Beautiful Location, Fantastic Menu

This is *not* one of those churn-and-burn type of places. You will not get your sushi extra fast or extra cheap. What you will receive here is professional service, and some unique menu items you may not typically find anywhere else. Being in business in Vancouver since 1963 also says a lot.
We were a party of four, with two... more

Great for lunch and dinner

I have been to Aki twice now, once for dinner with my wife and grandkids and once for lunch with a friend. Food and service on both occasions were excellent. My grandkids have some food allergies (food needs to be gluten free) and the restaurant had no problems in ensuring that everything we ordered was edible for them. I believe... more

Experience Soured in the details

I went to Aki Restaurant based on a suggestion from the Concierge at the Sutton Place Hotel. Figuring that she would not lead me astray, I took my brother for dinner. Walking in, the room is nothing spectacular, it looks like it used to be a lounge of some sort and they turned it into a Japanese restaurant. There was... more

Tasty maki rolls and saki

Our concierge at the Hyatt Regency on Burrard recommended Aki on West Pender when we asked for a good sushi spot. We loved it. Fresh and tasty and recommended!V

Good to be back

After being a regular at their old location on Thurlow, I missed a goooood sushi and finally made it to their new location last week. It took about 15 minutes to realize what I was really missing! Everything was as good as always. By far still the best sushi guys in town. Good to be back and see you soon... more

A very nice Japanese restaurant

I have gone to the location on Thurlow for many years but only gone to the new location on Pender once recently. I am a little disappointed. I like the decoration and ambiance of the last location a lot more. The feeling of being in Japan is gone. Don't get me wrong. Aki is still an excellent choice for a... more

Original traditional japanese cuisine

I've been going to Aki when it was in Japan town. I liked their second location on Thurlow much better, but the food makes up for it.Their lunch sets are a bargain, my favorite is the black cod set. Dinner offerings include
BBQ goeduck and conch and fresh sashimi such as aji and spot prawns.

A Great Traditoional Japanese Restaurant in Vancouver

This is one of the very last few Japanese restaurants in Vancouver that serve authentic traditional Japanese dishes from the kitchen. Very professional and experienced Japanese chefs, fresh foods, friendly servers, comfortable environment, reasonable prices, great selections on the menu ... what more can I say? Make sure to make reservation, even on a week day.

Very Fresh

Good sushi, very good sashimi. Not as delicately cut as some places but didn't take away from the flavours at Good service, good house saki. Service was excellent and efficient.

Ha, I'm the duke of Aki!

I haven't gone there since Corey Hirsh was a Canuck. Or was that Glen Hanlon? Or since Corey Hart was popular.

About a month ago or two I went to the new(ish) location in Coal Harbor. I've been back a lot I imagine, because I'm the duke. I remember their location on Powell, then the one in the basement of that parking lot on Alberni. (The one that had Karoake next... more

I'm writing this halfway through my meal, which is lovely, but the service is not so amazing. Our server is sweet; but I've had my food for 15 minutes and several member of my table have not yet been served, which is awkward. I'll be finished before they get served.

Update: the two dishes we were missing (now 35 minutes after I received my food) have been delivered, but they're cold. The hot... more

Food dead-on - as some of the other reviewers have mentioned the black cod here is like nothing I've tasted anywhere else. My coworker introduced me to this place and I can't thank her enough. Last time I tried the baked whole mackerel - delicious!!

Got a funny feeling about sushi restaurants run by people other than Japanese descent? So do I. This place is Japanese owned and run. You won't be... more

I had heard that Vancouver had great Sushi and after walking around in rain for about 30 minutes, I stumbled onto this place. Not only was the sushi great but it was probably some of the freshest fish that I have had in a while. I would recommend this restaurant for anyone wanting to get their sushi fix. Watch out for the wasabi though as I used WAY too much and felt the effects of it bringing... more

This place has been around my corner for a couple of years now but for some reason I hadn't ventured out to it as with the overwhelming number of choices for sushi on Robson I tend to navigate south as opposed to north when the craving calls for it.

I decided to give this place a try on a rainy Tuesday night, thinking it'd be empty. On the contrary it was filled with Japanese business men... more

I heard nothing but amazing things about this restaurant and to be really honest, it was quite a disappointing experience. I ordered: Seaweed Salad, Gyoza, Short Rib and Kappa Maki. The Seaweed Salad was ice-cold and had been pre-portioned in the fridge. Not nice. The short-rib, gyoza and maki were good. Things got weird after that...we ordered the Deep Fried Oysters and what was served was... more

Great Food, Nice Feeling

Aki is a small Japanese restaurang in downtown Vancouver. They make great sushi and restaurang feels really cosy. Service is fast and friendly.

Vancouver's Sushi Pioneer - Tribute to Aki Takeuchi San

Some of you may find this review a bit long, sorry, but I felt this is a minimum to honour a great innovator: Aki Takeuchi.
Born 1935 in Steveston, B.C., he was a regular kid until World War II escalated, and the Japanese Canadian community was enveloped in animosity and racist attacks. The Takeuchi family fled to Osaka, Japan prior... more

* previously 3 stars*
Based on my last experience I thought it would be a great place to go with a girlfriend to catch up and have some great sushi.

We arrived a little before they opened for dinner service, but they were very friendly and we sat in the waiting area while they got set up. Once seated they were still very attentive - almost overly so. We were asked if we were ready to order... more

My friend who goes there often suggested we leave our regular go-to izakaya style restaurant (Kingyo) and come here.

I loved it. Completely different, yet fabulous in every way.

Had a six different dishes from sushi to tempura to rolls. We asked the talented chefs with the sharp knives and quick as lightning hands to prepare us a variety of dishes and specialties that they liked. They went... more

This restaurant use to be good when they were located in other place,
Our family went this place last week...
The service was good but food was just ok
I've better sushi with this price .... but robata was very good...
I think they should stop sell sushi and sashimi maybe only Robata and tempura only

I liked dinner, but lunch was disappointing.
We will go there again to try other dishes though:)

Best Japanese food around

I take anyone who visits me over to this restaurant, since it never disappoints. My favourite is the Black Cod, but last time I got the Nabeyaki udon noodle soup, and loved it. Always the best ingredients, and the prices are reasonable!

lunch specials

I had a sushi platter for $11.95 as part of the Aki lunch special. This is a large restaurant with a bar area and the staff were very attentive and polite. The fish was fresh and it was truly a delightful lunch.
NOTE: the restaurant is now on 1368 West Pender St, Vancouver

A reliable place for lunch. They have a great variety to suit all tastes. Box A is everyone's favourite; i have to force myself to try other things, and i'm never disappointed.

Other great things to try: chicken teriaki, butter salmon, and my personal favourite...beef and tofu. Don't forget to spoon some of the brothy sauce onto the bowl of rice.

We always go before the lunch rush. The... more

'Meh. I've experienced better'. --- that's what Yelp gives as the description as a two star rating. I feel bad giving this place only two stars, but that was exactly my feeling when we walked out.

The service was fine, but the food was forgettable and the sashimi just wasn't that fresh. We should have known as we walked in - the place was slightly fishy smelly, always a bad sign in a sushi... more

The freshest, tastiest sashimi I've ever tasted. The menu lacked a bit of creativity, but everything we had was yummy & fresh!

Amazing food. Staff could have been a bit more helpful

The atmosphere at this place was great, although the menu kind of overwhelming. Of course you'd rather more choice than less! As I have found a vast difference between the size of these izakaya-style dishes at different places, I was looking for a bit of guidance from the waitress about how much food we should order. Unfortunately, she wasn't very... more

Very Good

We went to this restaurant for my son's birthday as he really likes sushi. We the atmosphere pleasant and quiet. The sushi bar must be excellent because most of the seats had been reserved. While my son eats sushi, we do not but did find other items on the menu that were excellently prepared. Service was great, fast but friendly.... more

I was very excited to visit this restaurant b/c a good friend of mine has recommended it. She was raving about it as if it was the BEST sushi place in town. Unfortunately, I was left with abit of disappointment. Yes, their sashimi is fresh but it wasn't the best thing I've ever had. Maybe it depends on what you order.

We had a girls night here and we ordered a bunch of stuff. We had sashimis... more

Was craving some cold noodles and came to Aki at the recommendation of their Zarusoba, which did turn out to be pretty good. The raw quail egg added an unusual texture. And the buckwheat noodles had good bite.

Black Cod (robata), which is highly raved on Yelp, was alright. Nothing phenomenal imho. Be careful as there were lots of big fish bones.

Chawan Mushi (steamed egg custard), another... more

Good food, but average

We found this restaurant, close to our hotel, based on a tripadvisor search. When entering the restaurant we were greeted warmly and set immediately. The waitress was helpful in explaining the menu. We ordered two appetizers, sushi/sashimi, and one guest ordered a cooked entree. One appetizer, edemame, came out quickly. Next the Sushi and then the Sashimi. At one point... more

amazing

We ate here three times during the week we visited Vancouver. The atmosphere, service, food, and value cannot be beat. We thoroughly enjoyed each of our meals here.

Real value

Our family enjoyed dinner at Aki Restaurant in early April. We all loved the food, including my husband who is Japanese. The yakitori (skewered chicken) is the best I've ever eaten. My son said that his tonkatsu (fried breaded pork cutlet) was excellent, and we all agreed that the sushi was very good. The restaurant was attractively decorated and the... more

This is either the oldest or one of the oldest Japanese restaurants in Vancouver. I preferred their previous location, which felt like you were stepping into Tokyo. The new place is more high-end and modern, but doesn't feel like it has a lot of personality. But the food has not changed.

This place has one of the best lunch deals in town - and I usually don't stray far from their grilled... more

Authentic Japanese food. And sushi, too.

The people who come to Aki and only eat sushi (and subsequently write reviews only about the sushi) are missing out on what makes Aki unique. It's one of very few 100% Japanese owned and operated restaurants in Vancouver, and as such offers a huge variety of Japanese dishes that are hard to find elsewhere. Frankly, there are better sushi restaurants... more

A great find in the West End

This was a great place to have a light meal. Portions are generous and perfect for sharing. From the moment we entered the door we were welcomed and cared for. We had fresh crab California rolls that melted in our mouths. All this and efficient and friendly service too! The Sushi bar looks inviting. Maybe tomorrow!

I was very disappointed. We sat at the sushi bar and ordered sushi. It was terrible worse than mediocre. We left feeling hungry and not satisfied.

Went here during a night on the town. I of course checked here on yelp before going. The reviews seemed good so I decided to go for it.

The place is very swanky. Great effort was put into making this room shine.

For drinks it was tea and sprite in this party

Salmon sashimi was amazing. Nicely cut and super fresh. BC roll was crispy inside. The sauce was a but runny but the flavour was great.... more

in love of their sukiyaki!! feel like what i tried in Japan!! very good!! very cool place to chill and drink sake and eat real japanese food!

Amazing black cod

Had black cod with rice comes with miso soup me ebi sunomono excellent service and amazing food!!! Busy at lunch so call for reservations!

Solid Japanese food. Good grilled squid, black cod, mackerel, ... Their old location had much more weight and charisma, however. This new location seems somewhat not as genuine and friendly. The staff are still very nice and friendly, however, except that the sushi chefs seem too busy to chat with or order from... more

We were a group of 8 people and had a nice evening sharing food. As always, some were good, some bad, but the overal impression was very positive. It's a nice place off the most busy of areas. I would go here again.

My recent experience was terrible I asked for a starter and main course starter and requested for starter first then main course but they messed it up and I explained to three servers and they still didn't understand. The food was average and I would definitely not recommend this place. Based on food and service .

U know they are a legit decent Jap place when they have monkfish liver and an assortment of sashimi. Okay, my partner hates liver type stuff, but this is awesome japanese cooking.

We had an assorted sashimi over rice, which included 8 types of sashimi (including the large and small masagos). Seriously, even a regular salmon sashimi tasted really food, full of lots of fresh flavor, and it was... more

Aki has always been one of my favourites. Before when they were still at their old location (thurlow and alberni), I used to visit them every week or so (since it's close to my work place).

Servers are very friendly and helpful. I understand it does get busy during lunch hours, so I tend to reserve regardless of how many people are going.

Love their grilled black cod (or any grilled food in... more

Great authentic Japaneese

Glad we decided to try this place in our new neighbourhood. It was almost full on Friday night but we managed to get a nice table without reservation. The service was great but not intrusive and the food is probably among the best Japanese we had outside of Japan. The menu has a wide selection of great Japanese staples, everything... more

We had a double date with a Japanese couple who recommended Aki as the place for traditional Japanese faire. We let them do the ordering and they did not disappoint. They ordered mostly standard dishes, but one's that we had never tried like yakitori, fried taro balls, and burdock root.

We noticed the quality of ingredients were very fresh. The service was great and attentive.

Solid place for... more

I was there for lunch a few weeks ago.
My sister recommended me to try the "black cod" set lunch.
Black cod was good, very tasty!!!
Service is not bad, could have been better. But u know, I understand that it could get a little busy during lunch time, what can you do.
I would go back to try more food next time.

Great Sushi

The sushi was great, and very reasonably priced. You will not be disappointed if you like sushi. Good atmosphere, staff was very friendly and courteous.

HIt it out of the Park

This quoting the recommendation we got from the concierge at Sutton Place Hotel where we staying. And they did. Friendly, clean with a comprehensive menu for the American and Japanese sushi lovers alike. We were told there might be a wait but there wasn’t. Quiet enough to be able to talk, just very comfortable. The fish was incredibly fresh and... more

Excellent sushi, great service

Greeted at the door by Brian, very friendly and professional Japanese-American, think he was the manager. Lots of staff, no wait, TVs over the bar if you like sports :) Sockeye salmon sashimi was fantastic, BC roll really good too. Light-battered tempura with top-notch vegetables and prawns. Highly recommend this place, great alternative to the long lines on Denman.

I returned to Aki restaurant tonight and had a chirashi sushi once again. It was excellent once again. Sushi chiefs gave me a soy source braised black cod for free. It was also great. I keep my review as it is. Aki is the best Japanese restaurant in town from my (or Japanese) point of view.

Aki Japanese Restaurant was one of my favorites on Thurlow and Alberni in Vancouver Downtown. For one I felt it offered more traditional flare and cuisine authenticity. You would find a charcoal grill, red lanterms, wooden tables, and tatamis. After that location closed down they have relocated on 1368 West Pender, in Coal Harbour, very close to Lift Bar Grill View, Cardero's, and Soirette... more

Authentic Japanese

This is a family run Japanese restaurant with an exhaustive menu. Sushi, aburi, Robata etc
Everyone including those that do not eat sushincan enjoy this place. Great decor only a festeps from the bustle of Robson St

I love the new location for Aki. There's a comfortable sense of spaciness with the higher ceiling, and the decor is more modern than the woody and humid basement setting they originally had.

I came with a party of 16-18 people for a wedding anniversary and the servers were incredibly efficient and friendly towards us!

Food-wise, the sashimi was fresh, the robata items like the chicken skin... more

Better than ever

Aki's new location on West Pender is bright and airy but the highlight continues to be the quality of food and service. I was distraught when the restaurant was forced from its Thurlow Street location and greatly relieved that it has resurfaced better than ever.

So... a new Aki. Wife was meeting some of her co-workers there, so I tagged along (I'd been to the old Aki a few times... and it was always pretty good. Never stellar, but pretty good). The new place... well... seems more... generic restaurant. The old one was a little run down looking, but had a nice 'from Japan' type feel to it. The new place is a sterile 'anything' restaurant type decor. The... more

AKI is the BEST japanese restaurant in Vancouver and I couldn't be more thrilled that they changed locations and are now in Coal harbour. I dined at their previous location on thurlow st. two years ago and had been dying to come back ever since.

Happened to stop by Aki restaurant by pure luck and I'm glad I did. The dinner we had was simply exquisite.
What differentiates this place from other local sushi joints is the quality of the food being served: fresh, fresh, fresh and prepared to perfection.
The menu is extensive with all traditional Japanese dishes you can think of. We tried quite a few dishes from mushi to sashimi, to donburi... more

Glad to see it's back and close to me

I've been going to Aki since it was first opened in Japantown at least 30 years ago. Then to Hastings street when I lost touch. I'm pleased to see it back on West Pender where I walk by everyday and stop in at least once a month.
The food is as good as I remember it - extremely fresh sushi,... more

I've always heard good things abt Aki so when i got a chance to try it with my friend i was really excited.

When we got inside it was pretty busy. Despite a few empty tables the woman at the front told us there would be a half hour wait. So we decided to get take out. While we were waiting to put our order down, a party of 3 came in. The staff greeted them by name and after they asked if they... more

GUYS, AKI IS BACK.

For those who haven't read any reviews from old Aki: Aki is an amazing traditional Japanese restaurant with a great history going back nearly 50 years. I come here primarily to have their nabeyaki udon (best in town, hands down) and their cooked fish dishes. Can't really speak to their sushi, never come here to eat that.

How new Aki is different from old Aki: The decor is... more

Fantastic authentic Japanese

New location is great, the food as good as ever. Going back regularly.

one of the best

they are definitely one of the best japanese restaurant in vancouver downtown.Location is great,food is awesome and they provide you a huge variety of choices.

Many changes. Not for the better

We hadn’t been to Aki for awhile. Hubby called to make reservations for Sunday. We drove downtown, found a parking spot and plugged $5.00 in the meter. We walked to where Aki used to be on Thurlow only to discover that it was no longer there. We called Aki on our cell phone and we were told that they had... more

Aki new location

My favorite Japanese restaurant in Vancouver has reopened at their new Pender Street location. Authentic, affordable and now in nice new premises.

Aki's is my go to place for Japanese food in Vancouver. Nothing fancy like all the modern fusion izakaya's that are popping up everywhere. Just authentic, traditional Japanese food done extremely well. I've been dining at this restaurant ever since I was a kid when there were maybe only a handful of Japanese restaurants in Vancouver, and have followed them from Powell St, to Thurlow, and yes,... more

Luckily this little gem will be opening in May or June on West Pender Street just west of the Melville intersection.

At almost 50 years, let's hope it goes another 50.

If you call the phone number for Aki's on Thurlow it says they will be reopening in May 2012 at 1368 Pender St. Vancouver...Yippee! Love their Beef Butter Yaki.

great first impressions. except for the fact that i had to walk down a quietly eerie corridor.

i met up with a friend for lunch. the moment i walked in, wonderful wafts of food smells tantalized my senses. it was such a welcoming entrance. the staff was energetic. the decor was very japanese and added to the atmosphere. it was quite busy and i was glad we had decided to make reservations the... more

I came here with a friend, whos in town from overseas. She was staying at a place right nearby and raved about the sushi at this place, so we decided to go.

She was right, the sushi was really good! Very fresh and well done. We both ordered multiple dishes and they were all delicious. Including: Sashimi, sushi rolls, veggie tempura, and agadashi tofu - all very tasty. So, food...definitely... more

Hidden on Purpose - Regulars don't want you to know

Went here after a disappointing meal at a highly acclaimed restaurant up the street (Guu). This was the real deal, and, as most of the reviews say, fairly genuine and a great value.
Availability of tatami rooms, general seating and sushi bar, with genuine Japanese sushi chefs and waitresses. Clearly the crowd that was there was mostly Japanese and were... more

Excellent sushi. We had the sushi deluxe. The miso soup was very good. Fresh, tasty fish. A wood tabled casual atmosphere. Food was 4.5 stars. Service was slow and disjointed. Server started to give us a bill before the food came. Then did not bring a bill, then grabbed credit cards and money without asking for the split. A 2 for an overall 3.5.

Went back here again and went for the Salmon Butter this time. It was about $9.00 and came with the same sides as last time.

The salmon was baked in tinfoil with butter sauce and some broccoli florets. Do you like butter as much as I do? Cause this sauce was incredible. I considered using the tinfoil to funnel the remaining sauce into my empty tea cup for drinking. My coworkers didn't seem... more

Wear your worst clothes!! No seriously...wear your worst clothes to Aki. They have no ventilation and grill everything in an open kitchen in the center of the restaurant. One of my favorite lunch spot, Aki serves the best grilled black cod in the city. It comes with rice and potato salad. Its only $12, and way better than any izakayas. The also have a good nabeyaki udon, but not as good as the... more

I've been here around 2 - 3 times before after work with coworkers. Service was ok, sometimes need to wait a bit as it gets busy at the weekends. Food was regular Japanese food that you can find easily in Vancouver, nothing particularly special to me. Servers can get busy and forget to get back to you at a point, but nice place to grab a quick bite late night.

I've been to Aki a number of times for lunch but I still couldn't say if I love it or hate it. Whenever I go to Aki, I am always there to have my fix of either the grilled black cod lunch box or Nabeyaki Udon.

The food is good but the quality isn't very inconsistent. On a lucky day, I would get a black cod grilled to melt-in-your-mouth perfection where finishing a full bowl of rice wouldn't be... more

Went there to have a family dinner with my hubby and 2 yr old son. Ordered a few appetizers (Goma-ae, clams) and black cod since it was highly recommended by Yelp users. Also had a beef butter teriyaki (nice) and a veggie roll (so so). Overall it was ok. Nothing special. I found their food too salty, especially the cod. Had to pay extra for a bowl of rice. They gave us a spacious room as we had... more

Very good for the price

Food (sushi and maki) was very good (but not great) and not expensive for the quality. Service was friendly but with not refinement. Wine is sold at a reasonable price. Decor is simple but with the grill in the middle of the place, the ambiance is fun. Hard to find from the street!?!

Great quality, good lunch value

Usually I do not like basement style restaurants but this one has been around since 62 and the service and quality are very high. 60 dollars for family of 4 with lots to eat!! Sure to return

At this price point, I can't think of a single japanese place in Vancouver that compares, so 5 stars it is. Our group went for lunch today and had Black Cod, Salmon Shiyoyaki, Curry Katsu, and the Sashimi/Karaage/Short Rib set. Everything was fantastic.

Huge disappointment

Read the reviews so we ate here. Our server was awful, couldn't speak English well enough to communicate with us about the menu, it was very smoky smelling inside, service was slow and VERY inattentive. Food was average at best. Don't waste your time with so many other good options out there.

you need to come here for the right things to order, don't get their udon noodle soup, you can get way cheaper/better udon elsewhere.

i only get their fresh sushi here and the miso black cod.

sushi is hand made and the sushi chefs are japanese, they compact your rice with the right amount of pressure, unlike the cheap machine compacted sushi. seafood is also very fresh here.

Miso black cod... more

The first time I came here was some years ago during lunch time, I then realized that most of the people that came here were Japanese business men and Japanese families. I thought, ok, if Japanese business men would bring their business partners here for lunch, the food should be pretty decent, and I was right about that.

Since then, I've been coming here with friends, family, and coworkers... more

Excellent sushi....at a great price

So, I wanted good sushi in Vancouver and 3 different local folks told me about this place (a good sign). It is a little hard to find, down some stairs and the restaurant can get a hair smoky due to the japanese bbq that is available there. The sushi was excellent. We had spicy scallop maki ($4.50), Dragon roll, Maguro,... more

A mixed experience

After a very pleasant experience a year ago, even noteworthy in this column, this time they didn't quite have it.. First they loused up our reservation and tried to put us onto some obscure table on the road to Siberia. They did fix that with a modest apology. To enjoy the place you have to sit in the big room... more

It seems that in Vancouver when people talk about having Japanese food, they're usually talking about izakayas or quick-service sushi bars. Aki is what I consider a traditional Japanese restaurant, one that offers a robata grill, sushi/sashimi bar, and a full kitchen. It is also traditional in that everyone who works there is Japanese, which contributes to a more authentic feel.

The regular... more

What a pleasant surprise

The restaurant in the basement of Alberni Street was almost full at dinner time while many others in the neighborhood were almost empty. Clientele a happy and pleasant youngish crowd happily talking and munching good food. Sashimi and other Japanese goodies very enjoyable. Pretty, young Asian waitresses pleasant but short on knowledge of the food and how to take orders.... more

Great Authentic Food

I'm actually from the US and currently live in Tokyo and travel to Vancouver on business at least 3 times a year. After a few days in Vancouver, I always end up at Aki's because of its authentic Japanese dishes, at home feeling, and overall great value. It's not high end gourmet but no other restaurant in Vanncouver can come... more

Authentic Japanese

No, I am not the least bit of an expert in authentic Japanese cuisine. But my first generation Japanese immigrant friends are and they say this is the best/most traditional Japanese restaurant in Vancouver. A great dining experience.

My comfort food/restaurant. I like Fresh fish and Robata (grilled) food. And don't forget, coffee jeffey with vanilla

My comfort food/restaurant. I like Fresh fish and Robata (grilled) food. And don't forget, coffee jeffey with vanilla ice cream! So good! (Visited on Oct 2009, reviewed on Nov 2009)

above par

this place serves fresh sushi,sashimi and other cooked Japanese dishes. Some of the staff need more English training so that they can bring the proper item the customer ordered. Prices have gone up recently.

Great All-Around Traditional Japanese

Aki's is not a fancy, high-end Japanese like you find in NY or London. More cozy, traditional Japanese feel with long sushi counter, in addition to a few tatami rooms. Has great daily menu and traditional Robata grill! Can't go wrong here.... more

Drop what you're doing and RUN. HERE. NOW.

I had a craving for sushi today while venturing out and about in Vancouver. While traipsing back and forth down the side streets between Robson and Georgia, I happened upon this small sign indicating sushi down a set of nondescript-looking stairs off of Thurlow. Most curious, I decided to pull an Alice down the rabbit hole and investigate. Once down the stairs and inside the doors, I... more

nice food and very good atmosphere

good

They do ROBATA

They do ROBATA!

Good service, good food

Good service, good food, nothing spectacularly stood out to us, but we had nothing to complain about. Make sure you ask for the "daily special" menu as it did not come w/ the standard menu initially until asked.

Best robata and atmosphere. Like a family restaurant you would find in local Japan

Best robata and atmosphere. Like a family restaurant you would find in local Japan.

This is good stuff. Granted, I was a bit apprehensive when the wife told me the waitress and chef spoke Chinese. But

This is good stuff. Granted, I was a bit apprehensive when the wife told me the waitress and chef spoke Chinese. But the sushi did not betray it's Japanese roots. Fresh sushi.

I absolutely love Aki. Excellent sushi, and...

I absolutely love Aki. Excellent sushi, and fabulous grilled items as well. Hard to beat the salmon belly. The atmosphere really adds to the experience. Kind of hidden (downstairs under the McDonalds), but once you find it, you’ll be happy.

one of Vancouver's best secrets...

For a Japanese restaurant, this places makes most sushi bars seem inadequate, it's my favourite. If you're not familiar with Japanese food and are afraid to try raw fish, belly up to the robata and order some asparagus, a potato, and a piece of cod. I guarantee you'll find yourself amazed at how well the chef can prepare these simple foods -- it should get you wondering about what else they may... more

One of the few remaining authentic Japanese restaurants, ...

One of the few remaining authentic Japanese restaurants, with Japanese chefs and mostly Japanese customers.