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Real People. Real Reviews.®
Categories: Japanese, Tapas Bars [Edit]
871 Denman St
This is definitely my kind of place. The servers here were extremely prompt and polite, the food was superb, and the atmosphere was cozy and bustling, not too loud, but with just the right amount of background noise. I really liked how the table we were seated at was separated from the main aisle with a screen.
The Jasmine green tea is really novel; they serve it in a wine glass(?), which was a novelty, but it was beautiful seeing the ball of Jasmin uncurl. Tuna tataki here is pretty good, but I honestly think Cactus Club Cafe's was better. The cow tongues are fun, if not also a novelty, with having to cook it on the hot stone yourself. It's nice that they offer to change out your plate mid-meal and provide a bowl to dispose of bones when you order the buffalo wings. I also really like how the post-meal frozen grape comes out on skewers.
In a word? Perfect.
Listed in: Out and About Vancouver, eh?
this was an ok izakaya... i mean... the food is Okay... but the selection is definitely not as comparable as to Guu with Garlic...
the venue is spacious and very modern. there are some cool dishes...like the beef tongue cooked on hot stone... the seared scallops were ok...
ok... i can't go on, i'm not even excited to write about this place... this place is just a backup if you can't get into Guu!
Probably one of the better Izakayas. Their ponzu jelly on the tuna tataki is amazing. I think that may be the sole reason I really love this place. Their ebimayo is the best in Vancouver at the moment. Everything else was good.
It is also the nicest looking Izakaya (and japanese restaurant in general).
More formal compared to the guu and even Hapa (which is now more of a drinking place than an actual restaurant)
Service is also great. They give you new plates halfway through service. My friends didn't like this but I love it.
I was really annoyed with them last time with their "vegetarian" menu for my sister. She ordered a hotpot and they brought her some vegetables with a water base. Water and some cabbage. Pretty lame. So warning - don't go if you're a vegetarian (or atleast don't order the hotpot).
My boss came to town from Chicago and wanted to make sure she had some good sushi before leaving.
I'd never been to Kingyo before, but I had heard good things.
The atmosphere is awesome here. The service was great. And of course the food was fantastic.
Obviously you don't get the same portions at an all-you-can-eat place, but when you're eating sushi it's better to go for the quality rather than quantity. Kingyo definitely served up the quality! Beautiful presentation and delicious sashimi.
The stone-grilled kobe beef was probably my favorite dish. Not only was it tasty, but it was a cool experience placing the meat on a hot rock and letting it sizzle.
The price is right in line with the quality and ambiance. I will definitely go back.
Listed in: Westend Favs
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious....you know, the word you use when you're at a loss for words?!?
Love the service, love the space, love the goldfishies, love the bamboo, love the vibe, and last , but not least, love the food.
Try everything on the menu because you can't go wrong. The only thing you'll accomplish by doing so is discovering which your favorites are. I can guaranteee that their take on the sangria is one of the best you'll ever have. My sister who was on her trip here to visit couldn't decide whether to get the 1 liter sangria or a glass, but the waitress seemed to talk us out of the 1 liter for the glass. After one sip though....we know we should have ordered the liter. As for dessert. their almond tofu dessert with jasmine tea sauce, is everything they claim it to be and more.
Vancouver is so lucky to have Kingyo. Entering I felt like it's the kind of place you want to regularly hang out at.
It almost makes me want to move there so I can try everything else on the menu. My favorite - the tantan noodles. My only complaint is that it's not a big enough bowl of noodles for a meal. Their drinks were also creative and tasty. I really enjoyed the shiso gin and tonic.
This was a very good place to come for my first Travellers Deck review. The deal was much better than I expected: little portions of 3 kinds of appetizer (photo: http://www.yelp.ca/biz...)!
I was wanting to try the TakoWasa (octopus marinated with chopped wasabi), so I was so happy!! I liked the marinated Ikura best of the three.
Appetizer:
+ TakoWasa
+ Ikura with Yamaimo (mountain potato)
+ - Scallop was fine but not memorable for me
Drink:
+ - Fresh Melon White Sangria tasted good, I think, but the chunks of melon kept getting stuck in the straw so I couldn't enjoy it. The "white" is Calpico.
+ - Next time, I want to try the Fresh Pomegranate cocktail and the Yuzu one.
Main:
+ - Ramen Mentaiko/Goma Salad. The noodles were nice and chewy. I had assumed the Mentaiko (spicy-marinated pollock roe) would be one of the toppings, but it was mixed in with the sesame sauce. That didn't do it for me. It's based on a common summer menu, so I thought it was interesting that it was printed in the menu book, not on the specials sheet. Good to remember.
Dessert:
- Sake-Kasu Teramisu: It was good, with strawberries and matcha powder on it. Nothing gross left on the roof of my mouth, and not too sweet. BUT, the thick wooden spoon that came with it kept asserting its own presence, and I couldn't enjoy the smoothness or the flavour. Very frustrating. + for the dessert itself, though.
Sake-Kasu is the sediment that gets left after fermentation of sake, and I know it's usually used as an ingredient in marinating (pickles, or fish Saikyo). I don't know what it's like by itself, though, so I'm interested in what part of the teramisu it was used for.
The decor is quaint. It reminds me of "Chinese Restaurants" I've been to in fancy malls in Japan. Maybe this is on purpose, since there was something on their menu explaining that Kingyo (Japanese fancy goldfish) were originally some kind of carp originating in China. Most of it is dark wood. Lots of natural light, though, not clubby like Hapa.
They actually have a sashimi counter. I haven't seen that in other izakayas.
P.S.: Two guys next to me seemed to think this was a normal "Japanese Restaurant", not a Tapas Izakaya. They had to be told sorry, no regular miso soup or vegetable tempura :P
(^o^)/ TRAVELLERS DECK 2010/11: Free Daily Appetizer (No Purchase Necessary)
http://www.yelp.ca/biz...
Listed in: My Travellers Deck adventure…
I tried this place last weekend....
It was SUPERB!
We ordered the sashimi salad, beef tongue (ended up ordering 2 portions, it's so GOOD), chicken karaage, dan-dan noodle.
Super happy.... the food are super amazing..
The service is quick, waitresses are attentive...
We'll be back tasting more stuff
High quality sushi. Great selection of authentic teas. A little more pricey, but you do get what you pay for.
I love Kingyo in that out of all the izakayas that boast themselves as a true Izakaya, Kingyo comes out the most authentic and true to the nature of one. The setting can be small and intimate over some beers, or can be enjoyed with a larger party.
Reasons Kingyo comes out on top:
-Each dish is signature and distinguishable. By that, I mean you can tell they do not take the lazy route by using the same sauce between several dishes. They clearly chose taste quality over production efficiency.
-You can find many "in house or hand made" items on the menu such as ginger ale.
-The menu changes, so the experience is ever changing.
-I have never had anything that was not savory/umami. Nothing is overly salty/sweet but everything is superbly savory!!
-They don't have the snooty attitude.
-Proper ventilation. I don't like to leave a restaurant smelling like what I just ate.
I have to review the Kobe beef on it's own:
the menu says Kobe beef, and I am going to take into consideration that I might have had a bad cut or it was over seared, but in comparison to true Kobe beef experiences, this wasn't on par. The marbling is suspect, and even though they let you sear it on a hot rock to preserve the true prep of kobe, it could have been just a Wagyu crossed with an Angus breed - seeing how chewy it was and the marbling was definately not past 6 on the BMS scale. However, with all this rambling, it was only $20 for a good sized portion - 6 peices. So no complaints. but it is good to know what you are eating.
We couldn't have chosen a better place -- at least not for authentic, expertly prepared Japanese food.
Unlike the know-it-all at the next table, I don't claim to be an expert on Japanese food. But I do know what I like, and I really liked the rice-paper rolls, salmon sushi, and Korean-style hot-pot that I had.
OK, so it wasn't all Japanese, but it was all good. As my brother, who was visiting from out of town, said, "if I were you I'd come here every weekend." If it weren't for this blog, I just might.
This is a fun place to eat. The staff is friendly and dynamic. The food is delicious and surprisingly not expensive. It does get realllly busy here so that's my only qualm about the place: otherwise I love it here. The kobe hot rock beef is soooo melt-in-your-mouth. Out of all the Izakayas in Vancouver that I've been to, this is my favorite one.
Oh Kingyo... memories of you always make me sigh with a smile and make my stomach whimper for your delicious offerings. If only we weren't separated by 1300 miles.
I was first enlightened on the goodness that is Kingyo by my best friend who lives in Vancouver during one of my visits back to my hometown. I was immediately impressed by the decor in this relatively small establishment. Cool dark walls, Japanese influences and bamboo plants combine to create an aesthetically pleasing space that manages to remain hip and intimate.
If the ambiance here does not have you in awe, the food certainly will. I don't recall all of the dishes that we ordered since my last dining experience here was back in July '09 (*sad*) but the standouts that will forever be in my palate's memory are:
Negitoro Sushi
Chopped Tuna, green onions and special sauce. I'm not sure what is in that special sauce but it is especially delicious.
Stone Grilled Kakuni Bibimbap
Rice in a stone bowl with pork. The servers will mix the rice at your table in the stone bowl which is sizzling hot enough to create a crispy, tasty meal.
Grilled Black Cod
This dish almost reminds me of the Butterfish at Kappo Honda (CA). The black cod is grilled quite nicely yet is still soft, flaky and buttery.
Stone Grilled Kobe Beef
Marinated kobe beef that is brought to you with a hot stone for which to cook on. In my opinion, you can never go wrong with kobe beef and the kobe at Kingyo is no exception.
Famous Invincible & Undefeated Tan Tan Noodles
It may seem presumptuous to have a name like this for a dish but after one taste, the definitely lives up to its name. This was the first place I have ever tried Tan Tan Noodles and, quite honestly, I've never been the same. The noodles are cooked perfectly and sit happily in a pork bone and shrimp broth topped with ground pork and green onions. It is a savory, spicy, peanut-y bowl of heaven.
Almond Tofu
This is one of my favorite desserts, hands down. It is refreshing and not overtly sweet. And also eaten best with a small wooden spoon. It's a perfect way to end an already outstanding dinner. This is a dessert meant to be savored. I tend to eat mine rather slowly but joyfully which usually means that I'm the last one left with half a bowl while my friends are watching with yearning for more since they've already devoured theirs. Just writing about the almond tofu made my mouth water.
Kingyo is always first on our list of stops when I go to Vancouver. It's also the restaurant I'd recommend most to anyone who visits - or lives - in Vancouver. Definitely one of my top 3 izakayas. Do yourself a favor and pay a visit if you're in town, your taste buds will thank you.
Average price per person: anywhere between $30 -50 depending on whether you order multiple orders and sake like we do.
Even if I was in Japan, I would enjoy Kingyo! This is the place I can say, "yes, it's an authentic good izakaya" and feel less anxious to order stuff like tako (octopus) wasabi.
I was impressed by most of their food. Seared Scallops Carpaccio were slightly sweet and not watery, a great way to start the meal. Deep fried chicken wings (can't recall the actual name) are a must-try if you like beer...spicy, crunchy good. Ramen salad (may sound weird but this is a typical izakaya food and one of the few dishes with vegetables) - liked the dressing and ramen was nicely cooked. Duck Sukiyaki was a pleasant surprise. Don't worry about grease. It's very healthy with good amount of vegetables and tofu. It was sort of the highlight of our dinner.
Sizzling tofu was a bit salty for my taste but had lots of mushrooms and dashi (fish broth).
Everything was beautifully decorated. All the plates - even little glasses - were beautiful and traditional. I could tell the owner did take time to pick them.
They don't have many sushi options because it's an izakaya, meaning tapas joint. Most of izakayas in Japan are the same way. It's a place to eat variety of small plate dishes.
Not cheap. We spent about $50 per person excluding tips. But some of us ordered three glasses of shochu(Japanese hard liquor)...so if you could cut back alcohol it would be cheaper.
One thing I wondered is that they spoke back to me in English even when I talked to them in Japanese. They do speak Japanese though. Maybe because I was with non-Asians? Don't know.
My favorite izakaya place in Vancouver. I came here with a pretty large party so I had a chance to taste most of what they had on the menu. Some highlights:
spring rolls with roasted pork, lettuce, cucumber, and mayo and kabayaki sauce
soft shell crab salad with napa cabbage and radishes in a soy based vinegrette
ramen salad with mixed greens, bbq'd pork, cucumbers, julienned scrambled egg in a sesame soy dressing
15-piece sashimi sampler
kobe beef that you cook on a hot rock
The food was great but more importantly, this was a pretty important meal for my family and the staff here went out of their way to make our time memorable. I can't say enough about the service. Guu Garlic may be more popular but give this place a try and be converted.
I love Kingyo... at least I did love Kingyo. The atmosphere is beautiful with it's dark wooden decor, goldfish patterns and beautiful plants and cheerful servers... I was looking forward to a very great meal.. but for some reason, I left feeling a little disappointed.
Maybe it's best I review dish by dish:
- Ebi mayo: inconsistent shrimp size, hidden spicy sauce (at the bottom of the dish)
- Ox Tongue on Hot Stone - 101 VANCOUVER's BEST EATS. Cooked on a stone by youself so you can control the doneness of the piece. It was a quick, fun to watch the piece of meat sizzling
- pressed salmon sushi with fish egg: was not over the top, fish was fresh but reminded me of regular sushi. Pieces were a little small
- Seared tuna with avacado and yuzu sauce. Very nice flavours and looks very complicated (although I don't think it actually is).
- Hot pot with pork and cabbage. I thought the pork was overly salty, and the cabbage was nothing special.. didn't really seem authentic.
- Udon noodles with pork - Once again, nothing special... just saucy and simple.
- Grilled duck - super tender and juicy, nice flavours with the green onion.
- Dessert - Sake Creme Brulee - Could not taste the Sake very much, but the sugar topping was just right.
I think part of the reason I had an off night was because one of my guests was not a big seafood eater and I am not a big meat eater when it comes to japanese tapas... I will still come back, but make sure I am with people who have the same food tastes as me.
Listed in: Vancouver Magazine's 101 Best…
Yum !
I liked everything - maybe the beef tongue... don't get me wrong... I love tongue... especially when sizzled on a piece of hot rock... but it just wasn't as spectacular as the rest of the meal
The sashimi was very fresh
The uni rice was heavenly.... creamy and yummy.... w a bit of crusted rice... sex in a bowl
Good selection of sake... friendly service
Street parking OK...
They only take cash the night we went... prob sth wrong w the credit card machine... yet... the place was still crowded
I stopped by looking for a late night snack. The damage: negitoro sushi, ebimayo, and 2 glasses of Sapporo. Food was good, bar tender was friendly, ambiance was great. I was a little surprised by the prices though. The small glass of Sapporo draft was $5CAD, isn't that expensive? Prices for the food were reasonable though, I think. For the 2 dishes and 2 glasses of Sapporo, total bill was $26CAD.
I probably wouldn't go back again unless someone was taking me out for a treat, or I'd just pass on the alcohol. Food wasn't enough to make me want more, and the price of the beer just put a damper on my mood.
Listed in: Vancouver
Amazing!! I have been to Japan twice and this is the next best thing to going there again. Really authentic izakaya experience, from the simple yet delicious, hearty fare to the the chef yelling "irasshaimase" when you walk in the door. Prices are reasonable and there is a small lunch menu that changes daily. Lots of inventive cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks (my friend had the homemade ginger ale) too. Just like in Japan, our server were exceedingly helpful and polite. She really seemed to care about how we were enjoying the food and wanted to demonstrate how my friend should mix the soup into her nagoya-style pot lunch. I had a tonkatsu curry. Japanese comfort food at its best.
Dessert was also memorable -- tiramisu, using sake instead of grand marnier and green tea instead of espresso. Sounds weird but it was amazing, and unlike anything I've ever eaten. I'll definitely come back here first thing the next time I am in Vancouver!
After having dinner at Kingyo three times in as many weeks (to make up for the multiple times I wasn't able to get a table), I too am a fan.
Is it the sexily designed and decorated space? Cheerful and helpful waitstaff? Fresh ingredients--including REAL wasabi with the sashimi (not the powdered mix served most everywhere)? The menu's perfect blend of traditional and updated cuisine? The drinks: sake, shochu, and original beverages (love the lychee liquer/grapefruit juice cocktail)? Yes, and more.
As has been said, Kingyo is a little more grown-up than, say, Guu or Gyoza King (both of which I love).
It's also more about what's on your plate than what's in that mini-skirt over there (Hapa reference).
Thus far my friends and I have had the:
- tako-wasabi: you spoon the tasty mixture onto a piece of crisp nori and enjoy.
- sashimi omakase: a must-order. If you're lucky there will be Japanese scallops available.
- stone-grilled Kobe beef: you grill the slices yourself on a sizzling rock! Not sure if it's Kobe or merely Kobe-style, but it was amazing)
- stone-grilled beef tongue: hold the jokes; it's really delicious.
- chicken karaage: boneless pieces of fried chicken with three kinds of salt (Utah, Himalayan, Japanese)! Very cool.
- negitoro sushi: I usually prefer uber-traditional but this is a fantastic updating of the classic.
- tan-tan noodles: not a fave of mine in general but everyone else liked it.
- chestnut gelato: yum.
We've also had the cha-shu rice paper roll, sockeye salmon carpaccio, tuna tataki, grilled duck, grilled black cod, chicken wings, and ebi-mayo, all of which were super delicious.
Every meal is finished with a beautiful arrangement of frozen grapes on a skewer, in a tiny vase with an orchid. A fitting end to a superb meal with phenomenal presentation throughout.
Downtown Vancouver is just kicking!! Nearly half the restaurants along a 3-mile road are open late at night... and open until midnight. Perfect place for an insomniac like me. Plenty of people are still walking around at 11pm in 30 degree weather.
Kingyo had a unique menu. THERE IS NO SUSHI. apparently, Sushi is not the norm for japanese restaurants in Canada.
Nevertheless, the Duck Sukiyaki was delicious. The waitress brings this dish in a boiling pot and cooks it in front of you. This dish also comes with a semi-raw egg dipping which i've been trying to duplicate at home a couple of times now.
I love this restaurant. First of all, the lunches are just superb. I'm not a big fan of the MISO soup or the crowded menu (or the pile of menus they give me). I love the Negitoro Bowl and the homemade Ginger Ale is to die for. I am lactose intolerant and some of the food has butter. I did find the staff very helpful and knowledgeable about which foods did and did not have lactose. I love the wooden decor and friendly staff. I am glad this business is successful and receives accolades. It deserves all the awards and good press it gets.
This is my third review today. Damn, I have forgotten how much I miss Yelp. Withdrawal syndromes include but are not limited to:
* Feeling a hard, sure pain in your chest when someone mentions review
* Frantically whipping out a pen and paper when you think you have a quirky Yelp one-liner
* Taking pictures with your crappy camera phone of the restaurant or business in question
* Stepping into a restaurant that is seemingly isolated from public eye and wondering if you are going to be the First to Review
Well my friends, I have all the symptoms so here goes my third review of the day:
Clink Clink
Listen to the chimes of glasses as cheers and salutes are made, and join in on the lively atmosphere with your tables buzzing conversation.
Although nothing can really replace my love for Guu, Kingyo is my new hotspot for Japanese tapas (although I think they're the same owners). It's modern and makes a bold statement with a quirky menu and spunky decor. A great place to take a date or catch up with an old friend - try getting seats at the bamboo bar.
It is five-minus-one stars because the dressings were too pour-happy with the soy sauce and the waitress, just a tad on the slow slash rude side. Otherwise, my cousin visiting from Boston and I had a splendid time :)
We were hungry, and I wanted some raw fish, so we decided to try Kingyo based on the Zagat Rated sign in the window and the amazing woodcraft and exterior/interior design.
We didn't have a reservation, which seemed to cause the waitstaff a bit of consternation. We were seated in the far corner of the bar, well away from the sushi chefs. I don't think there's a bad seat in the place, though. We ordered shoju on ice: I chose the shiso shoju, and GT chose another infusion. Both were served over a giant frozen ball of ice - superb presentation!
I was a bit put off by our server, however. I asked if I could order something that was not on the menu, and I was told that "this is the kind of restaurant where sushi is most authentic, and most fresh. The other kinds of sushi you have had is not authentic. Here is our menu. If you need help ordering I can assist you."
Granted, we were the only caucasians in the restaurant, but still: I found these remarks to be insulting. I may not be japanese, but there are many versions of "authentic" sushi. Perhaps if he'd explained the philosophy of Izakaya cuisine versus other types of japanese cuisine his comments would have come across less pretentiously.
Regardless, we ordered two small plates. Amaebi (supposedly "the best amaebi, because it is local") and the negitoro sushi.
The negitoro sushi was smothered in sauce - a tasty sauce, don't get me wrong, but I immediately did a double-take since we'd gotten an earful about how authentic and wonderful the sushi would be. I don't typically associate an overly-sauced sushi roll with authentic (but then again, what do I know?).
The amaebi tasted ok...but I thought they were a little...mushy. There were so many of them (8 or 10?) that I doubt they are kept alive in the back until your order is placed, as they are in other restaurants.
Overall - the food was ok. The drinks were ok. Nothing we ordered was overly expensive...but the fact that we were starving, and decided to go elsewhere for entrees, says a lot.
HOWEVER....based on the other glowing reviews, I would return here to try again, since I now realize that the restaurant specializes more in japanese tapas style delicacies and less traditional japanese-sushi-joint-style fare. My bad, dude. My bad.
I really enjoyed the whole experience here. The food, I feel like it could be better (my wife will say I'm just being a snob).
Going to the good stuff... The amaebi (sweet shrimp) sashimi was delicious. Direction: eat the body and suck the brains out. yum. i guess it doesn't quite require anything but freshness, and it was fresh. Raw octopus "salad" in yuzu was simply delicious.
But...some dishes had too many components to it like the yellowjack carpacio (which had avocado, roe, microgreens, yellowjack, yuzu, etc.)...couldn't really enjoy the yellowjack init. Beef tongues is fun but not that great in texture (slightly chewy), although it's fun...
We negotiated our way in about 8pm on a Thursday night after a short wait, and were seated up at the bar area. Our waiter nobly did his best to explain the menu in English and then nearly died of chagrin when we ordered in Japanese. 'After all my attempts!' he cried. I was sold on him for the rest of the evening.
The interior was cool, dark and funky, with a semi-authentic Japanese yane roof (like you'd find on an old mansion in Tokyo) over the bar, and bamboo plants around the central table. Clientele were dressy, with a heavy Japanese hipster contingent.
My personal highlight was the anko (Japanese red beans) and milk Japanese pudding (a great recommendation from our waiter. 'You ordered it for me!' he said as he brought it over). They make it in-house, and it's delicious. Tiramisu was also good, and came in the world's most adorable goldfish cup (I resisted the urge to disappear it). My strawberry mojito was on the tasteless side - stick to the Sapporo draught, which comes in an awesome retro beer mug that weighed at least five pounds. I felt that in pumping it up and down to drink my beer I'd burned off at least half my pudding. Beef katsu lacked flavour and was a bit tough, but the ramen salad was top-notch - fresh, modern, and something I couldn't eat at just any old izakaya.
And that's why I wanted to try out Kingyo- a taste of more authentic izakaya fare in a classy, unique setting. My advice is to stick to their o-susume menu, and don't even open all the other stuff they drop off at your table. It's worth the extra $10 on your bill to soak up the atmosphere and eat top-notch pudding.
This restaurant makes up one of the bright spots of my recent trip to Vancouver.
After a long day exploring in the rain, we went here in search of some delicious Japanese food and sake. I was afraid that all the good reviews were all hype, but this place is really awesome.
The prices can get a bit high, but the daily specials they offered were reasonably priced and super yummy. We tried a hot pot and bipimbap, an appetizer of raw and cooked octopus, one of their amazing housemade ginger ale cocktails, sake, and sorbet dessert.
After some wonderful cozy Japanese comfort food, a couple carafes of house sake, and a delightful dessert of housemade sorbet, we were satisfied. Total pre-tip bill was just under $60 dollars, which is pricey for us, but keep in mind that included an appetizer, 2 entrees, the equivalent of 5 drinks, and dessert.
What makes this place awesome you ask:
-housemade sorbet and ginger ale
-really great and reasonably priced house sake that is smooth enough to drink it cold
-complex flavors and good presentation of food
-attentive and friendly service
* Nice spot for a birthday celebration *
The West End is basically famous for 4 things:
- English Bay with the beach and entrance to Stanley Park
- Davie Village (Vancouver's equivalent of the Castro)
- Diabetic Alley (Beard Papa, Cupcakes, Marble Slab, Dulcinea, Cookies by George, Mondo Gelato, etc. etc.)
- Japanese and Korean midrange to budget restaurants targeting ESL students
Kingyo comes in at the upper midrange and is one of the better picks among the Japanese izakaya that are scattered throughout the area.
Came here for a birthday celebration (no, not mine!) and had a lovely time.
Had a bunch of different things, but I'll report on the disappointments and the pleasant surprises.
The locally made sake from Artisan Sakemaker on Granville (http://www.yelp.ca/biz...) was a nice local touch to the sake list.
Ordered several types of sashimi from the fresh sheet to start. They had a mixture of local and flown in from Japan. Not surprisingly, the local salmon was the highlight. The fish from Japan was just not as fresh. It wasn't bad - but it wasn't top notch - and definitely not worth the markup for the air freight!
A pleasant surprise was that the karaage was served with 3 different types of salt: Utah, Himalayan, and Hakata no shio. Guess Kingyo wants to fit in with its location near diabetic alley! The salts did have different flavours and added unique flavour to the karaage, which was perfectly tender on the inside with a nice marinade and light and crispy on the outside.
The yuzu sorbet was spot on - with a nice strong yuzu flavour and a taste that suggests it is made in house.
They serve "Kobe" beef (which I assume is just Alberta Wagyu?) to grill on your table on a hot stone. Nice presentation to look at - but the ventilation isn't designed for it so it creates a smoke atmosphere in an otherwise non-smoky kind of place. We didn't have this at our table, but our clothing sure smelled like we did afterward!
The birthday "service" was over the top, and made the celebration nice. One of the chefs comes out with bullhorn and gets the entire restaurant's attention to give a birthday cheer while presenting a dessert with a candle. A waitress then appears with an instant camera and snaps a Polaroid shot to give you a memory. The whole thing sounds silly and stupid - but it actually works in the context of the loud izakaya environment when everyone was plied with liquor. Ok, maybe it was the sake.....But birthday smiles all around - so a good thing, no?
Listed in: Vancouver Japanese Food
I ate here with an old friend last night, and was very impressed.
The style is authentic japanese, without beating you over the head with it. They aren't jamming Buddhas into every corner, or putting up the obligatory Hokusai print you see in every Japanese restaurant/dorm room. It's simple and elegant and just modern enough to maintain hipness.
The food was excellent, and beautifully presented. Try the tuna carpaccio, any kind of Udon, and any of the deserts. The only dish that wasn't amazing was the Tofu, and that was still very edible.
The attention to detail was really what impressed me. When we ordered Shochu, it was served in a tumbler with a round ice cube. Take a second and think about how much more work that is than just grabbing some ice out of the freezer. There must be some sort of mold that has to be refilled constantly. Frozen grapes are served on a skewer, surrounded by flowers, with the bill.
Quite frankly, the only reason I am not giving this place a 5 star review is because I feel like I have been giving too many lately. If I go back and am equally impressed, I will amend the review.
Can you believe it? They were rated the top place to eat in Canada a few years back. Yes I can believe it.
Izakaya consistency is hard to do daily and they seem to do it well.
"sent from my iphone"
Service makes this restaurant !
Everytime I have been there, the waiters/waitresses are super friendly and to me, seems actually very happy and intersted that you are there. There are too many places nowadays where you can tell the server hates their job... and atleast at Kingyo - if they do hate their job, they are definitely not showing it.
Food: crab croquette Mmmmmm tuna tataki mMmmm negitoro MmmmmmM Miss the chicken wings!! ebi mayo MmmM!!!!
price: a little higher than most izakaya but I would definitely pay the extra for the awesome service and ambience. Definitely an awesome experience everytime I go.
Izakayas rule in ma book. They are the best nibbles to have with friends and drinks. We discovered Kingyo recently after being a constant at Guu and Hapa and Gyoza King and I'd have to say Kingyo took izakaya up a notch. Four of us checked out Kingyo on Denman and Haro last night and this is izakaya at another level, the room had a feel of Japan, the food unique yet with a distinct level of authenticity and most dishes range from $8 - $12, not bad, not bad at all. Definitely returning.
Line up last night were sashimi salad, tori (chicken karaage) and good fresh sashimi, mind you their sashimi variety was limited though but being an izakaya place and not a sushi joint, this was all forgiven. I love their old fashioned Japanese cutlery used here, it felt like eating in Japan. I cannot wait to go back again, hopefully tonight and yes I can izakaya everyday.
I read that this was the best izakaya and was voted as such the past few years in a row. It was great and fun and cute inside, but I really had more fun and loved the dishes a bit better at Guu with Garlic when I went a couple years back.
Don't get me wrong, this was some great stuff. The crab/clam croquette was great and decadent, the bbq cold noodle dish rocked, the spicy chicken wings were great and the cocktails were fun.
I guess you can call this place an upscale-izakaya...honestly, I wasn't impressed. The interior was cool and nicely done with all the bamboos and cute decorations. They did a great job expanding the small space visually. The service was nice too with attentive waitresses.
The food is when things go down the hill....portions were small, the quality soso, and the bill was WAY TOO MUCH. We had two drinks (which wasn't all that at all) and 4 tapas which came out to be about ~$90....and was I full at the end of the meal? NO.
This place is great if you are going for drinks AFTER dinner with a group of friends to socialize. If you want somewhere with lower price, less decor and good, nicely portioned food, go to GUU down the street.
*Service = good, attentive
*Location = good
*Food = tiny portions, ok quality sashimi
*Price = HIGH
You're going to pay a little bit more for the decor and atmosphere, but it's worth it! Very trendy with a modern vibe.
Each dish is big enough to give 4 people a few bites each. Go with people who don't mind sharing and just order 1 of each dish for starters.
We spent just over $200 for 4 people and were STUFFED. By omitting a few of the more expensive items and alcohol we could of easily ate more than we needed for $30pp.
Must try from bestest to best:
Ebi Mayo $8
Tan Tan Noodle Bowl $9
Kobe Steak $16
Chicken Karaage $7
Pork Cheek $7
Macha Brulee $3.5
Beef Tongue $7 (fun to eat)
IMHO, not the best:
Takoyaki Fish Cake, Cream Crab Cake, Nori Scallop Carpaccio
Sashimi was good, but pricey IMO.
My friends and I tried to do the much-touted izakaya crawl and sort of failed. We went from Gyoza King (full, with line going out the door) to Hapa Izakaya (we just weren't feeling the ambiance) to Guu (also full with line wrapping around the block) to Kintaro (not an Izakaya, but we were hungry and they were out of soup anyway) and finally came to Kingyo.
After a short wait, we were seated and ordered some food based upon their menu descriptions: "most delicious green tea", "super invincible tan tan mein", Mexican taco rice, 5-piece omakase, kobe beef grilled on hot rocks.
All the dishes were delicious. I also ordered plum wine, and we got a complimentary frozen grape dessert.
For presentation, the Kobe beef won hands down.
If you've never eaten "Mexican" food in Japan, you may think the taco rice is weird, because the Japanese take on Mexican food is interesting. It bears little resemblance to real Mexican food, but delicious nonetheless (especially if you're not expecting Mexican food.)
I am a huge fan of izakaya, but they are not very popular in Seattle for some reason. A friend of mine in Vancouver loves this place so we went there for dinner while visiting.
In Japan, izakaya are loud and full of drunk office workers. They serve many kinds of sake and beer and many types of food on appetizer-sized plates. Their major draw is tasty food for cheap prices.
Kingyo is fairly authentic as far as izakaya goes. The prices aren't cheap (although they are very reasonable) but the food is better quality than most Japanese izakaya. Their selection is not very big but everything we ordered was very good. The sake we had was very good. The server and hostess were extremely friendly. I loved the decor and the tableware. The tokkuri used to serve the sake was especially lovely. I will definitely be visiting again in the near future!
I strongly suggest making reservations. There is not much seating in this place and since it's right on the main thoroughfare it can get very crowded, especially on weekends.
Tried Kingyo for the first time tonight and was very impressed. I've been wanting to try this place for a long time - super cool/chic atmosphere from the street with the bamboo outside and the black paneling. It is a really unique Japanese experience -not the usual california rolls, but more "Japanese bar-food". We had a variety of menu items and shared them all (this place is really setup to share everything). The food was fantastic - kobe beef you cook on a rock, to-die-for shrimp tempura, excellent sashimi. What really makes this place extra special is the ambiance - cool wood paneling, interesting features (e.g. samurai doors turned into table tops). The wait-staff is fantastic also - very friendly and genuine (calling to each other in Japanese). We will definitely return and recommend this place to all our friends.
Had a great dinner here the other night with my dad. Excellent, creative and fresh food. Had the ahi tuna carpaccio with avocado, tan-tan noodles, Alaska black cod, grilled mackerel with lemon and onion, and a chicken salad. All was very tasty - wonderful layered flavors.
Great space too - the interior design is sort of modern and rustic at the same time. Love the Japanese aesthetic. Lots of wood and beautiful uplit bamboo divides a long table in two. The staff are ridiculously friendly and helpful. And the sake is great too.
I will most certainly go back with the hopes of eventually eating my way through the entire menu.
They are extremely popular because the food is so darned good so I'd recommend making reservations a few days in advance. Or if you don't mind eating late, you can just walk in. We waited 15 minutes for a table for two, and that was at 8:45pm on a Tuesday night.
Kingyo is the closest thing to a true Japanese Izakaya that I have ever visited outside of Japan. Featuring a unique menu that requires some careful reading and contemplation (i.e. no simple fish and chips here folks!), this is a treat for any foodie.
Their attention to detail was also quite impressive with the Kingyo=goldfish motif appearing everywhere. Check out the chopstick sleeves (front and back) for a good chuckle!
Compliments aside, I was somewhat surprised by the overall cost of the affair. $90 for two people including drinks and dessert. I am more accustomed to dirty dive-type izakaya's in the $40-60 range.
The Good: tan-tan noodels; unique hot-stone grilling of gyu-tan (beef tongue)
The Average: a unique interpretation of the tiramisu
The Bad: sashimi was overpriced IMHO; very small portions
Overall, I gave this 4 stars for the overall unique experience. However, cost and lack of a truly killer dish tempted me to go with 3 stars...
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