50 Best Japanese Restaurants in Vancouver

“Kissa Tanto is everything the hype suggests it is.

My wife and I decided to focus on the seafood offerings for the evening, and that decision was rewarded from the very first course.

Every dish demonstrated exceptional restraint, balance and confidence. The seafood remained the hero throughout, while each accompanying ingredient added thoughtful layers of flavour, texture and contrast without ever competing for attention.

The oysters were beautifully presented with elegant, well-balanced mignonettes that complemented rather than overwhelmed their natural brine. The octopus salad was outstanding—layer upon layer of vegetables, textures and flavours, each contributing something distinct while coming together as a remarkably cohesive dish. The charcoal udon carried that same sense of balance and depth, and the fish of the moment (halibut) was cooked perfectly, allowing the quality of the fish to speak for itself.

Exceptional food, a warm and inviting atmosphere, and polished, attentive service made for a memorable evening. More than anything, we appreciated the respect shown not only to the seafood, but to every ingredient on the plate. Each component had a purpose, contributing to the whole without ever overshadowing the star of the dish. It’s precisely that level of confidence and restraint that encourages us to return and explore the rest of the menu.“

“Love love this place, it deserves all the praises. Amazing quality fish, you can taste the freshness. Service is attentive and personal. Dishes are not only beautiful but have layers of favour, just flawless execution, the chef here is on the top of their game.“

“Overall food is good but we question the need for such theatrical performance. We enjoyed many dishes in particular Zuke maguro, anago, and fried fish. The broth of ramen was excellent! On the other hand, we were disappointed by the quality of the seaweed which was gummy and had no flavor. Rice also needs some improvement. Finally the chairs felt a bit low for the counter.“

“The food was absolutely fantastic! Complex and satisfying. Everything we tried was delicious!“

“Great food and excellent service! The Chicken Yaki Udon was delicious, with fresh ingredients and a flavorful sauce. The sushi and other dishes were also incredibly tasty and well-prepared. The food arrived hot and still steaming, which made the experience even better. The staff were friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere was welcoming. I would definitely come back and highly recommend this restaurant to others!“

“amazingly delicious food (get the hokkaido scallop sashimi, chicken karaage, edamame, and uni handroll), fantastic friendly and thoughtful people, phenomenal music, great vibes, my new favourite place for sure. I've been twice in the last week!“

“Recommended here by one of our Nurse friends, so we dropped by for an early lunch today w/ my 2 coworkers. Sooo yummy! First impression? Delish!!! huge servings & the use of fluffy brown rice was the determining factor of the meal NOT being gastro-heavy! Very nice presentation! Good size servings! Will definitely return on another lunchbreak! yummmmmy!“

“This restaurant is definitely going to become one of my regular go-to restaurants.

I’m a new immigrant, and my mom owns a Japanese restaurant back in my hometown. The flavors here taste exactly like the food she makes at her restaurant. It honestly feels like a little taste of home.“

“The reviews say it all. This is one of the best sushi I've had in a long time. I've been to 100+ sushi restaurants and have visited Japan. The quality of fish was amazing, and attention to the ingredients like rice and nori are what you'd see it very high end restaurant. Had a sushi platter and I would have ordered another if I wasn't full. It's a small simple place but the food is awesome.“

“Popped in here quickly before my hair appointment to grab a bite, and I was excited to see they only served wild salmon.
Then I was even more excited when I got my food as the fish was incredibly fresh, and delicious. Everyone working there was very welcoming too - definitely recommend“

“Just had a solid yakiniku session at Homura Yakiniku and it hit the spot.
The set came with a nice spread: rib finger, flank, and pork belly, all neatly arranged and ready for the grill. The meats looked fresh and well-marbled — especially the pork belly with those clean fat layers. Accompanied by a bowl of steamed rice, a crisp salad with fried wonton chips, pickled cucumber, daikon, minced garlic, and a classic miso soup on the side.
Everything was well-portioned and the presentation was clean. The quality of the cuts felt good for the price, and the usual yakiniku sides rounded it out nicely. Nothing overly fancy, just straightforward and satisfying grilled meat done right.
Would happily come back for another round.“

“We had such a wonderful experience on March 17, 2026 at Miku Japanese Restaurant at River Rock Hotel. From the moment we arrived, the service was truly top-notch—the staff went above and beyond to accommodate our needs and made us feel genuinely cared for. What really stood out was their thoughtfulness and attentiveness. As soon as they noticed that one of our friends was wearing a veil and the rest of us had our Team Bride sashes on, they kindly arranged a private dining room for us. It made the celebration feel even more special and intimate. The ambience was also fantastic—cool, relaxing, and enhanced by a great selection of music. The warm, Japanese-style décor added a beautiful and authentic touch to the overall dining experience. We also appreciated the complimentary non-alcoholic drinks, especially since we had decided not to drink before going swimming. It was such a considerate gesture that didn’t go unnoticed. And of course, the food was amazing—every dish was beautifully presented and absolutely delicious. Overall, it was an unforgettable experience with exceptional service, thoughtful touches, and incredible food. Highly recommended for special occasions!“

“The sushi here and the way it is presented is second to none! Perfect for a date lunch or dinner and the patio is outstanding as we head into fall. Beautifully crafted cocktails round out an all round amazing experience. W have returned several times and have never been disappointed:)“

“Check out Itamae Tomoko at their Brentwood location. The food and service are impressive. I'm waiting to write a review of their Burnaby restaurant.“

“It is a very nice restaurant. Nice vibe and service. The food was decent, nice but the fried chicken was different than your regular. The food is pricey and the space is quite packed, so I wouldn’t recommend large group. Parking can be hard to find, also normally pay parking, you’d be lucky to find free parking. Servers are quite busy, walking about to help others. The sushi was very flavourful and I wouldn’t say recommend trying one. Overall, it is expensive for what you get, but I still think it’s a nice restaurant.“

“Excellent Japanese fried chicken restaurant, with karaage, Katsu, and other options. Teishoku set meal is a good value.

If you miss the feeling of being in a teishoku restaurant in Japan, you will feel right at home here.“

“Wonderful, attentive, and friendly service. The portions are perfectly sized. Not too much but not too little. Pricing, while note cheap, is extremely reasonable for the quality of the food that you're getting. A wonderful gem hidden in Kits. I highly recommend this to anyone. My bet is that you'll be left wanting to come back again.“

“Yummy good, 服務態度非常好“

“We ordered some food for the Mother's day family get together, the service was fantastic, the order was ready on time, every single item was so delicious! Extreme good quality, a lot of varieties to choose from, excellent service, would highly recommend.“

“One day you will eat at Pizza Coming Soon“

“I rarely leave reviews, but as a huge lover of Japanese cuisine, I couldn't skip this one.
In terms of quality, the food here easily stands shoulder-to-shoulder with high-end spots like Miku or the Fairmont, but at a fraction of the cost. It’s unfair to compare this place to your typical neighborhood sushi joint—the culinary experience here is in a completely different league.
I genuinely hope they keep serving this level of delicious, diverse food and fine wine at these incredible prices for a long time. I’ll definitely be coming back regularly!“

“We traveled from Washington, DC and came here on our last day after seeing on the internet that this was the best sushi in Vancouver. Our expectations were exceeded with the quality and taste. The sushi chef is also the owner and you can tell he is experienced and knowledgeable. We will definitely come back in the future!“

“The freshest sushi I’ve encountered lately. I strongly suggest the negi kanpa Hama—it’s flavorful and everyone is ordering it. Although omurice isn’t typical for a sushi spot, their version is quite refined; I recommend trying it. The space is generous, making it well suited for conversation and couples. Portions are somewhat modest. It sits between fine dining and great value.“

“I had wanted to book the Dine Out Vancouver Festival and was so thrilled they extended the date up to April as they were fully booked in February!

My friend and I had a very personal experience with the chef, Tom, as he presented every dish with knowledge and shared how it was to be eaten. The sashimi was super fresh and every dish was made and served with care. The Maguro was SO delicious and melts in your mouth. The appetizer fried eel with a matcha dipping powder was so unique that I had never had that combination before. Overall food was outstanding and I would highly recommend to do an omakase experience here! Check out the rest of the photos for the whole dine out menu we tried this year!

My only concern was the little fruit flies that kept hovering next to us but I tried not to pay too much attention to that.“

“Delivery or eating here both always good
They have great selection of onigiri and rice bowls too
As well as curry

Great curry and ofc delicious rice esp for the price

My go to for a fast meal“

“I love that they have an excellent vegan and regular tasting menu. I have tried their food multiple times and it does not disappoint. Every dish has great presentation and interesting flavors. My favorite is their Korean rice cakes in bolognese sauce. We have always recieved good customer service here as well. I highly recommend it.“

“By and far the best rainbow roll I've had in BC, and evertine I've ordered toro nigiri the cuts of tuna belly I've received have been phenomenal (a very generous and rich melt in your mouth cut of fish). They are also the only sushi restaurant I've been to where they put the sauces for takoyaki seperately when you prder take out so it doesn't get soggy, makes a huge difference.

Very friendly staff and even though I haven't dined-in the decor and atmosphere looks very nice. Cozy vibe.“

“Great food with fresh fish! Highly recommended.“

“Great food and great ambience.“

“I dine here at least 3 times a week as I’m close to here everyday. Friendly, super fast service and always there to answer questions about food/allergens. One of the best poke/ramen places in downtown Vancouver“

“This is my absolute favourite ramen restaurant in the city! The miso ramen is my favourite, it’s so flavourful, and the chasu pork is cooked perfectly. They also had no problem removing the black fungus for me. The service is also good and the music is fun too! They even have ice cream on the house to boot! Would definitely recommend this place, so underrated!“

“Amazing food, with high quality ingredients and a friendly staff. We tried the beef rice bowl, crispy shrimp tempura donburi, and a (very) fresh spicy salmon avocado onigiri. We just wish the portions were bigger just because everything was so tasty!“

“Good food and amazing service!“

“Every single dish was prepared with so much care, and the staff were incredibly friendly! Even though it was busy, they took the time to attend to us with great care—thank you so much. It was hands down the best dinner experience! The spicy roll was especially delicious!!

If you're craving Japanese food in Vancouver, I highly recommend this spot!!“

“The Hire Katsu was so tasty and tender, very friendly staff too.“

“Would definitely come back here for reasonably priced sushi that hit the spot.

The menu was large, and had a decent number of vegetarian options. I hadn't had negihamachi maki before, but really enjoyed it. The pan-fried gyoza weren't the biggest looking from the outside, but were packed full of filling.

We came in pretty late, and we were the only people dining in, but the service was quick and friendly. Seemed like they did a lot of takeaway orders while we were there.

Sure, there are fancy places about where you can spend 2-3x as much and can eat in a fancy setting, and the quality of ingredients might be better. But for a great little neighbourhood spot, everything tasted good, and the price is much more palatable.“

“Wonderful little piece of Japan, right here in East Vancouver. 🇯🇵📍

🍣 They've got a huge selection of ready-to-eat bentos, sushi and other Japanese meals. Super reasonable prices too, pobably one of the only places in the city where a California Roll is under $5.

🍄‍🟫 They've got lots of dry and refrigerated ppackaged goods, also a small selection of fresh and frozen groceries. To be fair, the produce selection doesn't have the most variety, but you can cook many favourite Japanese dishes with what they have still.

🍲 They've got tons of pre-made side dishes like vegetables and fish. They also got ingredients like sashimi.

🧃 They've got a decent selection of canned and bottled drinks as soon as you enter. To be honest, if I have one criticism of Fujiya, is that they need to expand their cold drink offerings more- kind of similar to Konbiniya on Robson. But they still have a lot.“

“Delicious veggie sushi!!!!“

“I went to this place and this place is phenomenal. I recommend to go during lunch because it just opened and everything feels more fresh.

The atmosphere when I walked in is full decorations and lots of plants at the entrance to make it feel more Japan vibes. There are also photos of food at the entrance so you know what your ordering and what to expect. Even the washroom has mini paintings.

The service is mostly quick, although our server didn't know the menu so it took some time. Everything else was expected.

The food is outstanding. I recommend ordering sashimi and rolls tray if you can finish it. The food is absolutely fresh and I can taste it in every bite. And everything is reasonably cheap which is fantastic.

Overall this place is a must go if you want to eat Japanese sushi and your in the area.“

“This was, without a doubt, the best omakase experience I've had—and I've been to 15+ omakase spots, including several that were over $150 per person.

The restaurant is intimate, with only 7–8 seats at the sushi bar and 2 small tables, creating a cozy and personal dining experience. The open kitchen lets you see the amount of care and precision that goes into every course. You can tell the chefs are incredibly detail-oriented and won't serve anything unless it's fresh and perfect.

Every course was unique, beautifully presented, and packed with flavor. The staff was also extremely attentive, making the entire experience feel welcoming from start to finish.

My favorite dish was the horse clam chawanmushi (steamed egg custard). It instantly reminded me of the incredible omakase I had in Osaka, which says a lot about the quality here.

I would 1000% recommend this place to anyone looking for an exceptional omakase experience. I'll definitely be coming back the next time I'm in Vancouver!“

“Our go-to sushi place. There are many sushi restaurants in Vancouver, easily one of the most common ethnic restaurants along with Chinese restaurants. Is it the best sushi? Well, the competition is tough, but for tasty, well-made and fresh food, this is definitely a contender. Sushi Kaido is unquestionably our family favourite – the place to go to for comfort food. Furthermore, the staff are so friendly and welcoming. No matter how busy, and they’re often busy, we are always greeted warmly, and the service is pleasant and swift. We frequently dine-in and that’s the best way to have the food here. On Friday nights we order takeout and while never as good as that served fresh to the table, it is nevertheless delicious and satisfying. The photos are of our recent takeout. One of us is vegan and there are many options. The veggie gyozas are wonderful, as are the rolls. The Teriyaki Chicken is a favourite but we recently tried the Chicken Karrage Donburi which is likely to become our next favourite! The Chicken Yakiudon was tasty but didn’t do well as takeout – I recommend it if you dine in. Sushi Kaido is a gem and absolutely worth a visit.“

“Absolutely excellent sushi restaurant! 🍣
Everything was fresh and delicious, and the quality of the sushi was outstanding. The staff were very friendly and the service was excellent. We had a great dining experience and will definitely be coming back.

Highly recommended! 👍“

“I’ve been here so many times (maybe times was on Sunday and Monday keep forgetting they aren’t open) about $15 for a full sashimi… can’t beat that price. Love their rolls too. Massive pieces. Stuffed full of filling.

$26 the picture you see

If you ever come and they seem to ignore you or forget about you. They aren’t being rude. They simply have one pair of hands each and they are trying to make sure food goes out quickly and make take outs and yes sometimes tables don’t get cleared right away. But runned by a very caring couple. Honest reasonable prices and super fresh. They could always charge us more and hire some help 😏“

“Highly recommend- great experience, delicious food!“

“A lot of the time, the restaurant is only as good as the server. Hapa is a superior restaurant and my server was Shione! She recommended the Chipotle. I went with that and it was real tasty! How a server interacts with the customer is the most important part of the experience. She reacted as though she was rewarding me for going out to enjoy my food. Her mannerisms told me that my presence was important instead of someone who was just making her work. Thank you!🙂“

“We visited Akira one evening after a walk around English Bay. It was our first time and we walked in and ordered a takeaway to eat on the beach. We had the chicken teriyaki box and a roll combo which included miso soup, california and dynamite rolls (pictured). It was incredibly nice and fast service, they offered us tea while we waited. We took our food to the beach and it was so fresh and absolutely delicious, we immediately knew we’d be returning to order from them again. Inside the restaurant is a very cool design on the walls with pictures covering it from floor to ceiling and a large window in the front facing the busy street, ideal for people-watching. This place offers very good quality food at a great price and we look forward to returning.“

“One of the very best Japanese restaurants in the city. Reasonable prices and home style Japanese food. Worth the wait. Come early.“

“This is one of my favorite Japanese restaurants! We get only high quality Japanese food. Only concern is finding parking around the restaurant. The udon noodles are tasty and all ingredients
always taste excellent and are well prepared!“

“wonderful atmosphere, very polite and kind staffing, wonderful food, awesome song selection for Kareoke. Definitely coming back tomorrow for more!“