Cancel

Open app

Search

Sushi Bar Ajisai

4.2 (435 reviews)
ModerateSushi Bars, Japanese
Closed • 12:30 pm - 2:30 PM, 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Sushi Bar Ajisai Photos

Business Info

SUSHI BAR AJISAI ATMOSPHERE

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

You might also consider

More like Sushi Bar Ajisai

Recommended Reviews - Sushi Bar Ajisai

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Spot prawns and dynamite roll
Hanson K.

I came here last week for my birthday. I've lived in Kerrisdale for years but had never come before. The food was some of the best sushi I'd had in Vancouver (and that's saying a lot!). My father, a sushi chef of 15+ years experience, was equally blown away. The individual nigiri are insanely flavorful (the saba was my favorite--it is marinated every morning in house), and honestly well priced. The rolls were definitely a surprise hit for me, as I am used to them being overpriced or underfilled in even high end sushi bars, but they were great. I can confidently say that I've never had a dynamite roll that tasted this good before. The service is impeccable; obviously it's a small space and there is usually a long line to get in for dinner service, but the staff do absolute the best that they can. Come for amazing food at a reasonable price! I will be revisiting many times.

Melody M.

This restaurant must be doing well since they expanded with another little place called Ajisai To Go. I have to say that the green tea was really good and the waiter was very attentive. Sushi was on the pricier side and portions small, but they were tasty and elegantly presented. Place is not huge with only four tables and a small bar to sit. Sitting at the bar gives you a nice view of the chef's making the sushi, and you can see that they take pride in their work. Service is fast, polite, and attentive. Parking is metered side street. Great for singles or couples, not great for groups. They don't take reservations and you only get seated if all your party is there.

Haitong W.

Authentic sushi offering, friendly staff. Go for the chef's recommendation for the seasonal fishes

Special assorted sushi combo (top) Assorted sushi combo (bottom)
Meagan W.

This sushi restaurant/bar is located in a beautiful neighbourhood. I really liked the vibes of the restaurant with a little sushi bar on one side and restaurant seating on the other. The green tea was really good. The sushi was really delicious and fresh! One thing to caution is that the wasabi in this place was really strong. I'm not sure if it was just this day, but it had me in literal tears and my nostrils were burning. Great restaurant! I would come again!!

Jelly fish
Karen K.

Came here on a Wednesday evening around 6:30p and there is already a waiting list. The place is rather small and they won't seat you until your whole party is there. Luckily we waited around the benches just outside. There is street parking or underground parking for London Drugs. Waited around 20-30 minutes for the seating and we were at the Sushi bar. Menu is an URL Code or you can look at their take out menu (there is a slight difference). We ordered: Jelly fish - very interesting and refreshing Special Assorted Sashimi - very fresh fish and yummy Unagi Battera pressed sushi - very juicy unagi pieces on top of a large roll 2 Fresh Hotate - the scallop is large, thick, and fresh Hamchi Kama - grilled to perfection Totally recommend this place. Lots of take out orders.

LuFei L.

This sushi place in Kerrisdale feels super authentic and the food tasted so fresh! There's not a lot of seating inside and they do get pretty busy, but it seems that a lot of customers are just getting take out so the wait wasn't long. They have a huge selection on their menu and it was very hard to choose. I ended up ordering the salmon ikura bowl and it was perfect :) They have so many options with different combinations of seafood for their bowls which I don't see a lot elsewhere. The only menu complaint is they don't seem to have any cocktail options. Drinks are pretty limited to sake and beer. Overall a delightful experience and I will definitely visit again!

Uni, seared salmon
Psyche L.

Excellent sushi, super fresh fish and beautiful flavors. I'd say it's a neighborhood gem except I have friends coming up from the US just for this place!

Carolyn L.

Covid-19 safety protocols mean it is only open for take out by the door. They take the safety precaution seriously as they only take orders via the phone. Yes, please have your cell phone to make the call even if you are standing right in front of the restaurant. I have only tried the lunch bento as it is just so good. I like the variety of food you get in it -- miso soup, sashimi, inari, futomaki, some pieces of rolls, tamago nigiri and a Saba oshi. The food is fresh and filling. It makes a good lunch. Available from 11 am to 3 pm. They do have other specials which look pretty good too.

Assorted sushi lunch
Shirley C.

Things have changed a lot since covid ! Came by for lunch and they only offer a lunch menu with specials during the lunch dining time. Can't order off the main menu but kids apparently can. The server made sure to tell us each person had to order a lunch special. Seems like there is a minimum spend in place? They don't take reservations so there's usually a wait of 20 min or more. We tried the Sashimi lunch set, assorted sushi set, unagi don and gindara. Sashimi and nigiri really fresh tasting and gindara was so tender. Really enjoyed my lunch experience as good quality good but I think this is more of a take out place for me now.

Combo C (middle), pacific combo (bottom), a la carte sushi (top)
Suanne L.

Wow, what more can I say. This is hands down my favourite place to get sushi in the Lower Mainland. It's a pretty small sushi joint that usually gets really busy around dinner time (pre-COVID), so it's expected that you're waiting around half an hour for a seat. My favourite thing to get when coming with friends is the Pacific Combo and Combo C - which is just enough food for 2 people with decent sized appetites. Combo C comes with 2 pcs of nigiri per type of fish, perfect for sharing. The quality of the sushi is great for its price, and I've always left feeling super satisfied. They're still currently doing takeout during this time for lunch so definitely support!

Special assorted sashimi
Bowie T.

Few times here for dinner. Line up starts before doors open. That's the usual. Don't expect to it wait for a table. Pros: - traditional Japanese sushi - large menu variety - well priced menu for quality of fish - high quality fish Notes: - they do the sign-up format for tables and only seat if everyone is present (usually) - the entrance is covered from the rain, so waiting outside isn't too big a deal (personally)

Toro Taku roll, ana Q roll and saba shiso roll
Stephanie M.

Ordered a Toro Taku roll, ana Q roll, Pacific combo, assorted sushi combo and saba shiso roll. Took around 30 minutes for my order to be ready for pickup. Ajisai is one of my favourite sushi spots in Vancouver. Their sushi is reasonably priced and the sushi is always pretty fresh. Would definitely recommend their assorted sushi combo as you get a little bit of everything. They do the basic rolls the best. Simplicity at its finest. They so have daily specials so keep yourself updated on their instagram. Keep in mind, currently they are only doing takeout.

Only take-away. Waiting at front door.
Elton C.

This Japanese owned sushi bar makes very good quality sushi rolls and nigiri sushi. The sushi are freshly made upon order and ingredients are fresh and tasty. As I heard from the neighbours in Kerrisdale, their quality is consistently good. I tried today and I have no doubt about it.

Lining up to get in before opening time!

See all

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 4
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Psyche L.
149
14
14

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

6 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0
Photo of El Rey R.
31
98
139

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Kelly N.
8
208
449

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of H H.
0
199
539

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

A bit small for the great food they prepare - one of my favorite Sushi Bars in Vancouver.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Randy F.
1724
1778
19597

7 years ago

Helpful 6
Thanks 0
Love this 7
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Latifa S.
1422
1785
18285

7 years ago

Helpful 23
Thanks 0
Love this 25
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0
Photo of Jane P.
681
1004
2176

7 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

12 years ago

Helpful 5
Thanks 0
Love this 5
Oh no 0

10 years ago

Helpful 7
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0
Photo of D S.
0
9
1

2 years ago

Still one of the best sushi bar in town since day 1 I visited when Hide opened 2 decades ago!

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 11

Sushi Bar Ajisai Reviews in Other Languages

You might also consider

Verify this business for free

People searched for Sushi Bars 9,971 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

Verify this business

Miku

Miku

4.4(2.6k reviews)
6.6 km•Downtown
•$$$

Normally a restaurant with great views has mediocre food. Miku breaks this norm by serving…read moreexcellent seafood and sushi all while proving an amazing view of the sea and north Vancouver. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the sushi and sashimi, which was sourced sustainably. The drinks were also great and options plentiful. Service was attentive and adequate. Not a standout part of the experience but far from bad. Miku was recommended by a local and we can see why!

I've been to Miku several times, and today I finally decided to write a proper review. First, I…read morewant to praise the service. Every time I come, I can feel the professionalism and attentiveness of the staff. From seating to ordering, and then to the care during the meal, everything is done with great finesse, making me feel comfortable and at ease. The unique politeness and meticulousness of Japanese service are naturally reflected here. The food is also a reason I want to come back. Whether it's the freshness of the ingredients, the presentation, or the taste, you can feel the attention to detail. Japanese cuisine emphasizes the quality of the ingredients themselves, and Miku presents this refinement beautifully. Every dish is pleasing to the eye and has a layered flavor. I also love the ambiance. The overall design is simple, elegant, and has a very comfortable Japanese aesthetic. The lighting, seating, and spatial layout all create a relaxing atmosphere without feeling overly decorated; instead, they have a high-quality feel. As for the atmosphere, I think it's what makes this place so special. Elegant and quiet, yet not too formal, it's suitable for dates or enjoying a good meal with friends. Sitting there slowly eating and chatting makes the whole dining experience particularly comfortable. After several visits, I still feel that Miku is a restaurant worth returning to again and again. It's not just because of any one dish, but because the service, cuisine, environment, and atmosphere combine to create a very pleasant experience every time I come.

Photos
Miku - Jul 25, 2026

Jul 25, 2026

Miku - Spicy edamame (CAD $8)

Spicy edamame (CAD $8)

Miku - Soft shel crab

See all

Soft shel crab

Guu with Garlic - Fish carpaccio

Guu with Garlic

4.3(1.1k reviews)
6.4 km•West End
•$$

Guu with Garlic has become one of my favorite Japanese restaurants in Vancouver. It's an energetic…read moreizakaya with a fun atmosphere without feeling over the top. One of the best parts is the ever-changing menu of daily specials alongside the regular menu, so there's always something new to try while still coming back to your favorites. This visit we ordered the shrimp garlic fried rice, Agedashi Nasu, Grilled Squid with Garlic Mayo, and an assortment of sashimi. The shrimp garlic fried rice is an absolute must every time. It's packed with flavor, perfectly seasoned, and somehow manages to be comforting without feeling too heavy. It is a large dish and can easily be shared by 3-4, depending on what else you order. We also love the Agedashi Nasu here with melt-in-your-mouth eggplant wrapped in a light, delicate coating that soaks up the savory broth. Service is always quick and organized, even when the restaurant is busy. Dishes arrive as they're ready, making it easy to share everything around the table, which is exactly how an izakaya experience should feel. If it's your first visit, don't skip the shrimp garlic fried rice, and make sure to check out the daily specials before ordering. They often feature seasonal dishes that aren't available on the regular menu and are well worth trying.

Great ambiance for a night out with friends for drinks and small bites. I like ordering a few…read morethings for the table to share so we can try more of the items. It really depends on how many people you come with though because the dishes are on the smaller side so you might need to make 2 orders of a dish for sharing. Okonomiyaki, gyoza, sukiyaki and udon are usually my go-tos for sharing.

Photos
Guu with Garlic - Same decor as 20+yrs ago when this was our go-to place for drinks & snacks!!

Same decor as 20+yrs ago when this was our go-to place for drinks & snacks!!

Guu with Garlic - The delicious individual bite of their yellowfin tuna tempura

The delicious individual bite of their yellowfin tuna tempura

Guu with Garlic - Una-Meshi

See all

Una-Meshi

Tendon Kohaku - EBI TENDON

Tendon Kohaku

4.3(219 reviews)
5.7 km•Downtown, Granville Entertainment District
•$$

Very clean and zen restaurant when we went there early around 11am on a weekday for a quick bite…read morebefore heading to airport ; We had spicy beef udon, takoyaki and salmon handroll; they were all good; wish we had bigger appetite and longer stay to try more items on the menu ; Friendly service too :)

As a Washington resident I did not know that the Vancouver Tendon Kohaku's menu was much smaller…read moreand the less formal vibe. I thought it was a nice change of scenery to be honest also I did miss some items I originally wanted and planned to try. There were some of the main dishes, like the bowls, and also mainly udon. The chicken karaage was extremely tender and fresh, you could tell because it was hot which was nice! The udon in both the curry and rose cream udon was very soft and tender as well, tender than what I usually have for udon. If you like your noodles al dante I don't think it'll quite fit your taste but I personally really enjoyed it! As for the taste the spicy rose cream udon tasted exactly like Buldak Ramen's Carbonara flavor, and everyone at my table agreed. The garlic bread was nice tho. To be completely honest staff and workers aren't very attentive, the restaurant wasn't full and I could see the workers standing around. Our table had to ask for water multiple times. Other than that however they're very kind.

Photos
Tendon Kohaku - Inside

Inside

Tendon Kohaku - Tiramisu

Tiramisu

Tendon Kohaku - Hokkaido milk tea

See all

Hokkaido milk tea

Okeya Kyujiro

Okeya Kyujiro

4.8(45 reviews)
5.3 km•Yaletown, Downtown

I went here for a special occasion dinner. Reservations are highly recommended because they are…read morevery small - 12 diners per sitting and 2 sittings per night. I made reservations about 4 months in advance. Upon arrival, one of the hostesses opened the door for us, and asked us to wait in a very ornate waiting area. We only waited a couple of minutes before another hostess seated us at the main seating area. The space is very dark, and only lit with candles while the rest of the diners trickled in. During that time they take drink orders, which is limited to sake, wine, beer and a few non-alcoholic drinks. Of note, they don't provide a drink menu, so we were a little surprised by the cost - the yuzu sake and the plum wine were $30 each. My non-alcoholic drink was $12, but a fair size. The theatrical portion started a few minutes later than the official start time - closer to 6pm. The shades lifted, the lights turned on, and the chefs introduced themselves. And from that moment on, they immediately went to work preparing our meal. They operate like clockwork to show the ingredients whole to the diners, and then preparing them, and serving them. Soon as the one dish was completed by all the diners, the next round came shortly after. Over 20+ dishes, there was very little wait time in between each. Each time a dish was served, a hostess was there to describe the dish and provided tips on how best to eat it. The food was overall was very good. I thought a few items were very average, most of them were very good, and a select few were truly outstanding. Most of the ingredients are imported from Japan, so I would imagine that it's part of the reason it's so expensive. This is definitely a splurge meal. I think half the diners at our sitting was celebrating a birthday. On the most part, the food is very good, watching the chefs at work is part of the entertainment, and the service is excellent. It's not some place I could afford to go to often, but glad to do it at least this one time.

Drove from seattle to make it to the lunch here - what a fantastic experience. Everything from The…read moreentrance to the end was ceremonial. You start in a small waiting room thoughtfully decorated with cultural touches before being welcomed into an intimate dining area that seats only about 12-14 people. The service was attentive and personal throughout. When it came to drinks, they first asked what we generally enjoyed rather than immediately pushing specific options. Once we narrowed it down to dry sake, our server kindly brought over several bottles and gave us a detailed explanation of each one before we made our choice. Lunch consisted of around 15 courses, with most served nigiri-style. Everything tasted incredibly fresh, and I loved the thoughtful combinations of flavors and textures throughout the progression. Each piece felt distinct without trying too hard to be complicated.The experience finished beautifully with ice cream and matcha--a simple, elegant ending to a memorable meal. Absolutely worth the drive from Seattle. This wasn't just lunch; the intimate setting, pacing, presentation, and hospitality made the whole experience feel special from beginning to end.

Photos
Okeya Kyujiro - Waiting area

Waiting area

Okeya Kyujiro - Hokkaido uni with caviar

Hokkaido uni with caviar

Okeya Kyujiro - Lychee jelly w/ brown sugar syrup, ginger icecream monaka, crown melon + japanese orange

See all

Lychee jelly w/ brown sugar syrup, ginger icecream monaka, crown melon + japanese orange

Guu Original Thurlow - Pumpkin croquette

Guu Original Thurlow

4.1(844 reviews)
5.9 km•Downtown, West End
•$$

Found this little Izakaya spot while visiting Vancouver and it was such a great experience. It's as…read moreauthentic as it gets and reminds me a lot of Japan when I visited in 2025. This place gets busy, so I highly recommend reserving a table online (via OpenTable) but we did show up early to see if there was walk-in seating available. Luckily, we did get the last 2 seats at the bar. The staff are so friendly and cheery. They greet customers that come in and thank every customer when they leave. People who haven't been to an izakaya may think it's loud and noisy, but the point of izakayas is they're supposed to be vibrant, high energy, and filled with cheerful chatter. Think of a tapas-style pub/bar for people to unwind and gather to chat after a long day at work. I loved the atmosphere, as it's casual, entertaining, and lively. The food was great and I couldn't think of a dish I didn't like. The sashimi were so fresh and high quality. Of course they use freshly grated wasabi too. The hanger steak was cooked perfectly and super tender and flavorful. The saba mackerel is grilled to perfection and reminds me of the ones I ate in Japan. I'm not a big fan of bonito but the yaki udon was so tasty, I still ate it with the bonito flakes on top! I would love to come back or go to their Toronto (closer to me) location next!

Authentic Japanese Izakaya vibes here! Guu is the first to…read moredo it here in Vancouver, and the quality of all their dishes shine through. I love that they have daily specials from their chefs (shoutout to Kei and Shota!) which are creative, combining classic creations with their own twists. Service is pretty good and the staff are always friendly and accommodating.

Photos
Guu Original Thurlow
Guu Original Thurlow - Fried pork belly

Fried pork belly

Guu Original Thurlow - Eel with rice

See all

Eel with rice

Sushi Bar Ajisai - sushi - Updated October 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...