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    Samurai Japanese Restaurant

    3.3 (304 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 11:00 pm

    Order Samurai Japanese Restaurant Takeout or Delivery

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    SAMURAI JAPANESE RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

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

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    the front of the restaurant
    Jeff W.

    3.5. Great prices and nice presentation but some of the fish was hit or miss, large cuts but less quality. Clean and nice service and the vibe was great. This is not high end sushi but you'll be full and generally happy. Worth a try!

    Special House Roll (Full) ($15.95)
    Michelle W.

    There are rolls and then there are ROLLS. Samurai's Special House Roll (half: $8.95; full: $15.95) falls into the latter category with its gargantuan size. For real, you may not be able to eat one in one bite because it is stuffed with imitation crab, tuna, salmon, tamago, and avocado. I consider myself to be a bottomless pit at times, but even four pieces can be considered a meal (good bang for your buck!). Given how packed these rolls are, they may fall apart as you pick them up or bite into it, but I do think the rice to filling ratio is appropriate here to fully savour each component. So why 4 stars as opposed to 5? I've ordered from Samurai countless times - both for dine-in and for takeout - but the other menu items don't appeal to me as much as the Special House Roll. Granted, I've only tried the Manhattan Roll ($7.50), Alaska Roll ($6.95), SSSR Roll ($6.95), Chopped Scallop Cone ($6.25), Seafood Salad ($11.95), and Nabeyaki Udon ($15.50), which is but a fraction of the menu items, but I've truthfully enjoyed them at other places more. Finally, I would recommend ordering takeout because Samurai itself is quite small and there doesn't seem to be any AC. The restaurant has been very efficient with my orders, with my most recent ones being less than 15 minutes. Give it a try if you'd like to see these giants up close and personal!

    Aburi (torched) sushi were tasty and done well. You can make any sushi "aburi" according to your liking.
    Kevin C.

    In the middle of the bustling Davie Village, Samurai Japanese Restaurant is quite hard to find given its small store front. I was recommended here by my friend in Vancouver. After a long day of walking around, I stopped by for dinner (visited March 2020). I have long been informed that Vancouver has the best sushi in Canada. Samurai's prices and quality would definitely be 5-star with Toronto's standards (may be 4 in Vancouver given the intense competition). I had the Chirashi as my main course, Takoyaki (comes with x6 per 1 order), torched (aburi) sushi x2, and 1 set of tempura. With all these, costs around $35 with tax. The tax here at Vancouver is so much lower than Toronto. A similar dinner would have been $50ish around GTA. The food was affordable for sure. This is one of those where I can order as much food as I like without feeling pressured by the prices. The Chirashi and sushi were fresh. Aburi sushi were torched well. My Chirashi bowl contained all kinds of fish and were quite satisfying. This restaurant is low-key but has excellent quality/pricing. The menu had such variety that I wanted to try everything. It's not necessarily high-class but definitely a great sushi option in Downtown Vancouver if you don't want the fancy sushi dinners. The location is perfect, I'd recommend a leisure stroll along Davie Street afterwards.

    Beef teriyaki takeout
    Christina L.

    This is not the most amazing Japanese food in Vancouver, but for the price, taste, variety, and quantity, I feel like it deserves 4 stars! I love that they do a bunch of grilled foods like salmon cheek, squid, and veggies. The menu has something for everybody. The udon noodle is chewy and tasty, and the teriyaki is generous in size. The tuna belly sashimi is a good deal compared to most restaurants. The restaurant is tiny so I usually do takeout. My favourite is the grilled squid and salmon kama, and my corgi puppy LOVES the salmon skin so I think he would actually give this place a five star rating. I've been coming here for years, and the staff is always friendly!

    Chelsey H.

    Want that cheap oversized, too big to fit into your mouth Vancouver sushi? Samurai is notorious for that. There are 3 locations called Samurai and 1 called Bonzai in Richmond but they're all linked. This one is linked to the Fraser Street location (which is my favourite of them all). Came here for some late night eats and it was busy! This Samurai actually has wait staff and proper seating vs. the other locations in Vancouver. I ordered the Aburi set and a yam tempura roll. You can never go wrong with a yam tempura roll here, in fact it may just be my favourite in all of Vancouver because of its consistency, the slightly warm yam and the portion size. The Aburi set was a bit of a let down but I thought I would try it because I had never seen it on a Samurai menu. It was seared tuna and salmon on rice, but there was no fancy sauce, and was really bland so I wouldn't recommend it. I would suggest getting any of their rolls though. They'll big too big to fit in your mouth in one bite and they have tons of ingredients, though likely low quality... but if you're hankering for a sushi fix, this will hit your spot.

    Giant house roll and spider roll
    Anna L.

    I came here on a Sunday afternoon and it was busy but we were seated right away. The sizes here for some items are HUGE! The house roll was the most enormous sushi roll I had ever seen. We should've gotten a half order but we thought it would be normal sized. I attached a picture below. It's almost purely crab meat and just a little bit of salmon, tuna and rice. The crab meat wasn't that good to me. It felt like it had too much mayo but my mom loved it. Because of that I didn't like the house roll. We also got the tuna and salmon sashimi. The slices were extremely thick and large! The salmon was pretty good but the tuna was too soft for me to enjoy. Maybe it's just the type of tuna but I thought it was just ok and tasted a little fishy. The prices are super cheap and with large portions. For four people it was only $52 and we couldn't even finish the food. The servers are also very friendly! Would recommend for cheap lunch spot.

    Aburi Sushi Set-$8.95 Rainbow Roll-$9.95
    Teresa L.

    I visited here to get cost-effective sashimi and sushi from time to time. There were always people lining up before COVID-19, so I usually prefer take-out. Last time I ordered Aburi Sushi Set and Rainbow Roll to go. Both were delicious and worth the price. Aburi could be better for dining in, as it was a little cold and hard.

    Lunch treat
    Simon B.

    Return visit a year onwards. Coming to Samurai sushi on Davie occasionally for a few years, nearly 12 months has passed since we were last in. It was late afternoon and Samurai was quiet, no line ups, we were seated promptly and ordered straight away, food arrived a short time later. My biking companion was new to Japanese style food so ordered a teriyaki chicken combination bento box for 12.95. It was a LOT of food, and he couldn't quite 'get there', passed over the miso soup to me (it wasn't very flavourful or hot, I didn't consume it either. He liked his tempura prawns, veggies greasy said he). Couldn't get brown rice though he did try, server's language skills notwithstanding. Accompanying sushi roll was ok. Ate around the chicken, leaving some. Big portions said he, waaay big, okay taste for the most part. My CHIRASHI SASHIMI bowl was 4 bucks dearer, and stuck to the basics. I WAS allowed to have brown rice. And a tiny serve of TAMARI (gluten free) Rice a tad gluggy. Fish NOT as good as past visits. Raw is a curious beast innit? Every flaw is magnified, nowhere to hide. Tuff Tako, stringy sashimi, quality slipping, nothing stood out, though some components ( tobiko / shrimp/ scallop tiny cubes) were ok. Down a notch in quality based on yesterday's experience. Portion sizes for protein still B I G, but size isn't everything. Definately NOT where sashimi is concerned, and THIS one earned a 2.8 rating on the yelpmeter. Payment process was curious. Different server approached the table with a mobile machine and we inquired if CASH was ok? She seemed dissapointed to have to count my friend's coins? My 100$ note was taken with a 'snatching' motion. Not a lotta hospo goin' on this occasion. Parking on 1100 block Davie St. in Vancouver's west end is always a challenge, EVEN ON BICYCLE ! (We chained em to a designated stand some ways from the restaurant). Overall, a bare passing grade, C minus in the old money. Rounded up to THREE stars. pics to follow in due course

    Ten piece sashimi
    James C.

    #204 Been coming here for years, reasonable price and larger portions than most places. Small but comfortable place. Leave your umbrella at the door and enjoy some hot tea. Check the walls for new dishes and specials! Lots of to go orders from locals is always a good sign. With the new Happy Hour, you cannot go wrong. 52oz pitcher with no devices in the middle of the pitcher to keep it "cool" (don't fall for that). Open late daily especially on the weekend, one of the better priced sushi restaurants in the neighbourhood. I come here a lot so I get great service all day long. I have servers whom know what I want at a minimum. There is street parking but save yourself the drama, take transit or walk. Davie St has a lot going on so you don't want to miss that.

    House Roll, half order (6.95)
    Carol N.

    TL;DR: Really big portions, order as you go if it's your first time to avoid food wastage For the money you're paying, the food portions are humongous. The house roll (half order: $6.95) is by far one of the best deals, containing a little bit of raw fish, avocado, tamago, all wrapped up with a very large portion of fake crab meat salad. Compared to most other areas of Canada, the sashimi is pretty great, and the portions are great value. The three kinds of sashimi ($13.95) allows you to try a few different fish without committing on the first try, but I personally like the tuna most. I remember ordering one of the Teriyaki combos once, and it was so big that a friend and I couldn't finish it. Definitely a great value for lunch at around $13-15.

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    best salmon sashimi ever! friendly staff and hidden gem in Vancouver. Tastes like food from Japan :)

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    Page 1 of 8

    Samurai Japanese Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

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    Miku

    Miku

    4.4(2.6k reviews)
    1.5 kmDowntown
    $$$

    I've been to Miku several times, and today I finally decided to write a proper review. First, I…read morewant to praise the service. Every time I come, I can feel the professionalism and attentiveness of the staff. From seating to ordering, and then to the care during the meal, everything is done with great finesse, making me feel comfortable and at ease. The unique politeness and meticulousness of Japanese service are naturally reflected here. The food is also a reason I want to come back. Whether it's the freshness of the ingredients, the presentation, or the taste, you can feel the attention to detail. Japanese cuisine emphasizes the quality of the ingredients themselves, and Miku presents this refinement beautifully. Every dish is pleasing to the eye and has a layered flavor. I also love the ambiance. The overall design is simple, elegant, and has a very comfortable Japanese aesthetic. The lighting, seating, and spatial layout all create a relaxing atmosphere without feeling overly decorated; instead, they have a high-quality feel. As for the atmosphere, I think it's what makes this place so special. Elegant and quiet, yet not too formal, it's suitable for dates or enjoying a good meal with friends. Sitting there slowly eating and chatting makes the whole dining experience particularly comfortable. After several visits, I still feel that Miku is a restaurant worth returning to again and again. It's not just because of any one dish, but because the service, cuisine, environment, and atmosphere combine to create a very pleasant experience every time I come.

    Very good experience. Love to go again with my family every month . love the experienceread more

    Photos
    Miku - Inside the restaurant

    Inside the restaurant

    Miku - Spicy edamame (CAD $8)

    Spicy edamame (CAD $8)

    Miku - Little emperor (CAD $10) and Aka miso old fashioned (CAD $24)

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    Little emperor (CAD $10) and Aka miso old fashioned (CAD $24)

    Marulilu Cafe - Unagi onigiri set ($15.00)

    Marulilu Cafe

    4.0(305 reviews)
    2.3 kmMount Pleasant
    $$

    Marulilu cafe has been opened for many years and I'm pleased to say the their quality and taste…read morehaven't changed. The exterior looks very rundown, and the store sign is somewhat disappearing. Basically, the exterior is not well maintained and if I didn't know about this place i wouldn't even notice its existence. The interior is very basic and lack of decors. There's usually only one staff member up front. You'd order at the cashier and pay first. The restaurant is quite small and can get busy during peak times. They serve delicious Japanese staples such as hamburger, omelette rice, and also Western options such as waffles and sausages. The portion is good and price is also reasonable. Drinks are also yummy. I had a lavender latte.

    A friend has been wanting to try this place for a few years, so we decided to give a try together…read more When we got there, it was a little hard to recognize because the outside signage was in terrible shape, and we could barely make out the name of it. As we entered, it's exactly as others have described - very tiny, homely and quaint. We were seated immediately, were given menu's and instructed to order at the front counter when ready. Once we ordered and paid, the food probably took less than 7 minutes to come out - so quite fast. I tried both the Omu Curry Rice with Pork Cutlet and the Omu Hayashi Rice with Nikomi Hamburger Patty. Both looked very home-cooking style dishes, but in a good way that is very different from what you can find in a Japanese restaurant in Vancouver. Flavours were good, the portion sizes were generous and the prices were reasonable. Staff were very friendly. They made sure so thank us before we went out the door. Overall, a very pleasant experience. I liked the food, and always supportive a hard-working family. I'd come back again.

    Photos
    Marulilu Cafe - Interior

    Interior

    Marulilu Cafe - Omelette rice

    Omelette rice

    Marulilu Cafe - Shop exterior

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    Shop exterior

    Saku

    Saku

    4.3(300 reviews)
    2.2 kmFairview Slopes
    $$

    This place is extraordinary. Everything was fried to perfection. We were also told that the panko…read moreis created fresh everyday from a local bakery in Vancouver. I would recommend chicken or shrimp if you want a protein. I had the tonkatsu (pork) which was a little tougher. The thinly sliced pork with cheese inside was the best bite I had. I also enjoyed the katsu nabe but the soup does affect the texture of the fried pork. There was also unlimited rice, cabbage salad, and sesame sauce here. Amazing! My husband ordered the curry chicken katsu which was excellent and our friends ordered the Zenbu Katsu which was plenty to share between two people. The staff are very sweet and attentive and the restaurant is clean and simple.

    I had no idea that katsu could taste this GOOD. I mean, all katsu I've had prior to eating at Saku…read morejust pales in comparison. Who knew??? My hubs and I vacationed in Vancouver a few weeks ago in late April. We had seen the long lines for dinner at Saku when we were here more than a year ago. So, we decided to give them a try for a late lunch around 2pm on a Wednesday afternoon. No wait. We got seated right away. We liked how spacious and airy the dining room was. Our wait staff were friendly and on point. They were considerate about answering our questions about the food and food allergies. I ordered the chicken thigh katsu ($26 Can) and my hubs got the chicken thigh curry ($28.50 Can). No dairy involved in either dish which I was happy about because I have challenges digesting milk protein. Yes, it's kinda pricey. Yes, it's totally worth it. The katsu is light, crispy, fried perfectly, not greasy, and comes with unlimited rice, miso soup, finely chopped cabbage salad, and an addictively delicious sesame dressing. My hubs' curry sauce was served on the side so he could pour out as much or as little as he wanted. All in all, it was a very pleasant and satisfying meal. Saku is top notch for katsu. You won't believe how good katsu can be until you try it.

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    Saku
    Saku
    Saku

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    Minami

    Minami

    4.1(847 reviews)
    1.0 kmYaletown, Downtown
    $$$

    We loved our dinner at Minami. We came on a Friday night with an infant and sat in the back…read morecourtyard area. The staff was welcoming and kind. The food was amazing. We loved the pressed sushi. The salmon oshi was probably our favorite. The ebi oshi was delicious as well. We also got the duck breast and Brussel sprouts. The drinks were great as well - I had the daiquiri and the ginza margarita.

    If you haven't had aburi sushi, this is the place to fix that. Minami is the sister restaurant to…read moreMiku and they're the ones who brought the flame-seared style to Vancouver, so they know exactly what they're doing. Each piece gets torched over charcoal which gives it this smoky, melt-in-your-mouth quality, and the specialty sauces mean you don't even reach for the soy (they will also say to your face not to, so unless you want to endure their judgement--which my husband happily does--I'd stay away from soy sauce for the aburi. Their salmon oshi is well known, I love the ebi oshi the most but definitely get both and decide for yourself. The whole menu delivers though, from the sashimi to the rolls to the cocktails, all of it beautifully plated without feeling fussy. The space is nice too, took a big group of family here once after an event and they all loved it. And if you're here in the summer ask about the garden patio out back. It's an elevated experience but never stuffy. Perfect for a date night or when you want to treat yourself. Reservations are a good idea because it fills up. Easily one of my favourite spots in Yaletown though!

    Photos
    Minami - Stunning artwork

    Stunning artwork

    Minami - Minami zen has three courses, and this is one of them.

    Minami zen has three courses, and this is one of them.

    Minami - Minami Martini ... Kyoto Sparkles

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    Minami Martini ... Kyoto Sparkles

    Okeya Kyujiro

    Okeya Kyujiro

    4.8(45 reviews)
    1.0 kmYaletown, Downtown

    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.

    Drove from seattle to make it to the lunch here - what a fantastic experience. Everything from The…read moreentrance to the end was ceremonial. You start in a small waiting room thoughtfully decorated with cultural touches before being welcomed into an intimate dining area that seats only about 12-14 people. The service was attentive and personal throughout. When it came to drinks, they first asked what we generally enjoyed rather than immediately pushing specific options. Once we narrowed it down to dry sake, our server kindly brought over several bottles and gave us a detailed explanation of each one before we made our choice. Lunch consisted of around 15 courses, with most served nigiri-style. Everything tasted incredibly fresh, and I loved the thoughtful combinations of flavors and textures throughout the progression. Each piece felt distinct without trying too hard to be complicated.The experience finished beautifully with ice cream and matcha--a simple, elegant ending to a memorable meal. Absolutely worth the drive from Seattle. This wasn't just lunch; the intimate setting, pacing, presentation, and hospitality made the whole experience feel special from beginning to end.

    Photos
    Okeya Kyujiro - Inside the waiting area before being taken to your seat.

    Inside the waiting area before being taken to your seat.

    Okeya Kyujiro - 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

    Okeya Kyujiro - A5 wagyu sukiyaki

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    A5 wagyu sukiyaki

    Samurai Japanese Restaurant - japanese - Updated September 2026

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