Found this little Izakaya spot while visiting Vancouver and it was such a great experience. It's as authentic 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! read more

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Authentic Japanese Izakaya vibes here! Guu is the first to do it here in Vancouver, and the quality of all their dishes shine through. I love that they have daily specials from their chefs (shoutout to Kei and Shota!) which are creative, combining classic creations with their own twists. Service is pretty good and the staff are always friendly and accommodating. read more

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

Guu Original Thurlow - Yaki udon - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Restaurant is very small so reservations (thru open table) is high recommended! Street parking in downtown area is crazy, make sure to give yourself plenty of time to make your resos Staff is very nice, we were running late and calledI to see if we can push back our reservation 15 mins and they did. My daughter spilled water and the staff was very kind about it, I felt so bad! Food is amazing, everything has its unique flavor and texture. All is so good is all I can say!! We had left over fried rice and ate it next morning cold but was still so delicious!! Love that you can order the sashimi combo (choose 3) and get a little of everything. We got spot prawn, salmon and yellow tail... so so so good Restaurant is very small so it does feel crowded and can get very noisy. We went with 2 younger kids and they weren't bothered. The booth seats are high so no boosters are needed. Food is so good!! The only complaint is noise level/ crowded space but it can't be helped since it's a small shop and the food is totally worth it read more

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The Oden was so light, warm and cozy on a chilly evening! Staff were lovely and attentive! Great recommendations read more

Guu Original Thurlow - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

I came here for dinner on a weeknight with two foodie friends of mine. Said friends lived in Japan for 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!). read more

As a native Torontonian who became a Winnipegger and was visiting Vancouver, these are the places I really miss back home. Guu is an izakaya place that I've been familiar with from having been to so many times in Toronto, so I decided to take my Winnipeg friends here for dinner this past weekend. I made a reservation a week before, and it was a good thing I did since the restaurant was fully reserved the entire night. I enjoyed seeing the surprised faces from my friends by the energetic welcome from the workers. In addition to the regular menu, there was a special menu of the day with unique dishes that change often. We ordered the three kinds sashimi and wagyu wrapped Hokkaido scallop skewers from the special menu. In the regular menu, we ordered the takowasabi, karaage, tuna and salmon tataki, and the ikamaru. Everything was excellent and delicious. I know my friends were especially impressed with the karaage, as they've never had chicken that juicy before. Small hit to the service here, as despite the energetic welcoming, we had to ask a few times for water to be refilled, or to ask for the bill. Besides that I would say this Guu does an excellent job creating the atmosphere that I was used to in my Toronto years. read more

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Whenever I come to Vancouver, I always go to Guu to check the seasonal menu. The Guu is not very large place. If you are alone, you will be seated at the counter. The staff at the store are energetic and lively. You can also look at the menu with a QR code, but I look at the seasonal menu every time. I chose J.P.S, simmered enoki mushroom on tofu, green beans w sesame sauce from $15 for three items. And I ordered a seafood bowl. I was curious about the meat dish that the person next to me was eating at that time, so I asked the staff. After that, along with the food I ordered, one dish came extra. It gave me a sample of that meat dish. What a thoughtful service! As someone who doesn't drink alcohol, the taste is a bit strong, but I recommend the seasonal menu where you can eat various things. read more

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Came here during lunch time and it wasn't too crowded! We wanted to try their udon dishes, but realized that it was only served for dinner. I split a age tei teishoku combo (chicken karaage, pork cutlet & creamy croquette) with rice, miso soup & side dish included. It was delicious!! The creamy croquette was yummy and chicken karaage was tender. Would recommend getting this lunch combo! read more

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Fried tofu is boiled! They could mention that on the menu you know. Tuna sashimi tasted off. In spite of that I left them at 20% tip and then when I asked for a bag, they want you to pay $.15.!! $.15? The interact charge would be more. I hate this cheap mentality shit. read more

Outstanding Japanese gastropub eats! Great place for tapas style dining w/ your friends. Lots of unique offerings like the pumpkin croquette, a delightful dish made with a hard boiled egg enveloped in sweet pumpkin, then fried and drizzled with a tangy sauce - Scotch egg lovers will have tears of joy. The chicken karaage has seriously large succulent, crispy pieces of chicken that satisfies. Don't miss the yaki udon, a creamy flavorful affair. So many things to try, dang you, small stomach! Fun, energetic space with warm, friendly service. read more

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Really enjoy their cocktails, especially their ramune ones. Food is decent but lunch sets are better for the price. Service is good. Friendly staff and fast serving. A little hot inside the restaurant. read more

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Came here for lunch on Saturday and got seated immediately. The space is small, so I assume it would get busy during peak hours. Their lunch deals are really affordable. I got the bbq beef which came with rice and miso soup. It was delicious and the portion size was good too. read more

Delicious Japanese food served in an authentic casual setting. We enjoyed the Mackerel prepared aburi style. 3 appetizers for $15 CAD was a great value: The tilefish jerky was perfect. The enoki mushrooms served with tofu was delicious. The eggplant with miso was super tasty. The Kimchi Fried Rice was the surprise find of the night. Service was fast, friendly and efficient! read more

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Great food, service, and experience! Got some great sake, pumpkin croquet, salmon carpaccio, grilled squid legs. Everything was great and would recommend for a nice dinner out (a little expensive, but worth it). read more

To die for! I think we ordered half the menu & every bite was delicious. Great service & atmosphere. read more

Guu Original Thurlow - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Wow, wow, wow. A real Japanese restaurant in the middle of downtown Vancouver. Went with two work buddies and enjoyed every plate we ordered and drank good saki. A nice night. read more

Sea Urchin Sashimi 4 seaweed wrap, fresh Yellowtail Carpaccio 3 plum dressing, wasabi mayo, slightly sour, fresh Assorted Oden w/ Soup 2 artificial balls, not flavorful B.B.Q. Lamb 3 cold slices of leg meat, honey soy sauce, too chewy, flavorful Kimchi-Udon 3 marinated dry noodles, spicy cod roe, kimchi, green onion, soy sauce, butter, medium flavorful Crispy "OKONOMIYAKI" 3 quarter-cut pancake, tonkatsu sauce, mustard, mayo, medium flavorful Yuzu Cheese Cake w/ Green Tea Ice Cream 4 refreshing flavor, not too sweet read more

We've usually gone to Guu with Garlic so we decided to try Guu Original after watching some rugby from BC Place. The service and food were excellent, and you always feel welcome. Plus, we love these boisterous spots and so glad we decided to stop on by. Guu Original definitely gives off the Guu DNA. read more

Guu Original Thurlow - Beef carpaccio; takowasabi; grilled, dried filefish; diafuku mochi; hirame sashimi; fried chicken; aburi salmon. - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Excellent food and amazing team of people working there! We had the wagyu carpaccio, tako wasabi, pork cheeks and uni. It was all so tasty, fresh and well prepared. I think I have a new favorite Izakaya in Vancouver! Plus the people who work there are so friendly and have great energy!! Great ambiance too! Worth a visit!! read more

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We are frequent customers. The atmosphere is great and service friendly and the food is usually good to very good. Something has gone horribly wrong. The sockeye salmon was old, we ordered 3 piece of scallop sashimi and got on piece and two crumbs. We pointed this out to the waitress who agreed that the portion was poor and she brought it to her supervisor. We heard no apology. The tuna was try and tasteless. This was a very bad experience and will likely give us pause before returning. read more

Guu has generally been my go to establishment for a quick Japanese Izakaya lunch/dinner spot, however I was quite disappointed in this experience. Usually, service is lightning quick at Guu, not on this occasion. We had to call servers to take our order after waiting for 10-15 minutes for a server. I got the Age Tei combo which comes with a a pork cutlet, creamy cheese fritter, chicken karage, Miso Soup and a bowl of rice. This combo is of great value and is a lunch special! The food was decent, the cheese fritter was a stand out. However, the pork cutlet was already and a bit undercooked for my liking. This is a comment on my co-workers experience. The salmon he had ordered came out burnt (picture attached). Staff were nice about it and switched it out for him, but even the replacement was slightly burnt as well. Overall, the food was very inconsistent. The ambience was on the louder side and is generally the case especially when going for a weekday lunch. Will definitely be stopping by Guu again, but this was a below average experience. read more

Guu Original Thurlow - Sake Tei Combo - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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This place is so f-cking good! Why it doesn't have a 4.5 or 5 star rating puzzles me. If you want a true to the core, authentic izakaya style experience outside of Japan, this is it. Not only the service and the ambiance check the boxes, but the food is amazing. So good. Flavors you'd only find in Japan. Excellent drinks too. I recommend starting off with a draft beer, and then moving out to Chu-Hi (Shochu cocktail) or Highball (Japanese whisky and club soda mix). We ordered: Grilled squid legs Grilled pork belly Chicken Karaage Baked Broccoli Kimchi Pickled Vegetables Negitoro Miso Soup We wanted to order more like the yakisoba but got too full from the drinks. The dishes that stood out were the chicken karaage (big. juicy, delicious pieces of chicken thigh), baked broccoli (an excellent umami blend of mayo and teriyaki sauce on top), and Negitoro (chopped tuna belly that you roll in seaweed and wasabi). If you go with a party of less than 3, try to sit at the bar as you'll get to see the cooks do their thing and also see what each dish looks like. If you're hungry and want a great meal and experience, don't think twice. Go here. You won't regret it. Thank you to the staff at Guu for an excellent meal. read more

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Wow. Just woww. This place is amazing, from the moment you walk in to the moment you leave. Immediately when we walked in, we were greeted with very loud and warm Japanese greetings. The entire staff is extremely friendly and polite and the atmosphere was perfect. The restaurant is noisy, but we loved it! Good ambiance, good music, great service & incredible food. Everything, and I mean everything we ordered was AMAZING. The funny thing is that we were actually trying to get into another Japanese restaurant however their wait time was too long so we stumbled across this gem and were not disappointed at all! In fact, we were pleasantly surprised. We entire place was packed so we were seated at the bar and we didn't mind at all. I love being able to watch all the food being made. We ordered beef tataki, chicken karage, spicy calamari and from their specials menu we ordered scallops & bacon. I really like how each of our tapas came in staggered times so we were able to eat them all fresh, right after they were cooked. The beef tataki was very tender and came with a generous portion size. The chicken karage came with 5 huge pieces cooked to perfection. The calamari was absolutely delectable & those scallops were so freaking good. The service is also very fast. Our water cups were never empty and out empty plates were taken away immediately. When you leave, you receive a very warm Japanese farewell from the staff. Will definitely come back to this restaurant when we visit Vancouver again!! read more

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One of our favorite traditions in Vancouver! The warm, fast service and awesome staff with traditional greetings and farewells, extensive izakaya menu and menu specials all haven't changed throughout the years. We love the beef tongue, ebi-mayo and yaki-udon. On our most recent visit (Christmas 2021), menu specials included your choice trio of appetizer selections for $14 CAD. The sliced jellyfish on chilled tofu was super tasty and umami and the spicy bamboo and kelp brought back childhood memories. Skip the wait by making reservations! Food is worth the wait though, if you come here on a whim, just know seating is cozy. Love the staff at this location, service is fantastic! read more

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The food and cocktails at Guu were excellent! We had the Lychee Lychee and the Sake Mojito which were delicious. Our favorite food item was the chicken Karaage. We also had the grilled squid legs, shishito peppers, and tuna and salmon tataki. The tataki was nice and fresh and the slices were thick and hearty. The atmosphere was also lively in the restaurant and even on Tuesday night there were plenty of people there. Great izakaya experience! read more

Guu Original Thurlow - Grilled squid legs - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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I went here with my friend H for lunch back in September. We ordered BBQ Beef Teishoku Combo ($12.80) and Sashi Tei ($16.80) they were tasty. I really liked Sashi Tei it came with tuna, salmon, spot prawn and scallop sashimi with Rice, soup and salad. It was tasty and filling. BBQ Beef was good as well just that rice didn't taste good according to H. It was a good dining experience. Waiting time wasn't too long. Price was reasonable. read more

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Great atmosphere for this Japanese tapas restaurant. Food was wonderful and service was top notch.

Needed to put our names down for a table. It was around a 40 min wait on a weekday. This is a nice cozy spot with some really good food. I loved the izakaya/ small plate concept and got to try some new things. You will find that there is a lot more options in person than on the online menu. My favorite here was the Tuna & Salmon Tataki and the ikamaru didn't disappoint either! At the end we got the Mochi Dorayaki for dessert and it was delicious! read more

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A small, busy restaurant. It's reasonably priced and the food was delicious. We had cold sake, sliced tomatoes with tofu, pumpkin croquet, chirashi, yaki udon, and mochi with red beans and green tea ice cream. All were tasty, especially the pumpkin croquet which came with an egg wrapped inside. read more

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Super cute authentic Japanese izakaya! It's a small joint right by robson. You get greeted by the whole staff and they even yell goodbye to you. Their dishes are small so it's very easy to over order. Surprisingly the daikon salad was one of my favourites. The yakiudon is a safe and classic choice. The mussels were also delicious! Love the vibe and food here! 10/10 definitely will be coming back! read more

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While visiting Vancouver, after a long day of hikes and nature-based sightseeing, my boyfriend and I wanted to find a good place to drink. We found ourselves at Guu on Thurlow and absolutely loved it! As soon as we walked through the doors we were met with incredible service from a hardworking team of employees serving a packed restaurant! Everyone was so attentive, helpful, and nice - we found Guu to be reminiscent of our experiences at tapas places in Japan. We ordered two sake flights - I got the jasmine, kiwi, and yuzu, and my boyfriend got the apple, kiwi, and yuzu. All of the sakes were delicious and the perfect amount of sweet (yuzu was as sour as a yuzu drink can be) but my favorite was the jasmine! While drinking, we decided to order some of the tapas dishes and got the Japanese grilled sausage, green beans with sesame sauce, and simmered enoki mushroom on tofu (all for $15 - it was the deal for the night). The 3 tapas dishes were made to perfection! They were full of flavor, did not taste heavy, and were perfect for sharing (portions compared to other tapas places I've been to were pretty big!). We both ended up getting other drinks, and I got the Snow White (it was refreshing, sweet, and amazing to sip on!). Throughout our time there, we enjoyed the dim lighting, sizzling of cooking done by the bar, delicious eats, excellent service, and fantastic music! Both my boyfriend and I agree that Guu was one of our more superior experiences in service with international travel and that we can't wait to come back again! read more

Guu Original Thurlow - Sake Flights - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Our night started out great: when we were waiting outside to be seated the host gave us hot tea. Once we were seated we waited 20 mins for someone to come and get our orders- we had to flag someone down while a table that sat down after us got their food by the time we ordered. Rest of the meal felt rushed. Now the food: Yaki udon - so good, chewy udon, sauce and beef were delicious. Beef had a smoky flavor to it Eel rice - alright, a bit on the sweet side. Black cod - tender, but flavor wasn't mindblowing. I thought Sushi Kashiba in Seattle had better black cod read more

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Good place to share some good food, I would suggest the fried rice or yaki udon. The specials have a good range to go off of and appetisers were good (Takoyaki is what I'd recommend out of my own preference)! Our food came out quickly and staff were attentive/very friendly, the atmosphere was bustling but comfy. Area is a smidge tight for multiple people though, probably a super nice place for a party of two or three for something casual! Sashimi was a bit steep and made up most of the bill, but I think everything else was quite worth it. If you need an appetiser, my go-to is takoyaki, theirs had good flavour and texture. read more

Guu Original Thurlow - Takoyaki - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

This was my first visit to Vancouver and a first visit to Guu. It was an intimate space with friendly waitstaff and delicious food. We ordered the ebimayo, yaki udon, kimchi fried rice, and the skirt steak and the okonomiyaki off the special menu. Everything was amazing and cooked perfectly. This is a great place to meet up with friends in a great location. read more

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Food: 2/3 Service: 1/1 Atmosphere: 1/1 Came here for lunch and got their Katsu-Don. Nothing too special about the place, quite an average Japanese restaurant with your average fare. Service was super fast (we got our food within 2 minutes of ordering...) The one thing that surprised me was how huge the meal was - for $9.50 I was expecting a lot less, so I was pleasantly surprised! The food was good, but nothing stood out that wowed me or was super exceptional. Overall I had a good experience here, and definitely some there are some props to be given for the big servings. I wouldn't come here for a special occassion or a fancy night out, but this is definitely a place I would keep in mind when I'm looking for a casual hang-out spot to grab food! read more

Guu Original Thurlow - Katsu-Curry ($9.50) - Quite a big serving! - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

I have visited 4 times and all menus have been successful. And the service of the staff is great. I will visit again next weekend read more

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We came here right when they opened for lunch. We were seated in the back which was spacious, but also right next to the bathroom. The service was friendly, but the food took a while to come out. I ordered Sake Tei- grilled Atlantic salmon. It also came with rice, miso soup, and a small scoop of potato salad. It was a lot of rice and I was quite full after. read more

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LA Tourist Review. LOVE LOVE LOVE the oden. everything else I ordered paled in comparison. I wish I had two orders of the mochi instead of getting the yam noodles. I highly recommend this dish. It is a light, clear broth with an assortment of toppings. Comes customizable. I remember the fish cake and mochi because they were my favorite. Chewy, hot soup. Final verdict: Would come back read more

Great place for Japanese comfort food and meals! The place is small, but it is super cozy and the staff are very lively and greet you as you walk in. The place doesn't have the best ventilation- your clothes might smell like good food for a bit after you leave. Food was great! The yaki Udon was a bit too greasy for me. The staff were very attentive and kind - I've never met waiters that were this cheerful and attentive, ever. All in all: food is four stars, service is 6 stars. read more

Guu Original Thurlow - Pumpkin and Egg Croquette - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia