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    Kuma Japanese Restaurant

    4.2 (71 reviews)
    ModerateJapanese, Sushi Bars
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:30 pm, 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM

    Order Kuma Japanese Restaurant Takeout or Delivery

    Kuma Japanese Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    KUMA JAPANESE RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Reviews With Photos

    chicken okonomiyaki with soba
    Thanh L.

    Small family owned business! Food can come out a little slow due to limited employees but this is the place for okonomiyaki!! It's very yummy. My friends and I always grab it when we dine here. The sushi is average and a little more expensive than what you expect but you don't find the okonomiyaki in every Japanese restaurant menu. Highly recommend adding yakisoba in with it. We usually order our own sushi and have it to share. An extra tip: If you go around sunset, try not to sit facing the door, since the light is very bright whenever someone comes in.

    a plate of sashimi
    Terisa D.

    The only place in Vancouver that serves Kansai style Okonomiyaki! The food is amazing, I love the quality of the fish they use. The Okonomiyaki is made to order and super fresh. It had a good balance of flavors. The service was fast, efficient and friendly, and I really like the calming vibe of the restaurant. Overall, an amazing visit and will be back for more!

    Bea F.

    Cozy family-owned restaurant that serves some delicious dishes. Especially love the Okinomiyaki, as it's harder to come by here in Vancouver. As it's a small business, it can be a little slow, but the wait is worth it! Medium price level with kind service and quality food.

    a close up of a plate of food
    Ger T.

    Back in the day when it was being known as Modern Club we would come here specifically for okonomi-yaki , which was still kinda sorta a novelty thingy in town . Fast forward 10+ years we now have Kuma , which seems to have shifted focus more onto bentos , sushi , sashimi and the likes . Okonomi-yaki is still being served but sadly just no longer prepared right in front of you on a sizzling grill . Also I'm not a big fan of sushi restaurants " hiding " their fish behind the counter away from view . Could be just me being sus though . Lol

    Denise W.

    This is a really cute family ran restaurant. The food is super tasty and authentic. I ordered the Okonomiyaki (Kansai Style), a salmon nigiri and the chicken bento box. Not a lot of places serves Okonomiyaki. It was pretty authentic. I really enjoyed it. The bento box was ok. I really liked the salmon nigiri. Overall, prices were definitely on the higher end. The place was clean and bright when we arrived. It was interesting when we walked in, a little boy (age 6) walked up to us and sat us down at the table. There are plenty of free parking on the side street. Overall, I would recommend trying this place. Note: this place is ran by Japanese people (they really know how to make good, yummy, tasty Japanese food).

    Menu
    Stephanie T.

    Cute little family restaurant is a little gem. It's a smaller restaurant but it definitely gives you a authentic Japanese vibe. The server was wearing traditional Japanese attire and greeted us. The whole experience was nice! Ambiance was good and price was good! We ordered the special of the day sashimi and it was delicious. It was presented on a slab of ice so it was the right temperature upon devouring it. Uni was on the menu as well. I didn't like the green leaf they used in the nigiri and the uni wasn't as sweet as I remembered it to be. Shrimp tempura was my fave! I probably could have inhaled 24 pieces to myself. The batter was so light and crispy! This is a must get! We got Cali roll, Scallop roll, chicken teriyaki and yakisoba all great and the rolls tasted fresh and great quality. I will come back! Try these

    Assorted Sashimi
    PennyandRusty P.

    I don't find myself out in the Dunbar area that frequently but, after an enjoyable visit to MOA in the beginning of September, we stopped by Kuma Japanese Restaurant on Dunbar (across from the Tim Horton's and liquor store). There didn't seem to be many other shops on this street that were still open (guessing that they might eventually turn this block into condos...). This is a fairly small Japanese eatery but had some interesting choices on the menu. The first dish to arrive at our table was the Assorted Sashimi ($21.30 Chef's Choice of 12 pieces). We were actually pretty impressed with the sashimi quality... 2 pieces of wild salmon, 2 pieces of slightly fatty salmon, 2 pieces of tuna, 3 pieces of tako (octopus), 2 pieces of plump scallops, and 4 slices of hokkigai (surf clam). The next dish to arrive at our table was the Spicy Agedashi Tofu ($5.05) - the sauce reminded me of the spicy sauce you get at Korean restaurants. Nice crispness to the exterior of the tofu. We also ordered their Chicken Teriyaki Bento Box ($13.05). While the sashimi and agedashi tofu were a bit slow to come out, the bento box was painfully slow to come out... it was about another 15 minutes after we received our first dishes. We did notice that another party came in after us and received their bento boxes way before we did. On the plus side, the food is actually made quite well. The thing that turned me off a bit was how slow our bento box came out (especially when people who come in after us and order after us receive the same dish before we do).

    Pork okonomiyaki with yakisoba - $18
    Yvonne H.

    First time here and I was really impressed with the atmosphere. It's kind of a small place but they have about 12 tables mostly two persons but could easily be pushed together for more seating. My friend and I came around lunch time and both ordered the pork okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake) with yakisoba which is an extra $2.50. We were super excited for this because we don't have anything like this in Seattle. It took maybe 15-20 minutes to come out and it was sizzling! The first bite of the pancake was a little too salty for me but the yakisoba was really good! Here's what killed it for me though: about half way through the meal I found a blond hair in my okonomiyaki and the waitress seemed completely unapologetic about it. She took it and almost tried to imply that it was my hair because I have short brown/blond hair saying something like it doesn't seemed like "ours". I regret not taking a photo of the hair in the pancake before showing her but I just lost my appetite so easily. Usually hair in my food doesn't disgust me THAT much just because i know humans shed but it was the lack of customer service that disappointed me the most. I will not be returning. In total one okonomiyaki with yakisoba was about $18. They didn't offer to give me a discount or pay for my meal either even though I finished less than half of it. Food looks good but be aware. Also beginning July 1, 2017 they will be raising their prices. I can't imagine paying any more for hairy food.

    Gary W.

    The atmosphere was quiet not like any other restaurant loud. The service could have been a little more something just can't think of the word. They explain in menu for certain items you order would take some time. Which was good because for the first time trying the dish it was yummy and full filling. It's best if you make reservations to get a table or you will be waiting 20 -30 mins depending how busy.

    Takoyaki
    Safa Z.

    This is a really nice little restaurant! The sushi tasted great and the takoyaki was delicious!

    Nabeyaki Udon
    James P.

    Tried the Nabeyaki Udon on a cool, rainy day... OYISHI The broth was very tasty and the tempura were made on the spot. You can taste the difference of freshly made tempura vs. some old and stale premade ones. I just wish it is slightly bigger in volume because I can eat quite a bit, plus it was so good... LOL

    negitoro roll
    Priscilla Y.

    Food is expensive but their okonomiyaki is unlike any other place i've tried. Their rolls are pretty good but a little heavy on the rice meaning I would only return for their specialty. Ordered the unagi roll, negitoro (very little fish inside) and a special roll called sakura roll with spicy tuna and chopped scallop on top. Flavours were pretty decent but the restaurant is very very small. Nice service and worth a try especially if you're tired of waiting for Jethros!

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    7 years ago

    Quality of sushi was five out of five. Absolutely delicious! just a little pricey for what I got. But I would definitely come back!

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    Inside the waiting area before being taken to your seat.
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    Lychee jelly w/ brown sugar syrup, ginger icecream monaka, crown melon + japanese orange
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