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Marulilu Cafe

4.0 (302 reviews)
ModerateCafes
Closed 8:30 am - 6:00 pm

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MARULILU CAFE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Marulilu Cafe

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451
Wang X.

I visited this place a few days ago during a busy time. There were quite a few people waiting, and the weather was cold. I completely understand that the space inside is limited, and waiting can be unavoidable. What made the experience less comfortable was not the wait itself, but the way it was communicated. Being asked to wait outside felt a bit cold and impersonal. In situations like this, a more friendly explanation, a small sign at the door, or even a simple system that lets customers know when to come back could make the wait feel much more considerate and human. Running a small restaurant is not easy, especially in today's economic climate. I truly believe that with a warmer, more customer-oriented approach, this place could do very well. This review is meant as a gentle suggestion, and I hope it's taken in that spirit.

Soup and toast
Seraphina T.

A cute and homey hidden gem for authentic Japanese comfort food in Vancouver. They are the sister restaurant of Cafe de l'Orangerie, which serves Japanese-Italian fusion. We got the beef curry with pork katsu and the soup of the day (bacon potato) with toast. Such comfort food and it arrived quickly. It is super accessible by Broadway City Hall Canada Line Station!! Great for a quick bite on your commute. It is easy to miss but definitely a hidden gem! It was quite warm in the restaurant when visiting in summer though, as they have fans but no AC. I think some things in the restaurant could be updated such as the chairs and wall decorations, but if you mainly care about good food at a good price, this is the place!

Omu Garlic Rice with Hamburger steak and hayashi sauce - saba miso on side
Evan C.

Hidden gem in Mount Pleasant, tiny store, maybe one table big enough to sit four+. Really friendly but they have trouble with English sometimes. Really cute small atmosphere though, menu has find Pikachu puzzles in it. Ok, the food. It's out of this world. I had a hamburger steak plus omu garlic rice with hayashi sauce. Where should I start? - the hayashi sauce. It's really really good. Rich, very mushroomy. Can't have enough. Not spicy though there is a kick to it. - the Omelette. Wow. The egg is SOO smooth. My wife kept stealing my egg. :( - Hamburg steak is on point - love the garlic rice as well. The onigiri was great too. I can't wait to visit again. There are tons of stuff on the menu I want to try.

Josephine M.

Marulilu Cafe serves All Day Japanese style breakfast along with other hearty, homestyle cooked dishes. Japanese cuisine is so much more than just sushi and Marulilu demonstrates this in the food that they offer. Prepare to have your heart warmed and your belly filled with dishes like Cheese in Omu-Rice, Garlic Omurice with Mushroom Tomato Sauce, and Japanese Style Beef Curry with Karaage. They have so many different flavors of Omurice to choose from. I loved the Mushroom Tomato Sauce on my Garlic Omurice while our daughter, who's not a huge fan of mushrooms very much enjoyed the Cheese in Omu-Rice. Did you know they also have Onigiri? If you're someone who likes Onigiri and Omurice, then Marulilu is your one stop shop for enjoying these authentic Japanese style dishes in Vancouver. Come early to get a table as it's a very popular place and the lineup goes out the door!

Hours
Jonny M.

Been twice to Marulilu Cafe, a Japanese cafe that specializes in omurice. They're a few doors down from Pho Extreme Xe Lua. The inside has 7 tables (16 seats), always friendly service. It's cafe style so go up to order and pay. - Hamburger steak with tomato bisque ($19.99) - tender and moist, yet still retained a nice bite. The tomato bisque sauce was homey and comforting. - Omu curry with garlic rice add pork cutlet ($20.99) - curry was mild, slightly sweet. Lacking depth but servicable. Pork cutlet was better. - Japanese style beef curry with garlic rice add pork cutlet ($17.99) - tasted similar to the omu curry. The side of fukujinzuke had a subtle sweetness to it. - Unagi onigiri set ($15.00) - miso, mini salad, karaage and oshinko. Karaage was juicy. Oshinko (daikon, cucumber and eggplant) were crisp. Cozy spot for Japanese comfort food. 3.5 stars.

Ivone K.

Delicious, Japanese comfort food. The place is rather small and definitely not for a large group. We came as a group of 5 and they had to rearrange the seats in order to seat us. Once you know what to order, go to the counter, order, and pay. The kiddos had their all day breakfast and it was satisfying for them. I got the Japanese curry with karaage and it was delicious! Would love to come back and try different items on their menu

Jboogie L.

Just did a random Google search for "homestyle Japanese" food and this popped up. It has almost 1000 reviews on Google. Small place (a little bit run down). Service was polite. I guess they serve Omurice Rice and Curry. It was okay. Nothing too fancy and the beef portion size were small squares for the curry.

Anushka B.

Haven't found a lot of places in Vancouver that have authentic Japanese brunch with such a reasonable price. It is definitely a hidden gem of Vancouver! All their meals are reasonably priced (I spent $33 with taxes for 2 meals + 2 drinks) and their customer service is top notch! 1. Omurice with Mushroom and tomato sauce: 5/5 it was so saucy and flavourful! The egg was soft and melted in your mouth. 2. Cheese veggie sandwich with hash brown: loaded with veggies and cheesy which made it so filling. One of the most crispy yet not too greasy hash browns in town. 3. Iced mocha: it was basically a latte with ice in it. 4. iced lavender latte: same as the mocha.

Omurice with garlic rice and added pork cutlet
Philip P.

This is very much a small hole in the wall type of joint that probably not even many of the locals know about. One of my good friends highly recommends this and I have to say, I'm trusting his recommendations from now on because this place was very satisfying. This is straight up a Japanese breakfast joint, but many of their items can be eaten for dinner as well. I was pretty much here for dinner and wanted to get the entree that basically had the works. So I went with the Omurice Curry with garlic rice and added pork cutlet to it. It also came with a side salad. It was a very solid dish that satisfied me pretty well. I also got the takoyaki to share, but ended up take a blurry photo of it so couldn't get a good pic. It was pretty good though. I honestly enjoyed the meal and was very content when I was done. I definitely do not mind coming back for breakfast. The restaurant is pretty small, so we had to help put together a few tables for our group. The service was very friendly and the owners were legit Japanese, so food is authentic with of course, western influences. Definitely supporting this small cafe restaurant!

Sian S.

everything was so yummy! we came here straight after the airport so we were all starving and absolutely demolished our food. my bf got the breakfast combo (not picture) which was mid but everything else was really yummy and plenty of vegetarian/pescatarian options. definitely recommend also staff was super cute and friendly

Onigiri and autumnal special!
Jamie K.

My absolutely new go-to hole in the wall for comfort Japanese food. Simple delicious homemade food that is my must-visit in Vancouver. Honest and simple service that makes this a hidden gem.

Japanese breakfast with everything
Allen W.

Small family restaurant featuring Japanese breakfast with tofu, miso soup, salmon, omelette, natto, and rice. The interior is small and most tables filled with patrons. Price is good, staff are friendly and quick. I appreciate that they thanked us for visiting the restaurant when we were seated.

Menu, June 2021
Nancy L.

I haven't been to Marulilu Cafe in many years and I was quite disappointed this time around. Upon walking in, the staff who stood behind the counter looked up and looked right back down at whatever she was going. There was no greeting or a nod at all. Even if she was occupied with something, she could have given a nod. As a Japanese restaurant, this should not be the kind of greeting you'd expect to get. I ordered a lavender latte and a mentaiko udon as I was craving for it a lot. The lavender latte tasted like steamed milk mostly and I couldn't even make out that it was a "lavender" latte. I was mostly disappointed with the mentaiko udon. It was so dry that I had to constantly sip on my latte to "moisten" my food. I've had very good mentaiko udons before, even in Greater Vancouver, and they were always creamy with bursts of mentaiko in your mouth. My friend ordered the traditional Japanese breakfast and it was somewhat of a disappointment as well. The egg omelette (tamago-yaki) was so bland and did not have dashi taste. The chilled tofu was also a little bit sad. Where was the dashi sauce? I seriously thought the food could have been done better. I mean, they are a Japanese cafe after all and not some non-Japanese restaurant who is serving Japanese food. Due to the pandemic, I haven't been able to make my annual trip to Japan for 2 consecutive years. Yes, I do miss quality Japanese food and I had really expected the food to taste closer to what I had in Japan. And yes, I am quite picky but it's difficult not to make comparisons when my taste buds have been spoiled.

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3 years ago

if you're a fan of japanese breakfast, this is the place for you! amazing service and simple cuisine!

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6 years ago

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3 years ago

Most authentic Tokyo-style cafe in Vancouver! The Japanese breakfast is my go-to, but the omu-rice is also delish. Umai!!

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Marulilu Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

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Nemesis Coffee

Nemesis Coffee

4.4
(406 reviews)
2.2 km
$$

Last week, after having brunch somewhere, walked over from the waterfront to this café to grab a…read morelatte. There was only one family ahead of me when I entered, who was asking questions about bean recommendations. The person at the order counter was really helpful providing them with good information. When it was my turn to order, it was quick since I had already selected beans that I wanted to purchase, and my oat latte. Option was asked if I wanted to dine in or takeout, and I went with the latter. After I got my drink, I took a seat on one of the benches they have outside the store. There's also a decent amount of indoor seating and an outdoor patio section in front of the store. Not my first time trying Nemesis since I've been to Vancouver before, but definitely a reminder of why they are listed as one of the World's 100 Best Coffee Shops. If I wasn't so full from brunch, I would have also gotten one of their pastries. Seeing them all was very tempting.

Paid parking lot underground garage with elevator access to front entrance of Nemesis cafe…read more Although it's outside a college, prices are not student friendly. Not a place to sit a work for hours. Ok for just 30-45 minutes. Be ready to pay $$$. Music on louder side. The food at first glance looks and sounds like every other upscale coffee place with expensive croissants and loafs, BUT, when you order off their menu you get a very nice palatable surprise!!! The chef has designed really gourmet modern twists using familiar ingredients like Asian style pork belly eggs Benedict or asparagus danish with yummy mozzarella cheese grated on top. Very unexpected and very tasty in a premium experience way. Like Michelin star level. The reason I have four instead of five stars was because of my ordering experience. I had stood at the counter waiting to order. Awkwardly waiting for the staff to finish chit chatting. And then giving me a little look like I'm interrupting their conversation. The person who ended up serving me was pleasant but my first impression was made. The architecture was very aesthetically unique compared to anything else that I have experienced. I thought it looked and felt like I was inside an apple. Not sure what it was though!! It's quite over the top for a coffee spot or restaurant, but considering it's right next to Emily Carr University, it makes more sense that the building is art too. Would come back again.

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Nemesis on a monday, five minutes to closing
Nemesis on a monday, five minutes to closing
Mortadella (so good)
Mortadella (so good)
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Angus T

Angus T

4.3
(125 reviews)
1.5 km
$$

Grand opening on Valentines Day at the new River District location where they had a promotion of…read more20% off for the day. My boyfriend lined up at 9:30am for a 10am opening and there were already 25 people ahead of him. By the time the store opened, the line was over two blocks long. I heard the line up was up to 2 hours long later that day so to say that Angus T is a hit is a bit of an understatement. This is a cute location where the emphasis is on sweet and savoury croissants but they offer Danish, cinnamon buns, tea, and coffee options. We ordered the limited offering of the strawberry creme croissant plus got a regular croissant, onion jam & bacon, pistachio & raspberry, and ham & cheese. All of these croissants were DELICIOUS and the regular croissant brings me memories of Paris! Yes, they are pricey but at around $1.50 to $2.50 more than a croissant from Starbucks a block away, it is well worth it as a treat. I look forward to tasting more flavours and taking friends here to catch up over a delicious croissant and hot cup of tea. The River District neighbourhood needed a cute café like this and so glad they are finally open. Pro tip: if enjoying the treats at home, reheat the croissants in low heat. They taste better warm!

If you're into croissants with unique flavors, this is definitely the place to go. This cozy…read moreYaletown spot offers a wide variety and seems to be well known for its creative selection. They also have solid coffee options. The service is decent, and the ambiance is pleasant--making it a nice spot to sit down and get some studying done. I tried the blueberry croissant and it was amazing. Highly recommend

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Angus T
Clockwise, Suisse, Twice Baked Almond, Plain, Pistachio Raspberry, Balsamic Onion Jam & Bacon.
Clockwise, Suisse, Twice Baked Almond, Plain, Pistachio Raspberry, Balsamic Onion Jam & Bacon.
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Bahar Cafe

Bahar Cafe

4.8
(41 reviews)
2.0 km

First of all, I love their coffee. I was not familiar with Turkish coffee until I found this place,…read moreand the coffee stands out for being rich and smoky. Also, they always give you a little coconut treat along with your drink, which I have always found to be a nice touch. The baristas are always so nice and welcoming, and I think they're actually Turkish as well. Also, the inside of the shop is so cute, lots of plants and sunlight. Honestly, this is one of my favorite coffee shops in Vancouver, there's something about the vibe here and the coffee that just brings me a lot of joy. I haven't really tried their pastries yet but I am looking forward to do so when I have a sweet tooth! Because of how this place makes me feel and the quality of the coffee, this deserves 5 stars for me.

We visited Bahar Cafe on Boxing Day around noon. It was busy, and many of the baked goods had…read morealready sold out. The service was wonderful--friendly and patient while we decided. The cafe is cute and clean, with a surprising amount of seating for a small space. We ordered a Pistachio Croissant and a Pain au Chocolate. The Pistachio Croissant was the better of the two. A delicious, crispy top, though I would have loved a bit more filling inside. The Pain au Chocolate was solid but standard--exactly what you'd expect, but nothing extraordinary. They also have a lot of other desserts and savory sandwiches. They might be great, but we didn't get to try them this time.

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Bahar Cafe
Honey cake
Honey cake
Iced Americanos with complimentary cookies - so good! IG - @bilalandjesseatfood

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Outbound Station

Outbound Station

4.0
(25 reviews)
40.2 km

Seen the burger sign and knew we needed to stop here after leaving Whistler. You just order at the…read morewindow, there's a lot of outdoor bench seating. There's also a coffee place next door. We got the 10+ in January because we love a cheeseburger with fried jalepenos. Kids got the OG classic cheeseburger. Burgers were good and cheesy. Tasted super fresh. Beef is pasture raised without antibiotics. Fries were nicely salted and crispy. We'd probably come back here again and get the double cheeseburger as the patties were a little thin.

Finally made a pit stop at Outbound Station on my way up to Whistler, and I now understand the good…read morefeedback for this cafe! The outdoor seating area up top alone is worth the quick stop, with mountain and water views making it feel like a mini-destination than just another roadside café. The latte was good, and it's nice that the shop also has merch available for those who are interested. Their burgers looked interesting and I'll be sure to try that next time! The vibe is relaxed and welcoming, with plenty of tables ideal for stretching your legs and enjoying the view. I came in the middle of a Thursday afternoon and there were no crowds, so service was fast. I believe there are gluten-free and vegan options as well. Definitely worth pulling over for a quick bite/refreshment!

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Ice cream from the cafe. FYI seating is outside with fantastic views!
Ice cream from the cafe. FYI seating is outside with fantastic views!
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Marulilu Cafe - cafes - Updated June 2026

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