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Shiro
Categories: Restaurants Japanese Restaurants Sushi Bars Japanese, Sushi Bars [Edit]
3096 Cambie StVancouver, BC V5Z 2V9
Neighbourhood: Fairview Slopes
(604) 874-0027
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11:30 am - 2 pm
Mon-Sun 5 pm - 9:30 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
44 reviews for Shiro
Review Highlights
"Lunch box G is huge and can feed two people easily."
(in 7 reviews)
"Fresh fish + fresh wasabi = fn good sushi joint."
(in 4 reviews)
"Shiro has the freshest sashimi I've had in Vancouver."
(in 15 reviews)
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44 reviews in English
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Review from Vincci L.
My love for sushi cannot be expressed in words. I'm glad I finally tried out Shiro because they make one of the best rolls I've ever had.
We got the spicy chopped scallop, dynamite, and the negitoro roll. All the rolls were perfectly made. I especially like the dynamite roll-a freshly deep fried prawn wrapped with sprouts and lettuce. Bite sized deliciousness.
The appetizer tempura plate was also good, not too overly battered, and the warm dipping sauce was a great complement.
Service was excellent, the hot green tea was always refilled. A simple spot, with awesome rolls. I need to come here more often. -
Review from Purdy J.
9/21/2011
Restaurant is small but consistently busy. Rolls and portions are small - they way they should be. As cool as it is to have massive sushi rolls, it's makes it hard to eat and not how sushi should be enjoyed.
If you like variety, they have great box options with lots of food. Best bang for your buck.
Friendly and efficient service. They give you pocky sticks instead of mints with your bill. :) -
Review from Justin L.
8/14/2011
Isn't it incredible (it should actually be unacceptable) that of the slew of casual sushi spots in Vancouver, there are so few run by Japanese and that are actually good. Maybe it's because they either run the Tojo-style high-rollers or the Guu-style izakayas. Which explains the Bieber-like fanaticism over spots like Toshi. And so, when I don't feel like getting trampled by the queues of committed Toshiphiles, I sometimes recall the existence of a backup maki supplier: Shiro.
Stick with the lunch boxes and rolls and you'll be okay. Friendly service and nods from the Japanese chefs; usually not too crowded. -
Review from Kenneth E.
Vancouver, BC
1/17/2012
Ordered the negitoro & california rolls tonite, pretty good; probably the main reason why i also come back is i know they're japanese-owned, always a bonus, and trust the freshness & quality.
nothing really new to add, i'd come back again just for convenience sake. Not something one would really look forward to going... -
Review from Karen W.
11/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've been here a few times before and the food has been consistently good. This little authentic gem is tucked away further north of Cambie Village away from Tokyo John and the line of restaurants. Was here for lunch service yesterday and it was very busy. A place that survived the Canada line construction must be still here for some reason. I ordered my regular Chirashi Don (that I order at almost all other Japanese restaurants) which had a selection of incredibly fresh fish. The portions aren't going to be overwhelming like the other pseudo-Japanese places like Samurai or Togo but there's a lot of quality here. Usually Chirashi Don comes with chopped scallop, amaebi, tamago and sometimes even uni, with more than just tuna, salmon, ebi, saba, tobiko, tako, hokkegai, and ika but I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt because it was incredibly busy here during noon.
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Review from Waylon C.
Vancouver, BC
5/2/2011
Awesome sushi at Shiro! I'm a sushi junky and this is one place I just keep going back to over and over.
Very casual room (good place to take my 2 year old!) -
Review from Jennifer B.
10/31/2011
Fresh but to be honest quite average sushi only good enough to kill a craving. The wasabi wasn't near strong enough for me which is enough reason not to return. Strong sake. Service was attentive.
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Review from Maia S.
Vancouver, BC
5/3/2011
This place was reccomended to us by a few different friends, so we tried it out for dinner a couple of weeks ago. I was really dissapointed. I had been told that it would be busy and I should be prepared to wait. I don't mind waiting for good sushi, but it has to be good. From the reviews I expected it to be as good as Toshi Sushi (my current favorite), it is no where near as good.
When we got there, there was one couple waiting ahead of us, and about three empty tables waiting to be cleared, so I didn't expect it would be long (we were 2). But once the couple ahead of us was seated, we waited at least another 15 minutes. No one even acknowledged we were there for a good ten minutes. I finally asked if we could sit at one of the empty tables and they eventually cleared it for us. Not impressed so far.
After that came the bathroom. Lets just say the gas station up the street would probably be more sanitary. Hold it if you can. Now I can usually handle a long wait and a gross bathroom if it's in exchange for delicious food, this sadly was not the case. As I said before, we were really dissapointed by the food. The nori in the rolls was wierd and chewey, the salmon sashimi had the skin still on it, and gomae was just overcooked slimy spinach (no sauce). We didn't finish our order and left still hungry. Yay for movie popcorn. I will not be going back to Shiro and will stick to Toshi and Zipang for guarenteed yummy japanese food! -
Review from Rick C.
1/11/2011 4 photos
Colene and I trekked to Shiro for a post-Christmas dinner before I starting work in the new year. It is a small place, but was packed with hungry customers. There was already a healthy line when I arrived. Fortunately, the wait was fairly short.
I felt the pressure as I could tell the waitress wanted us to order quickly and provide a fast customer turnover. She asked us three times if we were ready to order before we finally were and the first time she asked was only a few minutes after being seated.
It was a little annoyed that we had to ask for tea. I do, however, understand they were quite busy.
And now onto the food. The spicy chicken karaage wings were quite delicious. I really enjoyed the spicy, tangy sauce. I would have preferred the boneless style karaage some restaurants have but that's just me.
All the sushi dishes were good including the chopped scallop and spicy salmon temaki. The fish tasted fresh and was well cut and arranged. Everything was clean and pleasingly served.
The sweet potato tempura special was fine, not sure what I was expecting. I do like the simple, basic portions and style of Shiro.
Everything was good and it ended up being a satisfying dining experience. The sushi and cooked dishes were pretty solid and I left with little to complain about.Listed in: Sushi Time
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Review from Zee K.
Vancouver, BC
12/31/2010
I went here based on the reviews and I'd say I was a bit disappointed. Authentically Japanese, yes, but overall lackluster.
We ordered tuna sashimi (decent portions, fish was of good quality), spicy agedashi tofu, agedashi eggplant, spicy avocado cucumber roll, zaru soba, and yaki soba. -
Review from Ernesto G.
Updated - 11/22/2010 16 photos
Went to Shiro for lunch yesterday and got my amaebi and uni fix.
The more I come here, the more I like Shiro. Great service, very good sushi and free parking in the lot or on the street.
We only waited a few minutes at 1pm on a Sunday, so we timed it properly since they open at 12noon.
Can't wait to come back.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/9/2010
Good fresh simple sushi!
Went to Shiro for dinner tonite at 5pm. I like this place because the menu… Read more »
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Review from Kevin S.
Vancouver, BC
9/17/2010
Fresh fish + fresh wasabi = fn good sushi joint.
I can't remember the last time I went to a sushi place where the fish was just the right temperature, very fresh, and accompanied by wasabi that didn't look and feel like it was squeezed from a tube.
Don't let the fact that this place is in a grubby little strip mall turn you off. And as far as the decor goes, things don't really improve when you get inside. Perhaps that's its charm. Dunno. But it needs and overhaul.
None of that takes away from the quality of the food they serve.
All the same, there are dozens and dozens of sushi places in Vancouver -- dozens -- but this one is worth hitting. -
Review from Chris L.
Vancouver, BC
2/24/2011
Wow. BEST KATSUDON EVER!
It's been a few years since I've been to Shiro, and after today's spectacular lunch I don't know why I haven't been back more. I ordered the Lunch Box G (see Erin I's photo), an enormous tray consisting of tuna and salmon sashimi, tuna roll, salmon skin roll, shrimp and veggie tempura, and a mini katsudon that had the fluffiest, most perfectly made rice I have ever had in a katsudon dish. It was so good I felt obligated to eat every single grain in the bowl even though I was pretty much stuffed from the rest of the box and the other dishes we ordered. The pork chop was also excellent, lightly battered, crunchy and juicy. The sashimi was just the right cut and temperature, fresh and cool, and the freshly made wasabi went perfectly with it. Tempura was done well, light and crispy, and not too heavy or greasy at all. This box is an exceptional value at $11.50!
We also had the BBQ Oyster that came with an addictive garlicky dipping sauce, which I ended up pouring on my rice after finishing the oyster. Other dishes of note: The Spider Roll, loaded with crunchy soft shell crab and a nice sauce. The Zaru Soba noodles were well presented, simple, fresh, and springy. The Cheese Isobe Age was a nice little sharing plate with cheese wrapped in seaweed and fried in tempura batter.
Sorry I've been away for so long Shiro, I promise I'll be back more often, and soon! -
Review from Ying W.
Vancouver, BC
9/27/2010
Been to this place 5-7 times over the years. I think the food is decent but it's not my favorite Japanese restaurant for its lack of cooked fish on its menu as I'm sadly cutting down on my fresh fish intake.
You may need to wait a bit on weekends because the place is not big, with limited tables and they don't take reservations. Weeknight is slower and we didn't need to wait for our table of four this past Thursday at around 7pm.
Ordered the wild salmon teriyaki and I find their teriyaki sauce way too salty. Also ordered two pieces of red snapper and yellowtail sushi and they truly have fresh sashimi and good wasabi.
I learned from the Japanese to eat my sashimi by first putting wasabi right on the fish than dipping the fish lightly in the soy sauce with a bit of radish. So I don't mix my wasabi in the soy sauce and have my wasabi as it :-) Over the years of Japanese food dining, I am able to smear more and more wasabi and my friends joke that I can eat wasabi like green tea ice cream. All in all, I know my wasabi and I appreciate it when it's fresh wasabi.
The spicy scallop hand roll is just OK though as I find their mayo sauce overpowers the ingredients.
I like how the chef's choice of ingredients like using wild salmon, real crab, etc. and I would recommend this place if you are a big fan of fresh sashimi. They also have couple sake choices on the menu so it's a nice little Japanese restaurant for sushi and sake in the Cambie area.Listed in: Foods
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Review from Marc D.
Vancouver, BC
3/10/2010
* Good neighbourhood Japanese restaurant *
I finally made it over to the Cambie Village to try out Shiro, which came highly recommended from several people.
I got the lunch box G, as recommended. It includes a LOT of food:
Overall the sushi and sashimi was very good (4 stars):
- The tekka maki was made with bincho, as is common in many places in Vancouver. The bincho was fresh and there was a generous amount.
- The BC Roll had a generous amount of salmon skin, which was nicely crisped.
- Minus 1 star on both rolls as they were slightly sloppy in their rolling/presentation.
- The salmon sashimi was wild salmon, and very fresh.
- The bincho sashimi was the best of the fish and had a nice buttery texture, while also being very fresh.
The sushi and sashimi were the highlight of the meal. Here is what else came with it:
- Tempura was nicely battered. But the shrimp (2 stars) had a slightly mealy consistency (as if there had been a defrosting issue). I also noticed that the shrimp had not been properly deveined (a pet peeve of mine - I'm not a big fan of shrimp poo). The veggies (carrot, eggplant, and zucchini) were fine (3 stars).
- Katsu-don was my least favourite dish of the set (1 star). The meat was extremely tough, as if it had been over fried for WAY too long. There was also a lot more salt in the sauce than I normally would want. Overall I wouldn't get this dish again.
- The broccoli gommae could have used a bit more sesame, but was ok overall (3 stars).
So overall I think that all averages out to around 3 stars. I would certainly visit again if in the area - but I likely would focus on the sushi and sashimi only. -
Review from Mike P.
I'm so lucky that this is the closest sushi place to my apartment, right across the street from what will some day be Vij's. In an unassuming location that's usually full they serve up the freshest tasting sushi in town. The wasabi is real, the crab is real. The prices for lunch are super reasonable (my favourite is lunch box g). Dinner is a lot busier and more expensive, but still a fraction of the price of Tojo's.
If you're looking to take an out of towner to a place to show them what Vancouver sushi is all about, take them to Shiro!Listed in: Good Japanese Restaurants
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Review from Daniel L.
12/4/2009
Fresh Wasabi & Sushi, friendly, funny, clean fast, & well priced... thank you past Yelpers for your reviews, it was just like you said, the system works well.
When we first walked in the place was filled with Japanese folk.. (good sign I said). small and a sleek design room with a nice size sushi bar a few large tables, and bunch of doubles... Tv screen with hockey in the corner, and lots of staff at your service. We became very pleased and very full with big smiles, the Hamachi was so butter fresh..... I will be back. -
Review from Judy L.
1/2/2009
Lunch box G is huge and can feed two people easily. If I recall correctly it had chicken tonkastu, 4 slices of sashimi (tuna and salmon), 6 BC rolls, and 5 tekka rolls and miso soup - all for under $12 Canadian!
Since I'm prone to over ordering, I ordered more rolls and their authentic wild BC salmon sashimi. My vegetarian friends really enjoyed the agadashi eggplant appetizer.
Very friendly service - however they made a few hiccups in our order. -
Review from Adelina W.
Richmond, BC
4/6/2010
Delicious sushi and sashimi for a very reasonable price. Ordered the assorted sushi which came with 7 pieces nigiri and 6 pieces tuna maki. Also got a spicy tuna roll, which was actually spicy and delicious, and the Shiro roll which has tuna, salmon and one other fish that I forgot. The Nigiri, tuna maki and spicy tuna roll were delicious. The Shiro roll had a little too much rice which overwhelmed the overall taste and texture of the fish inside. I found their rice very sticky and not very appetizing.
The service was average. It wasn't very busy when I was there, but there was a steady flow of customers. I can see this place getting packed quickly on busy nights. Our sushi took awhile to come, longer than I was expecting. I think hot food might actually have been faster. My dining companion had to ask for tea 3 times before he finally got some.
Given that, the food was still delicious. Think I'll head back during lunch time and try their lunch box everyone is raving about!Listed in: My Haunts, Japanese Galore
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Review from Yoony P.
11/23/2009
Shiro has the freshest sashimi I've had in Vancouver. It reminds me of a good sushi place in Tokyo. The fish melts in your mouth.
Some other good points:
-real wasabi
-real crab in their california rolls
If you go for lunch, I highly recomend lunch box G which as a little bit of tempura, katsu-don, bc roll, tuna and salmon sashimi, and some broccoli. All for $11.50
There usually is a wait if you show up during peak times, but worth the wait.Listed in: I *heart* Cambie Village
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Review from Jessica O.
Vancouver, BC
7/27/2010 2 Check-ins Here
I am a sushi critic. It takes a whole freakin' lot to impress me, and I am easily turned off by dry rolls, creepy mayo based sauces all over everything and undercooked rice. We may have a lot of sushi in Vancouver, but that also means we have a lot of BAD sushi in Vancouver.
So thankfully I have found a new alternative to Sushiyama close to my house! Shiro is a small, unassuming place in a strip mall with basic decor but my favourite accessorry of all: a line up. That's right - if people are willing to wait, chances are there is something worth waiting for!
I enjoyed the small, delicate rolls (asparagus and blanched shrimp was a favourite) and the salmon sashimi was melt-in-my-mouth ultra fresh. The menu was nice and small and nothing was overwrought - no giant crazy rolls here!
We both really enjoyed the food and will definitely be back! -
Review from karen c.
Vancouver, BC
8/13/2010
Just had take out from Shiro. My company decided to order from Shiro for our company birthday lunch. The food was super fresh and tasty. As for getting my order right - they were right on the ball! Shiro's prices are reasonable considering the quality that you get.
I really like how they used wild sockeye salmon instead of pacific and their inaris are BIG! By the looks of their food, I can tell that they use high quality ingredients. The wasabi was different from other restaurants I have been to. The wasabi mixed with the soy sauce smoothly without the chunkiness. Their wasabi even tasted fresh!
Overall, I will definitely give this restaurant a try. I'm glad my co-workers and I chose this restaurant to get our take out. I can't wait to come here, sit down and try their food! -
Review from Evilyn T.
4/9/2010 2 photos
I stopped in for some take-out on my way home yesterday, and after looking over the menu I was surprised at the lack of combos offered. Most sushi places have a list of combos that you can get since you obviously aren't going to eat just one roll, unless you're on the "supermodel diet," and even then you'd be eating a sushi roll with kleenex in the middle of it with no rice. Tasty!
I ordered an oshinko roll, a veggie roll, a cucumber and avocado roll, a broccoli and miso dish and miso soup. I had a long night ahead of me, so I wanted to be prepared, and well, I like to eat. The prices were around the same price as other places, so I paid just over $14 for all that, but since I got it to go, I didn't leave a tip. (I don't usually tip when I get take-out, since I am not being waited on, not sure what the protocol is for that, but that's how I roll.)
They brought me some tea for while I waited, but I was too busy on the phone to bother, and then my food arrived and I was on my way. Everything was good, the broccoli tasted kind of like it had been frozen and then thawed, it didn't have that extra crunchy freshly chopped taste, so I probably wouldn't get that dish again. I was bummed that there was mayo in my cuke & avocado roll, because it tastes so good without mayo, it seemed kind of an unnecessary evil. The veggie roll was meh... but I guess I have high expectations because there are so many veggies you could throw in that roll, but most places just seem to stick in lettuce, carrot and cukes. When I order a veggie roll I want a fat roll with the works in it, if its a vegetable, throw it in!
One bonus, when you order at Shiro, you get a small pack of chocolate Pocky with your order. Yay! Honestly, after eating all that I was too stuffed to eat the Pocky, but it was a pretty cool free dessert! I'd probably be more apt to go back if they had veggie bento boxes or some kind of veggie combo, since trying to put one together for yourself requires too much brain power (for me anyways.)Listed in: Sushies!
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Review from Ange L.
Vancouver, BC
2/15/2010 2 photos
A straight-up, down-to-earth, Japanese joint!
Even if you have never stepped into the realms of this neighbourhood restaurant, you have undoubtedly driven past the unremarkable strip mall which houses "Shiro".
Can't remember how long this restaurant has been around,... "it's an oldie, but a goodie".
Offering all the standard Japanese fare found at most other similar restaurants in the city. Variety of offerings are not overwhelming. Which is a good thing for those who are indecisive. What makes this restaurant 'stand out', is the QUALITY of the food. The nigiri sushi and sashimi are fresh fresh fresh! And you will not find any 'farmed salmon'... no siree!
Can get quite busy here during dinner hours. Don't be surprised if you are waiting outside in the parking lot for a table. The restaurant has even placed a heat lamp outside their door for their "waiting" patrons. How thoughtful!
To experience the same great food and bento specials, make a visit during LUNCH time. Less wait! Great specials. As noted by other fellow "yelpers", BENTO BOX G is a good choice - quality + quantity for a great price of $11.50. Other bento box specials start from $8.50.
Overall portions of the rest of the menu is pretty average. Prices are equally average. Not cheap, but not expensive. Atmosphere is not fancy but "homey". It is an unpretentious restaurant with fresh and fabulous food.Listed in: The Good Customer's Review
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Review from Bridgette S.
Granville Island/False Creek, Vancouver, BC
Friendly staff, low key restaurant. Very welcoming, even to our 2 yr old! Lunch box portion is big & is shareable between 2 ppl. Parking also available.
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Review from Derek H.
Toronto, ON
7/4/2010
The menu is not challenging, nor is there any pretense (they are located in a strip mall). The food is simple, honest and fantastic. And the inhouse wasabi kicks my ass.
My 20 minute walk here paid off. For first round I ordered the sashimi plate (4 salmon, 4 tuna, 2 snapper, 2 octopus, 2 surf clam), a real crab hand roll and some nigiris: saba, kanpachi, tai, toro.
The sashimi was a nice mix and was great except the snapper, which was a little stringy. Hand roll and nigiris were fresh and large, with the exception again of the snapper.
Second round was a spicy salmon maki and uni nigiri. The maki was a good value and the right level of spiciness. The uni stole the show. Light, fluffy, creamy, silky. Foie gras of the sea.
Go here. -
Review from Vancity Girl M.
Vancouver, BC
5/7/2011
I eat a lot of sushi. I mean A LOT. And this place is definitely up there on the list for yumminess. More on the expensive side, but definitely worth it. Good quality, smallerish rolls (FYI for ordering strategies). I actually like the smaller rolls so that means I can get more :)
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Review from Kitty C.
Calgary, AB
6/11/2010
You won't find dragon rolls or philly rolls here...
If you're looking for fresh, authentic, simple japanese fare...shiro is the go-to place.
I've been coming here for 3 years now and they have never missed. They excel at freshly prepared sushis and simple rolls (cali roll, scallop rolls, bc rolls, unagi roll). The oyaku don and tender beef don is always delicious and a warm comfort on rainy days. The tempuras are always crisp and delicious and never too greasy.
Don't neglect their daily specials-- posted on a chalkboard next to the bar. I've had the chance to try some delicious deep fried fish, flavorful shitake tempuras, and absurdly fresh seafood from checking that board out. -
Review from Jarrad K.
Vancouver, BC
5/9/2010
Memorize their Schedule!
One of the best Sushi values in Vancouver. Not the cheapest, but far from the most expensive. Not the absolute best or fanciest sushi, but VERY good. Simple and fast with a lot of flavour. The staff is great too.
The only problem is that they almost always seem to be closed when I pull into the tiny parking lot. -
Review from win l.
Vancouver, BC
12/24/2010
Decent quality for the price. Been going there for yrs. Not fancy or high end & doesn't pretend to be. Staff are always friendly. Menu has typical selection of J food so nothing overly creative or imaginative but food is always fresh.
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Review from Ty D.
2/12/2011
Shiro is my kind of sushi place--it's a total hole in the wall in an unassuming location, but it delivered big time in the fish department, including some of the best salmon I have ever had. Prepare to be packed like a sardine, as there's not a whole lot of space, but you definitely get your money's worth, with authentic cuisine and outstanding preparation.
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Review from Payam S.
Burnaby, BC
8/27/2011
One of the best sushi places in Vancouver. Make sure to try their spider roll.
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Review from Sarah L.
Vancouver, BC
10/19/2009
Service might not always be the best - but I really don't go there because I want someone to pull my chair out and lay a napkin in my lap.
For several years now, Shiro has been our absolute go-to restaurant and no one has compared. Slightly warm rice, real fresh wasabi, no pink ginger, beautifully fresh wild salmon and buttery tuna that melts in my mouth! We've certainly made quite the go at their menu over the years and really, they never disappoint.
I'd *highly* recommend their Tuna Tataki above all else. (It's now to the point that we walk in, and they start making it for us before we sit down! It's like Cheers - where nobody knows our name but they certainly know who we are!)
Nothing pretentious - just wonderfully authentic japanese cuisine and amazingly fantastic sushi. -
Review from Leon F.
Vancouver, BC
6/21/2009
A few of pieces from the assorted sushi selection were not so fresh. Spicy BC roll was good and novel. The salmon was wild and went well with their nice tea. Also, very good service.
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Review from Nene F.
Toronto, ON
1/7/2009
Great place for no frills sushi that is fresh, tasty and surprisingly inexpensive. It's usually bustling, which is always a good sign when serving raw fish. Their sashimi makes me want to stop typing right now and go there.
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Review from Dave T.
Vancouver, BC
9/9/2009
This is our neighborhood sushi place. Good sushi all the time. Busy all the time. There are fancier places but this is the everyday place to go if you like good quality fresh sushi served up right.
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Review from Rachael T.
Toronto, ON
12/15/2009
I think I understand why everyone thinks this place is so good... but at the end of the day, I think it's average.. the fish was fresh and only wild salmon is served (on the menu, "BC" was scratched out, so it may be sourced elsewhere. The slices of tuna was melt-in-your-mouth, and I was a little surprised to see how small the slices of wild salmon were. They were nice, but I would like to think that all the pieces of sashimi would be more consistent in size. The menu is not overly crazy with unique rolls - just you usuals - tempura (which was battered nicely, with the less usual pepper and brocolli, in addition to your yam, zucchini and eggplant). The gyoza were super meaty.. the kind I like :) The tuna tataki was nicely seared and had good accompaniments of salmon and ginger. The spicy tuna roll was NOT spicy, and the baked eggplant did not have much teriyaki taste to it. The real crab california roll tasted okay, along with the BC rolls and tuna / cucumber maki.
The bill was okay, not over the top, but not full either... I have heard so many great things about this place and I don't think it's bad... it just wasn't great for me. At least the service was courteous and even when people were waiting at the door, we were not rushed to get out after sitting there for almost 2 hours... BONUS - POCKY for dessert...... that is just outrageous! -
Review from Tik Y.
4/19/2009
This restaurant is a casual and small establishment. Bringing a group of more than 4 and you may have to wait for a table. In critiquing sushi restaurants, there are really 4 sets of criteria that I base my judgment on:
1. Seafood freshness/size
2. Wasabi
3. Selection
4. service
The fish was definitely fresh and depending on what you order, the size of the sushi is a good portion. I had the saba, sake, toro, and uni. The sake is wild and the color was a dark orange, much different than the farmed salmon which has a light orange color, but was definitely the smallest piece of fish. The toro blanketed the entire piece of rice and was the biggest piece of fish on the plate. The uni was good but I found that the uni nigiri was a bit expensive, so I elected to get the uni cone which (i thought) had more uni. All were delicious. As I was paying for my check, the sushi chef came out with a huge slab of hamachi probably at least 3 feet in length. mmmmm.
The wasabi is something to boast here, and I'm surprised they don't mention it anywhere on their menu. It is ground up from horseradish instead of being made from powder. It has a good texture and is not overly spicy, but not for the faint of heart either. Super!
The selection of nigiri and sushi including rolls were about average, what you would find at every restaurant. What I found interesting was that they had shittake mushroom tempura. I was tempted to try it, but I had already ordered so much so I will save that for next time.
The service was good, but they were a little bit disorganized in that 3 people came by to take my order. Also, when I got my bill, they had overcharged me, but immediately corrected the bill. Overall, it was a great experience. I will definitely come back! -
Review from Dana W.
BC
11/16/2008
Very reliable, affordable Japanese cuisine. Super fresh sushi, generally some good specials, and great noodles to boot. And, you get Pocky sticks with your bill.
They offer each roll to come in a "spicy" edition, which can be a nice alternative. The spicy tuna roll is especially tasty - large chunks of tuna rather than the mushed up kind that some of the lower quality places use. -
Review from Jonathan C.
Vancouver, BC
12/30/2010
Good, fresh fish, and not too expensive. The servers aren't so great with English, but it's because they're Japanese, which is to be expected.
