Top 5 sushi and Japanese restaurants in Vancouver

Vancouver Magazine gave Okeya Kyujiro gold for upscale Japanese in both 2024 and 2025. The magazine's judges called the experience magical and immersive in 2024, with freshly grilled unagi and cross-hatched toro. In 2025 a judge wrote it was more than dinner, with traditional prayers, hand carving and a tea ceremony.

• “The omakase experience left our judges raving. Theatrical, over-the-top service recalls kabuki elements; dishes like freshly grilled unagi or delicately cross-hatched toro steal the show.”

  Vancouver Magazine, the Editors · best-of list · May 6, 2024 (opens in a new tab)

• “From the traditional prayers, hand carving skills, traditional tea ceremony and more, this is more than dinner.”

  Vancouver Magazine · best-of list · May 5, 2025 (opens in a new tab)

• “Known for its high-end omakase and theatrical execution during service. Around 20 courses made from ingredients sourced largely from Japan.”

  Daily Hive, Marco Ovies · feature · October 4, 2025 (opens in a new tab)

Vancouver Magazine gave Kishimoto gold for casual Japanese restaurants in 2024, writing it is where you go when you want stunning Japanese dishes in a comfortable neighbourhood setting. Narcity listed it among Vancouver's best sushi restaurants in May 2024.

• “gold winner Kishimoto is where you go when you want stunning Japanese dishes in a comfortable, neighbourhood-y environment.”

  Vancouver Magazine, the Editors · best-of list · May 6, 2024 (opens in a new tab)

• “Kishimoto in Vancouver is a small restaurant that serves creative and delicious sushi as well as modern twists on Japanese classics.”

  Narcity, Asymina Kantorowicz · best-of list · May 24, 2024 (opens in a new tab)

Vancouver Magazine's 2024 Restaurant Awards gave Masayoshi silver for upscale Japanese, calling the fish beautiful with exceptional knife skills. Daily Hive's 2025 Michelin map noted chef Masayoshi Baba spent over a decade at Tojo's before opening this intimate room for omakase. Daily Hive named it the best Japanese restaurant in North America in November 2026.

• “Nigiri is specialty; each exquisite creation a jewel of a bite. Beautiful, pristine fish, exceptional knife skills, impeccable plating”

  Vancouver Magazine, the Editors · best-of list · May 6, 2024 (opens in a new tab)

• “Chef Masayoshi Baba sharpened his sushi skills at Tojo's for over a decade before setting up his own intimate room devoted to omakase”

  Daily Hive, Marco Ovies · feature · October 4, 2025 (opens in a new tab)

• “At Masayoshi in Vancouver, our omakase follows the seasons. We bring together Edomae-style sushi and British Columbia's seafood.”

  Daily Hive, Marco Ovies · news · November 5, 2026 (opens in a new tab)

Photo: Masayoshi's website

Vancouver Magazine gave Sushi Hil bronze in its 2024 casual Japanese awards, writing that chef Hilary Nguy's expert execution and commitment to sophisticated simplicity set the place apart. The magazine named it bronze again in its 2025 Japanese restaurant awards for spicy toro sashimi and Hokkaido scallop steamed in sake butter. The Georgia Straight's Golden Plates 2026 placed Sushi Hil second in the sushi category.

• “the limitations of the menu only highlight chef Hilary Nguy's expert execution and commitment to sophisticated simplicity”

  Vancouver Magazine, the Editors · best-of list · May 6, 2024 (opens in a new tab)

• “Expert execution on sushi and sashimi, with delightful takes like spicy toro sashimi and Hokkaido scallop steamed in sake butter.”

  Vancouver Magazine · best-of list · May 5, 2025 (opens in a new tab)

• “2. Sushi Hil”

  Georgia Straight · reader award · June 4, 2026 (opens in a new tab)

Photo: Sushi Hil's website

Vancouver Magazine gave Tetsu Sushi Bar bronze for upscale Japanese in 2024 and silver in 2025, noting its 12-seat omakase room and chef Satoshi Makise's quiet elegance and superb craftsmanship. Narcity listed it among the best sushi restaurants in Vancouver in May 2024.

• “Offers excellent omakase with 12 seats. Chef Satoshi Makise delivers quiet elegance and superb craftsmanship.”

  Vancouver Magazine, the Editors · best-of list · May 6, 2024 (opens in a new tab)

• “may be the most incredible bite of sushi I have had all year.”

  Vancouver Magazine · best-of list · May 5, 2025 (opens in a new tab)

• “Tetsu Sushi Bar is an upscale Japanese restaurant that serves an intimate dining experience to its customers.”

  Narcity, Asymina Kantorowicz · best-of list · May 24, 2024 (opens in a new tab)

Photo: Tetsu Sushi Bar's website