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Zakkushi Charcoal Grill
Category: Restaurants Japanese Japanese [Edit]
4075 Main StreetVancouver, BC V5V 3P5
Neighbourhood: Riley Park
(604) 874-9455
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 5:30 pm - 1 am
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
32 reviews for Zakkushi Charcoal Grill
Review Highlights
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"...sheet, as well as a mentai yakiudon, and always, ebi mayo." In 3 reviews -
"The cheese mochi maki is to die for." In 3 reviews -
"Oropon chicken meatball: 4 stars." In 3 reviews
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32 reviews in English
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Review from Yvonne C.
4/25/2012 4 photos
Great for late night snacking!!
It was my first time here and my friend and I ordered A LOT!!
We ordered the Zakkushi set which has 5 different skewers to try:
-Momo (chicken thigh): Meat was tender and juicy, pretty average in taste.
-Umeshiso yaki (chicken thigh with plum sauce and Japanese basil): One of my least favourite skewers. The combination was odd tasting to me.
-Me yaki (garlic stub wrapped with pork) it was good, but not amazingly good.
-P-toro (menu states that it's crunchy and juicy pork): Crunchy? Yes, but it was more like dry than juicy.
-Oropon beef (AAA striplion w/ grated daikon and ponzu sauce): The meat was a little dry for my taste also, but I liked the sauce and the daikon together
Kobe Beef yakitori: Didn't look appetizing and looked dry. Left all 6 dry balls for my friend to finish.
Uzara Maki (quail egg wrapped with sliced pork). The combination of the two is just perfect. One of my new favourite
Wasabi Yaki (chicken tight w/ wasabi and seaweed): The meat was juicy and tender. One of my new favourite here also. I highly recommend getting this one and the Uzara Maki for yakitori.
Ebi Mayo: This is hands down, feet down one of the best ebi mayo I have tasted. The shrimps were crispy and crunchy. There was a nice bite to the shrimp and it was delicious!
Roasted Cod: It says the cod is roasted but it tasted like it was steamed. No browning on the fish whatsoever. The fish taste really good though, fluffy and tender. I was disappointed that they smeared miso sauce all over it!! It was literally a glop of sauce on top of a fish.
Beef Tataki: This was delicious, but chef could have sliced the meat a bit thinner. It was pretty thick compare to the other izakayas I've been to.
Dorayaki Matcha Ice Cream (Matcha ice-cream in between 2 red bean pancake): Not worth getting. The pancake was super dry; it sucked up all the saliva in my mouth!! The only good part was the ice-cream.
What would go great with all these food? ALCOHOL!! I recommend cold sake and momokawa (unfiltered sake)
To me, this is a 3 1/2 star izakaya, just because some of their items were a hit and miss. -
Review from Brian R.
Vancouver, BC
5/1/2012
Zakkushi has been one of my favorite places to go w/ large parties and friends. I have been to the location on 25th and Main before, and have frequented the one of 4th many times. With out of town guests visiting, I took them to Zakkushi on Main and found the food fairly disappointing.
The menu has changed a bit since my last visit (several months), and our waiter also informed me that the menu would be changing again next month.
The service was pretty attentive but always a bit challenging (imagine Lost in Translation). They used to have a hot udon dish with tempura (a classic) but now they have it w/ duck. When we asked if they could do the simple classic udon w/ tempura, they said 'no'--but, they were willing to do a plain udon w/ spinach for about $6. A bit pricey if you ask me. I also ordered two appetizers and then saw that they had a flight of 3 appetizers. I changed my order for the flight, but our waiter never told us that the quantity would decrease considerably. It might be worth it if you want a spoonful of each, but not worth it if trying to share w/ others.
We had a whole grilled squid which had a nice smoky charred flavor and was fairly tender. We also obviously did the Zakkushi set and added more skewers on top. We had the quail eggs, p-toro, p-toro w/ garlic stems, shishamo, kobe meatballs, chicken thighs, bbq eels, and a few others that I can't recall. While the skewers were good, most didn't stand out as they did in previous visits.
In my opinion, my experience eating at Zakkushi has definitely gone down. I wouldn't recommend it as avidly as I have done in the past. I stopped going to the location on 4th as its quality went down for me, and I'd add Zakkushi on Main to that list as well. -
Review from Derek W.
4/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Haiku Review:
Hidden on Main Street
There, beside a Mr. Sub!
Japanese delight.
More subdued servers
than what you get on Denman
But more relaxed, warm.
The scent of charcoal
deep in wooden furnishings
sizzling from the meat.
Don't make a trip out
But if you live on main street -
Ahh! Izakaya! -
Review from Robin M.
1/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
It pains me -- actually, physically PAINS ME -- to give Zakkushi 3 stars. I don't know man, maybe I'm comparing it to the Denman location a bit too much, but the whole experience was *so* very far from what I've come to expect from my favourite izakaya in Vancouver.
Where's the smoke? And the yelling? Where's the filled-to-the-rim five-dollar wine pour? Wait, is that a child?? What's all of this sauce doing on my black cod? WHY IS THERE NO GRILLED IKA?
Sigh.
A bit tamer, a bit less cosy than the West End location, this Zakkushi is good, but it's not blowing any minds. You know, unless you happen upon the Goma Ice Cream. Black sesame + cream + raspberry = tiny spoonfuls of heaven. -
Review from Ken T.
Vancouver, BC
12/14/2011
Skewers! Skewers! Skewers! Soooooooooooooo good!!!!
I came here for a birthday a year or so ago and have been meaning to come back since. Its VERY hidden as I drove past it 3 times that time so the novelty of that is fun in itself. Recently came with my girlfriend and were happily greeted at the door by the staff which I suppose is normal for a japanese restaraunt but these guys seemed to do it with more..... umph? Our server was very helpful in our selections and we ordered a good cross-section of the menu and a couple extra skewers for good measure. Get the assorted one which has a selection of thier best sellers.
This place has it all, great food, great ambiance, you know the staff actually like working here too! Naturally, a little pricey but for japanese tapas, its about what you'd expect.
Coming back here!!! -
Review from Shannon B.
Vancouver, BC
10/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
After hearing great things from other yelp reviewers, I decided to organize a little get together for some nursing friends and I. From my interaction over the phone when making the reservation for 6 people I felt optimistic.
Upon our arrival on a rainy Wednesday night we were quickly seated. This is where the good stuff ends.
After waiting for half an hour for our server to take our drink order we decided giving her our food order at the same time would be best. 4 people ordered the yakitori don, one went with negi p-toro don and I believe one ordered the hot udon soup of some sort.
Being accustomed to japanese food coming out as it is ready we thought nothing of different times for each persons bowl to come out. Finally once all but one of us had received our bowls and had begun eating we asked the server for the toro don. After 20 minutes she came back and said they'd forgotten it. Fine, I expected a fresh one to be priority. Finally arrives and it is cold even after stirring everything around. Tell the server again and she says no problem and takes it away. I expected a fresh new bowl to arrive; what we got was the same bowl had been microwaved!
My poor friend was starving and had to eat it regardless. When the bill came I spoke with the server and suggested that the toro don not be on the bill. After another 20 minutes she stated that the manager said he would take 50% off the price.
Needless to say, I was embarrassed that I had chosen Zakkushi and will never be returning.Listed in: Places so bad I am making a…
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Review from Darren S.
Vancouver, BC
3/4/2012
This is probably my favorite Japanese place in Vancouver. I have traveled to Japan many times and Zakkushi on Main really reminds me of the izakaya's I would eat at in Tokyo. Very authentic food and atmosphere. There are fancier izakaya's in Vancouver (Hapa Izakaya, Shu Raku) but I like that this place is a little more casual.
Like all izakayas it's a little bit expensive. There are vegetarian dishes but it caters more to meat eaters. But there are cheap drinks. And the food is worth it. -
Review from Larry L.
Updated - 8/9/2011 1 photo
The Boy.
I wanted to show him something different and something cool. A trendy place to eat that he would like. When we got here, he told me he had already been here. Ehhhh??? really?
Did you check out the cool bathrooms Boy?
No.
Well, then you haven't really been here Son! Now go and check out them special water closets!
He checked out the washroom and said it was cool and then proceeded to order.......california roll.
Oh boy. I smack my hand on my head. California roll in a place like this?
I needed to infuse some foodie culture into this boy! How's he going to get a girlfriend if he can't order the good stuff.
Listen boy, if you want to go on a date and impress the gal. You gotta know a couple of things.
That moustache doesn't make you look like a man. You look like a boy who wants to look like a man.
You need some muscles to go with that grey matter.
No more plaid and checker farm shirts.
You need a car.
and most importantly son. Knowledge of that geeky computer stuff aint gonna impress a young filly. You gotta go with the food boy! You hear?
Talk food and flowers and passion and romance and you have the secret to success.
If you go up and order a batch of them california rolls and Coke, you aint gonnna get that second date.
So we order skewers of meat and veggies and cheese and Karaage and everything that pertains to charcoal grilling and real Japanese food.
This is what this place is known for. Izakaya/robata food.
And don't put those used sticks back on your plate boy! That's what that little wooden cup is for. See? Put them skewer sticks in there!
Now if you were older son, I'd order you up a beer to go with them stick food items that you're so enjoying with a frenzy.
Nom Nom Nom he's eating away as I'm talking my face off like Foghorn Leghorn
No more Shirley Temples now ya hear? When you order at a fine establishment you gotta order the right stuff. Sake, cold preferably and beer!
So he tells me he was here before, with his cousin and with his Auntie and they ordered california rolls. The ladies henpecked him througout the meal I'm sure.
but at least he got to learn something new and enjoyed something he would have never tried before.
Now we just got to get him some muscle to go with the rest of the getup.
I'm a gonna have to put some back bone into that boy and this was a good start!Listed in: Japanese Food. What it Means…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/23/2009
Although this is not really an Izakaya, it does seem to fit the profile. I've always been a fan of… Read more »
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Review from Hootie J.
Vancouver, BC
10/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Another hidden Vancouver gem, tucked away in a tiny strip mall overshadowed by a sub sandwich shop, you have to look hard to find it but when you do you will probably go back.
It is like a Japanese Tapas house (talk about fusion) They had a few unusual items for the brave, but mostly it was all very tasty and a great Value (I'm All about the Value!)
There was a Sapporo Beer special $10 a pitcher!
Nice that it was not another sushi joint, a bit tiny but it would not be the same if it was any bigger.
I think they spent the whole decorating allowance on the bathrooms, I do not think I have recommended anybody to check out the bathroom but don't forget to check them out! -
Review from Andrew C.
Vancouver, BC
8/11/2011 1 photo
When you arrived to Zakkushi on Main, you will walk into a different world, into the wonderful corner of Japanese culture. The place is decorated like an old Japanese Tapas Restaurant. Cooking meat on sticks may sound like a simple concept but until you try the creations their chefs make here behind those hot blazing bbq grills, you have not tasted real Japanese drinking food.
If you are first comers, try the combo platter, this will give a chance to taste a bit of everything.
And if you like Japanese beer, from now till end of August 2011, a pitcher of Sapporro beer is only $9.99!
Very important thing *** make reservations, this place pack up real fast!!!
Enjoy! -
Review from beki L.
Vancouver, BC
8/30/2011
We ended here randomly because another restaurant that we had a groupon for had CLOSED down! Booo!!
Anyway, it was definitely a blessing in disguise.
I can`t say enough great things about this place.
Completely authentic feel from the moment you step in. The entire staff literally stepped out from a Japanese anime movie, they are all so adorable. Very friendly, soft spoken and helpful.
We ordered so much food. Can I remember any of the names? lol...nope! But I can assure you, nothing you order here will leave you disappointed, NOTHING.
And one last thing, make sure you visit the bathroom. I don't care if you don't have to go, just do it. Thats all I'm going to say....don't want to give anything else away. ;) -
Review from Gord C.
Kitsilano, Vancouver, BC
1/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came hungry, left hungry...I guess this is the Japanese version of bar snacks...small, expensive, really salty and low quality ingredients. $60 for two and we hit McD's immediately.
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Review from Sam L.
12/2/2010
I wish I could give this place three and a half stars, because I think it's better than 3, but not quite a four.
I've been before, both to this location and the one on Denman and I've never really been let down. I came here again a couple nights ago with my girlfriend for dinner and had a great evening.
We got a table right away, even though it was fairly busy and ordered a pitcher of beer while we went over the the fairly large menu - a huge pitcher for $16. Also, you can get a pint of decent beer for $4.30. We ordered several items with full understanding that we would be ordering more. We started with a few skewers, assorted sashimi, nixon rolls and beef tataki, all of which were delicious with the exception of way too much sauce on the beef tataki, which I felt drowned out the flavour of the beef.
All in all, the food was good and presented very nicely, and the server was great - fast and attentive. The problem I have with this place is the price - expect to pay a lot if you're coming for dinner and are hungry. Our bill was quite high, and I was still a bit hungry when we left, as was my girlfriend. -
Review from Christina D.
Vancouver, BC
2/25/2011 2 Check-ins Here
The only reason this place doesn't get 5 stars is because of price. Expect for a big bill if coming for dinner with a good appetite. The skewers can really rack up your bill. I prefer to go here for late night snack/share food and drinks. Service is great and food is tasty. Not recommended for large groups. A great neighborhood joint. When inside the decor, music and atmosphere makes you feel like you are downtown. Be sure to visit the washroom.
5 stars for drinks & lounging -
Review from Amy T.
5/12/2011
This place is usually a 4/5, but the last 2 visits have convinced me to downgrade to a 3/5.
A few of the items were a bit too oily and the beef was too fatty. I had to spit out a piece of beef last night because I couldn't chew it. I did it as politely and quietly as possible, of course. It's a shame because Zakkushi used to have higher quality of food. I hope I have just been having bad luck lately. Other dishes ranged from average to good, but nothing blew me away.
The service is still excellent and the prices are still a bit higher than I would have preferred. -
Review from Maria W.
Vancouver, BC
5/21/2011
No longer a fan of this place. Quality is going down and it's now between 2 to 3 stars.
Went there for dinner earlier last week and decided that I would never order sashimi or beef tataki from there. For their higher price, my party expected good fresh quality. Actually my yelper friend had to return her sashimi piece because it was not fresh. Unfortunately, the restaurant didn't make any apologies or offer her some other compensation.
This used to be one of my favorite Japanese place.
Things that were still good to order - I had the squid sashimi which was on special menu and their specialty of chicken meatball skewers are still great.
I may only recommend this place for their shiso mojito drinks and skewers. And I will go somewhere else for fresh sashimi and beef tataki. -
Review from JJ L.
Vancouver, BC
10/29/2011
This place is hidden and in the same complex as the old Rekkados, now Beefy Beef. Apparently there is a 2 hour seating only, so if you want to drink and eat, you are limited in time. We went with a group of 8 and it was busy so our food took forever. By the time the food came and we ordered more food, it was pretty much time to go. That part I don't really like, but there is always a line up at this place!
It is absolutely tight and cramped. It is hard to get in between other tables.
The food is rather yummy but pricey. Each skewer adds up - but definitely try the kobe beef and mochi - to die for. Something different, but probably not that often.
The parking sucks and I don't get how people think they can double park when you are BLOCKING people in front of you. It is a tight enough lot. There is such a thing as CARPOOL - it is actually good for the environment. -
Review from Dia L.
10/18/2011
I like this place ALOT! I come in and usually their sampler, the two grilled mochi (one is with pork and the other is just cheese) and a rice dish, finished off with a desert and I'm happy go lucky.
Every time I pick up a skewer, I inhale the yakitori like no tomorrow. It smells soooo good. Somebody take this idea, and make a perfume out of this "charcoal bbq scent"
Pros: Food
Cons: opens at 530pm and kinda pricey a -
Review from Janice F.
5/19/2009 ROTD 1/9/2010
By far the most comfortable and largest out of the 3 locations in Vancouver. Eclectic play list - started off jazzy, then to house, and then to slow jams.
Attentive, polite service. Quality appears to be the same as the Kitsilano location - sampled the gomma (black sesame), nori and seaweed chicken meatball skewers and they were as consistently juicy as my previous visit. Also had the sweet potato and lotus root chips with tofu dip - I don't recommend it, the tofu dip doesnt taste like much of anything (I know, it's tofu -- bland, but still - it could be flavoured with a little something).
Also enjoyed the ahi tuna poke - served with avocado and sesame dressing, and sheets of nori to wrap it all up in. But the highlight was the red bean matcha ice cream sandwich! It looks like an ice cream burger, but it's actually two sponge cake "pancakes" as buns. Super cute and tasty. -
Review from Vincci L.
12/16/2009 6 photos
Love Zakkushi for being different. For filling up my stomach with skewers and skewers of yummy food. For allowing me to create my own mixed drinks (rum+lychee+sprite!).
On a random Saturday night, J and I decide to try this Main location out. Tucked within a small strip mall space, we were able to park right outside in its parking lot. (There's only 3 spaces.) Because it was still early, we were able to get a table. It's a much larger space than the one in Kits. Cool decor in the place-cool hanging lamps, with an overall dark wood decor. We were seated in a little booth. Very cute and cozy.
Scouring through their menu, we found the menu easy to navigate-full of pictures and descriptions. We started off with a whole bunch of yakitori-ordering the Zakkushi set, and a whole bunch of others. Got a hamachi belly which was on their specials sheet, as well as a mentai yakiudon, and always, ebi mayo.
Ebi mayo was good, batter was not overdone, with just the right crispness. Greens lined the bottom of the dish, which was a nice finishing touch. Favourite yakitori include Wasa beef-beef with wasabi, cheese yaki-chicken thigh with melted cheese, and p-toro- crunchy and juicy pork. All of them were juicy, and had its own distinctive flavour.
The hamachi was also great. Melt in your mouth goodness. Wish there were more than 4 pcs. I savoured every bite of that. Mentai yakiudon was also delicious, melted bits of cod roe coats the udon....mmmmm...
Food is nicely presented, dishes are cool Japanese style pottery. Great service, and super good food. Another great place for a small dinner and drinks, or a larger dinner with more drinks!Listed in: Irresistable Izakaya.
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Review from Anita C.
Vancouver, BC
This is one of my new favorite places to go .. but not too often.
I think the service was absolutely amazing. The food came quickly and I felt like I had my own personal waiter/waitress.. everytime I needed something there was someone right behind me. Mind you, i was sitting at the "bar" seating.
The kushi's are my favorite thing by far! The cheese mochi maki is to die for ... and anything else that comes ion a stick is delish! I've been to the denman street location and they have more selection of "meats on a stick".
One of their specials right now is the "sticky scream stick" which is a spring roll stuffed with sticky rice and cod. It's flippin delicious!!
Another one of my favorites is the chirashi-don.. (diced sashimi on rice), it has shredded tamago, cucumbers and they give you sesame seeds to grind up mix with soy sauce & wasabi to pour on top of the rice.
I would totally recommend this place and the only reason I don't come here every other day is because of the price. Each skewer is about $1.80-$2.30 and you must order atleast 2 of each so it adds up pretty quickly if you want to try a bunch. -
Review from Annie M.
Vancouver, BC
I been here few times and wasn't feel comfortable at all tonight. When we walked in, we felt very hot already. I guessed they must turned on the heat over 25 degree. Both of us were sweating while we're eating.
The foods were good and tasty. We ordered so many skewer tonight.
Zakkushi Set - 5 skewers (1 beef, 1 chicken thigh, 2 pork & 1 asparagus)
Wasabi Beef, G-Beef - I love it, strong taste in beef - the best one.
Mono - Very tasty & Wasabi Chicken - ok.
Mochi Maki - the sticky rick wrapped with pork.
Salmon sashimi - Fresh and great.
California roll - a bit disappointed coz the sushi rice was quite hard.
Beef Tataki - even worst, the sauce so salty and beef not age enough, quite chewy. -
Review from Ange L.
Vancouver, BC
10/16/2009
Out of their 3 locations, the Zakkushi on Main St is by far my favourite. We had 4 people dining the evening of my visit. Luckily we secured a reservation as the restaurant was steadily full.
I will try to recap some of my favourites from that evening.
"Hotate Carpaccio" - seared scallops with a lovely chilli citrus sauce ($9.00); "Amaebi Sashimi" - so fresh and succulent ($9.00); "Ahi Tuna Steak" - seared perfectly ($12.50); "Mentai Kimuchi Yakiudon" - anything with spicy cod roe is good ($8.00).
You can't visit a "charcoal grill" without having "yakitori" (grilled skewers of meat and/or veg). "Zakkushi Set" - 5 different types of skewers; "Cheese Mochi Maki" - sticky rice wrapped wth pork and cheese on top; "Nori Mayo" - chicken balls wth seaweed and mayonnaise
Worth a visit. Try not to eat too much so that you can sample the desserts! We saw other tables having the "Dorayaki Matcha Ice Cream" - Green tea & Red bean ice cream in Japanese pancake. Looked scrumptious! -
Review from lemon j.
Vancouver, BC
8/8/2011
The food is ok, the service is pretty gd. However, this place is waaaay too cramped, i can barely walk out in between tables, people in the next tables were sitting right next to me which makes it so hard to talk.
I went there with my boyfriend, we first just ordered around 10 skewers just to try out what is gd, the server told us that because it was very busy, the food will take a while to come, so i was expecting maybe maximum 20 min wait. We had our order done at around 8ish, after 45min, 1 skewer came. I was pretty annoyed already that we had to wait almost an hour for 1 skewer, after another 15 min only half of what we ordered came, until we started to rush the server, the rest of our order came within 10 min. we spent maybe 10 min eating but we waited for almost an hour and a half for 10 skewers to come. Huge disappointment because i used to love this place, maybe the zakkushi in downtown would probably be better than this one. -
Review from Adelina W.
Richmond, BC
6/14/2010
I was not impressed by my experience here. Granted we were a huge group, but from the moment we arrived until we left, we were faced with rules, rules and more rules that made it nearly impossible to be happy with the experience.
I'll start off with the food first. I ordered 2 sticks one beef and one pork. The pork one was really good, but a tad too salty. The beef had nearly no taste. I also ordered the ebi mayo which was decent, but the flavour was not consistent throughout the dish. Also ordered the Kakishiso Tempura (oysters) and Mentai Kimuchi Yakiudon. The oysters made me sick - they were very very very fishy tasting. The yakiudon was decent, but nothing to write home about. The best part of the meal was a yaki-onigiri that a friend ordered. All in all, the food was decent, but nothing spectacular.
If left up to the food, this place would probably get 3 stars, but it was the service, or lack thereof, that really makes this place a no go for me. The place wasn't busy. There were maybe two other tables with 2 or 3 people, but it took forever to get food. Our oysters took probably 45 minutes to arrive. The yakiudon even longer. The rest of the table didn't get their food for a really long time too. What were they doing in that time? (perhaps drinking with friends that occupied another table)
I would highly advise you to NOT go in a group (despite them having a separate "party" room). There were so many rules!
a) No separate bills - max they would allow were 3
b) Only can have 8 credit cards run through on the same bill
c) They offered a set combo meal for large groups that can only be provided if you order ahead, but there is NO mention of this on their website so how would you know??
Needless to say, paying was horrible and took forever between us splitting the bill ourselves and their slow slow slow service. The weirdest part is that there is no mandatory 15% tip on the bill - I really don't understand how this place operates.
Perhaps it would be a different experience in a smaller group, and I probably would have cut them some slack if the food was good, but it wasn't. I feel I get better value (and service!) for my money at Guu. I will not be returning. -
Review from Ken K.
Vancouver, BC
12/30/2011
Good food. Great atmosphere. A good place to go out with friends for a beer, or two. Friendly Japanese staff. Can't ask for anything more.
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Review from Jeanne L.
Vancouver, BC
6/1/2010
Another Japanese Tapas place. We found the dishes small and extremely pricey. Don't expect to be full when you leave at $35+/person.
The tapas samples were small skewers of their finest.
Better tasting tapas at Guu.
Quality of food was good but small. Pleasing to the eye but nothing *that* special for the tummy.
Parking was tight (3 dedicated spots only). My car was "stuck" when other patron's car parked illegally.
I wouldn't go back. -
Review from T P.
Vancouver, BC
11/5/2010
My friends and i always go there for late snack. Their food is great, but the service is kind of on and off... Sometime they seem to forget to take the order. Overall, it is a good place to go hang out with friends!
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Review from Niki K.
Vancouver, BC
5/7/2009
solid izakaya
neighbourhood joint, no hassle of goin to kitsilano or denmann, it is a great place for japanese food.
excellent food and service -
Review from Yolanda N.
1/1/2010
This is a good place to stop before or after a night of drinking! I was up visiting and I must say this is a MUST when you are in BC! Yummy and really light food plus the atmosphere is awesome high energy and really nice decor! It's pretty expensive so expect to drop a couple bills! Oh and dont expect to get in right away as with any good place there is ALWAYS a wait time :)
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Review from Koto K.
Vancouver, BC
2/23/2010
Feels like you're in Japan! They were advertising large group parties for $25 a head plus discounted large beers. Ordered the assortment of grilled skewers, all were tasty. Friend ordered the Savory bowl which I got to sample and enjoyed. Would love to go back and try other stuff!
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Review from P C.
Vancouver, BC
6/30/2010
I've dined at its Denman location a couple of years ago and had some great izakaya food, so when I discovered this Main St location, I was quite curious to try it. Here's my review:
Parking - 3 stars (only 3 spots in the parking lot, but there's free street parking on 24th Ave or Main St)
Service - 4 stars
Food - 3-4 stars depending on what you order:
Apple wrapped with bacon: 4 stars
Tofu dip with lotus root and yam chips: 4.5 stars (0.5 for creativity)
Chopped salmon and avocado on garlic bread: 4 stars
Bonito carpaccio: 3 stars (a bit too fishy and serving temp was too cold)
Yaki-onigiri (2 pcs): 3.5 stars
Zakkushi set (5 skewers): 4 stars
Oropon chicken meatball: 4 stars
Ebi mayo (3 sticks x 2 prawns): 4 stars
Considering our total was $45 before tips, I think it's a reasonably priced izakaya restaurant. Of course, this amount of food is just right for the 3 ladies, so don't come here when you're extremely hungry. Or, just add more rice/noodle/carbs to complete your meal.
The only thing I wished was that we had not consumed the food so slowly, as the meat on skewers is meant to be eaten right away in order to enjoy its optimum taste and texture.
I'm quite sure I'll be back again, when I crave a real izakaya place but don't want the hassle of going downtown.
