Kingyo Izakaya

We came on a Thursday night with reservations for 8pm. The place was popping. Lots of people inside and if we didn't reserve we would have had to sit at the communal table. I've been coming here for 10+ years and I always get the beef tongue, chicken karage and the ebi mayo. Those are my staple orders and those are the things that they are best at. I mean with the beef tongue it doesn't take much to make it good. The hot stone comes piping hot and perfect for searing of the meat. You need to do it fast or the stone will cool down. The chicken karage is so juicy and fragrant. They put just enough seasoning on it. The ebi mayo is huge and goes so well with beer. The 2 seasonal dishes or specials of the day weren't as good and I wouldn't get it again. My advice would be to just stick to their best well known dishes and if you want to come definitely make reservations (ESPECIALLY on the weekends the wait can get up to 1 hour)

My partner thoroughly enjoyed the sashimi deluxe bowl. From their special menu. I had their creamy lobster seafood ramen and yuzu smash cocktail. They were both incredible! The deep fried brussel sprouts were good. But they were missing some brightness. Could've used a balsamic drizzle or lemon zest with a good parmesan dusting. Anywho, the staff were friendly and warm. I highly recommend this lovely place and can't wait to visit again!

We visited the restaurant on a rainy winter day for lunch. Simply looking for some Japanese food, we had a decent experience dining in. Fish is exquisite, and their chirashi bowl is very generous (in terms of seafood portion). The restaurant gives good Japanese vibe, but with the food portion on the America size, and we love about it. Will visit again for sure 👍

Thought it was just us who went quiet and focused solely on the food. Turns out the couple across from us were the same. That alone says a lot about how good the food is. Kingyo is slightly pricier than your typical izakaya, but the quality more than justifies it. Portions could be a bit more filling, but overall we were very satisfied. Highlights of the night: uni udon, seafood bibimbap - both were just so so fragrant and umami. The matcha frozen ice cream was a perfect, sweet ending to our meal too. Will definitely try the bento next

The stone grilled wagyu beef was so so tender, probably a highlight meal of our dinner. Staff were super nice. I really liked the salad too, the avocado provided a different texture to the other veggies haha Atmosphere was very japanese-restaurant like, if you get what I mean! I would probably come here again for a special occasion, although it might be a bit pricey for an average night out.

Oh my wow! I had their Anniversary Bento box special only 12 slots available was lucky they squeezed me in today...I was full satisfied and smiling after that meal! Those 12 little samplers floored me each time plus the toppings bowl option of the eel and snow crab then main course of seared Ox tounge medallions and rich miso based soup adds up.. all really really good.. they have been open for 19years and all the staff and great service was at peak today. I was surprised the reasonable prices for the ala carte menu also considering the high quality of dishes. I was also pleasantly surprised with the mixed fusion yet almost authentic japanese flavors. I did not find any "avocado" used in any of those 15 plates i had today..unlike westernized japanese food.... Yes!!! Good Job!! Do not miss a chance to dine here!.. a Vancouver gem.

There’s really no such thing as bad izakaya food, and Kingyo Izakaya is certainly no exception. Their cocktails are quite unique, and the dishes are genuinely delicious. The stone grill is not only tasty but also fun—both the atmosphere and the aroma are absolutely top-notch. In addition, the Tomato Kimchi was surprisingly impressive. I’m really glad we came here to celebrate a birthday, and I appreciate the staff’s thoughtfulness.

The food was high quality, and the atmosphere and service were also excellent. Many of the staff were Japanese, which made me feel like I was back in Japan. The lemon sour had real lemon in it and was delicious. I really liked the style of grilling beef tongue on a hot stone.

I always love izakayas and the various offerings, and this one hits the spot. Taking advantage of the long weekend for US holiday, we made reservations for Monday lunch. We even made a note to preorder the classic bento box as they only make 8 a day. You can only make dinner reservations for weekends, in contrast, so you cannot really make a reservation note and not worry about lining up super early for a chance at the limited bento box during lunch service. On Monday, we arrived at 11:55am, 5 minutes before opening. Had we not preordered, we would be out of luck because there were 30 people in front of us lining up. Rather than freaking out, we felt super complacent as we were guaranteed the bento box when we checked in with the host. Because I made the reservation with an Amex card, they even sat us at the Amex exclusive tables (which didn't really feel any more special, just a bit more private from the busier dining area). For the limited bento box, we added miso soup and rice for 2.80 extra, which is a good deal as they say it is unlimited refill. Because we wanted to save room for other food later, we just opted to not get refill. The bento box has a selection of 16 items and they were pretty solid. Nothing felt like it was out for a long time, as each bite tasted pretty fresh and representative of them actually making these bento boxes to-order. I particularly loved the oshi (seared fish sushi), pork belly, and the duck breast. The other ones were pretty spot on and there was nothing that I didn't like. In addition, we got the stone grilled kobe beef that is pretty juicy and tender. Flavor is not added but they serve you a barbecue and yuzu garlic sauce that were both nice additions to enhance the dish. The stone is piping hot so despite us spending a few minutes taking pictures of the food, we did not need to ask them to replace the stone despite the server offering us to. Service is good as water refills are frequent and they bring out the food at a good cadence without feeling rushed. The meal was really efficient and we were able to be in and out of the restaurant within an hour, perfect for a nice, quick lunch especially for those that want to check this place out on a lunch break, for instance.

This was my first time at Kingyo, a must try after my amazing experience at their sister restaurant. Started with the bluefin tuna tartare which had delicious (I think house made?) chips, and some avocado in it as well. I found it a little too oversauced for my taste but it was a solid 4/5. Salmon sushi was good, had a nice light torching to the tops and the avocado on top was in this neato whipped form. Sizzling pork rice bowl was absolutely delicious, Pork was tender and falling apart, and the rice was crispiest by the bowl. Finished it off with the crème brûlée dessert which was absolute perfection! Not too sweet and had a green tea flavour, wish there was more of that delicious raspberry sauce. The service was great and ambiance was a lower lit but lovely environment, perfect for a date night with friends or an actual romantic date. Tables had some plastic dividers in between.

The staff is very welcoming! The staff greets new guests as they come in. They work so diligently and attentively. I love how the restaurant was decorated as well. I really stuck with the ambiance of the cuisine. I ordered the Mackerel with a side of corn on the cobb and Sapporo. Very good! fish was very fresh and left satisfied. Highly recommend if you're looking for some good Japanese food, good service, and great food!

Kingyo offers an authentic Japanese dining experience, featuring the freshest fish and the most indulgent uni creamy udon. Each dish was so delicious that we couldn't stop savoring every bite, leaving little time for photos--I managed to take just one the entire meal. Safe to say, the experience was absolutely impeccable.

I ran here to get takeout because the reviews were so good. I get there around 8pm on a Wednesday night and it is packed--there was not an empty table in the restaurant! There were millennial friend groups, families, and work groups--diverse crowd. I had the omakase 5 kinds of sashimi ($50) and 5pc scallop sashimi ($13). The scallop sashimi was delicious. It wasn't that filling but the fish was high quality. The decor inside was dark, woody, and slightly cold.

We got lucky as we came here without a reservation and managed to get seated. The restaurant was quite busy, so I definitely recommend making a reservation! The atmosphere of the restaurant was nice with bamboo decor in the middle of the space. We ordered some appetizers (salmon tartar and truffle agedashi tofu), the seafood bibimpap, and the uni miso udon. I think the portions were small so that was a bit disappointing, but the quality of the food was good! After we ate everything, I was full. I think if I had only ordered a main, I would have still been hungry. I do really like the aesthetic of the place, so I think for people who enjoy dining for the vibes, Kingyo is worth a visit.

Wow I can't believe I've never been to this place until Today when my wife and I drove by saw the crowds parked and walked by, taking a chance and lo and behold they had two seats for us just before 1 - I think it was like their second seating or something. When you see a long line in Vancouver for food you can't go wrong. The menu is amazing and expansive - everything from top sushi/sashimi to great lunch seats. The truffle carbonara is not one of their recommended dishes but is AMAZing - the flavour is off the charts good. I blended the sauce with some extra rice to savour every last bit. I had the curry beef with pork cutlet. They say the cutlet is one of a kind and you can taste the quality. Really great crust and the pork is so tender. The curry is really flavourful as well, rich enough but not too much. My wife had the black cod set. I tried some and man the cod is sooo tender soft and velvety. It oozes of quality. I'm already planning to go back. Next time to try some wagyu where they cook it on a hot stone they bring in front of you. Thai place is an experience that you cannot miss.

Had a great time here with family while visiting! We did walk in but the place is a little small so I'd recommend reservations if possible. We got Wagyu hot stone - This was the chef's special that day. The meat was tender and it had some really yummy sauces! Just enough to share as well. Make sure not to overcook the meat! Wagyu toro bowl - not as much toro but lots of wagyu. Had a sauce and generous amount of uni that made it even more worthwhile Hokkaido bowl - love me some fresh shrimp. Lots of rice too Mapo Udon - so good if you're a fan of mapo and peppercorn. The noodles are cooked Al dente Hot cheese ice cream - unique and fun! There's walnuts hiding under

I heard good things about this place so I was excited to try it. We had a reservation for 5 people at 6PM on Friday. They can definitely accommodate larger groups if needed. The interior was nicely decorated and gave a chic vibe. It was a little dark though but I guess that is the ambience they are going for. Deep Fried Fresh Corn (3/5): The fry on the corn was good but I didn't care for the soy butter. It made the corn too salty. Octopus Karaage (2/5): This felt a little too oily for my liking. I didn't like the batter on it either. Made it feel heavy. Sockeye Salmon Carpaccio (5/5): This was literally so good. It was so fresh with the fried garlic chips and red onion slices. Definitely recommend. Stone-grilled Beef Tongue (4/5): You cook the thinly sliced beef tongue on a stone and it is a little difficult if you don't know what you're doing. The meat quality was good. The salt sauce it came with was a good pairing. Grilled Pork Cheek (5/5): I loved this so much. It was the perfect texture and the miso marinate was good. It was tender. It came spices to dip it in which made it a little spicy. Ebi-Mayo (4/5): The tiger prawns were huge! The tempura batter was nice a light. There was too much mayo though. Uni Miso Udon (4/5): This had sea urchin, sweet white miso cream sauce, ikura and snow crab. It wasn't too heavy which was nice. Portion was small. I didn't care too much for the arugula. Mango Lychee Soda (5/5): I love mango and lychee so this was perfect! The little frozen mango chunks were good too. This is a great spot for dinner! I highly recommend making a reservation. The tapas style menu lets you try so many different things. Definitely come with a big group so you can order everything.

I tried Kingyo during my visit to Vancouver, and it turned out to be the best meal I had in the city! Out of all the dishes I ordered, I highly recommend everyone to get their seafood bimbimbap. It was savory and sweet! The service was amazing and quick. The staff were incredibly energetic and kind. If you're in Vancouver, do yourself a favor and check out Kingyo!

Swung by on a Tuesday night while in town and decided to come here for a treat. It's a hopping Japanese izaykaya (aka gastropub) and I would recommend most people get a reservation if you plan to eat here. I'm glad I got the limited time chef's platter and tried a lot of their small dishes. It was mostly delicious and I highly enjoyed the scallops, wagyu tartare, cauliflower and hamachi. The others are ok and I'll likely skip next time if I'm ordering a la carte. Service was quick and atmosphere was lovely, with lots of fun yelling that happens when people order certain sake!

Reasonably-priced, casual, and trendy Japanese Izakaya spot. This was my 2nd visit and it's always a delightful experience. My favorite from this visit was the beef tongue cooked on the hot stone and the waygu pressed sushi; the pressed sushi comes with 6 pieces of 3 varieties and we especially liked the truffle waygu pieces. The fried corn appetizer was good too. On our last visit, they had the mochi agedashi and that was very good and memorable as well. Do yourself a favor and make a reservation if you plan to go. We were there on a Saturday night and a couple of other parties who walked in without a reservation were quoted an hour's wait.

I'd probably rate Kingyo a bit higher than a 3 realistically, but the negative experience leaves me a bit hesitant...I should have gone with my gut and ordered one of the beef dishes that were on the menu, but I opted for the ebi mayo and what I believe was a sizzling tofu/eggplant special(?) I couldn't locate it on the online menu, which leads me to believe it must have been on their specials menu. The shrimp were crispy and absolutely delicious, but I was really disappointed by the sizzling bowl. First, it was so overwhelmingly hot and oily that when they brought it out, it was splashing and spraying hot oil all over the table and on me. I tried my best to eat it while it was still hot, taking pieces of food out of the bowl to cool down and still managing to burn my mouth. By the time things had cooled down 30+ minutes later, it was just overcooked food sitting in a huge thing of oil...it wasn't really appetizing and I ended up wasting so much food. I've had sizzling bowls and dishes before, but the amount of oil was really off-putting. I'm talking like 1/4 to 1/3 of the stone bowl was just oil. My friends had some delicious sashimi and pasta that I was able to try, but the sizzling bowl kind of ruined the experience for me. We also sat at a long shared table and the people on the corner kept putting their used plates and bowls by us. The service was incredibly friendly, which leads me to believe I'd enjoy this place a lot more the next time around, with a different dish.

We had reservations prior to arriving during lunch and were seated immediately. The staff were super attentive and quick with getting our food out. We got the assorted Bento box -- which we believe are first come, first serve. The food not only looked beautiful, but the food tasted fresh and great. We also got the Kobe beef/stone. You get to cook the Kobe beef on a hot stone. The beef was soft and melts in your mouth, recommend ordering!

Loved this restaurant! Came in on a Friday for lunch for two and still had to wait 20 minutes. Aside from that, the food was excellent and the service was great. I especially liked the green salad (the addition of seeds was a nice touch) as well as the stone Kobe beef (the fun was searing it myself.) The pressed wagyu sushi as well as negitoro avocado bowl were good but similar to what you could find elsewhere.

My family and I had dinner here and we thoroughly enjoyed our food! We had reservations so we were sat right away. The restaurant was completely filled for the majority of our meal. We ordered the Deep Fried Fresh Corn, Green Salad, Seafood Bibimbap, and Stone Grilled Kobe Beef (Japan). The corn wasn't too oily and had a good seasoning over it. I liked the different types of seafood in the bibimbap. The rice was cooked well and wasn't dry! The highlight of the dish was the Kobe Beef. Although it was a lot more expensive, the meat was beautifully marbled and melted in our mouth. The only part I didn't like was that the stone got cold after some time, so the later pieces of beef didn't cook as well. Overall, we had a great dinner here and would come back! It's a great dinner date spot!

We came here as a group of 4 scared because we didn't have a reservation ahead of time but they were able to seat us in around 20 minutes! The food is absolutely divine and the server was kind and attentive, giving us great recommendations as well. We definitely over ordered but the wagyu and the sushi bowls we got are a must, and I personally loved the uni pasta!! I wish I could go back in time and experience this for the first time again!

Stopped by Kingyo in between stretches of time at Stanley Park, so it was nicely situated for a quick lunch. Our group of 7 had a reservation for 7 people at 12PM so when we arrived we were led to a big table in the back corner of the restaurant. My husband and I split two entrees, the sizzling seafood bowl and the ramen laksa, as well as a couple of appetizers - the karaage and the salmon tartare. The karaage was not bad - very juicy, but not quite crispy enough - and I really liked the salmon tartare paired with the nori chips. The sizzling seafood bowl was kind of disappointing; there wasn't a ton of seafood included, and it mostly tasted like a non-fried-rice version of seafood fried rice. For the portion and the price, I would not order that again. Conversely, the laksa ramen was excellent and we really enjoyed the broth and the noodles. Others got the eel bowl, the wagyu croquette bowl, the tonkatsu bento, and the miso black cod bento. They all seemed to enjoy their meals, especially the dashi that came with the eel bowl to turn it into soupy rice at the end. The tako wasabi appetizer and the hot stone beef tongue appetizer that others ordered were also tasty. Even though we got seated right around open, they were already out of the 8-orders-per-day bento, which was disappointing for a few of the people in our party. All in all though it's a solid lunch place in the downtown area!

Kingyo was one of our favorite dinners during our girls trip to Vancouver! We loved the high energy and vibes of the Izakaya and were greeted warmly on a Sunday night. We got lucky to be seated immediately even without reservations. For food, we enjoyed their Korean bibimbap, grilled fish, creamy udon, and grilled wagyu meat. It was super fun grilling the wagyu on the giant stone! Our favorite dishes were probably the Korean bibimbap and grilled fish. The bibimbap was full of fresh seafood and each bite had different chews and textures. The fish was also grilled perfectly and we absolutely devoured every inch of it! The cocktails were also super yummy, light, and came in the cutest cups. 10/10 recommend!

The food was so good. Everything was really well balanced and flavorful. The cod was so flaky and delicious, and the combination with the sauce made it even better. We also got the corn and that was very good. I think the beef tongue stuck to the rock a little bit, but the sauce was quite tangy. I think the uni miso udon was my favorite dish though, followed by the black cod and tan tan noodles. I likes the bibimbap but compared to the other dishes it didn't stand out as much. We put our name down and walked around the area. They told us to expect a 30 minute wait but I believe they texted us within 15-20 minutes.

I went to Kingyo for the first time this weekend after hearing great things about it - and wasn't disappointed! I went by myself and was sat pretty quickly. It was super busy when I went, but the staff were very friendly and provided great service throughout my time there. I was able to receive my order in a quick manner, as well. As for my order, I ordered the Cactus cocktail, the beef tenderloin steak bowl w/ miso soup, and frozen matcha brûlée for dessert! All were very tasty and great for the price! Definitely will have to come back to try the other dishes next time I'm in Vancouver!

Had Sunday dinner here with a small group of girlfriends during a weekend visit to Vancouver. We ate our way around the menu and all the food was great! Note that some of these were off the day's special menu - tomato kimchi -- yum - ebi mayo -- huge tempura prawns - tuna tataki sushi rolls - agedashi tofu -- super generous portion size - tantan noodle -- highly recommend - cheek of something - seafood bibimbap -- by the time we got here I was almost too full to enjoy it The two cocktails I had were only so so, and my dining companions liked their plum wine enough to order it twice Service was nice, I think we made inroads since my friend is Japanese/speaks Japanese

I decided to go to Kingyo for lunch, arriving around 1 PM. We got seated quickly at the communal table in the middle. Our waiter handed us menus and brought our waters right away. The menu at Kingyo was pretty big, so it took us a while to decide. We started with the ebi mayo and yuzu tuna tataki. The ebi mayo was really good; the shrimp were large and tasty, though the batter was a bit too thick for my liking. The yuzu tuna tataki, on the other hand, was just okay--it had a light yuzu flavor but mostly tasted like plain tuna. For our mains, we went with the truffle carbonara udon and the uni toro bowl. The truffle carbonara udon was the most unique dish I had there, and it was delicious. The truffle flavor was strong and consistent, which was a pleasant surprise. The uni toro bowl was beautifully presented, almost too pretty to eat. The toro was rich and fatty, pairing perfectly with the roe. The uni was fresh and melted in my mouth. The seasoned rice went well with both the toro and the uni, though I could have done with a bit less rice. We enjoyed our meal so much that we decided to order an extra dish--the wagyu sushi. It was a great choice. The wagyu was perfectly cooked and added a lot of flavor to each sushi piece. Overall, Kingyo was fantastic. The dishes were amazing, and the service was fast and friendly. If you're in the area, I highly recommend checking out Kingyo.

4.75 stars - Good, friendly service. Really great decor and ambiance. High quality, tasty food and drinks at fair prices. Not every dish was amazing, but the meal was still really, really good overall. Kingyo came highly recommended by many during our visit to Vancouver, so of course we had to brave the rain and go! It did not disappoint. *Service & Ambiance* We were able to grab an early dinner reservation a few weeks before our trip and were seated immediately upon arrival. The servers were very inviting and friendly. The restaurant decor had really cool details. *Food* - Beef tongue: If you usually like tongue, this is a good option to start with. It comes with a nice, citrusy sauce too. - Wagyu pressed sushi: savory, tasty. Not your usual sushi. I wouldn't say the meat was buttery, but it was still really enjoyable. The 2 of us easily finished the entire order. - Wagyu special: quality was good, and it was fun to cook it on the hot stone. I also enjoyed the 2 different sauces it came with. Glad we tried it! - Blue fin carpaccio: Citrusy, tangy, tasty, served on a bed of greens - Cabbage: I always crave veggies when I'm traveling and this was surprisingly delicious! It is mostly just cut up cabbage with some tiny shrimps sprinkled on top, but the dressing was so craveable. I recommend it as a side option cut through the richness of everything else. - Tantan ramen: Good! Very flavorful and rich, quite filling. We were really full towards the end of the meal, so if there was one dish we might have been able to forego, it might have been this one. - Almond jelly dessert: This was so light and refreshing! I don't usually opt for the almond jelly desserts, but I was thinking about this meals later. Wishing I had more now actually. *Parking* Mostly metered street parking. We got lucky with a spot right in front. Be sure to pay though, because we saw the meter maid come by to check twice during our meal. Kingyo will definitely be on my list of go-to's the next time I'm back in Vancouver!

"Kingya Restaurant offers delicious, authentic flavors with fresh ingredients and excellent presentation. The atmosphere is cozy, and the service is warm and welcoming. A great spot for a satisfying meal!"

This might be my favourite one from this family of restaurants. I had such a lovely time here, and I thoroughly enjoyed everything that I ate. We tried the cucumber pickles, the fried corn, the salmon sashimi, the tan tan noodles, and the uni udon. The fish was soft and so good, and the uni udon was as flavourful as expected. The noodles were the perfect bounciness, and I think I could've eaten that dish for the rest of my life. The tan tan noodles were warm and hearty, and with a really good sesame flavour. The service was friendly and quick, and although the restaurant was quite busy, it felt like the restaurant was half-full, with the attention we received. It was a little on the noisy side, especially because it was a Friday night, but it was still such a great experience. Will be back soon!

I normally don't give places 5 stars but dam this was one of the better restaurants in Vancouver. For the price, quality and service it's definitely worth it. I'm a little biased because I liked Raisu more but if you want beef you come here, if you want sushi you go to Raisu. The beef carpaccio was a good starter as it is not too heavy. I was kinda shocked because even though it was good it wasn't really anything mind blowing or stood out. The empress gin and tonic was something I've never had before as I'm use to Bombay gin etc in the states. I did like how it was a little stronger in alcohol because I typically don't like my drinks sweet. The wagyu bowl honestly has been one of the best ones I've tried in Vancouver so far. I don't really venture out to eat wagyu since I feel At times it can be a bit gimmicky but since I'm visiting from the states I just full sent it. It was cooked beautifully rare and it was surprisingly so tender.. I was not expecting that at all since it does look like the skirt cut off the cow. BEEF TONGUE IS THE GOAT HERE. If there's one thing you want to order.. you better order the dam beef tongue. My god literally just sear it on the stone for 5-6 seconds on each side and your Gucci. The beef tongue didn't even taste like tongue because it was so f*cken tender.. as if it's been hand massaged. The sauce that comes with the beef tongue complimented it really well as it masks the irony taste. The almond and hochija brûlée was decent.. I was so sad they didn't have the black sesame one :(. Overall experience.. the service was amazing, friendly and really bubbly. Food was excellent and came out pretty quick, price of the food was shockingly good but it's probably because my USD conversion to CAD was great. Ambiance and vibes of the restaurant felt super Japanese and I'd definitely recommend this place as top 10 restaurants in Vancouver. I would definitely be back if I ever visit Canada again!

Decided to try this place after reading all the high reviews. Came on a weekday for lunch and surprisingly there's street parking right in front of the restaurant Ordered the wagyu croquette, halibut ramen, and the tuna sushi plate. Overall thought the flavor is on point. Service quality is excellent. Ingredients tasted quite fresh. For the quality, the price is actually pretty good. Definitely recommend this place for anyone visiting the area.

This is a great spot with a cool ambiance, vibe, and decor. The food highlights for me were the beef tongue you cook on a hot stone, the truffle wagyu pressed sushi, and the tan tan men. Plus, when you get sake, you have to say "ottotototo" for them to stop pouring--a fun tradition that adds to the experience. Service was friendly, helpful, and inviting. Overall, a memorable dining experience that I'd recommend to anyone.

I LOVE THIS RESTAUARANT. THIS IS MY FAVORITE RESTAURANT THAT I TRIED IN VANCOUVER AND WILL FLY BACK JUST FOR IT. It has been a month since I last ate at Kingyo, but I still rememebrr this restaurant as if it was yesterday. This restaurant was so good. I don't rememebrr exactly what I ordered but it has Uni, toro, and rice, and American Wagyu. It was so delicious because the portions were so generous and tasted so good all together. This place also had really good cocktails and mocktails and the service was so good!

We had really high expectations of this place because we love this restaurant group! Came here on a saturday evening and was immediately seated at the main table with bamboo in the center (which I like so I don't have to awkwardly look at the stranger in front of me). We ordered the hot stone beef tongue, seafood bibimbap and the tantan noodle. The dishes were all good but nothing too special. The seafood bibimbap was very fragrant from the sea urchin sauce but I think it was lacking enough protein chunks. The beef tongue was an experience bc we got to cook them ourselves on a hot stone and was delicious, but the hot stone kept trying to roll as we try to peel the beef off the stone, which seems like a hazard. Finally, the tantan noodle had a distinctive black sesame taste and was not too heavy, which was good but again not too special. We perhaps just didn't get the dishes that suit us so I'd definitely come back for their bento boxes and their kaisendon!

Was able to get their limited 8 box daily big bento. Wow, what an amazing meal! Must try. Good luck

Came here around 6pm on a weekday night and it was pretty packed already. The waitress was super nice and provided great recommendations. We ended up ordering uni udon, seafood bibimbap, and avocado roll and two drinks. All three items were flavorful and delicious and I would highly recommended it. Drinks were just ok. The dining environment isn't good for family with toddler as high chair isn't available.

We've been to Kingyo a few times and each time, we've had great service, and dishes. I've attached a couple of pictures of what we ordered this time around. We also love the atmosphere of these izakayas. Loved hearing "Oh toh toh toh" when sake is being served. Highly recommend getting a reservation on weekends and even during weekdays but you might get lucky.

Walk in and get greeted with the lovely faux Japanese architecture bar. The lights are dim and moody. The main seating is a large table divided by bamboo in the center, so small groups get seated next to each other instead of facing each other. I liked the ambience, short of my wobbly-legged chair that seemed like it was ready to give up any time. Here's what I ordered: Takowasabi- small slices of raw octopus in very strong wasabi sauce served with nori. I enjoyed this one a lot. Kobe beef and beef tongue on hot stone - I opted for the cheaper Canadian Kobe beef for 35$ vs 70$ Japanese Kobe. No regrets. It was nicely marbled, tender, and forgiving despite our poor cooking skills. The beef tongue, not so forgiving, but good nonetheless. Blue fin tuna and avocado carpaccio- among our favorites. Tangy dressing was amazing. Pressed Salmon Sushi- a little on the blander side. Supplied wasabi was tasteless. Not bad overall. Almond pudding- every thing I expected. Nicely wrapped up the meal.

We celebrated our anniversary here and it was wonderful!! We got so many delicious dishes- such as the North American wagyu, blue fin tuna sushi, 3 piece omakase, shrimp mayo, and black sesame panna cotta! You get a free desert if you're celebrating a special event :) Servers were kind and helpful.

Kingyo is a must-visit restaurant nestled within Vancouver's vibrant dining scene. Renowned for its authentic Japanese izakaya experience, Kingyo offers a perfect blend of traditional flavors with a modern twist. The busy ambiance is inviting, with warm lighting and delightful smells that sets the stage for a memorable dining experience. The menu at Kingyo boasts a wide array of mouthwatering dishes, from sushi and sashimi to stone grilled beef and noodle/rice bowls. Each dish is meticulously prepared using fresh, high-quality ingredients, resulting in a burst of flavors with every bite. Standout items include the Stone-Grilled Kobe Beef, the buttery Pressed Salmon Sushi, and the decadent Pressed Blue Fin Tuna Sushi that just melts in your mouth. After all of this, make room for dessert because the Black Sesame Panna Cotta is to die for! The service at Kingyo is top-notch, with attentive staff who are knowledgeable about the menu and eager to ensure a pleasant dining experience for every guest. The wait after ordering was quite long, but trust me, it's well worth it. Get the Hot House Sake while you wait, and you'll have a great time. The staff is always happy to make recommendations and accommodate dietary preferences. Make sure to arrive here early or make a reservation as a line will form no matter what time of the day it is. I came here right at open on a Sunday and the restaurant packed within seconds! With its inviting ambiance, delicious food, and attentive service, Kingyo is the perfect spot for a memorable night out with friends or a special date night.

We were able to get walk-in seatings for 2 on a Saturday afternoon! I really liked the negitoro bowl here...the wagyu bowl was just ok. I thought the meat was too chewy, but the fatty tuna was good. Would want to come back to try their uni dishes!

Came on a weekday to experience the elusive Bento box! I was a bit worried about obtaining one since I was getting there after opening (12:30 PM), but I was able to reserve one by calling at 12 PM. I dined alone at the bar and it was a pleasant experience - the restaurant was busy enough at lunch that I didn't feel awkward, and the staff was kind to check in on me frequently, but not an overwhelming amount. The Bento box was delicious and certainly enough food for one person, maybe even two if you each get rice and miso soup (I did not and I was still stuffing my face!). Lots of interesting vegetables and surprising additions, a fun experience if you're lucky enough to get one. The fish was by far my favorite part, if I come back, then I will definitely opt for a full spread of nigiri!

Decent izakaya although not sure it lives up to the hype. Kingyo is a pretty typical izakaya with some good dishes and some that are fine but not particularly memorable. The good: sashimi salad (nice and fresh), the ebi-mayo (generous sized prawns, perfectly cooked, with a tasty Japanese mayo sauce), and the duck (nice flavours, tender cook on the duck) The meh: agedashi tofu (as someone who typically loves agedashi tofu - also the truffle it's supposed to have was barely noticeable), black cod agedashi (more like a fishball/meatball), salmon tartare (the seaweed tempura was unnecessarily thick and chewy and distracted from the taste of the salmon) Drinks were cheap although tasted a bit basic. Ambiance was typical of an izakaya (small, cozy, nice enough for a date night or casual dinner), service was attentive. Overall, a perfectly fine izakaya but I'm not sure I'd go out of my way for it.

First of all, just go here. Now. Stop thinking about it. Come back and read my review later. You're taking too long already to decide. I am not posting this because you need to hem and haw about whether or not KINGYO is the king, yo.... GO EAT THEIR FOOD NOW Now, let me tell you. The ambiance is cool and fun. Lots of energy and vibes from the chefs and waiters. Very much a spot to be! The food is so delicious. We ate our way across the menu. First time here and tried to fit in a lot, but we did not cover it all. Gonna return! Our choices, and all winners: Pressed salmon sushi Uni udon All the sashimi Negitoro Calamari Tartar tuna Corn We never wanted to be full. We got extras of some of the above. What a treat!! We are all walking out like WHOA this place competes worldwide with the sushi + small plates we have loved for years in a number of key restaurants. Dessert was really wild. Cheese ice cream insanity. Black sesame panna cotta kicked booty. Green tea terrine rocked. Sapporo on tap! And we did sake tastings then settled on a bottle of I don't recall but I'll post a pic and just get it because it is reallllly good. Suffice to say this is one for the memory books and likely one to return to before death. Thanks, KINGYO! And to Chef Hiroshi, we hope you find your bike one day.

Kingyo is such a cute spot in the West End area of Vancouver. It not only is aesthetic, but also has quality. We had come for Sunday dinner and the place was pretty crowded so we were seated in a communal table. We had ordered: Stone Grilled Beef Tongue, Truffle Carbonara Udon The portions for the udon were pretty big. The flavor on the sauce was absolutely delicious, creamy with hints of truffle. The noodles were more on the chewier side and a bit firm. The miso soup was also really flavorful with lots of seaweed. We had also ordered a corn appetizer that was part of their Valentine's Day menu & it was delicious. It was a bit sweet & had a crispy exterior. My boyfriend enjoyed the Stone Grilled Beef Tongue and if the stone gets cold, they even change it out for you. The service is great and things came out pretty fast. It really is a nice spot to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, etc. Parking: Street parking

My favorite meal during my trip to Vancouver! I arrived 15 minutes before Kingyo opened on a Sunday and was first in line - a luckily so because a line formed shortly after. I was promptly seated as soon as they opened and I immediately secured 1 of out the limited number lunch bentos they serve a day. I also ordered the beef tongue stone grill set. I was seated at the communal table, which was perfect for a solo diner like me. Service was attentive and great! Dishes that were served to me were thoroughly explained. The beef tongue stone grill arrived first. The stone's ability to retain heat was honestly so impressive as I cooked the meat. It was delicious and paired so well with the sauce it was served with. A great starter! The lunch bento definitely lives up to hype and is worth the money! I thoroughly enjoyed the entire bento with only a few of the dishes leftover just because I was too full. I recommend if you can secure! Despite being full, I still opted for the almond tofu Kingyo is presumably also known for. It was different! I really enjoyed the jasmine tea jelly on top - never had anything like it. Overall, I'm so glad I set time aside to try this place out! I'm definitely coming back if I'm ever back in Vancouver!

This bustling restaurant on Denman serves sushi, sashimi, and other Japanese small plates. The quality is good, and the dishes are nicely plated. There are some interesting cocktails, including the house signature Kingyo, a refreshing mix of tonic, seltzer, light rum, and shiso. Since shiso is my favorite herb, this was a highlight for me.

Overall the meal was good, we came on a weekday and didn't have to wait to get seated. The inside was for some reason really humid. It made it a bit uncomfortable to eat at. We had a group of four and ordered their popular Kobe beef, uni udon and deluxe sashimi bowl. The sashimi was fresh and uni udon was full of flavor. The Kobe beef was interesting since we cook it on the stone. The experience was fun! It's worth a try if you can score a reservation.

Kingyo was definitely my favorite meal of my Vancouver trip. Everything was phenomenal! I would love to have this meal again. Because of the daily limit of bentos, my party of two arrived 5-10 minutes before lunch opening without a reservation and were seated around the communal table surrounding the bamboo. I ordered the bento immediately and luckily secured it. Phew! The bentos sell out quick, so if you want it, come early! The different variety of bites was great, and the sockeye salmon sashimi was the most interesting. I don't think I've seen this anywhere else before. We also had so much fun grilling the beef tongue on a hot stone. With the scallops, shrimp, and ikura, the seafood bowl was so umami and fishy in the best, freshest way possible and fragrant from the browned rice at the bottom of the stone pot. I'd highly recommend checking Kingyo out!

Heads up for anyone with a large group! This restaurant wasn't able to accommodate our larger party, which is completely fine. However, they also weren't able to accommodate our party when we asked to be separated and sit at different tables. When looking through Yelp, I filtered for restaurants that are good for big groups. Kingyo came up as good for big groups - but obviously it is not. The service, response, and explanations from the staff was unclear and confusing.

What hasn't been said about Kingyo that hundreds of reviewers haven't said already? Beautiful interior, amazing service, delicious food, and satiable drinks? All true. The wagyu beef bowl was what caught my guy's eyes upon researching where we wanted to eat the first day we visited Vancouver. Reservations were easily made through Opentable. Right when we sat down, we already knew what to order. Wagyu beef bowl and the seafood sashimi deluxe bowl. To be honest, the size of the beef bowl was a bit disappointing. The photos of it make it look huge! It's not, BUT the tender cut and sear of the beef slices still satisfied my guy. He ate and oohed every morsel. He even gave me a slice to taste! My seafood bowl was so fulfilling. The freshest sashimi and uni I've ever had. Uni was buttery, sweet, and not at all bitter. Even the non fatty tuna tasted fatty and went down smooth. I couldn't even pick a favorite. All the pieces were delicious. The salmon roe really helped in adding the right amount of brine and salt to the dish that I didn't really need much soy sauce and Wasabi. We also ordered a roll prior, but our bowls overshadowed it. Really delicious food, amazing service and overall cool vibe. No complaints, only accolades.

I enjoyed coming here for dinner. Its better to do reservations since this place can get busy and pack unless you get lucky to get lucky to get seated right away without reservations. One of their popular dish here is their stone grilling where you can cook your beef on the stone. We got both the beef tonue stone and one of their special to also cook on the stone. It was fun to cooked the beef on the stones. We also got the deep fried corn, seafood bibimbap, truffle carbonara, and blue fin pressed sushi. We enjoyed each of their dishes. The staffs are friendly and service was quick. They have a long tables in which you have to share with others. They also have regular tables too. Don't mind coming back here again for any occasion