Pidgin is awesome and what a great addition to the Vancouver restaurant scene! Last Saturday was my 4th time eating at Pidgin. Why haven't I reviewed it after the 1st, 2nd or 3rd times? Well, the first time I went was within the first month of them opening and of course there are always going to be little things here and there that are still being sorted out. Secondly, I forgot. I'm pretty bad at keeping up with writing yelp reviews, but that being said, Pidgin deserves a few good words! The place looks great. Sure, the walk in can be *interesting*, but once you're inside we got a warm greeting and the decor is really cool! The main difference I found from my first visit to now is the portion size. On Saturday between 6 of us we ordered the set menu, two of the $55 and two of the $40 menus (our server suggested that would be enough! I think the difference is the items you get off the menu. They don't have a separate menu listing what each has so it's a bit confusing) and it was so much food. I think we tried everything on the menu! At first the humpback shrimp dish and then the raw scallop dish came out and the portion sizes were decent, but then they started getting bigger and bigger. We had also ordered two orders of the special quail dish and it was over the top. Among the 6 of us we have a couple big eaters so we were surprised that we weren't able to finish the last couple of dishes! My favourites are the oyster shooters (really refreshing and love the horseradish kick! It's great to start with), the duck 3 ways and the chicken wings. What I really miss is the cooked scallops with brussel sprouts and polenta. We were sad when they told us it was no longer on the menu, but like others, were explained that it was due to inconsistency in scallop size - makes sense. I've had all 3 desserts before and they are fab. They did change the meringue to be passion fruit instead of yuzu and I love it! The flavour is perfect! Love Pidgin and can't wait to keep going back for more! Tip: As I said before, go with the set menu (you have to order 2 min of each set) and if you are 6 people, then it's perfect, just order 2 of the $40 and 2 of the $55 and it's plenty! read more

When you make a reservation for 8 pm and are still waiting at 8:30 pm What then is the purpose of having made reservations? A well-run restaurant would not have this issue. Furthermore, we weren't updated on how long we are expected to wait read more

It's my worst experience in vancouver! My husband and I tried the prix frixe. Sashimi was too salty. Pan roasted halibut was raw. I really doubt the food safety. I had severe stomachache, vomiting and diarrhea after I got home. Definitely, we will never go back again read more

Our last night in Canada and oh boy if were we lucky!. Literally next door to to our Airbnb apartment is this beautiful restaurant. I guess the menu would be best described as fusion gastropub with definite Korean influences. We started with a couple oyster shots followed by the fried chickens wings. Then we moved on to the pork belly rice bowl and ended with the beef strip loin. Everyone hit the spot in terms of flavor, creativity and presentation! They also have a cocktail flight that you shouldn't miss and the service was outstanding as well. A perfect end to an amazing trip!" read more

PiDGiN - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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A group of 4 of us ate here on July 9 and it was a fantastic experience. The service was excellent and our server offered great recommendations on both food and drink choices. We had 10 of the dishes, a bottle of wine and a few drinks each and left feeling full and very content. The protestors were there when we arrived at 6:30 but were gone shortly after. Seems they only stick around for about and hour or so. Some minor booing from them when we walked in the front door but nothing else. Overall a great experience. read more

These guys do Asian fusion right! The restaurant is located in the dodgy part of town but that's shouldn't scare anyone away. The food is well worth the visit. Nothing super fancy about the dishes or the plating, the flavors just work. A successful borrowing of Japanese, Korean and French flavors. An example would be their foie gras unagi bowl... just absolutely delicious. read more

PiDGiN - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Great restaurant. Even better service. Visiting from the States for the new year with the family and enjoyed one of several amazing dinners at Pidgin. Our table wasn't ready - so after drinks at the bar - with our kids (god I love every country other than the USA when it comes to alcohol control) - they seated us at the coveted chefs table. After a few cocktails, tasting menu and a few extras - adults and children left VERY impressed with the experience. The poached salmon, ribeye cap and mushrooms, oyster shooter and Korean rice cake were awesome. Bummed we didn't get to try the pork belly rice bowl :-). Another time. That you Pidgin for a great evening. read more

I ordered chef's menu, the 7 courses one, the desert and Terrine are very good， others are little bit salty

We decided to dine here, not because it made the front page news because of the protesting, but because we wanted to try this new restaurent in the heart of the real east vancouver. Upon arriving, the windows were covered in cardboard because I heard the protesters where shining flashlights and taking pictures of them while they ate. I suppose it could be your paparazzi moment if you really want to experience that. The service was exceptional, they have still or sparkling water for free. Now for the food, it's tapas so 2 of us shared the chicken wings, sea urchin, scallops, steelhead and potatoes. The scallops tasted perfect and the sea urchin seemed as fresh as it can be, creamy, melt in your mouth like butter and I don't usually like sea urchin. The steelhead was good, reminded me of marinated tuna sashimi. As for the chicken wings, they were good, crispy, hot and tasty, but Phnom Phen chicken wings are better, but that's comparing against a perfect 10. The only disappointing dish was the potatoes, not what I expected, it was shredded semi-raw potatoes in salmon roe. If I had a choice I would have fried it up and made a good hashbrown. Surpisingly I was not stuffed, because most plates were very small. I could have ate more if I wanted to, but I guess it's quality rather than quantity here. Overall, a good place to eat and share food, it's not a 5/5 because most plates were $10-$14 range so it's quite expensive for what you get, hence, I can see the locals not being able to afford it. When you do visit, walk in groups, don't leave valuables in the car and park in a very lit place. read more

My girlfriend and I were looking forward to trying this place because of all the publicity, needless to say the place and ambiance was great, service was good but the food was very disappointing, we tried the Humpback shrimps $12 (there were 6 tiny raw shrimps in the plate which was hard to find) and the Calamari $9 (nothing to write Mama about) and two Mojitos $26, the food was so so, and the drinks overpriced. We left the restaurant still very hungry, you won't see me coming back to this place. read more

You'd think that the Pidgin experience would merit the controversy about the restaurant's part in the gentrification of the neighbourhood. And while the food was an interesting concoction of ingredients that shows the chefs know what they are doing, the overall experience was just "Meh...". The service was top notch, and the room decor is simple and elegant. And the washrooms are extremely clean. That's the good news. The bad news is that, as others have mentioned in their reviews. the food and drink is extremely overpriced and the portions are tiny. Like "I can't believe I just paid $12 for 3 Bruxelles sprouts" tiny. This restaurant has pushed the tapas thing to an all-time low: The smallest portions it can get away with for the top end of the price scale. All 8 of us agreed that the best thing to do upon leaving Pidgin is to go grab a burger for a real meal. read more

My friend took me here for my 21st birthday, and we had the most lovely time and meal. Our server was excellent, he was knowledgeable and gave great advise. We got the brussel sprouts (10/10), lamb wontons (amazing 10/10), Korean rice cakes (nice texture, great flavor in the sauce 10/10), pork belly bowl (a little too rich/oily for me so must give it 8/10, still a great flavor). Overall, I would not hesitate to go back, it was one of the only restaurants where I have been impressed by every dish, but still satisfied from the one before. Great wine + drink selection as well! read more

We came here for happy hour and both got penicillin and shared an order of fish cakes. The drinks were good but there was barely any meat in the fish cakes. We felt like we were eating fried batter. The tables are squished together so I'd not recommend this for an intimate date. read more

The first thing that struck me about Pidgin is the interior design. The space is absolutely beautiful and the atmosphere is very comfortable. We tried a few dishes, some of which were outstanding (Salmon feature, chocolate fritters) and some which were a little disappointing (potatoes with seaweed butter). The cocktails were also fantastic, and I enjoyed the opportunity to sample draught Soju. It's a real shame that the professional poverty activists have chosen to target this place, as it holds real hope of helping revitalize the area. read more

Had a fabulous dinner last night. Such beautiful, clean, crisp room! The cocktails are delightful...I love the one eyed samurai! Watermelon slushie bits sooo good! The oyster shots are super tasty and refreshing. Best chicken wings ever. We also had the mushroom salad and the pork belly bowl. We enjoyed every dish and will be back to try more. Service was impeccable. Really a great experience. read more

Where to start... It is an interesting combinations of Asian meets French However we only ordered Octopus And a cocktail The atmosphere is what your paying for and it's is definitely wonderful Octopus was also delicious ... it is a bit salty however it is definitely very fresh. Cocktail was an art piece and tasted great read more

Went to Pidgin the support a Crosstown entrepreneur trying to make a go of it. Thought I was doing them a favour, wrong! Place was packed and hopping. Had late sitting and very late dinner. Small, sharing plates, tapas or dim sum style. Had four dishes and cocktails. Scallops and pulled pork were excellent, as was a mushroom mix with two halved eggs sort of poached, sort of boiled. Not sure what they did to prepare them, should have paid more attention, but they were delicious. Vancouver is developing a nice style of continental mixed with multiple asian influences, that is definitely the case here with the asian influence towards Japanese. Decor was very minimalist cool, there a great long bar that was clearly a desination for hipsters, and I loved the metallic menus which stick to the metallic walls by magnets. Would definitely go back, this is supple, light food, not for those looking for a heavy winter bistro style meal. Heard they are serving the Granville Island sake (which we buy direct) which I think is a great touch, and while we didn't have sake it would definitely match up well with their meals. Very much recommend, but book ahead as they were packed! read more

* Beautiful atmosphere, great décor - very clean, crisp and welcoming interior. * Exceptional service, very friendly and knowledgeable staff; leisurely bar service * Strikingly pretentious and fun menu with fantastic sounding culinary combinations - definitely something (small) for everyone with a penchant for adventure. * Quite pricy for small plates, which turned out to be rather bland. Consistent with the adage: always leave them wanting more (we actually wanted more food, more alternatives, and more of a sense of value-for-money) * I would suggest eating your main meal before going, or plan on picking up something on the way home. read more

THE HIPPEST PLACE IN TOWN. This is a bold statement but from my humble opinion, this is as cool as it gets (interior, service, food, drinks) at least in this season, and hopefully it will continue on. The menu (including the cocktail menu) is very inventive and interesting. To be honest, I had some reservations about the menu since it is Japanese, Korean and French fusion with some Chinese elements. I am Korean and I was afraid that it could be a disappointing half-way done imitation of the Asian food that I love and know very well of. But regardless, I have been very interested in this restaurant since the opening so I decided to give it a try. And I'm gald I did. I can safely say that PiDGiN lives up to the hype, and exceeded my expectation. From the moment I stepped in, I knew the experience would be awesome. As for cocktails, we had One Eyed Samurai and The Deighton. I would give 5/5 for both. They were complex and refined with depth. Very tasty and smooth. I would highly recommend the One Eyed Samurai. I cannot wait to try the other ones as well. As for starters, we ordered the Oyster Shot with apple and horseradish 3, Humpback Shrimp Toast, daikon slaw, brioche 3. I am not crazy about oysters usually but this combination made it amazing. I could have had 10 tonight. Highly recommended. Share Plates we had: Beef Brisket, miso gorgonzola crust, beets 18. This dish is phenomenal. The brisket is so tender and flavorful; it melts in your mouth. The beet puree has this smokiness that compliments the beef perfectly. Fois Gras rice bowl 20. This was a disappointment for me. The Fois Gras itself had amazingly soft texture and flavor but I didn't think that the combination with rice and the unagi sauce was cohesive. The unagi sauce did not compliment the fois gras and the rice did not tie in the whole dish. Rather the opposite. And the daily special: 30 day dry aged beef tartare with smoked egg yolk, salsa verde, chips 16. This was amazing. They are considering putting this into their regular menu. I hope they do. The smoked egg yolk just brings the whole dish together and makes the beef tartare taste so amazing. The other dishes that were recommended were: mushrooms, sugar snap peas, egg, soy yuzu brown butter 12 pork belly rice bowl, asian pear kimchi, bamboo, quail egg 12 smoked ling cod, lentils, clams, bacon dashi veloute 21 raw scallops, pomegranate red curry oil, daikon, green apple 15 Overall, the food came out very quickly and the service was excellent. Great design and ambiance with creative and well executed menu makes PiDGiN a success. We will for sure be back to try the above dishes and the rest of the cocktails! read more

We came here November 2018 for a birthday dinner before a hockey game and had the best experience. (Yes I'm a procrastinator but the fact that I remember everything we had almost a year ago says a lot!) The pork belly bowl was amazing--I still remember how the belly just fell apart and melted in my mouth (how pork belly *should* be). We also started with a scallop appetizer and a cauliflower appetizer that were both just perfect. And of course the cocktails hit the spot and were a perfect start to a perfect dining experience! Our server, Patrick was so sweet, personable, and accommodating as we were rushing over to the game as soon as we finished. I'll always remember this restaurant and if we return to Vancouver we will definitely come back here. Five stars all around! read more

Came here while on a work trip in the middle of the week so give it a pass in terms of "buzz". Overall I thought it was good value for money. We had the set menu which worked out well. Definitely the most appetizing kale that i have ever had. Pros: Interesting dishes Very friendly staff Quick service Cons: Smallish menu Weird area (its close to down town but on the dodgier end of the street) interesting but weak drinks read more

What a place. The neighborhood is a bit sketchy but it has improved and I just took a cab late. This place is hipster central but I didn't mind. If you prefer a server in a tie over someone with jeans a man-bun then look elsewhere. Service was attentive without being overbearing. They serve dry aged beef! Try the tasting menu and take advantage of happy hour drinks if you can. read more

Don't let the plating deceive you. As a cook in Vancouver i was utterly disappointed in the food that they served me. Did they even stop to taste what they were serving? The first let down of the night was their kolharbi dish that was supposed to their play on a Chinese dish called dan dan mein. First, let me educate you about dan dan mein. Dan dan mein is a traditional sichuan dish; it is a spicy peanut sauce with noodles. The dish that pidgin served had no peanut sauce or spice to it at all and it was just plain. Second the chicken wings, the deep fry chicken wing itself was pretty good. Sadly, it got ruined by this terrible strange tasting sauce. I guess it was their rendition of an asian bbq sauce. My friend and I agreed that it would have been great dry. The general theme of the night was poor sauce. The flavors of the sauce weren't well though through. We also had the duck and lamb dish too. It was more disappoint at this moment because the lamb and duck were perfectly cooked but the sauce was just abhorrent. The sauce on the lamb was just oyster sauce. Honestly, how lazy is that? TLDR: Don't go here. read more

I really like the ambiance here. The restaurant itself is really well designed and looks beautiful. The food itself is well executed (technique) and plated nicely; the flavours of most dishes were too light or not interesting enough. The one dish that really stood out for us on both visits (and the reason for our return) was the sea urchin with cauliflower puree. The desserts sounded interesting but tasted mediocre. read more

My new favourite in Vancouver. We had the prix fixe, which I highly recommend for parties of four or more to really sample the goods. We also managed to score the chef's table, which was the best vantage point for watching all the yummy plates roll out of the kitchen. Reminds me a lot of my other favourite in NYC, Traif. :) read more

PiDGiN - Mushrooms and snap peas never tasted so good... - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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I have been here on a few occasions. Like another restaurant I have reviewed, this restaurant has a lot of hype, and has been regarded as one of the top restaurants in Vancouver. The last time I came here I ordered the tasting menu. One of the most impressive things about this place is that they were accommodating. We wanted the tasting menu but were intrigued by another menu item -- they ended up catering the tasting menu to us, and adjusted things to include the additional dish we wanted. I was definitely thoroughly impressed by this lack of pretentiousness, which I have seen in other restaurants. Most restaurants are quite unaccommodating when it comes to requests like this; in fact, it was the waiter who suggested the change, as opposed to us asking for it. Having said all that, the food was also phenomenal and incredibly inventive. read more

I thought this place was excellent. The food was very creative (and very delicious)! The service was outstanding and very low key. We had: - Oyster Shooters - Rutabega "dan dan" (favorite) - Mushrooms - Shishito peppers - Gnocchi (second favorite) - Lamb belly (SO rich) - Lemon meringue All of the food was absolutely perfectly executed and beautifully prepared. The staff was extremely courteous. I also thought prices were quite reasonable given the quality! read more

A pleasant and professional reception was quickly drowned out by the booming Bacchus voice of our waiter. He incidentally used to work for Bacchus restaurant . . . has recently bought a home in Indian Arm with his wife . . . and his imposing monologue went on and on all about his life experiences for all to hear and left me with a headache and I don't get headaches! This waiter needs to learn from management how to keep his conversations table side versus booming out a constant sermon for everyone in his section to hear. The appetizers are more substantial that the mains, the starter chicken wings were delightful. Their smoked cod main was tremendously small sized and the main squab was 2 mouthfuls at best. This restaurant is located in the heart of Downtown Vancouver's homeless drug dealing district. I was pan handled twice, local living passersby made it known they were not happy with this restaurant and we were relieved to find our car not broken into. Sadly disappointed by Air Canada's En Route magazine write up that inspired our visit. Another Trip Advisor reviewer wrote, ' . . . food is average at best and expensive at most. Small portions which leaves you hungry to stop at the neighborhood Tinstletown foodcourt to fill up. Worth a visit at best if you are tired of the usual suspects. Bottom line, skip it. Not really worth the type. . .' we sadly agree. p.s. if you charge $ 12.00 for a martini and spill it upon service Pidgin wait staff please . . . have the class to offer to redo the drink. read more

I had high expectations coming here. I came here around when they first opened. It was a beautiful restaurant but really not of my taste. A lot of the ingredients were fancy and delicacies but their choices of preparing them were questionable. I am a huge fan of foie gras. I ordered the rice bowl with foie gras and it was just weird. The flavors didn't go together and the foie was overcooked. I had to ask myself "wth am I eating" I also had the fried chicken which wasn't special. Also had the scallop with apple appetizer... These two ingredients go very well together but, the scallop came out fairly warm for a cold dish. Also had another entree... Don't remember what it was (not a good sign that I don't remember) It was about 35% capacity when I came in, and the service was slow. I do want to go back to give it another try... The menu changes with the seasons. Hopefully I can give more stars next time around. read more

Pidgin is a foodie haven, for those who are avoiding pretentious ambiance for a restaurant where the food is the focus. Based on share plates its a really great restaurant for 3-4 people to explore 8-10 dishes. Some highlights: - The Oyster shoot was refreshing and tasted like summer - Brussel Sprouts - perfectly charred complemented with a miso aioli type sauce - Pork Belly Rice Bowl -I would go in just to have one of these myself. Comfort food - Duck - crispy and lovely flavour - Shishito Peppers - salty, crispy, soft, a little burnt - amazing textures - And lovely cocktails and selection of sake. A great food date restaurant. read more

Overpriced and underwhelming. Really had high hopes for this place. Overall the food was salty and lacking. The pork belly over rice was decent but they kinda screwed it up with the sauce. Pork belly was also 90% fat , 10% meat Can't say I recommend this place read more

PiDGiN is a fantastic spot in Gastown for a great evening spent with delicious food and amazing tasting drinks! My visit came as an impromptu experience, I realized quickly after sitting down and ordering my favourite go to drink, an Old Fashioned cocktail, I should not have waited as long as I had to have my first visit here. I can not rave enough about the menu. The oyster shots with apple and horseradish has come highly recommended and was a great intro (Order two each, you will want a second!) The raw scallops with pomegranate, red curry oil, daikon and green apple had fantastic flavour balance and my favourite was the parisienne gnocchi with radishes, radish green pistou and buttermilk ricotta. The staff provided friendly and upbeat service It was a short visit but one I will ensure happens again! read more

Stopped by Pidgin for dinner one evening and was extremely pleased with my experience. From the food to the drinks, everything was executed very well. "Dan dan" noodle salad: Light and fragrant, this one of my favorites of the night. Pork belly bowl: A generous portion of pork belly topped with an egg. The pork belly itself was the perfect amount of fat. So rich and delicious. Also definitely worth a try. Sticky rice cake: I think the best way to describe this one would be a cross between the typical Korean street snack and an Italian pork ragu pasta. Basically what normally would've been pasta was replaced with the ddukkbokki. While I thought this was super interesting and loved the texture of the ddukbokki, I found it a little too salty for my tastes. Duck: not bad, but probably the weakest of everything we ordered. The duck was done well and came with a sweet sauce, but I wasn't blown away. Dessert was some sort of honey panna cotta. While solid, I was also rather unimpressed by it; the flavors were rather typical and weren't as creative as that of some of the entrees we had; however, I did like the crunch of the hazelnuts juxtaposed with the smooth textures of the ice cream. Drinks: they have a normal cocktail menu as well as a few interesting specials made by a guest bartender. Would also recommend trying these. Overall, a very solid meal with a few standout dishes. read more

Wow wow wow. We had an 8-course tasting menu and it was so delicious. Our favourites were the trout (perfectly cooked and crisp delicious skin!) and we loved the mushrooms, egg and snap peas appetizer. The homemade pickles were a nice touch too. My watermelon tequila drink was awesome, not too tart but refreshing. Dinner was $110 plus tax and tip and was worth every penny. The service was excellent on a Monday night! Can't wait to go back. Also they didn't even blink an eye and were very accommodating to my nut allergy. read more

PiDGiN - All the yummy mushrooms, soy marinated egg and snap peas - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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I love every aspect of this place. It's clean and neat. The ambience is very casual yet chic. Catails are all made from scratch as far as I know and they are very enjoyable. It's a tapas style place but portions are not too shabby and they are amazingly delicious. I have tried at least two third of their menu including happy hour menu and they melt my heart. Their happy hours are very unique and price is impressive. If I can, I would go there at least once a week. I am addicted! ! Their friendly service is no question. read more

Went here for dinner tonight to try it out. The decor of the restaurant is gorgeous and very clean looking. PiDGin is a sharing menu type of restaurant, you will need to order around 4-6 dishes between two people. The food was delicious... Grilled octopus - good, not chewy at all, good flavours when you mix everything together. Chicken wings - amazing! A must try. They are gluten free, they use potato flour for the breading. The sauce they use is sooo good, I wish it came with more. Fois gras rice bowl - very rich, just melts in your mouth. Pork belly rice bowl - this has a sweet taste to it but is also good. Meringue - literally the best dessert I think I ever had! I want more just talking about it. The staff are very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu, they also describe the food to you as they bring it to your table. I just loved the vibe here! Can't wait to go back :) read more

Nice trendy place on the outskirts of Gastown. A group of us came here to catch up one evening, there were 4 of us so we got to order quite a few dishes. Everything was quite good, but nothing really WOWED us. We ordered the Gnochi, Halibut, Fried Chicken Wings, Dan Dan Noodle Salad, Veal, and the Oyster Shot. The flavours were definitely there, with some unique flavor profiles, particularly in the Dan Dan Noodle Salad. Our favorite was the Oyster Shot, we ordered 1 round to start and ended up liking it so much that we finished with another round (only reason being: 'lets get another round since we probably won't be back again'). The service was good but nothing special. Overall, seems like a place that is trying to do much while not excelling at any particular item. Wasn't disappointed in any way but probably won't be coming back. read more

This was a lucky find. My girlfriend and I were visiting Vancouver and walking around Gastown during a outdoor concert event. We stopped for a nice appetizer and a beer at Chill Winston, and asked the server for a dinner recommendation. He recommended Pidgin without hesitation. The experience at Pidgin didn't disappoint. We each got the prix fixe option and went on a fun culinary ride that explored the nexus between Japanese and European cuisines. Every dish was well flavorful, delicate and balanced. To make things even better, they kicked in some freebies as I was eating there on my birthday. Service was definitely a plus. read more

Went for a night out with the wife. Lots of hype but well worth the visit to the sketchy part of town. We had the prix fixe menu. The oysters shots were amazing! Mushroom dish simple but delightful! As the waiter said the duck was transcending! We are looking forward to our next visit! read more

Fantastic evening shared with 3 friends. We ordered the $55 tasting menu...it was extraordinary! By the third course two of us had to take a break as we were overwhelmed by the serving sizes! I think 4 plates would have been sufficient instead of the six we were served. The service was good with knowledgeable staff and the decor was simple and modern. Overall lovely experience...well worth the visit! read more