Vancouver is home to some of the finest Japanese restaurants in the world and is a great city to visit if you love sushi, noodles, and fusion cuisine. From the center of downtown to the beautiful and scenic Kitsilano and Whistler Village, the best Japanese restaurants in Vancouver embark diners on a stellar culinary journey.
Whether you’re in the mood for an entertaining live chef teppanyaki experience at a Japanese-style steakhouse, or MICHELIN-starred sea-side dining in Coal Harbour for a memorable special occasion, Vancouver serves up the very best that Japanese cuisine has to offer.
Say “itadakimasu” at these standout Vancouver spots and book your table on OpenTable today.
The very best Japanese restaurants in Vancouver – read on for a guide
For a stunning waterfront Japanese restaurant – visit Miku Restaurant in Coal Harbour
Situated in Coal Harbour’s stunning waterfront is the MICHELIN-starred Miku Restaurant, offering top-notch sushi and sustainable seafood with serene views any time of the year. From the mind of international restaurateur Seigo Nakamura, Miku is widely known as the place to go for aburi sushi in Vancouver. Miku’s flame-seared sushi aburi specialty includes salmon oshi sushi and oshi sample, featuring two pieces of salmon, ebi, and saba oshi. Go for the coursed menu by the roll, or taste your way through signature sushi collections and platters. Other highlight menu options include the lobster risotto and the aburi Wagyu steak. Cap off your memorable dining experience by satisfying that sweet tooth with a caramelized banana apricot with white chocolate apricot mousse, or a chestnut pear mousse with pecan cacao nib tuile, and caramelized chestnut created by head pastry chef Isabelle Valencia. Miku’s menu is as stunning as its scenic location, making for a meal you won’t soon forget.
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For fresh seafood and creative dishes – visit Minami Restaurant in Vancouver’s Yaletown
Minami Restaurant in the iconic and happening Yaletown is a stylish Japanese destination that specializes in sustainably caught fresh fish and seasonal locally sourced ingredients. Taste your way through the signature collection of sushi, including the bluefin redwave roll and the ocean roll. For a premium option, the Wagyu-lobster oshie is an elevated take on a traditional sushi roll, featuring wagyu beef and lobster tail. The minami martini with butterfly-pea sheringham kazuki gin and the Kyoto sparkles with citron vodka, obaachan yuzu-shu, and elderflower syrup, are a perfect pairing to the enticing menu. Cap it off with the orange crème brûlée with miso caramel cream, and cassis gelée, or hojicha apple fondant with hojicha cream, and roasted cinnamon apple for dessert, each infused with traditional flavors and ingredients. Its cultural wall art encompasses the dining room, setting the mood and vibe at one of Vancouver’s best Japanese restaurants.
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For a sizzling Japanese BBQ experience at one of the best Japanese restaurants in Vancouver – visit Gyu Kaku in Downtown and Richmond
Japanese BBQ has become one of the more fun and immersive dining experiences to choose from, and Gyu Kaku is a standout destination for exactly that, with its buzzing Downtown and Richmond locations where you can grill all-you-can-eat meat with family and friends. Diners can either choose from an à la carte or a course menu, each offering a wide selection of raw meats to grill, as well as small plates, salads, and soups. Don’t miss the stellar Wagyu menu, featuring premium cuts of meat and courses for two. Gyu Kaku’s drink menu is a lovely compliment to its selection of meats, from Asahi drafts imported from Japan, to house sake, and signature cocktails like the lychee mojito with gin, lychee, lime, mint, and soda, or the Tokyo iced tea with shochu, peach schnapps, grenadine, and orange, pairing beautifully with your endless intake of seasoned meats.
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For a mouthwatering Japanese-style steakhouse – head over to Kobe Japanese Steakhouse in downtown Vancouver
A dynamic and entertaining dining experience awaits at Kobe Japanese Steakhouse with a top-notch teppanyaki performance by traditionally trained chefs. The teppanyaki experience is fitting for any occasion and makes for a memorable night out with a group or an entertaining date night. Diners can choose between a single selection of protein that includes filet mignon and sirloin steak, or a duo combination that comes with a seafood mix such as the surf’n’turf. Both options come with Japanese soup, salad, seasonal mixed vegetables, grilled noodles, fried rice, and an assortment of famous Kobe dipping sauces.
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For a night out at a Japanese hotspot – don’t miss Raisu in Kitsilano
Raisu in the scenic Kitsilano area is a fashionable Japanese hotspot with Kotatsu-style seating, traditional tables in Japan that are said to create a serene and zen atmosphere. Menu highlights include signature bentos, aburi sushi, udon for both vegetarians and meat eaters, and enticing rice bowls. Order the Kobe Wagyu surf’n’turf with rubbed grilled lobster tail, served on a hot stone, for an outstanding dish that you won’t soon forget. A la carte options like the famous chicken karaage and yuzu tuna tatake are also encouraged when tasting your way through Raisu’s traditional, exquisite menu. Don’t skip dessert: the matcha chocolate terrine with white chocolate and the souffle cheesecake with a fresh fruit sauce resemble both the culture and the richness of Japanese flavors.
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For one of the best Japanese restaurants in Vancouver for an izakaya experience – head over to Suika-Vancouver in Kitsilano
Suika-Vancouver is an izakaya-style snack bar in Vancouver’s gorgeous Kitsilano area, boasting splashy interiors showcasing a hanging bottle chandelier and creatively plated traditional dishes. Start your experience with Suika’s selection of tapas, including the wonderful kanimiso crab butter fries or the ebimayo, a prawn tempura served with tartar and hot sauce. Diners have the option of set menus featuring seafood options like tuna tartar and seafood chirashi, or udon noodles, ramen, or rice dishes like bibimbap, all of which include your choice of proteins. All of these pair perfectly with Suika’s selection of cocktails like the yuzu lemon calpico with Japanese citrus lemon syrup and Calpico or mojitos like the lychee pineapple with homemade lychee pineapple syrup, bringing a traditional flare to the popular bar favorites.
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For a hibachi-style experience with performing chefs – be sure to try Teppan Village Japanese Steakhouse in Whistler Village
Regarded as one of Whistler’s most unique dining experiences, Teppan Village Japanese Steakhouse is a charming teppanyaki and hibachi-style steakhouse serving an impressive selection of steaks, sushi, and seafood. Prepare to be dazzled as the performing chefs sizzle meats and seafood right before your eyes, playing tricks with you and your food that you have likely never seen before. Its sleek, urban atmosphere sets the scene for a wonderful night out with a group or for a lively date night. Starters include filet mignon, Atlantic lobster, Hokkaido scallops, and tofu steak. Diners can also select the signature menus such as the village which includes 4-ounce New York steak, tiger prawns, Hokkaido scallops, and teriyaki chicken. Sake cocktails are a hit to pair with your meal, with choices like strawberry sake margarita with sake, margarita and strawberries, or a Nakano pear martini with Nashi pear sake, vodka, and lime. Teppan Village’s social and welcoming atmosphere and seating arrangement make for an easy choice when trying to decide where to go for that special occasion, or on any given night.
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For one of the best Japanese restaurants in Vancouver for kaiseki-style dining – visit Yuwa Japanese Cuisine in Kitsilano
Yuwa Japanese Cuisine in Vancouver’s West End is a product from the mind of chef and co-owner Masahiro Omori, bringing kaiseki-style dining, the marriage of outstanding service, top-notch local and seasonal ingredients, and expert knowledge of fine wine and sake. Recommended by the MICHELIN guide as one of the very best Japanese restaurants that Vancouver has to offer, Yuwa’s rotating menu focuses on local seasonal produce. Expect seasonal specials like local fresh oysters, bluefin tuna and kinmedai (golden eye snapper), maki and nigiri sushi rolls, and an assortment of Japanese tapas. Pair this with one of their extensive, premium sake or wine choices, one of the highlights of Yuwa’s menu. The elegant Kitsilano restaurant is sophisticated and offers an intimate Japanese experience that is perfect for a romantic date night.
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For one of Vancouver’s very first sushi restaurants – visit Tojo’s Restaurant in Fairview
Tojo’s Restaurant situated in Fairview is one of Vancouver’s very first sushi restaurants, specializing in sushi and omakase meals, a traditional style of dining where the diners leave it up to the chef to select and prepare seasonal specialties. Although the dishes are inspired by Japan, they have a Pacific Northwest influence. The omakase experience comes in tiers, but all coming including surprises. Although you should expect the unexpected, what you can expect with each omakase is seasonal vegetables, a catch of the day, an assortment of sushi, Wagyu steak, and a Japanese-style dessert. The elevated fine dining experience brings a flare and presentation unlike any other before. Sit back and enjoy, you’re in good hands.
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For a memorable izakaya experience – head over to Guu Original Thurlow in Downtown
Guu Original Thurlow is regarded as the pioneer of izakaya (Japanese pubs) in Vancouver, and known to be as close as you can get to a traditional Japanese culinary experience. The bustling tapas-style menu features Japanese hot pots, salads, and appetizers like negitoro (tuna sashimi). The BBQ lamb and beef tataki are lovely meat options, as well as seafood specialities such as takoyaki and spicy calamari. Although it features mainly snack-style servings, hot plates like BBQ eel rice or wonderful shareables like the modern yaki, a deep-fried Japanese pancake with tonkatsu sauce and yakisoba noodles, are wonderful main options. For dessert, diners can select from the sweet cream daifuku or the yuzu cheesecake, with green tea ice cream to put a bow on your izakaya tasting experience.
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From dazzling and entertaining performances by teppanyaki chefs to one of the oldest storied sushi and izakaya restaurants, Vancouver is home to a Japanese food scene as diverse as the cultures within. Whether you want to celebrate a special occasion with an elevated fine dining experience, or simply go out for a casual night out downtown at a Japanese snack bar, we’ve got you covered with this carefully curated list of the 10 best Japanese restaurants in Vancouver. These traditional restaurants will take you anywhere from the picturesque Whistler Village to Coal Harbour’s stunning waterfront, each encapsulating the depths of flavor and prestige of Japanese cuisine.
