Vancouver is a beautiful city with a diverse population. There are many great places to visit and delicious food from all over the world to try!
If you’re looking for a truly memorable dining experience, Omakase お任せ(pronounced “oh-mah-kah-say”) is the way to go.
Omakase is a Japanese word that means “I’ll leave it up to you,” and it’s typically used for ordering a meal at a sushi restaurant.
With omakase, you’re putting your trust in the chef to create a one-of-a-kind meal based on what’s fresh and in season. It’s an amazing way to enjoy sushi, and it’s also a great way to get to know a chef’s style and technique.
Interested in trying omakase in Vancouver?, here are 17 spots that you’ll love!
Tojo’s Restaurant
Throughout his culinary career, Chef Tojo has earned a reputation as one of the most accomplished and respected chefs in Japanese cuisine.
His passion for experimenting with new flavors and cooking techniques led him to pursue a career in the kitchen, first working as a chef in a Ryotei, an elite traditional Japanese restaurant.
Even at this early stage of his career, Tojo demonstrated tremendous talent for creating innovative dishes that challenged traditional culinary conventions. Seeking more creative opportunities, he moved to Vancouver, Canada in 1971. And become the first chef who introduces omakase to Vancouver since then.
At Tojo’s Restaurant, Chef Tojo offers a seasonal omakase menu that features the freshest and best ingredients available. The omakase menu changes frequently, so there’s always something new to try!
This fall Yorokobi Omakase is available for $220 per person, which included:
- Sashimi – Fresh selection of local and imported seafood featuring today’s Best Catch
- Owanmono – Organic Japanese Kabocha squash soup. Seasonal root vegetables & mushrooms
- Mushimono – Canadian Smoked Sablefish. Lightly steamed, with seasonal mushrooms
- Kaisen – Fresh Atlantic Lobster. Prepared with wafu sauce
- Sushi – Assortment of fresh local and imported seafood paired with Tojo’s perfectly prepared sushi rice
- Dessert – Japanese dessert for wrapping up a wonderful meal
And if you want to add a more luxurious touch to your omakase, Yokozuna Omakase is way way to go. It is available for $330 per person and featured in the course is a premium selection of seasonal fish from Toyosu market and Miyazaki Wagyu steak.
SO, let’s make your omakase reservation today and enjoy the meal of a lifetime at Tojo’s Restaurant!
Address: 1133 W Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6H 1G1
Omakase Price: $220 per person not including tax, drink, gratuity
Information and Booking: https://tojos.com/
Masayoshi
One Michelin Star Restaurant in 2022, Masayoshi is the only omakase-only restaurant in Vancouver, providing Edomae-style sushi omakase experience.
Edomae-style sushi is a type of sushi that originated in Tokyo in the early 1800s. It’s made with fresh, seasonal seafood that’s been marinated in vinegar and salt to improve its flavor and texture.
The omakase at Masayoshi is a true work of art by Chef Masayoshi Baba who working in the sushi industry for over 30 years. His love and passion for sushi are evident in every dish he creates.
Nigiri Omakase is available for $195 per person and includes an appetizer, 10 pieces of nigiri, miso soup, and dessert. Due to the very limited seats per day, it is better to take reservations on the Masayoshi website in advance.
Address: 4376 Fraser St, Vancouver, BC V5V 4G3
Omakase Price: $195 per person not including tax, drink, gratuity
Information and Booking: https://www.masayoshi.ca/
Ancora Waterfront Dining and Patio – False Creek
With its focus on sustainable seafood and locally sourced ingredients, Ancora is a restaurant that embraces the harmony of Peruvian and Japanese cultures while incorporating the bounty of the West Coast.
This commitment to culinary diversity is reflected in the restaurant’s menu, which offers a wide range of flavors and techniques to suit all diners’ tastes.
Whether you are looking for traditional dishes or modern twists on classic favorites, Ancora has something to offer all palates in a casual yet sophisticated setting.
For the chef’s tasting experience at Ancora, led by executive chef Sebastian Delgado, diners will enjoy 6-courses of the chef’s by using premium ingredients like bluefin tuna, scallop, lobster, sablefish, and wagyu to create unique and memorable dishes,
It will be 2-hour that you enjoy traveling around Peru and Japan without leaving Vancouver.
Address: 1600 Howe St #2, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2L9
Price: $195 per person not including tax, drink, gratuity
Information and Booking: https://www.ancoradining.com/falsecreek
Blue Water Cafe
Blue Water Cafe is a seafood restaurant located in the heart of Yaletown, Vancouver. The menu features an array of fresh, sustainable seafood with a focus on local and seasonal ingredients.
The main highlight here is the Raw Bar where you can find an impressive selection of oysters, clams, scallops, and lobster. The seafood is so fresh plus it always feels better when seeing the chef work in front of you.
If you are in the mood for seafood, Blue Water Cafe is the place to go. The omakase menu is available and the prices will be depending on what seafood is in season. It is a great way to try a variety of seafood dishes and see what the chef can come up with.
Address: 1095 Hamilton St, Vancouver, BC V6B 5T4
Omakase Price: $$$ (price will be depending on what is in season)
Information and Booking: http://www.bluewatercafe.net/
Sushi Bar Shu
Sushi Bar Shu’s focus is on creating dishes that exceed the expectations of our customers. For over 18 years, talented chef Hyunki Shin has honed his skills under respected culinary masters both in the United States and Japan.
Drawing on research and knowledge of seasonality, he creates simple yet sophisticated dishes using only the finest ingredients.
With a passion for exploring the “why’s” behind different flavors, Chef Shin is committed to providing diners with an authentic experience of Japan’s renowned culinary scene.
Omakase at Sushi Bar Shu is available for $188 per person and includes 3 kinds of appetizers, 3 kinds of Chef choice Sashimi Tasting, Miso soup, 12 pieces of sushi, Atsuyaki Tamago, Negitoro handroll, and Dessert. The experience here will be a night to remember.
Sushi Bar Shu takes reservations from diners only, please reservation 3 days in advance.
Address: 8099 Granville St, Vancouver, BC V6P 4Z5
Omakase Price: $188 per person not including tax, drink, gratuity
Information & Booking: http://sushibarshu.com/
Yuwa Japanese Cuisine
At Yuwa Japanese Cuisine, guests can enjoy an elegant, creative take on regional Japanese cuisine, paired with one of the city’s best selections of artisan sake and wine.
Led by Chef Masahiro Omori and Sake Sommelier Iori Kataoka, this celebrated restaurant sets the standard for fine dining in Vancouver, using only the highest quality local and seasonal ingredients to create a truly unique culinary experience.
With expert knowledge of wine and sake from around the world, our talented team at Yuwa will help you discover your perfect pairing for every course.
If you looking for kaiseki-style Yuwa has it. For $150++ per person, you will enjoy a multi-course meal based on seasonal produce. You can check the latest seasonal dishes in Yuwa Japanese Cuisine on Instagram. Enjoy your meal with sake pairing from one of the best sommeliers in Vancouver.
Address: 2775 W 16th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6K 3X5
Kaiseki Price: $150++ per person not including tax, drink, gratuity
Information & Booking: https://www.yuwa.ca/
Kissa Tanto
An Asian Fusion restaurant located in Chinatown, Kissa Tanto is brought to you by the same team behind Bao Bei Chinese Brasserie. This retro restaurant will bring you back in time with inspired by 1960s Tokyo jazz cafes. Haruki Murakami’s novels fans will love this place.
Inspired by the love story of a Chinese chef and Italian beauty, Kissa Tanto pays homage to the cross-cultural relationship between Japanese and Italian cuisine.
The menu is ever-changing but some fan favorites include the Uni Carbonara, made with uni cream, pancetta, and 63-degree egg yolk; the Wagyu Beef Carpaccio, served with shaved truffles, micro arugula, and 24-month aged balsamic vinegar; and the handmade Tonkotsu Ramen.
Kissa Tanto has an omakase menu that is available for parties of two or more. The omakase menu is $120-$150 per person and includes a variety of starters, mains, and desserts.
Address: 263 E Pender St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1T5
Omakase Price: $120-$150 per person not including tax, drink, gratuity
Information & Booking: http://www.kissatanto.com/
Botanist
Set in the historic section of downtown Vancouver, Botanist is an inviting space where guests can enjoy a seasonal menu of creative dishes inspired by the coast and its bounty of fresh ingredients.
Under the direction of Executive Chef Hector Laguna, Botanist’s kitchen team creates beautiful plates that highlight the restaurant’s commitment to sustainable seafood and foraged ingredients.
The drinks menu features an inventive selection of cocktails, as well as an extensive list of wines and beer from local and international producers.
Botanist offers an omakase-style menu We’ll Take It From Here, which is a multi-course chef’s tasting menu that changes daily, based on what’s freshest and in season. The omakase menu is $145 per person with optional wine pairings available for an additional $70.
Address: 1038 Canada Pl, Vancouver, BC V6C 0B9
Omakase Price: $145 per person not including tax, drink, gratuity
Information & Booking: https://www.botanistrestaurant.com/
Osteria Savio Volpe
This place may not be Japanese cuisine omakase but it offers one of the most memorable Italian omakase-style dining experiences in Vancouver. (Let’s chef cook for you)
Osteria Savio Volpe is an osteria-style eatery that uses the finest local ingredients from nearby lakes, oceans, farms, and fields to create rustic yet sophisticated dishes.
Everything is made from scratch here, with hand-made pasta prepared fresh every day and meats, poultry, and fish kissed by smoke over the wood-fired grill and rotisserie.
And of course, there’s a fantastic selection of wines and old-world coffee to keep the conversation flowing with friends, family, and fellow foodies alike.
The main dinner course here ‘Alla Famiglia’ is to let the chef cook for your family in Italian style. It is a multi-course meal served family-style for $75 per person (a minimum of two people required).
If you crave Italian food and don’t want to think much when choosing the menu, Osteria Savio Volpe is the place to visit.
Address: 615 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC V5T 3K5
Price: $75 per person not including tax, drink, gratuity
Information & Booking: http://www.saviovolpe.com/
Minami
Located in Yaletown, Minami is one of the most popular omakase spots in Vancouver. Minami is part of Aburi Restaurants Group, which is also behind the popular Aburi Sushi and Miku restaurant
This modern Japanese restaurant offers a seasonal omakase menu that features the freshest fish and seafood from Japan, as well as locally sourced ingredients.
The omakase menu Minami Shokai is a 5-course meal that includes a chef’s selection of sashimis, wagyu carpaccio, chef’s selection of sushis, main course, and green tea opera cake for dessert.
The omakase menu is $89 per person, a quite reasonable price for the quality of omakase you’ll be getting.
Address: 1118 Mainland St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2T9
Omakase Price: $89 per person not including tax, drink, gratuity
Information & Booking: https://minamirestaurant.com/
Sushi Bar Maumi
Looking for an affordable and refreshing alternative to traditional sushi omakase? Look no further than Sushi Bar Maumi, a tiny counter run by Chef Maumi Ozaki.
Sitting elbow to elbow in this small room, diners are treated to a rapid-fire procession of expertly prepared nigiri by Ozaki, who uses minimal wasabi and nigiri to perfectly dress each piece of fish.
With its quick service and no-frills approach, Sushi Bar Maumi is the perfect option for diners looking for a serious sushi experience without the hefty price tag of only $90 per person.
Want to see Chef Maumi in action? take reservations for omakase in advance. Only 10-seats per session are available.
Address: 1226 Bute St Vancouver, BC, V6E 1Z8
Omakase Price: starting from $90 per person not including tax, drink, gratuity
Information & Booking: https://www.sushibarmaumi.ca/
Miku Restaurant
Want to taste traditional kaiseki courses with a modern twist? Then you must check out Miku Restaurant, one of the most popular kaiseki spots in Vancouver.
Miku is known for its Aburi-style sushi, which uses a blowtorch to slightly sear the fish and give it a smoky flavor. The omakase menu here features a selection of both traditional and Aburi-style sushi, as well as other dishes such as Wagyu tataki.
The kaiseki menu at Miku starts from $120 per person for six-course and $165 per person for seven-course.
While it is on the pricier side, the kaiseki here is definitely worth the splurge.
Address: 200 Granville St, Vancouver, BC V6C 1S4
Kaiseki Price: starting from $120 per person not including tax, drink, gratuity
Information & Booking: https://mikurestaurant.com/
Octopus’ Garden Restaurant
Octopus’ Garden is a hidden gem located in Cornwall near Kitsilano Beach, a short drive from downtown Vancouver. This unassuming spot is run by chef Sada who serving seasonal & fresh Japanese food to Vancouver since 1993.
The omakase menu here is a seafood lover’s dream, featuring the uni shooter, 4 kinds of appetizers, Japanese wagyu, Japanese uni, sashimi, sushi, soup, main course, and dessert for $200 per person which is only available for 6 people per day.
This place also featured a lot of premium ingredients like truffle, caviar, lobster, foie gras, sea urchin, bluefin tuna, king crab, and wagyu. Wine, sake, Japanese whiskey, and other alcoholic drinks from international.
Octopus’ Garden might become a luxury night for some people, but it will be definitely an unforgettable omakase experience in Vancouver.
Address: 1995 Cornwall Ave, Vancouver, BC V6J 1C9, Canada
Omakase Price: starting from $200 per person not including tax, drink, gratuity
Information & Booking: https://www.octopusgarden-canada.com/
The Sandbar Seafood Restaurant – Hoshi Sushi Bar
The Sandbar is one of the most popular seafood restaurants in Vancouver, known for its fresh and sustainable seafood. The sushi bar here is led by Tsutomu Hoshi.
With over ten years of traditional training in Japan, Tsutomu Hoshi is an expert sushi chef with extensive knowledge of the art and craft of making this delicious dish.
Hoshi Sushi bar in the Sandbar Seafood might not be available for omakase every night. But if you sitting at the counter, you might see Hoshi-san craft skillfully nigiri one by one in front of you.
Address: 1535 Johnston Street, Creekhouse #102, Vancouver, BC V6H 3R9
Omakase Price: $$$
Information & Booking: https://www.vancouverdine.com/sandbar
Lobby Lounge Raw Bar
The Lobby Lounge & Raw Bar at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Vancouver is one of the most popular omakase spots in the city. The omakase menu here is guided by Chef Masayoshi Baba, who achieved one Michelin star this year.
The omakase menu at the Lobby Lounge features a selection of nigiri sushi, sashimi, and maki rolls. The omakase here start from $95 per person for lunch and $125 per person for dinner. You can enjoy eating and watching the talented chef who’s trained by master Masayoshi Baba.
Address: Floor 1 1038 Canada Pl, Vancouver, BC V6C 0B9
Omakase Price: starting from $95 per person not including tax, drink, gratuity
Information & Booking: https://www.lobbyloungerawbar.com/
Sushi Jin
Chef Jin has over 25 years of experience in sushi making worldwide, and he’s been trained by some of the best sushi masters in Japan. The omakase menu here is a fusion of traditional Edomae sushi and contemporary artistic flair.
The omakase at Sushi Jin is fixed at $300 per person with imported premium ingredients from Japan. Every piece of sushi is worthy to be Instagrammed, and the omakase experience here will definitely be one of the best in Vancouver.
Address: 750 Nelson St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1A8
Omakase Price: $300 per person not including tax, drink, gratuity
Information & Booking: https://sushijin.business.site/
Tetsu Sushi Bar
Mastering in Shari & Sakana (Japanese rice& Fish) Tetsu Sushi Bar brings the freshest fish from the Toyosu market (New Tsukiji Market) and other Japanese ingredients to Vancouver for making the best omakase experience like living in Japan for you.
Chef Satoshi who leads Tetsu Sushi Bar will make omakase nigiri sushi with fish depending on the season and availability. The omakase here start from $195 per person for a full 15-course meal.
Address: 775 Denman St, Vancouver, BC V6G 2L6
Omakase Price: starting from $195 per person not including tax, drink, gratuity
Information & Booking: https://www.tetsusushibar.com/
Vancouver has the most omakase spots per capita in North America. You can find omakase places everywhere in the city, and the omakase experience is definitely one of the best things to do in Vancouver.
There also has an omakase in Canada outside of Vancouver, such as in Richmond, Toronto, and Montreal.
Have you been to any omakase or kaiseki restaurants in Vancouver? Share your experience with us in the comment below!
