked the octopus salad! Their wagyu was also really good too. Good service as well. Definitely make a reservation if you have a group of people. My fiancé and I just walked-in and we sat at the booth. Definitely will go back to try their other dishes read more

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