The Best Casual Japanese Restaurants in Vancouver 2024
Gold: Kishimoto
There’s an abundance of cheap-and-cheerful sushi spots on the Drive, but gold winner Kishimoto is where you go when you want stunning Japanese dishes in a comfortable, neighbourhood-y environment. Chef Akira Kishimoto embraces local ingredients through an uncompromising Japanese lens: you’ll find plates of seasonal tempuras, perfectly grilled succulent B.C. sablefish collar and binchotan charcoal-grilled mushrooms served beautifully but without pretension.
2054 Commercial Dr.
kishimotorestaurant.com
Silver: Stem Japanese Eatery
Over in Burnaby, find silver medallist Stem Japanese Eatery to be committed just as passionately to a sense of place. Comfort food executed elegantly (see: the staub gohan, a seasonal spectacular served in a piping-hot casserole dish) is the name of the game here. Whatever is offered in croquette form—order it.
5205 Rumble St., Burnaby
stemjapanese.ca
Bronze: Sushi Hil
Sushi Hil has a more narrow focus (sushi and sashimi), but the limitations of the menu only highlight chef Hilary Nguy’s expert execution and commitment to sophisticated simplicity.
3330 Main St.
sushihil.com
Honourable Mentions
Dosanko and Miku are our honourable mentions: Dosanko is an ode to Japanese home cooking, while Miku has continued to hone its aburi game.
Dosanko, 100–566 Powell St., dosankorestaurant.ca
Miku, 70–200 Granville St., mikurestaurant.com
