I love sushi and heard many times that Vancouver has some of the freshest/best sushi around. Anyone have any good recommendations of places to try out? I’m not into the high end places (spend $100 and walk out still hungry). I like all-u-can-eat but typically order nigiri and not so much rolls.
There are so many here that it’d be tough to list them all or even just the good ones. Heck, even the bad sushi in Vancouver is still pretty good (which is saying something).
Even though you’re not into the high-end stuff…Tojo’s is still worth a shot if you’ve got the time/cash. He’s credited with being the inventor of the california roll. Often called the most expensive shushi you’ll ever eat of the cheapest 4-star meal you’ll ever eat.
If you’re near kits pool, there’s a place called Octupus Garden on cornwall just west of burrard. They’re pretty good, but I don’t think they’re all you can eat. (I’ve found that all-you-can eat doesn’t provide great value for me, it’s usually not wild salmon, so I’m not the best source for all-you-can-eat). Downtown there’s a ton of little holes in the wall. In Sinclair Centre there’s stand called Miyako that’s fantastic (and cheap).
Really, let us know where you’ll be in the city and you’ll get better answers. If you’re going to be on the north shore I could let you know two or three really good, decently priced places.
Good luck, and have fun in vancouver.
What part of Vancouver are you looking for? That will narrow it down. A bit!
If you’re looking for good sushi, I would recommend against all you can eat. You don’t tend to get the best sushi as they’re more focussed on quantity, not quality. I’ve found find I can spend the same or less ordering from the regular menu and get better quality food and be just as full at the end of the meal. I eat a lot and can pack away a ton of sushi!
A place like Tsunami on Robson downtown is fun - you can sit at the bar and take what you want off the boats that go by in front of you. I like Oysi Oysi on Alberni, also downtown, it’s close to my work and the staff are super friendly. They don’t do anything stupendous but their prices and food quality are good. Ask around and you’ll get a different favourite spot from pretty much everyone.
Look for a place that is busy - Vancouverites are picky about their sushi so an empty restaurant can be a bad sign. Also, a busy restaurant has a higher turn over and you’re more likely to get fresher fish (not always though).
There is a huge difference between wild and farmed salmon, be willing to pay the higher price for wild salmon as it tastes significantly better.
Great - thanks. I am currently in near the airport (Richmond) but for the next 3 days I’m in a hotel just over the bridge, north of Stanley Park. So I’m close to downtown. I’ll check out this Miyako place first and save Tojo for last. I remember hearing Tojo was a very good place.
Ok, if you’re going to be in a hotel north of Stanley Park, you’re in West Van. That means you can head to North Van and hit a couple of really good sushi places. There’s a place on Lonsdale (and 19th-ish) called Honjin. It’s routinely rated one of the top sushi restaurants in the lower mainland (and is not super-pricey either). Another one just down the street (Lonsdale and 10th-ish) called Aka-Tom-Bo. They do a ton of creative rolls and their sushi is soe of the best rolled that I’ve had.
A new place just opened on Lonsdale and 2nd called Bella Sushi. I’ve only been there once, but it was good and had some crazy things. They had a banana roll (that was crab, banana and daikon, rolled, then had chocolate sauce on it. so weird, but abtually pretty good); a bacon roll (fortunately the bacon was cooked - that also had chopped scallop); and a couple of other things that I haven’t seen anywhere else.
Good luck, and good eating.
Well, being an East Van-er myself, I find the best sushi places are in East Van. Excellent quality, and half the price of other good places in downtown, Kits, etc.
My favourite is Tentatsu on Hastings (at Nanaimo). The thickest, butteriest salmon sashimi you’ll ever find. Mmmm…
But really, you’ll have a hard time going wrong. Even going to one of Vancouver’s “lesser” sushi places still blows away sushi from most other cities I’ve eaten it in.
I agree with what many people have said - it’s tough to find “bad” sushi in Vancouver (though I have succeeded once!).
If you’re specifically into all-you-can-eat, I understand that one of the better places is Tanpopo. I’ve never been there before but I’ve had friends rave about it.
I ate at some of the best places I’ve ever been to in Vancouver. Can’t remember the name of one of them. Killer, killer sushi, even some rumours of having blow fish every once and again. I’m jealous.
I know its not sushi, but try to find the breakfast place that serves dessert waffles. MMmmm
Another ‘high-end-ish’ place to try is Kamei Royale on Burrard at Alberni. Very tasty.
I ate at some of the best places I’ve ever been to in Vancouver. Can’t remember the name of one of them. Killer, killer sushi, even some rumours of having blow fish every once and again. I’m jealous.
I know its not sushi, but try to find the breakfast place that serves dessert waffles. MMmmm
Cafe Medina on Beatty St. Right next to (and run by the operators of) Chambar, one of the absolute best restaurants in the city.
Speaking of Vancouver - I am going to be there in about a week with the wife and kids (two teenagers)
What is a good part of town to stay in for a little peace and quiet with public transport to the downtown and Stanley Park? Staying 2-3 nights, up to about $150 a night. Any properties in mind?
I know this is a tough one to answer . . . but I don’t know where to start.
bamm! that’s it! I nearly died laughing when we all were done with (first) breakfast and the waitress was like, “and who’s having waffles?”.
We ate at Chambar as well and I completely agree with you about it being the best. I think we were there at midnight and they gave us french fries that were killer!
What’s the sushi joint that has the dark interior and the rough hewn beams showing? Trying to remember what the amazing dish was there that we had.
We were there for the international fireworks art display. Pretty insane.
Vancouver was instantly on my list of places I would move to. Saw an ocean kayak strapped to the top of a smart car there, very Dr Suess looking.
My God your city is beautiful!!! And so is every girl I’ve seen. I am taking a plane ride from the harbor tomorrow just to see it from the sky. Is there some sort of city ordinence that says that if you are female and overweight or ugly that you have to live somewhere else? This place is awesome! But I have 1 question - did 1 guy design every building in downtown?
I’m going to start sounding biased based on my North Van recommendations, but if you’re looking for some peace and quiet and easy access downtown, try staying either at the Pinacle Hotel or the Quay Hotel. They’re a quick seabus ride downtown, bus access right there to everywhere (including Stanley Park, Capilano Suspension Bridge, Cleveland dam, etc.)
It gets you out of the hustle and bustle of downtown but you’re really close to everything.
I’ve been to that place once before. I’ve only done allyoucaneat sushi at two places (the other is somewhere on Robson), and Tanpopo was better. I would rave about it, but for allyoucaneat, I’d for sure go back.
Don’t fear what’s on the other side of the bridges. 
As wonderful as North Van is, there’s more of Vancouver to explore!
And take it easy on those standing shifts! 
My God your city is beautiful!!! And so is every girl I’ve seen. I am taking a plane ride from the harbor tomorrow just to see it from the sky. Is there some sort of city ordinence that says that if you are female and overweight or ugly that you have to live somewhere else? This place is awesome! But I have 1 question - did 1 guy design every building in downtown?
If you really want to hurt yourself, go to Kits Pool. 
I’ve been to that place once before. I’ve only done allyoucaneat sushi at two places (the other is somewhere on Robson), and Tanpopo was better. I would rave about it, but for allyoucaneat, I’d for sure go back.
I think “rave” was in context of all-you-can-eat. Certainly not the ultimate in sushi, but supposedly better than most AYCE joints. Another decent option is Shabusen - you can get AYCE sushi as well as Korean BBQ there.
I was going to comment on how good the sushi is in Salt Lake City but I accidentally clicked your name instead of the thread title and shit my pants. Well played.
Speaking of Vancouver - I am going to be there in about a week with the wife and kids (two teenagers)
What is a good part of town to stay in for a little peace and quiet with public transport to the downtown and Stanley Park? Staying 2-3 nights, up to about $150 a night. Any properties in mind?
I know this is a tough one to answer . . . but I don’t know where to start.
There are several B&B’s deep in the West End - the older residential side of downtown - that probably fit the bill and some will actually be walking distance to Stanley park. Google ‘Bed and Breakfast West End Vancouver’.