Plates and bowls are quite dirty so had to ask for another set. Portion is small for the price. Food not that flavourful. Will not revisit.
Tia
Located in an industrial area of Strathcona, this cafe is hard to find. Be prepared to line up whether you have a reso or not. We ordered the veggie and curry beef bento box - both were excellent and service was immaculate. The set up is cafeteria style where you order your food from the bar and pay first and receive a mini stand with a number and the food comes piping hot. Miso soup is bottomless so make sure you ask your server for this if you feel like more! This place is busy and tight! Noisy but fun. If you're ok with climbing up some stairs and waiting in line and paying first - then check this place out. We will definitely come again!
Aneesh Vaghadia
Stopped by for a great Japanese lunch at Takenaka. Lots of free street parking outside. Made a reservation the day before and there was no wait. Service was very polite and accommodating!
The onigiri lunch special was great! Lots of different selections for filling. The curry was very rich and hearty, with pork that fell apart! Rice quality was very good!
We would love to come back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Rebecca
Go there once in a while, noticed recently there are a lot of flies in the restaurant, it's actually irritating.
Lara Therrien Boulos
The lunch set was soooo yummy! Casual brightly lit spot with a nice vibe.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kit Yee
The onigiri set lunch tastes good. It has a wide varieties of items of dishes. The presentation looks great as well. We can refill the miso soup. The miso soup definitely tastes better than the one we make at home. The main dish of the set lunch we had was a bowl of pork belly. The portion was big but the meat was a bit dry even though it was cooked and soaked in broth. We don't mind to have less meat but it should come with some rice or a bowl of rice. It was a bit overwhelming eating so much meat without rice or noodles.
Leonardo sh
If you’re looking for truly authentic Japanese dining in Vancouver, Takenaka is an absolute gem. The presentation alone is breathtaking, each tray is beautifully arranged with a variety of small seasonal dishes, from fresh sashimi and grilled salmon to silky tofu, pickled vegetables, tamago, and miso soup. It feels like a traditional Japanese breakfast or kaiseki meal, with so much care put into balance, flavor, and detail.
The onigiri, fresh salads, and small bites all had their own unique flavors, making the meal both satisfying and exciting with every bite. Nothing felt repetitive, and you could really taste the quality of the ingredients.
The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming, and the staff were friendly and attentive, making the whole experience even more enjoyable.
Takenaka is not just a meal, it’s a culinary experience. Highly recommend this place if you want to enjoy authentic Japanese flavors prepared with artistry and heart.
Maria T
Over hyped unfortunately the onigiri wasn't that good. the Onigiri had lots of rice and barely any filling. We had ent for lunch, ordered one onigiri, Karaage and lunch special set. It’s definitely overpriced. We wanted to order sashimi for Today’s dishes but it was already sold out so we had curry. Curry and small dishes were good! Staff was not friendly…
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 2
Angel Wong
I only have it 4 stars because I wished there were photos with the menu so I know what I’m ordering 😊
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Raymond
Have the clam ramen and sour plum onigiri. Both taste great. The people there are friendly and nice. Place is clean and feel very cozy. Service is good. Only problem is a bit hard to find a parking place outside the restaurant.
I’ve been here a couple of times before when it was newer and really liked it, I even recommended it to others. But on my most recent visit, things just didn’t hit the same. The food lacked flavor and felt bland overall. I definitely didn’t enjoy it as much this time.
Food: 3
Janell
Everything about this place was great: nice service and the food was amazing, reminded me of my time in Japan. We got the set menu and everything was delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
gold stream
Location is on an older quiet warehouse street. Food quality is very good and the place is reasonably clean, Deco is basic. Seating is limited so has to wait in line for table. Recommended
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Robyn Szeto
Special breakfast combo, only 10 a day. Unlimited onigiri and miso soup. Love the selection! Some dishes were a bit salty, but overall, will return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
F P
Tried out the breakfast set, it was mind blowing. Love the overall experience.
Plates and bowls are quite dirty so had to ask for another set. Portion is small for the price. Food not that flavourful. Will not revisit.
Located in an industrial area of Strathcona, this cafe is hard to find. Be prepared to line up whether you have a reso or not. We ordered the veggie and curry beef bento box - both were excellent and service was immaculate. The set up is cafeteria style where you order your food from the bar and pay first and receive a mini stand with a number and the food comes piping hot. Miso soup is bottomless so make sure you ask your server for this if you feel like more! This place is busy and tight! Noisy but fun. If you're ok with climbing up some stairs and waiting in line and paying first - then check this place out. We will definitely come again!
Stopped by for a great Japanese lunch at Takenaka. Lots of free street parking outside. Made a reservation the day before and there was no wait. Service was very polite and accommodating!
The onigiri lunch special was great! Lots of different selections for filling. The curry was very rich and hearty, with pork that fell apart! Rice quality was very good!
We would love to come back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Go there once in a while, noticed recently there are a lot of flies in the restaurant, it's actually irritating.
The lunch set was soooo yummy! Casual brightly lit spot with a nice vibe.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The onigiri set lunch tastes good. It has a wide varieties of items of dishes. The presentation looks great as well. We can refill the miso soup. The miso soup definitely tastes better than the one we make at home. The main dish of the set lunch we had was a bowl of pork belly. The portion was big but the meat was a bit dry even though it was cooked and soaked in broth. We don't mind to have less meat but it should come with some rice or a bowl of rice. It was a bit overwhelming eating so much meat without rice or noodles.
If you’re looking for truly authentic Japanese dining in Vancouver, Takenaka is an absolute gem. The presentation alone is breathtaking, each tray is beautifully arranged with a variety of small seasonal dishes, from fresh sashimi and grilled salmon to silky tofu, pickled vegetables, tamago, and miso soup. It feels like a traditional Japanese breakfast or kaiseki meal, with so much care put into balance, flavor, and detail.
The onigiri, fresh salads, and small bites all had their own unique flavors, making the meal both satisfying and exciting with every bite. Nothing felt repetitive, and you could really taste the quality of the ingredients.
The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming, and the staff were friendly and attentive, making the whole experience even more enjoyable.
Takenaka is not just a meal, it’s a culinary experience. Highly recommend this place if you want to enjoy authentic Japanese flavors prepared with artistry and heart.
Over hyped unfortunately the onigiri wasn't that good. the Onigiri had lots of rice and barely any filling. We had ent for lunch, ordered one onigiri, Karaage and lunch special set. It’s definitely overpriced. We wanted to order sashimi for Today’s dishes but it was already sold out so we had curry. Curry and small dishes were good!
Staff was not friendly…
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 2
I only have it 4 stars because I wished there were photos with the menu so I know what I’m ordering 😊
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Have the clam ramen and sour plum onigiri. Both taste great. The people there are friendly and nice. Place is clean and feel very cozy. Service is good. Only problem is a bit hard to find a parking place outside the restaurant.
Restaurantji Recommends
I’ve been here a couple of times before when it was newer and really liked it, I even recommended it to others. But on my most recent visit, things just didn’t hit the same. The food lacked flavor and felt bland overall. I definitely didn’t enjoy it as much this time.
Food: 3
Everything about this place was great: nice service and the food was amazing, reminded me of my time in Japan. We got the set menu and everything was delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Location is on an older quiet warehouse street. Food quality is very good and the place is reasonably clean, Deco is basic. Seating is limited so has to wait in line for table. Recommended
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Special breakfast combo, only 10 a day. Unlimited onigiri and miso soup. Love the selection! Some dishes were a bit salty, but overall, will return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Tried out the breakfast set, it was mind blowing. Love the overall experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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