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    Oku Izakaya Bar

    4.7 (30 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

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    OKU IZAKAYA BAR ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Oku Izakaya Bar

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    Matcha cocktail and Asahi draft
    Colleen P.

    Best restaurant of our trip! It's not a mystery why this spot was recommended to us by locals (one of whom is a personal chef!). Delicious and fresh fish with generous portions. Best (and largest!) hamachi collar; I'm still thinking about it. Friendliest and most professional service from all of the staff in the restaurant. Open late. Will definitely visit again on my next trip!

    Denise T.

    Great experience. Intimate and cozy atmosphere, friendly staff, fun menu and wonderfully fresh fish. Execution of all dishes were solid, flavour pairings were nothing short of tasty. Would not hesitate to return!

    sweet potato and pork poutine special
    Tony J.

    Izakaya in Gastown, located at the end corner of a building. Has a old school bar feel in terms of the decor. The bar takes up much of the space, and tables of various sizes fill the rest. Not that much seating but the high ceilings help. Busy on a weekend, although sometimes bar seating will free up for the walk-ins. Washrooms are down the stairs from the entrance, while seating is up the stairs. Also has a patio area outside with additional seats. All the staff spoke Japanese. For the food menu, they are known for their temaki or hand rolls. The menu also has a page for sashimi, and then a 3 pages of small plates and shareables. Tried a bunch of the hand rolls and small plates. The hand rolls that are tried were pretty tasty. As for the small plates, their karaage is delicious. Nicely seasoned and very tender chicken on the inside. The guy in charge said it was Nagoya style. The fried okra very good. All the other food was pretty decent. The bill was $65 per person including tax and tips. Definitely not cheap, but not too bad. Would be more if we had gotten drinks or sashimi.

    Sabias L.

    Been here many times and the food is always great. Some standouts we tried are the Yellowtail Hamachi with chimichurri sauce (sauce was very vibrant and added nice acidity to the dish), the poached black cod and the fried edamame. I think sitting at the bar provides the best experience and atmosphere as you feel the energy from kitchen staff and chefs.

    I came to OKU, which is the most popular place right now, alone. It's a lively place.
    Nami N.

    I came here around 7pm on Wed at the recommendation of an acquaintance. I didn't make a reservation, but I was guided to the counter. The counter seat, where I sat with my back turned from the entrance, was uncomfortable and I felt it was not suitable for non-drinkers. So I decided to take out 3 temaki sushi ( Japanese Uni Ikura & Ooba, Scallion Albacore Tuna, and Soy Marinated Yellowfin Tuna Oba), also Tuna Tataki and Ikura Potato. Temaki sushi (Hand-rolled sushi) should not be taken out because dry seaweed became soft and ruined the ingredients. If I had noticed this, I wouldn't have ordered it. Tuna Tataki is good quality Tuna. Ikura potato was a little salty for me. I recommend you to make a reservation and eat in the store.

    Assorted sashimi
    Shiena C.

    This place was soooo good! Came in on a Saturday with a reservation, and we were able to be seated 15 minutes early. Server was quick to take our order and bring out our food. We decided we wanted to order more after our sashimi and hand roll and got 4 nigiris, but unfortunately those took a little longer than expected, around 20 minutes? Quality of fish was delicious, my favorite was the sashimi platter as we got to experience all kinds of fish, and the price was pretty good for the amount you get. Ambience was nice, very lively and felt like a good place to enjoy company with your significant other or with some friends. I would definitely come back! Maybe next time to try their hot dishes.

    Spicy root vegetable
    Ge L.

    Loved all of the dishes we got. My favourite was the yellowtail hamachi and the hand rolls. Everything was so flavourful and great portions. The creamy matcha cocktail was the star of the dinner. The place is small but homey, right in the heart of Gastown. Service is super friendly and accommodating. Would definitely come back!

    Athena

    I wish I had more photos of the food! It's fresh and bright. A beautiful spot to enjoy for any occasion. It's the second year coming for my birthday. Will be back!!

    Joanne V.

    We came here for my sister's birthday two nights ago. My first impression was good because the restaurant looked nice and cozy. Let's start with the good aspect: the service. The servers were extremely friendly and efficient. They gave us a 5% discount and a complimentary ice cream once they learned it was my sister's birthday! Now, let's get to the real deal: their food. As usual, photos on IG and websites are usually deceiving. The only thing I enjoyed were their baby kale salad and the tofu salad. The rest were sub-par. The most disappointing items were the nigiri sushi and temaki sushi. First off, they were HUGE aka not appetizing! I didn't even think the fish tasted good either. Anyway, my top priority is good, quality food and unfortunately this place fell short. They are quite expensive too. Btw, I am very surprised with the positive reviews. Hmm...

    Sophia N.

    THIS IS THE BEST PLACE EVER! Everything we had was spectacular, great service, and cozy intimate setting. When we visited Vancouver we went two nights in a row. The agedashi tofu is amazing and every drink I tried was spectacular. We tried all the flavors of the sours but liked yuzu the best. We liked the matcha martini, the mai tai, and especially the mocktail with alcohol added (that was our favorite, I think we ordered 6 of them).

    Steven L.

    What a great dinner spot; the food is fantastic, and the servers are incredibly enthusiastic about the dishes. Their energy and enthusiasm made the dining experience even more wonderful. I cannot wait to go back!

    Ly W.

    Service was good and plates were changed regularly. It can be a bit pricey depending on what you order and how much you order. We spent around $170 for 2 people with only 1 drink ordered. Food was delicious and the temaki were really fresh. Our favourites were the black cod and the salmon with ikura. The fish in the cold dishes were pretty thick cut and flavour had a nice spice. Flavour complemented very well and they were refreshing and light. The karage had a bitter note and were crunchy outside and soft inside. The yuzu pickled onion were sooooo good. The beef tongue was tender and surprisingly the teriyaki sauce was not as sweet as I expected which was delightful. Definitely a place I would return to but be aware of the dining time limit as this place is quite busy.

    Temaki

    I went to Oku izakaya in Gastown for the first time. Everything was just perfect! The ambient, the food, the service.... I couldn't ask for more. The food was so fresh and was quite unique from other izakaya in town. I would definitely go back again.

    Uni, mackerel and Hokkaido scallop nigiri.

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    1 year ago

    Amazing service and absolutely delicious food. Can't recommend this place enough and would definitely come back again and again.

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    2 years ago

    A delightful authentic Japanese experience!! Vibe was great in there too! Really good food!!

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    1 year ago

    Great food and service. But the restaurant has limited seating so definitely make reservations beforehand

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    Guu with Garlic

    Guu with Garlic

    4.3
    (1.1k reviews)
    2.3 km
    $$

    Guu with Garlic has become one of my favorite Japanese restaurants in Vancouver. It's an energetic…read moreizakaya with a fun atmosphere without feeling over the top. One of the best parts is the ever-changing menu of daily specials alongside the regular menu, so there's always something new to try while still coming back to your favorites. This visit we ordered the shrimp garlic fried rice, Agedashi Nasu, Grilled Squid with Garlic Mayo, and an assortment of sashimi. The shrimp garlic fried rice is an absolute must every time. It's packed with flavor, perfectly seasoned, and somehow manages to be comforting without feeling too heavy. It is a large dish and can easily be shared by 3-4, depending on what else you order. We also love the Agedashi Nasu here with melt-in-your-mouth eggplant wrapped in a light, delicate coating that soaks up the savory broth. Service is always quick and organized, even when the restaurant is busy. Dishes arrive as they're ready, making it easy to share everything around the table, which is exactly how an izakaya experience should feel. If it's your first visit, don't skip the shrimp garlic fried rice, and make sure to check out the daily specials before ordering. They often feature seasonal dishes that aren't available on the regular menu and are well worth trying.

    Maybe it's an American thing to linger and enjoy a dining experience. To stay longer than needed to…read moresoak up the ambiance and give a good moment some extra time for memories. But in other parts of the world the meal is what's important and so is a quick turn around. Guu with Garlic reminded me a lot of the Izakaya restaurants I found under the train lines of Tokyo in many ways, including the amount of time it felt right to stay. The food came out quick, the servers took orders quicker, and the alcohol came out chilled and as nice contrast to the hot food. Looking around and you see the hand written menu on blackboard surfaces on the walls and this feeling of authenticity. The heat of the flames from the kitchen can be felt and seen if you sit at the bar. And the flavors just hit all the right notes. Starting with appetizers, a section izakayas shine at, the first dish we got was their scallop and mayo pizza. With a crispy crunch on the bottom and crust, this reminds you of the flavors of a baked volcano roll or scallop roll you can find in almost any North American sushi restaurant. Just like that dish, it's important to eat it while it's still hot so it doesn't get gross and 느끼 에. Then came the yellowtail tuna "tempura" pieces. Thick pieces of yellowtail tuna flash fried for just the right crisp on the outside with slight pink of the fish inside. It is meaty without being oily or fatty. Great bite. The beef tongue after was interesting. From the color of the sauce it accompanies it you would think it would be heavy in flavor but it is actually light and citrusy. A good cut into the richer tones of the beef tongue. The yaki udon was one of the best I ever had. It was smokey without being overpowering. The beef was thin and tender and balanced well with the mushrooms it also came with. The udon noodles stayed bouncy and chewy which I didn't expect from being grilled. Very tasty and highly recommend this dish. For our final bite we shared a hot stone bowl of their pork and cabbage rice. With the hot stone bowl constantly cooking even after this dish arrived it was imperative to stir the ingredients together constantly for the first two minutes. It allowed for the runny egg to meld with the rice and the crispy texture of some ingredients was a nice bonus. All in all, I loved eating here and if my appetite was bigger I would've tried more on their menu. A solid place to eat with a great atmosphere, if you're looking for delicious food that won't take too much of your time but still lingers in your memories you have to check out Guu with Garlic.

    Photos
    Same decor as 20+yrs ago when this was our go-to place for drinks & snacks!!
    Same decor as 20+yrs ago when this was our go-to place for drinks & snacks!!
    The delicious individual bite of their yellowfin tuna tempura
    The delicious individual bite of their yellowfin tuna tempura
    Una-Meshi

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    Una-Meshi
    Saku

    Saku

    4.5
    (527 reviews)
    2.1 km
    $$

    First time at this Japanese restaurant, and it was really great!…read more Signature Japanese Fried Pork Cutlet Rosu Katsu $27 This time I was smarter and ordered the cut with a good balance of fat and lean meat. The moment I bit into it, it was bursting with juice! The meat was incredibly thick but not dry at all, and the outer skin was crispy like snowflakes. The first bite was amazing; I've never had such a delicious pork cutlet in Shanghai. Curry Pork Cutlet Rosu Curry $29.5 My friend ordered the curry pork cutlet today, and it was surprisingly excellent! The curry flavor was incredibly rich and full-bodied. Wrapped in the crispy pork cutlet and eaten with rice, it was pure carb bliss! Freshly Ground Sesame Powder I have to praise their freshly ground sesame powder; the aroma of the sesame seeds you grinded yourself was a real highlight. * With lemon salt: Refreshing and original, a perfect way to cut through the richness! * With barbecue sauce: Mixed with sesame powder, the flavors develop layer by layer. With two flavors to choose from, it's really hard to stop! I'll definitely come back to try it again next time.

    A really good tonkatsu place to try at Vancouver. Considering there are multiple locations, I was…read moresurprised at the high quality of the Katsu. We got the Rosu Katsu and Tokujyo Rosu Katsu. All have good coating and fried nicely. The Tokujyo does run a bit on the fatty side. Get the Rosu for a leaner cut. All the rice and salad are free refill. I got a green tea and that is also free refill on the hot water. I was able to convert that into a cold refreshing green tea by asking for a cup of ice. Great service, excellent food, and great ambiance.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Zenbu set with refillable soup, rice and salad
    Zenbu set with refillable soup, rice and salad
    Zenbu katsu

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    Zenbu katsu
    Okeya Kyujiro

    Okeya Kyujiro

    4.8
    (44 reviews)
    1.4 km

    I went here for a special occasion dinner. Reservations are highly recommended because they are…read morevery small - 12 diners per sitting and 2 sittings per night. I made reservations about 4 months in advance. Upon arrival, one of the hostesses opened the door for us, and asked us to wait in a very ornate waiting area. We only waited a couple of minutes before another hostess seated us at the main seating area. The space is very dark, and only lit with candles while the rest of the diners trickled in. During that time they take drink orders, which is limited to sake, wine, beer and a few non-alcoholic drinks. Of note, they don't provide a drink menu, so we were a little surprised by the cost - the yuzu sake and the plum wine were $30 each. My non-alcoholic drink was $12, but a fair size. The theatrical portion started a few minutes later than the official start time - closer to 6pm. The shades lifted, the lights turned on, and the chefs introduced themselves. And from that moment on, they immediately went to work preparing our meal. They operate like clockwork to show the ingredients whole to the diners, and then preparing them, and serving them. Soon as the one dish was completed by all the diners, the next round came shortly after. Over 20+ dishes, there was very little wait time in between each. Each time a dish was served, a hostess was there to describe the dish and provided tips on how best to eat it. The food was overall was very good. I thought a few items were very average, most of them were very good, and a select few were truly outstanding. Most of the ingredients are imported from Japan, so I would imagine that it's part of the reason it's so expensive. This is definitely a splurge meal. I think half the diners at our sitting was celebrating a birthday. On the most part, the food is very good, watching the chefs at work is part of the entertainment, and the service is excellent. It's not some place I could afford to go to often, but glad to do it at least this one time.

    I made a reservation at Okeya Kyujiro for my partner's 40th birthday, and he had the best time…read more Honestly, it was one of the most memorable omakase experiences I've had in Vancouver. Okeya Kyujiro is a Michelin one-star theatrical omakase restaurant, and when they say theatrical, they mean it! From the moment you're welcomed by smiling ushers in kimono to the closing tea ceremony, every movement feels intentional, precise, and elevated. The ambiance is serene and anticipatory. At the start, guests sit in silence as a black screen conceals the chefs. You see their shadows moving behind it. A bell rings, the screen lifts, and the performance begins. Dinner is a 25+ course experience priced at $325 per person. It's undeniably a splurge, but for a milestone celebration, it feels justified. The menu is seafood-forward, with many ingredients flown in from Japan. Each ingredient is presented before preparation, then carefully assembled and served directly from chef to guest. Courses arrive one by one, never rushed. The service team moves seamlessly in the background, refilling water and attending to drinks (available as an add-on) without disrupting the flow. The finale is a matcha ceremony, whisked in front of you with the same quiet precision that defines the evening. When the final sip is taken, the bell chimes once more, the chefs and staff bow, and the screens close. It was a beautifully choreographed dining experience, perfect for marking a special moment, and one I'd gladly return to for the next celebration.

    Photos
    Inside the waiting area before being taken to your seat.
    Inside the waiting area before being taken to your seat.
    Lychee jelly w/ brown sugar syrup, ginger icecream monaka, crown melon + japanese orange
    Lychee jelly w/ brown sugar syrup, ginger icecream monaka, crown melon + japanese orange
    A5 wagyu sukiyaki

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    A5 wagyu sukiyaki
    Guu Original Thurlow

    Guu Original Thurlow

    4.1
    (841 reviews)
    1.5 km
    $$

    Found this little Izakaya spot while visiting Vancouver and it was such a great experience. It's as…read moreauthentic as it gets and reminds me a lot of Japan when I visited in 2025. This place gets busy, so I highly recommend reserving a table online (via OpenTable) but we did show up early to see if there was walk-in seating available. Luckily, we did get the last 2 seats at the bar. The staff are so friendly and cheery. They greet customers that come in and thank every customer when they leave. People who haven't been to an izakaya may think it's loud and noisy, but the point of izakayas is they're supposed to be vibrant, high energy, and filled with cheerful chatter. Think of a tapas-style pub/bar for people to unwind and gather to chat after a long day at work. I loved the atmosphere, as it's casual, entertaining, and lively. The food was great and I couldn't think of a dish I didn't like. The sashimi were so fresh and high quality. Of course they use freshly grated wasabi too. The hanger steak was cooked perfectly and super tender and flavorful. The saba mackerel is grilled to perfection and reminds me of the ones I ate in Japan. I'm not a big fan of bonito but the yaki udon was so tasty, I still ate it with the bonito flakes on top! I would love to come back or go to their Toronto (closer to me) location next!

    I came here for dinner on a weeknight with two foodie friends of mine. Said friends lived in Japan…read morefor over a decade and they've dined here often in the past, saying it's very "authentic" Izakaya and it reminds them of their past life in Japan (which they miss a lot). Me, I know nothing about Izakaya or what is or isn't authentic Japanese cuisine, so this review is coming from someone with zero knowledge or expectation of any specific foods or experiences. Despite it being a weeknight, the place was packed. It was good that we had a reservation. There was a couple in line before me and they were walk-ins, and there were no available seats for them. I noted how small this place was, and crowded, with the tables close together and a long bar with a counter and barstools there (also close together). Our reserved table was right by the front door - literally, - so every time the door opened, we got a gust of cold air (and it was a cold February night when we were there). I kept my coat on. Truth be known, I was not very comfortable. Also, it was loud. Very loud. I like how the staff shout Japanese greetings to diners whenever they enter but between the frequent shouts and the sheer volume of chatter from all the diners, all sitting close together in close proximity, it was kinda hard to hear what my friends were saying during our dinner. That said, the environment was super vibrant and, again, my friends said this was very typical of an Izakaya in Japan. Food-wise, I have no idea what my friends ordered. The menu was primarily available by way of a QR code and I had no idea what the dishes were, so I deferred to my friends' knowledge. But I can attest that all the dishes were DELICIOUS. We had some sort of Japanese street food "pancakes" (they were wonderful). We had some sort of stirfry beef with noodles (amazing). We had two types of sashimi (omg both were so fresh and so so good!). We had a few other dishes that I can't recall, but I remember I loved them. So.... the food here was GREAT. Service was also attentive which I hadn't expected, being as busy as the restaurant was. I really liked this place but I'll probably go back in the summertime when the weather is nicer as I was cold there, and I'd dine at an off-time, when the volume wasn't so loud. (I'm too old for the loudness!).

    Photos
    Guu Original Thurlow
    Fried pork belly
    Fried pork belly
    Eel with rice

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    Eel with rice

    Oku Izakaya Bar - sushi - Updated August 2026

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