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Honjin Yaletown Sushi Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Sushi Bars Restaurants Japanese Sushi Bars, Japanese [Edit]
138 Davie StVancouver, BC V6Z 2V4
Neighbourhoods: Downtown, Yaletown
(604) 688-8808
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
L I. said: "Don't miss thier happy hours" read more »
36 reviews for Honjin Yaletown Sushi Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"The tuna Tataki shooter is amazing." In 8 reviews -
"And, the Roundhouse roll and Yaletown roll were great..." In 3 reviews -
"Honjin has some of the freshest sashimi in town." In 9 reviews
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36 reviews in English
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Review from Kenneth E.
Vancouver, BC
Tasty katsu don, good portion. lightly battered and crispy. pretty good for $8.50 in this area too.
Gyozas were nice and beefy too lol.
sat outside to enjoy the breeze and sunshine.
Will be back. -
Review from Yashar Y.
4/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Amazing service, combined with good sushi.
I have been to both their locations in North Van and Downtown, and i like the one in downtown better. Its in a nicer place, and in one of my favourite parts of the city.
Service here is very good. Quality of sushi, Well it is vancouver and we get good sushi here, so nothing to brag about.
Make sure u try the beef tatake and sunshine roll. Two of my favorites here.
Price is a little higher than usual, but this place has been there for a long time, and they provided good sushi, when most people were not into sushi. Year after year, they been doing a very good job. -
Review from Mike S.
Vancouver, BC
10/19/2011
The 4 stars is for overall impression. I ate here last night w/my running group and we were promptly seated and had attentive service as well.
I had a hot noodle dish which was good but not great; although, I also had some sushi which was really good.
Everyone else seemed to like their meal and Honjin had a laid back, friendly, knowledgable vibe...
A firm 4 stars. -
Review from Allen W.
4/24/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I've been here twice, once for lunch and last night for dinner. I much prefer the lunch bento meals to dinner.
We ordered a few maki rolls, roasted salmon cheeks, and veggie tempura. While the fish seems super fresh, I didn't care for the construction of the rolls, a little sloppy and could fall apart if you weren't extra careful.
A couple of the rolls included lettuce. Lettuce. Yuck. Didn't like the texture, didn't like feeling that I was being fed a salad when that's not what I ordered.
The menu is flawed which others have pointed out. The sushi roll section lists numerous rolls but gives no explanation as to what they are ... and you can't tell by the name alone. (ex. Honjin Roll, Toronto Roll, Yaletown Roll, etc.). I'm not going to ask the server to read an entire menu to me. And, I'm not going to order a $13 roll if I don't know what it is.
I judge most sushi joints based on how they prepare a spicy tuna roll. Honjin has a unique take on it and I don't like it. The roll contains big chunks of super buttery tuna (good!) but then they pour a red sauce over the roll once it's plated (yuck). The sauce is kinda sweet and has a BBQ type flavour ... but isn't very spicy.
Service was friendly and consistent throughout.
Overall, the quality of the food is good but some of it is not to my liking. I think there are improvements that could make this restaurant even better. -
Review from Charly S.
12/10/2011
Great local sushi place. The sashimi and rolls are extremely fresh and tasty. The chicken teriyaki left a lot to be desired, but again the sashimi and rolls were outstanding. As others have mentioned there are several rolls that they do not describe on the menu, but we found the wait staff were very happy to explain those rolls to us in great detail. The great detail is the reason they do not describe them on the menu, it would never fit! We did not try any of those specialty rolls this time, but we will on a future visit. Our waiter was top knotch, very friendly and helpful.
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Review from Vincci L.
Mmm delicious and super fresh sashmi!
Came here for a weekday lunch, and it gets packed quickly. We got an order of the sockeye salmon sashimi, and the toro sashimi. A good serving size, and very fresh indeed.
They have lots of specialty rolls as well. We got the Yaletown roll, Caterpillar Roll and the Spider Roll. I especially enjoyed the Caterpillar Roll, the thin layer of avocado on top of the roll makes it extra delicious.
Service was great, the tea was consistently refilled. Food is fresh and the prices are reasonable.
I'll be back soon. -
Review from Tanya J.
1/2/2011
For a vegetarian, this place has some great options and simply rocks! Our friends who are dedicated customers here, took us to Honjin last night for the first time and I woke up this morning craving the avocado roll with a soy wrapper. The final touch of sesame seeds completed this fresh ensemble perfectly. Sometimes I find veggie sushi tough to like but Honjin has figured it out, without adding too much of a pickled flavor, keeping all ingredients very real. In addition to the veggie sushi I tried, the veggie tempura was terrific as were the spring rolls.
Honjin has a wonderful ambiance and is the perfect place to go on a weekend night with friends.
Now if only I could quit thinking about that avocado roll. My interest in sushi restaurants has awakened after a long time, after going to Honjin!Listed in: Vegelicious
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Review from Vanessa G.
1/27/2011
I was catching a show at the Roundhouse so i looked up on yelp where i could grab a quick bite and this place came up. Thanks yelpers! I was greeted by a very nice staff member and seated immediately. I was given a hot towel.. i already knew i would like this place. It was clean, and the food around me looked delicious.
I got an avacado roll, pumpkin roll, and spicy adegaha tofu. All was delicious but the spiciness off the tofu was a little different then i was used too but still good.
Service was amazing, they waiter had us laughing most of the time. -
Review from Dee B.
9/21/2010 ROTD 8/31/2011
5 stars all the way if you eat:
- Marinated Tuna
- Tuna Tataki shooters
- Yaletown roll
All of Honjin's sauces are made in house by the owner on a weekly basis. They are absolutely incredible.
Damn. I haven't been here in ages. Must go soon. -
Review from Angela M.
Vancouver, BC
1/21/2011
This place is without a doubt one of my fav sushi places.
The rolls are great, the tuna is like butter in your mouth.
Spicy agadashi tofu is tasty as well.
The staff are very helpful and very attentive.
The tuna Tataki shooter is amazing!!!
The beef short ribs are fabulous too!
I like to ask for recommendations and they are usually good. -
Review from Maggie L.
Vancouver, BC
4/13/2011
If you're looking for a quick and delicious bite, Honjins is the way to go if you're craving sushi.
If you're deciding to come here for lunch...you might have troubles finding a table however, the sushi bar is always available. And I think I prefer it that way too. I'll explain why after.
Service: Attentive and friendly! Being a regular has its perks however the staff here treat all their customers with the same high energy attitude which is very important in my opinion. Peter, the head chef behind the sushi bar is hilarious and he quite the entertainer. Him and Nathan feed off of each others jokes and it's just an all around good time.
Food: I'm a big fan of their nabeyaki udon. The broth is always on point and it's a steal if you get their lunch special! $10 for a big bowl of udon and a california roll. Another favorite of mine is their tuna salad with mango ..omg..SOGOOD. I forgot the name of it....but they'll understand if you explain you just want the tuna salad with mango.
Good lunch specials too for around 10-15 bucks.
Price: It's a little pricey if you compare it to neighbouring sushi joints like Ki-Isu or Fresh but it's Yaletown. I don't mind paying a little extra for the neighbourhood as the food makes up for it.
Ambience: Clean but nothing special. They really need to change up their music though. I think I've memorized every song on their playlist. LOL. And I wish they would make the entrance to the bathroom a little more hidden. There are some tables in the back facing the bathroom door and I'd hate to sit there.
Overall: I am a fan for what it is. -
Review from Danielle s.
Surrey, BC
11/8/2010
This sushi is amazing!! You must try the Sushi Shooters. They are Tuna, slightly seared on top of rice with a miso marinade. Delicious!
Also their yaletown roll is so yummy, and I love the Rainforest roll. -
Review from Crystal H.
Vancouver, BC
1/8/2010
The rating scales slid back and forth, back and forth, back and forth but in the end, I remain a fan.
5 stars- We arrive, are greeted with smiles and hellos, seated at the bar AND got a hot towel (love those)
2 stars- The menu is a bit difficult to read. Void of descriptions on some things and robust on others, I navigated towards items I knew well.
1 star - Needlessly keeping a water tap on full blast for 5 minutes (that I noticed)
3 stars- Hot tea, consistently brought at the beginning but then forgotten at the end.
1 star- the awkward feeling you get when someone is fighting in front of you. I don't know what was going on between the chef and the server, but take that stuff to the back - especially when you have customers sitting at your bar.
4 stars - Overall the food was good. Standouts were the Sockeye Salmon Sashimi and the seaweed salad. Appreciated being given a little amuse bouche at the beginning. Always a welcome and nice touch.
5 stars - Dessert was delish. The green tea ice cream and deep fried banana (freshly bought just for us) was the star of my evening. That ice cream was scooped. None of this pre-scooped and then refrozen crap. This was the perfect consistency and temperature. -
Review from Kim N.
12/22/2009
Came here for a snack after my arrival to Vancouver. My cousin's co-worker had raved to her about the tuna tataki and since it was near her place, it seemed like a good time to try it.
Started off with the spicy agedashi tofu which was perfect. It had a good crisp to the outside and the tofu was silky. The spicy sauce was okay; I was hoping for more spice than sweet.
We split an order of the tuna tataki; 9 pieces in the order. Wow, it was delicious. Just seared tuna in ponzu sauce with shredded daikon. The tuna had a great texture and sweetness to it. So fresh!
I also got a few pieces of uni (my fave!!) and toro (my second fave!!). I still can't get over how cheap the sushi was. It truly melted in my mouth!
We split ice cream for dessert. We couldn't decide on a flavor, so our waiter gave us a sampler. The green tea and mango ice creams were great! Vanilla was pretty good too. Hazelnut was okay.
Would definitely love the opportunity to come back and delve into the rest of the sushi/sashimi menu! -
Review from Judy H.
Vancouver, BC
6/16/2009
I've eaten here twice, and I lived a block away for over a year. Once was for a small take-out order, which was OK but overpriced. Yaletown-priced, really.
Second time was for patio seating, which was near disastrous because our dogs were with us and they were a handful. Not Honjin's fault.
I generally categorize sushi places into 2 -- cheap and reliable takeout or more serious quality sit-down dining. Honjin falls somewhere in between but not well on either account. Not affordable enough for takeout, and certainly not good enough to stand in for our favorite, Ajisai in Kerrisdale. I don't see why I would ever go back. -
Review from Anita T.
Toronto, ON
9/4/2009
The food here just seems so authentic!
Everything is mouth-wateringly delicious (my favorite is the yam tempura sushi - and for some reason, I feel like the tea tastes better here than anywhere else...).
And being in Yaletown, of course there's a specific ambience you want to give off - well, they got it! Not only are our local celebrities spotted here (think Sedin twins and Luongo), but this is also a hot spot to see visiting celebrities.
And once you're all done your meal, take a stroll one block down and enjoy the beauty of the seawall at marina side! -
Review from Isaac R.
Vancouver, BC
11/16/2009
In Yaletown, there is some fierce competition for the title of best sushi restaurant, but I personally think it goes to Honjin.
Not to be passed up are their unique specialty rolls. On the expensive side, but well worth indulging. A particular favourite is the Roundhouse roll which is so coincidentally named after the restaurant's location.
This is a place that is very date or special-occasion friendly and is a regular stop for late-evening dining with my girlfriend. Very friendly and responsive staff, which have very low turnover. The management who I can confidently say know who I am by now, are very accommodating. The outdoor patio is great in the summer, and it is very cozy inside for the colder nights where the breeze is whipping off of False Creek.
The food, well - it's all good. The Karubi (Kalbi as the Koreans call it) beef ribs are awesome, the best I have had at a Japanese/Sushi restaurant in Vancouver. Their Nabeyaki Udon is also high on the list. The Salmon Usuzukuri is a fantastic, tangy presentation, which also does not disappoint.
One of my regular places, it's consistent and memorable, and for that it's got a 5 star rating from me. :) -
Review from Nick M.
Vancouver, BC
5/5/2009
Honjin has some of the freshest sashimi in town. The fish just melts in your mouth. I have spent what feels like years of my life on their patio.
Also, be sure to order The Yale special. It is a medley of the kappa roll, 1 inari pocket, 1 tuna nigiri, 1 salmon nigiri, and of course the house salad with the dressing on the side. Plain white rice strictly optional. -
Review from Mario B.
9/17/2010
Excellent Sushi, a bit expensive yes, but then if you want all you can eat then this is not the place...grab a chair at the bar and enjoy....
Salmon Tartar on Japanese Basil leaf is to die for.... -
Review from Cassandra D.
Vancouver, BC
6/6/2011
Pretty disappointing and overpriced. I got take out and was not impressed.
The teriyaki salmon was just plain fish with undercooked and unseasoned vegetables (mostly cabbage and sprouts - ew) and the sauce was so thick on the side (double ew)
The sunamono was ok, not very good. The cucumbers were not fresh and the sweet vinegar tasted old.
The salmon cone had a long skinny piece of I dont know what. It was clearly a scrap piece with the bloodline in it - sick.
The tuna tataki was ok, but it was not seared enough and there was way too much ginger.
The spicy tuna roll made me gag, the seaweed was wilted and not crisp. It just didn't taste fresh.
The only thing I liked was the avocado roll. It was nice to get extra soy sauce and wasabi without asking for it and there were plenty of napkins. i will not go to Honjin again. I threw most of this out when I could have gone somewhere for a nice dinner :( Do not get take out here. The staff were nice as well, but when the food is bad, that doesn't matter. -
Review from David U.
Vancouver, BC
3/12/2011
Awesome lunch specials. I have tried all 3 bento boxes(Beef Teriayki is better than chicken or salmon) and the sashimi lunch special. All are superb-sashimi is a bit more expensive but it's incredible.
Also during my last visit the person I was with tried the veggie special for lunch and it was excellent.
I find that you can't really go wrong when at Honjin.
Both the Yaletown and the North Van locations are good. -
Review from Yunn A.
7/11/2010
Nice sushi selection. Too bad they don't have bentos or any specials for lunch.
Fresh fish, nicely prepared, good rolls. Only thing is, in this area where there's so many sushi places, it's a bit pricey in comparison. The staff was okay: one waitress was pretty snotty, but one waiter was really nice soooo yah.
I'd probably come back as they have a nice patio and decent food, however I'd have to be in the mood to spend a bit more. -
Review from en l.
Vancouver, BC
12/17/2011
Very niiice Chinese restaurant, I like.
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Review from Erin M.
Vancouver, BC
8/17/2010
Honjin used to be my go-to sushi restaurant in Yaletown, largely due to geographic convenience. Lately, my sushi spending has been going to Fresh Sushi -- a few blocks out of my way but with more consistent quality (something which Honjin has had troubles with) and better value.
Tonight, however, I gave in to laziness and ordered take-out from Honjin, for the first time in a couple of months. I ordered a Yaletown roll and a side of gomaae. The bill came to $20 with tax -- for one roll and some spinach. Yowza...
The food was actually pretty tasty, better quality that I'd been receiving the last few times. The gomaae had plenty of sauce, and the Yaletown roll (which I had never tried before) was delicious: the roll contains prawn tempura and avocado and is topped with salmon, tuna and ebi; a spicy sauce comes on the side.
The service leaves a lot to be desired, even for take-out. I was told 15 minutes, but waited an additional 10 minutes without even being acknowledged. When a waitress brought out the Yaletown roll, she just left it on the counter and walked away; the next server to finally notice me wasn't able to open the til, so it was another few minutes until someone could accept payment.
Honjin remains an easy albeit expensive option for me, but it's no longer top of my list. -
Review from Dani B.
10/20/2009
This place serves quality sushi, but besides that I'm not really sure why everyone is so crazy about this place.
Before I went here I had several people tell me how amazing this place is and the last time I went I saw half the Canucks team there, so apparently its good enough for them.
They don't have a super large veg. section but the things they do have a good. I've been here a couple times and it doesn't dissapoint, it just doesn't knock me off my fee either. -
Review from Luisa D.
4/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
I go here for lunch a fair amount as it's a block from my office. Their sashimi special is a good deal for $13. I always tell them to hold the bowl of rice as it's too much food. You also get miso, salad, California roll and tempura. The tempura is never too greasy and you get two prawns with it. It's not expensive and the quality is better than the cheapo places. The staff are prompt.
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Review from Littlefish B.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 10/7/2009
I cannot tell a lie.
I have succumbed. But ONLY with a credit card (see previous review).
I just haven't found anything else that touches their tuna tataki, especially within easy walking of Davie and Pacific.
I am weak.2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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1/4/2009
The Vancouver Sun had a Dec 2008 article about the owners of Honjin being charged with… Read more »
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Review from Susanne J.
Hope, BC
7/13/2009
On a quiet Sunday in Yaletown it was nice to find a patio seat for me and my friends. I was in charge of the ordering for my out-of-town friends. I found the menu somewhat difficult to navigate. Pictures would be nice, but an explanation of rolls and such would suffice. We got a broad range of things, maki rolls, sashimi and nigiri. The unagi (BBQ eel) was like candy, very tasty. The rolls, like the rainbow, were kind of a bore, ditto the spicy tuna roll. Didn't like the addition of lettuce at all. They fell apart so easily too. The wild salmon sashimi, which had me excited, looked great but tasted like it had been in the fridge at too high a temperature and was sadly missing that melt in your mouth feeling I always gauge sushi joints by. Service was friendly and attentive but there was a disconnect there too, was hoping for a bit more fluidity.
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Review from Brooke T.
Vancouver, BC
10/23/2009
So, fair enough it is a wee bit pricey, once you factor in the 50 Yaletown rolls (crazy good), beef sashimi (stupid good) and bottles of hot sake (slurry good) we demolish, but it's an amazing 'special occasion' place with roomy booths at the back that fit in everybody you'd want at your birthday party. The older teeny tiny woman that's there most times is like our Chinese grandma - unbelievably kind and sweet and on top of your order like her life depended on it. It's also right across the street from Urban Fare and the best dessert after sushi is a handful of pilfered chocolate covered cherries from their bulk section. One mark off for the early closing time (we've shut it down many a time at 10 pm)
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Review from Nicanor A.
4/12/2009
Crowded in the summer and will be hopping once the subway construction is done, this is a great place to get some nice pieces of sashimi, some original rolls and service with a smile.
The toro was very fresh, the somono was simple yet tasty and Chris (who's there about 90% of the time) and Tran are really great sushi chefs.
Go there quickly before the mobs of people start showing up. -
Review from Darcy C.
10/17/2009
I swung by with a *very* hungry friend after a dance class at the Roundhouse- *great* service- fast, friendly, and funny! And, the Roundhouse roll and Yaletown roll were great- creative and tasty, lots of interesting flavors.
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Review from Melody M.
7/25/2010
Nice sushi restaurant with a big patio tucked away in the Roundhouse centre area. Servers were very polite and attentive. Good selection of sushi, very nicely prepared, and fresh. Have to wait a bit while food is being prepared.
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Review from Greg S.
Fonthill, ON
4/10/2009
Of all the sushi places I've tried in Vancouver, Honjin is the one which stands out in terms of the quality of the food. It's pricier than the places I normally eat, but if I wanted to take somebody out for sushi to impress them, this is the place I'd pick.
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Review from Chris H.
Vancouver, BC
3/9/2010
This is one of my favourite sushi restaurants. The service is great and while I'm not the pickiest eater, I still find the food to taste better than most other sushi places I've tried. A little pricier than some, but worth it in my opinion.
Listed in: Restaurants
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Review from Erin P.
Vancouver, BC
1/5/2011
My all time favorite in Vancouver. This is where I take my visitors who have heard about Vancouver sushi but never tried, and they always want to go back. MUST TRY roundhouse roll (which is a sushi shooter in a roll), their gomae is the best I've ever had, and their tuna tataki. Always a hit...
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Review from Luke C.
6/20/2010 1 photo
Many menu options and good sushi. Adorable waitor. They brought out the items as they were ready so the appetizers came out after everyone had started their main meal, which was kind of odd.
