I was really looking forward to dining at Banju, but unfortunately, my experience was very…read moredisappointing. When we arrived, there was no one at the reception. A friendly staff member from the bar came over, greeted us, and showed us to a table. I would have preferred a booth, but we were not given an option and were seated at a regular table. We had plenty of time to look through the QR code menu and were ready to order, but no one came to take our order. We were not asked if we wanted any drinks, and we were not provided with plates, cutlery, or napkins. What made the situation even more frustrating was that customers who arrived approximately 10 minutes after us were seated at a booth, even though there were only two of them as well. They were immediately provided with plates, cutlery, and glasses of water, while we continued to be completely overlooked. At that point, I became so frustrated that I simply got up and left. I understand that restaurants can be busy and that there may be a system for seating guests, but customers should still be acknowledged and served in a fair and timely manner. Unfortunately, this experience left me feeling ignored and unwelcome. Customer service is an important part of the dining experience, and in this case, it fell well below my expectations. I was genuinely looking forward to trying Banju, but based on this experience, we will not be returning

Service was great and this restaurant with its multiple big screens is perfect for watching sports…read moregames. Prices are on the high side but it's Vancouver. The seafood pancake was soggy but the stir fried pork on the hot plate was nicely seasoned. Portion sizes are average and comes up to roughly $40pp with no drinks. All around it's a great place to go with friends. Parking is tough in this area and this is not stroller and wheelchair friendly as you have to walk up to the 2nd floor.

Came here for dinner after wanting to try something unique. We sat at a big table in front of a…read morebig window and the restaurant is fairly dark. Staff were friendly. We ordered a big assortment of things off the menu, all of which were good but also not amazing. We ate it all and the family enjoyed it, but I don't think I'll be craving it to return either.

This is a classic izakaya in the heart of Gastown. It was not too busy despite it being the day…read morebefore a World Cup game hosted in Vancouver. Parking is extremely limited and paid so recommend taking transit here. We tried the deep fried calamari, Wagyu beef tataki, 3 choice dry aged sashimi, scallop carpaccio, and some beers. The dishes were fairly small for the price and was a bit average. The sashimi was good but tasted just like regular sashimi, so not really worth the premium. The Wagyu beef tataki didn't taste as fresh as I hoped, but the ginger sauce equalized the flavor. The scallops were pretty good. All of these paired well with the beer. Not a negative but a heads up that you may face a language barrier when placing the order so definitely make clear what you want to get by pointing out the items you want off the menu

Had a great experience at Oshi Nori in Yaletown! The sushi was incredibly fresh, beautifully…read morepresented, and packed with flavor. Everything we ordered tasted amazing, and you can really tell they use high-quality ingredients. One of the coolest parts of dining here is that the chefs prepare your sushi right in front of you. Watching them carefully craft each order adds a unique and fun experience that you don't get at most sushi restaurants. The atmosphere is modern, cozy, and perfect for a night out. The staff were friendly, the service was excellent, and the attention to detail really stood out. If you're looking for delicious sushi and a place with a great vibe, I highly recommend Oshi Nori. Definitely a spot I'll be coming back to!

My wife and I were strolling along the seawall, and we wanted something to eat. I found this spot…read moreon OpenTable, so made a reservation and stopped in. Prior to finding this place on the app, I've never heard of it before. But once we stepped in, it immediately reminded me of Hello Nori, another sushi and hand roll bar. The space is dominated by the sushi bar, so you can watch the chefs prepare your food and serve it to you fresh. The huge gold fish mural along the wall makes for a great aesthetic. Here's what we ate: - Kochi Bluefin Tataki: Very good. Tataki has become pretty common now - you can even find it in Costco - but every once in awhile you a fresh, deftly prepared version, and you remember why it's so good. This was one of those times. - Original Handroll Set (4): Excellent. Nothing beats a freshly made handroll, and these were all top notch. Each and every roll were nicely accented with various toppings that complemented each roll. - A5 Wagyu Handroll: Excellent. Pure decadence. I wanted to order more, but my wallet said no. Service was attentive and polite. Very good. Overall, a really good visit. I didn't know about this place before, but I would certainly come back. The food is excellent. 4.25 out of 5

I came here with two other friends and we got a salad, a kaisendon, and a pasta to share. I…read moredefinitely recommend sharing as each individual item can be a bit pricey (though the ingredients are very fresh and taste high quality). The house green salad had an onion dressing that was really good. It had a slightly sweet flavour and paired well with the vegetables (this might be one of the better salads I've tasted). The bluefin trio don was easy to share between three people as we all got to try a piece of each type of cut. The tuna was fresh and the rice was seasoned with furikake. It was a simple dish, but I really like sashimi so it was my favorite out of everything we had. The uni pasta came with a lot of mushrooms, clams, and was topped with a scallop sashimi and fish roe. Unfortunately, I was not able to taste the uni flavour but the dish was still made very well with the pasta being al dente and saucy. After we were done eating, we were offered complimentary yuzu tea, which was the perfect amount of sweetness. (We were also given miso soup before our meal, and the restaurant uses fresh wasabi which was really nice). There weren't many other diners at the restaurant when we went and by the time we were done, we were the only ones there. With that said, there is limited seating in the restaurant, so I would still recommend making a reservation to be safe.

I'd heard about Moltan in passing over the years but had never tried it out. Coincidentally, when…read morelooking for a lunch spot, my friend mentioned this was one of her favourite Vancouver spots and for good reason! We shared the tuna sashimi (6 pc for $16), house salad ($7), and salmon-ikura don which came with seaweed ($30). All of the fish was extremely fresh with a great texture, I was impressed! The salad was also a good portion with a delicious sweet onion-y dressing. The portion of the don was also substantial and you get a good amount of seafood. The only note I'd add is that there is limited seating due to the space which can make for a bit of a tighter squeeze when passing through so perhaps call ahead. Overall, I'd come back when I'm craving some good sashimi and the complimentary to-go yuzu tea at the end of the meal was definitely a great bonus :)

One of my favourite dining experiences I have had in Vancouver!…read more We did the premium omakase, which was well worth it and included many premium ingredients including foie gras, caviar, truffle, and many incredible cuts of fish. The food was absolutely delicious. Some of my favorites include the scallops, the aged hamachi with black truffle, and the unagi tempura. There were so many delicious cuts of fish that it is hard to say which ones were best. The matcha salt was unexpectedly delicious to pair with sashimi. What makes the experience truly special though is Chef Tom. He serves you with warmth that makes you feel cared for and welcomed into his kitchen, and talks through how he prepared each dish. The sake flood shots pairing is also good value and complements the meal nicely. Ambiance is intimate and cozy. Decor is relatively casual although the dining experience certainly doesn't feel casual. Can't wait to go back!

This place has been renovating recently so they are only serving a few seatings for omakase dinner…read more They have two sets - a regular and a premium omakase, roughly $79 and $119 I think. I took my son here for a treat. The renovation looks really nice btw - the bathrooms have some niceties such as floss and mouthwash. The omakase is fantastic. Some of the best fish that I've had - and it's impossible to describe everything. The omakase had 10 steps and many of them had multiple nigiri with different fish. Plus dessert and amazing tea afterwards!! My favorites: - torched hotate (scallop） served with egg yolk - simply sublime, so incredibly good, mixture of torched, great seafood, and melty yolk - nigiri with caviar, in particular the bluefin tuna nigiri - hand rolls, especially the Ankimo which is torched monk fish liver - lots of other torched nigiri. - wide variety of fish including madai - silky smooth Chawanmushi with nice sides The chef was very personable, warm, and gave very precise directions on how to season and eat each step and food. A great mixture of hot and cold, some dishes to be seasoned with just salt, or lemon, some with soy sauce (his own), and some with the hand ground wasabi (which is amazing, very light compared to store wasabi). Going here is definitely a top dining experience for the sushi lovers in your life.

The food was amazing, the service prompt, and I'd say the only slight downside is it's a bit…read morecramped. Oh, and it's a bit pricey--grateful we were visiting and had a favorable exchange rate. I'd describe it as more "nouveau Japanese" than a typical izakaya place (I was expecting ramen and fried food when my daughter said we were going to an izakaya), but it FAR EXCEEDED my expectations. We enjoyed the salmon, tuna, red crab, and hamachi and each was a creative delight, both in flavor combinations and presentation. They even were kind enough to adjust the serving sizes as some dishes had 2 pcs but we had 3 people, so they added a piece to accommodate (charging accordingly, of course).

Was recommended to try this izakaya bar from a friend and it was quite an experience!…read more The vibe inside felt like retro Japan, with various anime and Japanese inspired artwork. They also had a TV playing episodes of Naruto which was a throwback to my childhood, but in a very classy way.  The service overall was also fantastic. They were all very friendly, and were able to answer our questions related to the menu, providing recommendations based on what we liked for both drinks and food, but honestly, given the quality of everything we ordered, any item on their menu would hit the spot.  We ordered the Tonka, Kuri, Mango and Ume. Of the four we thought the Kuri and Ume were the most delicious, with the Kuri tasting the most unique. For food, we ordered the BGB King Salmon, Prawn Toast, Red Crab, Hamachi Tartare and the Ice Cream Sando. Each item was meticulously prepared. Our favourite was the Red Crab, as the blend of crab, tamago salad, truffle, on a toasted piece of milk bread, was fantastic, our favourite bite of the night. The hamachi tartare was my second favourite, as each delicious bite was complimented by the fried noodles on the side. We had a fantastic experience overall. Great service, food, and vibes inside. Seating did feel a bit cramped however nothing out of the ordinary for an izakaya. Would 100% return to try the other cocktails on their menu and eat another bite of the Red Crab. Side note, the audio in the washroom was a pleasant surprise!

solid high quality sushi, they stick to the basics but done well. Presentation is clean and simple…read more Love their rice to fish/topping ration on all their nigiri and rolls. Small menu. Highly recommend the hotate (scallop) butteryaki. Perfectly steamed scallops in a light buttery sauce served on a shell with some mushrooms. Aburi king salmon oshi-probably one of the best salmon oshi's I've had. House panna cotta was amazing, creamy and not too sweet. Topped with fresh berries, icy yuzu crunchy thing, and pistachio. A bit on the creamier/softer side than I'm used to, I prefer the bouncier gelatin texture but overall it tastes amazing. Perfect way to end off the meal. Small restaurant, about 6 bar seats and 5ish tables. Definitely need a reservation, they were fully booked and turned away two walk-in groups on Friday night when I went. Clean washroom with a bidet. Amazingly attentive staff as well, takes away the dishes quickly, explained the menu well, checks in on you and promptly refills water. About $190 pre-tax & tip for 2 ppl, and we got one drink each (house sale 3oz pour and umeshu).

Super fresh sushi at a good price! We came here because it was recommended by the Michelin guide…read more Everything we got here was delicious and the presentation was beautiful. Our server was super nice and helped us order a variety of things she thought would be a good meal. The sushi chef also asked us about our preference and tailored the nigiri to what we wanted. The Chirashi Royale was amazing! The portion size was actually quite big and with all the fatty meats and fish, it was pretty filling. The portions of wagyu, foie gras, and tuna were generous and I had some in every bite. We added uni and caviar which added extra pops of seafood flavor and depth. We also got a bluefin roll and nigiri set and both were delicious. The bluefin roll had different cuts of tuna which all contributed different textures and flavors. The shiso added a nice freshness and the roll itself was quite big. The nigiri combo was amazing. We got pieces of seared fish and fatty cuts which I loved. I also liked that the chef specifically made pieces that we hadn't tried and were different from everything else we ordered.

We came on a Saturday for lunch. They have different menus for dinner and lunch…read more House sake and yuzu beer were both good. The kanpachi nigiri was the best. So fragrant fresh and umami. The blue fin toro and the hotate were okay but not as good as the kanpachi The chicken karaage looked really dark but it was perfectly crispy and juicy. Would definitely get it again #1 spicy combo - it was okay. The rolls kind of fell apart easily. I wouldn't get this again Tip: stick to their nigiri. Their rice is very addicting. Not too sweet or sour and the rice is chewy and well cooked Service - really efficient and good Atmosphere - not too crowded and was nice and quite for conversations

Amazing service and the sashimi here is immaculate! So tasty!!! We got the hot sake as well and…read moresome green teas! Will definitely come back next time, so glad to eat some tasty sushi! I bought some for my aunt and cousin to-go on the way out as well