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    Toyokan Plaza

    4.3 (21 reviews)

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    TOYOKAN PLAZA ATMOSPHERE

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    Olive W.

    Came here on the next day I came back from Japan. Plaza Toyokan is downstairs, while Toyokan Bowl upstairs focuses more on sashimi don. Plaza Toyokan has more hot dishes and shareable plates. Overall, everything was solid. My top picks were the duck carpaccio, grilled spice chicken leg, and the unagi pizza. The chicken leg was recommended by the staff and it did not disappoint. The chicken oil sauce was the highlight. It's rich, fragrant and seriously addictive. If they served it with rice, I would happily pour the entire sauce over it. The duck carpaccio was light and refreshing with a marmalade-style sauce, and the unagi pizza had a creamy, cheesy finish that worked surprisingly well with the eel and nori. Portions are on the smaller side, similar to Japanese izakaya-style dining, so it's great for sharing and trying multiple dishes. Service was friendly and attentive, and they even offer a complimentary birthday treat. If you're dining with kids, Plaza Toyokan's menu feels more family-friendly compared to upstairs. Parking was a bit challenging though

    Cynthia S.

    Loved loved loved the food here! Tried the kumquat gin sour, scallop uni sushi, wagyu uni udon, signature chicken leg and sake steamed oysters! Everything was sooo fresh and flavourful. Our fav was the udon and the oysters because of how unique they were

    Stephanie M.

    We came at around 5pm with reservations for downstairs. Crab and crab butter shumai - there was an okay amount of crab. I felt like the skin could have been bouncier. Nothing special about this dish. Wouldn't recommend this dish Duck carpaccio - not too chewy. Not a lot of duck flavour. I liked the garnish on top which helped add some freshness. Wouldn't recommend Jumbo oyster gratin - oyster is cut up ahead of time so it's easy to share. Lots of cheese but it didn't stretch when we picked at it. Oyster was a bit too overcooked and has bits of shell in it. Wouldn't recommend Shrimp & saikyo pizza - weirdly addicting. I liked the flavour but the pizza was too soggy in the middle. So much that it was dripping with water/ oil. The pizza crust was nice and chewy but the middle was just too soggy Service was fast and nice. Atmosphere was definitely cute and very picture worthy. Food was a miss unfortunately. Maybe the sushi bowls upstairs are better?

    Vincent M.

    My friends and I came here and ordered basically everything that had Uni in it! It was all really really well made and the service phenomenal! Loved the izakaya vibes there at night! 10/10 would recommend! One of the best experiences I've had in Vancouver.

    Fenny C.

    This one is located on the 1st floor. Reservation: via opentable. Recommended to make reservations, especially on the weekend. When they open at 5pm, they will accommodate the guests with reservations first. Parking: few blocks down , free street parking. The closer you park to the restaurant, you got to pay for street parking. The restaurant is kinda louder that we anticipated. Restrooms: 2 gender neutral restrooms The food is different from Toyokan bowl upstairs but similar ingredients like uni. Toyokan Plaza is more fusion Japanese. Fyi; there's some business cards hanging on the wall, so apparently they have sisters restaurants in Toronto, vancover, seattle, taipei and Tokyo. We tried couple and we pretty similar in style. We ordered: Peach muscat sake Sangria Crab butter arrabiata inaniwa udon Rich uni cream Quattro formaggi pizza Black cod 3 kind Sashimi Bluefin Toro Tartare Creamy rich uni risotto Signature Grilled spiced chicken leg All food are amazing. We love it. The chicken skin super crispy and the meat so moist and juicy. The servers are friendly but they were kinda hectic and flustered. They gave us other people food and they gave ours to others. So we have to wait for another 10min for our pizza. We saw they were too busy letting ppl know that they came to the wrong place. They should put a sign outside pointing to each restaurant with 2 different menus.

    Sea urchin udon
    Cristalle L.

    Came here with a friend and we shared a few items - the chicken leg, the uni pizza, sea urchin udon, and the bluefin toro sushi. If I had to rank the dishes, I would go bluefin toro sushi, sea urchin udon, chicken leg, and uni pizza. The toro was melt in your mouth and had nice crunchy toppings that gave a nice contrast with the toro texture. I love uni and so the udon was a hit, and they also give a few whole pieces of sea urchin on top. The waitress kindly asked if we wanted to take some photos of the food before she sliced it up, grid-style for us. It came with some pieces of lettuce which was a nice palate cleanser. Other than the meat being super juicy and tender, I thought the seasoning was very average and didn't stand out for me. Worst dish of the night was the pizza - salty as heck and I didn't think the sea urchin shone through at all, and if you didn't tell me it was a sea urchin pasta I would never have guessed. It was interesting that they added lotus bits to give it some crunch, which cut through the otherwise extremely salty dish. Would I come back again? I'm not sure.... but I'm not particularly excited about it. Might prefer to check out Toyokan Bowl upstairs instead!

    Anita Z.

    I came here for a birthday dinner and was very content with my experience! Upon entering, the restaurant seems small, but it is well decorated and cozy. There is a retro theme going on and the menu seems to mostly feature Italian-Japanese fusion food. My friend and I shared the crab butter tomato pizza, saikyo prawn udon, and uni risotto. The pizza had more of a tomato taste than crab, but the cheese was super soft, which I liked. The risotto was very flavorful with a strong black pepper flavor and the udon had really good texture and was my favourite! If you indicate that you're celebrating a birthday in your reservation, the staff will turn off all the lights and bring you a small dessert with a sparkler in it. They are serious about their birthday celebrations! I would definitely recommend this spot for the atmosphere and dining experience.

    Yellowtail
    Emily C.

    I made reservations 2 days prior via OpenTable for 6 people at 7:15pm for my birthday dinner with family. Upon arrival, we could tell it was busy inside and not that big of a restaurant space. They notified us that our reservation is at 7:30pm, which was strange after I showed them my confirmation text that said 7:15. They apologized and took us upstairs to Toyokan Bowl so we could wait in the warmth. I interacted with a couple hosts as they had some booking issue on their app. They were seeing my name under 2 reservations for 4 people. My family and I didnt get seated until almost 8pm, so I wasn't delighted about that. Not sure what happened, but perhaps there was a technical glitch. When we finally got seated, they served us a complimentary appetizer - which ended up being one of my favourite things I ate! That gesture made me bump my rating up to a 5-star. I forgot to take photos of the rest of the dishes (which were quite a few), but the black cod was also a very memorable one and worth trying out! Thoroughly enjoyed the ambiance - it's more of a retro vibe and gives you a bit of that throwback/nostalgic feel. Would come here again and would recommend New Fuji which is their sister restaurant right across the street too!

    goma hamachi
    Isabel C.

    I came to Toyokan Plaza a few weeks ago with friends for a belated birthday dinner. Previously, I had already experienced Toyokan Bowl upstairs and had quite a good time so I was excited to see what the downstairs was all about. The vibe of the restaurant matched upstairs exactly with the retro walls and close seating. We made a reservation (luckily because there were soo many people walking in and trying to wait) for 7 and although a few of us arrived quite late, the servers were very patient with us. The few of us who arrived first started with some drinks. I settled for the non-alcoholic orange passionfruit oolong tea and it was very delicious! My friends ordered cocktails and they were all made behind the bar intricately with house made fruit purées and fruit infused alcohol. Once our full party arrived, we settled on multiple dishes to share. Everything was good, but not everything stood out to something amazing. While the wagyu tendon (super fragrant and delicious broth, very chewy noodles!!) and uni risotto (cool table side style with ample uni flavour and umami) impressed me, everything else was just okay. The chicken especially was nothing special despite its claims of being aged. I also loved the pizza piled with good portions of crab but felt the aged sashimi behind it was almost just like average sashimi. The ups and downs between the dishes left me feeling shy of fully satisfied after dinner. However, there were so many delicious looking menu items I had yet to try. While not everything I ate blew my mind, the novelty of the menu and the awesome drinks and service keep me curious for more. I would definitely return to try some other things on the menu. Toyokan Plaza, you have caught my eye!

    Febjourney S.

    I came here without big expectations and left genuinely impressed. The food feels comforting but still thoughtfully done. The pizza surprised me with a crisp crust and generous toppings, while the udon was warm, savory, and deeply satisfying without being heavy. Everything tasted freshly made, not rushed. The atmosphere is relaxed and unpretentious, the kind of place where you actually want to sit, talk, and enjoy your meal instead of rushing out. Service was friendly and efficient, making the whole experience feel easy and welcoming. Definitely a spot I'd come back to when I want something cozy but still well executed.

    chicken thigh
    Anisa W.

    4.5 stars Make sure you're on the right floor! Toyokan Plaza is on 1st floor and specializes in cooked dishes; Toyokan Bowl is on 2nd floor and specializes in raw fish dishes This place reminds me of a better version of new fuji. The blue fin pressed sushi was delicious and fresh, the pizza reminds me of the seafood pizza from pizza hut HK hahhhah

    Unagi and Nori Gorgonzola Pizza
    Aaron T.

    Servers were polite and attentive, and my two friends and I were able to secure a walk in right away at 7:45. When you walk in, they will ask you if you're here for the right restaurant, with Toyokan Bowl being upstairs. Soon after, every table was full, estimating the place to have about 5-7 tables. Ambiance wasn't as loud as other Tamaru Shoten places in town and smaller in scale. It shares the same interior decor vibe as New Fuji, and the menu reflects that of New Fuji but with some new fusion twists and some Chinese inspired influences (ex. Shu Mai). The Unagi and Nori Gorgonzola Pizza was memorable and was easy to divide. Really unique flavor pairing that I haven't had before, but worked really well together. Had an interesting crust that might've had mochi flour mixed in w/ pizza flour? Lots of crab in the Crab Arrabiata, which was lovely. The dried chili was prominent, so ppl who don't like spice should pick smthn else, but to those who like spicy food this is a great choice. Flat style thin udon was a nice touch and seldom seen. The sushi came last but it was a nice way to end off the meal. After the spiciness of the Arabbiata, we couldn't grasp the delicate taste of the uni, but the scallop was really fresh and there were about 3.33 pcs when split between 3 ppl.

    Had an amazing experience at ToyoKan Vancouver! The overall atmosphere was fantastic. The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive, and the service felt truly top-notch. The food was also excellent--every single dish was delicious and full of authentic flavor. The décor has a nostalgic, traditional Japanese feel, with beautifully crafted details that make you feel like you've stepped right into Japan. Highly recommend this place for anyone looking for great food and a wonderful dining experience!

    Jumbo oyster gratin

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    1 year ago

    great pizza! friendly staff. they have an unique menu for anyone who likes sushi and seafood

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    Kingyo - Hot stone

    Kingyo

    4.4(1.3k reviews)
    2.4 kmWest End
    $$$

    We had a reservation for 8 pm on Tuesday. The restaurant was packed and bustling. Without a…read morereservation, we would have had to sit at a communal table. I always order beef tongue, Japanese fried chicken, and shrimp mayonnaise. These are my must-orders and their signature dishes. The beef tongue is actually quite simple; it's delicious just from being lightly heated. The hot stone slab is served piping hot, perfect for searing meat. Be quick, or it will cool down. The Japanese fried chicken is tender, juicy, and incredibly fragrant. The seasoning is just right. The shrimp mayonnaise is plentiful and a perfect match for beer. The two seasonal or specialty dishes of the day weren't as good, and I wouldn't order them again. My advice is to order their most popular and classic dishes, and definitely make a reservation in advance if you want to come (especially on weekends, as the wait can be up to an hour).

    Dining at Kingyo Izakaya is always a spirited and delightful culinary experience, complete with…read morecreative Japanese decor and an energetic, welcoming atmosphere. The ambient bamboo accents and lively buzz from the open kitchen instantly set the stage for an unforgettable tapas style feast. The service was vibrant, attentive, and executed with immense warmth from the moment we walked through the door. Cooking the tender Kobe Beef directly on the Super Hot Stones brought a wonderful, interactive sizzle to the table, delivering melt in your mouth rich flavor in every single bite. The deeply savory Tan Tan Noodles were packed with comfort, and the artfully presented Bento Box offered a beautiful, balanced taste of their finest dishes.

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    Kingyo - Bamboo divider along community table

    Bamboo divider along community table

    Kingyo - Beef tongue

    Beef tongue

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    Miku

    Miku

    4.4(2.6k reviews)
    3.1 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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    Guu with Garlic - Fish carpaccio

    Guu with Garlic

    4.3(1.1k reviews)
    2.4 kmWest End
    $$

    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
    Guu with Garlic - 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!!

    Guu with Garlic - The delicious individual bite of their yellowfin tuna tempura

    The delicious individual bite of their yellowfin tuna tempura

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    Tendon Kohaku - EBI TENDON

    Tendon Kohaku

    4.3(217 reviews)
    2.2 kmDowntown, Granville Entertainment District
    $$

    Very clean and zen restaurant when we went there early around 11am on a weekday for a quick bite…read morebefore heading to airport ; We had spicy beef udon, takoyaki and salmon handroll; they were all good; wish we had bigger appetite and longer stay to try more items on the menu ; Friendly service too :)

    As a Washington resident I did not know that the Vancouver Tendon Kohaku's menu was much smaller…read moreand the less formal vibe. I thought it was a nice change of scenery to be honest also I did miss some items I originally wanted and planned to try. There were some of the main dishes, like the bowls, and also mainly udon. The chicken karaage was extremely tender and fresh, you could tell because it was hot which was nice! The udon in both the curry and rose cream udon was very soft and tender as well, tender than what I usually have for udon. If you like your noodles al dante I don't think it'll quite fit your taste but I personally really enjoyed it! As for the taste the spicy rose cream udon tasted exactly like Buldak Ramen's Carbonara flavor, and everyone at my table agreed. The garlic bread was nice tho. To be completely honest staff and workers aren't very attentive, the restaurant wasn't full and I could see the workers standing around. Our table had to ask for water multiple times. Other than that however they're very kind.

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    Tendon Kohaku - Inside

    Inside

    Tendon Kohaku - Tiramisu

    Tiramisu

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    Okeya Kyujiro

    Okeya Kyujiro

    4.8(45 reviews)
    2.1 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

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    A5 wagyu sukiyaki

    Guu Original Thurlow - Pumpkin croquette

    Guu Original Thurlow

    4.1(841 reviews)
    2.2 kmDowntown, West End
    $$

    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!

    Great izakaya experience in Vancouver. The ambiance is fun and lively with quick service. In…read moreaddition to the usual menu items there are daily specials. My favorite dish was the yaki udon!

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    Guu Original Thurlow
    Guu Original Thurlow - Fried pork belly

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    Toyokan Plaza - japanese - Updated September 2026

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