Reviews Octopus's Garden Restaurant

Zomato
Susan Murtaza
+4
Great spot for authentic Sushi.Not impressed that they charge for tea, I guess this was ok, the main thing was real fish and quality ingredients.
Jul 03, 2018
Zomato
Double1111.626
+4
Food and quality are pretty good but super pricey!!! Don’t think I would go back again but it was not bad. I think I rather go to Raisu or Suika than this one tho
Nov 15, 2017
Zomato
Derek
+5
the owner/chef is always so passionate about perfecting the food that he serves, always a super happy experience coming here.  Top quality nigiri and uni shooters everytime!
Jul 18, 2017
Zomato
Nomnomnom
+4.5
○great service/ and yes you can make reservations!
○excellent food/ one of my favorite Japanese restaurant
○my go to dishes are foie gras nigiri and botanebi nigiri (deep fry the heads)
○price is definitely a lot higher than other Japanese restaurants but worth it/ alot of unique dishes
○special events/ date night kind of place
○very small so I'd don't think it's suitable for babies or strollers
○free parking out front depend on the time
○would I go back? Definitely
Feb 15, 2017
Zomato
Nosh And Nibble
+4
One-liner: $100 guarantees you a a quality of culinary skill seldom found in Vancouver, a promise of leaving the restaurant full, and an tasting experience offered by few other Japanese restaurants
Highlight: Seafood Tray
Estimated price per person: $125
Would I go back? Yes.

Check out my blog post for the full review!
Feb 15, 2017
Zomato
Simon B.
+4.5
Always wanted to try it so wifey and I went last night. Gotta say some of the freshest fish we have had and the quality of the rice of the nigiri, hands down the best quality.
It's a bit pricy but worth it to spoil yourself... sometimes 😋
Oct 03, 2016
Zomato
#evelyneats
+4
For my parent’s anniversary and before they flew back to Calgary, we went to check out this moderately traditional Japanese restaurant located in Kits on Cornwall: Octopus’ Garden. It’s a little bit eclectic inside and VERY small: they have about 6 seats at the sushi bar (which unfortunately, you can’t actually watch the chefs make the sushi – a little disappointing), and I would say overall about 8 tables ranging from 2 – 4 seats each. Reservations are DEFINITELY recommended – we barely made it in without reserving. They often have all seats reserved and do not save any seats for walk-ins.
Sep 22, 2016
Zomato
Angela
+5
Although it is a little pricy, the quality and service is excellent. I love the uni shooter and the foie gras sushi. The ebi sashimi was excellent as well. Definitely gonna try again.
May 10, 2016
Zomato
Chicas
+4.5
I absolutely love the quality and taste of food here. You pay for what you get since the price is a lot higher than other Japanese restaurant and the portions are a lot smaller. One of the best Japanese restaurants I ever dine at. Of course my complaint is the price. Two of us dined there and the bill was over $140 and we both were still hungry
Mar 19, 2016
Zomato
NOMSS
+3.5
Octopus Garden Vancouver is a small Japanese restaurant run by sushi Chef Sada on 1995 Cornwall Ave. A quick search for the best Japanese restaurants in Vancouver probably may queue you a list with Octopus Garden on it. We’ve came several times to enjoy their collection of bluefin of o-toro and chu-toro a la carte. Tonight we came here for their omakase menu which requires pre-order.
Mar 14, 2016
Zomato
Domo Is Craving...
+4
Back with another blog today and its another sushi place! By now, you all probably know i have a thing or two for sushi places. This restaurant is located near kits beach and it's right on Cornwall. There's free parking around the area, mostly residential parking. They also have meter parking right in front of the restaurant.
Dec 13, 2015
Zomato
Nick Chang
+5
Just had an amazing dinner at Octopus Garden. It was my wife's birthday and I made reservations after hearing from a fellow foodie friend that this was their go to Japanese restaurant. The restaurant did not disappoint.  The wait staff was friendly and very helpful.  We had to wait 5 mins for our table, but they seated us in a really cute undercover seating area that included chairs and a TV. We started with a free appetizer from the kitchen, monkfish liver, which was probably the best I have had in Vancouver to date.  The Uni shooter was fun and a must get the first time at the restaurant. The standouts of the night were the o-toro blue fin tuna and hamachi. I have been to Japan multiple times and have had some very good sushi, this place is definitely comparable. The second stand out would have to be the seared Waygu beef hot plate which included tempura onion rings and rice. Prior to deciding if I wanted to splurge on the beef I verified with the waitress if it was authentic waygu from Japan, which she confirmed. For those of you that are into details it's from the Kagoshima prefecture area in Kyushu. At a hefty price tag of $70, it was an indulgence worth every penny.  It has been 6 years since eating wagyu in Tokyo and it lived up to those lofty expectations. We have been to almost all the well known Japanese restaurants in Vancouver and this one was the best so far. We will be back, for the great atmosphere, the helpful wait staff and above all their dedication to the quality of their food. We haven't been so satisfied after a meal in Vancouver in a while.
Nov 09, 2015
Zomato
SophiaEats
+5
For my birthday dinner I wanted to have some good Japanese Omakase in Vancouver area. Omakase literally means to entrust, so that when you order Omakase, you are entrusting the chef who will choose the freshest fish and ingredients for your special meal. It seemed like Octopus Garden has one of the most high-rated restaurants that offer quality omakase so J and I decided to give it a try. Octopus Garden requires 24-hour notice & reservation for their special omakase so make sure to call them in before dining in.
Sep 20, 2015
Zomato
Marv Wang
+4
Had the omakase, the food are really great, the variation of each set are great. the taste of the food are definitely above average. but at the same time not extra memorable. but definitely looks interesting and props to the decoration and presentation of the food :D love it, all are very picture worthy presentation. all the ingredients are also very good quality thus making a great selection of food too :D

Would definitely recommend the place, the omakase's price are also very reasonable. and overall experience was really great :D you'll not be dissapointed.
Jul 31, 2015
Zomato
Raymond's Sushi Adventures
+4.5
'Sada's Own' Nomu Uni Shooter consisted of sea urchin, mountain potato, quail egg, and wasabi in a small glass of dashi broth, mirin, and rice. You're supposed to mix all of the ingredients together and then consume the whole thing in one gulp. The result is a highly pleasant savoury smoothness from the uni and quail egg, which blends perfectly with the broth.
Jul 15, 2015
Zomato
Dennisthefoodie
+4
I’ve always been scared of going to Octopus’ Garden in Kits because I thought it was high-end and kind of expensive. But how times have changed. I remember back in the early/mid 90s going to Dario’s La Piazza and paying more than $60 for a meal for two, and thinking, “My god, we’ve hit this threshold…we won’t be doing this that often…” Turns out that nowadays, $60 for two (especially including drinks) is getting harder and harder to do! So with that in mind, places like Chambar and Octopus’ Garden really aren’t that expensive, depending on how you order. And the quality makes it worth it. We went here for Wicca’s birthday, but at times it felt like my birthday! 😀
Jul 04, 2015
Zomato
Miss A
+4.5
As much as I LOVE sushi made by Koreans for their fusion twist and extraordinary creative artwork along with their fabulous house made sauces, I am also a huge fan of the perfectly cut sashimi, clean and simple for their natural favours. And here at Octopus' Garden in my opinion is as authentic as it gets!!! I had been looking very forward to dine out here with two beautiful people whom also share the love of good sushi, so we walked in with H.U.G.E expectations. I was WOWED from the very second I step foot inside, it felt so homey and cosy very welcoming as if you had just walked in someone's house in Japan!!!

The name Octopus' Garden was named after a song by The Beatles as owner/Master Chief Sada san is a huge fan of The Beatles. Some of the names on the menu such as The Yellow Submarine was inspired by The Beatles.

For those of you that heart sushi as much as I do, Octopus' Garden is a MUST try!!! It was both visually satisfying to the eyes and orally satisfying to my palate. I say you have NOT tried EXCELLENT sushi until you've tried The Octopus' Garden!!! It is comparable to Tojo's but I feel the Octopus' Garden has less hype however the food does the talking here!!!

http://www.octopusgardensada.com/index.html
Feb 28, 2015
Zomato
David Gibbons
+4.5
Where to begin? For me, Octopus' Garden is quite simply the very best that Vancouver sushi has to offer.

Owner and sushi chef, Sada is one of the best in the business. He comes highly trained, loves his work, and shares that love with his customers.

The rice here is the best I've had: slightly sweet, perfectly al dente, and draped with beautiful cuts of sashimi. The best Nigiri in Vancouver.

Where Sada excels though is with his hot dishes. Australian lamb that melts in your mouth, Kobe Wagyu donburi that reminds you why Wagyu is the best in the world, seasonal cheeks (Bluefin, Kampachi, King White) that make a table treat, and brilliant rolls and built simply with the best ingredients available make Octopus one of Vancouver's gems.

Like at Miku and Tojo, expect to spend some money here. A two person omakase with some sake will push $300, but it could also be the best sushi of your life.

Make sure to try his Uni Shooter (mixed with rice, quail egg, mountain potato, and other little treats). The little appetizer should be world famous.

Honestly, I can't say enough. Don't"t be fooled by his small itemized menu. Sada can make you what you want if you ask, but when a sushi chef has so many tricks, how could they all possibly be written down?

Tremendous every time.
May 20, 2014
Zomato
Beeblow
+4.5
One of my favorites. Whenever I come here I love to order nigiri. They have a really great assortment of things you may not find at other places. Try the waru if they have it. Gintoro is also amazing! I'm not a fan of sea urchin, but my husband always get the uni shooters and says it's delicious.
If you are someone who likes cheap, low quality sushi - this place is not for you. You might pay a bit more than other places but it's really worth it. Reservations recommended.
Apr 06, 2014
Zomato
Cioccolato
+4.5
Elegant & Authentic Sushi. Octopus' Garden is definitely my favourite sushi restaurant in Vancouver. Their Sushi is what you call the "real" Japanese Sushi. (trust me, i'm Japanese.) I've tried many other sushi restaurants around Kitsilano/Downtown and was always disappointed, they typically serve gigantic sized cheap sushi, and the chefs aren't even Japanese.. But Octopus' Garden isn't a typical sushi place you'll find in Vancouver. The ingredients are so fresh, the size of their Sushi is just perfect (I mean, sushi is meant to be bite-sized. You know you're not eating a Japanese sushi if your sushi/rolls require 2,3 bites).
I know everyone has a different preference for their sushi, and Octopus Garden is indeed a little more expensive than other sushi restaurants in town but in my opinion the food here is worth the price. I recommend this restaurant for those of you who are willing to try an authentic JAPANESE sushi.
Jun 12, 2013
Zomato
Sandra Joey Lee
+4.5
Super duper. Awesome customer service :) shoota the manager gave us an octopus chopsticks holder from japan
May 27, 2013
Zomato
Iris Chen
+4
Japa Pho --> yum. My favourite is the Japa Pho, which is a bowl of noodles in flavourful stock. Only available at lunch
Apr 15, 2012
Zomato
Stuff99
+4.5
Omakse? Yes Please!. Had the pleasure of meeting Chef Sada-San and tried his Omakse menu for $60. My dinner was delightful and it's a must for all Japanese food lovers.

The evening was eventful and I would highly recommend it to all.

You can really tell he puts a lot of heart, care and love for his food.

I've already added Octopus Garden to my many other favorite Japanese restaurants in Vancouver (Tokyo Thyme, Kishimoto Japanese Kitchen and Nakamura) to my list. I will definitely visit this restaurant again for its famous Omakse. I ordered the $65 option.

No pics because I was too busy soaking up the atmosphere and eating.
Dec 31, 2011
Zomato
Denman On Dining
+4.5
Octopus's OMGarden. This could be a really short review as quite frankly this place is perfection. I had read about it on "Follow Me Foodie" so I was pretty keen to try it for myself. And wow, what a delight! From the charming and efficient wait staff to the beautifully presented food and saki. They add that little je nais se quas to everything they present. The Saki comes on a heating platform, the Sashimi is garnished with a light seawood salad. And, they plate everything on ice. This is a place that elevates the whole sushi experience, where the food is the star and we are presented and then humbled buy it's beauty. All I can add is these people show a great respect for seafood and their other food products as well as the clients. I say treat yourself and a friend to a beautiful experience. I give them an A+ for perfection!
Sep 06, 2011
Zomato
Purdey
+4.5
This place is very cozy and small. I love the little octopus chopsticks holders they have. The theme and decor us great. I found the food to be good but the price is very steep.sone of their rolls were $25. Overall it was good, but won't be coming often because the price point is too high. Overall experience: Thumbs up.
Aug 19, 2011
Zomato
Halei
+4.5
Top notch sushi!. Came here for a 'friends" birthday. It is a very nice and stylish place, it had that "beatles" theme, yellow submarine roll etc. The service was very friendly and professional, the food was very good, we ordered the yellow submarine, the tataki and other sushi dishes, like I said all very good. It is on the pricey side though, not a sushi joint you go to once a week, more like a special occasion place. There was 4 of us and to be honest we were still hungry when we left, but like I said the food is very good and you can tell they use quality (high grade fish etc.) ingredients and presented very nice. All in all I would reccoment Octopus Garden......but bring you wallet!
Jul 25, 2011
Zomato
Hitting The Sauce
+4.5
Fantastic meal!. I love the fisherman's plate - chopped up raw tuna and tempura bits in a pyramid shape and on top of rice. The plate of tuna and salmon sashimi was silky smooth. And the various rolls were ordered (chopped scallop, tuna, soft-shell crab, avocado and bean) all tasty and well-prepared. Service was attentive.
Jul 05, 2011
Zomato
JRO
+4.5
One of my favorites. Every time I am in Kits I go there. I have never been disappointed. Sada is very nice and always has a smile on his face.
May 15, 2011
Zomato
Foodie Girlie
+4.5
Uni Shots!!!. Best uni shots and I never get disappointed by the quality of food. Fresh Ingredients and service is always great. Highly recommended
Jan 02, 2011
Zomato
Foodie
+4.5
Amazing sushi. Best kept secret in YVR. Amazing sushi. Best kept secret in yvr. Sockeye salmon, lobster roll, and cod were fabulous. The presentation was just unbelievable. It made the food all th emuch better!
Apr 11, 2010
Zomato
Food Critic
+4.5
Best Japanese. No matter how many Japanese restaurants I try I always come back to octopus garden. if you can really appreciate good food and Quality then you've come to the right place. It can take a little while for some dishes to arrive but be patient its always so worth it. And if your looking for something off the menu the owner Sada he's very good like that he can prepare almost anything..... Most talented sushi chef ever :) 5stars
Jan 31, 2010
Zomato
Aron Bjornson
+4.5
Wow. Wow. Wow. An unbelievable culinary experience. Sada always has something special up his sleeve. Trust him. You won't be dissapointed.
Nov 07, 2009
Zomato
Peaches
+4.5
The restaurant does not cheap out on quality and aim to provide you delicious and high quality food for the price they charge.
Jul 03, 2013
Zomato
Kitty Bling
+4.5
I used my handy googling skills and found a small Japanese restaurant in Kitsilano called Octopus' Garden. The food was amazing and the chef Sada san was so friendly. He offered us some free sake and shochu. His dishes are very creative. I loved the uni shooter.
Oct 25, 2012
Zomato
Flo
+4.5
The Omakase is a hit or miss with every customer. I love all kinds of seafood and sashimi and don’t have any major dislikes so i enjoyed it. If you do have any specific preferences you should tell the waitress before ordering. What I don’t understand is why this meal took 3 hours of my life away from me. Honestly, if a meal were to take 3 hours it better be the best thing I’ve ever tasted.
Jul 01, 2011
Zomato
Pekopeko
+4.5
...balance between fun, fresh dishes with authenticity, the room is a place where the locals don’t want too many people to know about – just in case it becomes even harder to get a table for dinner.
Jun 28, 2011
Zomato
Jess W.
+4.5
Up next was one of my favourite dishes of the evening, the Nomu Uni Shooter – sea urchin, dashi, grated Japanese yam, quail egg & wasabi
Aug 29, 2012
Zomato
Mary
+4.5
I absolutely loved the Uni Nigiri here. I usually am very put off by the taste and smell, but the one here had almost no after taste. Definitely give this one a shot if you're not an uni fan, it might change your mind!
Sep 11, 2012
Zomato
Rex Lin
+4.5
There is a cute wooden boat right in the middle of the store. (I was fortunate to be sit there as well!! Woo Hoo, time to go out and get me some Sashimi)
Apr 28, 2011
Zomato
Moo Mi
+4.5
For anyone looking to try out Octopus Garden, I would highly recommend getting the omakase menu. Since the pricing here is on the higher end, it would give you a much better value than ordering the dishes individually. P and I thought it would take some time to go back but we ended up going back a month after our first visit. Just make sure you prepare your stomach and wallet.
Oct 07, 2014
Zomato
Gracecheung604
+4.5
Met up with some friends who just moved into Kits and tried out Octopus Garden for the very first time. I cannot believe I haven't been here before...the quaintest little bistro, staffed with Japanese waitresses and chefs...truly authentic. Ahhh...in case
Oct 13, 2010
Zomato
Peter
+4.5
On of the places my Iaido sensei - Inoue Hironori likes to go is Octopus Garden. Actually, let's go back in time a few years. Before he was my Iaido sensei, he was just "Hiro", one of the founding members of the Vancouver Japanese Sword Appreciation Club.
Oct 28, 2010
Zomato
Victoria
+4.5
So I really, really like Octopus Garden in Kitsilano (on Cornwall) for sushi. Why? First of all, Sado-san, the chef and owner. He has a great sense of humour, is excellent and what he does (of course), and always has a big s
Oct 09, 2010
Zomato
Deeeelish
+4
I am absolutely in LOVE with Octopus Garden in Kitsilano area. I went there for DOV and I was so impressed. I had sake there.. it was this tasting thing.. ew i hate sake. :( This was the dessert, moshi moshi roll. so cute! it's chocolate and banana and wh
Jun 29, 2008
5
Brittney Yoo
+5
This place is primo! I come here for the omakase menu, they have two price points and the photos attached to this review are from the $200 menu. There are about 3-4 other plates I forgot to take photos of, as well as a desert, so you definitely leave here filled to your hearts content. The omakase menu varies as well, but will always have a sashimi and nigiri platter. This restaurant has been around for ages, I remember my first visit here 20 years ago! The servers are so lovely and informative. A must for any sushi lover. I love Octopus Garden 🐙
5
Alice Van Ngo
+5
Where do I even begin? The entire experience from booking the reservation to the complimentary sparkling sake (the Chef’s gift to wish my cousin a happy wedding) was absolutely amazing. The restaurant ambience is unique with great attention to detail in the decor. Very comfortable seating, extensive menu with several specials. We had tai tempura and the uni jewelry box (imported from Hokkaido - so sweet!!) to start as appetizers. I had the Art Sashimi (requested fish like himachi, kanpachi, shima-aji, Maguro and much more) which was beautifully arranged and so delicious. For dessert we had the cheesecake and strawberry daifuku. The waiting staff were incredibly attentive and timely with our orders. Our table also ordered a bottle of the Sansui Daiginjo sake which was pleasantly smooth and warming. Highly recommended! The only issue is that parking is difficult to find but there are parking garages/lots 5-8mins walk from the restaurant.
5
Grace Zheng
+5
Wonderful dining experience! We got our own little room with lots of privacy. Lots of selections and all the ingredients were very fresh. Worth a visit especially for a special occasion!
5
ZY Ong
+5
Excellent Japanese food. Most authentic in Vancouver thus far. We were really lucky to have been able to get a table as walk-ins. Granted it was a Monday evening but they are usually booked up a month in advance. Looking forward to coming back!
5
Yimi Mao
+5
An incredible experience here; High-quality ingredients, everything is delicious and well plating. Visit the restaurant alone, and they provided me with a cozy private room with friendly service. I’ll come back soon👍
5
Khanh Ngo
+5
Had the omakase here on my first visit to Vancouver and the restaurant didn’t disappoint at all! The selection of dishes is fantastic, the sake was amazing, but above all was the top-notched hospitality exhibited by all the staff. We even got a special treat at the end by the owner. Will definitely be back!
5
Agnes Yu
+5
We had a wonderful omakase dinner experience in a private room at Octopus Garden! Every dish was delicious and well prepared. The seafood, in particular the sushi and sashimi, were very fresh and sweet. We even got dessert and shooter on the house as we were celebrating a birthday! Highly recommended if you've never given this restaurant a try!
5
Sonny N
+5
Food was delicious. Tried the unagi shooter, usukuruzi, nigri. And blue fin tuna dish. Got pricey but enjoyed the meal. Service was also excellent.