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Ajisai Sushi Bar
Categories: Restaurants Sushi Bars Food Butcher Sushi Bars, Butcher
2081 W 42nd AveVancouver, BC V6M 2B4
Neighbourhood: Kerrisdale
(604) 266-1428
- Hours:
Tue-Sat 11 am - 2 pm
Tue-Sun 5 pm - 9:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
65 reviews for Ajisai Sushi Bar
Review Highlights
"...to-find fishes like blue fin tuna, spanish mackerel, etc."
(in 3 reviews)
"We usually get the sashimi salad."
(in 16 reviews)
"Sea Urchin rounded sushi."
(in 4 reviews)
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65 reviews in English
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Review from Justin L.
I remember when Ajisai first opened its doors: from the single-page menu, I ordered the Dynamite Roll, which featured a boiled prawn rolled in corn flakes for the crunch, since the building license prevented the kitchen from undertaking any substantial cooking with heat. Years later, the menu has expanded sixfold, but the licensed corn flakes remain. The other consistent factors: fresh fish, hungry crowds, and limited business hours.
Today, I was inspired by the adjacent table to order the SABA BATTERA ($10) in the 'pressed sushi' category. The mackeral was fresh, rich, and creamy. The compacted rice was flavorful and made the dish rather substantial. TUNA TATAKI ($14) was generously portioned and, again, ultra fresh, without so much as a hint of fishy aftertaste. My dining companion felt that the seared portion could have been thinner.
In the 'gunkan' sushi category (literally "warship") I decided to order two pieces of UNI HOTATE ($4.50 each). Nestled atop the sea scallop was half a piece of sea urchin roe. It was decadent, although for the price I was expecting an entire sliver of the stuff. Our waitress couldn't tell us whether the uni was local or not (probably not, she guessed).
Ajisai ain't cheap, but then neither are the fish, craftsmanship, or location. It helps that parking is free in the London Drugs underground lot, credit cards are accepted, and green tea is complimentary. The let's-charge-people-for-generic-green-tea bandwagon is one that Ajisai has mercifully not decided to join. -
Review from Emily H.
12/21/2011
How many sushi restaurants have I gone into that SMELLS great? This was probably the first. How many sushi restaurants have made me pause during my chirashi to appreciate how good the RICE is? Definitely the first!!!
Located in the nice neighborhood of Kerrisdale, the only setback to Ajisai is probably its small store size and strangely asymmetrical store layout. They could certainly seat more hungry sushi-grubbers if they were rectangular... Service was great.
My girls and I ordered tons of food: a chirashi sushi each and a variety of sides (that's how we do). Seafood salad, saba tataki, gintoro, ika nattou... everything was top notch quality. I really approved of their seafood salad, the seared saba was delicious, gintoro as well - so buttery, melts in your mouth. The nattou did not impress me too much, unfortunately, but still satisfied my craving for home.
Our chirashi's were delicious. Excellent pieces of fish, and the rice - wow the rice - tasted really good. Usually with a chirashi, I chow down the fish and am left with all the rice. But this time was quite the opposite. We were all getting full, but I didn't want to ditch the rice - it was really tasty. I think that's a sure sign of an excellent sushi restaurant who knows their shit. Mmmm now I want Chirashi.... leftover time!
Atmosphere - 2.5/5
Service - 5/5
Food - 5/5
Price - 2.5/5Listed in: West Coast... the Best Coast!
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Review from Alison S.
11/21/2011
Love, love, love this place. It's strictly sushi here; no yakisobas or teriyaki things.
They have a lot of more "exotic" kinds of items like geoduck, uni (sea urchin sashimi, which you can get with a quail's egg on top) and ankimo (monkfish liver). All of it is very fresh and very good.
I'd recommend it to anyone who's got that sushi craving. It's not cheap, but I think the price is well worth what you get! -
Review from Wendy L.
Shaughnessy, Vancouver, BC
We had the best sushi and best service here. And to top off a great experience, it was reasonable priced :-)
Definitely will become a regular place for us to dine!!!! -
Review from Dennis L.
10/31/2011
Super fresh sushi restaurant! They don't mess around with the Japanese fusion menu items, it's strictly a sushi bar. I usually try not to order salmon when eating sushi because most of my memories of salmon are slimy and not fresh. Not here. The salmon was first rate without any sliminess. The pressed sushi was really interesting; I've never seen it anywhere else so I thought it was pretty cool. I like that they serve only what they specialize in - sushi.
Parking is free in the underground lot associated with London Drugs. -
Review from M D.
Surrey, BC
10/5/2011
Their sushi is pretty good. Nothing is outstanding though.
Things I like about this restaurant:
- The sushi size is good (Not so big).
- They have tons of varieties of sushis & rolls (Good for sushi lover).
- Relatively authentic side (You can trust me since I'm Japanese).
- Fresh fish and some cool appetizers (Mirugai ponzu, ankimo and so forth).
- Good and friendly service (They try to be nice even they are super busy).
Things I don't like about this restaurant:
- They don't have much cooked food (So, if you are with friends who don't care for raw fish there would be not much choice). -
Review from Brittany W.
North Vancouver, BC
8/8/2011 1 photo
Best Negitoro Roll I've ever had in my life - Highly Recommend!
I'm talking melt in your mouth satisfying-perfect tuna belly and fresh green onion. Mmm, so heavenly.
We came tonight (Sunday, 8PM) and there was a 45 minute wait, so we ordered take-out since we couldn't afford the wait. I only tried the negitoro and salmon cone. This was my first-time and I think this could possibly be "The Best" sushi in Vancouver, but more sushi sampling is required. I'll be back soon to fully review. To be continued ... -
Review from Melissa K.
Vancouver, BC
11/5/2011
Ajisai is one of the best Japanese restaurants in town; just as good as Tokyo Thyme but more traditional. They have the best seafood salad in the city because they add cornflakes. For some reason Japanese people put cornflakes in the weirdest dishes but they all work. Their saba and unagi pressed sushi are really good. They also have fresh catches of the day. You can pretty much order anything on the menu and it's good. I've never had a meal here I wasn't impressed by. The place is really tiny so don't head there when you are starving and must eat right away. It's also a good take out spot. It's a bit hard to find; just around the corner from London Drugs in the same building.
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Review from M S.
Vancouver, BC
10/19/2011
I have to put in a good word for Ajisai because it is not only my neighborhood sushi joint, but also most definitely in my top three picks for sushi in Vancouver.
They don't serve hot food here, so the focus is really on great, fresh sashimi and rolls. I have never been let down by the quality of fish here, and the presentation of the dishes is consistently great. It's simple enough to let the quality of the seafood shine, and I really appreciate that.
The service here is also always friendly and polite. Even if I didn't live in the area I would come out of my way to eat here. It's thaaaaaat good. -
Review from Dee B.
7/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
Thanks, Yelp!
Ajisai definitely gets 5 stars for the quality of their sashimi. Our fellow Yelpers are not lying.
We had
- beef tataki
- house roll
- dynamite roll
- spicy tuna roll
- 2 diet Cokes
= $41 (including tip)
Everything was exceptionally fresh, flavourful and delish. Nothing is fried (they don't have a fryer) so they improvise by putting corn flakes in the dynamite roll which is adds a whole other layer of awesome to sushi. I want corn flakes in every roll.
This place is very small, but since it was the two of us, we only waited about 5 minutes for a couple of seats at the bar. GREAT seats, I might add. It was so much fun watching one of the chefs cook fish in.... toaster ovens...? True story. -
Review from Jennifer Y.
11/16/2011 4 photos
One of my favorite sushi bars in North America and a must visit when I am in Vancouver!
The décor and set up of this restaurant is nothing special, just an average looking restaurant in the suburbs of Vancouver. However the menu here is HUGE! It's like 6 pages (or was it 8?) of SUSHI. Only the top right corner of the first page was not sushi, which covers things like tofu, edamame, and miso soup. The fish here is really fresh! I am a big fan of uni and most sushi restaurants I've been to, the uni isn't very fresh because it's not a commonly ordered item. However, the uni here is as fresh as it can get without actually having the live sea urchin there. They give pretty large cuts of fish in the roll or nigiri. If you like yamaimo or tororo (Japanese mountain yam) definitely order it here. They actually smash the mountain yam when you order it, it's not pre-made. Most pre-made mountain yam are much more gooey and a little hard to eat. When they make it here, it's still has texture to it and it tastes fresh.
The staff is all Japanese, service is pretty good. I recommend sitting at the sushi bar, faster service, and you can watch the sushi chef make your orders. Best sushi you can get on the west coast of North America, in my opinion. I've had better sushi in Japan (obviously) and Hawaii (I used to live there and there are a ton of Japanese tourists that visits). -
Review from Cheryl T.
Vancouver, BC
11/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
We've eaten here twice now, and really enjoy it. The quality of the fish really stands out, and this makes it a must for sashimi. Their toro is wonderful! I also have to mention their dynamite roll, which is so incredibly flavourful, without resorting to the heaps of Japanese mayo that other establishments employ. They have a very nice sake selection, and the service is unfailingly friendly and prompt. There is limited seating, so there may be a wait, and it seems it could be difficult to bring in a group of more than 4. That said, this is a safe bet for a sushi date night, with several nice Kerrisdale blocks to stroll after you've had your fill.
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Review from Amy T.
5/3/2011
Driving out to Kerrisdale is rare for me, but when I do, I make sure to eat at Ajisai Sushi Bar.
Sure, there are a lot of other restaurants, but where can I get the guarantee of the freshest sashimi? I have yet to have a bad sushi experience here and I hope I never do!
The service is always quick, friendly and efficient. My favorite combo.
It gets really busy so make sure you are prepared to wait a bit before being seated. Sometimes I wish this restaurant was bigger, but if it were.. it'll lose the cozy feeling. -
Review from joshua p.
Vancouver, BC
10/16/2011
i had the monk fish liver
i had the chef's recommendations x 2 - my friend had one
i had the geoduck in ponzu sauce
i had a sweet sake
i had a dry sake
bill was $130
i went home and had dinner
good things:
- fish is fresh
- fish tastes great
- sake selection is good
- taste was great
- presentation was good
- service was speedy except for the geoduck - which took 15 minutes to bring out
bad things:
- decor is mediocre
- you will be hungry after spending $70 on fish -
Review from Fiopo F.
West Vancouver, BC
12/13/2011
You know how when something is hyped up so much that no matter how good it is, it can never even touch the lofty heights of the expectations placed upon it? That was my fear when I decided to visit Ajisai for the first time today. Yelpers and food bloggers alike sing praises of this restaurant like it was the second coming of Masa. Best sushi in the city? I heard Tojo likewise described and what I got there was perhaps the best personal entertainment in the city, but by no means the best sushi. So of course I try to temper my expectations by humming peaceful, monotonous chants while driving to the restaurant.
Once I arrived at the restaurant's parking lot, I was in a state of zen-like clam. I vow to just accept the sushi I for what they are. No matter what, I would be at peace with my meal and feel no let-down. I proceeded up the elevator, traversed through the courtyard, and gained visual contact with the restaurant. When I saw the neighborhood-sushi-joint look, my expectations were immediately re-calibrated . And I'm glad they were.
What Ajisai serves is fresh, traditional, no-nonsense quality sushi at reasonable prices. It was no transcendent sushi experience and it was never meant to be one. Don't expect Santa Barbara Uni nigiri style or needlefish or smuggled waygu beef. Do expect well-cut fish, good fish-to-rice ratio, and proper vinegar rice. It's sushi that almost transports you across the pacific and into a sub-sub-suburb of Tokyo and onto a stool in front of a seasoned itamae at "the" neighborhood sushi joint. 3.5 stars. -
Review from wasabiroll w.
Vancouver, BC
6/25/2011
I only have 3 words.....
SPICE TUNA SASHIMI -
Review from Lindsay C.
Vancouver, BC
9/21/2011
This place has some of the best sushi in Vancouver! I find it's hard to find a Japanese restaurant in the city that has both good sushi/sashimi and good hot food. This place has both and it keeps me coming back. Total hidden Kerrisdale gem. Love!
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Review from Kim L.
Vancouver, BC
2/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Is the food as fresh as everyone says it is? Yup.
Is it as crowded as they say it is if you don't get there by 12:00pm? Yup, yup.
Should you go try it? Definitely--and it's not that hard to find if you are truly hungry. -
Review from Quddous B.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 11/24/2010
I'm happy the Ajisai is getting so many good reviews. It is a great hidden gem of a restaurant that's hard to find and is built around word of mouth.
The restaurant is located in the alley just behind London Drugs in Kerrisdale.
I first went to Ajisai a few years ago and I knew it was good before I had even gotten any food. How you might ask? All the staff were Japanese. That seems normal right? But what was even more amazing was that all the customers at that time were also Japanese. I knew I had hit the jackpot.
This is my brother and my sisters favourite Japanese restaurant. Pretty amazing seeing as my sister is a vegetarian.
It's one of my favourites also. I've never had a bad meal at Ajisai. As a matter of fact, I've never had even a bad dish here.
The space is small and usually pretty busy. I wouldn't recommend it for big groups. 2-4 people.
The prices are also quite reasonable. Not much more than you would pay at your average sushi joint.
If you've eaten here and want to try another great restaurant try Sushi Hachi in Richmond (http://www.yelp.ca/biz...)1 Previous Review:
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8/12/2010
Really amazingly fresh fish. Can't get any better than at Ajisai.
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Review from Will K.
Vancouver, BC
10/4/2010 1 photo
I have searched for truly good sushi in Vancouver, a place where sushi joints are plenty and competitive. Japanese food here should be one of the best outside Japan. There should be at least one that can surpass my expectations. I still have not found the one.
Personal Yelp Ajisai rate: 3.75 out of 5.
This sushi bar is located in beautiful Kerrisdale. Likewise good sushi joints, Ajisai is small and a little bit hidden in a plaza, giving it a sense of "secret place to be discovered".
I did not had to wait outside to have a seat. There were people but it was not full. I was greeted by the Japanese staff into a seat on the sushi counter. Place is very clean and decor simple and not flashy.
Got myself a combination of nigiri sushi, some simple and some as shown in the chef recommendations (written on a piece of paper near the counter).
Veredict: Very well prepared nigiri sushi. Ingredients were truly fresh and mouth watering. Execution was as expected from an experienced sushi chef. The dish looked straight from a culinary journal. Cuts were uniform (for the nigiri) and the rice was firm and moist and thus not cracky. Rice was as sushi rice should be.
A big plus in Ajisai is that they serve sushi that is rather hard to find and appreciated by sushi lovers. For example, this is one of the few places that had Japanese Tako (octopuss), fresh saba (mackerel, almost always served cured, not raw), fresh katsuo (bonito fish), and the ruby of the sea: BLUE FIN TUNA (true maguro)!! Order these to impress your friends and become a sushi connoisseur.
HOWEVER, THERE WAS ONE BIG SLUMP: Out of the 7 nigiri sushi, TWO had a small fishbone inside. Most strangely, one was on the egg (tamago) nigiri sushi (o_O;). If it was an upscale sushi restaurant, it would be just unforgivable. Luckily, there was none in the maguro.
For the service, I can say it is good. Cons: they do not serve free tea and refills as some good sushi bars in Japan usually do. Also, be careful, because they do not accept debit cards! Not carrying credit cards that day, I felt a cold sweat running through my brow as I looked for enough bills and change for the tip.
Prices are very reasonable. Each nigiri piece ranges from 1.75 to 3 CADs, while the more exotic ones can go up to 4 CADs per piece. Rolls and combos are well priced.
Personal conclusion: Quite good sushi, hard to find ingredients, but by all means NOT perfect. If I need to quickly fill my sushi fix, I would go somewhere nearer and a little bit cheaper. I would come back only if I craved blue fin tuna sushi and raw mackerel. -
Review from Miranda K.
7/12/2010 4 photos
A former Vancouver resident told me I absolutely had to go to Ajisai while on vacation there, and I'm so glad I listened to her!
I didn't grow up eating much raw fish, so I've never been a big fan of raw seafood. I'd eat it, but "ehh" it's just ok... I didn't find it all that enjoyable. And then came Ajisai. I actually really enjoyed the raw oysters and fish for the first time!
But overall, I'm still more so a fan of cooked seafood =P. Their Seared Salmon Pressed Sushi was a happy medium, partially cooked, and delightfully tasty! I don't know of any place in northern california that makes pressed sushi, so this was a first.
The Black Cod was perfect and I liked their Special Unagi Roll. We ordered so much stuff I can't remember, but everything was good.
The menu had so much variety, it's a bit overwhelming if you don't know much about sushi, but the servers were nice and offered suggestions on what to order.
I definitely recommend the pressed sushi! -
Review from Zain K.
5/6/2010
I just finished lunch at Ajisai, and am so thankful for having finally had a satisfying sushi meal in the Pacific Northwest (not that there's a shortage of good options; I think I just had bad luck in choosing places over the past couple of weeks).
I had a lunch special that came with a dynamite roll, five generous pieces of nigiri, miso soup, and salad. It was a decent deal at $12, and everything was very good. -
Review from Judy H.
Vancouver, BC
Best sushi I've ever had in my life. No frills, no stupid rolls with stupid names. Just fresh & tasty fish that melts in your mouth.
Get the uni with a quail egg on top, and feel it coat the inside of your mouth with all that yummy slime. Get the toro every way they make it. Amberjack! Mirugai! Try the chef's recommendations, since they're usually the super-fresh, super-seasonal highlights. Oh, and the ankimo (monkfish liver)! And the pressed sushi (saba is the best, but the hamachi is less consistent) is something special.
For dessert? Cleanse your palette with the shiso leaf and pickled plum (ume) maki.
The only complaint: thanks to Ajisai, I got no incentive to check out any other sushi joints in Vancouver anymore. -
Review from Gabby S.
Vancouver, BC
4/12/2010
This used to be my favorite until the following happened.
(1) while I was sitting at the bar, I noticed one of the 3 sushi chefs were sniffling. I was watching him like a hawk mostly in disbelief that he was handling food and to make sure what he was making wasn't coming to me;
(2) I was once again at the bar, another sushi chef had the flu and yet again, he was handling the food!
(3) I decided to give it one more try and the rice was so overcooked that it was mushy. Unbelievable that they would serve that rice at all!
Also, I've noticed the portions were getting smaller. I wouldn't mind if the quality was the same and this is not one of the cheaper ones in Kerrisdale. -
Review from Renee C.
8/21/2009
Wow..I'm amazed how such a small hole in the wall sushi joint can produce such good sushi...4.5 *s!
Although my friend and I had to wait 30 mins for a table for 2...It was well worth it. The nigiris were great, the hand rolls were perfect and the sashimis were fresh too. We ordered a special roll with avocado, eels and I think cream cheese and it was yummy :).
I would definitely come here again...but keep in mind, the place is tiny...don't bring your whole family...it'll take FOREVER to get a table. @_^Listed in: Vancouver, BC!!!!
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Review from Raymond O.
Vancouver, BC
In the mood for splurging and spoiling yourself with first rate sushi? This is the place. Are you one of those self proclaimed sushi snobs? This is the place. Hot dishes, bento boxes and fancy rolls? Sorry, this is NOT the place.
Fresh fish quality is unbeatable, oohh, buttery ocean flavour goodness. Sticky sushi rice cooked with just the right temperature. Married together, rejoice as you get closer to sushi heaven. Shrimp was juicy and succulent, sea urchin though creamy and sweet has a bit of an aftertaste. Sigh. Only this warrants a minus star. Fair trade off for overall top rate experience? Oh yes, after all this is the place. -
Review from J C.
Vancouver, BC
2/16/2009
I LOVE THIS PLACE! In fact, I love it so much that I joined Yelp so I could tell others about it. It's all about the fish here, so if you're looking for tempura or other cooked food, you need to go elsewhere. If you are dining with a large party, you also might have a hard time getting a table at this very small and cozy restaurant.
But, if you're looking for the freshest and most delicious sushi in Vancouver, Ajisai is unbeatable. I'm not a super adventurous sushi eater, but Ajisai makes me want to branch out from the standard sockeye salmon, hamachi, toro, white tuna repertoire. I've become a huge fan of saba, esp. the pressed sushi. I also make sure to try at least a couple of the recommendations from the chef. If you want something warm, go for the miso soup with clams and the hamachi kama. -
Review from Kumiko L.
Richmond, BC
3/20/2010
Since I read through all 20 Yelp 4+ stars reviews, I must admit that I had high expectation before going there so I chose Ajisai for my b-day dinner, however I'm disappointed.
Sushi & sashimi are ok fresh, but not high quality. They have a wide selection of sushi which I liked, however the sushi rice was too moist. I ordered Uni Ikura sushi, the Ikuras were dried like they have been sitting there for a week. Nori (dried seaweed) used for sushi were not crispy at all. I was quite disappointed since these are just basics but unfortunately they didn't meet the standard. -
Review from eliza w.
9/16/2009
This unassuming little spot was some of the best sushi I've ever had. We're talking top three. And I've had fresh caught tuna on a fishing boat off the coast of Hawaii. So yeah, it's like that. The fish was amazing, the people were really super friendly and helpful, and if I lived anywhere nearby, I'd be there now, drowning my sorrows in pressed sushi, fresh raw fish and beef, and anything else they'd feed me.
Thanks to Judy and Jihye for taking us on a whirlwind foodie tour of Vancouver, and thanks especially for this find.
If you're in Vancouver, for the love of all things raw and tasty--GO HERE! blow all yer cash. do what it takes.Listed in: foodz, date night
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Review from Annie M.
Vancouver, BC
I love Japanese food. I have been Ajisai Sushi few times. We always come early to avoid the long line up.
We ordered few sashimi - Salmon, Blue Fin Tuna and Japanese Octopus. It was very fresh and tasty.
Eel in bowl of rice, spicy chopped scallops cone, geoduck, tobiko sushi and house roll.
Overall, food was good and price quite reasonable. -
Review from Kathy K.
West Vancouver, BC
9/22/2011
Ajisai is my all time favorite Sushi restuarant. Seats are limited but worth the wait. They have an extensive sushi menu. I always order their toro nigiri, the fish itself is very fresh and melts in your mouth. We sat at the sushi bar last time, and it was fun watching the chefs at work. We decided to try their Seared Hamachi Pressed sushi last time and it was amazing!
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Review from Katie F.
2/13/2009
Excellent menu and great prices... what more can you ask for?
I am a huge sushi person and even in Vancouver, there is a mix of gems and truly awful places. We came here with my broher's recommendation and this is a gem. No reservations, but no wait on a weeknight.
It was a bit of a rocky start when the server wanted the 3 of us to wait when there were plenty of tables available and refused to let us push 2 tables together for 3 people "in case it got busy". It was a bit odd, and it didn't get busy, so just for the odd service, I'm marking it down a star.
Aside from that, on food alone, it's a definite 5/5. This menu rocks. great sushi/sashimi/appy/roll assortment... unagi heaven too!! Great harder-to-find fishes like blue fin tuna, spanish mackerel, etc... and the fish is TDF. Rolls and sushi rice are PERFECT and not excessive on rice as most places do.
Prices were excellent... I'm definitely coming back here again for the food, but to be a true 5 in my book, the service should be a touch smoother/pro-customer. I agree with some of the previous comments... for all the hype about Tojos, it doesn't truly live up to it. But if you come here, you will NOT be disappointed.Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Karlyn N.
5/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Two words: THE BOMB
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Review from Rachael T.
Toronto, ON
11/7/2009 4 photos
Thanks to Yelp - I have been introduced to Ajisai ... and I was not disappointed... I prepared myself for the wait on a Friday night around 7pm... and was very surprised to see the nice decor inside this small little restaurant in the pretty neighbourhood of Kerisdale.
Between the four of us, we ordered:
-Baked cod
-Fresh salmon - half wild, half fresh
-Spicy Tuna Rolls (for the men)
-Inari with Unagi
-Sea Urchin rounded sushi
-Chopped Scallop Sushi
-A couple of special rolls with Unagi (my fav)
-seared salmon pressed sushi.
I was hesitant in the beginning to get pressed sushi... i mean what's the difference? it's just sushi shaped like a square... it's going to be the same as rolled sushi......
... but I was wrong......... it came out more like a rectangle - made tightly like two pieces of sushi together.. it held together really well, and it tasted fresh and juice with sundried tomatoes between the salmon and the rice
The good thing about Ajisai (well I think it's good) is that they do not have a deep fryer, so you cannot get the gyozas and the tempuras that everyone so loves... but there are just so many other things to try.
Seeing everyone's pictures.. I was very tempted to try the sea urchin and I thought this was the place....... unfortunately, it was just not my thing.... too slimy and slurpy - weird textures... but that's my own fault. I remember speaking with Raymond and he told me to try the Inari with Unagi...it was filling and delicious!
My tip for you - it's okay to keep it simple, while trying something new. The rolls looked great, and tasted great.. but sometimes with so many toppings, you look the effect of what's actually in the roll.
Service was extremely courteous and helpful.. although a tiny part of our order had gotten lost, but I understand it happens once in a while. The only reason I can't give this place 5 stars (but 4.75 stars!) is because the extended wait time made me extremely hungry leading me to a burning stomache ache halfway through my meal.. it was so unbearable and I was so upset I couldn't fully fully enjoy the meal like I wanted.
so I'm coming back Ajisai.. i promise you!Listed in: Extra Wasabi Please
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Review from Patrick N.
8/7/2008
The place is a closet -- I've eaten in larger sushi places with four seats, but don't let the size of the place fool you.
This is the best neighborhood sushi place I've ever been to. Their selection of sushi is absolutely amazing, so big in fact I don't order from the menu and just tell them what I want. Occasionally, they run specials of fish they don't want to go bad, so you get the better part of this deal. Even if it's not on the menu, technically, they've whipped it up.
That, and the great, comfortable service make this a great off-the-beaten path sushi restaurant worth stopping by even if you aren't in the neighborhood.Listed in: Up in the Great White, er,…
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Review from Natasha L.
10/9/2009
Fresh, fresh, fresh. This is one of the best sushi restaurants in Vancouver for their freshness. The toro simply melts in your mouth and is just o so good. Also love the unagi. They are just perfectly cooked with slightly crispy texture.
The spicy tuna too is hard to beat; perfect combination of spiciness and buttery texture.
Their price is not cheap but is great for the quality that you get. I used to pay around two times extra for the same freshness in Los Angeles so I can't complain. This is definitely THE place to go for quality sushi and sashimi. -
Review from Elisa W.
Vancouver, BC
2/10/2011
This place is delicious and convenient! I almost subtracted a star because of how crowded it gets in there, but then decided that they shouldn't be faulted for being popular and full. Everything tastes so fresh, and I must point out that it's the only place that serves an uni sushi that doesn't leave a bad taste in my mouth. I obviously recommend the uni, but also their seafood salad, which I always see people other than myself ordering.
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Review from Eileen S.
8/11/2009
We had a fantastic dinner here. The server was friendly and efficient. Reasonable prices, delicious sushi.
Unfortunately we devoured each plate as soon as it arrived and I didn't get a chance to take a picture and now I can't remember everything we ate... next time I will try to practice some more restraint... we had toro sashimi (ooh soo good!!), assortment of nigiri (delicious!), unagi battera (tasty and quite filling), and some tasty rolls.
I would recommend coming here with a max of 4 in your party, this is a really cozy (small) place. -
Review from Joseph H.
Richmond, BC
12/20/2010
This place is great. Perenially busy. Fresh, well prepared sushi. Real japanese staff. We usually get the sashimi salad.
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Review from Mark K.
10/22/2009
For a Wednesday dinner, I got a recomendation from a friend to try Tojo's (but it was closed for the week); read yelp reviews on Toshi and went by there. But at 8:30 there was still a line out the door (Maybe on my next trip through Vancouver). So ended up at Ajisai and I had a very good meal.
For those of you who travel with a GPS, like I do Aijsai isnt facing the street. When my GPS said I was there I was looking at a London Drugs. Aijsai's entrance is located between two buildings. There was a real estate open house-type sign on the sidewalk but I noticed those on my 2nd pass.
Sushi Freshness: 8 (1-Won't eat; 5 - what you would find at Safeway; 10 - to die for). The sushi was fresh; much better than typical Japanese resturants.
Sushi Creativity: 9 (1- Typical nigri rolls; 5 - typical nigri rolls plus some unique ones; 10 - Many different rolls). Ajisai offers most of the traditional sushi rolls but a lot of the different combinations. I remember it took me a while to get through the menu since they had a lot of different choices.
Service: 10 - Sat at the Sushi bar; I think the owner was one of them behind the bar. Attentive and friendly service.
Cleanliness: 10
Overall: 9
Definitely a good spot to try. Not a large spot but i would seem to be a lively place earlier in the evening/weekends.
