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Hitoe Sushi Japanese Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Japanese Restaurants Sushi Bars Japanese, Sushi Bars [Edit]
3347 W 4th AveVancouver, BC V6R 1N6
Neighbourhood: Kitsilano
(778) 371-4619
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 11:30 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 11:30 am - 10:30 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
27 reviews for Hitoe Sushi Japanese Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"The complimentary green tea is a must." In 3 reviews -
"California roll was different, but I still enjoyed it very..." In 3 reviews -
"Plus free pocky for the kids while waiting for take out." In 3 reviews
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27 reviews in English
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Review from Kenneth E.
Vancouver, BC
2/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
Geez, i've been throwing 5 stars left right and centre!
Truly authentic japanese as pointed out, and the quality definitely shows!
Salmon/tuna sashimi very fresh; melts in your mouth, and that nice cool feeling, nice n smooth yummy...that was actually a side dish to the black cod, though which was very flavourful w/ its sweet honey soya sauce, disappointed in the size; not more than 3 fingers wide. This dish also came w/ miso soup, rice, a bit of radish, sliced thin carrots & seawood. For $14.95, a bit pricey for not much (2 tuna, 3 salmon & a bit of cod) but heck it tasted good.
But the best was their signature Rainbow Roll. Absolutely stunning w/ the salmon, shrimp, tuna on about 8 pieces placed in a circle, nicely garnished w/ some seaweed in the middle. every bite came w/ avocado, crab meat, and its house sauce.
Will order this again and return to try the rest of the menu. -
Review from Diana L.
Thanks, Yelp for helping me find this place!
I went here with a friend yesterday, and the thing that I enjoy the most is the neighbourhood feel. I like how it is Japanese owned and very authentic. However, upon entering the restaurant, I couldn't help but feel that I had landed on a tropical destination. I was met with a gust of warm air, and I immediately felt SWASSY (if you don't know what it means, don't ask lol).
My friend and I were quickly greeted and met with courtesy. The service was very good. We had 4 rolls: unagi cream cheese roll (part of their "California Roll" section), spider roll, chopped scallop roll, and spicy tuna roll. Two of the four were great and the other two were just average. The unagi cream cheese roll was super neat. The flavours and presentation were so interesting. The spider roll was cripsy and soft all at the same time, and the sauce they serve it with was delectable. The other two rolls were not spectacular. They were average, if not less, which was a bit disappointing because the price was a bit higher than normal.
After we polished off the sushi, we had a pleasant surprise! With our bill came two packages of Pocky, a sweet cracker treat dipped in dark chocolate. Yum yum! It made my friend quite giddy, and it really ended the meal on a high note.
I recommend this place if you're in the Kits area. It is very quaint and cozy if you are in the mood for sushi and don't mind a slightly warmer atmosphere. -
Review from Marc D.
Vancouver, BC
11/16/2011 5 photos
* Casual Japanese spot *
Thank you Jacqueline T. for encouraging me to try out this casual Japanese restaurant in the quieter part of 4th. I've passed by many times without blinking an eye, and am happy to have finally gone in.
I ordered the sushi and sashimi combo, which was priced at a very reasonable $11.95. It included:
- Seaweed salad. The seaweed was plated on top of an iceberg lettuce base. While many places offer a similar salad, it had a very nice balance of flavours overall compared to lots of other offerings in Vancouver. Photo: http://www.yelp.ca/biz...
- Miso soup. Oddly this was served with a Chinese spoon in it. I guess that is an adaptation to the local neighbourhood?!?!?! In any case, the soup itself was a very rich full bodied version with nice large chunks of tofu. Very nice. Photo: http://www.yelp.ca/biz...
- The sushi and sashimi came nicely presented. There were three types of sashimi (salmon, bincho, and wild salmon). All were very fresh, and the bincho had a lovely buttery taste. Photo: http://www.yelp.ca/biz...
- The three nigiri were salmon, bincho, and tamago. The bincho was that same delicious buttery one, and the salmon was also fresh. The tamago was a good version, that tasted housemade. The rice had been compressed a bit too much, but that is a common problem in Vancouver. These were very good by Vancouver standards. Photo: http://www.yelp.ca/biz...
- There was a very generous portion of California roll included (about 8 pieces). Some were rolled a bit sloppily, but not terribly so. The filling was not overly mayoed (which I was thankful for). Photo: http://www.yelp.ca/biz...
Service was very professional and extremely friendly. They seemed to know their regulars as well.
The bill came with a small packet of strawberry pocky to leave a sweet ending to a nice casual meal.
I'll be back! -
Review from Jacqueline T.
Hitoe. what a japanese sushi restaurant should be like. diplomatic, delicious and down to earth.
Sushi slices were fresh, and the tuna just melts in your mouth. I think the tuna was so suprisingly good, it took away the flavor from their salmon sashimi (which is usually the expected better of the two), but all of my sashimi was great! i was just super blown away with the tuna (as it is usually my least favorite). California roll was different, but I still enjoyed it very much. And wow.. is this place affordable.
I got a combo for $11.95 which came with red miso soup, and a bit of seaweed salad ontop of a midst of green salad. dressing was good, and the little bunch of seaweed i got.. was delicious. Other meals are even more suprisingly affordable :O Kinda makes you think twice about going to sushi restaurants such as SushiTown, where they emphasize majorly on quantity over quality. But you can get the same type of affordability here at Hitoe.. with sashimi that is equally great as well reknowned Tojo's.
Service: Japanese owned, japanese run. Japanese service = Great and Polite, and always thankful.
I'd like to hope that Hitoe keeps up their good work, good business practice, and continue serving delicious sushi to their happy customers. Not like many other places where.. once they pick up popularity.. everything goes dowhnhill from there. So here's to hoping Hitoe stays as wonderful as it is.
Parking: FREE and easy to find at both Lunch and Dinner times!
Another perk of being in a location that is slightly away from main people traffic.Listed in: Japan! Arigato!
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Review from Andy W.
Vancouver, BC
3/18/2012
The service is friendly and quick. Exactly what you would expect from Japanese staff. We ordered a selection of rolls and were quite disappointed with the quality. The seaweed was way too stale and chewy. The rolls were crudely put together. Salmon avocado roll tasted bland. Most importantly, my stomach did not feel well after the meal.
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Review from Bruce R.
Delta, BC
Updated - 4/27/2012
I eat here several times a week, with friends, and our club often orders take away for parties. Always satisfied. Good place, good people, good food. What more can I say?
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/28/2011
A number of us from Vancouver West Aikikai eat here regularly and we always order take out trays for… Read more »
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Review from Will K.
Vancouver, BC
10/22/2011
Looking for a place to eat that is truly authentically Japanese? Hitoe Sushi is what one is looking for in Kitsilano. Not only its food is has an authentic Japanese taste, but also its service, which is friendly and fulfilling.
Sushi rolls are well made: the rice with a good balance of vinegar and the right consistency, with the fillings not tasting frozen at all like the generic Vancouver sushi place.
Oh, and even paying the bill is a pleasant surprise ;) -
Review from Lilia C.
3/5/2012
4.5, really. I heard sushi in Vancouver was everywhere and not as expensive as it is back home and I'm so glad to have stumbled upon this place on Yelp. Arrived around 6:30 on a Saturday and only had to wait 15 minutes. The staff is very friendly and attentive. Quick service but no alcohol. Ordered some deliciously fresh Sashimi: Tuna belly, hamachi, and sockeye salmon; miso soup, edamame, and an Alaskan roll. All the food was great and quite affordable! Highly recommend.
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Review from Theresa W.
Vancouver, BC
10/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
I tried out the sushi here as a take-out after Joshua N recommended it, and it did not disappoint. The place is small and quiet and hidden away beside a bunch of other stores, but I was determined to find it and try it out.
The decor is very simple, no crazy specials posters adorning the wall, no random paintings or pictures hanging, a well designed sushi bar area with a bunch of tables and chairs. It's plain, but at the same time comforting. I wish I could've had my dinner there, but I was running some errands and had to grab it to go. The pocky package was a pleasant surprise (I didn't realize you got one for getting take-out!) And I love pocky.
I ordered the special combo #3 (not listed on their website), and it was very good. It covers all your needs: sashimi, sushi, cali rolls, soup and salad. The salad is great - a mix of regular greens and wakame, but they add both vinaigrette and mayo dressing on it. The sashimi was good, but the flavour of my salmon wasn't very strong - it was almost bland. The tuna was probably the best out of the three. The cali rolls were regular.
Overall it's a decent place - and all that food for $12 is a pretty good deal. If I'm in the area with friends, I'll stop by again for sit down.Listed in: Sushi!
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Review from M S.
9/12/2011
Came upon this place by chance while looking for a sushi place on the way to the beach. Free parking out front, super friendly service, REAL Japanese owned and operated (a rarity for sushi places in Vancouver), good sushi, and great atmosphere. Plus free pocky for the kids while waiting for take out.
I hate pretentious places. I'd rather pocket the cash instead and go somewhere the food is good and the people are real. You hipsters can go spend your time and waste your cash elsewhere.
We've been looking for a decent sushi place since our regular place closed down after the Olympic debacleThis place is out of the way for us but we'll definitely be back. Had the tofu box which was yummy. Avocado and yam were fresh- plenty of to eat. Beef teriyaki was good too. Did any one else mention the friendly service? -
Review from James W.
Vancouver, BC
7/9/2011 5 Check-ins Here
This place is ace. A simple, no frills sushi joint with very authentic sushi as well as a good selection of North American-style rolls. The seafood is all super fresh, super yummy. If you're a fan of real sushi, you definitely need to give this place a try.
The only thing this place is missing is booze. And while I generally wash down my sushi with a beer or two, I'm willing to make an exception for Hitoe. -
Review from Joshua N.
7/24/2011
Yeah this is very good sushi. You can tell right away that the sushi here is more authentic - it's a level of quality that the average Vancouver sushi place just doesn't reach. Fortunately, Hitoe is above average in quality but right around average on price: we had 3 maki rolls and a sashimi combo plate - plenty of food for the two of us - for $30 incl tax and tip.
A free pack of Pocky with the bill was a nice touch. -
Review from Josh K.
Vancouver, BC
9/20/2011
Little grinsey inside, but this is more than made up for by the spectacular value and really friendly staff.
The rolls are decent but the real star is the sashimi -- big pieces, and really tasty. Next time I go back this is all I'll be getting. -
Review from Susan C.
8/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm surprised at the very high marks this restaurant received. Sure, it's pretty cheap for sushi and SURE, the sushi is pretty fresh. But this place certainly isn't anything to write home about and is not THAT good.
We ordered a Sashimi A combo, the Dynamite Roll Combo and a Spider Roll a la Carte.
The Sashimi is, as another reviewer stated, fresh and fatty, which is nice for a combo (usually they give crappy pieces of fish in a combo).
The rolls were OK - the Spider roll tasting better than the bland Dynamite roll. BUT, as my sister kindly pointed out - the rolls were kind of "messy", like they were having the sushi equivalent of a bad hair day. The rolls pretty much fell apart when we picked it up with chopsticks.
The nigiri sushi in the Dynamite Roll Combo were small with the rice and big with the fish (a good sign). Service was pretty typical for a small place like this. This would be a go to place for a weeknight take out, but certainly wouldn't bring friends or come back for any other reason. -
Review from Lien T.
Vancouver, BC
4/2/2011
Hitoe is my "go-to" sushi restaurant. It is like the pair of jeans that you've had for years and love so much; comfortable, knows you well, and best of all, never disappoints you.
Service: From the moment you step through the door, when you are immediately greeted with a round of Japanese pleasantries, you feel at home. It's like going over to someone's home where they are attentive in ensuring you are happy while you are there and leave with a stomach full of goodness.
Atmosphere: It's a very simple family run restaurant with the decor provided by the chef's 7 year old daughter which gives it a homey feel. It is small with approx. 6 tables but I have never had a problem getting a table when I go there.
Food: The food is fresh and definitely made with love by the Japanese owner. I usually get the special #3 which is several pieces of sashimi, sushi, California roll, salad (amazing salad made up of a combination of a regular lettuce salad and seaweed salad), and miso soup, all for approx. $12!!! You also get complimentary edamame and green tea (it's particularly good because they add some rice grains among other things into the tea pot which adds a delicious flavour to the tea). Added bonus, you get a packet of Pocky when you pay your bill!
My discovery of Hitoe is like finding a Gucci bag at Winners...good quality for less money! -
Review from Paul E.
Vancouver, BC
9/19/2011
Hitoe is a friendly, good value place... but I am surprised that it gets rated as highly as it does. On a recent dinner there we had a selection of rolls (california and tuna/avocado) and sashimi (toro, salmon, tuna and squid): the squid was good, but the toro, salmon and tuna were very watery and not particularly tasty, although fresh tasting.
The tuna and avocado rolls were of decent quality, but not very generous in their filling, and the addition of lettuce wasn't particularly welcome. The california rolls were better, but not amazing.
In short, it'll do fine if you're in the area and are looking for a quick meal, but don't bother making a special journey - there are much better places in Vancouver (Ajisai if you want something amazing, Zipang for slightly pricer but excellent sushi). -
Review from Alyson H.
7/24/2011
My husband had plans to play volleyball at Locarno Beach, so we decided to check out Hitoe Sushi afterward on the basis of its proximity and high Yelp rating.
The restaurant is small, and, decor-wise, very simple / no-frills.
The hostess / waitress was incredibly nice and welcoming. We had to wait 10-15 minutes for a table to open up -- during which time she served us drinks and took our food order so everything would be ready as soon as we sat down.
The sushi was very fresh, with generous cuts of meat. And it was all incredibly cheap. Between the two of us, we had two ginger ales, two miso soups, two seaweed salads, a 4-roll combo deal, an extra spicy tuna roll and two unagi nigiri -- all for about $30 (plus tip). -
Review from Melissa K.
Vancouver, BC
10/12/2011
Omg, this place is so awesome. And it's cheap. Finally, a great sushi place close to home. The seafood was fresh and the service was good. It's run by Japanese people so you know it's good, and it's in an obscure location. All delicious Japanese places are out of the way. Their lunch specials are reasonably priced and you get a lot. 12$ gets you soup, salad, 4 nigiri, 6 sashimi, and a roll. It's just a sushi place, nothing fancy. For a more done up sushi place, I suggest Tokyo Thyme in Kerrisdale. This place is like ajisai, but a bit simpler.
Listed in: Japanese Food Fix
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Review from TERRA S.
2/2/2012
Small place but excellent sushi! Def a recommend!
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Review from conrad y.
Vancouver, BC
1/15/2011
A step above hole-in-the-wall this place is exactly what I've been looking for since the demise of my old fave.
Service is quick, attentive, polite and friendly, decor is a tad on the spare side.
The food is delicious, produced with care and craft visually stunning, the tea was some of the tastiest I've ever been served in a sushi bar.
It's so satisfying to see food that's several cuts above the average priced affordably in Kitsilano. -
Review from Max H.
Vancouver, BC
If you are on the prowl for fresh, delicious, authentic AND affordable japanese food (and really, who isn't!?) then Hitoe is definitely worth a look.
Located on 4th, the room itself is a bit of a hole in the wall. One could easily be forgiven for walking right by without taking a second glance. In my opinion, that would be a huge mistake.
Once inside, the staff is courteous and attentive. The complimentary green tea is a must. Sashimi is fresh, the rolls gorgeous and scrumptious to-boot (be sure to try the spicy cali!) Miso is some of the best in the city. The Chef, Taka-san, prepares everything made to order and certainly seems to take pride in all aspects of his cuisine (not the least of which being the presentation).
Lunch combos (if I'm ever in the hood at that time of day) are a personal favorite and ridiculous value. Aesthetically they are something to behold, and at under $10 you leave feeling pleasantly full and satisfied, for roughly the same price as a dirty McSac!
I'll continue to go back again and again. Best. Value. In Kits/Pt. Grey. -
Review from T P.
Vancouver, BC
3/12/2011
I found out about this place on Yelp, so after I read all the good reviews. I decided to go there with my family to check them out. It did not disappointed us at all! The restaurant is simple, but there is the hommie feel in this place.
Everything there is good!! From the green tea to sushi!
Plus friendly stuff!!
Now Hitoe is my new favourite sushi bar in Vancouver!
Cheers! -
Review from Kay G.
Vancouver, BC
9/11/2010
Have you ever wondered where all the nice people in Vancouver are? I am pretty sure they work at Hitoe sushi. Super friendly and welcoming staff and excellent, fresh food.
I am tempted to dock a star because they don't have booze...but I'm a lush, so they can keep 5. Yay Hitoe! -
Review from Jane D.
2/6/2011
This place is simple and unpretentious, but the food is really good. We came here based on the good yelp reviews because the location is convenient if you are on campus. We were not disappointed. The sashimi salad with wild salmon was excellent, the small rolls were great, and the fish on the nigiri was as fresh and delicious as can be. The staff is friendly and helpful, and it's true, the tea was very good. The staff surprised us at the end of the meal by coming out to sing Happy Birthday with us, with a little sushi surprise.. What nice people.
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Review from Keven L.
Vancouver, BC
3/4/2010
This is my favourite sushi joint in Vancouver. The food is fresh and consistent (since it's always made by the owner Taka). And they use only real freshly grated wasabi, which you rarely even see in high end Japanese restaurants.
Try the Uni (Sea Urchin) next time. Unbelievably good. -
Review from Jen C.
Vancouver, BC
6/6/2009 1 photo
Avocado salad is amazing! Best sushi in Kitsilano.
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Review from Eric C.
Vancouver, BC
12/19/2009
If you're looking for the great fresh sushi, this is the place. Located on West 4th just a half block west of Blenheim, you may have walked by numerous times and not noticed the place. Occupying what appears to be an old deli, Hitoe serves up some of the best Japanese food this side of Tojo's. Like Shijo back in its golden years prior to the mass exodus, Hitoe has negitoro maki worth writing home about. It's toro sashimi is so so fresh and fatty it melts in your mouth. Best of all, like the reviewer before me stated, it's terrific value. Japanese people serving good Japanese fare (sorry to all you Vietnamese/ Korean/ Chinese proprietors)-- you can't go wrong.
