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Zest Japanese Cuisine
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
8 reviews for Zest Japanese Cuisine
8 reviews in English
-
Review from K P.
5/21/2012
We were impressed...finally reached our vacation about ten mins away after a long journey from Seattle where we munched the whole way, so reaching Vancouver we took an hour or two to relax and then decided we wanted something light for dinner. Found this place on OpenTable and we were to make a reso easy least.
Service was friendly if a little slow, but it's late on a Sunday sonocomplaints from us. The sushi was good. We had the crunchy ebi roll and the three amigos roll, both were delicious, actually amazing! Very well made and fresh fish and not overwhelming on the rice.
The hamachi sashimi and the tuna and salmon sashimi were really good. Excellently cut and decent sized slices.
Nigori sake was a little pricey, I don't know if that's this area or this place. But we stuck too beer so no problem.
The one thing that was disappointing was the salmon roe. It didn't really pop. Well, it didn't pop full stop. I'd recommend staying away from that, but that's the only thing I'll tell you to stay away from. The uni nigiri was delicious. Oh - not sure if it's norm for the area, but the nigiri is served in single portions. I've never seen that before, and what went from being reasonably priced nigiri ($3/piece) priced out at $6 for two pieces, had I know that before hand i would have stayed away from it as typically $4-$5 for a pair if my threshold. But in the grand scheme of things, I'd still go back for the rolls and sashimi. -
Review from Kenneth E.
Vancouver, BC
2/15/2012
Guess it's all relative; good food and all, but for the same $ spent, I'd rather just go to Suika or Gyoza King, maybe more of a comfort thing. Just not enough stars for me to promptly return again, whereas I can munch on ebi mayo and gyozas twice a week if I could afford to lol.
One thing though that was impressive is the sashimi. Right temperature feel when chewing, smooth texture; you just know it's super fresh at these japanese-operated cuisines.
But the pork sushi roll was ok, and the Kani Special nigiri was actually tasty too, but for $4, hmm...
Scallop & sauteed prawns were good, w/ lots of garlic butter.
Duck Carpaccio was better, w/ some minced pinenuts & onion as a nice touch.
All of the above for $80 and not exactly full but it was a nice decor, a date-worthy place to impress.
though the decor was fine-dining style, didn't have any character or distinctiveness. -
Review from Dean A.
Burnaby, BC
2/13/2012
I've dined here about a half dozen times in the last few years. But with two kids now, we don't get around much.
However, having said that, with February being our wedding anniversary month and of course St. Valentine's Day, we decided to throw caution to the wind and venture out with new born and 2 year old.
The zensai (appetizers) were deeelish. 5 unique individual servings of things ranging from sashimi, renkon roots, uni/yam shooters, mmm. darn good. And wine they brought out with it matched perfectly. (Black Hills Alibi)
I had the beef, my wife had the salmon and risotto. Both accompanied by another selection of fine BC wines (Black Sage Cabernet Franc for me and I think the wife had a pinot grigio from Sumac Ridge?)
Anyway, the beef was to die for. Simply one of the best I've ever had. I think it's their Valentine prix fixe special (go now! hurry!)
I had an assortment of sushi to finish off my dinner.
I highly recommend. I think it's the best Japanese in town. Better than Tojo. If you love fresh sushi, sashimi, and wine like me, Just ask Tetsu to put together a pairing dinner. You won't be disappointed. -
Review from Betty L.
11/6/2010
I haven't been to Zest in awhile. Recently I went there to celebrate my birthday with my family and the food was just as good as I remembered it. I like the low key, clean modern looking environment. The servers and sushi chefs were really nice and friendly. I love their presentation of their food, it's very striking.
I loved their gently cooked monkfish liver with a housemade sauce. The texture is firm but smooth and it tastes like foie gras. I guess it's an acquired taste. For more conventional choices, the fluffy chilli prawn wasn't greasy and batter was light however the sauce was a bit salty. The agadashi tofu was pretty good. The sauce was almost like a light soup. It was served on a long dish and the tofu were in a nice little sauce bath. One bit of it with the sauce was just amazing. Their sashimi were nice and fresh and it came on a plate with four sections and each fish had it's own sauce. Very unique!! We didn't even have to use the wasabi at all! The portions for the sushi rolls were generous and didn't have too much rice in it. Once again the presentation for each type of sushi was really eyecatching. I love the spider roll and spicy tuna roll.
Along with the amazing food, we each had a few shots of sake and that made the meal very complete. Can't wait to go back!! -
Review from Annie M.
Vancouver, BC
When we walked in to the restaurant, I knew this is fusion one and different than the others. The food presented very nice and fusion. Of coz, most of foods are very creative. However, the Sashimi not fresh enough and sushi rice not stick and soft.
I didn't not expect the prices with such quality food and quite disappointed.
Sashimi:
Sockeye Salmon - Fresh and ok.
Yellow tail - Fresh and slice thin
Blue fin tuna $30 for 5 pcs - Not fresh enough which not worth it.
Rolls:
Rainbow roll $16 - Didn't look good as website picture and tasteless
Dragon roll $14 - Presented nice and taste ok.
Cone:
Chopped spicy scallops cone - taste awful!! The scallop taste fishy and it charged for $7.
Eel bowl of rice: Only 4 pcs of Unagi for $16.
Sushi:
Live Prawn, Octopus, Flying fish roe were good. But not the geoduck - very fishy which is not fresh at all.
The waitress are very nice and attentive. -
Review from Tim L.
8/16/2008
Hey notice all those Japanese students and other people who've come from Japan eating in here?
It must mean it's good and authentic! That's exactly what it is. More modern and contemporary and bordering on izakaya style, their various dishes are all very satiable.
The geoduck salad has a natural sweetness to it and is to die for! -
Review from Gretchen C.
Vancouver, BC
9/14/2011
Bored of sushi restaurants on Broadway? Six blocks up stands a small, snazzy sushi place on sixteeth by the name of Zest. It is more expensive than the typical hole-in-the-wall sushi place found scattered around in Vancouver, but the quality is completely worth the price. The fish is fresh and there is a variety of sushi on the menu, from nigiri (the hamachi is excellent), to specialty rolls (such as Yellow Magic: a salmon and avocado roll, wrapped in thinly sliced mango). Another speciality roll that is terrific tasting is the Rainbow roll: slices of tuna, salmon, hamachi, ebi, white fish are over avocado, cucmber and real crab in a roll. This roll gives you a little taste of everything. As an appetizer, the gomae (Japanese spinach salad) is superb. The Soba crab rolls (buckwheat noodles and crabmeat wrapped with seaweed) is a lot more bewitching in writing; a bit bland but... interesting.
Again, a bit pricey for sushi, but you can definitely taste the freshness of the fish and the quality of the roll. An upscale and modern ambiance - perfect for a date, special occasion, or if you just want to try something new. -
Review from Shelley V.
12/28/2009 1 Check-in Here
I love this place!!
I have had the good fortune to eat here several times with my not-in-laws and have enjoyed every meal.
This time around, I had the Chili Shrimp and an order of Zaru Sobu served HOT.... noodles were perfect! The Beef Aburi is very very good as are the oyster selections Zest carries.
Zest carries some specialty dishes ala Matsuhisa or NOBU but put their own twist into the creation. They also serve all the old standby bento boxes and rolls/sashimi offerings.
Definitely check this place out - it is a little pricey but a nice atmosphere and great service....
