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    Bistro Sakana

    3.6 (149 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM

    Bistro Sakana Photos

    Business Info

    BISTRO SAKANA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Bistro Sakana

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    Chirashi don
    Kristie W.

    Decent food (sashimi, aburi), but not extraordinary enough to justify the higher price tag. Chirashi Don was good, but the octopus was undertenderized. The other pieces of sashimi were solid. The salmon aburi was fine, but not as flavourful or well-seared as at some of the finer aburi restaurants. The squid was melt in your mouth tender and delicious though. The beef aburi was so juicy, especially with the sweet glaze on top.

    I've had many amazing dinners here at Bistro Sakana, and it never disappoints! I'm from the San Francisco Bay Area, and whenever I am in Vancouver visiting family, this is a must have. Yama San was very accommodating and prepared lots of great sushi and other dishes. Everything was not only delicious, but beautiful to look at. I'm already looking forward to my next visit here!

    The Daily Specials at Bistro Sakana
    Daisy Y.

    Came here as a part of the Taste of Yaletown promo and was blown away. I don't know why this place doesn't have more 5 star reviews. The food was awesome - good portion sizes, and nice presentation. Can't remember which aburi sushi it was, but it was so soft and buttery that it just melted in our mouths. We also ordered a side of sashimi (I'm such a sucker for anything flown in from Japan) and got what the chef recommended. Good news, the chef did not lead us astray - the sashimi was very smooth and tender. Went very well with the accompanying ponzu sauce. And the Iberico pork? Tender and fatty. Two thumbs up for the awesome dessert - green tea mousse cake, but my friend loved the vanilla ice cream mochi better. The service was awesome, food came out at a good pace. I would definitely come back. They have a huge menu (...and a huge drink menu!) and daily specials including a pretty large selection that is "flown in fresh from Japan". (omg, be still, my tastebuds!) Nice cozy space with plenty of seating. Free wifi available.

    Hassun box
    Carmen H.

    DINE OUT 2021 Coming here felt like I took a trip back to Japan. The vibes were right, and the delicacy of the food really brought out the Japanese culture. The portions were decent, definitely on the smaller side, but the quality was definitely there. APPETIZER: seafood cocktail, smoked hamachi aburi, and salmon toro yuke. The seafood cocktail was probably our favourite. It was served in a shot glass with prawn, salmon, and scallop in a CREAMY tofu sauce. The sauce was so creamy, we didn't think it was tofu. ENTREE (1): a yaki hassun box that came with chawanmushi (Japanese egg custard), angus beef skewer, scallop and crab creamy gratin, and a crispy almond prawn. We loved the chawanmushi, it was smooth and delicate, with a savoury dashi taste. ENTREE (2): Mini chirashi don and 4 pieces of aburi. We found the aburi rice a little too hard; however, it still melted in my mouth. most importantly, it was nice and warm. DESSERT: This varies by day, but I got to try a four layer strawberry/lychee mousse. this was not heavy at all, which we really liked!! Covid Protocols: It's a very small restaurant, half of their seating is out on the patio with outdoor heaters. Tables were spread 2m apart with plexiglass dividers, and all the employees were wearing masks. ---------- PRICE 。$54.00 per person (dinner)

    Lunch set A
    Carolyn L.

    Decided to try this place instead of Minami. It is a world of difference - ambience, pricing, service, food. Service was so-so. I seated myself. Waited a while for the bill despite the sushi chef informing the wait staff a couple of times. The sushi chef paid more attention to the customers than the 3 wait staff on duty. The place was not even packed. I had the lunch box as it seemed to be what most were having. The sashimi was fresh but thinly sliced. Tempura was crispy without being oily. The rice was tasteless and hard (seemed overcooked). Somehow the meal was forgettable. You could have this combo anywhere in Vancouver. Probably not a place I will go to anytime soon when there are still so many restaurants for me to try in yaletown.

    Beef tataki  Chef Omakase special menu  Caterpillar roll
    Joanne Y.

    The ambience is very nice it's in Yaletown. The food is pretty good too, the Omakase chef special is very delightful. Presentation is great as well.

    Special of the day :)
    Gabriel Y.

    This Sushi bistro is amazing.. the menu you can find a lot of good options. If you were there before 6p.m. I suggest you choose one of the happy yours, because it's cheap and good selections for 1 person. The sashimi is really fresh, there are some options with fish from Japan. So you know what I'm meaning... There are some niguiri really good :) and the amazing rolls The creme brullet was amazing, perhaps the banana one, it was not so good :/ The place is so clean and nice with a cool patio. The service was really good and helpful..

    Derek Y.

    A true sign of a great meal is when we flip back through our pictures and the tastes and smells come rushing back into our minds. This was definitely the case here when we were invited to sample the sushi, Omakase style, at @bistrosakana! They did not hold back as they served us piece after piece of their fresh fish from their menu. There are several places in Vancouver that get their sushi from Japan, but this has to be the best we've had yet, with every piece being fresh, moist and delicious. Some standout pieces include their O-toro with Caviar, the Japanese Tiger Prawn, the Japanese Uni, and their crab meat sushi! We were extremely impressed by the quality of the fish offered and after this meal, Sakana Bistro has definitely became one of the top spots in town for us! If you have not had a chance to try this restaurant yet, definitely add it to your must-visit list.

    Chicken karaage
    Sylvia S.

    Came here as Minami was full with a wait. I had never been nor heard of bistro sakana but considering they had a happy hour on drinks (after 9pm) we decided to give it a try. Food: - the food was mediocre in my opinion - salmon oishi, satori sashimi (considered a must try) was flavourless ($30 for a measly 5-6 pieces) - pork belly was not bad - chicken karaage was ok - shrimp aburi (3 pieces for $15) was my favourite - happy hour drinks were just beer and gekkeikan sake and they said they don't have happy hour food Interior: - nice and heated covered patio - washroom is in separate establishment outside of resto - no wifi Service: - just ok - many of the items we wanted were not available including some alcoholic beverages (umeshu) Overall it wasn't that great but considering how busy Yaletown gets on a Saturday night it gave us a place to sit and eat quickly.

    Shirley Q.

    This pandemic has forced restaurants, who can, to only offer pick up or delivery. I love dining here and now I am forced to do delivery. I ordered a variety of tuna - hamachi, toro and blue fin. Delicious. Arrived well presented. It is pricey but you pay for quality. Another successful delivery for my end of week Sushi routine. Thank you?

    Baked Scallop

    Came here two times and both experiences were great. Food are amazing and fresh. Staff are very polite and responsive. Everything is reasonably priced.

    Crispy Ahi Tart with creamy truffle sauce, shiso, and arugula

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    1 year ago

    Went here for dine-out week, the food is just so-so. Too expensive compared to what you can get somewhere else.

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    2 years ago

    Hands down this is he beat sushi place in Yaletown. I've been coming here for 15 years and it never disappoints.

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    4 years ago

    Quality Japanese cuisine with reasonable price. I'm a regular when I'm in the area. Especially the chirashi! My favourite!

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    Guu with Garlic

    Guu with Garlic

    4.3
    (1.1k reviews)
    1.9 km
    $$

    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
    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!!
    The delicious individual bite of their yellowfin tuna tempura
    The delicious individual bite of their yellowfin tuna tempura
    Una-Meshi

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    Una-Meshi
    Saku

    Saku

    4.5
    (526 reviews)
    1.8 km
    $$

    First time at this Japanese restaurant, and it was really great!…read more Signature Japanese Fried Pork Cutlet Rosu Katsu $27 This time I was smarter and ordered the cut with a good balance of fat and lean meat. The moment I bit into it, it was bursting with juice! The meat was incredibly thick but not dry at all, and the outer skin was crispy like snowflakes. The first bite was amazing; I've never had such a delicious pork cutlet in Shanghai. Curry Pork Cutlet Rosu Curry $29.5 My friend ordered the curry pork cutlet today, and it was surprisingly excellent! The curry flavor was incredibly rich and full-bodied. Wrapped in the crispy pork cutlet and eaten with rice, it was pure carb bliss! Freshly Ground Sesame Powder I have to praise their freshly ground sesame powder; the aroma of the sesame seeds you grinded yourself was a real highlight. * With lemon salt: Refreshing and original, a perfect way to cut through the richness! * With barbecue sauce: Mixed with sesame powder, the flavors develop layer by layer. With two flavors to choose from, it's really hard to stop! I'll definitely come back to try it again next time.

    We had a great meal here celebrating our 25th 1st anniversary…read more and reminiscing the great katsu dishes we had in Japan just a few months ago. We both ordered the Tokujyu Rosu Katsu. The crust was light and crispy and tte pork loin pieces have the perfect balance of fat and lean meat. How was it perfect? Every bit I took had a good portion of juicy fat. The lean meat was tender and moist as well. The whole meal was mouth watering bite after bite. Rice, miso soup, and cabbage came with unlimited refill. I was planning on requesting a second serving of cabbage but I was full at the end. The dipping sauce for the katsu was a little too tard for me though so I could only dap my katsu pieces very very lightly in it so I wasn't able to experience the full flavour of the sauce. However, I was able to savour the flavour of the pork loin itself. It was a lovely meal. The staff was very helpful, professional and friendly as well. The restaurant decor is modern, airy, comfortable, and inviting.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Zenbu set with refillable soup, rice and salad
    Zenbu set with refillable soup, rice and salad
    Zenbu katsu

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    Zenbu katsu
    Okeya Kyujiro

    Okeya Kyujiro

    4.8
    (44 reviews)
    0.1 km

    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 waiting 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 of 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. Every time a dish was served, a hostess was there to describe the dish in Japanese and English, and provided tips on how best to eat it. The food was overall was very good. I though a few items were very average, most of them were very good, and a select few were truly outstanding. Most if the ingredients are imported from Japan, so I would imagine that it's part of the reason it's quite 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.

    I made a reservation at Okeya Kyujiro for my partner's 40th birthday, and he had the best time…read more Honestly, it was one of the most memorable omakase experiences I've had in Vancouver. Okeya Kyujiro is a Michelin one-star theatrical omakase restaurant, and when they say theatrical, they mean it! From the moment you're welcomed by smiling ushers in kimono to the closing tea ceremony, every movement feels intentional, precise, and elevated. The ambiance is serene and anticipatory. At the start, guests sit in silence as a black screen conceals the chefs. You see their shadows moving behind it. A bell rings, the screen lifts, and the performance begins. Dinner is a 25+ course experience priced at $325 per person. It's undeniably a splurge, but for a milestone celebration, it feels justified. The menu is seafood-forward, with many ingredients flown in from Japan. Each ingredient is presented before preparation, then carefully assembled and served directly from chef to guest. Courses arrive one by one, never rushed. The service team moves seamlessly in the background, refilling water and attending to drinks (available as an add-on) without disrupting the flow. The finale is a matcha ceremony, whisked in front of you with the same quiet precision that defines the evening. When the final sip is taken, the bell chimes once more, the chefs and staff bow, and the screens close. It was a beautifully choreographed dining experience, perfect for marking a special moment, and one I'd gladly return to for the next celebration.

    Photos
    Inside the waiting area before being taken to your seat.
    Inside the waiting area before being taken to your seat.
    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
    A5 wagyu sukiyaki

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    A5 wagyu sukiyaki
    Guu Original Thurlow

    Guu Original Thurlow

    4.1
    (841 reviews)
    1.0 km
    $$

    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!

    I came here for dinner on a weeknight with two foodie friends of mine. Said friends lived in Japan…read morefor over a decade and they've dined here often in the past, saying it's very "authentic" Izakaya and it reminds them of their past life in Japan (which they miss a lot). Me, I know nothing about Izakaya or what is or isn't authentic Japanese cuisine, so this review is coming from someone with zero knowledge or expectation of any specific foods or experiences. Despite it being a weeknight, the place was packed. It was good that we had a reservation. There was a couple in line before me and they were walk-ins, and there were no available seats for them. I noted how small this place was, and crowded, with the tables close together and a long bar with a counter and barstools there (also close together). Our reserved table was right by the front door - literally, - so every time the door opened, we got a gust of cold air (and it was a cold February night when we were there). I kept my coat on. Truth be known, I was not very comfortable. Also, it was loud. Very loud. I like how the staff shout Japanese greetings to diners whenever they enter but between the frequent shouts and the sheer volume of chatter from all the diners, all sitting close together in close proximity, it was kinda hard to hear what my friends were saying during our dinner. That said, the environment was super vibrant and, again, my friends said this was very typical of an Izakaya in Japan. Food-wise, I have no idea what my friends ordered. The menu was primarily available by way of a QR code and I had no idea what the dishes were, so I deferred to my friends' knowledge. But I can attest that all the dishes were DELICIOUS. We had some sort of Japanese street food "pancakes" (they were wonderful). We had some sort of stirfry beef with noodles (amazing). We had two types of sashimi (omg both were so fresh and so so good!). We had a few other dishes that I can't recall, but I remember I loved them. So.... the food here was GREAT. Service was also attentive which I hadn't expected, being as busy as the restaurant was. I really liked this place but I'll probably go back in the summertime when the weather is nicer as I was cold there, and I'd dine at an off-time, when the volume wasn't so loud. (I'm too old for the loudness!).

    Photos
    Guu Original Thurlow
    Fried pork belly
    Fried pork belly
    Eel with rice

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    Eel with rice

    Bistro Sakana - japanese - Updated August 2026

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