What an unexpected find! We went with a couple friends last minute on a whim and everything we had blew us away. Even before we finished our meal, I already asked my fiancée if I could return here for my birthday later this year. I have been looking for a sablefish replacement since archer closed down which I thought had the best sablefish. I found it. Okini knocks it out of the park on this dish. Super flavourful and mouthwatering. Also tried the clam vongole. Delicious. And spicy. But too spicy for me but I loved it still. Service is amazing as well. Our table wasn't ready when we arrived and they let us sit at the bar to wait. read more

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I came here with a friend to check out their happy hour where a lot of menu items are 10% off. I got the salmon soba and the duck to share but I thought the food was only alright. The presentation is nice and the quality of the ingredients is good. However, flavor-wise and complexity-wise, the food does not hit the spot. I am not sure if I would come back again but I do recommend this spot for special occasions if you're into Western Japanese fusion. read more

Okini Restaurant & Bar - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Drop by here on a weekday evening without reservation and luckily we were early enough that they weren't packed from dinner service yet. A low key place in kerrisdale, their food is always solid and they got a dog friendly menu too (my dog loved it)! It got noisier as they filled up for dinner but since I was seated outside it didn't affect me. Overall, a classy atmosphere with food that doesn't disappoint - would recommend a try if you're in the area. read more

Okini Restaurant & Bar - Xo vongole spaghetti - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Very fancy Japanese fusion restaurant serving up beautifully plated dishes. Overall, we thought the food was a touch on the sweeter side. We really enjoyed the nasu and burrata, kani risotto, and black sesame chocolate brownie. We liked the salmon soba though wondered if it was worth $32 given how small the portion was (picture shows 2 orders plated together). Unagi alla vodka was an interesting idea but the flavours did not complement each other. Reservation highly recommended as the restaurant was packed on a Sunday night! read more

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Been here a few times now. The food has been consistent and you HAVE to order the salmon soba. We ordered the wagyu bolognese for my 4yr son and he almost ate it all :) good variety , will def be coming back read more

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This is a very unique fusion spot in Vancouver, and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone visiting because the creativity in their dishes makes it worth trying at least once. I had heard a lot about their miso salmon and was excited to try it, but unfortunately, they had run out that day :( The uni wagyu dish was the biggest miss for me. The flavors didn't blend well. It was heavy and salty without letting either the uni or the beef shine. Honestly, it just felt like a strange mix that didn't come together. On the flip side, the eel pasta was a highlight. The noodles were coated in a rich vodka sauce that paired nicely with the eel. It did get a bit salty as I ate more of it, but my husband loved every single bite, so it probably depends on your palate. The soft shell crab risotto fell short though. The texture was off, with rice that was too tough and chewy, and the flavor was pretty flat. Definitely not something I'd order again. I did enjoy the salmon tartare, it was light, fresh, and a nice balance to the heavier dishes. The ambiance here is very romantic and cute, making it a great choice for a date night or celebration. Service was good as well. The waitresses took the time to explain the menu and were attentive throughout. read more

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What a perfect place to celebrate a 25th birthday! 7pm on a Saturday, the restaurant was quite busy. The restaurant gave very upbeat and trendy vibes. I always love places with a full view of the kitchen. Our water glasses were always topped up and any requests we had were always promptly taken care of. The food was absolutely delicious. It was difficult to make a choice. So we decided to each order something different and we all shared. The next time I come, I'm definitely going to order the duck again. Melt in your mouth perfection! read more

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I came here to celebrate a friend's birthday and check out their new happy hour menu. I made a reservation on OpenTable, which was great. I noted that it would be for a birthday. The location of the restaurant is a bit random, next to the Choice's market. As such, there is plenty of free street and neighbourhood parking nearby. I think there is also a small parking lot, but not sure if it is only for Choice's. The restaurant used to be called Land & Sea. In fact, it shows up on my credit card statement as such. The restaurant reminds me of hotel restaurant vibes. It was so funny - from the time I booked the restaurant to the day of, about 5 days or so, their happy hour menu changed. Some prices were different, some items were different, and some were removed. Oh well. We ordered various apps from the happy hour menu. The truffle fries, inari, scallops, and corn croquettes were just okay. I think the fried scallops are a pretty good value, there were 4 for $11. The baked wagyu bolognese pasta ($18) was pretty tasty and a decent portion size. We also ordered the soft shell crab risotto from the dinner menu ($32). This was like mentaiko udon, but using risotto. I think udon would have been better. The risotto was kind of hard. There was a decent amount of soft shell crab, though. I saw in someone else's photo that they got half the amount of crab, but some sliced fried scallops instead. Not sure why the inconsistency there. We asked for the bill, and it became apparent that the waiter forgot that we were celebrating a birthday. It was super odd because the host definitely was aware and wished my friend a happy birthday upon arrival. We mentioned the birthday at the end of the meal, and he brought over a scoop of ice cream. This was much appreciated, despite the mix up. For the quality of food we received and the price we paid, I would say the meal and experience was just okay at Okini but I would probably not return. At just a slightly higher price point, I could get a much better tasting meal at Suika, Raisu, New Fuji, Toyokan Plaza etc. with better service, too. read more

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I came here by someone's recommendation. We had a reservation at 3:30pm on Sunday right when they opened up. We were the first one to be seated. Our order includes salmon tartar, beef carpaccio, scallop fries and truffle fries along with a half dozen oysters. Since it was happy hour, the oysters were 2.50 each, really creamy. They only had one kind of oysters forgot the name.. The starters on the regular menu were pretty bland to my taste buds unfortunately. I asked Tabasco for salmon which I usually don't. I actually liked the happy hour menu truffle fries and scallops. Happy hour is available on Sunday but they don't have the printed out menu so you need to check the menu on their website. Tainted love the cocktail my friend had was really good just like grape calpis with alcohol. Overall this would not be my pick for dining in Vancouver next time. read more

Okini Restaurant & Bar - Scallops, beef carpaccio behind - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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easily the best meal we've had this year. honestly, why isn't this a michelin rated restaurant? the moment we walked in, the whole space felt warm and inviting. the glow from the huge christmas tree at the back of the restaurant set the tone immediately, soft twinkling lights, muted golds and silvers, and this calm, cozy ambiance that made the whole place feel rustic and magical. the wooden floors and dim lighting added to that intimate, festive, holiday evening vibe. we were a party of four with a 6:15 pm saturday reservation, and the place was absolutely packed, but not in a chaotic way. just lively, with the open kitchen humming in the background and a small team moving smoothly around the room. service was attentive, friendly, never rushed. questions were answered, waters constantly topped up. the illustrated menus were such a charming touch, playful little drawings, but the dishes themselves were refined, rich, and full of depth. everything we tried had layers of flavour: umami forward, balanced, and often with an unexpected twist. for drinks, one of the guests got the yuzu ginger spritz, freshly muddled ginger, yuzu juice, and ginger ale. me and another guest got the tokyo daydream, tropical, lush, bright, per se vodka, lychee liqueur, lime, coconut, ginger, crushed ice, and another got the sapporo to start. we shared everything: endive caesar, grilled belgian endive, baby shrimp, miso caesar dressing, parmigiano reggiano, black tobiko wagyu beef carpaccio, black garlic miso aioli, pickled wasabi, crispy shallots, 63 degree egg, parmigiano reggiano two orders of tebasaki, grilled chicken skewers with green onions, smoky and juicy, and i'm pretty sure we snagged the last two of the night pork tomahawk, karashi grainy mustard, peperonata, red wine demi glacé, so tender and juicy gindara saikyoyaki, miso marinated sablefish, egg tofu, broccolini, mushrooms, tomato dashi truffle yaki udon, truffle butter, mushrooms, sanuki udon, crispy shallots, arugula, 63 degree egg vongole xo, sake steamed japanese littleneck clams, spaghetti, garlic butter, spicy baby clam xo sauce matcha and black sesame gelato to finish portions lean smaller, but each dish felt intentional, concentrated in flavour, beautifully plated, and full of layered textures. the wagyu beef carpaccio was delicate and silky with this surprising earthy richness. the tebasaki were smoky, savoury, and perfectly grilled. the gindara saikyoyaki was tender to the point of melting, with deep miso flavours that lingered. and the truffle yaki udon was pure comfort, perfectly chewy noodles wrapped in that rich, aromatic truffle warmth. great atmosphere, thoughtful food, warm service, everything aligned, from the festive tree to the final desserts. we'll definitely be back before the rest of the world discovers them. read more

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Third time here and it's a hit EVERY time. Service was great, thought it was our waitress' first day on the job, I think she did an excellent job. Ambiance is very cozy but elevated, there's date nights, girls nights, families and smiling staff. Food is soooo good here. Salmon soba is always a must order (though on the smaller side and I always have to share with people LOL if I was rich I would always get my own!!) I think the rest of the group thought the Wagyu bolognese was a smidge too sweet for their liking but I liked it. Catch their "dine out" menu - $98 for 2 people for 5 courses. Amazing deal! read more

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Great spot for happy hour. Pasta was delicious. Sloppy Joe was great. Focaccia with nori butter was skippable - the butter didn't have much nori flavor and didn't spread well. read more

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Visited Okini during a trip to Vancouver and let the restaurant know we were celebrating our anniversary during the reservation process. They have an open kitchen concept and our first plates were walked out by the chef where he wished us a happy anniversary! Everyone made us feel so welcomed and special. It's small plates / tapas style where the dishes come out as they are prepared and meant to be shared. We ordered one from each section and it was more than enough food for two: small plate - wagyu tantanmen land and sea - tarrow meadows duck pasta - unagi alla vodka dessert - sticky toffee pudding Everything we ordered was lick-your-plate-clean type of deliciousness. At the end, we got a Polaroid of us as a keepsake! read more

Okini Restaurant & Bar - Wagyu tantanmen - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Ended a week of birthday celebrations with dinner at Okini Restaurant & Bar. Everything was so tasty and beautifully presented. Service is exceptional! A definite must try! read more

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Time for Happy Hour at Okini Restaurant located in Kerrisdale neighborhood! We thoroughly enjoyed: Oysters Salmon Tartare: with mango avocado salsa on a tempura nori Crispy Brussel Sprouts: dressed in hibachi-style ginger sauce with katsuobushi Tofu Karaage: crispy egg tofu with tonkatsu sauce Fried Scallop: panko breaded with sweet chili mayo (4 pc) Sloppy Kev: chef's take on a sloppy joe -- with wagyu beef ragu, tomato, parmesan, pickles and tempura flakes glass of rose and gin & tonic The staff was wonderful and the food was outstanding. It was our first time dining at Okini Restaurant and we will be back to enjoy the dinner menu soon. I loved the relaxed yet old world charm interior decor! read more

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This restaurant used to be called Land and Sea. Same owners similar menu. I don't recall my dinner back then. But the experience this time was superb. Chef came out to greet us. Dishes were done to perfection and they were delicious. Very attentive service overall. read more

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DEFINITELY RECOMMEND 5/5 I was told that the couple who opened this restaurant back in 2021 had really no experience in the food industry but after doing some research, Chef Kevin worked as a sushi chef in 2002, completed his culinary arts program and then pursued higher education in Switzerland. Salmon Soba 5/5 I've never had anything quite like the salmon soba the texture of the noodles were al dente, salmon was cooked to a perfect medium, salmon roe wasn't too salty and I loved the texture of the mini roes. The combination of flavors and textures... The creaminess of the sesame ponzu dressing coating the green tea soba noodles.. The only downside I've heard from other people was that the dish use to be bigger? Either way I'd still order this again. Rigatoni alla Vodka 4/5 Dude I typically don't like rigatoni especially tomato based as I feel it's a little too acidic for my liking but this was really mild! I don't know what ratio of tomato sauce and reggiano was put on this but it was like crack! Pork Tomahawk 5/5 The pork was so juicy and tender, you can taste the Smokey flavor from the wood charcoal and the sauce was honestly what really made this dish. You can put that sauce on any meat dish and it would bump it up by 2 points to be honest. It was like a sweet maple ponzu with capers garnished with mini sweet bell peppers? A slab of Dijon mustard seeds to help cut the fattiness from the pork was a nice touch too. The design and ambiance of the restaurant was so nice! It felt like I was walking into a fancy hotel with a modern Japanese flair to it. Im so glad I got to try this restaurant and I'm also really grateful and appreciative of my GF who took me here even though we aren't together anymore. I'll definitely remember this restaurant experience for a while. read more

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Had a wonderful dinner at Okini. Did not expect such a great restaurant in this area of Vancouver, but highly recommend it. Service is incredibly attentive, and knowledgeable of every dish. read more

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I made a reservation rather last minute, and requested a table outdoor, as we have our dog with us. The front of house greeted me promptly, but told me their heated covered outdoor seating can only accommodate small dog that is up to 25 pounds, and that is a regulation set by health authority. She is kind enough to ask the manager, and I saw the manager talking to the owner, and they were willing to accommodate us, which I am grateful. But I want to say I'm pretty certain Vancouver Coastal Health Authority has no such regulation like that, as my partner is the regional manager taking care of the food and food safety portfolio at this said organization. If it's the restaurant's policy/ owner's decision, I wish they would just say so instead of blaming to another organization. We ordered the leafy green and herb salad, which I find is too bland and not enough dressing. The braised beef cheek and unagi alla vodka pasta were lovely with the perfect amount of seasoning and flavors. We ordered the black sesame chocolate brownie to end our meal. I think if it would have been better if it's a black sesame chocolate lava cake instead of brownie. The salted kinako flavor is quite unique, but don't think the berry coulis does anything to the dish. I wonder if a miso caramel sauce would have been a better match. Service is attentive, and food came out pretty quickly. Over all, it's a decent restaurant, I wouldn't mind coming again to try other dishes. read more

What a delightful neighbourhood fine dining restaurant. Warmly greeted and seated, we had to decide on some many tempting choices. We settled for sharing the following: - Hokkaido uni toast - can taste the ocean flavours from the uni and ikura combo - Roasted nasu - eggplant grilled with a nice gomae/peanut sauce - Pork tomahawk - bone in and sliced for sharing - Truffle yaki udon was flavourful with a wonderful chewy Sanuki texture - Salmon belly - daily special flambé on a bed of multigrain rice "my favourite dish" Service was truly outstanding, not pretentious nor pressured. I will definitely return when I crave for a high end dining experience. read more

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Hidden neighborhood restaurant tucked away in small shopping plaza in Kerrisdale. Comfortable west coast style restaurant interior. Kitchen is in the restaurant which can get pungent and smoky. Felt little more izakaya and casual environment than an upscale restaurant. Menu is all Japanese inspired fusion dishes. Server was friendly and recommended ordering dishes for sharing tapas style. We tried the salmon tartare, endive salad, wagyu carpaccio, salmon soba, duck, gindara, pork tomahawk, wagyu bolognese, truffle yaki udon. Beautiful presentation on the dishes which was at odds with the restaurant environment. Salmon tartare was as expected. Wagyu carpaccio was nicely done with the soft egg. Salmon with green tea soba was unique. The salmon had a nice glaze almost like candied salmon and sesame dressing on the soba was different. Duck entree nothing out of the ordinary. Really enjoyed the gindara and the fish was a decent size. The pork tomahawk was really just a pork chop. The truffle yaki udon and Wagyu bolognese was tasty but pretty casual izakaya type. The server asked us to move to another table before we finished eating and before the last entree came out because they had another reservation booked for the same table which was unexpected and highly unusual. We ended up having to quickly finish the entree so we wouldn't have to move all the dishes to another table. They ended up moving us to a patio table for the rest of our stay and we had dessert there. We celebrated with a birthday cake and there was a cake cutting fee. Overall, nice concept and food but lacking in hospitality which puts this in a casual restaurant category that is not matched by the menu pricing. read more

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First time dining at Okini Restaurant & Bar, formerly known as Land & Sea. It's in a quiet, neighbourhood area beside a Choices Market. We dropped in on a Sunday evening (7:00pm reservations). Plenty of open tables and several groups celebrating birthdays. We opted for the outdoor covered patio area. Service was friendly and our waters replenished throughout the night. Menu is one page; to start, land & sea, pasta & rice and desserts. Entrees are $23.00 to $72.00. - Yuzu ginger spritz ($9.00) - refreshing and well balanced. - Salmon tartare ($28.00) - small portion but good quality. - Yarrow Meadows duck ($48.00) - duck was excellently cooked, reminded me of Chinese style BBQ duck. - Wagyu cheek ($42.00) - cheeks were fantastic; tender but still retained a slightly gelatinous bite. The potatoes were bland but the vegetables complimented the rest of the dish. - Gelato - they brought out a complimentary scoop of Passione Gelato. The candied olives worked beautifully. Okini was a solid spot for a fancy, celebratory dinner. read more

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I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed Okini! We were a group of 4 and stuffed by the end with 4 entrees, 1 app and a drink each. Everything was delicious although we were sad to hear that they had taken off the soft shelled crab ravioli for their ravioli of the day. Hopefully next time, it'll be featured on the menu again! We got the king salmon soba, ravioli of the day which was stuffed with Wagyu and a sort of chive I believe, yaki udon with 63 degrees egg, unagi risotto with the same egg, and the duck. Our favourites were the soba and the yaki udon but you can't go wrong with any of them. Everything was a perfect balance of flavour and texture. I would say that there's lots of Japanese influence on the menu, but in a unique way compared to most other places. Our table enjoyed the drinks as well. They were very aesthetic. As a non drinker, I loved the strawberry hojicha iced tea ($12). Our waiter was kind and explained our dishes to us and answered our questions which we appreciated. We were seated at the covered balcony and felt the everything was nicely decorated. Overall, it felt like an upscale place, with prices that didn't feel far off from what you'd expect. Overall, I'd highly recommend to try if you're looking for somewhere to celebrate an occasion or if you're feeling a little fancy. read more

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All the dishes were delicious! My partner and I especially enjoyed the Ora King Salmon Soba - the salmon was perfectly seared, and the soba noodle sauce was delightful, wrapping every noodle with flavour. The Miso Glazed Sablefish was melt-in-your-mouth, with a very tasty egg tofu and tomato dashi that brought everything together. Our favourite from the Chili Crab dish was the crunchy soft shell crab tempura. We felt that the sweet chili sauce overpowered the potential flavours of the crab inside the ravioli. The duck dish was tasty, with perfectly cooked mushrooms. The croquette was my favourite part of this dish! Ambiance was wonderful, and service was very attentive. However, we felt that the dishes came out too quickly. Before finishing one dish, we were trying to move onto the next, before it got cold. Pacing the dishes to come out slower would have been appreciated. Would love to visit again soon - and I will be thinking about that Ora King Salmon Soba dish for many days to come. read more

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We made a reservation for 7:30pm and was not able to get in until 8:30pm. They were overbooked! However, good food and superb service very much made up for their mistake. As we were seated, the owner, Steph approached our table and profusely apologized and later on came with two complimentary appetizers - Shiso Wraps and Wagyu Carpaccio. Oooh we're they ever so good. These are must orders. We ordered the following and every dish was 5/5 on point - texture, layers of flavor and presentation Preludes *Ora King Salmon Tartare *Ora King Salmon Soba *Raw Oysters Land *Grilled Pork Tomahawk *Braised Wagyu Cheek Sea *Unagi Risotto What a feast we had tonight! Got to chat with Steph and met her partner Kevin. What a host they are! Very accomplished young couple. Will be back for sure. read more

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Fusion resturants can be a hit or a miss, and Okini is definitely a hit!! Love the japanese + west coast fusion dishes + drinks they serve! Highly reccomend getting Ora King Salmon Soba and the Vongole XO! Ora King Salmon Soba: the salmon was so incredibly tender, and the soba went SO well with it!!! Vongole XO: amazing fusion using XO sauce - loved how they incorporated a staple chinese XO sauce into a delicious pasta dish with fresh clams!! They also gave us a complimentary ice cream dish since we were there celebrating a birthday! read more

A good restaurant should be mindful of its impact on the community and work together with the community to grow and thrive! BUT!!! restaurant's food waste bins, and they frequently fail to manage their waste properly, causing a rat infestation. Despite our complaints, the issue persists. Large groups of rats gather around the bins at night and attempt to enter our home, frightening our children. We hope the city can take long-term measures to resolve this issue for the safety of our community. read more

Okini Restaurant & Bar - A good restaurant should be mindful of its impact on the community and work together with the community to grow and thrive! BUT!!! - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Land & Sea has been a highly anticipated restaurant for me as I had seen many people go there for special occasions. A friend recommended bringing me here for my birthday. The restaurant is in a quiet neighbourhood with an open kitchen concept and a charming and cozy vibe. When we arrived, it seemed our table wasn't ready yet at the reserved time so we went out for a stroll. When we came back we were seated promptly and our server, Tiffany came and greeted us immediately. We opted for 2 appetizers, 3 main dishes and drinks for the four of us. I did notice that the servers will go for a direct upsell approach and offer us a variety of dishes so if that's not your vibe take note! Food arrived really quickly and now for my take on the dishes: Appetizers: Wagyu Carpaccio I was pleasantly surprised with this one! I've had many variations of beef carp and by now they all start to blend in with each other but I really enjoyed the black garlic miso on top for a Japanese fusion take. We ordered an additional side of bread ($5) and my friend mentioned the butter they served alongside it was YUMMY. Very fair for $26 in my opinion. King Ora Salmon Soba This dish was DELICIOUS. The salmon is cooked rare making the fish's texture very soft and enjoyable. The dish is overall light in flavour which works well for a gentle palate like mine. Be warned though, the soba is what I would call one bite wonder for the bf. It's definitely an appetizer-sized dish for $31. Main dishes: Grilled Pork Tomahawk (Land) Pork is seldom something I order and enjoy at a restaurant but I was quite surprised with this dish. It's paired with a very unique karashi mustard peppercorn sauce and the pork was quite tender and not dry at all! I wouldn't say it's my favourite, especially for $46 but I found the savoury peppercorn flavour and slight tartness of the mustard a good pair. Chilli Crab (Sea) There was A LOT going on with this dish. Flavour wise it sets the bar high with a whole mouthful of tomato and umami profiles with a tickle of chilli. It's topped with a whole fried softshell (?) crab and underneath is the crab ravioli. My only gripe with this dish is that the flavours are really delicious but there was A LOT of sauce so I couldn't fully taste and enjoy the crab ravioli. This dish worked perfectly for the bf because he enjoys the amount of sauce and strong flavours but for me, it was a bit overwhelming. ($46) Unagi Risotto (Sea) The unagi was tender and flavourful. Risotto was good as well but nothing amazing. Overall, not too many thoughts on this dish from me. Might be worth trying if you are an unagi lover but I just wasn't too sure about the combination. ($39) From previous reviews, I read the desserts aren't anything special so I opted for a scoop of Tiramisu ice cream. It was good but for $7 I was wishing for a little more. The server popped a candle on it and sang happy birthday to me which was very sweet. Overall, I would say it was an enjoyable experience and I would like to return to try some other dishes. PS: I do recommend the cocktail I had 'Half Blood Orange' it was fruity with a twinge of spice! read more

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Honestly 10/10 would recommend this place for dinner - whether its date night, special occasions or regular dinning its one of my favorite and top recommended places. Salmon Soba ($32) ~ amazing this was so good the salmon was perfectly cooked and paired so well with the creamy sesame ponzu dressing it was rich, flavorful, and super delicious. The combination of flavors paired super well. I love king salmon and this was chef kiss. 10/10. Salmon tartare ($28) ~ this was good too the salmon is tossed in citrus soy and masago with a mango avocado salsa, and those deep fried nori chips were so good. I really liked the combination of mango and avocado with that citrus soy. 9.5/10. Fresh shucked oysters ($MP) - We added foie gras (+$4/each) ~ this changed the oyster game because the foie gras was so rich and fatty, and it paired so well with those freshly chucked oysters, I really loved the fatty, and fresh combination it had. 10/10. Wagyu cheek ($42) ~ that braised wagyu cheek was so tender and soft and it was paired so nicely on a bead of potatoes and veggies, and it was amazing that red wine glaze was super rich in flavor too. It was so soft it fell apart just by touching it with the fork that's how tender it was. 10/10. Unagi risotto ($39) ~ I love mentaiko and the unagi paired so well with the mentaiko risotto, creamy and delicious and not to mention its paired with a 63 degree egg which flowed out so nicely. 9/10. Yarrow meadows duck ($48) - we added seared Quebec foie gras (+$18). Best dish of the night, the duck breast was so tender and juicy and the gravy and seasoning was so good and that huge chunk of foie gras on top made it so much more fatty, and tender. 100% recommend this dish cause it was so good! 10/10. If your gonna wanna plan a date night or a dinner I 100% recommend you come here. Never have I ever rated a restaurant so highly and this place really surpassed my expectations. read more

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OKINI We recently visited @okiniyvr for the first time and had a wonderful meal. This restaurant has been on my list for years, and I'm glad I was finally able to visit. Formerly known as Land and Sea, Okini serves up beautiful West Coast Japanese dishes. Run by chef @whatscookingkev and his partner @stephwants, Okini is a gem located in the Kerrisdale neighbourhood that's a must visit if you're looking to discover new flavours. The ambiance of the restaurant is very warm and cozy. The restaurant was super busy when we arrived so it was a bit loud, but that's a sign of a great restaurant. Their kitchen is open concept; you will be able to see the chefs at work, it was like watching an orchestra. The space was also dimly lit and provided us with a sense of privacy even though we were seated in the open dining room. Our server was amazing and ready with suggestions, she also made sure to check up on us routinely without being overbearing. For starters, we ordered the Wagyu Beef Carpaccio which was super addicting and melt-in-your mouth, with zero gaminess. We also ordered their Salmon Tartare with Hokkaido Uni which was served with a side of nori crisps. I really enjoyed the bright flavours of the mango and citrus soy that the salmon was tossed in, made this dish extra refreshing. And finally, we tried out their Nasu & Buratta salad which was the most an interesting experience. Personally found that it didn't hit as much as the other two starters, but it was not bad. For our mains, we ordered their Yarrow Meadows Duck and Unagi alla Vodka which was was spectacular; the pasta sauce was so flavourful, I would have never thought to make this dish with unagi but the flavours worked perfectly! The duck was good but didn't have the wow factor like the pasta did, we really loved the kabocha croquette it was played with though. The only thing that didn't hit the spot for me was dessert--we ordered the sticky toffee pudding. I personally prefer a denser cake with a crunchy/crispy component for added texture. The one here was not terrible by any means, but I found myself wanting more texture, this toffee pudding was more of a moist and squishy experience. We really enjoyed most of the dishes we ordered, and will definitely be coming back in the future. Have you guys ever been to Okini? 8.5/10 ‍10/10 $$$ (approx. $60-$100+/per person) Okini | 1864 W 57th Avenue, Vancouver, BC read more

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The ambience was cozy and they have the prettiest door. Service by Patrick, others and the head chef (!) was top notch. Patrick reads the table well, water is always topped up by the staff and the chef personally at times. Drinks-wise, didn't have any if the smoke ones but the others were great. None really stood out. Probably could not order next time for $16+ each. Salmon tartare was tasty but $20+ for the Hokkaido uni (that was short of an inch in length) was not worth it. The nori chips were lightly tempura battered they were tasty but can tell greasy. Salmon Soba, as raved by others was one of the highlights of the night. The salmon cooked to perfection, as was the soba (not much green tea flavour) but ikura just makes anything ten times better. Chili soft shelled crab was good but almost tasted like the Thai chili sauce from the grocery store. The ravioli stuffed with crab, the pasta was cooked to perfection, inside was lovely tasting. Desserts: on the house was a small scoop of green tea ice cream w lemon crumble for a birthday celebration. Panna cotta was smooth and the fruit base was quite tarte. I enjoyed it. Sticky toffee pudding was good too but a bit heavy for me at the end of a scrumptious meal. read more

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Finally tried this very much hyped establishment. As per their menu and marketing, they project themselves as a fine dining restaurant fusion of east and west cuisines. Let me set the record straight, this is one of those places where you come for dinner, and still need a cheeseburger afterwards. If you are looking for value for money, this is not the place for you. If you are looking for a nice place for pre-dinner wine and dine plus conversation, this is the place. We tried the salmon pasta for appys, the crispy crab ravioli, and the unagi entree. The appys was baby's food. Small and serving is equivalent to 2 spoonfuls, but priced like a meal. The crispy crab ravioli was a play on italian and chinese cooking. The ravioli was stuffed with Dungeness crab and then the dish was topped with crispy crab legs. Serving portion again small, and crab legs thin and almost no meat. Smothered with too much sauce that it almost killed the crispiness of the legs. You bite the legs all you get are the shells. Hard to take the meat out as no proper utensils were provided. So all you paid for are a few pieces of flour and crab meat. The unagi with rice, was presented well, as you can see. But taste wise, its no better than an average japanese restaurant. I dont know what it is but this place seems to be struggling with its identity. Are we an italian, chinese, or japanese, and western fusion? All he dishes were average in taste. Nothing special and stood out. Just fancy pricing and above average plating. You would get better food and value at a great price by going to The Rise eatery in south granville. Now thats an exceptionally good fusion restaurant. I was very disappointed as i had above average expectations for land and sea. But they were not met at all. One thing that stands out here tho...was service! The staff made sure to try and make your stay as best as possible. Whatever not so good experience you have with the food, they tried to make up for it with service and by extending special favours. This is one thing that is golden here that you will have difficult finding anywhere. My hats off to the service standards here and making sure customer satisfaction is somewhat met. You guys are the true heroes of the hospitality and dining industry . Will i repeat? Not a chance. Cheers! Happy eating! read more

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We were looking for a nice seafood restaurant and after a quick Yelp search, decided to try this place. The Yelp reviews and photos weren't wrong - the food is exciting, delicious, and the service is fantastic. I've bookmarked Okini for future trips to Vancouver! read more

Okini Restaurant & Bar - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Everything here was so so delicious and flavourful. Definitely go here with more people to try more things! Shiso Wrap x4 $60 Ora King Salmon Soba $31 Yarrow Meadows Duck $41 Chili Crab $46 Miso Glazed Sablefish $45 Grilled Pork Tomahawk $42 Side Broccolini $12 Side Mushroom $15 Side Croquette x2 $16 Sticky Toffee Pudding $14 Strawberry Lemon Panna Cotta $12 The shiso wrap was bursting with flavours from the wagyu, ikura, shiso leaf but it overpowered the hokkaido uni. The salmon soba and sablefish are definitely worth trying. The portion might be little small, but it's definitely worth the deliciousness. The chili crab was also really good and unique with their crab ravioli and soft shell crab tempura on top. You get that crispy crunchiness and then the soft ravioli Their duck with yakiniku gravy and grilled pork was also made perfectly. Very tender and flavourful. Their toffee pudding was very fragrant with the whisky caramel and banana custard. The panna cotta was also flavourful with their unique strawberry shiso compote and salted lemon crumble. read more

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Slightly overrated! We ordered the Salmon Soba, Pork Tomahawk and Unagi Risotto and there were some hits and misses. The Salmon Soba dish was definitely the star here! Perfectly cooked salmon, very interesting green tea soba, lots of umami! I would order two of these next time. The pork tomahawk had a pretty tasty mustard sauce and it was well cooked, overall it was ok and not as memorable as the soba dish. The unagi risotto looked exciting from the menu but we found the risotto texture very off and raw (not Al dente but borderline raw) which was very off-putting. Unagi of course was still good but I regretted ordering this dish. read more

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The service was great, from the reservation process to hostess to server to the chef/owner who came table side to torch a dish to finish it off - no faults at all. The ambience was relaxing and humming with activities, and the open kitchen is fun to watch if you are at the bar or nearby. The tomahawk pork was our favorite dish, very tender and juicy. The off-menu special was salmon belly on mushroom rice, which came in at a close second - the salmon literally melts in your mouth. The sable fish was quite good and solid although it didn't wow us like the other 2 dishes, excellent nonetheless; finally the duck was tender but was a taf bit on the raw side for some of us. I would have given a 5 stars had they been able to offer better dairy-free options. The Endive Caesar looked very good and the menu indicated it had a Dairy Free option, but turns out it just removes the parmesan cheese and dressing instead of replacing it with something different. For a higher end restaurant like this I was expecting a creative alternative ingredient to be substituted, not just simply removing ingredients. Very solid restaurant and staff overall and worth a visit. read more

Okini Restaurant & Bar - Sable Fish - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Came for their soft opening and all I can say is this won't be my last time coming here! They were very accommodating especially as they were able to host a last minute birthday party. The servers were very attentive and went above and beyond to make sure we were taken care of. We started off with a couple of cocktails, their old fashion and aviator. For food, we decided to share our dishes and ordered the shiso wrap, crispy pink scallops, ora king salmon soba and yarrow meadows duck. We finished it off with a couple of the bartenders off the menu drinks. Everyone had an amazing experience and the chef's attention to detail with his dishes was definitely the highlight of the night. As it's located beside a Choices market, parking can be hard to find so plan ahead and give yourself some extra time to find parking in the neighborhood and I recommend booking online in advance if you don't want to wait. read more

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This restaurant will be officially open on September 3 but it has been soft opened for about a week. The menu is quite interesting, using Japanese ingredients to make Western cuisine. We ordered 2 appies, 2 mains and 2 sides. Our server was very attentive and good and overall everything was good. I would say the prices are on the higher end but definitely tasty. There was a bit of a wait between the appetizers and the mains, but we mistakenly got a plate of mushrooms right after our appetizers. Then when the main course came we got more mushrooms. There are lots of other dishes to try next time. read more

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A cute little restaurant in a residential neighbourhood that we stopped by for drinks and apps on a rainy night. the moment you step in though, the elevated vibes welcome you. i noticed they do have a private(r) area which seems perfect for business dinners or just celebratory events which is super nice and cute. we got seats at the bar and it was really cool watching the bartender make the drinks. they also have an open concept kitchen which i found fascinating to be able to see all the dishes being made and then brought to the tables. we had the Ora King Salmon Soba, Grilled Belgian endive, and wagyu beef carpaccio. so i was visiting and still on EST timing so i was kinda sleepy as we were heading to the restaurant but let me tell you that the moment i started eating, i woke up. the grilled belgian endive is a take on a classic caesar salad - but this was definitely better and elevated. i prefer this kinda caesar salad anyday!! the wagyu beef carpaccio simply melted in my mouth and the flavours went together so well with the parmesan. what really stood out to me was the black garlic lemon miso because it's such a unique concept and flavour profile but it works. i love me some noodles so the ora king salmon soba was definitely my favourite. the salmon was perfectly cooked, not dry at all. the flavour of the flame finish really was the cherry on top. personally i've always been on the fence about miso flavouring because it can be quite strong and salty (i don't think i had a good experience with miso ramen and it's led to this) but i love Japanese fusion and what they've done with these dishes!! i loved the ambiance, definitely great for a date or girls night out, or if you just want to treat yourself! ps you can also add uni and truffle to dishes read more

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Came with a fellow Yelper for our year end catchup so we could treat ourselves! Service was quite good, our server was attentive and kept our glasses topped up. We shared the salmon soba appy, Shiso wagyu bites, Xmas special - uni carbonara, and the duck breast. Our favourite dish was the salmon soba - I would personally eat this entree sized if they offered it :) Salmon texture was silky smooth and the cook was perfect; 10/10! I enjoyed the smoky flavour on the shiso bites with the salty ikura pops, but we felt that the wagyu did not stand out as much as we expected against the shiso leaf. Duck breast was properly cooked and tender, and the hidden croquette underneath was a nice surprise - still very crunchy and very delicious. Unfortunately the uni carbonara was a miss for us - my piece of uni was a bit fishy and the flavour was lost amongst the heavy saltiness of the carbonara - perhaps too much parm? I wouldn't order this again. Also, my partner bit into a pinky nail-sized piece of bone in her carbonara - we informed our server and she was apologetic but I guess these things happen in dishes containing ground meats so there was no other action taken. I would probably stick to their regular menu items that are tried and tested to feel I'm getting great quality for the price. I would still come back to Land and Sea in the future, especially since parking is free and plentiful in the area. read more