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Guu
Categories: Restaurants Japanese Restaurants Tapas Bars Japanese, Tapas Bars [Edit]
105-375 Water StVancouver, BC V6B 5C6
Neighbourhoods: Downtown, Gastown
(604) 685-8682
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 5:30 pm - 12 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
111 reviews for Guu
Review Highlights
"The ebi mayo was also done really well, with a nice tempura..."
(in 7 reviews)
"Had some miso soup, sashimi salad and baked salmon."
(in 8 reviews)
"The Fresh Water Eel Rice Gratin."
(in 4 reviews)
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111 reviews in English
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Review from Dana C.
Vancouver, BC
1/15/2012
What a nice surprise!!!
I saw this place the first time when I went to the dry cleaner right next to it.
It looked very full, which is always a good sign, and I decided to give it a try next weekend.
That weekend was yesterday!!! and I am sooo happy with the result.
I live so close, it's cheap, and most importantly its delicious!
I am so excited for my future relationship with guu! -
Review from Josh G.
Vancouver, BC
2/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
First time at the gastown location, and it was guuuuud!
I've been quite in love with the Thurlow location for a few years and quite enjoy Guu garden so last night it was time to give the gastown locale a try.
Right off the bat I noticed that the layout and style was completely different than the other ones I've been to, which I love. It's a really open space, with exposed brick...very unique as far as a Guu goes.
As usual, the atmosphere is hectic and loud, so you better be expecting that!
We tried the kimchi udon, scallop carpaccio, fried brie, the black cod and of course, my Ebi Mayos.
Everything was quite tasty, the carpaccio was very nice, though I felt it could do with a touch more texture, maybe some crunchy element on top. The black cod was also delicious, very flaky and soft, but the skin wasn't crispy which I didn't care for. It was also sitting in a sauce that reminds me of Motoyaki, which I'm not a huge fan of.
As usual, the Ebi Mayo's were delish, but still not up to the level that Hapa sets.
All that and a couple Sapporo's and Asahi's and it was a very solid, 4 star evening...I know I left feeling pretty damn guuuud! -
Review from Sheryl D.
1/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
Two hungry pms-ing ladies, 4 empty tables and a long wait does not make for a guuud time. Thank God the food more than made up for the English-speaking inability of the host. Compared to their other locations, this place felt unwelcoming. We were met with blank looks instead of cheerful, loud yelling. Not to mention the Japanese dude managing the wait line was a tad hostile, which by the way, is so contradictory to an authentic Japanese experience. Aren't Japanese people supposed to be super sweet and super polite? This guy made a snarling Denny's hostess to be a five-star hospitality experience. At least that's part of an authentic Denny's experience!
Basically, we waited almost an hour with two other groups while there were 4 empty tables in the resto. A brunette from the other group repeatedly asked the host how long the wait time is and whether they should wait. My girlfriend and I chimed in and asked about the empty tables. We were given an incomprehensible answer on how those tables were reserved and that they don't take reservations past a certain time. Okaaay. Well that didn't answer the brunette's question that's for sure. Also repeatedly answering "10 minutes wait time" after an hour does NOT make it true. My point is, if you're about to lose 3 groups of people holding "reserved tables" for more than an hour, you gotta rethink your reservation strategy (or simply your host's communication skills).
On the very bright side, the mushroom/cheese bibimbap among other goodies presented at our table gladdened our hearts and encouraged us to return another time. -
Review from Ralson C.
Vancouver, BC
12/29/2011
So many options, but what our table had was really good, top notch. First thing walking into this place reminded me of the authentic yakatori and sushi bars in NYC where they would yell and greet people and also the all the staff yells when people leave. Only thing they needed was a gong for saki bombs. The place isn't big so I can see how this spot can get crowded. They yell out the orders but it's all in the female waitresses with the high pitched japanese accents so think very anime. The service is top notch and they respect people with allergies and will try to accomodate.
The food was really good, seaweed salad was just amazing and as a start it pretty much set the trend for the good food. Lots of different small plates so there are so many options. My only con in the place was the cocktails need a bit more alcohol, I tasted nothing, they could use a bit more strength in them. Definitely the spot to go for japanese tapas. Expect it to be noisy. I'm going to have to come back here to try different things on the menu. -
Review from Gord C.
Kitsilano, Vancouver, BC
1/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
Meh...ok. Average food. Didn't like the constant shouting between the staff, which I gather is the "thing" at this kind of restaurant. Won't go out of my way to come back.
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Review from Liza B.
Vancouver, BC
11/2/2011
Again, a pretty solid Japanese pub-like restaurant where the waiters scream hell-bloody-murder at each other. But I like it!
Their bi-bim-bap (the pork one) is spicy and awesome. I'm not huge on fish dishes so can't comment on that. But it's a reasonably-priced place to go have some appies if you don't go too crazy. -
Review from Mike S.
Vancouver, BC
10/24/2011
Wow! I give a lot of 4's... but YVR is da bomb for eats...
I digress... OK, so Guu was recommended by my good, close friend Angela :) . I finally made it to the Guu on water st. and in a nut shell, here's my breakdown:
Food - 3 stars
Ambiance, vibe, service - 5 stars
So, there's my 4 - again... I really liked this place mainly b/c it's a lot of fun and there's a good, positive, upbeat vibe. Would definitely recommend. -
Review from Kristina C.
Vancouver, BC
11/1/2011
Love it, even though I haven't had a full meal here. Its dark, it's loud (from the servers/kitchen staff yelling constantly), and it's delicious!
Their drinks are yummy, they taste like juice (but downside to them: not strong at all!), and everything on the menu sounds delicious. As we were just killing time here before another event later in Gastown, we only had drinks and shared an appy, which was chicken karaage with garlic mayo. The chicken was nice and juicy, and the garlic mayo was soooo good. We had to ask for more mayo after just our first pieces.
I've eaten at the Guu in Aberdeen Mall but I think the atmosphere of this location beats that one by a long shot.
The staff are great, they're crazy friendly, and the food is excellent. -
Review from Evilyn T.
11/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
We came here for a friend's birthday dinner. Thank goodness they made reservations, cuz the place was bizzay! I had probably walked by this place a million times without ever even noticing it was there. (I think better signage is in order personally, us old folk have trouble seeing.) The space was not what I would have suspected of a Japanese style tapas bar, it looked more like it had previously been a home decor store or something (probably because of the wide floor space and upper level.)
The servers took good care of us all night, however you did have to be a bit aggressive if you wanted a refill or something, but they were never hard to find. I wanted to try a bit of everything, so the BF and I sort of split little appies, meanwhile our friend was feeding us appies on the side because she was so passionate about the food here. I ordered a miso soup (which was pretty standard), yam fries (which were sub-par, they were just too limp and not crispy enough) gomae (which was good but super salty) and the baked brie (which had a mango and blueberry drizzle on the side and was pretty good). The BF ordered the veggie gyoza (which was good, but mine fell apart all over the place when I tried to eat it), and the veggie bibimbap, which was awesome, and I totally jealous I didn't order. It had mushrooms, cheese and rice in it and you could really taste the green onion and seaweed. I would come back for this dish alone.
We also indulged (since it was a celebratory dinner) in some drinks, the BF had the erotic samurai and one of their gigantic one litre mugs of beer (seriously you get a workout drinking this beer cuz its so big!) and I had the sake mojito since it was on special for $5, and it was actually really good. I'm not a huge sake fan so I was a bit unsure of how it would taste, but I was quite impressed.
Between the two of us, we pretty much ordered almost all of the veggie options on the menu, which was kinda funny, cuz we really pigged out. My only gripe was when I asked for the bill, I guess they don't usually split up the bill, so I was a little disgruntled when I discovered I would have to pick out what we had from a bill of ten or so people.... ugh.... our waitress obviously saw my sour face and offered to split it up for me if I told her everything I had, so it all worked out in the end, and I left with a full belly and an empty wallet. Everyone wins. -
Review from Daisy C.
9/24/2011
We arrived in Vancouver late at night and decided to check this restaurant based on yelp reviews. We arrived at the restaurant 20 minutes before closing time and 40 minutes later, we were still waiting for our spinach appetizer and pork bibimpop.
Upon arrival we ordered 2 Sapporos. Ten minutes later we reminded the chef of our request. Five minutes later the finally arrived.
Then they brought us the salmon and seven friends(?) which was different but tasty.
I noticed a couple who arrived after us, were already into their second drinks and on their second or third dishes. It may be a Japanese tradition to treat the regulars preferentially but the was excessive.
We ordered everything at the same time but 30 minutes after our first order arrived we were still waiting for the spinach and bibimbop. At that point we paid for what we had been served and prepared to leave. On our way out they served us 3 helpings of apologies, which is probably their most popular item. -
Review from Andrea L.
Vancouver, BC
9/15/2011
One of the few dates I first went on with my bf was here.
The atmosphere is different, quieter than their other locations, we had a fabulous seat upstairs facing the street. The food was delicious. I have no complains! -
Review from Ryan G.
Vancouver, BC
We were here a week ago or so, chose blindly @ the menu and were so happy we did. SUCH an amazing menu. I'm always to find the best sashimi, and this place probably has them all beat. The salmon melted in my mouth, I could go bankrupt at this place, all day and night.
Prices are actually pretty good... had a large beer, about 6 plates to share and a Sake Mojito to boot!
Check this place out, its larger than the others downtown.
Enjoy!! -
Review from Eva G.
10/31/2011
I'm guessing that this Guu may not be as good as the other ones, which I have never even tried. The (chopped tuna and avocado) with 5 color sauce (teriyaki, wasabi, yuzu pepper, mango, cucumber) was the best dish we tried. My Calpico vodka drink, oddly listed under "fresh fruit cocktails," was pretty light and suitable for non-alkies. It went downhill from there. Their okonomiyaki was burnt to a crisp, and chicken karaage was also dry and overly deep-fried. They ruined the show.
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Review from Alison S.
6/9/2011
After watching Game 3 of the Cup Finals at Rogers Arena with my boyfriend, we were thoroughly depressed and ready to drown our sorrows in food.
We walked past Guu and, say what? No lineup? We're there! I guess everyone was drowning their sorrows in beers instead?
We ordered the salmon with 7 friends, the okonomiyaki, takoyaki, and ebi mayo. The okonomiyaki and takoyaki were really flavourful and not overcooked. The ebi mayo was also done really well, with a nice tempura crust. The salmon with 7 friends was....different. It's mixed with raw egg so there is a bit of a "goopy" factor in there. It definitely goes very well with the seaweed provided, kind of like a japanese taco?
We had the tempura banana for dessert, which was tasty but the batter was a little soggy from the chocolate/berry/mango sauce on it.
It started getting crowded when we were leaving, but even with a wait I would definitely come back! -
Review from Sarah A.
9/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Guu is not just a restaurant so much as an experience. The minute you walk in the door you are greeted by the darkly lit wooden decor and a cacophony of sounds - waiters shouting orders to the kitchen, waiters singing "Happy Birthday" to a table of party-goers, people laughing and talking. It is happy, organized chaos. When you sit down you are promptly brought a warm wet towel, the impressive drink lists and of course, the all important menu. This menu is problematic - in that you will want to try everything. We attempted to try as much as possible before our stomachs (and our wallets) gave out.
We started with a pitcher of the all-important Sapporo. These pitchers are pricey but they are also quite large. To start off we ordered the spinach and sesame gomaee. It was lovely. It's made with black sesame so in comparison to the spinach gomaee you find at most sushi restaurants, the sauce is richer and saltier with a strong soy flavour. The presentation was lovely as well. Then we ordered the spicy agadeshi tofu and the ebi mayo I have heard so much about. The ebi mayo was lovely. Similar to prawn tempura but with a thicker batter and lovely spicy mayo sauce. The tofu was more similar to a soup than other recipes I have tried but very, very good with just the right amount of spice. Then we moved on to the salmon sashimi which was to die for. It was amazingly fresh and cut beautifully. It absolutely melts in your mouth. Perfection. We also tried the takoyaki (one of my favourites and the Guu recipe did not disappoint) and the deep fried brie (wow - just wow). The most unusual dish we ordered was the salmon and 7 friends (the "friends" are a variety of vegetables, nuts, and a raw egg). It comes displayed beautifully in a circular pattern and then the waiter mixes the raw egg together with the 7 friends until it becomes a sort of paste. Then you wrap it in pieces of nori like little tacos. The taste is lovely, and full of variety and texture (crunchy, salty, and sweet all at the same time). Very unusual but quite good. I've never tried anything like it before.
Overall, Guu makes for a fantastically fun evening out. I can see why this restaurant is so popular. Absolutely great place for a group of friends and I highly recommend bringing guests from out of town here for a different experience (if they are the adventurous type who aren't upset by loud noises).
One thing to note: they are incredibly busy and after around two hours you will begin to be politely edged out the door. This is not the place for you if you are looking for a slow, luxurious, intimate dining experience in a quiet environment. -
Review from Kassim D.
3/26/2011
This is a really quality spot , just like the other two Guu's I've visited (Garden and the original on Thurlow)...
Had a great experience for a friend's birthday on a Friday night...
Everything we ate was fantastic - the sake mojito's (while weak) are a nice touch.
This place lost a couple stars for a few reasons:
1. They don't have enough menus - one for 5 people and while we acquired one later in the evening, it was "borrowed" for another table later
2. The tables were sticky to the touch (not cool)
3. It seemed as though they only had 1 credit card machine, so it took us over 20 mins to pay and get out. Funny Story - after 4 people at our table had paid and there was 1 more credit card to run (mine) , another server took the machine away from our server before she could run my card...awkward (and hilarious)
4. We asked if they had anything special dessert-wise for the bday girl, and they said we could have either French Toast or the tempura banana with coconut ice cream (we chose the latter, which was awesome). However, I was under the impression that this would have been free...yeah, not so much.
Not like I'm griping about the bill - multiple alcoholic drinks, dessert, and a ton of food was $110 for 5 folks, pretty fantastic deal.
oh and yeah, while this space is larger than the other two Guu's I've visited, it's just as loud.
Enjoy. -
Review from Kat S.
4/6/2011
Holy crazy experience!
The food was excellent, and the prices were actually quite reasonable. I was expecting to pay a lot more. Some favourites were the black sesame and spinach salad (gomae with black sesame dressing), renkon chips, black cod (so amazing) and the maguro tataki (I think that's the one we had, and it was creamy, melt in your mouth, flavour city).
The service was... crazy. A friend and I arrived before our birthday girl and while we were yelled the standard greeting from above the hostess did not make eye contact or acknowledge our presence for a full 5 minutes while we stood there confused. Do we seat ourselves? There's supposed to be a reservation, so what do we do? Why are they ignoring us despite standing two feet away? Finally we were acknowledged and brought to our seats. My friend and I each received a nice hot towel to clean our hands. The other 3 guests that arrived a bit later did not receive a hot towel. There was some confusion about who our server was, and a language barrier may have been part of the issue. Everyone was very friendly and sweet. But so, so, scattered.
We needed more menus which seem to be a limited item at this location. As are the credit/debit wireless machines. One. For the whole restaurant. The bank gives you them for free. Please ask for more.
The whole dinner took a very long time, especially the paying process. Cash may be the way to go here. I definitely loved the food, and am likely to return because I thought the value was excellent, but I will be sure to not have any plans for after dinner next time. -
Review from d f.
Vancouver, BC
9/28/2011
I've been spoiled by the Thurlow location. This was my first visit to Guu in gastown and I don't think it lived up to the menu I've grown used to at the other location. On special, they had a VERY tasty black cod sashimi, but everything on the regular menu just seemed a bit less awesome than what I've come to expect. And I missed the elbow to elbow homeyness of the original restaurant.
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Review from W Z.
10/12/2011
This was my first Guu and it was like love at first sight. With every bite, my love and amazement increased. I couldn't stop thinking about how delicious the food was and returned to the Guu on Thurlow the next day. It's a good thing I don't live in Vancouver because I might spend all of my paycheck on this place.
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Review from Randi Y.
4/3/2011
Pitchers of Sapporo and tiny plates of deliciousness. What more could you ask for?
Guu was possibly my favorite stop on my honeymoon. I loved the loud IRRASHAIMASE that greeted us as we entered the building. I loved the buzz of the crowd which wasn't too large, given the size of Guu, but still had a lot of energy.
I don't remember the bulk of what we ate, other than Ebi Mayo, but it was all memorably delicious. We almost went back the next night but decided to try something else. The banana tempura with coconut ice cream was magical.
If I am ever in Vancouver again, I may eat nothing but Guu for every meal, that's how much I love it. -
Review from Stephanie M.
Vancouver, BC
1/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Very cool place! I had heard good things and was excited to finally try it. I arrived late and my friends had been waiting to be seated for quite a while, and this was a Tuesday night, so apparently it's quite popular.
With so much choice it's definitely a good idea to go with a group and share several dishes. We tried the tuna tataki, scallop and shrimp rice, fried shrimp, potato and crab cakes, popcorn ribs, black sesame gomae and roasted pork & veggie kebab. The standouts for me were definitely the tataki, rice and especially the gomae. The black sesame sauce that came with it was incredible and I would go back for that alone. The cheese, scallop, shrimp and rice combo was definitely a bit unusual, especially in a Japanese restaurant, but I love all those ingredients and thought they worked together really well. I didn't sample the shrimp or the ribs, but they were popular among my group, too.
Also, the drink menu was one of the most interesting I've seen. The plum mojito I tried was light and refreshing - perfect for a mid-week after work drink.
The staff are very loud and cheerful, which can be a bit much, and there are occasionally some communication issues, but overall they did a great job. I also love the traditional Japanese-style decor and the split-level layout at the Gastown location, which to me somehow fit perfectly with the neighbourhood. The menu is so interesting I'd definitely come back to try more dishes. -
Review from Minori I.
North Vancouver, BC
12/22/2010
Guu at Water is the best Guu.
Great interior with the Guu energy.
The amaebi plate was so delicious. Tartar dish was awesome.
Sake mojito is a MUST, if you're drinker.
Reservation is highly recommended. -
Review from Cait j.
Vancouver, BC
12/6/2010
I want to start off by saying that I was really excited to eat at Guu. With so many positive reviews from friends and Yelp alike, I was stoked when my friend got us a reso for 8pm on a Friday.
I walked in to what felt like organized chaos. I dont think Ive been in a more up-beat, chattery, and fast paced restaurant. Impressive energy.
So I ordered a Sapporo. And got 2. I am certainly not one to complain about this sort of mistake, believe me! But it was funny and my new friend to join the table was happy to take it. After scouring the menu, I was hungry and ready to order some fun stuff, as I rarely eat Japanese, its always fun.
Octopus balls, some awesome sounding savoury Japanese pancake, and the safe and delicious chicken karaage. The octopus was great, the chicken was really close to undercooked, and the pancake never came. Sigh. This was all ok though! The company was making up for the confusion with service! I was having fun and considering our server was equally as confused as we became, it was easy to take things with a grain of salt.
Both of my friends enjoyed their food about as much as I did. They are regulars, and admitted that something was a little off that night. But big deal, I think I like these guys.
I will definitely go back. And, I will definitely write an update when I do. -
Review from Guislen M.
Vancouver, BC
8/7/2011
Good eats and great eye candy (don't judge me)
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Review from Robert T.
Vancouver, BC
1/20/2011
First thing I have to say is the food here was amazing! Easily the best Chicken Karaage I've ever had. Seriously, EVER! And as someone who can't eat fish with a lot of friends who like to go for sushi, I've eaten A LOT of Chicken Karaage. They were so good, I had two orders of them. They also have something they call Croquettes which are these fantastic little fried balls of potato puree with spices and other vegetables mixed in. These things were an absolute joy to eat. Top all this off with a litre (that's right . . . 1L) of Sapporo beer for $8.80!
Now for the negatives which weren't much. First, their Pop Corm Ribs. While the spicing was tasty and what meat there was there was also good, this whole dish is 80% bone and cartilage. Not really a good value in my opinion. The other major negative for me, and admittedly other people seemed to find this novel, was the yelling. When the restaurant gets busy, the servers yell the orders down to the kitchen. It's really hard to have a conversation when there's so much yelling going on around you. -
Review from Angela L.
10/25/2010
Guu is a crowdpleaser, to say the least. I've thoroughly enjoyed it every time I've went, and all of the out-of-towners have taken here end up falling all over themselves thanking me. Delicious food and showers of compliments...what more can you ask from a dining establishment?
I won't comment extensively on the food, because most of it has been said before and because I've enjoyed almost everything I've tried on the menu. Deep fried brie is a mainstay, as is the kimchi udon. Drinks are just as tasty, and everything is reasonably priced by my standards...after gorging myself on a number of different small plates, I'm always sort of fearful of what the bill will look like, and I'm always pleasantly surprised!
Service can be a bit slow sometimes given how busy it gets, but it's always been exceptionally friendly and genuine. One time, I dropped a ring and was having trouble searching around for it in the dim lighting. One of the servers noticed my efforts and, after expressing concern, promptly brought out a huge flashlight and helped us move some furniture around. The ring was found under the table and the party went on! Aw yeah!Listed in: Dates are Great
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Review from Lori K.
10/19/2010
This was my favorite of all the restaurants we visited while we were in Vancouver.
When we asked the concierge at our hotel to make reservations we were informed that Guu didn't accept reservations so when w arrived a bit past 9pm on a Friday we were mentally prepared for a long wait. We put our name in with the masked host grabbed a drink at the bar from the masked bartender and were surprised when only a few sips into our drinks we were told a table was ready for us. Our waitress struggled a bit with her English but we took a liking to her and she to us. I kept trying to find excuses to have her come to our table because she was so funny and sweet.
Our table overlooked Water street. It was nice to be able to watch the crowds walking up and down Water Street getting their night started. The ambiance at Guu was warm and fun.
If you're from the Los Angeles area I guess you can say this place is sort of a cross between Musha and Katsuya. It's not as untryingly cool as Musha yet not as dying to be cool as Katsuya. It's a happy medium between the two.
We ordered the following Izakaya style dishes:
Seaweed Daikon Salad $5.50 (perfect)
Maguro Tataki $6.80 (BEST THING I'VE EVER EATEN)
Salmon with Seven Friends $7.90 (odd. but interesting)
Popcorn Ribs $4.20 (bargain!)
I wish we had tried the ebimayo. It looked like it was Katsuya's equivalent of Rockshrimp tempura.
I think it's important to mention we each 3 premium cocktails each and the four items listed above yet this meal was still about $25-$30 per person. Totally affordable!Listed in: My Top Restaurants
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Review from Amber Y.
1/6/2011 1 photo
Love, love, love this restaurant!
Love the concept of eating with your drinks. Smaller sized Japanese tapas but they are actually quite filling (& some didn't even seem small to me.)
My servers name was Ringo, she was super helpful. I went with my family & we ordered a large hot sake & a pitcher of Sapporo. Sake bombs! The atmosphere is perfect if you're looking for a high energy, good vibes restaurant. They shout your orders to (I guess) the chefs? They play electro house music. The food is delicious. We ordered a ton of food so I can't even tell you what was best. For dessert we ordered this caramel ice cream thing that was delicious but I can't remember the name because I was too drunk by the time I left.
Overall: if you're ever visiting Vancouver, you must go. (if you're not into such a high energy restaurant, go to Guu Original on Thurlow & Robson - more mellow vibe, still great.) Great food. Great drinks. Great atmosphere. -
Review from Stephanie C.
10/6/2010
Again Yelp with no half stars! Guu for me is a 3.5. I was visiting Vancouver from NYC and wanted to try some izakaya fare as I'm a big fan of all things culinary and Japanese. What's intersesting about Guu is the fact that some Frenchman seemed to have breathed life into it. There's so much cheese for a Japanese place haha! And man is that cheese good.
Firstly, Guu is not a place for your parents (as I discovered from experience), since you really need to enjoy "small" dishes and a loud and at times uncomfortable atmosphere. We didn't want to wait for a table, so our server sat us as a table that was teeny tiny for 3. I was basically in a disposable chair obstructing any leftover space between us and the next table. Not a huge deal but just know who you go with- Guu seems to have a top chain floating about Vancouver so natives I'm sure know this, but fyi for those out of towners. (Although what Izakaya is NOT small- esp in NYC... I'm thinking of Izakaya Ten!)
Also- I wish someone warned me that by eating here, you're guaranteed to block an artery or two. I couldn't find something that wasn't deep fried or smothered in cheese. Even the healthy stuff. Most of it was tasty but after a while, it was a little overkill.
We skipped on the alcohol since collective we don't drink (but I would have gone with some shochus... whatever that drink was with a huge shiso leaf in it looked amazing, ask about it!) We ordered:
1. Deep Fried Brie- WOW WOW. Delicious. Admittedly, it's not that hard to deep fry stuff but still- very good. So sweet, with a great semi soft texture with the most divine batter. Golden and cripsy! It was the best thing we had all night. The only thing is that I wished some kind of sweet dipping sauce came with it. But maybe that would have made it more a dessert!
2. Grilled Black Cod- this was nicely prepared. Nice, soft flaky cod with a good broth on top. The start of the dish was the thick, creamy/milky sauce that came atop. Can't put my finger on what it was exactly.. .admittedly I'm wriitng the Vancouver list weeks after...forigve me.
3. The Ebi Mayo - not a complicated dish but delicious! Reminds me of that fattening mayo shrimp at Chinese weddings. HA. Nice batter again- a great tempura type of style, with great "mayo". The sauce was nicely sour and thick. Big yum
4. The Fresh Water Eel Rice Gratin. I was dissappointed by this. It wasn't plentiful in eel at all- little specs here and there and whatever cheap Velveeta type of cheese product (product. yuck) they used to smear on top of the rice and barely-there eel just did not work. Maybe I should have known a gratin of this sort didn't sound appetizing but I was mislead by other Yelpers. Skip this at all costs- since there are no eel to be found, you're essentially eating melted cheese and rice. Ew.
5. Salmon in Foil- again, trying to go with the BC seafood theme and it just did not add up to the hype. This Salmon tasted so unfresh and fishy- it felt microwaved. I feel like the foil gave it way too much moisture. There was nothing special prepared with it to give it any flavor. Skip it. Granted, no one told me to order this on Yelp on maybe it's my own tourist fault.
6. Tako Yaki- the Octopus balls; classic Japanese street food. The octopus was good; as was the dried... blanking out on the dried stuff they put on the stick (sorry, I'm horrible)...well whatever it was, it was good. But I thought the BBQ sauce to be very average. Too tangy for me. Meh. Overpriced for how easy this dish is at $5 stick.
We skipped dessert because we felt bloated already from all the deep fried food. I would have liked to try the Black Seasame Ice Cream though- glad to see something different to spice your palete aside from the red bean and green tea.
As for the service, not as hospitalble as the Japanese could be. Then again this is not the endearingly zen Japanese place you're used to. I did appreciate the fact that they shouted at you when you came in- pretty traditional. The servive though was intermittent and slow. What was nice was that at the end when you pay, they bring you a mobile credit card machine so you don't need to wait.
The bill varies depending on what you order but to feel full, I suppose $20 per person is accurate.
I'd heard this was amongst the best Guus in town so I'm glad we came- at least if not for the Fried Brie.Listed in: The Vancouver List
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Review from Heather H.
11/30/2010
You know your in for the absolute best when:
-There is a mini club-like crowd of people hovering over the restaurant waiting to get in.
-Its always takes 45 min wait to get a table.
-Its full of Asian hipsters
-Its named Guu: it better impress, and its going to cool
Its a tiny little spot, but the energy is a full rush as soon as you hit the door. The waitstaff just flies by you while shouting out order across the place.
The food is impeccably delicious. Any of sashimi is outstanding, especially the way its presented. Same goes for the drinks, one must get some chilled sake to complete the meal! Your orders arrive in segments which is especially nice, once you are finished and can move onto the next dish.
Guu will certainly leave a delicious memory in your head as does its name! -
Review from Alexander R.
10/10/2010
Guu is definitely Guuued!
Went last night when I was in Vancouver on the recommendations from Yelp and was extremely happy with everything we got.
Drinks were tasty, service was prompt and very nice (on an extremely busy nice).
Got - among other things - an amazing tuna steak, a phenomenal tuna tartar, fried prawns, a tofu salad (the tofu literally melted in your mouth), fried brie (a heart attack in fried cheese form, but oh so good), and a few other ridiculously good food items.
Definitely enjoyed the experience! -
Review from Vincci L.
11/12/2010 4 photos
Guu Gastown!! They know how to do izakaya right!
On a rainy weekday night, the place was almost full. We were able to get a window seat that overlooks Water Street. This one has a different atmosphere: being on the second floor,and it's a bit more spacious.
Because we were in a hurry, we had to order the 'standard' Guu items:
Salmon Sashimi: your regular salmon sashimi. Nothing special.
Ebi mayo: always yummy!!
Stone bowl rice: especially love this dish, lots of toppings and I love it when the bowl just sizzles so much
Yakiudon: got the original Guu yakiudon with beef. Another signature dish.
Tea was always refilled, and food arrived quickly. Had to pass on the desserts because we were running late, but I've heard some good things about them.
So many places to eat in Gastown, where to go?! -
Review from Yunn A.
10/10/2010
You better be looking for a rambunctious night out when you come to Guu. Hopefully, when you're going to an Izakaya, you know that it's a "drinking house" and it's not going to be quiet. If you're good with that, then bring on the Guu!
Great enthusiasm from the courteous staff, though it can be a little slow at first if it's really busy. Nonetheless, the food comes out quickly, and piping hot (if you ordered something cooked).
Great variety, good presentation, and fresh tasting food. I would have like the beef tataki a little thinner sliced, and the duckbreast more tender and fatty, but the Tako Yaki and Japanese Fries (yam fries) were so tasty that I soon moved on to more tasty dishes.
This is a tapas style concept so be prepared to order many dishes as they are quite small. However, they are reasonably priced enough that you can get quite full without paying a lot of money.
I really enjoyed my experience here, and will be trying the other locations along with coming back to this one. -
Review from Mark H.
10/2/2010 2 Check-ins Here
I've finally been Guuuuuuuu'ed!
You just gotta love the Japanese. We walk in and all the staff yell out a welcome. Love it. We sit down. Server brings us hot towels to freshen up? Double awesome. I feel like I'm eating in first class on Japan Airlines.
Renkon Chips (thinly sliced lotus roots): Brilliant idea. Beats potato chips hands down!
Saltspring Island Drunked Mussels: huge, fresh, drunken ocean happiness
Prawn & Scallop Rice Gratin: Topped with melted cheese, yet not oily, seafood flavour bursts
Oyster Gratin with Spinach Cream Sauce: More seafood? Why not. I hate oysters but I fought with the gf in chowing this down.
Calamari with tomato sauce: Dynamite favourite. Forget the greek style, now this is calamari. Sauce was superb that punched some hotness. Perfectly cooked squid. I want more.
Service was exceptional. I dropped my chopsticks and BAM a server picks them up and hands me new ones in a blink of an eye.
Go get Guuuuuu'ed already! Geez.Listed in: Real Japanese Eats
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Review from Emma L.
11/25/2010
Yakiudon, sashimi salad, dungeness crab croquettes, bacon-wrapped enoki mushrooms... Can I go back? Please?
Met up with a friend from out of town late last night. We had our pick of the seats and got a great table overlooking Water Street. Servers were attentive but not hovering. Food was great, as usual.
Normally Guu is a bit too loud as the servers yell greetings when you enter, etc. At 10pm, though, there weren't too many other customers so it was just right.
Guu only gets 4 stars because I'm never pleased with the drinks. They're delicious, but not boozy enough! -
Review from WaYnE c.
Maple, ON
3/5/2011 6 photos
The Magical Excitement is Gone... I'm not talking in terms of a bad break-up but rather that loud-nearing-obnoxious yelling, head-pounding beats playing, and exciting over-the-top atmosphere that I was initially introduced to back in Guu Toronto.
This Gastown Guu provides a more Traditional Pub feel although order-yelling still happens from time-to-time. I imagine Izakaya in Tokyo are along the same lines but during my brief visit to this location I didn't see any DRUNKEN Man leaving this place like when I was in Shinjuku at night. That would have made this place Authentic in my vision.
Another quite noticeable fact was that there was actually Japanese people eating in this Guu which is more than I can say for my 3 experiences in Toronto. We ordered the following:
Sashimi Salad($7.80)
Deep Fried Brie Cheese($6.30)
Yaki Udon($7.50)
Crab & Potato Croquette
Deep Fried Black Cod w/Marinated Eggplant
The dish I enjoy most had to be the Black Cod. The Sashimi Salad comes a close second and third was the Brie Cheese due to it's texture contrast. The others were average almost not memorable.
I now realize the excitement back in Toronto was mainly due to the over-enthusiastic open-kitchen and the Staff cooking within it spreading the thrill out to the Waiters and Guest. My most memorable experience was sitting at the open-kitchen watching them cook.Listed in: Vancouver'ing for the Week
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Review from Cindy B.
10/27/2010
I know I wanted Japanese food in Vancouver and I knew I wanted try the best, so the search brought me to Guu.
Everyone Guu has a slightly different menu and my local friend suggested Gastown. So 4 girls set up on a quest for good Japanese food and it was definitely accomplished.
The scallops sashimi was by far my favourite. It was so fresh, clean tasting and simply melted in your mouth. The creamy dressing really worked here. Just thinking about it made me feel the need to cuddle.
The tuna tartare was lovely and the avocade really added creamy and smooth texture.
Grilled eggplant was good, so was the beef sashimi. Grilled saba with garlic was simple yet just right, and how could anyone not love the garlic chips.
The atmosphere was subdued, not quite what I expected for an izakaya but one could really enjoy the dinner and company.
It turned out to be very reasonable too at $20. OK, maybe we were not the biggest eaters but we left full and happy. -
Review from Monica M.
Vancouver, BC
2/21/2011
I went with a couple friends to Guu in Gastown after a food review appeared in a magazine I worked for. They raved about the delicious food and innovative drinks. SOLD!
It was a couple years ago (in 2007) so I cannot remember what I ate, but I'm a pescatarian so it was fish and veggies for me. But I remember enjoying the food and thinking the price was a bit high (I was a student at the time so it was often quantity over quality... but Guu is definitely quality).
The best part (and I know that because I actually remember it). I had a gin and tonic (Guu style) and it came with lime-flavoured ice balls -- not cubes. Soooo delicious. -
Review from Steve L.
Victoria, BC
To borrow one of the restaurant's tag-lines, Guu is Guu'd!
Last night a group of eight of us once again descended on Guu gorged ourselves at the glorious trough of Izakaya delight. If you're a larger group make sure to get a reservation as Guu fills up fast, especially on the weekends, and don't be surprised when you're informed of the two hour maximum time limit.
Creative and inexpensive dishes, the food will leave you satiated yet still wanting more. As an added bonus our large group was able to sample a wide selection from the menu. Some of the hits:
-Maguro Tataki
-Fresh Water Eel Rice Gratin
-Spicy Ika Garlic
-Ebimayo
-Deep fried brie
And a single miss:
-the Croquette
I would have given Guu five stars but I'm a cranky, old man and the ambiance, while others find it fun and exciting, was just too loud and chaotic. I understand the tradition of greeting visitors with enthusiastic irrashaimases, but after two hours of constant yelling it was just too much. It probably didn't help that I was sitting right beside the waiter station so I had the additional barrage of orders being screamed in my ear for most of the evening. Guu is not the place for a cozy, intimate dinner where you can expect to carry on coherent conversation.
Guu is the place for getting together with friends, drinking copious amounts of sake, and filling your bellies with some of the best Japanese tapas in town. -
Review from Jen A.
9/9/2011
I had the salmon sashimi, fried bree, miso soup, spicy tofu dish, and the blanche de chambly beer. It was all absolutely amazing and I would totally eat here all the time if I could. I didn't eat sushi at all before but after trying the sashimi I fell in love and there is no going back. Great atmosphere and I liked the location.
