Reviews Minami Restaurant

Name: Minami Restaurant
Address: 1118 Mainland St, Vancouver, Canada, I-V6B 2T9
Telephone: +1 604-685-8080
Rating: 86

Bryan Chua

Best aburi sushi hands down. Little pricey but treat yourself once in a while, you won't regret

4 months ago

Great food at a reasonable price for the quality you get. Highly recommend getting the premium aburi (all three types) and the beef carpaccio if you go there for the dinner service. Their house sake is also excellent and worth trying as it is specifically made for the restaurant. The desserts are also great as they are not too sweet but also amazing to look at. They change the plating for their desserts quite often so it is fun to eat the same dessert just to see the new design.

Feb 04, 2019

Maomao Tan

Love the vibe! Lunch time, we spent 220 CAD for three people. The price is acceptable but still on a higher end (no alcohol). The quantity of food was almost like an “all u can eat Minami”. Super satisfied!

Nov 28, 2018

Chichicho Chichicho

Whenever you see bubbles on your food, you can pretty much bet it's an expensive restaurant. Went to Minami with some friends for some Japanese food. To me, it's quite expensive, but also very very good. Great place to indulge myself for some fine Japanese food once in a while. Their dishes are all so delicate looking. Premium food. It's pleasing to the eyes and stomach.

Nov 30, 2018

Foodie Muggles

Ever since we went to miku we wanted to try minami as this is the sister location. We obviously got the Aburi salmon and ebi oshi sushi, we also got champagne roll, red wave roll, tuna tartar, calamari and green tea opera cake. The tuna tarter was really good with great flavor of Wasabi.

The Aburi oshi is some of the best sushi you will ever have. The batter on calamari was super crispy and light, and the pickled tamato was the best part. The green tea opera cake and red roll were also good but our favorite dish turned out to be the champagne roll. It was a seared Scallop which melted in your mouth and it had tobiko which popped in every bite. Though between the two restaurants I would still say that miku is better but minami is no less. If you can't get in miku than you can definitely go to Minami.

Oct 23, 2018

Parth Malhotra

The funny thing is, the party comprised members of an advisory board; the people who give the advice needed to make important decisions. Lunch is important, right? So we all joined in to offer our suggestions for the menu. And, needless to say -- an expression almost always used to introduce something that could have gone unsaid -- we were all over the place. What to do? GET IT ALL! And I think we did. Plate after delicious plate. What did we have? I remain unsure, except to say every bite was absolutely delicious.

Jul 16, 2018

Ceci

Undoubtedly the go-to aburi sushi restaurant in Vancouver is Miku, but when they are too busy during lunch hour the next best would be their sister restaurant – Minami. Last week I had a craving for aburi, but didn’t have the foresight to make a reservation, so we ended up making our way to Yaletown to dine at Minami. This was actually my first time having a meal at Minami (usually I drop by for a drink or two).

Jun 28, 2018

LFFFMolangs

Minami is one of the many upscale restaurants in Yaletown. Food quality (and price :O) is certainly on the high end. Naturally, we had high expectations too!. We ordered two lunches (miso soup included) as well as an aburi sushi to share. Sushi Lunch #1: Traditional – $23. Ten pieces total of nigiri and sushi rolls (I learned that those are called hosomaki). As seen in photo, there was a variety of fish, and each piece of sushi was delicately made. For those who care, everything on this plate was gluten free.

Jun 11, 2018

Jurn

Good vibe and atmosphere at Minami. Food is always delicious and their Aburi is on point! I'm never disappointed. Since I hate finding parking in Yaletown, I don't come here as often as I want to.

May 19, 2018

Nomnomnom

very slow service and this was during slow hours
good food/ one of my favorite for oshi sushis
parking can be a hassle
romantic/special occasion atmosphere
average price
the main courses are very small portion
if i had to choose 1 dish: salmon oshi sushi
would i go back? yes

May 15, 2018

Hitting The Sauce

Initially, I thought I wouldn’t like the ebi oshi because the flavour profile would be more delicate than the salmon. I was pleasantly surprised that the ume sauce was deliciously smokey. The pressed shrimp had a nice bite, the lime zest added a refreshing zing to it.

Mar 30, 2018

B & E

+4.5

Top notch!

We have been here a number of times. Attentive staff and amazing quality of food. Love the detailed explanation of the plates and the general ambience.

Dec 28, 2017

CuriouslyCarmen.com

We made a reservation for an early dinner. It was a good choice since I noticed the spots filled up pretty quick.

Since Maki and I haven’t been here before, we let her friend do the ordering for us!

Nov 22, 2017

Nasi Z Fard

+3.5

We went for lunch. Their menu was bar bites. We ordered ebi fritters, kale gomae, jidori chicken, salmon oshi, red wave roll. Everything was good except jidori chicken and the red wave roll. I didnt like it much. But the rest was yummy. I loved the green tea that they served. I would like to give it one more shot but at night. For now no sushi place beats miku

Sep 17, 2017

Birry Ram

+4.5

Atmosphere: Great, they placed us on the patio on couches but we loved it. Such a relaxing atmosphere. Bottom line: One word: Orgasmic. Out the door price: It was my friend Tyler who treated me for my birthday. Thanks for again!. Repeat: Definitely, if I want a party in my mouth. Seriously the best aburi I've ever had in my life.

Aug 10, 2017

BeDelicious

We went to Minami Sushi for dinner in Yaletown Downtown Vancouver on Friday. It was my second time here. The ambiance is very nice and clean. The interior design of the restaurant is modern style. People can eat sushi here at the same time watch how cook make different sushi rolls. Very excellent customer service. The servers introduce each dish to customers. This place is always super crowded, so I'd recommend coming here before or after lunch or dinner time. It's very fancy and expensive to eat sushi. Great experience. If you are in Vancouver, You should try Minami Sushi once. It will give you a different experience.

Jul 24, 2017

Zwaand

+4.5

Very good food and amazing service but, I got sick from their sashimi for some reason and I have a stomach ache for the next two days with vomiting and diarrhea...

Jul 07, 2017

Nick

It ain't cheap, but it's arguably the best sushi in town. The presentation is fantastic, the restaurant itself is beautiful and the food is fantastic.

Jun 18, 2017

GRIZZLY

+4.5

Personally, not a fan of the signature sushi rolls. BUT their sushi was truly a work of art and the flavors were carefully balanced to give a well rounded experience in every bite. Highly recommended for all your sushi and sashimi desires

May 23, 2017

Reuben Antonio

Loved the sushi and sashimi!

Also liked the sablefish and the ribeye steak.

Excellent service and ambience as well!
Will definitely come back next time I end up in Vancouver.

Mar 16, 2017

Holly Zhou

+4.5

Although still amazing, a few dishes fell short of when I had them at Miku. Highlights were the aburi Saba oshi and the Earl Grey bavaroise.

Calamari: fluffy and light, with a seaweed tempura batter, this was very good. Also featured fried brussels sprouts.

Tuna tartare (photo): this was very good in flavour, especially with the Sesame wonton chips, but nothing amazing.

Salmon oshi bites (photo): only tried the wild boar bacon, which was super smokey and flavourful but quite tough. Heard the scallop and tuna were good.

Oshi sushi: was really looking forward to the ebi as it was amazing at Miku, but it was overcooked and almost tough here. Disappointing. The Saba was standout in its juiciness and perfect sauce, and the salmon was standard.

Earl Grey Bavaroise (photo): a light Earl Grey mousse-cream with a blackberry compote (like a set jam), and a delicious vanilla and blackberry ice cream/sorbet. This reaffirms my appreciation for Miku /Minami ice cream!

Feb 15, 2017

E. AY

+4.5

Tried their Dine out Dinner menu ($40) on a Wednesday night. I was lucky that I got a reservation at 7:30 that night (the one and only time slot that I could find). Appy included a beet salad with yuzu marmalade and 7 pieces of aburi sushi. I always feel kind of weird to eat salad with chopsticks but oh well. The aburi sushi impressed me once again (or like every time)! I love their rice and the balance between the fish and rice is just amazing. Main course was sablefish with lobster tail that I thought it was just ok and didn't 'wow' me. Finally the dessert...Now that REALLY 'wow' me. The Hojicha Mousse with white chocolate shortbread was so good because there was green tea gel/syrup that brought out the flavor and made the dessert 10x better. Overall a very good dine out experience that totally worth the $40.

Feb 05, 2017

Katrina

A must try! The Japanese-French take on the cuisine is evident. ESP in the artistry of the food on your plate. Great for a date - make sure you have desert.

Jan 31, 2017

Sandra Yan

+4.5

Second time here and it is probably the one of the must go-to places in Vancouver for japanese fine dining, along with Miku of course and other places.
When you're here, you should order the aburi because thay is what they are known for.
The interior is very clean and modern with reallygood customer service. I'd recommend coming here for sure.

Jan 27, 2017

ImpressionS

+3.5

Being on vacation in the greater Vancouver area for a week, i decided to hit up the hottest sushi spots to have the time of my life. For lunch we went to minami for aburi sushi.

The atmosphere was great, walking in to ambient music and friendly staff. Let's talk about the food. The aburi sushi were all on point. Melt in your mouth goodness with great combinations. The sashimi lunch was fresh, and the premium sushi combo was well rounded. Even the miso soup had enoki.

Now the bad parts. The flies...I killed 2 while eating. For a venue of this calibre, that should be the least of my worries. Not to deter people but it made it quite difficult to enjoy my lunch here. The rice that came with the sashimi lunch was soft and over watered.

However I would not say it's a bad restaurant. If you want aburi there are a couple in town and definitely worth a try. I mean you are in yaletown.

Nov 18, 2016

David Hewitt

+4.5

Some pretty great sushi action here! Nicely done fusion Japanese. Octopus entree was very well done. Ingredients were fresh. Good sake list. Friendly service. Good atmosphere. Great meal!

Oct 28, 2016

Winedineslumber

+4.5

Love, love, loved this place! The food is absolutely melt in your mouth delicious. The sashimi is fresh and delicate. Sushi is delicately prepared and nicely presented.
We sat at the bar overlooking the kitchen and really enjoyed watching the food prep and care that goes into each dish.
For a Monday night the restaurant was buzzing! Service was fantastic as well. A must try in Vancouver.

Sep 14, 2016

Froyofreak

One of my favorite sushi restaurants of all time. Their location, service, ambiance, and food are all amazing. Super fresh fish and ingredients. The flavors go together so well. Don't forget to get the aburi and the zen box!

Aug 27, 2016

MMDC

+4.5

One of my favourite restaurants of all time. Pretty much every item I have tried from the menu has been excellent. The salmon and shrimp aburi sushi are amazing. Ribeye is always good. Desserts are excellent as well.

Aug 22, 2016

C.ron

+4.5

Loved this place! First time I've had "sushi" like this. It's not your traditional smother in soy sauce kinda sushi. They have a unique assortment to choose from and everything was delicious. Great textures, presentation and flavours. Atmosphere and decor was very nice as well as the service. All friendly and professional. All around great experience.

Aug 19, 2016

Marika Paprika

+4.5

I was lucky to try this place once on a recent trip to Vancouver, and I have to say I was extremely impressed. Minami is an incredible Japanese restaurant, creating probably the best sushi I have ever had in my life. They specialize in Arburi style fish, with a west-coast inspired twist to their dishes. Now, I have been to the sister restaurant, Miku, multiple times on my recent trips to YVR, but I have to say that, strictly flavour-wise, Minami was the best.

Minami has been open for the last 8 years in downtown Vancouver, in a trendy neighbourhood called Yaletown. Aburi style is a type nigiri sushi (raw fish with rice and often other accompanying ingredients), where a flame searing technique is applied to result in fish that is partially grilled on top but still raw. It is unbelievably delicious. Minami has mastered this technique perfectly, so it tastes phenomenal-not to mention each dish is a work of art.

Not only is the raw food part executed precisely, but also dishes such as their calamari are simply mouth-wateringly fantastic. Never in my life have I tasted calamari that was so delicious-a perfect blend between crispy and chewy in texture. It was cooked exactly right, and the flavour was so amazing that frankly it ruined me for calamari henceforth from anywhere else.

The drinks were all very good too, though everything was quite pricey, which I wasn't surprised about since Minami is situated in Yaletown. The crowd can certainly be pretentious, considering the upscale atmosphere and the competitiveness in downtown Vancouver. For our table of 6 it cost about $600 for everyone's food and drinks, so it is definitely not cheap Japanese food.

I was rather impressed with the staff at Minami, the waiters/waittresses were certainly well-practiced and immediately helpful the second anyone required something. It entertained me to see the server bring a small divided dish of soya sauce to each individual customer ar the table, as I am more used to "self-serving" in that area.

My only complaint was that my party of 6 had a few issues when it came to paying the bill. It was a bit confusing, but there were a few dishes added to the bill that we had never received but charged for. On top of that, there was also a gratuity added which we were not told about at all. I find it in good taste to at least make the table present known of that initially. Besides that though, I had a wonderful experience, and would certainly plan to return again or recommend anyone to try out Minami!

Jul 07, 2016

FOODGRESSING.COM

I personally loved the sakekasu-saiyo miso baked sablefish with marinated Japanese eggplant, watercress, and shoga-wasabi relish. The Fraser Valley pork duo with soy braised pork cheek, crispy kakuni pork belly were wonderfully tender pieces.

Jun 08, 2016

Mimseats

+3.5

I've reviewed miku and it's really the same food so those that have read my miku review know that I think very highly of their food. However, I went to minami on one occasion with someone with a crab allergy assuming we could order the other dishes on the menu without crab and was told that they don't recommend it because they don't ensure their seafood is separated when stored-responsible but disappointing. On another occasion, I went with two other girlfriends and the food quality was great but without the view that miku has, I found the price point hard to justify.

Mar 25, 2016

Pork_ninjas

My second dineout experience goes to Minami Restaurant. Having tried Miku and compared both their dineout menus this year, I chose Minami instead. This was definitely the right choice, as I see from fellow dineout patrons have been complaining about their dineout experience from Miku. So the only thing you can choose from the dineout menu is the entree, the appetizer and dessert is the same for everyone.

Jan 28, 2016

Jess W.

+3.5

A couple years ago, Mike and I had a wonderful experience at Miku (@MikuRestaurant), located downtown, overlooking the harbour. On my most recent Vancouver trip, I dropped by its sister restaurant Minami (@MinamiYaletown), located in Yaletown. The restaurant is conveniently located a block away from the Yaletown Roundhouse Skytrain station. Upon entering the restaurant, I was surprised by how large the interior was and I loved that the large tables were well spaced apart. These days I always feel so cramped in restaurants with their tiny little tables overflowing with food all while eating elbow-to-elbow with the strangers next to us.

Mar 14, 2016

Klaudia Puseljic

One of my new favourite restaurants in Vancouver! I came here for a friend's birthday dinner and we had reserved the private room. The food was so delicious and amazing. The staff was so friendly and prompt. They had great serving etiquette and were always alert but not pushy or interruptive. Definitely exceeded our expectations and I cannot wait to come back here to dine again!

Jan 05, 2016

GoMunch

Voted as one of the best up-scale Japanese restaurant in Vancouver, Miku's sister company, Minami serves up signature aburi style dishes, along with some unique flare to offer customer some varieties. Minami serves up great aburi style dishes (aburi - torched with a charring stick which gives the dish a rich charring taste) such as Salmon Oshi sushi and aburi select. Minami is also known for their desserts and cocktails, so do ask the server for recommendations. This location in Yaletown has a more intimate atmosphere compared to Miku. What I'm saying is if you enjoy Miku than you'll also like this place.

Dec 14, 2015

Idea Rabbit

+4.5

After dining at Miku, and loving their Aburi Sushi, I was looking much forward to trying it again at their sister restaurant at Minam, located in trendy Yaletown. The first time we were there, we had the private room for about 20 people. We we seated along one side of tables arranged in a big square. It was through this group meeting I met my friend for the first time.

Nov 02, 2015

FOODGRESSING.COM

The aburi sushi sampler featured Minami’s signature salmon oshi sushi and ebi oshi sushi prepared using the flame-seared technique. I have always been a fan of their salmon oshi sushi and its melt-in-your-mouth goodness.

Oct 28, 2015

Simon

+4.5

We were warned that the portions for Minami's Taste of Yaletown 2015 were going to be small, but fortunately that turned out to actually not be the case. They aren't huge either, but unless you are a really big eater, you will probably leave satisfied but not feeling too full. And there's a tricky workaround as well -- read on.

Oct 27, 2015

Pauline Vancouver

Aburi is their specialty, and yes, they do it very well. Even the rice in the aburi is amazing. I find it wierd though that they keep all their prepped sashimi in a stainless steel tin ans some nights, that tin stay on the counter (out f the fridge) for a long time. We go there mostly for dinner, but they also fi Sunday brunch. We've had their smoked salmon benny a number of times becsuse it comes with piping hot fingerling potatoes and fried brussels sprout and salad. BUT, the bun, the eggs and benny sauce always come cold, which is always a surprise – cold runny yolk isn't that pleasant. Dinner is better.

Oct 25, 2015

Gracecheung604

I had the chance to try out the Taste of Yaletown a few weeks ago (it's on until October 29!) at Minami , which has three menus, one for lunch and two for dinner. . The Minami Zen Platter, available at lunch, is only $25 and gives you a taste of their legendary dishes as well as some new tastes too. Starting off with the Signature Sushi, you get a nice assortment of Aburi nigiri, a roll as well as the oishi sushi all featuring their renown aburi-style of searing the fish.

Oct 24, 2015

Gracecheung604

I had the chance to try out the Taste of Yaletown a few weeks ago (it's on until October 29!) at Minami , which has three menus, one for lunch and two for dinner.
The Minami Zen Platter, available at lunch, is only $25 and gives you a taste of their legendary dishes as well as some new tastes too. Starting off with the Signature Sushi, you get a nice assortment of Aburi nigiri, a roll as well as the oishi sushi all featuring their renown aburi-style of searing the fish.

The platter also includes Aburi Bincho, accompanied by a creamy gomae sauce with a touch of heat from the wasabi-masatake.

There is a light salad, the Minami Chopped Salad, with some baby greens, miso tofu, crisps and some chopped chicken. The umami-soy vinaigrette is a light dressing that complements the salad quite nicely. The Ebi Fritter is light and crispy, with a bit of chili aioli and balanced with a soy-balsamic reduction.

Rounding out the plate is a bit of spiced couscous. And the other item on the platter is the Kurobuta & Kobe Meatball, bathed in miso-chicken jus with a few fingerling potatoes. And for dessert, you have a choice of ice cream for sorbet. All in all, this is a great deal for $25.
Their dinner offering is $45, although they do have a $35 option for vegetarians, which I will review next. The appetizer is the Minami Appetizer Trio, with a serving of the Aburi Sushi Sampler, a light Citrus Salad as well as a Brome Lake Duck Confit Drumette. The Aburi sushi is just tasty as you would expect, and the citrus salad is fresh and light. I loved the Aburi grapes! The Duck Drumette is crispy on the outside and moist on the inside, perfectly executed.
For the main course, they have a unique Surf and Turf. For the Surf, you get their Sakekasu-Saikyo Miso Baked Sablefish, which is melt in your mouth tender. The fish flakes off easily and it has a rich and sweet flavour. I could eat this everyday! Partnered with the sablefish is a serving of marinated Japanese eggplant, I had never had this before but it sure was tasty.

For the Turf, you are treated to Fraser Valley Pork done two ways. The first part of the duo is a Braised Pork Cheek, which is super tender. The second part is a complete textural change, with a Crispy Kakuni Pork Belly. The skin is crunchy, not just crispy. There is a bit of salsa on top, with a miso Asahi glaze. Both items rest on a bed of rapini and the greens definitely benefit from the juices of both the sablefish and the pork. It's one of the best Surf and Turf plate I've had.
To top this meal off, there is a Mixed Berry Sakekasu Bar. It's a miso pecan-walnut crumble, paired a vanilla-sakekasu & rhubarb-ume ice cream, and with a salted caramel sauce drizzled on top. It is as tasty as it is beautiful. There is a lot of Sakekasu in this menu, and I didn't really know what it was. It turns out it is the lees which are leftover after all the liquid is removed from the fermented rice used to make sake, and is a key component of the umami taste.
The $35 Vegetarian Menu starts off with a Minami Garden Trio. There is the Minami Garden Plate with fresh veggies and a delicate quinoa and avocado roll wrapped in soy paper, and some spinach shira-ae, a crumbled tofu. There is also a Kaiso (seaweed) Salad, which is paired with some frisée and a soy vinaigrette. I loved the little lotus chips on top. And to finish off the trio is the Miso-Tofu Sansai Gyoza, pan-fried to perfection.
The entree is a serving of Crispy Tempeh, surrounded by a whole gamut of vegetables, such as a roasted mushroom medley, fingerling potatoes, cipollini onions, haricot verts. The dressing is made with maple-sherry vinegar and soy-balsamic reduction, topped with some Aburi corn and bell pepper salsa. The dessert is the same as the $45 menu above.

So whether you want to stop by just for lunch or a night out, I'd say any of the three menus are worth a try. I've already booked my table for the 24th; dinner before the Canucks versus Red Wings game! Note that not all menu items listed above are available throughout the year, some are just here for Taste of Yaletown 2015.

Note: I was hosted for this tasting by the nice folks at Taste of Yaletown.

Oct 22, 2015

Molely-B Loves To Eat

+4.5

Excellent service, great quality of food and beautiful decor! It's an upscale and spacious restaurant to gather with family and friends. Every plate has an unique presentation and taste. Their desserts are one of a kind as well. Although, it is a little more expensive than usual Japanese restaurants but definitely a great experience and worth to try!

Oct 13, 2015

Sophia Rizos

Always a pleasant experience coming to Minami - their device and food is all star. I always order the aburi sushi - duh - and I really liked their prawn tempura and calamari! Super crispy and flavourful.

Sep 30, 2015

Suraj Virk

First off the service is great.l! We had more than one server and the food was coming out in a very timely manner. You have to try the spicy pork gyozas! So flavourful and beautifully plated! Each bit is bursting with carefully selected spices coated with a glaze that will leaving you wanting more.

Sep 30, 2015

Bagel Boy

Hands down the most incredible sushi restaurant I have ever been to. It is expensive, but if you want an amazing and memorable meal, this is the place. They do a very wide range of sushi related foods too. Much different than a traditional sushi menu. Highly recommend.

Sep 29, 2015

Laughingman

I really loved this place. They have the right vibe going, a under-rated patio out the back and some very interesting takes on traditional standards.

Minami avoids the "fusion" trap and is genuinely pushing forward a traditional cuisine. It takes some lesser known Japanses regional specialties and mixes in new ingredients (in doses that doesn't take over the anture of the dish) Vancouver needs more like this,

Even though many of the Cocktails sound like sour ass they are actually quite tasty. Give them a try.

Aug 21, 2015

Chocolateandconnie

Fancy westerned style sushi. If you're looking for a cool twist to the traditional flavours, this place will blow your mind/tastebuds! I also liked that the server described every dish that they set your table, it was a nice touch to the fancy eating experience. My only complaint is that the portions are too small for the price that I'm paying.

Aug 21, 2015

J-doug131

First time dining at Minami and in the Yaletown neighbourhood. I was amazed by the collection of restaurants in the surrounding areas. Our reservation was late (8:45pm) and we were seated in the patio. There were quite a few tables outside but it was quiet and we were able to have a decent conversation. The inside of the restaurant was vibrant with lots of noise and chatter. We originally wanted the calamari but our server was upfront and told us that it's usually good but a customer had told her earlier that they were tough tonight. So we were suggested to try the ebi fritters instead - great choice! We also got the sashimi platter, minami roll, salmon oshi (yum!), wagyu beef cha-soba, and kaisen soba peperoncino. The food was delicious! The sushi rolls really do not need more soy sauce or wasabi - there's enough flavour already in the rolls. It's more of a contemporary fusion Japanese place than an authentic one. If you're willing to shell out more cash and are open to a twist on Japanese cuisine, Minami is a good choice. The staff were very professional - they ask you if you've had the dish before and if you haven't, they will go into detail on what is in the dish and what flavours to expect.

Aug 05, 2015

Food4thoughtz

Definitely not your average Japanese restaurant. I loved everything I had at this restaurant, from the rib eye to the sable fish, everything was so good. The sable fish basically melted in your mouth and the bone marrow that accompanied the rib eye was so flavourful. The crunchy scallop roll was excellent as well. Service was a little slow at first but it definitely picked up and I don't blame them because they were super busy. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for Japanese fusion.

Aug 03, 2015

Marv Wang

+4.5

I will say in terms of taste, this is one of the restaurants that amazes me. their aburi selection is a must i'll say, never dissapointed me except that one time, where it's actually a little off, but 90% of the time is good. then, I must say most of their items in the menu in terms of taste is great. if you do care about the price, the taste will definitely compensate for it. :P the desert was okay though, but will definitely always recommend the aburis over here :D

the aburi is charcoaled sushi, and you don't need any soy sauce or any other dipping to make the flavor be enhanced.

let's talk how the taste of aburi salmon oshi sushi will break down.

Because once you tasted the sushi and locked it in to evaluate the taste,
1. the fish will melt once it hits the soft palete.
2. the flavor will start first on the sauce that is being charcoaled with the salmon, the flavor is more of a sweeter, yet hickory like taste to me and a very very light of black bean soy. (might totally be wrong on the ingredients)
3. once you bite the sushi the flavor will now mesh between the sushi rice (vingegar + rice flavor = sweet) and the jalapeno (the extra shallow kick) to the mix.
4. burst of happiness + tears of joy.

would recommend the place. cheers :D

Jul 30, 2015

E A

Minami is by far the best Japanese restaurant that I have ever been too, their food is incredible, their signature dish the salmon Oshi will surely impress, and their desserts are very good as well. I will be back for sure!

Jul 07, 2015

Mathiar

This was my first experience with oishi pressed sushi...life changing moment!
It was amazing! We ordered one of each kind and it didn't disappoint.
We also ordered one of each of the aburi sushi and it was delicious, perfectly char grilled on the outside!
The sale was also delicious as the waiter suggested two different kinds (we ordered both) for different points in the meal.
Not the type of place you can go to every week (unless you can afford that) but definitely worth a visit for a nice dinner.

Jul 05, 2015

CyniC-

I came in here expecting this place to top Miku but to me it felt just the same, if not a little lower than my expectation. In the end though, I enjoyed my stay and liked the food that I chose and the service that I received. The aburi sashimi was $24 and I'm not sure if it lived up to the expectation given the small serving size and taste. I liked it, I mean, but I just didn't feel it was $24 - maybe $18 or $20. I think I was expecting the more scorched taste found in the Salmom Oshi Sushi, priced at $16. I enjoyed that dish much more. While I enjoyed my Jidori Chicken and Foie Gras Gyoza, I wasn't sure if it was worth $16 either because I couldn't quite taste the foie gras and the ethical aspect of consuming that dawned on me. I found the gyozas to be a bit burnt and it just felt more humble than it was exquisite. I'd rather come back during happy hour for gyozas and beer and just not care for the taste as much. The Crunchy Hokkaido Scallop Roll was just so-so and it felt kind of bland. It seemed to be the best bang for the buck item I suppose but there was nothing to write home about. Perhaps my favourite dish during my stay was sadly but ironically, the dessert. Keep in mind that I'm not a dessert person but I was blown away by it and I didn't care what price I paid. My drink was also quite cheap and it tasted refreshing so I enjoyed that too. Overall, I'd only come back if I were to impress a first date, otherwise, I'd probably go to Miku or some place else that might not have all the fame, but will try harder than Minami.

Jun 29, 2015

@annanguyen_

Why I love this place: aburi, aburi, aburi, aburi, aburi.... need I say more? The dessert is amazing too.
Would I come back: YES!!
Would I recommend it to others: I always do!

Jun 16, 2015

Hungry Coco

+4.5

To start off our dine out Vancouver adventures, DC and I went to Minami Restaurant in Yaletown. Just a little backstory: Minami and Miku are sister restaurants and both were named after the restaurant owner’s daughters! :) They’re both on the expensive side but they deliver excellent quality of food and my visits have been great so far. For the dine out promotion, we went for the $38 dinner menu. Unlike the other restaurants, you don’t get to choose between different appetizers and entrees; there’s only one choice for each course so everyone gets the same thing (unless you go for the vegetarian menu).

Jun 14, 2015

Warren JG

In town for the U2 show, hit Minami right at opening.
Nice day, doors to the street were open, sat at the bar.
Ordered calamari & the Minami roll & Aburi Salmon & a couple of Sapporo
Place was filling up fast. Food came out pretty quick and was awesome.
We noticed the girls beside us and the table behind us had gyoza but we didn't
see any on the menu. Asked the bartender.
"oh that's a happy hour special, gyoza and a beer for $10"
We ordered one.. they were really nice.
If he had told us in the beginning like he should have a 4.5 would be attainable.
A very good experiance overall & we will go again.

Jun 13, 2015

Nom.nom.nom.

This place was top notch. From service ambiance to the food. It's a must try for date night. It's expensive but it's worth it!!!!! The pressed sushi will be the best sushi you put in your mouth. Lol

Jun 03, 2015

Savvy Insider

Vancouver has thousands of sushi places, but few Japanese restaurants that have the culinary chops to do something different and unique. Food that makes your mouth water. Food that is delicious. Food that looks like an artist created it.But there is one restaurant that meets all the criteria in a New York minute.The cuisine here is upscale Japanese with modern sensibilities and West Coast influences.The Minami roll reflects that approach perfectly. Chef starts off with tender, succulent short ribs that are sliced in long thin strips. Then spicy prawns, wasabi mastaki sauce, and cucumbers are added; rolled for something spectacular. The best dish of the evening.The sashimi platter is filled with fresh sustainable fish.The tuna tartare, topped with lotus root chips (nice and crunchy); a myriad of ingredients, avocado, red onion, celery, micro greens, spicy ponzu vinegraitte and crème fraiche. The first bite, a sum of all its parts - totally deliciousness. Brussels sprout chips, served with sea salt and lemon, were wonderful but needed more than one slice of lemon to brighten up the dish. Ebi fritters were amazing. Large succulent tiger prawns with spiced couscous (with a dash of curry) and sweet chili aioli for the heat and the soy balsamic reduction for a touch of sweetness to balance the heat from the chili ailoi.Last but not least - an out-of-this-world dessert - chocolate molten lava cake. It was all the ingredients that made it unique and special - matcha tea, black sesame sauce (wow) and jasmine ice cream.

May 29, 2015

Dreaming In Foie Gras

April 20, 2015 · by ThatShanghaiGirl · My third trip to Minami, read about my second visit here. Sadly I was still recovering from a cold that day so I couldn’t taste as well as usual. Our service was good and for the food there was hits and missies.

Jun 07, 2015

Everything But Weddings

+4.5

I have been wanting to try Minami for a long time and we finally decided to go while Dine Out Vancouver was happening. All the courses were fresh and delicious. They were well prepared and nicely presented. We were seated at the bar and we were able to observe the sushi chefs create some amazing dishes. My rating is not perfect because they actually forgot about us at one point... but they realized their mistake and were very apologetic about it. Other than that blip, it was a lovely dinner.

May 16, 2015

Dreaming In Foie Gras

My third trip to Minami, sadly I was still recovering from a cold that day so I couldn’t taste as well as usual. Our service was good and for the food there was hits and missies. I don’t think I’ll be back for awhile since I’ve tried so much but I know I’ll be back for the oshi. Also if your planning to go to either Miku or Minami, I would recommend Miku more just because I feel like the overall ambiance of the restaurant is better there and the food is practically the same anyways...

Apr 22, 2015

Somerville Kitchen

+4.5

Today, we left it in the hands of our server to surprise us with the new and the favourites. The Aburi chicken surprised nicely with its subtle soy garlic pink peppercorn sauce and elegant presentation.

Apr 30, 2015

WingHin T.

+4.5

Okay so if you haven't heard of Minami, chances are you are either 1) not that interested in Vancouver's Japanese food or 2) living and eating under a rock. But if you really haven't heard of them, Minami is one of the Japanese restaurants under the Aburi brand and is the sister restaurant of the popular Miku and relatively new Aburi restaurant, Gyoza Bar (which I did a review of here). Although Minami isn't the first of the Aburi restaurants in Vancouver, I would definitely rank it as first among its sister restaurants. Here's a rundown of my meal during my most recent visit a few days ago.

Apr 20, 2015

Geoff Peters

+4.5

High quality, try their daily lunch specials. I come here for lunch once a week or so with my coworker, and we really enjoy their lunch specials which are in the 15 to 20 dollar range and come with usually a soup or salad or rice and a delicious feature such as sable fish or prawns or other interesting delicious seafoods. Also be sure to try their signature aburi sushi. this is definitely a very high end modem gourmet Japanese restaurant with impeccable service and friendly staff.

Feb 17, 2015

Dreambamboo

+4.5

Their aburi salmon sushi is so delicious, regular sushi will seem bland and tasteless ever after. Be warned! You will be forever branded. Service attentive, prices steep but worth the jaunt downtown.

Feb 14, 2015

Jkkwai

+4.5

Food was great but it was kind of weird that it was sorta empty on a friday night. our waiter was not friendly at all and rushed us at the end.

Jan 24, 2015

Yvr_foodie_

+4.5

Amazing food and service.. I came here many times for dinner. The food never seems to disappoint, same with the service that we receive. All the dishes on menu are very tasty and fresh.

Definitely not place to come everyday, but a great place for dates, birthdays and other special occasions.

Nov 30, 2014

Jenny L

+4.5

It's art!. With the carefully and beautifully prepared food items plus a location in Yaletown, don't expect anything cheap. The flavours are in depth for each bite and they were all very surprising. The presentation of every single item is delicate. The whole experience with the food and decor reminded me of my visit in Tokyo. However, I wouldn't be able to afford coming back too often. I would definitely recommend my friends to try this place for special occasions.

Sep 18, 2014

Cheeseburger

+4.5

Lovely. My mom and I came here for the Dine Out menu -it's a bit different from most dine out menus in that the restaurant has chosen the offerings and you don't get to pick exactly which appy/entree/dessert to try. However, you get to have a pretty representational sample of the dishes that they offer since in the appy "dish" they present four of their appys for you to sample! I feel Minami has really embraced the whole idea of the Dine Out Festival which is partly to get patrons to explore different restaurants and taste lots of new foods.

My favourite appy in the set was the aburi bincho -the wasabi sauce was surprising and set a great contrast to the melt-in-your-mouth albacore tuna. A close second was the ebi fritter- the spiced couscous was delicious and the tiger shrimp "bouncy". Least favourite would be the pork rib, wasn't a huge fan because the meat was a bit difficult to pull off the bone and eat, and it was too big a piece to work in one bite.

I enjoyed all of their specialty sushi choices, my only caveat would be they were all a bit oily as could be seen on the stone serving dish and the rice. The slightly charred taste was a welcome contrast to the otherwise oily texture of the fish. Dessert (in-house?) was a fruit sorbet. Fresh and tart.

Service was pretty good, the head waiter(?) explained all the dishes and offerings to us when they arrived and the rest of the staff were attentive without being overbearing. Our waiter was a little odd in that he would stand and look at you for a beat too long and make you think he wanted to say something but he never did... but other than that everything was great! Might not be filling enough for the lumberjacks out there, I think it's better for ladies or gents with smaller appetites :)

It was my first visit to this restaurant and I think their Dine Out menu was definitely a good deal especially for those who have never been and wanted to try their food. I would really consider returning for their regular menu in the future!

Jan 21, 2014

Girllovesfood

+4.5

Heavenly. I ate here last night and ended up finding myself in sushi heaven. Need I say more?

Jan 10, 2014

Esther

+4.5

BRUNCH. I was definitely hesitant at first. Japanese style eggs benedict? I was especially intrigued by the Saikyo Dashi Eggplant Florentine eggs benedict but figured I love eggplant and eggs benedict. It's unusual but why not? I'm so glad I stepped out of my comfort zone and gave it a try. It was SO good. So very, very good. Probably the best eggs benedict I've had to date. Everything worked so well together. I can't say the same for the market green salad it came with but the eggs benedict itself has me longing for another visit. From the in house made brioche to the miso maple hollandaise sauce... eating this eggs benedict was pure bliss. Minami may not be a conventional place for brunch but I would definitely recommend it.

Jan 02, 2014

Always Hungry

+4.5

Amazing sushi, aburai sushi is melt in your mouth good. Definitely recommend everybody to give this place a go. Will not be disappointed

Dec 15, 2013

Kevinchun01

+4.5

Surprise for New Concept of Sushi!

This is a wonderful restaurant! We stayed 2 days in Vancouver’s Downtown for sightseeing last week and we visited this restaurant for dinner for 2 times during the period.

The atmosphere, service, food quality and team spirit are excellent. They noted we are not familiar with the Japanese food menu and appointed a Chinese Chef(Sunny) to explain each item with patient and gave us recommendation for food ordering based on our preference.

Their sushi are mainly made with flame, I think it is a kind of fusion style. We appreciated the sushi called Aburi Salmon Oshi Sushi and Aburi Ebi Oshi , the special made sauce applied on top of the sushi are brilliant, gave us a surprise and new concept of sushi with fresh tasting.

When they noted we come from Hong Kong and the purpose of this trip is celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary, they special made a nice desert for us, very delicious!

We would like to express our appreciation for the Chefs, Sunny and the team’s effort, they makes us an unforgettable memories. This is the best Japanese Restaurant that I ever been to, highly recommended, thumbs up! We will be back!!!

Erica & Kevin .)
from Hong Kong

Dec 14, 2013

Eatoutvan

+4.5

Delicious! I would stick to the sushi and rolls on the menu. The calamari was just OKAY and the wagyu beef soba wasnt very tasty either. But the sushi especially the aburi sushi were amazing! Melts in your mouth. The dessert was also delicious too. We had the green tea opera and choclate fondant. Was really good!! Definitely a place to go!

Aug 17, 2013

Bah Bah

+4.5

OMG Restaurant. I love this place. I was there last night for the first time. I sat close to the chefs and ordered lots of food to try different thing, and I was hungry. There was an incredible Japanese chef that I took a picture of him, he was an amazing chef. I could see everything he was doing. He designed and fired the sushi. OMG, When I put the sushi in my mouth, it just melted. sooo tasty! The combination was just amazing, and whoever did write the recipe is just a genius. it was THE BEST SUSHI I HAVE EVER HAD!!

Jul 31, 2013

Cioccolato

+4.5

Non-traditional, but i like it. Like what some other reviewers said, Minami isn't a place where you'll find "traditional sushi", and being Japanese, I've always been very picky about sushi I eat in Vancouver. But hey, minami has delicious sushi! Normally traditional "Aburi" simply consists of nigiri with a lightly flamed fish, but Minami's aburi sushi are rich in flavor with mayo-like sauces and other ingredients on top of the fish - which add a pretty good flavour to the sushi. I also do think that despite being fusion, Minami's sushi still has some Japanese essence in it (I think they are elegant in their own way).
So for fusion-sushi fans out there, I'd definitely recommend this restaurant.
Oh, their green tea opera is also a must try.

Jun 12, 2013

Jinchen Cai

Amazing 🍣 and extremely tasty! I came for first time for my birthday dinner a while ago and everything was just amazing. The interior was beautiful and modern, I didn't get chance to take more photos of it tho, but the atmosphere was also equally as well. ⭐️ The dishes my boyfriend and I ordered were are just amazing and there were so much taste and flavour in just one bite! They also have daily specials and server was very kind to answer my questions. I really enjoyed and definately will come back again!

Harrison Sheremeta

Minami lived up to the hype. We ordered the 5-course tasting menu and every course was delicious and very well presented. Our server was great and was attentive throughout service, providing explanations when asked. The sake tasting is high recommended if you haven’t had much sake before. The sashimi quality was excellent as well.

Tony Morgan

Excellent service, clean atmosphere, food was phenomenal. Thank you so much to the staff including BOH who made our wedding anniversary so special. The bartender came over to pour our water, which is probably normal, but a nice touch considering he's leaving his station. Our server was so polite and friendly. She talked to us for a decent amount of time about life and the food. Would highly recommend.

Minty Vo

Amazing! Had an anniversary here and they truly made the experience worth it. Make sure to book a reservation. The sushi was phenomenal and the waiter ( Aiden) was very friendly, thoughtful, and knowledgeable about the menu. Every single item we ordered was scrumptious and unique!

Kevin Ao

Great spot for tasty sushi. Not traditional type of sushi but still very flavorful. I got the lunch premium zen and it was a ton of food with soup, salad, 3 seasonal dishes, assorted sushi, and dessert. Fish was fresh and rice made correctly. The service was friendly and attentive. I recommend coming for your contemporary style sushi.

Agnes

A favourite staple here in Vancouver. We often go here since one of our friends is celiac and they're great with being gluten free. Everything is delicious as usual and drinks are so good.

Arham Newaz

The customer service was amazing. However personally the food was a little lacking in flavor( especially for the price) and just overall lacking in portion size. I purchased the 5 course meal, and still left the restaurant a bit hungry. I would recommend sticking to the rolls for overall value and taste economy.

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