"Just 10 seats await you at this sushi bar where Chef Hiroshi and Sous Chefs Rika Ginnaga and Bryce Morris greet guests with a sprawling cypress wall, large ikebana-style floral arrangements, porcelain antiques, and locally made custom art. Chef Hiroshi Hoshiko was trained in Japan before working at some of Vancouver’s top sushi spots and going on to open this one in North Vancouver (a location he selected, in part, for the water quality and its effect on the sushi rice). Such is the care that goes into Hoshiko’s pristine, multi-course nigiri tasting, featuring some of the most in-demand ingredients—many of which he selects locally and by hand to reflect the region’s seasonality. The team’s resident Sake Samurai Patrick Ellis (one of only a few globally to receive the prestigious title from the Seinen Sake Council of Japan) curates a selection of premium sake to pair with Chef’s omakase. In addition to sake pairings (which start at $80), diners can order from a list of Japanese-inspired cocktails ($16)." - Guy Saddy, Nicole Schnitzler
