Generous portions of rice and meat with each entree. You would find it difficult to walk out of this place hungry. It is a noisy and loud environment with the music volume quite high and the servers yelling out orders at the kitchen....I wonder if they actually can hear each other This didn't take away from my experience though because my garlic rice with wagyu beef was absolutely divine. Served in a hot stone bowl sizzling and mouthwatering. Reservations are highly recommended because this place is all the rage! We got lucky and were seated within 20 min at the bar without a reservation on a Saturday night during prime dinner time. But it couldve been much worse of a wait read more

Raisu - Garlic rice + wagyu beef - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Been here three times and the quality of the food has been consistently good and tasty. Nice to be here on a special occasion, for a birthday celebration :) made it memorable with a personalized photo and the tofu dessert was really good too ! Wish I had an earlier reservation but make sure to make your reservations early! read more

Raisu - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Yo, lemme break it down for y'all on Raisu in Kits, and this ain't no regular review--this is some straight-up real talk, ghetto street hood edition to the MAX. Aight, so when you roll up to Raisu, it's like stepping into some slick, bougie spot. Vibes are tight, decor's poppin', and the patio game strong. But straight up, don't come here starvin', fam. Spent over $300 and left feelin' like I needed to hit up a drive-thru after. LOL, no cap. It's a place you hit up for some fancy vibes, not when you tryin' to fill up your stomach like a bottomless pit. But let's be real here--prices? Bruh, they had me clutchin' my wallet. The food be good, like real good, but I was sittin' there like, "Yo, $20+ for two bites?" They say it's all top-shelf ingredients, but I'm still out here wonderin' if the hype matches the bill. It's one of those spots you pull up for when you tryin' to flex on a special occasion. Like, don't even bother unless you got somethin' to celebrate, or impress yo girl, feel me? Now shoutout to our server-- homegirl was mad cute, anime cute and hustlin' hard in the middle of the rush. She was workin' like she tryin' to win the gold at the service Olympics. Much respect for that grind. But yo if where struggling looking for things to eat on the menu, may be awesome to be recommended things on the menu. At the end of the day, Raisu's cool and all--like a spot you hit up when you tryna make a statement, but don't expect to be rollin' out with a full belly. $300 down, still thinkin' 'bout hittin' up a food truck after. If you want that boujee, "I-eat-like-an-influencer" experience, pull up. Just don't get it twisted: it's not the place for them "I'm tryna eat my weight in sushi" kinda nights. Who knew Japanese street food would be so dang expensive LOL! I did end up at a late night bar for more eats!!! read more

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Easily one of my favorite restaurants in Vancouver. Ever since I've come here, I still think about it from time to time and crave coming back. I highly recommend making reservations ahead of time to ensure that you have a table or you may have to wait (or even worse, be out of luck and not have a table). They have indoor, outdoor, and bar seating and all of them are great (although outdoor seating in the winter does have seating similar to kotatsu). My boyfriend and I ordered a menu item from each of their menu categories which included, kobe beef shabu shabu udon, sashimi bowl, aburi sushi, and chicken karaage. Everything was SO delicious. I cannot express it enough. I enjoyed every bite of my dinner and I loved how all of the dishes were so different but blended together so well. There were so many different tastes of umani, sweet, and savory. Everything was also portioned perfectly and so fresh. I would love to come back with more friends and highly recommend. read more

Raisu - Kobe Shabu Shabu Udon, Deluxe Seafood Bowl, Omakase Aburi Sushi, Chicken Karaage - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

I was on a mission in Vancouver to eat one dish mainly. That was otoro sashimi, and this place was so worth it! My friend recommended this restaurant to me. Note, it was busy on a Saturday night. So, don't forget to make reservations on OpenTable. Also, it seems like there is mostly street parking around this area. I was seated right away after I gave my name for the reservation. Note, all the workers will greet you in Japanese as you get seated. Plus, your server will ask if you want water or tea as you get seated. The menu was extensive, ranging from appetizers, sushi, sashimi, udon, and chirashi bowl. I was determined to get otoro, so I ordered the otoro sashimi and the wagyu beef hamburg teishoku. Note that the hamburg takes 30 minutes to prepare, so order some appetizers while you're waiting. I also got the jumbo scallops with crab to appease my hunger while I waited for the hamburg. The server bought out the otoro sashimi immediately. That otoro sashimi was picturesque. When I popped a piece in my mouth, one thought, wow! The otoro melted in my mouth like butter! This was what I was looking for this whole time! Otoro is very fatty though, so I didn't eat all of it. I gave some to my boyfriend. I did end up trying some of my boyfriend's otoro blue fin tuna aburi sushi. My favorite was the one with taimko on top. It gave a nice crunch as you ate the sushi piece. Again, mouth watering and everything I've dreamed off. The jumbo scallops were delicious. It has the perfect crunch, with the right amount of scallop and crab ratio. I might have over ordered since I was full when they bought out the hamburg. The wagyu beef was so soft. It seems like most of the food here melts in your mouth as you eat it! The miso demi-glace sauce was delicious. It was sweet and savory, so I mixed some in my rice. I did order the cloudy orange drink. To be honest, the alcohol was not strong in this drink. I didn't mind it, though, because it tasted like orange juice. Apparently, it was everyone's birthday that night. The workers will sing and bring you out a dessert if you're celebrating a special event. Plus, they will take a picture to commemorate the event. My friend ended up spilling her lychee cocktail. A worker came by quickly to hand some napkins. They even gave her a new drink! So if you're looking for a fun and hospitable experience, this restaurant is it! I can't recommend it enough! read more

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This place is very popular so reservations are highly recommended. Beware a wait even if you do have a reservation as I was seated 15 minutes after my reservation time. The ambiance is very loud as servers relay orders to the sushi chefs through shouting in Japanese. Despite the timing for seating and noise, the food is really what stands out. It's fresh, delicious albeit a bit expensive. Would come again but make a reservation in advance and call to reserve specialty items (ie. Anniversary menu promo items) ahead of time as that was not specified in social media promos but it was clear on the menu it needed advanced notice. read more

Special Beto, lunch comb and dessert are great and service is awesome Special Beto, lunch comb and dessert are great and service is awesome read more

Raisu - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Such a good experience. Popped in for dinner and didn't expect to get seated so quickly (or at all) but we did. Bar seating was super nice because of the height of the table vs table seating. I was torn between two things, the chopped chirashi bowl and the bento, I actually didn't think they had any left but they did! My partner got the grilled hamachi and we shared the special otoro aburi (pressed fatty tuna). I loved that the bento had essentially tasting pieces. It was just enough to try it all without feeling like it was too much or if I had ordered a whole order and not liked it, feel bad for not finishing. Standouts- brussel sprouts (amazingly soft and caramelized), egg (not too sweet), scallop shooter, tuna. Honestly most things were good, except the sauce on the meatball. The pressed sushi was super good too. Everything was super fresh and it wasn't break the back expensive. Service was friendly and it was a great atmosphere. Had an incredible experience here. read more

Raisu - Bento! - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Super cute interior located on the second floor of the building. Their bento box or deluxe seafood bowl are really good, slightly pricy would recommend read more

I am by no means an expert on Japanese food. But spending a lot of time in Vancouver for a few years, this is the best food I have had anywhere in the city. Went with a group of four, we all got different dishes and every one of them was absolutely incredible. Place had a cool vibe, and the server was very friendly. Prices were entirely reasonable. The fact that this place has 4.2 stars on here is criminal. read more

Raisu - Seafood bowl - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Raisu is one of my favorite restaurants in Vancouver. The vibe is super chill, which I love. It's a casual atmosphere, but the food feels elevated, which is a perfect combo. If you're celebrating a birthday, the service really makes it special--it's such a fun experience! The reservation system is also great. I've managed to find last-minute spots online often, and if you don't see something online, just give them a call. They're usually happy to squeeze you in, and you don't even need to give a credit card for a deposit, which is rare these days. Everything on the menu is delish, you can't go wrong - but here's what I recommend ordering: - Crab and Uni Cream Udon: A MUST TRY! I order it every time I come here - Shokado Bento: Perfect for first-timers, just remember to request it in advance on the phone - Assorted Sashimi - Aburi Sushi - Corn and Brussels Sprouts Karaage - Cocktails: All are super affordable and tasty Honestly, I have no complaints about Raisu. It's consistently fantastic, and I always find myself recommending it to friends. If you haven't been yet, do yourself a favour and go! read more

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Sooo good! Came here on my day trip to Canada. The interior is filled with a wooden aesthetic with a Japanese style interior- very unique! I got the chirashi bowl which came with a miso soup and both very made of very high quality ingredients. The food also came quick and there was always an attentive sever nearby. Missing Canada, and missing Raisu! read more

Raisu - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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This place kept coming up on Instagram so naturally I went all the way to Canada to try it lol. We were sat on the enclosed patio section and you have to remove your shoes before sitting. It was the perfect cozy spot even when it was cold and rainy outside. We did the preset menu for two and it did not disappoint. Everything had uni and possibly tuna. From uni shooter with a truffle jelly, to hard boiled egg with uni, a uni and tuna onigiri, fresh tuna and uni, and an crispy rice both with the uni and tuna. All these perfect dishes ended with a sorbet and hot green tea. Truly a perfect meal, I wouldn't change a thing. This was an awesome experience and I would definitely go back. Loooved it! read more

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Absolute amazing service and ambiance immediately as you walk in. The decor is carefully crafted to resemble (or what I imagine to be) restaurants/bars in Japan. I ordered the deluxe seafood bowl which came with fish that was perfectly cut and mouth-watering when I placed directly in my mouth. My friends ordered the udon and the rainbow bowl and enjoyed their meals as well. One of my friends even ordered a drink that was not on the menu, describing to the waiter what he wanted, and they came through so well. I would HIGHLY recommend this place to anyone traveling in the Vancouver area (I'm from Seattle) and I would definitely come here again any time I'm back! read more

Raisu - Deluxe seafood bowl, steak udon and rainbow bowl - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

I've shopped under this place for 20 years and never though to look up. What a find. Legit Japanese service and food but elevated. Amazing space with a covered patio overlooking 4th. The food does not only focus on sushi at all. The cutlet meals are huge! There something for everyone here. I'm giving it a rare 5 because I think they just nailed every detail and I love the location. read more

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We made reservations online, it was easy. Order your bento 24hrs ahead. Have to order their toro! read more

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Authentic Japanese restaurant worth the hype. The wait was long and especially difficult with multiple children in our party but the food was delicious. We were blown away by their kids set menu. A beautifully curated lunch with everything your kid could want and more. read more

Raisu - Kids set. Look at how much food is included and how beautiful it is. I was blown away. - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Definitely an upper scale place. I went here during an off time, so there was no wait fortunately. We ordered 2 different dishes. The udon was good, but I thought it was slightly underwhelming only because of the portions. There wasn't a lot to eat. The deluxe blue fish rice dish though was AMAZING. Every fish hit the spot, and it tasted so fresh. The rice helped fill us up too. I think you come to this place for the quality and not necessarily the quantity. Nothing wrong with it though! But I just wished we got a little more especially for what we paid for. read more

Raisu - deluxe bluefin tuna bowl - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Raisu was so hospitable with great service but my first visit was just shy of 5 stars. My sister and I shared the omakase uni zukushi and it was slightly underwhelming. I found the tofu used for one of the dishes did not flow well with the uni. Something about the texture and aftertaste. Everything else was good, with emphasis on the temaki and hitsumabushi. The lemon sour, tropical lychee and plum wine sangria were great drink options to try. read more

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Food presentation is lovely Food portion size is down side. Hidden wooden board inside the bowl felt ripped off with the sushi rice. It's more like paying those expensive seafood only. That's the biggest disappointment I assume those food is just for pictures not for you to enjoy the money you paid for. Think twice before you want spend money eat there read more

Raisu - Deluxe combo - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Top Notch Service and Taste was on point! Make sure you make your reservation for dinner but lunch is usually less busy! We ordered the deluxe seafood bowl with a variety of sashimi on a bed of rice, takowasabi, crab&ikura Hitsumabushi,tonkatsu curry and the winner my opinion (for me) was the curry but everything else was still very flavorful! read more

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Very delicious Japanese food Energetic and passionate Good memories for birthday or other ceremonies with Shop specials celebrations read more

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Okay so somehow, I've checked in at Raisu five times but haven't written a review yet despite it being one of my favourite Japanese restaurants? What better opportunity to do so than with my 100th review? Cool cool cool cool cool. There isn't much to say about this beloved gem in Kits that hasn't already been said - food quality is consistently top tier, service is friendly, and their tucked away patio overlooking West 4th is perfect now that summer is finally upon us. I haven't been here in ages, so took the opportunity for a catch-up with a friend to pay a visit. They currently have an excellent o-toro set menu for 2 ($145) and I highly, highly recommend it. It took the guesswork out of ordering for the evening (do we each do our own teishoku? Share a bunch of appies and entrees?) and it was a substantial amount of food for the price. You've got: -An aperitif each (choice of house or yuzu sake, we went with the latter) -A quail egg and spot prawn shooter each -Your choice of salad (between the AAA steak or sashimi, we went with the sashimi) -Your choice of two starters (we went with the assorted sashimi and kakuni pork belly) -Omakase aburi sushi 8 pcs -Your choice of an otoro don or snow crab udon (we went with the former) -A dessert (ours was matcha brulee cheesecake) and green tea each to close out the meal. The otoro don isn't on their regular menu and it was one of my favourite dishes of the night. You get a giant bowl of perfectly cooked short-grain rice, half covered in chopped up otoro and half covered in slices of seared otoro. The additions of shiso, fresh wasabi, crunchy rice granules and soy to your liking really made this donburi a perfect chef's kiss. The thing I love about Raisu is that the food is always well-executed and all the raw items are consistently fresh. The portion sizes are enough that you walk away genuinely full - even with their regular teishoku set meals, you have the option of bottomless rice and miso soup. I've heard they have a limited-time uni set menu that also looks really enticing, so I'll definitely be back. Make sure to make a reso! read more

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had an absolute blast catching up with friends at raisu on a thursday at 6:15 pm - the energy there is off the charts! now, our seating situation was a tad bit cozy for our liking, maybe even bordering on intimate, but hey, it's all part of the experience. the food, oh my, fresh and tasty. the corn and brussel sprouts with truffle butter and truffle salt? mind-blowing. and the deluxe seafood bowl, a true feast for the eyes - sashimi galore with albacore tuna, yellowtail, scallop, salmon, ikura, sea urchin, and spot prawn, all resting on a bed of sushi rice. now, let's talk surprises. prawn croquettes that looked a tad too crispy when they landed on our table turned out to be a delightful revelation. the onion and mashed potato with the tiger prawn created a textural masterpiece. washed it all down with a pitcher of their raisu moscow mule - a hands on, diy ginger adventure included. however, our hearts leaned toward the plum wine sangria, complete with an assortment of fruits. oh, and our server? bubbly is an understatement. friendly, maybe a bit too enthusiastic about clearing plates, but hey, better that than a disappearing act, right? read more

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This restaurant looks like a hole-in-the-wall place from the outside, but it is quite spacious inside. They have both booths and Japanese kotatsu tables. Their food is fantastic with huge portions. Some of the more popular items such as bento boxes are often sold out. Their service is efficient and attentive. I highly recommend this place. Since it's downtown Vancouver, prepare to spend some time looking for street parking. read more

Raisu - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Raisu is one of my favourite Japanese joints and its sister restaurant, Suika, is one of my favourite Izakaya joints in town. When my good friend told me she has never been, I made sure to take her while we were having a Girls Day out around the Granville Island/West 4th area. One of my favourite dishes from Raisu is the deluxe seafood bowl. It's a little pricey at $48 but it's full of delicious fresh sashimi that I can't resist and highly recommend! Another one of my faves is the chef omakase aburi sushi. It's perfect for sharing as there are two pieces of each variety available. Another highly recommended dish to order! Service is always loud and fun with plenty of charm and character. I always look forward to coming to Raisu as it's a guaranteed great meal. read more

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The cutest little lunch spot! The staff are so pleasant, so sweet and helpful. The cocktails are so good, very fruity and light. The brown rice tea is delicious as well, the waitress kept refilling out tea pot. We started with the shokado bento box, luckily we were one of the lucky 10 to get it! The box had an assortment of fish, veggies, and meats. I think it's definitely worth a try, you'll find at least one thing you like. It also came with a heaping bowl of rice and homemade miso soup. We also got an assortment of sushi, mostly baked salmon and a few hamachi. All the flavors worked so well together. I would say it is quite filling! Last we got the waygu udon. The waygu was spectacular, udon was cooked well, but the broth tasted like regular hondashi powder. The arugula also gave it a nice peppery flavor. Would give it a 6 star if I could!! read more

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Another epic sushi izakaya from the Kingyo on Denman gods. May try the blanket and front window seating next time. Thank you, will be back again! read more

My all time favourite Japanese restaurant. Very classy yet with a lively izakaya vibe you'd expect. I've tried a lot here and definitely get anything with blue fin tuna or uni in it. One of our favourites is the Milky Silky Mentaiko udon as well. Staff is friendly and fun to converse with as well. read more

Raisu - Milky Silky Mentaiko udon - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Raisu is truly one of the best Japanese restaurants in town and in general, one of my most frequented establishments. Whether it's for a casual meal or a celebration, this place is perfect for all. At this point, I've tried most items on their menu, and although I've never been disappointed, there are a few offerings that stand out-the wagyu hamburg steak, miso pork cutlet teishoku, sizzling agedashi tofu with mushroom sauce, and milky silky mentaiko udon (no longer on the menu ). All the ingredients are of such high quality, especially considering the reasonable prices. Make sure to book a tatami spot on their patio for a fun dining experience! For birthdays and anniversaries, the servers will even bring out a special dessert and take a polaroid for your party. read more

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I had the uni preset meal, they suggest you order this with a second or third person. Nice preset meal Big fan of uni, I liked the lobster udon Follow Instagram @jfoodreviews read more

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It's my first time visiting the Kits and I had heard wonderful things about this place! Unfortunately due to last minute changes I had to move my reso (this place always needs one btw!) so I missed out on the bento they are known for, but I did have the opportunity to try their other dishes and it was an amazing experience! On first glance the entrance is not that obvious (scroll to last pic and you'll see what I mean!) they are on the second floor and entrance is right next to a grocery store, but once inside the atmosphere and decor is amazing. They have a patio option with the Japanese style seating as well as bar seating and tables. We ended up trying their uni and snow crab cream udon (one of their well known dishes) and their chirashi. Fish was fantastic, fresh and delicious from the chirashi - there was lots of variety and the portion is great! The udon was amazing - that creamy broth is to die for and the flavours are just incredible If you ever get a chance to try this place, do make a reservation and preorder one of their famous bento boxes! read more

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I tried their uni omakase. It was fantastic. Service is good. Their house sake is good too. It is a good izakaya spot. You should make a reservation which I recommend. read more

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Sushi was as fresh as Omakase. I wanted to taste everything on the menu there. The service was good and the restaurant was good because it had an old atmosphere read more

It feels like this place has gone downhill lately. I used to adore their chirashi bowls filled with delicious fish. Lately though, their bowls have been a disappointment. The bowls have become packed with rice, and only a thin top layer of fish that feels not worth the price. The fish also has a worse mouthfeel, due to being smaller chunks. In my opinion, there are better places in the city to visit. Service was adequate, we were seated quickly and were checked up on once to fill water. The restaurant offers a nice ambiance for a date night or dinner with friends. They also offer special outdoor seating for reservations. read more

Raisu - Kobe Beef Croquette - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Delicious bites and savory delights! The flavors danced on my taste buds, creating a symphony of culinary bliss. Each dish felt like a masterpiece crafted with care and passion. A culinary journey worth savoring! Thank you for the amazing food and service, Raisu. read more

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Excellent, inspired restaurant. One of my most memorable sushi meals ever, and I eat a lot of sushi. This place was hard to find, because there is just a small sign and door on street level, and the restaurant is upstairs. Cool atmosphere both inside and out. read more

Came here for my birthday with my family and loved it! You can't go wrong with the food. I got the bento box which was tasty and my boyfriend ordered the crab udon. Other family members got the seafood chirashi bowl and the lunch special. The only dish that took awhile was the lunch special with the fish entree, we were half way through our food until my dad got his meal. But other than that the staff are nice are accommodated for my nut allergy. If you come on birthdays they'll sing to you at the end and give you a little orange crème dessert. read more

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Made a reservation and was seated quickly. Restaurant seems like it's always busy! Small entry way but quite the large restaurant. Very large menu with lots of tasty options, excellent service, and decent drink options. Would recommend as a stop for those in the area read more

Raisu - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

The menu is very similar to Suika, but with more variety and slightly more tasty options. That being said, this places focuses more towards the food rather than the bar izikaiya vibe. The server couldn't find our reservation but proceed to gave me the bar table , that was really nice of them. read more

Raisu - Corn and Brussels sprouts karaage - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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