Review Kishimoto Japanese Kitchen - Vancouver

My favourite Japanese restaurant ever. It run by the nicest people, the staff are basically like a family. The photos I took aren’t even all of it, the food is beautiful and tastes even better!!! The black cod misozuke literally melts in you mouth!!! They have a seasonal menu which is always delicious. They source foods locally when they can! They are always trying to create new dishes. I can’t wait for the bar seating to open back up so we can watch and chat with the chefs!! When I have friends and family visit Vancouver, this is always the first place I want to bring them!! Here one tip I have if you are new: get the smoked Oshi!!!! It melts in your mouth and leaves a Smokey flavour that lingers even minutes after you are done.

A very good sushi place on the East side. Thanks to Covid19 we were able to make reservations here. Good Covid barriers. Good selection of local sake and wines. Sushi is fresh and delicious. Sushi could be a little more uniform. Black Cod was a bit sweet. But we had an enjoyable evening. Himachi rice bowl was delicious.

There are a lot of good places to eat sushi in Vancouver but Kishimoto serves up cuisine that not only pleases your taste buds but your nose, eyes, and soul! Here you can have food that changes your appreciation for what food is and should and could be. I can’t wait to be back!

A really fancy Japanese restarting in a post of Vancouver that's not known for high end restaurant. The prices are on the high side but the quality is worth it. They make some really unique sushi pieces that I've not seen anywhere else. The nabeyaki udon is also incredible. The broth is so flavourful and the ingredients are really well prepared. Two troll thumbs up!!! +(O____o)+

This restaurant was highly regarded by my girlfriend so I had to go; and, oh boy, it did not disappoint. I went with my girlfriend and 2 others; I was glad there were 4 of us so we could order and try more! We couldn’t make reservations as it was already booked to the max but luckily they take walk in. We got lucky and only waited about 40 mins for a table. We ordered Yam Tempura, Bluefin Negitoro roll, Salmon Oshi, Ebi Oshi, Unagi Oshi, Saba Oshi and Spicy Tuna Oshi. I honestly don’t remember how the Yam Tempura and Bluefin Negitoro roll were but I’m sure they were good; they were out shined by the boxed sushi. We originally only ordered the Unagi Oshi and the Salmon Oshi, but they were soo good we ordered the Ebi Oshi, Saba Oshi and Spicy Tuna Oshi. My favourite was Unagi Oshi but you can’t go wrong with any of them! I will be definitely coming back.

Amazing karaage (probably best one I’ve ever had), high quality sashimi and great food in general. I only missed a better variety of desserts and drinks to give 5 stars.

The food is amazing! The udon soup broth is the best I have ever tried so far! Sashimi is super fresh and they take on a very eye catching and detailed food presentation!

Kishimoto serves up some truly delicious dishes. The uni chawanmushi was perfectly silky. The various oshi sushis are all tasty. The tempura ice cream was a nice finish to a fantastic dinner. In fact, everything we ordered was top quality and the service was excellent as always. Definitely one of Vancouver's top sushi restaurants.

This is the best place for sushi in Vancouver by far! Always enjoy the great food and wonderful service, I would definitely recommend to all to try it out!

This restaurant creates sublime, 5 star food. The sushi and sashimi are so fresh and is right up there with the best of Vancouver. The sweet eggplant and Aburi Oshi are among some of the best flavours I have ever put in my mouth :) thank you Kishimoto!!

Absolutely the best sushi we've ever had. Will keep going back for the great food. Good service as well. Expect some wait time to be seated but it was worth it.

Some of the best sushi in Vancouver<br/>

Kishimoto is my favourite sushi spot on Commercial Drive. Try the smoked salmon oshi along with any of the other oshi or specialty rolls!

On Saturday May 25th I held a theme party, Sushi, Sake & Sapporo. Approximately 30 people rsvp’d and I knew the food would make or break the party. We have been going to Kishimoto since it opened and it is high quality sushi that you cannot find everywhere. I met with David on the Wednesday and finalized the menu, and dropped off 6 platters for the plating of the sushi. When I went to pick everything up it was like looking at art! We had gyoza, karaage chicken, tempura prawns, and a wide assortment of sushi, oshi sushi and sashimi, nearly 400pieces all custom prepared. It was spectacular and our guests absolutely loved the food! Absolutely great dishes for great value! <br/><br/>Thank you to Chef Akira and the entire Kishimoto team for contributing to the success of our night. <br/><br/>Kishimoto is the place to go for the best sushi in Vancouver!<br/><br/>Brian G

Definitely delivers good quality food! Creativity and flavor was wonderful! Fresh fish and delicious meals. Now I know why this is a foodie’s favorite restaurant. We ordered more food than the pictures I’ve posted but after a few warm sakes, the pictures became blurrier <br/>I will return

Hands down best miso black cod I've had in metro Vancouver. A little pricey at $21. But so worth it! The flavor and moistness was perfect! Their oishi was very good and fair priced. My husband loved the tempura fresh shucked oyster. The texture was light and fluffy. The deep Fried matcha ice cream was okay. Couldn't really taste the matcha flavor. Service was attentive and quick. Would definitely come back again!

Attention fish lovers! Fresh and tasty fish served here at Kishimoto. The black cod misozuke was ultra moist, perfectly cooked, buttery soft, tender, with hint of sweetness. The sashimi is very tasty and fresh, the hamachi sashimi had a nice marbling. The salmon oshi is perfectly seared and balanced with a small piece of jalapeno. 10/10 will come again.

Replicating aburi sushi, particularly salmon oshi as popularized by Miku and Minami is en vogue but I’ve yet to see one that tops the original. Kishimoto is another popular contender located on Commercial Drive as they offer a blend of classic sushi bar plates with more creative fusion dishes.

Came here for dinner on a Friday evening, I was here about 15 minutes before it opened, and there were already three or four parties of people in line. <br/><br/>I ordered the:<br/><br/>Smoke infused salmon oshi - pretty good and smoke smelled great, nice presentation but wasn't amazing. <br/><br/>Bocconcini zuke - I thought I'd try this for fun but I didn't like the cheese and rice combo and once it was torched and flavored it didn't taste like bocconcini any more so I wouldn't get this again. <br/><br/>Chu toro - this was my favorite, really good, tender and well flavored, I'd guess all the toro nigiris are good.<br/><br/>Ahi zuke - I like this, the sauce was nice, it was a large piece of fish and I'd get again. <br/><br/>Uzura ikura - I really like this! I think if you like ikura and the quail egg you can't go wrong, it was super yummy.<br/><br/>Hamachi toro - this was okay but not as good as I've had at other places.<br/><br/>Toro tataki - this was really good, I'd recommend<br/><br/>Oyster shooter - on the specials menu, raw oyster in wine, I think, with gold flakes and little flowers and berries, it was yum!<br/><br/>I'd come back, I liked this place more than Sushi by Yuji because they use more sauce here and the service was good too. Nigiris are a little pricey but I don't mind paying for good food.

Ooo really finessed japanese food! Staff are kind and attentive. Although, waiting for a table took awhile there are lots of places on the drive to have a drink before hand. Highly recommend!

I am not a sushi fan but the popularity of this outlet asked me to do so.<br/><br/>I ordered the shushi randomly as i was not familiar with the preparation or name and i loved what they served. This was something new to me but i loved the new.<br/><br/>Recommended...

Get there early! Seriously, this place fills up fast! Kishimoto is a small Japanese restaurant on Commercial Drive, not far from the skytrain station. I’ve been here only once before but a friend reminded me of it and I was on a mission to return. I think it was even better than I remembered!. To get a table, we lined up around 4:45 and sure enough around 15 people lined up after us. No one questioned it, they just knew that’s how this place operates. The service staff greeted us with smiles and within a minute the entire restaurant had been sat.

One of the highest scored sushi bar in town!<br/>Must-try for a frequent tourist in Vancouver <br/>The service of the whole team is Friendly and attentive! <br/>I have been to Japan for almost 30 times but I never try this types of special roll there *FUSION*<br/>I ordered 5 types of special rolls for 2 persons. <br/>The DRAGON roll is definitely our favourite. <br/>Wonderful sushi night! 🉐🇨🇦👍🏻<br/>

If you are looking for a high-end sushi place with decent value of money, this is absolutely the place you would like to go.<br/><br/>Great food is an understatement when dining at this place. Kishimoto puts quality first in its selection of ingredients.<br/><br/>There is always a long wait but they take your number and call you when you are 10 minutes away of getting a table.

I visited Kishimoto because of the great reviews and it's close proximity to my usual bus route. I ordered takeout as I had class in an hour and didn't have time to wait for a table (the wait time alone to be seated was 45-60min).<br/><br/>The restaurant itself was very crowded with minimal waiting space. The decor was tasteful enough, but the air circulation was poor and with the crowding it was quite stuffy.<br/><br/>My food came out quickly enough, and the price was average (around thirty dollars for four dishes.) I was initially taken aback by how small and light the containers were, but figured it was just a takeout quantity.<br/><br/>When I opened the containers I was taken aback. The food was tiny and looked extremely unappetizing. My agedashi tofu, which had cost me ten dollars, was just 6 small pieces of cubed tofu with a tiny container of sauce on the side. My gomae (six dollars) was about a fifth of a cup at maximum, and looked stringy and small. They had included wasabi in my sushi despite an allergy request to exclude it. My miso soup was watery and flavorless.<br/><br/>I will not be returning.<br/><br/>Service: 4/5<br/>Value: 1/5<br/>Quality: 0/5

food looks good for photos, but the taste are not worth the rating of 4.8. we r a group of 9 person celebrate birthday here, they r charging us 3 dollars each for the cake we brought in...but refuse to cut it for us.....portions of food are small..service is bad..

I’d been wanting to try this Japanese restaurant for a while now so I was really happy when NW surprised me by taking me here for my birthday. 🙂 They don’t accept reservations so you have to be there pretty early or as soon as the restaurant opens (5PM) if you want to get a table right away. We arrived shortly after they had opened, about 30 minutes into the service and managed to take the last table for 2 available. Woot!

Note: this rating is not based on the food or recent service but rather lack of customer acknowledgment and an insane increase on one particular dish. <br/><br/>We have spent more than $12,000 here in the last several years. <br/><br/>Yes, OVER TWELVE THOUSAND DOLLARS. <br/><br/>Dear Kishimoto, <br/><br/>You have lost a long time loyal customer, a customer who's also sent countless tourists and locals alike to your business. About 3 years ago, you were our go to sushi place, even from North Vancouver we would eat at your restaurant about twice a week consistently for a year or so. We loved the beet salad, a salad where you cut the serving in half, but still charged the same price... bothered me but we didn't order the beet salad anymore. So we ate with you less often, but still more often than most. 2, 3 times a month. Then less because of your new hours. 2 months ago, noticed the mouth feel of the spicy chopped scallop nigiri seemed smallish. Ordered a dozen more since and absolutely you have cut the serving of rice, scallop, both.. I don't really know. All in all, I would guesstimate that we have eaten at your establishment a total of over ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY TIMES!!! in the last 3 years or so... this is with an average bill of $80 per visit, sometimes even another 20 to 25% more. 150 visits multiplied by the average $80 bill equals to $12,000. $12,000+ we have spent in your establishment in the last several years. <br/><br/>When you were open for lunch, my son enjoyed the Tendon. $10 for 5 pieces of tempura served w sauce and rice. When we would periodically order it during dinner because he was still hungry after already having had a full meal, still you charged $10. Tonight, I had somewhat of a sticker shock. $15+ for one order of tempura over rice. A 50% increase from less than a year ago... price is not the issue here but the principal of such a practice. I think the server asked the owner to confirm that the Tendon was indeed $15+ per order, and he did not flinch as he looked right at me as if I were a stranger walking off the street ordering food from there for the first time. <br/><br/>Your business will not suffer because of our boycotting you, you always have a line up after all. But you have lost us as customers, lost potential customers that we would have sent your way. But I highly doubt you give a sh+t. You can raise your prices whenever and however you like, and there will always be customers who will be happy to eat it all... yes you will notice in my past reviews that I am rather hard to please, but my money doesn't grow on trees and I would rather spend whatever hard earned dollar I make at a place where there aren't any questionable business practices, practices which you think you've put over on everyone. Sayonara!

Good food and friendly staff. It is fairly expensive for what you get and overall, the portions (and especially the rolls) are small. But nonetheless, would still recommend.

I came here as a invite with my girlfriend, a friend, and a uncle. Our experience here was the bomb.<br/>Our most memorable dish was the smoked aburi in the glass. I could eat those all day, mind you it's pricey. The caterpillar roll was very cute in presentation and delicious as well. All the seafood was at high quality and very very fresh. Parking is very easy everywhere too. <br/>As for our services, very attentive. I love how they take their time to explain each and every dish.<br/>The decor is updated and it's cozy. I had a great time here and I would definitely come back again.<br/>Prices are on the high side, but you definitely have to try this place at least once. I'm addicted.<br/>

The wait is a bit long (roughly 45 mins) if you don't have reservation. But it was totally worth the wait. We order seared unagi, triple salmon roll, oyster motoyaki, snow crab roll, and miso black cod. The fish was so fresh and rice was cooked to perfection. It taste so good even without the wasabi soy sauce. The cod was so moist and the flavor was mild enough that it didn't over power the fish's taste. The kitchen was so considerate that they split the oyster in half so my husband and I get to have one on our plate (we only order 1 pc). Overall, I would definitely go back again!

I've only ordered take out from here because the waits are always so long. Last night I finally had a chance to eat in. We waited an hour for a table, but I just hung out at the JJ bean nearby. I like how they call you when your table is ready so you don't have to stand outside the restaurant. <br/><br/>We ordered the chirashi donburi, unagi rice in a hot stone bowl (forgot the exact name), and toro sashimi. Service was good and our food came out super quick. Presentation was really nice too. Also I noticed they make their own soy sauce; they had a little sign mentioning it on each table. I didn't notice that much of a difference though. The chirashi don had a good variety and their rice is the best part. They season it and put sesame seeds, chopped up shiso leaf, and some pickled daikon (I think?) in it. I haven't been to any other place that makes rice like this for the chirashi don. The unagi rice wasn't anything too special. I was just craving unagi. The flavour was good and not too saucy, but I wish there was a but more unagi, considering the price we are paying. The toro sashimi was beautifully plated with flowers and tasted good. <br/><br/>Overall, food is great. They have some unique items and the presentation is nice. Would I want to wait for a table here? Maybe. Ordering takeout is always an option if the wait is too long. Even close to 8, the wait was 30-50 minutes. I think if you've never been, it'd be nice to eat in. But otherwise if the wait is too long, just order takeout. <br/>

Parking/Access<br/>Good places require line-ups, most of which do not take reservations. For Kishimoto, I wasn't sure if they did or not but our wait was just 10 minutes (on a weekday). As with many urban areas, parking is limited and only street parking is offered. Vancouver has a neat system where you can pay online with an app (instead of using coins) and extend the parking time as needed without running outside in the cold. I believe Toronto has something similar, but Toronto's parking is actually quite cheap when you choose to park after 6pm or on particular weekends. The restaurant is small, so the waiting area is also super tiny. Come early!<br/><br/>Service<br/>I just want to comment on how good the service is here. They were very prompt in refilling our tea, never missed a beat, and did not need us to wave them down. Good job.<br/><br/>Food<br/>2-3 years ago when I visited Vancouver, I felt that the food was bombtastic. Everything seemed reasonable and quality was top-tiered. Toronto must have advanced quite a bit since that time, while I felt that Kishimoto's food was good, I was not particular blown away. To start, all their dishes are artisticly decorated and that to me was something unique. The pressed sushi literally melts in your mouth (which is a plus), but I felt that there was too much rice on the bottom. The soba was very interesting because it's green-tea based, and I love how you can mix raw egg with the soya sauce. It wasn't bad, just that it tasted like soba lols. We also ordered normal sushi to fill our tummies up and they were fine, nothing to write home about. Overall, everything was good.

I've heard of this place for so many times, finally we decided to go in this raining day so we do have to line there for too long! Thank god that we only waited half hour, but the time we waited to ordered, and the time we waited for our dish, way longer that that! <br/>The food was ok....just ok! Salad dressing was too salty. I found Miku makes better oshisushi than this! Maybe the price is lower, the portion is small too. <br/>Anyway I probably won't go there again. it's really not worth to line up for this. I rather make a reservation in somewhere else and dine more decent! <br/>

Fresh sushi and long lineups 😅. Most items on the menu are good so this place is definitely higher up on the list of Japanese sushi restaurants to eat at. Don't bother getting the cooked food or spicy dishes -- get the fresh raw fish 😁. <br/><br/>Also go put your name down on the waitlist at least 1 hr before you plan to eat so you won't starve while waiting.<br/><br/>Service: great! 👍

Kishimoto has been on lil’ bun and I’s foodie wish list for a long time and this was the day that we were FINALLY able to go after months of procrastination. Kishimoto offers unique Japanese rolls presented in an artistically designed way. It’s sushi in art form. Kishimoto interior

Family dinner on Valentine's Day, Kishimoto is the best Japanese restaurant in Vancouver. <br/>My favorite Japanese restaurant!<br/>-Oshi sushi was amazing.   <br/>-soba noodle was excellent!<br/>-great service. <br/>-oyster motoyaki was fresh.

○good service<br/>○excellent food/ I love all their oshi sushi<br/>○price is a little high but worth it / decent portion<br/>○alot of options on menu<br/>○highly recommend to go out your name down first then they will call you when your table is ready. Make sure all parties are present otherwise they won't seat you<br/>○would I go back? Yes , my go to place for oshi sushis

Kishimoto Japanese Kitchen and Sushi Bar has been around for several years and is known for excellent sushi in a casual setting.  Many customers have noted that they are a good budget-friendly alternate to popular, upscale Japanese restaurants, Miku and Minami.  During the summer, my family and I went to Kishimoto with a few friends one evening for dinner.  I was eager to find out whether it was worth the lineup and how their sushi fared against some of the finer Japanese restaurants in town.

Overpriced, overrated, too much sauce. Try the little<br/> sushi place up the street, way cheaper and just as good. I cannot believe a hour long wait for that overpriced place<br/>Will not go back.

I love sushi! I've heard so much about Kishimoto Japanese Restaurant on Commercial Drive, so I finally decided to go. Please note that they do not take reservations and you have to walk in and write your name down! On the brighter side, they can text/call you when they have seats so you can walk around! The place is fairly small and we were told that it'd be almost an hour wait for table for 2. After waiting 15 minutes, we were going to go elsewhere and hence, we walked back to the restaurant to let the hostess know to remove our name. She did not seem disappointed as this probably happens often at this restaurant! As I was walking out the door and outside, she called me back and said they have a table ready for us as somebody else left and cancelled their table! Joy!

There is lots of hype surrounding Kishimoto, so we had to try it out. Be prepared to wait as there is always a line. On this day, we waited for about twenty minutes before being seated. We ordered the spicy tuna oshisushi, the plain okonomiyaki, the zaru soba, and the ebi chilli mayo, which came with three dipping sauces. The tuna oshisushi was decent, but we've had better. The zaru soba was very small and tasteless, and the ebi chilli mayo was prawn tempura cut into small little pieces with basic sauces. The highlight was the okonomiyaki, which was really good, but be warned you have to wait around forty minutes for this dish though as they make it from scratch.<br/><br/>Kishimoto is known for their presentation, which stays true if you have an Instagram account, but the quality of the food was average. The service is good here, but we feel the food is very overpriced and the portions are small. We won't be back and we would not recommend.

One of my favourite sushi restaurants! I have been here many times and I never get disappointed! Oshi sushi is a MUST, as well as the Toro Tataki. I also really love the Caterpillar Roll.<br/><br/>I've tried a variety of other rolls as well. Can't remember what they're called as I've been here too many times, but I've enjoyed them all. <br/><br/>It's a small restaurant and lineups form fast. Highly recommend right when they open to avoid a long wait.

Arrived here 5 minutes before they open because I hear its hard to get seats here... people weren't lying. Within 5 min of opening the place was already full! I came for my boyfriend birthday dinner and i was surprised with how beautifully they present their dishes. One of our favourite dishes was the oyster motoyaki as it was cooked to perfection (:. I also highly recommend ordering the nigiri's and salmon oyshi(i think this was the name) if u like a kick of spice!

We came 10 minutes before the restaurant opens at 5pm and there is already a lineup. Luckily we manage to be the last group to get the table on Saturday night. We ordered the sashimi salad, agedashi tofu, miso soup, wild salmon sashimi, paradise roll, salmon oshi sushi, spicy tuna oshi sushi and zaru soba. For dessert, we ordered mochi ice cream with baileys and yuzu ice cream. Overall we all really love the food except the agedashi tofu. The tofu is quite mushy and disappointing. The salmon and spicy tuna oshi sushi, sashimi salad and paradise roll are absolutely delicious. The salmon sashimi are so fresh that it melts in your mouth and you can tell the sashimi doesn't come from freezer. The sashimi salad is so good with a light tasty dressing. I never see my father eating a salad that fast in my life. The soba is alright but my mother loves it. Just make sure you pour raw quail eggs into the dressing and stir it up before you dip or pour it onto the soba. The customer service is friendly and quite exceptional. For four people, the bill comes to $106 so the price is definitely reasonable for great quality and tasty food and great customer service. We definitely enjoy our dinner there. This is one of my favourite Japanese restaurants in town.

Best sushi place hands down. Their special rolls are absolutely delicious. Love how they add a little decorative candle to go with all our special rolls. Tuna here is great, and all rolls with the jalapeno pepper are amazing. Restaurant is a little small though and wait time is a bit riciulous.. came here for my Mom's birthday and ended up having to wait 1 hr and 40 mins.. besides that, must try for some good sushi!

Saucy & Expensive.<br/><br/>Overall the food was OK. Does not live up to the hype. Is not worth the one hour wait.<br/><br/>Got there just before 530 on a Saturday and as expected, it was going to be a 1hr wait. That's fine, they let you put down your number and they'll call you when the tables ready. I appreciated that.<br/><br/>Small restaurant, friendly staff.<br/><br/>Sushi wasnt as fresh as I hoped it'll be. A little on the dim, matte side. Was recommended to try the oishisushi series, which was very small for the price you pay. Average about $17 for quite a lot of rice to the ratio of fish. The saba oishisushi was excessively covered with sauce, losing the its natural fish flavour.<br/><br/>The stone pot rice was pretty tasty. Not phenomenal but it was nice and hot enough that rice skin formed for that good crunch.<br/><br/>Don't think I'll return.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>

We were in the area so we decided to go to Kishimoto since it has a rating of 4.4 on Zomato. Overall the service was good, the presentation stellar, and the food above par. We will likely not return as I personally rarely ever wait in line for a meal. While their food was good and well presented, I ultimately visit a restaurant for good food and not their presentation. There are other restaurants in the city that offer similar quality food for a more reasonable price and no wait time. I'd recommend it if you had 2-3 hours of free time.

My first time was dine in and thought it was good, ordered take out tonight , thought it was good overall, but Saki maki on commercial is way better and higher quality. I only tryed here because Saki Maki is closed as they are on holidays

很好吃！<br/>点了乌冬面 味道很普通不是很推荐<br/>还有一种面条不知道叫什么 就是有俩鹌鹑蛋的那个 很好吃！<br/>日本人开的 不是韩国人的<br/>寿司很赞！<br/>点的 三文鱼箱寿司<br/>入口有点油油的 <br/>但是不腻<br/>不喜欢生食的可以点<br/>上面的辣椒不是很辣 <br/>寿司整体非常的和谐<br/>就是感觉价格有点儿贵<br/>摆盘十分精致<br/>但是并没有什么卵用<br/>好吃才是最重要的<br/>我打算吃遍他家所有的箱寿司<br/>虽然没几种<br/>下次还点那种沾汤的细面 上面有撒海苔 <br/>因为饭钱喝了大杯咖啡 所以不是很饿 于是没有吃什么<br/>这家店真的很好很好！<br/>位置很好找<br/>天车下车走一走就到

I really got to try this place out again. When I went it was super busy and I was really hungry so I was kind of being impatient for my food and such. The service was really good though and the good was a little but pricey but still tasted really good. I remember they had interesting flavours of sushi like hummus which my friend wasn't too fond of but I enjoyed. Since I love my vegetarian options I thought this was a pretty exotic but yummy flavour to add on to their menu of sushi. 🍣

Kishimoto is a phenomenon in Vancouver with a line-up from right before it opens until it fills up and after. My brother and sister-in-law are obsessed with this place, and I can see why. It’s top-class Japanese food, presented with considerable style, and at rather ridiculously cheap prices, for what you get.

Food is pretty good but can get a bit expensive. <br/>Definitely recommend the salmon oshi sushi and their ishitabes (mixed rice stone bowls).<br/>The service is also very kind and the food is authentic Japanese with fresh and delicious fish. Portions are a bit small but it is delicious!

Got there 15 minutes before opening... and where's the lineup? Looks like Tuesday nights might be a good day to go to avoid waiting, especially now when the weather's cold out. Salmon Oshisushi ($13.95). Tasty, but didn't feel that special compared to other aburi sushi I've had. Despite the chili on top, not spicy.

In my opinion this is one of the top sushi restaurants in Vancouver. The kitchen is incredibly creative in terms of the good and in presentation. The product is impeccable and the prices average and low for the quality. The lineups are a bit of a drag but well worth it. The staff attentive and friendly.

I rarely give a 4.0 but this place offers exceptional service and the food is above average.... but honestly, this place is NOT as unbelievably awesome as it's hyped up to be...  we ordered the pressed sushi as well as the cured ones but they didn't taste that spectacular.... also the calamari was kinda tasteless with not much squid other than the batter.. the servers were very attentive but again, I left very disappointed because I expected "best sushi in town" as most of you here claimed. The presentation of most food items was nice enough but again... the stuff just didn't wow me!I would rather spend just a bit more at Miku... they are just way above in quality.... they do have the best aburri in town... and their $8+ toro negiri sushi is to die for!

This restaurant does not take reservation and they always have a long line up. But it's worth to wait an hour for a table because of their food. Their oshi sushi are the best in town. I love this place not only the food quality but also the plate presentation. For example, I ordered three different kinds of sashimi, they were presented on a big cube of ice. Also they decorated the rolls on the plate like an art work. Other than sushi and sashimi, their okonomyaki and baked oysters are very good.

Engineer Boy is still in town and wanted to go for some more good eats before he left to go back to California. Wanting to make the most of his time in Vancouver, at least one trip for Japanese food was in order. And if you’re going to do only one meal at a Japanese restaurant, you better make it good. So on the horrifically rainy evening that was last Thursday, five of us set out to Commercial to go to Kishimoto for dinner. Thankfully because of the rainstorm the restaurant wasn’t as busy as normal, and we managed to be seated within just a couple of minutes. We then handed the menu to Mango Chutney who is a regular at the restaurant and told him to order for us. The only stipulation was that he make sure there were a couple of orders of the salmon oshi sushi, because going to Kishomoto and not getting their salmon oshi sushi is like going to a brothel to use the bathroom. It’s just not done.

Engineer Boy is still in town and wanted to go for some more good eats before he left to go back to California. Wanting to make the most of his time in Vancouver, at least one trip for Japanese food was in order. And if you’re going to do only one meal at a Japanese restaurant, you better make it good. So on the horrifically rainy evening that was last Thursday, five of us set out to Commercial to go to Kishimoto for dinner. Thankfully because of the rainstorm the restaurant wasn’t as busy as normal, and we managed to be seated within just a couple of minutes. We then handed the menu to Mango Chutney who is a regular at the restaurant and told him to order for us. The only stipulation was that he make sure there were a couple of orders of the salmon oshi sushi, because going to Kishomoto and not getting their salmon oshi sushi is like going to a brothel to use the bathroom. It’s just not done.

All I can say is WOW. Blew my mind that I can get highend jp food without the highend parking/trek downtown/don't have to wear a dress etc etc. Had assorted sushi, even aburi, perfectly moist and crunchy chicken karaage, spicy tuna bowl. The sushi plate was lit up by a paper thin slice of daikon wrapped around a tea light, held together by the thinnest, smallest wheel of jalapeño pepper. Amazing knife skills. Everything purely jp, every bit of pottery was beautiful. Service attentive. Wouldn't bring small children as it's tight as sardines, no room for even a large purse! No reservations, lineup forms fast b4 they open their doors. Delicious!

Very good sushi at Kishimoto. Everything we tried was so good. The aburi sushi is a must try. You have to go early for a table else be prepare to wait.

My all-time favorite sushi place. I always recommend it to my friends. The fish they use for their sushi rolls and sashimi are always fresh and yummy. A Must try!

I meant to go to Toshi tonigt, but I ended up here. Sorry in advancd for the spelling, but I over indulged in sake. The food here was amazing. I liked it all. By far the bestvt thing I had was yhe black cod. HIGHLY RECOMEND!!! This place is worth the wait! I ate a bunch if yhings and all was good. I van'y go on much more cause I'm drunk. 5 ouyta 5 tjoygh!

Definitely the best sushi on the drive. You're going to have to wait to get in, just accept it. But it's totally worth it. Get the chefs choice nigiri special, it's always different and always amazing.

ate here during dinner, and definitely really dark ambiance, and was pretty curious about this place so head out here and dine with a couple friends, we are all big eaters, and definitely the sushi tasted great, i also ordered okonomiyaki because i was crazy about okonomiyaki for a little while.<br/><br/>the okonomiyaki was just okay, wouldn't order it the next time, would rather go straight to the sushi part next time. the sushi is wonderful and the arrangment is done really beautiful, just unfortunate that it's a bunch of guys eating, none in the table does appreciate the extra effort on decoration, but it does look pretty.<br/><br/>the sushi we ordered a few oshis and it tasted great, one of my friend ordered dynamite roll if i'm not mistaken and it tasted great as well.<br/><br/>overall the sushi tasted great, however the price for the amount, hmmm well i'm more of a quanitity eater rather than quality, even though some does need to exceed my expectation for in terms of taste, for this one it's relatively okay, it's good, definitely good. Will come back to try again for the 2nd time. and definitely will try some other items as well. I do recommend the place as well :)

Easily the best restaurant I went to on my 7 day vacation here in Vancouver. We ordered a plain udon, chicken teriyaki, lobster motoyaki, paradise roll and salmon oshisushi. Presentation was done beautifully and it tasted better than it looked. Would come here over and over again.

Finally, fabulous sushi on the Drive. Excellent food, excellent service. I went with a friend and we ordered the special fresh mackerel sashimi and the eel oshisushi. Totally different dishes, but the attention to detail in each was exceptional. The "creamy sauce" in the oshisushi made us a little nervous, but it was delicious - its richness emphasized the smoky sweetness of the eel. And the rice was both chewy and tender - perfectly al dente.<br/><br/>The mackerel was prepared in three different ways - sliced, chopped with scallions and ginger, and the head and spine lightly deep fried. I should've asked how to eat it properly, it felt like we just inhaled it.  <br/><br/>Service was good. We were 5th or 6th on the list, but got seated right away at the sushi bar. The room was small, packed and stuffy, but the food made it worth the tight squeeze. There were two families with young children and one other waiting, and the staff seemed pretty accommodating, which is good since I plan to bring my kid here.<br/><br/>I will go again and bring everyone I like.

Long wait before seated and no reservations available. But the sushi is really really delicious. As good as Miku and for a cheaper price. Really recommended people who loves sushi to try it out.

A must visit for sushi whenever I'm in the area and would go the distance for. Their sushi is made fresh and delicious. A great price for their sushi as well. Lineups tend to get long on the weekends but it's worth the wait! The oshisushi practically melts in your mouth. Sashimi is fresh and fairly sized. You won't be disappointed!

Kishimoto is a famous Japanese restaurant on Commercial Drive. I've heard a lot of good things about this place. Many people agreed that Kishimoto serves the best oshisushi in town. For Friday dinner, J and I visited this place and understood the hype behind Kishimoto.

It was no wonder why the wait took almost 40 mins for us on a Saturday morning. At first glance the dishes all looked so beautifully plated and thought out. Even the rice was flavoured if you order a simple chicken rice bowl. The best part of the sushi rolls I think is the sauce, but the sashimi is fresh too. However the prices are quite high. I would go here on special occasions only.

I really wanted to visit Kishimoto because it is currently one of the most popular sushi restaurants in town and I was curious to see why. My friend and I arrived at around 6:00 and there were a few tables ahead of us so it was probably a 20 minute wait. The place was hot and humid as there was no air conditioning and it didn’t help that the place was small and cramped with people.

The sushi rolls were good and they have very creative presentations. Sashimi were fresh and served on a ice block. Soba took a while but was great. Service was so-so. Our server kept forgetting some of our orders and when we followed up with her she said we never ordered it despite there were 4 other sets of ears that heard the order. Aside from this small hiccup, it's worth a try. Especially since there's some cute shops along commercial drive to walk off the food coma!

Incredible sushi at an incredible price. <br/><br/>It was no surprise that after arriving 8min after they opened we were already number 24 on the wait list...but eventually we got through. <br/>The pacific salmon sashimi was unbelievably fresh! The oishi pressed sushi was so delicious I had to order a second serving, and I'm pretty sure at the time I was full. My brother and I ate a ton of food including the sashimi and we still ended up only paying $50 with tax and tip. <br/>Also the presentation was 5-star, without the price...

So so. Ordered the 3 types of sashimi (salmon, tuna, hamachi) . This ordered was missed... Had better sashimi at Toshi. <br/>The hamachi, salmon kama was dry and not juicy. <br/>The udon was again so so. <br/>Service was acceptable but the kitchen was too slow. <br/>I would only go there if in the neighbourhood, otherwise sticking with my other faves. <br/>

Had a nice meal there last week. Food and presentation were amazing. I wanted to stick the ice block the sashimi came in down my shirt it was so hot inside. Almost passed out sitting at the back it was so hot and humid.

Super cute presentation. For average priced sushi, it's pretty high quality. The shop however is tiny and there's always been a line every time I've gone, so plan ahead and don't go when you're super hungry because you will probably have to wait a while for a seat!

Amazing sushi quality. Kind of cramped in there, but the best sashimi quality is be experienced and the chefs here put so much love into there dishes. I wouldn't recommend the chicken Teriyaki, but then again I have no idea why I ordered it. I should have been trying there different roles. Anyone know if they have Aburi? Next time I won't go right after a couple pitchers. Smarter decisions...

A VERY late post on my last visit at Kishimoto Japanese Kitchen & Sushi Bar but regardless of when I go, the food and service is amazing.<br/><br/>One of the occasions Q and I went to Kishimoto was for Valentine’s Day (so I yes very late but still prevalent)! You can imagine how busy it can be during special occasions like this but it is definitely worth the wait.<br/><br/>Nothing like starting the night with 3 kinds assorted with salmon, tuna, and hamachi ($12). Just writing this makes me crave for their sashimi. It was so good, true Vancouver standard of sashimi.

Worth the hype. Was surprised to have this place live up to the hype.. Kishimoto has delightful pressed rolls. Perhaps best in the city. Even the pressed rolls from Miku and Minami can't compare to this!! I wouldn't come here for the sashimi and nigiri though (pretty average here)... But I would definitely return for their pressed rolls (we liked the unagi and salmon ones).

I ordered Unagi Oshizushi ($12.95), and I couldn’t wait to compare their version to Miku’s, where was known for their Aburi Oshizushi. Their plating was definitely original and a treat to the eyes. The whole dish was highlighted with a blossom made of thin sheets of Daikon radish and soybeans, surrounded by a circular array of 7 pieces of Oshizushi, and with a small lamp on the side also made of a peeled Daikon sheet and lit with a small candle inside. This is way over the top!!<br/><br/>The taste of the sushi was impeccable. The warmth from Aburi (grilling the BBQ eel with a torch) became the new dimension in addition to the wonderful smell, taste, and texture of each precious bite. The brilliant thing I love about Oshizushi is that, the ingredients are stacked like a layered cake, pressed and shaped with a box frame, and cut into individual pieces. Although a piece of Oshizushi looks like a piece of Nigiri, but it tastes more like a sushi roll in a much more refined way.<br/><br/>Although I found the presentation very pretty, I felt it was unnecessary to have so much garnish not meant for eating on the plate. Taste wise, I enjoyed it just as much as the one I had at Miku, and I even loved it more with the more affordable price ($3 less).

Kishimoto is actually one of my favourite destinations for sush. If you're looking for sushi that is worth the price and wait, it has to be Kishimoto. I've been a customer since a few years ago and I have honestly never had a bad experience. The nigiri may not be the best in Vancouver, but the oshi-sushi here is a notch above all the rest. I admit that my cravings for their oshi-sushi have driven me to the point where I have driven all the way to Kishimoto just to order a few for take out. I particularly like their salmon, unagi, and ebi oshi-sushi. The meltiness of the fish and rice is perfect and unlike most other oshi-sushi restaurants, the rice remains firm enough to not break apart too quickly.  Not only does it taste good, but every sushi that comes out of the kitchen is a feast for the eyes as well. I believe the flowers and decorations on the plates are made from thin slices of daikon and other vegetables. Service here is consistently good and polite. 10/10 would come again.

Best Nigiri Sushi. Hands Down.. I've tried many places and this is hands down makes the best nigiri sushi in town. Their fish might not be the freshest in town, but their technique and rice is simply perfect. I can't imagine having anything better than this.<br/><br/>As for their aburi oshi, Minami and Miku is better in case you are wondering.

Best sushi ever. worth the wait!. Love the crunchy sushi rolls.

As good a place as you'll find in Vancouver. Vancouver is not a sushi city. It's a place where you can find lots of Chinese and Korean owned sushi restaurants hacking apart and stretching the life of mediocre quality fish, satisfying ignorant locals my giving massive slabs of farmed fish on poorly made rice.<br/><br/>Kishimoto however is a very different experience. There's a level of care, both with food and service, and creativity that is a bit of a diamond in the rough. It's a small place and quite busy, but offers a quality experience.<br/><br/>The signature rolls are all delicious, as are some of the very modern japanese appetizers. The sushi itself is what I'd call 'very good' and there's a standard of freshness. During my visits I notice the Hamachi sometimes has a bit of funk to it, but that's the only pick I have against a solid restaurant that deserves a lot of credit for getting it right.

Pretty good!. Very good and unique Japanese sushi, but not a cheap place.

Very Impressive. This is quite different from the regular Japanese cuisine. Tried the Ebi Oshisushi, Unagi Oshisushi, Pork okonomiyaki, Ebi Okonomiyaki, tempura and the agedashi tofu. Also had the oyster motoyaki and chicken karage as well. They were all very good. Although the wait was long and they don't take any reservations, but I quite enjoyed the evening. The waitress was japanese and was very patient with explaining the dishes. Quite a delight.

Overhyped. Chirashi is the touchstone of any sushi place and this one is passing at best<br/>toro good, salmon mediocre, tamago overtly sweetened with taste of dairy product in it, saba bad, tai and ebi were terrible<br/>after all if you use quality ingredients you wouldn't need overly seasoned rice to compensate them, have the chirashi at ajisai and you'll know the difference

Great Food. Quality and value are definitely here, but you must be prepared for a wait during peak hours as they don't take reservations.

Great Food. Came here on a busy night. The service was attentive and the food was well-made and tasted fresh. Lots of options on the menu as well. It's small so be prepared to wait for a table on the weekends.

I love this place but it is definitely not a "bargain gem." It made laugh to find this restaurant under that category cuz I just paid over $100 for dinner for two there.

BEST SUSHI IN VANCOUVER. Very family oriented and fun. Staff is very nice.Very yummy. Tastes fresh.

Mediocre. I agree with review below. Overpriced and overrated. The teriyaki was extremely salty. I will not return for second time.

Yum. Took a friend here for her birthday and it wasn't too bad.. a lot more affordable than miku/minami. all of the block sushis we had ordered kept falling g apart besides that they weren't bad.. they don't melt in your mouth like at miku/minami though

So delicious and more affordable than Minami! Their pressed sushi is to die for! I've only tried take out but looking forward to dining in when it's less busy. *UPDATE - lined up to dine in and was definitely worth the wait. Even more delicious eating in!

Unique Japanese Eats. Had the Chicken Karaage, Salmon Ishinabe and Ebi Oshisushi. All tasted great!<br/><br/>Was here for the weekend lunch service right at opening, service was prompt and attentive. Kept my tea filled at all times. The only minus was the place was pricey but it is definitely of high quality so it's a minor gripe.

Great japanese on commercial. Kishimoto is in my top three Japanese restaurants. They always have a line up here for a good reason - it's really that good! I never expect to find this outside of downtown - esp. in east Vancouver.<br/>They usually have some interesting specials. Last time had agedashi mochi (fried rice cakes in soup - like agedashi tofu) and a lobster motoyaki - great flavors. We had some very fresh sashimi (hamachi, tuna, salmon). I guess with how busy they are you would expect the fish to be this fresh.<br/>People always talk about the presentation of the food. I also enjoy the decorative plating but the most important thing is that it's delicious!

Worth the wait...dunno. Wouldn't bother going if you have a group of more than 2. 2 people sitting at a table for 4 ... 3 people sitting at the table for 2... who runs this place? I think I counted 2 tables for 4!

Loved the okonomiyaki!. My first time here on a Tuesday night. We had to wait about half an hour for 2 people. We had the gomae, toro tataki, unagi pressed sushi, umami soup, some nigiri and the okonomiyaki. Toro tataki had lots of ponzu and garlic chips. Delicious. Okonomiyaki was amazing! Not too much sauce and lots of cabbage inside. It's like Japanese comfort food. The nigiri came on a wooden board with little edible flowers. It was so special for just simple nigiri and a very nice touch. The chefs put a lot of attention on the presentation. The price is very reasonable for the quality of the food and the service is pretty good for this kind of busy place.

I normally go to this restaurant for lunch and the food is really great. I went there for dinner last night for the first time and it was packed. They make us put your name on the waiting list and I did. I noticed that the front of the restaurant is filled with people waiting to get a seats, everyone was squashed like sardine in a tin can. Nearby there are many bars so I thought to make room for other people I would go grab a beer with my friend and come back. I checked with a staff to see if I can have an ETA and she said it would be around 45mins, minimum of 30mins waiting for sure. I then told her that I'm going to a nearby bar to grab a drink and she said that if we leave the restaurant our name would be crossed out. I said that you don't need to cross it out, just move people up from the list if we don't make it back in time. I told her that we're hungry so we will be back in 30mins and wait for 15mins. She still said 'no, if you leave the restaurant then we will cross out your name and she proceed to cross-out our name right in front of us'. I was sad that she did that, part of me even consider to stand there and wait. My friend just arrived from New York, straight from the airport and I really wanted to show-off Vancouver awesome Sushi. I can't believed that she want us to stand there like sardine in a tin can and look at other people eating for 45mins. I feel that if this is the approached they want to take then perhaps create a bigger waiting room like Veges. It was raining and very cold outside. I really dislike arrogant restaurant like this, just because you are good at what you do does not mean that you have to be unreasonable. I won't be going there again, there are many other great Sushi place in Vancouver. I don't like to support arrogant restaurant such as this one.

Best Sushi Ever. This restaurant is simply amazing. The black cod is the best I've ever had (although $5 more expensive than anywhere else), the ambiance is beautiful, the service is great, and my partner loves the Umami Soup. Their gomae is really good too, as is all the food I've had there. The chef/owner must really care about quality--its obvious in their food. The only sushi I've ever had that could compete with theirs was in New York City. My only complaint is that its nearly impossible to get a table most nights (and lunches) but that's obviously because everyone else knows how great they are too!

Visually, the presentation is enticing...after one bite your taste buds are on an unforgettable journey towards complete and utter satisfaction...the roll combinations and flavors are unforgettably sublime and ubiquitous...BRAVO!!!<br/><br/>Service is unparalleled...keep up with your frontier and innovative style.

Very tasty and beautiful. Ok, so most of the plates which come out of the kitchen are literally works of visual art. They are also freaking really tasty. The only thing I wasn't fully hot about was the special type of rice with a bunch of stuff in it that the Chirashi Don was served on. There was something sweet and preserved in there which didn't float my boat. Otherwise excellent. All the rolls and sashimi which I've had are very good. Nice job, guys.

Pretty much a commercial drive knock off of Minami and Miku. A failed attempt at that. Food was ok, edible, but would probably not return.

The best sushi in Greater Vancouver. I love every little thing about this place, but the best thing i've discovered is their black sesame ice-cream!

So good!. Best sushi on the drive! Their okonomiyaki is giant and rich and delicious. Good for sharing. I love the presentation of the food and have never had anything that was not delicious! They are also one of the few places that makes 'box sushi' which is a treat, and is bound to get more popular everywhere in Vancouver.

Best sushi on the drive. Oh. My. God. The sushi here is sooooooo good. Best sushi place on the drive, hands down. Great presentation. Great taste. The only down side is that it is an extremely small place and therefore the tables are close together and one often has to wait for a seat. But it's worth it.

Special rolls taste great though a little expensive. Need to order udon or rice bowl to fill up the stomach. Small shop so be prepared to wait.

I went on a Friday night for dinner and the service was friendly... but incredibly slow. We waited for about 35 minutes before our food started to come. The presentation looked great and the sushi wasn't bad. I feel that the prices are pretty high for such a small portion because they put a lot of work in the presentation. I've definitely had better sushi in a greater portion for a lower price. I would only come back for a special occasion. Be prepared to wait for a long time if you want to come with a group of 4 or more during their peak hours. Reservations are not accepted here.