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Had to follow up here with a new review as I came with my wife and they had the amazing bento box special - which they only have 12 of in a single day! Wow. I always love this place as the quality of all their dishes is very special and the service is excellent too. So what's in the bento today? Special lunch Bento - in order from top left: tataki, chicken breast, Karaage, spinach, eel wit tofu, hamachi, 2nd row: seafood uke, pork belly, shrimp Ebi, salmon tartare, cucumber, Brussels sprouts - I also got sashimi rice bowl and black cod. The sashimi was good, it came with ikura as well which I love. The black cod is heavenly. So smooth and tasty, the sauce on it really works well and its just grilled perfectly. - the Brussel sprouts and shrimp Ebi were good. - the salmon tartare was awesome. Great flavour. - the other seafood sashimi like sides were all really tasty - the Karaage is very tasty but not crispy - the only one that was just so so was chicken breast. Definitely worth coming in for the lunch bento.
We came on a Thursday night with reservations for 8pm. The place was popping. Lots of people inside and if we didn't reserve we would have had to sit at the communal table. I've been coming here for 10+ years and I always get the beef tongue, chicken karage and the ebi mayo. Those are my staple orders and those are the things that they are best at. I mean with the beef tongue it doesn't take much to make it good. The hot stone comes piping hot and perfect for searing of the meat. You need to do it fast or the stone will cool down. The chicken karage is so juicy and fragrant. They put just enough seasoning on it. The ebi mayo is huge and goes so well with beer. The 2 seasonal dishes or specials of the day weren't as good and I wouldn't get it again. My advice would be to just stick to their best well known dishes and if you want to come definitely make reservations (ESPECIALLY on the weekends the wait can get up to 1 hour)
Old school izakaya. This place has been around for decades. Came here to try their classic "assoreted bent" (assorted bento) box. Parking here sucks. Best to take transit. Some street parking in the area in the evenings. The inside is old school Japanese in terms of ambience. Almost feels like a movie set. Staff are friendly and quite helpful. No complaints. So the aforementioned bento box is limited edition (supposedly they only serve 8 portions per day), and requires a reservation. I must say that the presentation is pretty nifty, even though the overall portion is quite snack sized. Be here for the quality, not the quantity. I'm not even sure what I ate, though the waitress did explain what every little dish was. There was sashimi, some grilled prawn, some tataki, and karaage. See photo. For the mains I chose the sashimi bowl and beef tenderloin steak. The sashimi was very fresh. The steak was nice and rare and juicy. Definitely glad I tried this combo.
My friend and I had been wanting to try the Japanese tapas at Kingyo, but the only dinner reservation available that night we visited was at 9:45 PM. We decided to take a chance and walked 1.5 miles from our hotel to see if there were any last-minute cancellations. Luckily we were seated at the long shared table when we arrived at 7:45 PM. We shared the fried corn, grilled pork cheek, uni and crab udon, and negitoro sushi. A big thanks to our attentive waitress for letting us know the sushi came with only three pieces and offering to upgrade it to four. We were glad we did because it was incredibly fresh and delicious. The fried corn was flavorful and fun to eat, and the uni and crab udon was rich and decadent. The grilled pork cheek, however, was a bit too fatty for our taste. We're more accustomed to the leaner cuts served at Korean BBQ. When we asked if that was how it's typically prepared, the waitress kindly checked with her manager and proactively took it off the bill, even though we didn't request that. To top it off, they called me shortly after we left because I had accidentally left my umbrella behind, it was such thoughtful service! We'll definitely be back at Kingyo the next time we're in Vancouver.
Had the opportunity to try one of their limited Bento boxes for lunch with relatives & family. All in all, it gives small sampling of their top lunch items with a selection of a choice of protein & carb option. I really can't turn down black cod when given the choice. I do wish the piece was larger. Theu do cook it well her. Udon is your typical Italian inspired Japanese fusion. But too creamy for me but I can see why people world like this option. Service was a bit disorganized. My table had "called in" to request the bentos with our reservation and the phone agent did "confirm" the order. When we got there they had claimed it was sold out. When we pressed, they suddenly "made it happen" so better communication on these things world have helped the experience. The place during weekend lunch is just as busy as weekend dinner. Make a reservation whenever possible to avoid disappointment. Many tables suitable for small to mid size groups is available. Personally, the boxes were a bit steep in price considering my table ordered 3 of them. At that price point, there are definitely better meals to be had they would have offered more options for a group. I gave the place a 4 this time as a cumulative review as I generally do enjoy most meals I've had here.
Very nice upscale japanese restaurant. The service is very good. Servers explain the dishes as they come out. Wagyu beef was very rich. The bluefin tartar was a bit on the saltier side. It's good but a few bites was enough for me. The beef tongue is good. Nothing special alone, but the yuzu sauce definitely helped elevate it. Pork cheek was grilld well and pretty heavy. The 7 spices sauce flavoring was good but I definitely went back and dipped the pork cheek into the yuzu sauce that came with the beef tongue. It helped cut through the fattiness. Overall a good experience and will definitely come back in the future!
An oldie which I haven't returned to over 4 years. Their reservations are well booked, so forget about just dropping by. I don't recognize their menu, they must have updated it during my absence. Kingyo is a tapas joint which ideally cater to heavy drinking rowdy crowds but instead we got a generation of non-drinking youths. At the time of our meal, the restaurant was peppered with tourists and a few vocal karens with the rest of tables displaying "reserved" signs. We ordered two tapas and two entrees. The grilled mackerel is way over charred and bland. Had to douse in the tiny one table spoon sauce to cover the bitterness. Didn't really help. The tempura was the star dish, while the beef croquettes were mid, more like potato croquettes. The stewed char sui rice bowl was very dry. I guess, Kingyo had to re-invent themselves and had gone all fusion by introducing many other asian dishes. It is hard to do other cultures' dishes well. This is definitely for the nostalgic and the tourists.
This place was popular online and I saw how many reviews it had, so decided to stop by! There was a 50 minute wait for dinner, so we put down our name and just wandered around in the area until they called us. This was lowkey our dinner part. 2 after splitting a peaked pie down the street, so we only got deep fried fresh corn, beef tongue on hot stone, and cream uni udon! They take dietary restriction/food allergies very seriously (as they should) and asked very detailed questions about my friend's allergies to make sure that the food was safe to eat. The beef tongue on hot stone was an entertaining way to cook the meat! The meat was tender and delicious! The udon was also full of flavor and delicious. It satisfied our cravings for it, since another place we wanted to get it from a few days before didn't serve them for lunch when we were there.
I discovered this place as I was searching for a new place to eat at in Vancouver. I followed all the recommendations like making a reservation and reserving for an omakase. Day arrived to eat at this place. Moment it opens, line start to form. You already know how good your meal will be. We shared an omakase and added a dish to share, creamy uni don. Oh my gosh, so good. We enjoyed everything, so well thought of. Every bite we savored each one. Will be back at this lovely place.
We had made a reservation and were seated at the bar, which was fine for the two of us, though it did feel a little tight space wise. The environment was energetic and lively as they welcomed guests coming in. We ordered a variety of dishes to try. The tomato kimchi was special. It was refreshing, and juicy, but not "raw" tasting. It came out quickly and we liked it so much that we ordered it again to balance things out with our heavier items. The fried corn was savory and full of flavor, a really enjoyable dish to try, and my partner was tempted to order it a second time. We also had the North American wagyu beef (100g). It's not a large portion, but it was very tender and cooked quickly on the hot stone. It was simple and delicious. The chicken karaage didn't have the crunchy texture I usually look for, but the chicken itself was incredibly juicy and tender, which made up for it. Another refreshing side we enjoyed was the cabbage with dried shrimp. It had a crunchy yet delicate texture and was a great accompaniment to the proteins. The Dan Dan noodles we ordered came out last, I actually wondered if they'd forgotten about it. The noodles themselves were a bit more al dente than we prefer, but when I got a bite with a little bit of everything in the bowl, it was very harmonious and tasty overall. Despite the slower pacing at times, it was a good experience, and we'd be happy to return.
The brussel sprouts karaage was good, but I wished that it had more of unique flavor. The seafood bibimbap bowl was really flavorful, especially the egg. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this dish. The lotus root agedashi was very unique. I liked that the blue cheese wasn't overpowering. I would have preferred the slices to be a bit thinner since the pieces were quite thick and large. The blue fin tuna (I think) aburi sushi was so so good. I'd say this was my favorite dish. The tasting menu was exceptional. Every piece of sashimi was really good, but the scallop was my favorite, because it was slightly sweet. The Duck was flavorful, but I wish it was served to us as a warm dish rather than slightly chilled. We ordered both the North American style and Japanese style Wagyu. The North American style had better flavor, but the Japanese style was so buttery and had a melt in your mouth texture. The Black cod was nice and tasty. Although my sister did feel that it could have used a little bit more flavor. Although the food was outstanding, the customer service was lacking. It looked like they only had 2 servers working. They rarely cleared the plates and even then we had to ask a couple times. It's possible that they were short staffed due to it being a long weekend. If my review was based in the food alone, Kingyo would have recieved 5 stars. Unfortunately, due to the customer service not being great they are receiving 4 stars from me.
3 months ago
4 months ago
Wow!!!! Went to this restaurant the other day and it was great! The ambiance was spectacular and i loved the decor. The servers were all friendly and quick to take our order! They were also always prompt with checking in on us. The food itself was amazing! We had the tuna carpaccio to start and oh my! The tuna tasted like it came fresh out of the ocean. Next we had a sashimi salad and very much on par with the tuna carpaccio, the sashimi boomed with freshness. Next came the entrees, we had ordered a truffle carbonara and the tan tan noodles. Both of which tasted delicious! The truffle noodles were a taste from heaven! Truly an S tier dish and something I would happily comeback for! Please! I urge you! Get the truffle carbonara udon! The tan tan noodle was flavourful and the noodles were cooked with excellence! All in all, this restaurant was straight bussin! I recommend everyone who's visiting or from the lower mainland to come try it out! Only caveat, there are only two washrooms, so be prepared to wait for the toilet! Oh side note: I ordered a chicken karage and it came out raw... but the staff were quick to replace it and make me a new one. read more
Stopped by Kingyo in between stretches of time at Stanley Park, so it was nicely situated for a quick lunch. Our group of 7 had a reservation for 7 people at 12PM so when we arrived we were led to a big table in the back corner of the restaurant. My husband and I split two entrees, the sizzling seafood bowl and the ramen laksa, as well as a couple of appetizers - the karaage and the salmon tartare. The karaage was not bad - very juicy, but not quite crispy enough - and I really liked the salmon tartare paired with the nori chips. The sizzling seafood bowl was kind of disappointing; there wasn't a ton of seafood included, and it mostly tasted like a non-fried-rice version of seafood fried rice. For the portion and the price, I would not order that again. Conversely, the laksa ramen was excellent and we really enjoyed the broth and the noodles. Others got the eel bowl, the wagyu croquette bowl, the tonkatsu bento, and the miso black cod bento. They all seemed to enjoy their meals, especially the dashi that came with the eel bowl to turn it into soupy rice at the end. The tako wasabi appetizer and the hot stone beef tongue appetizer that others ordered were also tasty. Even though we got seated right around open, they were already out of the 8-orders-per-day bento, which was disappointing for a few of the people in our party. All in all though it's a solid lunch place in the downtown area! read more
2 months ago
2 years ago
The food was so good. Everything was really well balanced and flavorful. The cod was so flaky and delicious, and the combination with the sauce made it even better. We also got the corn and that was very good. I think the beef tongue stuck to the rock a little bit, but the sauce was quite tangy. I think the uni miso udon was my favorite dish though, followed by the black cod and tan tan noodles. I likes the bibimbap but compared to the other dishes it didn't stand out as much. We put our name down and walked around the area. They told us to expect a 30 minute wait but I believe they texted us within 15-20 minutes. read more
2 years ago
Kingyo was one of our favorite dinners during our girls trip to Vancouver! We loved the high energy and vibes of the Izakaya and were greeted warmly on a Sunday night. We got lucky to be seated immediately even without reservations. For food, we enjoyed their Korean bibimbap, grilled fish, creamy udon, and grilled wagyu meat. It was super fun grilling the wagyu on the giant stone! Our favorite dishes were probably the Korean bibimbap and grilled fish. The bibimbap was full of fresh seafood and each bite had different chews and textures. The fish was also grilled perfectly and we absolutely devoured every inch of it! The cocktails were also super yummy, light, and came in the cutest cups. 10/10 recommend! read more
We came here as a group of 4 scared because we didn't have a reservation ahead of time but they were able to seat us in around 20 minutes! The food is absolutely divine and the server was kind and attentive, giving us great recommendations as well. We definitely over ordered but the wagyu and the sushi bowls we got are a must, and I personally loved the uni pasta!! I wish I could go back in time and experience this for the first time again! read more
10 months ago
We got lucky as we came here without a reservation and managed to get seated. The restaurant was quite busy, so I definitely recommend making a reservation! The atmosphere of the restaurant was nice with bamboo decor in the middle of the space. We ordered some appetizers (salmon tartar and truffle agedashi tofu), the seafood bibimpap, and the uni miso udon. I think the portions were small so that was a bit disappointing, but the quality of the food was good! After we ate everything, I was full. I think if I had only ordered a main, I would have still been hungry. I do really like the aesthetic of the place, so I think for people who enjoy dining for the vibes, Kingyo is worth a visit. read more
1 year ago
I went here a couple weeks ago with my friends for a bachelorette vacation. Of all the restaurants we ate in Vancouver, this was by far my favorite. We had the hot stone beef tongue, hot stone beef Wagyu, beef croquette, blue fin tuna tartare, Wagyu carpaccio, corn karaage, cucumber salad, and tan tan noodles. Everything was delicious, and I am salivating just thinking about it. My personal favorite was the blue fin tuna tartare due to the complexity of the flavor of the dish balanced by the lightness of the fried taro chips. The setting was really cute and reminded us of being in Kyoto, Japan with the architecture inside. Our waiter was Josh, who was so kind and sweet. He really made our experience memorable and is truly a gem! He not only made great recommendations, but also provided excellent service and made our experience here one we will never forget. When I come back to Vancouver, I will definitely return! read more
8 months ago
I only had a day to spend in Vancouver and just got done e-biking in Stanley park. I originally debated to go to Miku or Minami, but they required reservations at least a day in advanced, so I called this place and they took me in immediately, and it was only a 4 minute walk from the entrance of Stanley Park! I had the tuna Aburi sushi, Wagyu and Toro bowl, Japan stone grilled wagyu beef, chocolate warabi mochi, and our famous almond tofu. All of it was incredible, and I can honestly say as someone who's lived in Southern California my whole life and visited many cities, this is probably my favorite restaurant. The ingredients were so fresh, the sushi and toro rice were like an expensive omakase I went to in Los Angeles, the mochi was super soft and not too sweet or bland, the tofu is a must try, and the Japan stone grilled wagyu was like butter. I think I overcooked mine too since it was more on the well done side when I cooked it, but it was still extremely soft and buttery. Also, when you walk in, they greet you like a guest of honor. I would genuinely fly to Vancouver just to eat at this restaurant! read more
1 year ago
I booked a reservation with some friends to celebrate a birthday. For your birthday, Kingyo will allow you to choose one select dessert item with your order. We ordered to share among 4, the chicken karage and tuna tataki. The karage and tuna tataki were thick pieces. We had ordered the truffle udon carbonara and seafood bibimbap to share with one another. The seafood bibimbap was my favourite of the two dishes. For dessert we got the frozen matcha crème brûlée and the black sesame panna cotta. I would say the desserts were my favourite part of the meal; the flavours were very mild but was a perfect end for our meals. Would definitely recommend here if you wanted to celebrate a special occasion! read more
8 months ago
This spot was amazing as we were stumbling upon a good sushi spot. We came in from Seattle and Houston and enjoy sushi. read more
I normally don't give places 5 stars but dam this was one of the better restaurants in Vancouver. For the price, quality and service it's definitely worth it. I'm a little biased because I liked Raisu more but if you want beef you come here, if you want sushi you go to Raisu. The beef carpaccio was a good starter as it is not too heavy. I was kinda shocked because even though it was good it wasn't really anything mind blowing or stood out. The empress gin and tonic was something I've never had before as I'm use to Bombay gin etc in the states. I did like how it was a little stronger in alcohol because I typically don't like my drinks sweet. The wagyu bowl honestly has been one of the best ones I've tried in Vancouver so far. I don't really venture out to eat wagyu since I feel At times it can be a bit gimmicky but since I'm visiting from the states I just full sent it. It was cooked beautifully rare and it was surprisingly so tender.. I was not expecting that at all since it does look like the skirt cut off the cow. BEEF TONGUE IS THE GOAT HERE. If there's one thing you want to order.. you better order the dam beef tongue. My god literally just sear it on the stone for 5-6 seconds on each side and your Gucci. The beef tongue didn't even taste like tongue because it was so f*cken tender.. as if it's been hand massaged. The sauce that comes with the beef tongue complimented it really well as it masks the irony taste. The almond and hochija brûlée was decent.. I was so sad they didn't have the black sesame one :(. Overall experience.. the service was amazing, friendly and really bubbly. Food was excellent and came out pretty quick, price of the food was shockingly good but it's probably because my USD conversion to CAD was great. Ambiance and vibes of the restaurant felt super Japanese and I'd definitely recommend this place as top 10 restaurants in Vancouver. I would definitely be back if I ever visit Canada again! read more
Decided to try this place after reading all the high reviews. Came on a weekday for lunch and surprisingly there's street parking right in front of the restaurant Ordered the wagyu croquette, halibut ramen, and the tuna sushi plate. Overall thought the flavor is on point. Service quality is excellent. Ingredients tasted quite fresh. For the quality, the price is actually pretty good. Definitely recommend this place for anyone visiting the area. read more
Came here around 6pm on a weekday night and it was pretty packed already. The waitress was super nice and provided great recommendations. We ended up ordering uni udon, seafood bibimbap, and avocado roll and two drinks. All three items were flavorful and delicious and I would highly recommended it. Drinks were just ok. The dining environment isn't good for family with toddler as high chair isn't available. read more
Loved this restaurant! Came in on a Friday for lunch for two and still had to wait 20 minutes. Aside from that, the food was excellent and the service was great. I especially liked the green salad (the addition of seeds was a nice touch) as well as the stone Kobe beef (the fun was searing it myself.) The pressed wagyu sushi as well as negitoro avocado bowl were good but similar to what you could find elsewhere. read more
1 year ago
My family and I had dinner here and we thoroughly enjoyed our food! We had reservations so we were sat right away. The restaurant was completely filled for the majority of our meal. We ordered the Deep Fried Fresh Corn, Green Salad, Seafood Bibimbap, and Stone Grilled Kobe Beef (Japan). The corn wasn't too oily and had a good seasoning over it. I liked the different types of seafood in the bibimbap. The rice was cooked well and wasn't dry! The highlight of the dish was the Kobe Beef. Although it was a lot more expensive, the meat was beautifully marbled and melted in our mouth. The only part I didn't like was that the stone got cold after some time, so the later pieces of beef didn't cook as well. Overall, we had a great dinner here and would come back! It's a great dinner date spot! read more
I LOVE THIS RESTAUARANT. THIS IS MY FAVORITE RESTAURANT THAT I TRIED IN VANCOUVER AND WILL FLY BACK JUST FOR IT. It has been a month since I last ate at Kingyo, but I still rememebrr this restaurant as if it was yesterday. This restaurant was so good. I don't rememebrr exactly what I ordered but it has Uni, toro, and rice, and American Wagyu. It was so delicious because the portions were so generous and tasted so good all together. This place also had really good cocktails and mocktails and the service was so good! read more
We had really high expectations of this place because we love this restaurant group! Came here on a saturday evening and was immediately seated at the main table with bamboo in the center (which I like so I don't have to awkwardly look at the stranger in front of me). We ordered the hot stone beef tongue, seafood bibimbap and the tantan noodle. The dishes were all good but nothing too special. The seafood bibimbap was very fragrant from the sea urchin sauce but I think it was lacking enough protein chunks. The beef tongue was an experience bc we got to cook them ourselves on a hot stone and was delicious, but the hot stone kept trying to roll as we try to peel the beef off the stone, which seems like a hazard. Finally, the tantan noodle had a distinctive black sesame taste and was not too heavy, which was good but again not too special. We perhaps just didn't get the dishes that suit us so I'd definitely come back for their bento boxes and their kaisendon! read more
Walk in and get greeted with the lovely faux Japanese architecture bar. The lights are dim and moody. The main seating is a large table divided by bamboo in the center, so small groups get seated next to each other instead of facing each other. I liked the ambience, short of my wobbly-legged chair that seemed like it was ready to give up any time. Here's what I ordered: Takowasabi- small slices of raw octopus in very strong wasabi sauce served with nori. I enjoyed this one a lot. Kobe beef and beef tongue on hot stone - I opted for the cheaper Canadian Kobe beef for 35$ vs 70$ Japanese Kobe. No regrets. It was nicely marbled, tender, and forgiving despite our poor cooking skills. The beef tongue, not so forgiving, but good nonetheless. Blue fin tuna and avocado carpaccio- among our favorites. Tangy dressing was amazing. Pressed Salmon Sushi- a little on the blander side. Supplied wasabi was tasteless. Not bad overall. Almond pudding- every thing I expected. Nicely wrapped up the meal. read more
11 months ago
4.75 stars - Good, friendly service. Really great decor and ambiance. High quality, tasty food and drinks at fair prices. Not every dish was amazing, but the meal was still really, really good overall. Kingyo came highly recommended by many during our visit to Vancouver, so of course we had to brave the rain and go! It did not disappoint. *Service & Ambiance* We were able to grab an early dinner reservation a few weeks before our trip and were seated immediately upon arrival. The servers were very inviting and friendly. The restaurant decor had really cool details. *Food* - Beef tongue: If you usually like tongue, this is a good option to start with. It comes with a nice, citrusy sauce too. - Wagyu pressed sushi: savory, tasty. Not your usual sushi. I wouldn't say the meat was buttery, but it was still really enjoyable. The 2 of us easily finished the entire order. - Wagyu special: quality was good, and it was fun to cook it on the hot stone. I also enjoyed the 2 different sauces it came with. Glad we tried it! - Blue fin carpaccio: Citrusy, tangy, tasty, served on a bed of greens - Cabbage: I always crave veggies when I'm traveling and this was surprisingly delicious! It is mostly just cut up cabbage with some tiny shrimps sprinkled on top, but the dressing was so craveable. I recommend it as a side option cut through the richness of everything else. - Tantan ramen: Good! Very flavorful and rich, quite filling. We were really full towards the end of the meal, so if there was one dish we might have been able to forego, it might have been this one. - Almond jelly dessert: This was so light and refreshing! I don't usually opt for the almond jelly desserts, but I was thinking about this meals later. Wishing I had more now actually. *Parking* Mostly metered street parking. We got lucky with a spot right in front. Be sure to pay though, because we saw the meter maid come by to check twice during our meal. Kingyo will definitely be on my list of go-to's the next time I'm back in Vancouver! read more
2 years ago
Kingyo is such a cute spot in the West End area of Vancouver. It not only is aesthetic, but also has quality. We had come for Sunday dinner and the place was pretty crowded so we were seated in a communal table. We had ordered: Stone Grilled Beef Tongue, Truffle Carbonara Udon The portions for the udon were pretty big. The flavor on the sauce was absolutely delicious, creamy with hints of truffle. The noodles were more on the chewier side and a bit firm. The miso soup was also really flavorful with lots of seaweed. We had also ordered a corn appetizer that was part of their Valentine's Day menu & it was delicious. It was a bit sweet & had a crispy exterior. My boyfriend enjoyed the Stone Grilled Beef Tongue and if the stone gets cold, they even change it out for you. The service is great and things came out pretty fast. It really is a nice spot to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, etc. Parking: Street parking read more
2 years ago
This might be my favourite one from this family of restaurants. I had such a lovely time here, and I thoroughly enjoyed everything that I ate. We tried the cucumber pickles, the fried corn, the salmon sashimi, the tan tan noodles, and the uni udon. The fish was soft and so good, and the uni udon was as flavourful as expected. The noodles were the perfect bounciness, and I think I could've eaten that dish for the rest of my life. The tan tan noodles were warm and hearty, and with a really good sesame flavour. The service was friendly and quick, and although the restaurant was quite busy, it felt like the restaurant was half-full, with the attention we received. It was a little on the noisy side, especially because it was a Friday night, but it was still such a great experience. Will be back soon! read more
2 years ago
We were able to get walk-in seatings for 2 on a Saturday afternoon! I really liked the negitoro bowl here...the wagyu bowl was just ok. I thought the meat was too chewy, but the fatty tuna was good. Would want to come back to try their uni dishes! read more
1 year ago
Japanese tapas are amazing. Def make a reservation as it gets crowded Quickly. We tried the Wagyu plate and the brussel sprouts and they hit the spot. read more
Came on a weekday to experience the elusive Bento box! I was a bit worried about obtaining one since I was getting there after opening (12:30 PM), but I was able to reserve one by calling at 12 PM. I dined alone at the bar and it was a pleasant experience - the restaurant was busy enough at lunch that I didn't feel awkward, and the staff was kind to check in on me frequently, but not an overwhelming amount. The Bento box was delicious and certainly enough food for one person, maybe even two if you each get rice and miso soup (I did not and I was still stuffing my face!). Lots of interesting vegetables and surprising additions, a fun experience if you're lucky enough to get one. The fish was by far my favorite part, if I come back, then I will definitely opt for a full spread of nigiri! read more
First of all, just go here. Now. Stop thinking about it. Come back and read my review later. You're taking too long already to decide. I am not posting this because you need to hem and haw about whether or not KINGYO is the king, yo.... GO EAT THEIR FOOD NOW Now, let me tell you. The ambiance is cool and fun. Lots of energy and vibes from the chefs and waiters. Very much a spot to be! The food is so delicious. We ate our way across the menu. First time here and tried to fit in a lot, but we did not cover it all. Gonna return! Our choices, and all winners: Pressed salmon sushi Uni udon All the sashimi Negitoro Calamari Tartar tuna Corn We never wanted to be full. We got extras of some of the above. What a treat!! We are all walking out like WHOA this place competes worldwide with the sushi + small plates we have loved for years in a number of key restaurants. Dessert was really wild. Cheese ice cream insanity. Black sesame panna cotta kicked booty. Green tea terrine rocked. Sapporo on tap! And we did sake tastings then settled on a bottle of I don't recall but I'll post a pic and just get it because it is reallllly good. Suffice to say this is one for the memory books and likely one to return to before death. Thanks, KINGYO! And to Chef Hiroshi, we hope you find your bike one day. read more
This is a great spot with a cool ambiance, vibe, and decor. The food highlights for me were the beef tongue you cook on a hot stone, the truffle wagyu pressed sushi, and the tan tan men. Plus, when you get sake, you have to say "ottotototo" for them to stop pouring--a fun tradition that adds to the experience. Service was friendly, helpful, and inviting. Overall, a memorable dining experience that I'd recommend to anyone. read more
10 months ago
This was a no go for me. Visiting Vancouver. And my son was sick in the hotel so I wanted to try some sushi/fish. This place came highly recommended. I got a sizzling seafood bowl. It was mostly rice. It was supposed to have tiger prawns, and I bet there was one prawn in here cut into bits. There were about 12 tiny scallops and literally maybe a tablespoon of crab. It was a total joke for how much I paid for it and not tasty. Bummer. It also looks like it has cheese on it. I don't even know what that is. read more
2 years ago
My favorite meal during my trip to Vancouver! I arrived 15 minutes before Kingyo opened on a Sunday and was first in line - a luckily so because a line formed shortly after. I was promptly seated as soon as they opened and I immediately secured 1 of out the limited number lunch bentos they serve a day. I also ordered the beef tongue stone grill set. I was seated at the communal table, which was perfect for a solo diner like me. Service was attentive and great! Dishes that were served to me were thoroughly explained. The beef tongue stone grill arrived first. The stone's ability to retain heat was honestly so impressive as I cooked the meat. It was delicious and paired so well with the sauce it was served with. A great starter! The lunch bento definitely lives up to hype and is worth the money! I thoroughly enjoyed the entire bento with only a few of the dishes leftover just because I was too full. I recommend if you can secure! Despite being full, I still opted for the almond tofu Kingyo is presumably also known for. It was different! I really enjoyed the jasmine tea jelly on top - never had anything like it. Overall, I'm so glad I set time aside to try this place out! I'm definitely coming back if I'm ever back in Vancouver! read more
I'd probably rate Kingyo a bit higher than a 3 realistically, but the negative experience leaves me a bit hesitant...I should have gone with my gut and ordered one of the beef dishes that were on the menu, but I opted for the ebi mayo and what I believe was a sizzling tofu/eggplant special(?) I couldn't locate it on the online menu, which leads me to believe it must have been on their specials menu. The shrimp were crispy and absolutely delicious, but I was really disappointed by the sizzling bowl. First, it was so overwhelmingly hot and oily that when they brought it out, it was splashing and spraying hot oil all over the table and on me. I tried my best to eat it while it was still hot, taking pieces of food out of the bowl to cool down and still managing to burn my mouth. By the time things had cooled down 30+ minutes later, it was just overcooked food sitting in a huge thing of oil...it wasn't really appetizing and I ended up wasting so much food. I've had sizzling bowls and dishes before, but the amount of oil was really off-putting. I'm talking like 1/4 to 1/3 of the stone bowl was just oil. My friends had some delicious sashimi and pasta that I was able to try, but the sizzling bowl kind of ruined the experience for me. We also sat at a long shared table and the people on the corner kept putting their used plates and bowls by us. The service was incredibly friendly, which leads me to believe I'd enjoy this place a lot more the next time around, with a different dish. read more
1 year ago
We had reservations prior to arriving during lunch and were seated immediately. The staff were super attentive and quick with getting our food out. We got the assorted Bento box -- which we believe are first come, first serve. The food not only looked beautiful, but the food tasted fresh and great. We also got the Kobe beef/stone. You get to cook the Kobe beef on a hot stone. The beef was soft and melts in your mouth, recommend ordering! read more
This was a good find in Vancouver.The great staff at the Loden Hotel (see my review) gave us multiple personal favorites to choose from and after reading some Yelp reviews we chose Kingyo. We walked in without a reservation and surprisingly was seated immediately though the hostess told us, albeit politely, we would have to finish within 90 minutes due to reservations. I honestly didn't like that. So much for starting off with a nice tranquil Zen experience. The place is richly decorated in dark woods and a huge bamboo divider runs along the restaurant which did give a bit of a peaceful forest look. Our server was very friendly (didn't mention getting out on time), described the menu extensively giving us her personal favorites. Would order again- Cauliflower karagge-tasty take on chicken karagge. Pressed yuzu tuna tataki sushi-was splendid and I should have ordered two Pressed salmon sushi Had to try but would skip next visit- Stone grilled Kobe beef-more novelty than anything Carbonara udon-sounded interesting as a fusion but didn't knock me over. The place has a fun vibe to it and the menu offers a lot and is worth trying. read more
Kingyo was definitely my favorite meal of my Vancouver trip. Everything was phenomenal! I would love to have this meal again. Because of the daily limit of bentos, my party of two arrived 5-10 minutes before lunch opening without a reservation and were seated around the communal table surrounding the bamboo. I ordered the bento immediately and luckily secured it. Phew! The bentos sell out quick, so if you want it, come early! The different variety of bites was great, and the sockeye salmon sashimi was the most interesting. I don't think I've seen this anywhere else before. We also had so much fun grilling the beef tongue on a hot stone. With the scallops, shrimp, and ikura, the seafood bowl was so umami and fishy in the best, freshest way possible and fragrant from the browned rice at the bottom of the stone pot. I'd highly recommend checking Kingyo out! read more
10 months ago
It was so great foooood I would like to go again when I want Japanese food. I highly recommend to someone who travel to Vancouver. Its pretty close to Stanley park and English bay. Please try here!!! read more
What hasn't been said about Kingyo that hundreds of reviewers haven't said already? Beautiful interior, amazing service, delicious food, and satiable drinks? All true. The wagyu beef bowl was what caught my guy's eyes upon researching where we wanted to eat the first day we visited Vancouver. Reservations were easily made through Opentable. Right when we sat down, we already knew what to order. Wagyu beef bowl and the seafood sashimi deluxe bowl. To be honest, the size of the beef bowl was a bit disappointing. The photos of it make it look huge! It's not, BUT the tender cut and sear of the beef slices still satisfied my guy. He ate and oohed every morsel. He even gave me a slice to taste! My seafood bowl was so fulfilling. The freshest sashimi and uni I've ever had. Uni was buttery, sweet, and not at all bitter. Even the non fatty tuna tasted fatty and went down smooth. I couldn't even pick a favorite. All the pieces were delicious. The salmon roe really helped in adding the right amount of brine and salt to the dish that I didn't really need much soy sauce and Wasabi. We also ordered a roll prior, but our bowls overshadowed it. Really delicious food, amazing service and overall cool vibe. No complaints, only accolades. read more
More info about Kingyo
871 Denman Street
Vancouver, BC V6G 2L9
Canada
West End
Directions
(604) 608-1677
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Visit Website
http://www.kingyo-izakaya.ca/
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Kingyo - japanese - Updated May 2026
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