This was a tough one to call. Masayoshi has been a Vancouver staple for ages and although the entire omakase experience was satisfactory, there was not a single dish that screamed "wow". Much like many long time tenured go-to spots in Vancouver, Masayoshi has maybe lost its creative spark to innovate and depends on its old history, consistency, and adherence to tradition to maintain its status. For what it's worth, the meal was good. There were no upsetting points and everything was smoothly executed. However, for the price point, there may be several other spots in Vancouver that may soon look to claim Masayoshi's spot for "best sushi" in Vancouver. Service was excellent, the place is small and cozy. A very good environment for a traditional omakase experience, although it was also somehow really warm in there. However, I don't know if I'll be back given the rise of so many new sushi spots that boast the same quality of produce at a much more attractive price. read more

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We were in town and wanted to go to Masayoshi to celebrate a special occasion. We love omakase and in short, Masayoshi did not disappoint. The staff was friendly, and even though we got there early for our seating, we were attended to immediately. As we looked around, we loved the layout of the place, and how it focused on experience to come. As for the dinner itself? I had the sake pairing while the wife decided not to but she had a few sips here and there. It was exquisitely done! Some of the dishes we had are in the pictures below and we were full by the end of the meal. We would definitely do this again! read more

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I love it here. I managed to score a last-minute reservation for their 2nd seating on Friday night. I usually go to their 1st seating time but I felt the 2nd seating at 8pm was more laid-back and intimate. Here in East Van, Chef Masayoshi Baba has created an experience that's quite special. You can see it in the thoughtfully selected tableware, the high-quality ingredients, the attentive service and the Chef's artistry as the meal comes together. The evening begins with a selection of beverages on a QR code menu - I recommend the Sake sampler and later on some Green tea. While some beers and spirits were still unavailable due to the BC Liquor Distribution strike a few months ago, you should be able to find something. Sit back and enjoy watching the Chef slice through fresh fish expertly with a knife that looks like a sword. While the first few dishes in your Omakase experience are eaten with chopsticks, you graduate to using your fingers to eat. Each type of fish was specially selected and the Chef is happy to answer questions about where the fish is from or what ingredients were used. Note that a Caviar (Northern Divine) option for an additional charge is presented during the meal and you are given several choices of how to have it placed - we splurged for it on the Toro (Tuna) only which seemed to be the most optimal. This add-on may not be for everyone, though. Also I want to note that there were 2 Uni (Sea Urchin) presentations - which I LOVED. To finish, the deconstructed Apple dessert was super creative and had such a variety of texture it was incredible. The Hojicha ice cream on top was an excellent accompaniment. This is a solid Japanese meal worthy of your time and money. I'm incredibly grateful to have been able to experience the Omakase at Masayoshi. read more

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Sitting at the bar watching Chef work was an amazing experience. Absolutely loved their tofu cheesecake, chawanmushi, and baby eel shot. read more

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This has been touted as the best omakase in Vancouver. And you know what? They are right! This was a wonderful omakase experience with absolute attention by the chef. You can see and taste the precision and concentration for every piece we were served. I definitely suggest ordering sake so that they can show you their beautiful set of unique sake cups that you can choose from. Easily the best sushi experience I've had in Vancouver. read more

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This is our second time here, and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The service was fantastic and friendly, the food delicious. Was it the "best" sushi in Vancouver? No. But at $195/pp for their omakase tasting menu, it is definitely an EXCELLENT value for high-end Japanese food. I would definitely go again for a special occasion as it is a fun way to eat - sitting at the bar, watching the magic happen, chatting with fellow diners. read more

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I had experienced Masayoshi when it opened in 2015, and it was an amazing experience, There were three types of omakase to choose from, and the food was amazing. I returned recently after the restaurant had received its first Michelin star. The space had changed. The sushi bar was expanded and the table seating reduced, and there is now only the nigiri omakase available on the menu. These changes have made the experience of eating at Masayoshi even better! The meal was focused on creating a range of tastes and experiences. With this sitting, we were treated to twenty different dishes, and everyone of them was so delicious and satisfying. Being able t watch Chef Masayoshi perform his artistry at the sushi bar made the whole experience even better. I appreciated his skill and focus to detail. The food was sublime. You always worry that when experiencing something like omakase, you come across something that you won't like, but nothing about our meal was off. Even things that my partner and I normally are not fussy about turned out to be more than just enjoyable--it was delicious. My partner hates eggplant, but the eggplant dish was so good she ate it with gusto. I'm not a big fan of raw mackerel, but the mackerel cope he made was superb. The highlight was, of course, the sushi. Each piece was served to each quest by Chef Masayoshi, and each bite was an experience. This sushi served as it should be. No need for soya sauce and wasabi dip. The sushi is flavoured perfectly. (I highly recommend you eat everything with your fingers. The restaurant provides a little towel in a box for you to clean your fingers with each new piece.) The fatty tuna is to die for, and the Hokkaido uni was the best uni I have ever tasted. My partner and I got the sake tasting to go with our peal, and it was the best choice we could have made. Everything complimented the food perfectly, and enhanced the flavours in a way that elevated the experience. It's a lot of sake, and we wisely chose to share a tasting. Eating at Masayoshi was something I will never forget. It is the best meal I have ever had. read more

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We had an amazing omakase meal for my birthday! It was a really good experience and they have great service. I don't remember all the dishes names but our favourites were the snow crab tofu, sea urchin, blue fin tuna, scallop, smoked mackerel and definitely their peach panna cotta dessert! I was very surprised by the additional engraved tag with my name and birthday on it! Very sweet of them read more

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The kaiseki portion was nice but the sushi portion was my favorite. Many of the pieces were buttery and the brown rice nicely complimented the fish pieces. read more

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I have visited Masayoshi four times over the past several years (prior to and after its Michelin recognition) and it never fails to delight. The staff is friendly, the service is attentive, and the ambiance is relaxed and unpretentious. But the real star is the food. Absolutely some of the best, most complex and subtle things I've ever tasted, expertly prepared and presented. On earlier visits I would request suggestions about sake pairings and order several servings, but was happy to see that they now offer a sake pairings option that provides even more variety and tastes and textures that complement one, two, or three specific dishes. Every time I come here, I have one of the best meals I have ever had. The friends I have brought with me have said similarly. This is a special place that I relish returning to once or twice a year, and absolutely my favourite restaurant in Vancouver. read more

To celebrate my boyfriend's birthday, we went to Masayoshi for an amazing, personal and intimate omakase meal ($165/person). It was our first time here and we were really impressed with the hospitality and service that we received from the servers and master chef himself. It made our night incredibly special! The chef was amazingly friendly, patient and took his time to explain each dish to us. The servers were so friendly and gave us great sake recommendations. The quality of the ingredients were also top notch and amazingly fresh. I got so full half-way through but couldn't stop eating because the quality was that good haha. Presentation was AMAZING - you could see the chef really taking his time to make every dish beautiful and unique. A bit pricey and I think they've raised their prices in the new year of 2022 (we came in December of 2021) but it was a good experience with amazing quality of food so we thought it was worth it. It was definitely a night to remember - we went home clutching our bellies! read more

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I had to redeem myself after choking down a rather unfresh sushi the other day. This restaurant has always been on my radar so I decided to check it out. We arrived at 6pm when they opened and they had two customers sitting at the bar. Of course, my dining partner and I opted for a table. My dining partner ordered the 14 pieces omakase (with miso soup and dessert) for $100 and I had 10 pieces with soup and dessert for $80. It was nice of the chef to prorate the menu for me since there was no such thing as a $80 on the menu. The server would bring two pieces of sushi at a time. They sure look good but when I bit into it, the rice just didn't taste right. It was not sticky and didn't retain its shape. Basically, it wasn't a firm bite, if that make any sense. The quality of the fish were meh, nothing stood out. There were some hits and misses. The last fish was even "fishy." The only thing I enjoyed was the match panna cotta. Value: Not worth it especially if you are a big eater Service was good but could have been better. If those who wants to splurge on omakase, I highly recommend Sushi Bar Shu on South Granville. I had an amazing meal there. Make sure you make reservation. read more

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A group of us got to sit at the sushi bar to experience the omakase at $160 per person. They had a decent selection of sake and we had 4 bottles between the 5 of us. I was a little turned off by the fact the server kept pouring the girls a half shot in comparison to the guys like come on girl, I can drink a lot lol. The freshness of the fish was hit or miss. Some were great and others were not as fresh as what I am used to. I'm very sad they did not have otoro. It's something that I look forward to at every omakase. The ambiance of the restaurant is nice (typical of an upscale Japanese restaurant) and service was alright. Overall in my opinion it was not worth it for the price. I've been to cheaper omakakes that had a much better selection of fish and better service. read more

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Don't come here. I think Michelin should consider who they should give out the Michelin. I don't even want to give 1 star but this is the lowest I can give them so I click 1 star.. The worst omakase ever I had.. I had over 1000 omakase experience in my life and never saw place charge $25 for the wasabi even in best place in Japan they don't charge this.. I don't even want to write a review and waste my energy. Just one time.. Will never return and I am pretty sure they will close down soon.. read more

Masayoshi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Disclaimer: this review is based on a take-out experience during the COVID-19 social distancing period. Food in pics + 80$ bottle of sake + staff meal nikujaga ended up being a little over 200$. A little steep, honestly, (hence the rating) but it was great. The 2 fish dishes - the buri teriyaki and mackerel nanbanzuke - were the clear highlights. Both done amazingly. The fish were so fatty and delicious too. Also, always a treat to get some Bluefin tuna. Thanks for making this stay at home period fun. read more

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Was a fabulous meal. The food was delicious and service wonderful.. we Loved it. I will definitely be back. read more

Compared to our other omakase dinner in town, I would definitely have skipped this one after trying it. We thought the pictures we saw of the plating meant we'd be getting a slightly different experience here, but it's not? It's just straight nigiri sushi. The appetizers were just pieces of fish in a bowl. It's not even the same chef whose name is on the restaurant (according to my googling). We had a guy who was nice, quiet, but didn't seem to be feeling well or want to be there, and was quite slow. Our dinner lasted from 8pm to 10:30 pm - 2.5 hrs is a long time to eat 16 pcs of sushi. With the 3 appetizers, that's waiting about 8 minutes per piece when there were only 4 people total in the restaurant for our seating. In reality, it was more like wait 5 minutes between 2 pieces, then wait 15 minutes, eat 2 more pieces within 5-6 minutes, wait 10-15 more minutes. That is a long time to wait to eat literally one bite at a time. The pacing issues aside, the bites we waiting agonizingly long for weren't even that good. The bites were small. The fish were kind of bland. I really didn't get the point of most of the fish, believe me, I closed my eyes and tried really hard so my money and precious meal slot on vacation wouldn't go to waste. The rice, I don't even know if it's like a particular style or what - but it almost reminded me of kimbap rice. Grains were harder and very like separate, and colored dark and a little shiny like it was seasoned with soy sauce. Never seen before for sushi for me. It didn't really create the symphony of flavor I hoped with the fish; to me it detracted from the bite. The service though, was excellent. The waitress was caring and attentive and did her best to make conversation with us and the other party in the room while we were waiting. She was nothing but courteous and kind, and I wish this was one of the occasions where service could save the experience. But the price we paid, for what we got, at the quality we got, and the time we spent waiting, this is a no for me. Especially on vacation, as a tourist, I wish I spent one of my few dinner meals in town somewhere worthy; it's not even about the money at that point. read more

The biggest downside was my seat at the sushi bar was very cramped, located behind the chef, and looking at the side of a cabinet. The restaurant and sushi bar are small and very dimple, but you should especially avoid the last seat wedged against the wall looking front onto the back cabinets. I'm still not a fan of being forced to use the Toc app for any reservation as it does not even have a guest capability to make a reservation without forcing you to establish another login account you may not want. The restaurant seems to have no way to manage or make their own reservations, which is quite odd and questions why they got their Michelin rating. Seems Michelin stars do not mean so much these days, as that is. Big service miss. It's frustrating how complicated reservations are these days to make things easier for the restaurant and not the customer, while also expecting you to prepay a deposit for the meal, and still not get such flexible cancelation terms, on top of paying a small fortune for the food. Inside the restaurant, the service was superior. The ladies that work there are friendly, engaging, attentive, and just provide top-level service. That part is definitely 5 stars. In terms of the food, nothing was bad, and some items were very delicious. The quality of the ingredients seemed good, but I found that I wish there would have been more quantity of more luxurious seafood selection as some were lower cost and less preliminary types of seafood, maybe striving for more profit margin. I would say competitors offer more quantity of premium items. The chef seemed very dedicated and skilled. He was very focused on his work, which is good, and their was some engagement with customers but perhaps a bit less than other chefs that deliver this style of product. The chef did not seem to come out for the first few appetizer courses, and I assume he may have been in the kitchen preparing them, but this part of the mela was most boring. Those courses, with minor expeceptuind, were fresh but kind of boring in their favor profile. I really missed not having a chawanmushi offering. I also found the Tamago and dessert at the end, only ok, but not too enjoyable, compared to competitors in the higher end omakase market segment. Their tea was great quality and well prepared. Sake and its presentation was underwhelming. I think a bottle of Dessai 45 was around $200 if I remember that correctly, and that seems like a pretty excessive markup, especially when Sake service is rather simple, including the cup offerings. That part felt more like a low-end type restaurant/ operation. In the end, overall, it was a good meal, and I respected and appreciated the chef and staff effort. The servers were amazing and deserve huge applause. It's so nice to go out and receive such excellent warm service. However, reflecting on what I paid, including small add ons and the total experience, I wouldn't say this would be my top choice restaurant of this type. But, I would say that it is good, and there is probably a good chance I'd return , especially for the awesome service, and also for the chef that still did a very good job overall, plus seeming like a good person that cares a lot about his customers and what he us doing. Maybe another night, the sushi could be even better. I just wish more courses were at a true wow level, vs. only some. read more

Excellent experience！All the food is amazing with good service. Personally really like the dessert！ read more

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When the whole coronapocaplyse shut down dine-in eating at restaurants, it was a bit of an inconvenience at first... then I started to realize just how often I ate at restaurants - turns out we're saving a lot of money by me not eating out. After a couple of weeks, I started to get cravings for Japanese food and it so happened that I saw that Masayoshi was going to offer special take-out meals. I've had Masayoshi on my radar for a long time but never found the time to visit in person before so I figured this was serendipitous. Based on the prices they were advertising, I knew this would be hugely popular so I made sure to pre-order as soon as they opened. Sure enough, things started selling out really quick so I'm glad that I put in my order early... Edomae Chirashi ($25), Pork Belly "Kakuni" ($18), Niku Jyaga Japanese Beef Stew ($8), and Tonjiru Japanese Pork Stew ($8) The stews/soups are considered part of their "staff meals" and were actually quite hearty and filling and at a really good price point. I really liked the pork belly kakuni as it was super tender. It goes well with rice so we used some of the sushi rice that was in the chirashi. The Edomae Chirashi was the obvious highlight of this meal and I heard later on that it sold out super fast. I honestly can't name all of the various chopped up ingredients that went in this dish but it was so fresh and you could taste the care that went into preparing it. Their take-out menu is always changing so make sure you check them out if you're looking for some great Japanese food. read more

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My boyfriend organized a 10 course original creation omakase for our anniversary. This menu included hot and cold dishes and sushi based on seasonal ingredients that were available. Upon arrival, there was a personalized menu on our table and origami cranes. It's the little things. Just adorable. We were served tea and decided to stick with that for the night. The servers were all very polite and friendly and did a wonderful job explaining what each dish was. Here is the breakdown (get ready, it's going to be lengthy): The oysters were presented atop a bed of pebbles. Very fresh. You can't go wrong with fresh oysters! Zensai is basically Japanese for hors d'oeuvre (at least that's what Google said lol). Presentation was on point! This dish was composed of small components and they were all uber tasty. It included eel jelly, wasabi infused tofu, and kale and mushroom salad to name a few. My favourite was the honeyed yam. All very unique flavours that we both enjoyed. Although I didn't take pictures of the duck, that does not take away from the fact that it was to die for. This dish was composed of a sunflower pastry shell that was filled with a savory duck filling. It's to be eaten like a sandwich. So darn good! Otsukuri was fresh as ever. I can't quite remember the types of fish that were served but everything was wonderful. Everything. My boyfriend and I are both suckers for fresh seafood. The Sakura dish was very comforting. The dish arrived in a small pot and was, if I'm not mistaken, composed of steamed rice in a warm broth. Very delicious and different. The hotaruika dish was composed of squid, sea urchin, greens, cauliflower, mango slices and beet foam. So many components that mesh very well together. Beautiful dish. The beet foam added a splash of colour that was so pleasing to look at. I haven't had sea urchin in years. I'd like to emphasize that it was prepared very well and was very fresh! Sea urchin that isn't fresh has a distinct smell and tastes slightly bitter and fishy. This didn't at all. The King crab was presented in a crab leg shell. The crab meat was loosened and sat on a bed of steamed spinach. Tasty! Osuimono was a shellfish broth. Very comforting and soothing. Can't ever go wrong with nigiri. Such fresh cuts of fish. Yum yum yum! Again, I can't quite remember what types of fish were served but they were all delicious. The strawberry cheesecake dessert was just the perfect amount of sweetness to end the tasting menu. I love love love cheese so this dessert was perfect for me. It wasn't an actual cake. It's more like a mousse, nonetheless, still lovely. All in all, dining in at Masayoshi was a divine, memorable experience. I really have nothing negative to say about this restaurant. I highly recommend the tasting menu to anyone who would like to try something different. Masayoshi has a lot of wonderful flavours to offer. You'll certainly be pleased! Although the portions look small, you'll be full by end of it all. Shout out to my wonderful boyfriend for the lovely dining experience. Wish I could give this place more than 5 stars! It was a very unique dining experience. High enjoyed it and would recommend it to others. read more

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Four of us had high hopes for this Japanese restaurant, but unfortunately, it fell far short of expectations. We were led to reserve a spot at the sushi bar for an additional $20 premium, only to find that regular tables--without the surcharge--were left empty. While the sushi meat was undeniably high quality, the portions were disappointingly thin and small, which didn't justify the steep prices. The entire dinner consisted of many courses, each in such a tiny portion that it wasn't enough to fill our stomachs. In short, this restaurant is way over-rated, over-priced based on its location & food quality. I'm giving the restaurant a two-star rating solely because the waitstaff was courteous, friendly, and patient. I'm sharing this experience in hopes that potential customers are aware before dining here. read more

Masayoshi is probably my favourite restaurant in Vancouver, along with Hawksworth. It's a tiny, beautiful restaurant on Fraser Street. It probably seats 20 people. It's been ranked as one of the top 100 restaurants in Canada for two years in a row now. And it's really deserved. They have two choices: either Nigiri Omakase or what I always choose the Original Creation Omakase, which is a 9 course meal that's always changing. My favourite courses of the evening was the (1) Zensai, which is a perfect appetizer filled with tiny snacks of tofu with caviar, different fish samples and spinach, the (2) Dungeness Crab with a combination of fruits and vegetables and my favourite the (3) Dobinmushi, which is a seafood broth in a tea pot with chicken, mushrooms and lime. Everyone there is extremely friendly. The waitresses are always filling up the green tea and water while presenting one delicious meal after another. With only two seatings at 6pm and 8pm, the pacing of the 9 course meal is on point, always finishing up around the 1 hr 50 mark after a perfect evening of food and conversation. It's an expensive restaurant at $120 per person, but it's worth it for the originality, the food and the service. Service was 4.5. Food was 5.0. We'll keep coming back again and again. read more

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Masayoshi definitely become one of my favorite Japanese retro in Vancouver. I came 2 times before I wrote this review. If you like exquisite and authentic but causal Japanese dining, Masayoshi would be your choice! The chef came from Tojo's and his dishes really presents his skill and satisfy my stomach. Kelp soup: It's quite creative and unique. We were watching the water to boil for the clear soup, comprised of kombu, shitake, sardine and bonito flakes in a siphon coffee machine. Steamed Egg (chawanmushi) It included prawn tiger, clam, scallop, fish and chicken. It's huge portion and good for 2 people to share. They don't have a lot of selection of sashimi but their sushi won't disappoint you.... We ordered some nigri and the sushi rice really perfect. Ika - It's so fresh and crispy. Seriously, crispy Ika nigri and I only ate that fresh ika in Japan. Amabi - Spot prawns season now and we had crunchy prawns sushi. It's awesome!! Wagyu - Absolutely quality wagyu beef! It melted in my mouth and so delicious. However, they don't make in house dessert. Anyways, the price was bit expensive but worth to get such quality of food for sure. read more

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As beautiful of an omakase meal as I've ever had. Almost everything was executed to perfection. Plates are meticulously composed by almost any standards. Maybe service could be a mirror more careful with the crash landings of these delicate birds. Go, and sit at the counter. read more

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This sushi bar would be about average quality for comparable sushi bar concepts in Japan, which is quite good for pretty much everywhere else outside of Japan. Fish quality: very fresh fish, especially impressed by the mackerel and roe which had zero fishiness Omelet: so creamy, wonderful egg Miso: delicious, I loved this here Service: very kind service Ways to improve (from the eyes and taste buds of a picky sushi eater) Rice: the rice flavor was good, the texture a bit on the sticky side. Finger dents in the rice. Fish: hesitation cuts in some of the fish, causing jagged edges Wasabi: heavy handed in many pieces Timing: very long gaps in between nigiri. One gap exceeded 15 minutes for one piece of nigiri. Compared to comparable high end sushi bar omakase menus I've had around the world at a comparable price point, I'd rate it as a 3.5. This place is Japanese through and through, the quality of the fish was very good and the sushi itself was delicious. I'd definitely recommend getting the upgraded omakase options as a better bang for your buck (we ended up getting the standard omakase and then buying extra pieces a la carte anyway). The sushi chef has a lot of experience and is quite young. Speed up service and this would be 4 stars. read more

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Disappointed! Failed Failed Failed. This sushi joint has been on my Yelp bookmark since it's awarded best Japanese restaurant in Vancouver. Finally, I was surprised with the 16 pieces sushi omakase dinner for our anniversary. The only waitress is polite but not the most knowledgeable nor attentive at all. We have to flag her down several times for simply water refills. People say the soul of nigiri sushi is rice. This restaurant is soulless. The rice is a major fail. It has no rice flavour, no natural sweetness nor chewiness. It really bothered us so we raised this with the waitress. They have recently switched their rice to California rice instead of Japanese rice. We suspect this is due to cost constraints however the waitress told us "we have to use Japanese water for Japanese rice. Since we can't find it, so we use North American rice for the Canadian water." What kind of BS is this? The pressure of the rice is perfect on our first plate and last plate of sushi. The middle plate was done by another chef and it was dense in comparison. The temperature of the rice is another fail. For those who loves authentic Japanese sushi, rice should be slightly warmer than room temperature or equivalent of body temperature. Their rice is COLD. Of all the nigiris, the best ones were the sea eel anago and the omelet tamago. The quality of the seafood is above average but I had better in Vancouver at lower price tags. I'd rate the omakase at $60-65 instead of its hefty price tag at $110. It does not live up to its name. Despite raising the concern on rice with the waitress, she acknowledged us but have not made any effort to make up our experience. Don't waste your money! read more

Went there twice, first time on our anniversary and 2nd time is for my husband's birthday! it never disappointed us!! staffs and chef are very friendly and would explain to us clearly what kind of fish that we are having for each piece of sushi. The softness and taste of the sushi rice is just perfect and enhance the flavours of the fish. However, this is not the place for you if you are looking to finish eating within an hour. if you are looking for an authentic japanese omakase dinner and don't mind to be eating in 1.5-2 hours I would recommend this to you. I also suggest you to request to be seated at the bar as it will be a better experience ! read more

We had the omakase with 16 courses, including aji, Saba, red snapper, uni, salmon, tuna x3, scallop, anago, Tamago, shrimp, quail egg with baby eel, etc. Reserved two weeks ahead. I personally am not a big fan of tuna and salmon, but they constitute 1/4 of the courses:( Aji and Saba are recommended. Service: Excellent Food: 3.5/5; Average quality Environment: quiet, casual, not good for groups, limited space with only one chef serving all 15-20 people in the restaurant. Wait could be long if you are not doing Omakase. read more

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I rarely give out 5 stars because it's hard to find amazing service, food & ambiance - but Masayoshi's had it all! I've been on the hunt for authentic omakase nigiri in Vancouver for a while and this is the first place that I have truly enjoyed here. I've dined at Jiros in Japan and enjoyed my food here more because the atmosphere is not as tense; I prefer a more relaxed setting. The chef is also very kind & presented each piece artistically and explained what it was. I'm very picky with my nigiri rice and they did a great job on the temperature, texture and portion of it. I could comfortably finish 14-15 pieces of nigiri without feeling too full. Our set consisted of: butterfish, snapper, bluefin tuna, isaki (chicken grunt), Spanish mackerel, mackerel, needlefish, squid, scallop, uni, sweet shrimp, geoduck, torched fish & tamago. Ended with cheesecake as dessert. We ordered an extra piece of o-toro since our set didn't include it. The attention to detail was superb and the flavors accompanied the FRESH fish perfectly. One of my favorites would have to be the scallop since it had a bit of yuzu zest which I haven't had paired together elsewhere. Solid place for omakase and would love to try their regular menu next time. read more

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Important: There are only 15-20 seats in this restaurant so reservations are definitely required As others have mentioned, this is a gourmet dining experience, so put aside at least 2 hours for the meal. Many people associate Japanese food with tempura, sushi, ramen but keep in mind this is not the regular-this is traditional Japanese food that may not suit everyone's taste buds. My friend treated me to a lovely omakase meal, with nigiri, chawanmushi, shabu shabu, cod fish, and tofu pudding. Take a look at the pictures and you get the idea. LOVED every melt- in-your-mouth dish and left feeling extremely full :) The atmosphere of the restaurant is very cute and cozy feel. Exquisite food with humble atmosphere. Perfect A+++ read more

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What an experience!! The food is clean and made from the soul. My friend and I were the first 2 in the restaurant and we opted for a table, thinking we didn't want to be a distraction. We quickly moved to the suhi bar and I'm glad we did. Masa-san was a bit interactive but he was clearly focused on the food and it was great to watch his skill in action. We opted for the omakase. I recommend calling ahead if you do omakase because there are currently 2 people working, Tomo-san in the front and Masa-san behind the sushi bar. They both previously worked at a famous high-end Japanese restaurant in Vancouver that starts with a T and ends in ojos. Do not expect fast food if it's busy because 1 man is making food for everyone. Relax and relish in the delicious food, the relaxing atmosphere, and the barely audible traditional Japanese music. Refreshing. My pictures display our experience. It was all amazing, the flavours were just right and very clean. The tuna steak was certainly one of the highlights, wow. The tamago was hands down the best I've had, it had great texture and light flavour of caramel. Of course the fish was excellent and the tuna toro is like butter. The dashi in the bowl of tofu and seaweed was incredibly clean, clear and refreshing. Omakse for 2 including 1 Kirin and the dashi.. $205 plus tip. And my tip is make a reservation and try the omakase. Just not on Sunday, they're closed on Sunday. Domo arigato, Tomo-san and Masa-san. read more

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Masayoshi delivers a transcendent experience of mythical proportions as it upholds serving a traditional style of sushi while adding its own flare to the mix, making it a unique and truly unforgettable dining rollercoaster. For $100/person for their 14 pieces nigiri sushi + dessert, I went to dinner for the first time at Masayoshi with my brother and his girlfriend. By the end of the meal, after adding one last piece of o-toro nigiri sushi, we had about 16 dishes and tea (which, surprisingly, you have to pay for) which amounted to roughly $139/person after tax and tips. And my, what an experience that was. I can't remember the last time I left a meal smiling and whimpering out of pure satisfaction for 30 minutes while driving home. I didn't leave with a full belly cause I'm a big guy, but my appreciation for sushi ran so deep throughout the meal that my level of satisfaction outweighed my desire to eat any more for fear of ruining the moment. It was really that good. Service was polite and efficient, the atmosphere was nice and relaxing, and the food, above all, was outstanding. Some of the pieces included the usual pieces that you will find in most omakase around Metro Vancouver, like golden eye snapper, scallop, horse mackerel, and bluefin tuna. Some pieces that I was very surprised to see served while at Masayoshi were the anago nigiri, or salt water eel - different from the more popular unagi, fresh water eel - which was so unique and full of texture, and king crab nigiri which was meaty, but tender. There was also one dish that involved uni on top of fatty tuna on top of sushi rice in a cup which just melted in my mouth and became a symphony of flavour. There's a residue feeling that you get after the meal that I cannot explain. I have absolutely nothing bad to say about this place. You get what you pay for. Masayoshi truly is, without a doubt, in my opinion, one of Vancouver's best restaurants. read more

Great presentation & one of the best Japanese restos in van overall. Rumor has it the chef here came from Tojo's. If this is true, he's definitely flourished his creativity and it shows in the restaurants presentation & quality of food. TOJOS: I went to Tojo's once. Spent $550, and was completely unsatisfied with the food, and the service. It was very over priced, and fish temperature was off IMO. But at Masayoshi, I had a great intimate experience. I am surprised it wasn't more packed. (But I'd rather it not be) I got the table omakase (hot dishes & nigiri). It felt very traditional, not so "Hollywood" like Tojo's. Here's my rating for the dishes I tried in my omakase. U must check out my pics to understand! Sashimi plate - 5/5 Amazing selection of delicate fishes. Had some baby squid, fresh sockeye salmon and shrimp. Delicate & refreshing flavors. Great way to start my meal Chuwanmushi - 5/5 Not even a fan of chuwanmushi, but this one was out of this world!!! Perfect balance of flavors, not too salty or bland. And the seafood inside was steamed to perfection! It looked so perfect, like a Japanese melon. King Crab - 4.5/5 Delicious and presented very nicely. Refreshing flavors, good. Fresh Soup - 4/5 Presentation is sexy & fun if you are on a date. It is good, but flavor isn't super wow. Just good clean soup. Miso Black Cod - 5/5 Best I've had in van! Now I know sable fish is super popular in van, but I'm not so much of a fan because it's just soooooo buttery. It's really easy to over salt a fish like black cod or sable fish, but Masayoshi's was on point!!!! I finished this so fast. Great complementing flavors. Ikura was a nice touch Nigiri Plate - 3.5 The fish is fresh, but I didn't like how there was a bit too much rice. The fish was also a bit big for my liking. I also received this table side, and much rather prefer to eat nigiri at the bar. Maybe I will rate this better when I sit at the bar. None the less, it doesn't change that this is still one of the best places I've had in Van, as they do carry a variety of really nice fishes. Dessert - 3 Wasnt my favorite, but for those who don't have much of a sweet tooth this was nice. Was more on the bitter side of matcha. Overall I had a great experience here and can't wait to come back for omakase at the bar! read more

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I was once told by a friend that she was on a seafood diet. You see food and eat it. She had a point. Food can be considered many things. Sustenance for living. An essential part of being. It keeps you nourished and alive. Without it we would die. That and love. Here at Masa's place on Fraser, you'd never think there could exist such a place, where you could feast with just your eyes alone. Places like this should only be found in high end areas of downtown where socialites gather to chat and snap pics to post on social media with they're selfies and they're fancy nails big eyelashes and duck faces. So why is this place here? It's a bit of an oddity. You'd never think to find this here and yet, there it is. Gourmet little omakase style Nigiri sushi crafted by a real Japanese chef. Despite roots from Tojos, he's doing it his way. For that you get the spectacle of something presented different. Dainty niblit sized pieces of nigiri sushi. Very light in flavour that lets the seafood stand out on its own. Hardly any flavouring of the rice to call out against the fish that tops it. It's more art than anything else. It's so simple that you're convinced there is something very complex about it. We ordered what we thought was a lot. And then ordered more. Of course we had Orion beer because that goes best with sushi. If you haven't had that beer, then try it. The staple Okinawa beer that goes well with sushi and sakisoba. I brought the famous Japanese food critique with me. Her grandfather well known back in the day from the tsukiji fish market in Japan for Fugu. She knows her fish from all those early morning starts at the market with her grandfather. She knows her sushi. What did she like the best? It was actually the tofu cheesecake pudding! I was beginning to wonder if her tastebuds have gone sushi blind. But no. I think she was right to a point. As good as it was meant to be. Excellent knowledgable service and attention to detail. There was still something missing. But maybe it wasn't. And I think this can cause confusion which they try to clarify on the menu itself. Here's my take, which brings us back to the beginning of this review. Close your eyes and the food sensation is different. Here you have to let your eyes do the tasting. If you think your eyes are bigger than your stomach, maybe your wallet could be too. Still, it resulted in a great experience that is sure to retest and reconfigure the way Masa wants us to rethink how sushi should be instead of the way it has become. Bringing Japanese sushi back to when it was truly a culinary delight. A real feast for the eyes and slight on your waist. I'd give it more stars if My working salary could afford to dine there more often. Maybe the clientele is directed more to the likes of the Chelsea Jiang's and the Pam Z's of Vancouver. I wish them continued success. read more

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Masayoshi is a wonderful new sushi restaurant in Vancouver's Mountain View district (Fraser street). The decor is somewhat sparse (water-finish concrete floors and wooden table tops) but it is really quite cozy nonetheless (read, less than 20 seats, about 7 of which are at the sushi bar), however the decor is secondary because this place is all about the food, which on my first visit was nothing short of fantastic. The waiter explained that they focus on nothing but the highest quality ingredients... and freshly sourced ingredients at that. One example on my first visit was "sushi grade halibut cheek" which I had in the form of nigiri. The waiter explained that it is delivered daily. I started with two appetizers: a tako wasabi salad (squid leg in a wasabi root marinade) and a light green salad, both of which were very tasty and nicely presented. It was a bit of a rainy evening so I also had a miso soup. Normally I wouldn't mention something as simple as miso... but even the miso soup was wonderfully prepared. When the waiter arrived with my sushi plate (I chose one roll and six pieces of nigiri) he described the uniqueness of each piece, in terms of how they prepare each piece with special care. And then he explained that the chef "requested" that I should be careful as I handle the pieces with my chopsticks because they are delicate. He then offered that instead of me using chopsticks, that he could bring a special hand towel to wash my fingertips with, so that I might eat my sushi with my fingers... I was up for that! I will also try to post a photo of the totally awesome little contraption they have designed for holding a wet napkin... just so that you can clean your fingertips between delicate bites of their succulent sushi. Prices are higher than the run-of-the-mill sushi places we have come to expect in Vancouver. Masayoshi is "dinner only" and the food was - as I have already noted - exceptional on my first visit. My overall feeling is that the prices were appropriate for what is a special sushi restaurant. Here is my one big complaint... the paper napkin that was provided was the cheapest version of a paper napkin know to man. It disintegrated in my hand into a tiny little mess of cellulose fibre and dust. There is no question that I will be frequenting this special place again and again. read more

Masayoshi - Awesome little contraption Masayoshi has designed for cleaning your fingertips between bites of sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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What a wonderful experience. As other reviews have suggested, this is not a restaurant to visit when you are in a hurry. You make a res, you're in it for the long haul. This is a small restaurant. We had a 9 pm dinner reservation, weren't seated until around 9:30 because we were waiting for a large party to leave. The general manager brought us waters and menus while we were waiting. He also ended up being our server, which made a huge difference for our meal - he was so knowledgeable and helpful in his suggestions from the fish to the sake. You can really tell that they not only really respect sushi here but want the customers to have a great experience. My boyfriend began with the smoked salmon salad, which he said was one of the best salads he has ever had. Sexy presentation too - it comes out covered, and when the top is removed, smoke flows out from the plate. I immediately ordered the O-Toro sashimi, which I am undeniably addicted to - tough to find a support group for that kind of thing. It was some of the most flavorful and freshest I have ever had, gives the phrase "melt in your mouth" new meaning. The other standout was the Waygu nigiri. Left my boyfriend and me speechless. Our group also had the sockeye salmon sashimi, flounder nigiri (little too chewy for me), spot prawn nigiri, hamachi nigiri, and a whole host of other treats I'm too lazy to list right now. Bill came to about $100 per person, which we all felt was well worth it. I am already looking forward to returning next time I need an O-Toro fix! read more

Masayoshi - O-Toro and Sockeye Salmon sashimi. Even the wasabi is beautiful! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Went there on Monday night (workday) alone. Resturant doesn't seem too busy. Food is excellent, not sure what bad reviews on here are about. Most of the dishes are the best I ever had. Especially the uni, squid, o-toro, tamago. The material they used are super fresh with garnish nicely thought out. Appertizers are presented nicely with tons of flavour. I would say if you are a japanese food lover, go there and try it out, forget about the bad reviews... There are people that gave them bad reviews because their tamago is too spongy??? I mean... tamago are supposed to be spongy... What can be improved is attention to detail. Masa-san seems to be in a rush. Some pieces are presented less than perfect. He doesn't have to rush, the serving speed is fine. All nigiri served by Chef Masa tasted pretty good. The other chef Masa-san is working with however, should pay more attention to the amount of wasabi and soy sauce he is using. I was served 4 piece by him and 1 piece had a bit too much wasabi and the other one is too salty. His presentation though is quite good, I would say he is better than rushed Masa-san in that department. I would probably go with 4 or 5 star becuase of what can be improved. I can't imagine why this resturant is getting only 3.5 stars, so I am gonna affirmative action a bit. I end up with $190 with tip, and left with a pretty full belly. $130 base + $25 extra order + $6 beer + $25 tip. It is definitly one of the most expensive sushi I've ever had, but it is okay value I would say, not too bad. Those high quality fish I was served can be quite expensive. Foot note is that, it seems to me that most people come here for Dating, not for food... Which is somehow a bit sad. read more

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Hands down for the best sushi place I have tried in Vancouver. It reminds me of Japan! read more

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Well this was a great experience. The restaurant is small and cosy (twenty seats total), Masa-san is extremely welcoming. The Omakase started off with some very fresh sashimi, most of it from Japan. The Uni Chawanmushi was fantastic. Smooth, silky and full of flavor. The unagi was perfect. Just the right sweetness and richness. The sable fish was a little salty but nicely finished with Ikura. And the "DIY" dashi was a real surprise. And the tamago? Simply superb. Very much like a custard, just the way it should be! The service was extremely attentive and friendly. A couple of things they can improve. Need real napkins, not paper. A slightly bigger wine and sake list. read more

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