Tetsu Sushi Bar

Vancouver’s West End has a wealth of exquisite omakase experiences. Tetsu is a standout among them for a few reasons:

1. It’s been around longer than some
2. It has been recognized among the top 50 restaurants in all of Canada
3. It has consecutive years of Michelin recommendations

But the reason that I particularly like Tetsu is because you can enjoy a wonderful omakase experience while sitting at a table for two and enjoying intimate conversation, rather than feeling like you have to be focused on the chef preparing each dish. (The restaurant is tiny—twelve seats total, of which up to four may be at the sushi bar.)

That’s not to say that the food is not still the primary focus. Everything that we had was absolutely delightful, and the variety made the meal consistently interesting without getting into what I sometimes call nigiri fatigue. 

I particularly found the miso soup at the start of the meal a good example of what makes for a great omakase. The serving was just enough to really enjoy the flavors without getting too full to enjoy the coming 20 courses. There was a complexity to it that I have not encountered in any miso soup before. 

This was followed by an assortment of appetizers that were each distinct and unique among all of the omakase experiences I’ve encountered. As is often the case, sometimes the seemingly simplest things are the standouts. I was particularly fond of the corn chowder that came with this course. 

I also really liked the decision to serve nearly all of the nigiri dishes in pairs. Rather than being handed nigiri one at a time, as is so often the case in an omakase restaurant. Here two pieces are plated together allowing you to compare and contrast the subtleties between the different preparations. 

It would be hard to pick a favorite amongst all of the nigiri served. There were a total of 14 offerings, and each had a distinct place in the sequence (with the possible exception of the spot prawn, which I still find to be a gooey mess). 

Certainly, the octopus was by far the most tender I had ever been served. It had been simmered, but still, I’ve never had octopus that melted in my mouth before. The citrus pepper paste served on the Hokkaido scallop was another standout. My wife, who doesn’t particularly like eggs, was surprised that the Tamago (which had been torched to create a brulee on top) was among her favorites. 

Many 20-course meals end with a succession of desserts, each trying to top the previous one. Here they instead picked what I think was a stellar way to end the meal with a flavorful and yet light white coffee pudding. 

In the end, we felt we had had just the right amount of food and certainly had gotten our $200 worth from this remarkable experience. 

It’s difficult online to determine what the beverage offerings are, so we had brought a bottle of champagne, which I always find to be the perfect accompaniment for sushi. It turns out that they do have a limited wine list that includes one champagne, and the pricing is reasonable. If you like sake (which we don’t particularly care for), there is an extensive sake list available. 

The service was certainly Michelin-caliber: precise, friendly, and informative. This is definitely a restaurant we will be returning to time and again.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/tetsu-sushi-bar-vancouver

Coast Restaurant

Same excellent service and management as Black and Blue, next door.

We came at lunch time on Sunday, when it is also happy hour. What a great deal! Wines by the glass for $5, and great small plates.

The sushi assortment was perfectly prepared, with a nice mixture of rolls, nigiri, and sashimi.

The salmon flatbread was also notable, made with mascarpone instead of the usual feta or ricotta. Perfectly crisped crust.

We’ll definitely be back. Happy hour on weekdays starts early, at 2pm, and there is also a lobster dinner Sunday evenings.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/coast-restaurant-vancouver

Sushi Hyun Omakase

No question this is the top omakase restaurant in Vancouver, and one of the top ten in North America. It avoids the pitfall of many omakases by providing a great mixture of preparations, all executed masterfully by Chef Ju Hyun Lee and his talented staff.

From sashimi to nigiri to broths, cooked dishes, cakes, ice creams and even a fascinating fried rice course where the leftovers get turned into a delicious soup, the twenty or more courses consistently stay interesting and delicious.

The elegant simplicity of the interior, chill background music, and perfect service combine to make this an experience you won’t forget. The price is quite reasonable given the rarity of the ingredients–nearly everything fresh from Japan.

A thoughtful wine list and extensive sake list provide excellent accompaniment. Highly recommended.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/sushi-hyun-vancouver

Joey Bentall One

I love this upscale restaurant without the upscale prices. If there isn’t something on this menu that you want, you’re not hungry! It was really hard to choose between all the interesting appetizers, salads, and mains. 

We settled on the spicy crab dip, which was perfect–probably the best I’ve ever had, and served with wonderful grilled sour dough toast.

For my entree I had the yellowfin tuna salad, a wonderful, almost deconstructed combination of rare tuna, perfectly ripe avocado, mango peanuts, and greens served with a perfect champagne dressing.

It’s hard to believe this is a small chain, as the food and service have all the marks of a very passionately managed restaurant. Highly recommended.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/joey-bentall-one-vancouver-4

Kiku Sushi

Of all the sushi places in the area, this one seems like the nicest restaurant inside. The ceilings are at least 30 feet, and the decor is great. It has a great expensive feeling. The menu is fairly extensive. For lunch, I think either the combo deal or the bento boxes are the way to go. it’s really nice to be able to get a lunch deal that includes your choice of three completely varied items at a reasonable price.

The quality and variety of fish is excellent.

Service was prompt and efficient, and everything was delicious. This is a new favorite in the neighborhood.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/kiku-sushi-vancouver

Miko Sushi

This is the best sushi in the area. The place is charming and very authentic. The menu is extensive, to say the least. There’s the main menu, a lunch menu, and then the walls are covered in specials.

We went at a busy lunchtime and sat at the bar. The two sushi chefs were hustling. I had the 18-piece deluxe sashimi combo because that’s the way to judge a place’s fish. Everything was top-notch.

Service was friendly, and pricing is reasonable.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/miko-sushi-japanese-restaurant-vancouver

Miku

This beautiful restaurant overlooking the cruise ship dock at Canada Place serves terrific high-end sushi.

We had the Deluxe Shokai lunch. It included miso soup, three starters (scallop, salmon, and tuna sashimi; seared scallop in cream sauce; seared wagyu with Bernaise), ten pieces of sushi (rolls, nigiri, and Aburi Oshi sushi), and dessert. It was a lot of food for $75.

Our favorites were the scallop sashimi and seared scallop, but everything was delicious.

Service was very friendly, and the view can’t be beat. Outdoor seating is also available, but some of the subtleties of the food might be lost out there.

Full bar and extensive wine list. Maybe ask to not sit near the bar if you don’t like the sound of cocktail shakers!

https://www.yelp.com/biz/miku-vancouver-2

Hello Nori – Robson

This is an original sushi concept where hand rolls are prepared to order from a fixed menu consisting mostly of pre-prepared fish tartares. We tried the five-roll lunch, and the standouts were the scallop roll and the yellowtail roll. I also had an eel roll that was excellent. It was the only roll that involved a more traditional preparation of sushi, where the fish was seared to order. Service was fast and friendly.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/hello-nori-vancouver-3