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- Hours:
Mon, Sat-Sun 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Mon-Thu 4:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Fri-Sat 4:30 pm - 1 am
Sun 4:30 pm - 12 pm
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
51 reviews for Ebisu On Robson
Review Highlights
"Chicken karaage is crispy and the dips are tasty."
(in 4 reviews)
"Their food is extremely fresh especially the oysters."
(in 10 reviews)
"I find it a nice, reliable spot for sushi and Japanese eats."
(in 25 reviews)
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51 reviews in English
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Review from sara s.
Vancouver, BC
2/10/2012
Food Quality is really good.
I couldn't find anything on the menu I didn't like. A fan of its' tempuras.
Service isn't that great.
Ambiance is cool, young and laud! -
Review from Edward L.
Came here to check out some more delicacies and see if anything's changed.
Parking is still pretty crappy around here, but this won't be a problem for those who live downtown.
The place is still staffed by real Japanese people. Fortunately these ones do have a decent grasp of English. There's nothing worse than having to gesture and point all the time. Service was quick even though the place was exploding with customers. I like that.
Yam Fries - actually one of the tastier ones. I really like how they use thick pieces of yam. And that mayo is always good.
Dynamite roll - there's something about this that puts it a cut above most allyoucaneat places. Maybe the fact that this place isn't allyoucaneat.
Granville Island Pale Ale - tastes like other places. Guess this is a good thing.
If you don't mind the pricing, this place is pretty decent.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/15/2011
Ebisu is a great place to chill, have a good time, or bring a date, if you don't mind a decent hit… Read more »
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Review from Simon K.
1/26/2012 4 Check-ins Here
I have never been a true fan of the place, and I wonder if it would have been better if it would have been better having the former tenant laying around here (Hooters!). That being said, this location (out of the three in total I have been to) is the lowest one in terms quality and feel and also if we categorize this in the Japanese Izakaya domain would definitely be on the low end of the list on going if I decided to go for this food.
The location is great, on the corner of Robson and Bute, second floor, great street exposure as you can see the joint rolling down in your 'pimp' ride down the Robson street. This place is a hangout, as I see it, everytime I have been here, it feels more like a bar that is serving up the next round of UFC on the big screen from the clientele sitting around. Maybe it is the location that brings about how you do business, but what are you here for, the food, or something else?
We had a platter of bar food, which ranged from many 'deep' fried items. The items like the chicken karaage, just had too much batter. The food is nothing special here, nothing memorable, to the point I forgot what I ate, all I know is that it is just a come-and-go type of place. I can recommend of walk to many places in the vicinity of this joint if your paying the same coinage, but if your in for the above, and want to catch the game, or the fight, then by all means... come here. -
Review from Stephene C.
Vancouver, BC
11/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Chickwa Cheese, another combination that I would have never thought would work. Tempura-ed squid with melting cheesy goodness in the middle, yuuuummmy! But like I have said in another review, what doesn't go well with cheese? Or like that dairy Canada commercial says "all you need is cheese", damn right!
They have a great assortment of adult beverages that aren't to shabby. Something to satisfy everyone.
I'm only giving this joint 3 stars because I've had less than spectacular experiences here. Let's take a stroll down memory lane. So it was new years eve, and we had arrived early to avoid the rush. We got our table and ordered, after our meal was over, it was about 10pm, we were asked leave. Where the heck were we going to go on new years eve at 10pm? Every single place, even the sh*t holes would be packed. despite being told to leave, we stood our ground and kept our heinies right at our booth and continued to order drinks. Yes we felt rebelish and defiant. It was good.
Overall not a bad place for some different and interesting takes on Japanese cuisine.
St3Fin -
Review from Herman E.
11/5/2011
2.5 stars. I've been here for lunch several times. My visits were ok and food was mediocre. Nothing to write home about.
Maybe this place just isn't my cup of tea. -
Review from Kathy W.
10/17/2011
3.5 stars
My friends brought me here for my first meal in Vancouver. Located near the busy Robson Street. Must walk upstairs to reach the front of the restaurant. It was pretty busy since it was a Canucks game but we managed to get seated quickly. Unfortunately we missed Happy Hour (3-7pm)
Thunder fries ($6.99): deep-fried yam fries aka sweet potato fries. Tasted good with the cajun dip. Also got random deep-fried cream cheese sticks which I was not fond of (I'm also biased against cream cheese).
Chicken karaage ($8.95): large pieces. Choice of 2 dipping sauces. Tasted better with the Cajun dip. Would order again.
Tsukune Don ($9.80): deep-fried minced BBQ chicken sticks with rice and poached egg. Not bad but not that great either. Rice was soft and flavorful from the yakitori sauce
Toro Inferno ($10.99): Not worth it. Seared toro does not taste good. Also thought it was a roll but it was essentially seared toro nigri. Disappointing.
Environment/Service: popular as a birthday dinner place since they also serve a multitude of drinks. Many TVs to watch sports games. The cost of drinks were decent. The service was okay; nothing special. They make it easy to split checks with the portable machines.
Overall, decent place to eat Japanese food. It's a bit expensive but the type of food, but I guess it's a hip place. They give you cough-medicine tasting candy after paying the check. Would rather come for Happy Hour since it's cheaper. -
Review from Lisa T.
Vancouver, BC
12/25/2011
4:30pm-6:30pm early evening specials, 7 days a week.
i don't know if this is something new. but it's great when i get off work early and want a good start to an early evening, their volcano roll is one of their special early evening rolls. and the bc blazer roll is awesome too (even though it is not an early evening special). yum yum!! -
Review from Amy H.
Vancouver, BC
I've been to Ebisu for dinner a few times with my friends and I've never been disappointed. We were always seated quickly and attended to without much of a wait. The food's always delicious, tasty, and consistent. The price doesn't render this restaurant the cheapest but it's not the most expensive either. Although the wait for food can be lengthy, especially when the restaurant's particularly busy, the quality and presentation are never sacrificed.
They also have their own menu of cocktails which can add colourful and pleasant visuals to the table in addition to the mostly nicely presented dishes.
The two major negatives about this place are the atmosphere (can be mostly the same type of people; if you frequent this place then you know what I mean) and the staff. The hostesses seem somewhat snobby and don't really smile which I didn't like. The waiters are never super friendly enough for me to give a substantial tip but hey - that's their own fault. Every time I order a drink, I always like to customize it. One time, I asked for two lime wedges instead of one in my martini and the waitress (she had a thick accent and spoke somewhat broken English) didn't understand what I was saying even though I projected my request clearly and loudly (complete with hand gestures!). My friend was baffled that the waitress didn't understand me. Finally after about two minutes, she caught my drift and left. Uh... ok. What a hassle for such a simple request as an extra lime wedge in my drink!
Other than that, I only have one more thing to say... the bartender who looks half Asian's great eye candy while dining!!!
Pros: quality of food and quick service
Cons: length of time for food, atmosphere, having to park downtown, and drab service
Verdict: I'll definitely come back - but only for the food and that bartender! This isn't the place to go for the best sushi in Vancouver, but it's a fun place for to get together with friends over good quality Japanese fare. -
Review from Jasmine L.
Port Moody, BC
6/18/2011
In a city filled with amazing sushi, I have no idea why anyone eats here.
1) It's crazy expensive.
2) The atmosphere is awful. It's filled with d-bags and obnoxious boozers - not really what I'm looking for in a Japanese restaurant.
3) The service is comically terrible. I've been here twice, and both times, I've had to physically grab a waitress to have our order taken, grab the bill. I guess they're busy serving the boozers...?
4) The food is not great. It's not inedible, but it's not anything I'd ever crave. Plus, when it's expensive, you want it to be amazing.
There are a bajillion better places to eat Japanese food in Vancouver, and specifically, within blocks of Ebisu. Don't waste your time, tummy, or money on this one. -
Review from Diana N.
Vancouver, BC
9/14/2011
Ebisu is definitely one of my fave Japanese restaurants because they make the best Tuna Tacos! I'm a huge fan of raw tuna so I just absolutely fell in love with the Tacos the first time I tried them. I don't really have any complaints about the food at this restaurant. I've tried almost everything on their menu. The only thing that could be a hit or miss is their ramen and clam pasta. Sometimes they're great and sometimes they're wayyyyy too salty. Keep in mind, they are a popular restaurant so it does get quite busy as you get closer to the weekend so either make a reservation or arrive at non peak times.
If you're feeling adventurous one night, come here with a group of friends and try something you've never tried before. Like oysters! I always get the raw oysters from here and force all my friends to try them...well because I love trying new things so I want them to try new things too...and well yah too many come in one order. Haha. They're actually really good and usually about 50% of my victims agree that they were actually very nice. Goes nice with some alcohol if you drink...saki, beer...highballs...doesn't really matter what you choose because after a few drinks everything seems to go well with alcohol. And this is why I say come here with a group of friends because you don't want to be drinking those drinks by yourself. They have some great deals like 4 drinks for $20.
Beware of the parking lot next to the restaurant. Sometimes the meter doesn't work and so what I've seen people do is leave a note on their dash saying they tried paying but had no luck. Well it doesn't always work because I left a note and I was towed which costed me over $100. Argh. Just becareful. -
Review from Melissa C.
Richmond, BC
I came here with friends and the bf for Happy Hour. Our taste buds were exposed to: Buck a Shuck oysters (minimum 3). 39cent wings (minimum 10). Two rolls of sushi for $6.50. Specialty rolls for ~$7-8. Motoyaki for $6. Yakiudon for ~$7. The four of us ended up paying about $14 each.
The oysters were fresh and of average size. It came with a semi-sweet sour sauce, tabasco, green onions and minced carrots - not much flavour although you got to taste the oysters much more, but the Tabasco was a nice kick to the throat. I would have enjoyed the oysters much more if they had a cocktail sauce like I had at Goldfish. Regardless, it satisfied my raw oyster craving.
The rolls were fresh and tasty. The volcano roll was an eruption of goodness in my mouth with spicy salmon, avocado, and crispy tempura batter pieces.
The Motoyaki was creamy, hot, and the oysters were melt in your mouth. It's too bad there weren't many of them because I think I only had one piece out of the dish =(
The chicken wings were kind of dry inside but it was saucy enough to be edible. Plus the price helped too.
The Yaki udon was a disappointment. The noodles were too soft and over-cooked. Also, there was this Japanese herb mixed into the dish and it did not sit will with my palate.
With our belly's full and the addition of a trendy atmosphere and nice service... it made this hour a happy one. -
Review from Jena J.
Vancouver, BC
10/17/2011
i went here a year or two ago, if i had to rate it then i would have gave 1 star, but i went tonight and it was way better. Fast, good-ish prices and really fresh food.
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Review from Janz P.
8/15/2011
Decent prices, good sushi, nice atmosphere.
Green Machine and Smoked Eel rolls were particularly good. California Roll was ok but not great.
Sangria was tasty but super weak.
They have nightly specials and a very extensive menu. -
Review from Michael C.
Vancouver, BC
3/5/2011 3 Check-ins Here
"Hey, I need a place for my bday party!"
"I know, you should have it at EBISU!!!!!!!!!"
Wow, is this like the Golly Genies' for adults now? RIP Golly Genies' :(
The food:
Japanese style tapas joint, or izakaya. A few things that I always get here:
Mentaiko Yakisabe w/ Kim chi
Oysters (especially when they are on special.)
Chicken Karaage
Beef Salad or Beef tataki
Most of the stuff here is pretty good (not the best), however a few things in my mind need some refinement.
The Service:
They always are pretty good with service and pretty good with large parties. They are nice and patient all the time I've been there buzz/drunk with my friends lol.
The Restaurant:
Love the large screens on game nights.
Final note - They need a change in menu.Listed in: Turning Japanese, GAME TIME BABY!!!!
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Review from Rick C.
Updated - 2/17/2011 5 photos
I like Ebisu. I find it a nice, reliable spot for sushi and Japanese eats. I use to go their constantly when I worked downtown for their lunch specials.
I always get the chicken karaage (top) and chopped scallop roll (above) which are solid. I was surprised how big the entrée karaage portion was. It was massive and filling with good quality chicken too.
My friend Jisoo got this crazy red roll which satisfied as well as her oysters.
Ebisu is good for a solid outing. It will not set the world on fire, but it does the trick.Listed in: Diverse Eateries, Sushi Time
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/19/2010
Ebisu is a great place for lunch. They have a variety of deals where you can sample and choose a few… Read more »
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Review from Stephanie M.
Vancouver, BC
1/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
This restaurant has a lot going for it, including a great location, very reasonable prices, a laid-back but modern and stylish atmosphere and a large and varied menu (fusion is one thing but Mexican nachos at a sushi restaurant???)
First, the location is very convenient for a weekday lunch if you work downtown, and you can sit by the window and people-watch along Robson if you're so inclined. It's also much quieter and more relaxed (at least on the day I was there) than other restaurants downtown which tend to get crazy over the noon hour on a weekday. They also have TV screens for checking out the game.
The menu, as I said, is extremely varied and there are various lunch combos which you build by choosing from different options - this way you get bang for your buck but still have choice. For myself, I'm more interested in maki and sashimi when I go to a Japanese restaurant so that is not as important to me, but my fellow diner liked the variety.
The sushi itself was good - I recommend the spicy tuna roll in particular. Overall it's not the fanciest sushi place in town but it is tasty and good value. Service was a bit slow, especially considering it was not very busy, but the servers were friendly. -
Review from Theresa W.
Vancouver, BC
12/7/2010
For izakaya that won't break the bank, Ebisu is a decent choice in a pinch. I like that it's right on Robson for that extra variety, and I like that it's got a lot more room than your nearby Guu restaurants, but this place is crazy noisy and dark, even at 5pm in the summer.
I've been three times with three different groups, and every time it was basically so loud (either from other people or from the music) that we couldn't hear each other talk.
One of the best things this place has going for it though is the price. It's one of the cheaper places to get some black cod (which I absolutely love), and their rolls are large and filling as well. Some of their mixed drinks are decently priced too, which makes me think this place is more like a lounge than anything.
But if you're up for some izakaya at a decent price in a slightly more formal setting than Guu, then this is a good option. -
Review from Amy T.
11/21/2010
Besides the convenient location and the cheap prices, Ebisu doesn't have the best izakaya.
In Vancouver, I feel very blessed to have so many choices of restaurants. For me to choose Ebisu over the others would have to mean that I was too lazy to walk a few blocks further. Their food isn't bad, but only average. Everything I've had on their menu is average. They have fresh oysters for a great deal, but they weren't cold and I hate eating oysters that are close to room temperature. I don't want to be sitting on my throne all night long, people!
So this place is very average and I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here, but I wouldn't turn it down if a friend wanted to go either. -
Review from Jasmine T.
Burnaby, BC
Updated - 1/13/2011
This time we came during Happy Hour Saturday night. It's nice that they have Happy Hour all week long and not just on weekdays. While our reservations were for 5:30 and Happy Hour ended at 6:30, they let us wait for our late friends and squeaked in our order. They even gave a few minutes after we got our food and then asked us if we needed anything else. Our servers were really nice.
Because I knew time would be a factor (I was one of the late stragglers, but not the last so I didn't have to wear the embarrassing bee hat), I checked their menu online. I ordered a california roll and a dynamite roll on special for $6.50. I also got five pieces of salmon nigiri for $6.50. I think I saved like $10... I am fine with their Happy Hour prices, I think their regular menu prices are a bit high. but maybe that's because I have been spoiled by all the other cheap sushi places. I thought the food was okay. Nothing amazing, absolutely average. My friend ordered the jalapeno shrimp. I didn't think it would come with fries. That was a nice surprise. The shrimps were not too spicy and the cocktail sauce paired really well.
At the end of the night, we had a bit of confusion with the bill. They ended up splitting the bill and giving each half of the table a bill. Five of us paid and the server took it away. Their green tea is $1.50... well, about that because the server told us that it was $1.81 with tax. They had put all the tea on the other bill and since we didn't know and left, the other half was stuck with all our tea. No biggie, but if you're gonna split the bill, split it properly.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/1/2010
Went here on a Tuesday night. We had just finished shopping on Robson and wanted to get out of the… Read more »
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Review from Jason D.
Vancouver, BC
3/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
I dined here for the first time. Only because I was in the immediate area and was starving. Nothing great or fancy at all. It was pretty busy on a week night when I went but It's like walking through a maze to get seated......
The food was just okay, it took a long time for them to make it as well. Service was mediocre also. It's over priced in my opinion for what you get... -
Review from Allen W.
Vancouver, BC
1/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Visited Ebisu when we couldn't get in at Aki. Ebisu was busy too but we were able to get a table, although they warned us we had to leave by 8pm as it was reserved.
Waitstaff was slow and not overly friendly. Food OK -- menu reflects Korean influence in flavors. We were reminded at 7:30pm that we needed to wrap up our dining as they needed the table.
Meh. Just OK. -
Review from Kristina C.
Vancouver, BC
12/28/2010
Lots of variety on the menu, all at reasonably cheap prices. My friends and I all opted for the lunch special, where you can choose 3 items (sushi, small plates, noodles, rice bowls etc) plus miso soup, a drink, or ice cream, all for $10.98.
The lunch special portions may seem small, but for me and my friends it is was plenty. My vegetable yakisoba was nice and tasty, and not overloaded with more veggies than noodles. The gyozas aren`t anything special, but the green salad had a very yummy dressing. Anyone with a bigger appetite than us may not be satisfied with the lunch special, but we found it to be more than enough.
I can`t comment on the drinks since none of us ordered anything alcoholic. The service wasn`t too hot, but they did come around a few times to fill our tea cups, and the wait for our food wasn`t too bad.
All in all, if you`re looking for cheap Japanese food, this is a good restaurant to try. -
Review from Nam N.
Vancouver, BC
2/10/2011
Been here a few times in the evening. The first time I came when it had recently opened I had had a great time. Great food, good prices and really friendly staff.
The next couple times was not so good. The food to me wasn't as tasty, did something change? There's a ton on the menu though, plenty of tapas and sushi rolls. The rolls are pretty good actually but some of the fried tapas are really heavy. So heavy that you'll get full quick. I know its fried food...but some chefs can make it taste light.
The place has cheap pitchers of Sapporo :)
All in all, lots of choice, cheap eats. Generally pretty busy. The service is not as good as it was before. The waitresses work like they are working at dim sum restaurant. It was better in the beginning. Oh well.
PRICE: Affordable.
SERVICE: Bleh. You order, the food comes, you won't remember who served you.
SUGGEST: I might go whenever I'm bored and need a change in atmosphere. But nothing to look forward to here. These droids are not the droids you're looking for. -
Review from Bill T.
BC
11/11/2011
Man, I remember when this place used to be Hooters, and before that, it used to be Kenny Rogers' Roasters. Anyways, now it's Ebizu, and I havent been to this place in the 5? plus years this has been open. But, in my new-found love of Korean food, I decided to wander in for dinner tonight. The place really reminds me of Red Robin, a very casual atmosphere, bright, varied menu, and somewhat indifferent service. The place is PACKED though, so they're doing something right, mainly because their prices are so low. Anyways, I came here without much expectations. The menu had all sorts of varied things. Sushi, Sashimi, Sliders (!), heck, they even had nachos. Me, being adventurous, decided to try the butter potato, which is their rendition of bacon cheddar fries. The potato was somewhat tough and chewy, the cheese greasy, and not much bacon. Just ok, after that came more cheese as I tried the Colossal Cheese Yakatori, Chicken and cheese. It wasn't BAD, but something I wouldn't try again. Again, the service was just ok, nothing to write home about. I wouldnt exactly rush back here again to try their other items.
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Review from Jasmine O.
Vancouver, BC
6/21/2010
Pretty darn good deal from 430-630 everyday with their happy hour menu but not the greatest service or sushi. I ordered a couple of rolls I enjoyed but not nearly as fully as I do at the cheaper, chinese-run, fast food sushi places I frequent. Maybe when my wallet gets bigger I'll go back for some late night noshing and try their regular menu items..
Also, my friend had the teriaki chicken and said the taste was very unusual and couldn't finish her plate. -
Review from Jason C.
Vancouver, BC
8/18/2011
I hesitate to give this place a better review, because I've found, over numerous visits, that the service has been inconsistent. I've been to Ebisu for weekday lunches and weekend dinners. The set menu for their lunches are fantastic and well-worth the price. The dinners are pricey but not completely unreasonable, and they do have some interesting east-meets-west items. However, I do take issue with their reception during lunch hours. On one occasion, my colleagues and I had been standing for 15 minutes before anyone paid any attention to us (despite having clearly seen the 8 of us hanging around the front desk). At that time, the restaurant was nearly vacant as lunch hour isn't usually too busy. After waiting 30 minutes, we left for the Korean restaurant downstairs.
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Review from Nicole B.
Coquitlam, BC
9/29/2010
I've only eaten here once with a group of friends, but I enjoyed the restaurant fully.
Unfortunately, I was NOT nineteen years of age at the time, so I cannot comment about their drinks, but I can say that the food is pretty amazing.
I love Japanese food and when we ordered, the food that appeared before me made my heart melt. The oysters were fresh, cool, and delish. Unagi rolls were scrumptious. Actually, ALL the food was delicious.
All the staff give you great service and they are all super kind and helpful. If you don't understand something in the menu, don't be afraid to ask them.
Just eat there. Haha. I order you to. -
Review from James C.
5/31/2010 32 Check-ins Here
Being a regular here (usually once or twice a week) at Ebisu on Robson has it perks. The staff are more accomodating and friendly. No seat in here is bad as you can either view Robson St or Bute St or set in the center with a view of the many TV's showing many sports events.
As mentioned by others, they have many types of shots and drinks. The prices are reasonable (for Vancouver). The daily specials are usually recommended (different types of beers and lagers).
Dinner begins at 4:30 and for me, it cannot begin early enough. From 4:30 to 6:30, it's Happy Hour where cheap drinks, nigri sushi, and chicken wings rule my Hapy Hour. Even the spicy tuna roll makes is appearance only for me to practically inhale it.
I normally try to go at 6:00pm so that way I can enjoy the end of Happy Hour, loading up on the cheap drinks, and still be in time for the main dinner selections such as the Ocean Red with it's spicy red sauce (personal favourite), Alaska King (a recent addition highly recommended), Cajun Tuna Tacos, and Sashimi Salad with spicy sauce. Other great plates include the Mango Paradise and Vancouver Roll.
Weekends are pretty busy and even some nights during the week can be crowded. They do take reservations.
Overall, good food, good service, and a good location make for an enjoyable night out and Ebisu on Robson provides this. -
Review from Lilly K.
7/3/2010
Without comparing to any other dinning experience in Vancouver (since it was my first stop)
I thought this place had really great service, modern atmosphere, and lovely view of Robson street. Food was not a transcendent experience but it was very good and the sashimi portions were the largest I had ever seen. Kelly our waitress, was happy to answer any tourists questions we had and our bottel of saki was kept chilled and flowing. -
Review from Lisa N.
Vancouver, BC
8/27/2008
It's hard not to question the authenticity of Ebisu, when there's a wing night and nacho platter on the appetizer menu. But I give props to them for doing business right - prices aren't the cheapest, and sometimes when you want that extra dish as a stomach filler, why not end with cheap American bar food?
Portions are decent, and the specialty rolls are to drool for. My favorite on the list is the Crunch and Munch Roll, Saba inferno, and oyster motoyaki. Always start with with their Oyster Blowout! You get a dozen raw oysters prepared Japanese-style with daikon oroshi, momijioroshi, green onions and ponzu.
But this place does have a lively modern ambiance, catering to couples, younger crowds celebrating birthdays, stag dinners, and international students. I wouldn't recommend Ebisu for families - some of the servers were wearing close to nothing. For lunch, there's fantastic bento boxes and sushi boats to share. Overall, they have a great menu, service is 'meh' (some of you might find it 'great' if you're into servers wearing black booty shorts to work), and the chillin' 2 L Asahi beer is delicious. -
Review from Melissa F.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 2/17/2010
I came here again and the quality diminished. The rolls were sloppy, smaller, too much rice- and the sushi rice was much too vinegary.
Hopefully this is just one bad experience but it was enough to send my star-age down a point.
(I do, however highly reccommend the agedashi tofu- very tasty)Listed in: Well…">Double Takes: not all…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/25/2010
I love the lunch special here! For 10 bucks you can get more Than a filling lunch of your choice of… Read more »
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Review from Vicky H.
Vancouver, BC
12/15/2010
I've only been there once but I really liked the restaurant. Their food is extremely fresh especially the oysters. I am also a big fan of the various original rolls they have. Their food is just really amazing in general.
The location is also very convenient for people shopping in the downtown area. The only con that I can think of is that during dinning hours it might take a while to get seated but you can always just leave your name and number and shop on Robson while you wait! They do take reservations for groups of 3 or more people I believe.
Overall a great restaurant and the waiter was extremely helpful in narrowing down food choices since they have so many. Would definitely go back again. -
Review from Rachel K.
8/30/2010
I would give it 3.5 stars, but if 4 stars mean that I'm a fan... then I'd have to stick to 3. Sorry! :p
Came here on a Tuesday evening with a group. I thought it had a nice ambiance with plenty of seating... good thing, because it was pretty crowded for a late evening.
Service was prompt. I thought all the sushi rolls were quite tasty - the BC special, and shrimp tempura special, the samurai rolls all and each under $10. Not bad, it was plentiful in portion. The oysters looked good too, even though I didn't have any.
They lost points with drinks, though - I ordered one of their cocktails from their gazillion choices and it was a total joke. It tasted like juice with way too much water/ice. My friend got a sex on the beach and thought the same - JUICE!!! I initially thought it was helpful that they listed the alcohol percentage for each drink on the menu, but what's the point if you don't stay true to it? You LIEDDDD!!!
So, I had a positive impression of the food but not with mixed drinks. Otherwise, I had a great time and it was a nice setting to sit with friends. Just remember to stick with beer! -
Review from Claudia L.
Burnaby, BC
12/29/2008
Tasty Japanese tapas and chillin' lounge. A buzzin' place for afterschool drinks - kind of like a Japanese version of Joey's.
F&D: Unique take on Japanese tapas with nice presentation. Plates are great for sharing. Diverse drink menu with representation from Spain to Asia.
Digg: Beef tataki and eel sushi roll. Sangria. Red Dragon. -
Review from Anita T.
Toronto, ON
9/22/2008
The first time I went to Ebisu, I was WOWed and was pleading to go back for more...
The second time I went to Ebisu, I was left thinking "What on earth did I order last time that made me so happy?".
Ebisu has good food, no doubt - but it's not "Wow-worthy". The Yaki Soba was really overly sweet, and the sushi was so huge, it was impossible to eat it in one bite.
On a lighter note, however, the patio is really pretty!! -
Review from Alkarim S.
2/17/2010
We trounced in off a long walking tour of the West End. Tired and looking for some food we stumbled into this trendy joint. Well, the food was decent, the rolls plain; worthy my dime. I had a BC roll that had thin pieces of salmon while the negetoro was plump and fresh. The teriyaki chicken was lightly flavored, could have used more flavor, but still juicy piece of meat. The atmosphere is well planned and the paintings are fitting. I do appreciate the notice of 2 hour maximum at a table, upfront and honest.
Service was prompt. The host, male, was bad in masking his looks of inattention I am sure due to our humble clothing, long live the prols. The waitresses, however, were much more polite and attentive. -
Review from Emily C.
2/26/2010
I used to live directly across from Ebisu, to the point where i could see the front door from my condo building. And whenever people suggested meeting here, i'd have to heave and haw before they'd able to drag me to this place.
Let's start with the good stuff -- food is not bad quality. i believe it's owned by the people who used to run daimasu? again, i'm not positive but just hearsay. i remember loving their udon and special rolls. then again, i love all asian food in vancouver!
drinks were kinda weak. but then again, it is vancouver and again, i don't have high standards for alcohol while in canada. but what keeps me loathing this place is simply the atmosphere. if you're AZN (not asian, but the stereotype of asian) and you're okay with possibly getting into a scrap or too, then this is your joint. this place is like a gangster hang out for cookie-cutter people of vancouver. do i sound like a hater? i'm just being blunt. if you beg to differ, show up on a friday/saturday night and you'll see what i mean.
but yes, the food, i'd come back for. so lunch is probably the best bet. but stay away on the weekends! -
Review from Andrew C.
Vancouver, BC
9/16/2009
Great Happy Hours Place. In fact they have 3 Ebisu locations!
I always start with a dozen rare oysters and a pitcher of cold beer special and then maybe a full order of prawns tempura.
The West Broadway location is quiet and good for couples and less night life activities but more food selections, they actually have a huge sushi counter with real sushi chefs.
The Robson location is more party style, allot of young people trying to look good, the wait time might turn you off, more drinking (Sangria specials) and less time for eating...nice!
The Richmond location...well lets not talk about it...there are better places in Richmond... -
Review from Anthony F.
Vancouver, BC
5/17/2010
Background: I can compare this to all other izakayas in Vancouver as I'm from here.
Food: Rolls are good but not great due to the flavour of the sushi rice. Try the blow-torched ?tuna belly. Some hits and some misses. Standard Mexican nachos and anything with french fries don't really belong on the menu.
Ambiance: Probably the roomiest of all the izakayas in Vancouver. Booth seating like a Moxie's. Industrial-size menus lack home-grown charm but they do the job representing the enormous number of items available.
Service: The ambiance being like Moxie's, I expected Moxie's type service, which I didn't get. The servers change throughout the night.
Pricepoint: More expensive than the quality of the food would indicate.
Overall: If you just want great food, you can get it cheaper elsewhere like Guu or Gyoza King. If you want spacious ambiance and no yelling, you've come to the right place. -
Review from Richard W.
Vancouver, BC
5/10/2011
Woah, it was a very good experience. Portions are big and filling not like the other japanese restaurants. Chicken karaage is crispy and the dips are tasty. The pictures in the menu helps those who don't know what to order and there are lots of seafood choices.
