Tojo's Restaurant

The omakase was simply amazing. Each course was expertly designed and the flavors were so good... Well balanced and unique. It was very satisfying eating a California roll as it was intended by the guy who invented it. Tojo is so friendly and just a joy to be around. Highly recommend. The restaurant is so quiet even with the kitchen right there. All of the staff are so precise.

This is a historic place. Chef Tojo invented the "California Roll". They have an omakase option which is the chef's recommendation menu. There are 3 options with really expensive options. The Tojo's selection sashimi is really good with really melt in your mouth fresh Salmon. The snapper was excellent. The tempura is a must try, I won't go into the technical details why their tempura is first class. The Tojo roll or the California Roll is many levels of quality above the copies you find out there. The soft shell crab temaki is excellent.

Incredibly fresh, never-frozen sashimi at this fine dining sushi spot—each piece was a testament to quality and craftsmanship. A true once-in-a-lifetime experience for us, though we did find the atmosphere a bit too quiet for comfort (felt more like a library than a restaurant). Service was impeccable—staff were highly attentive, keeping our water topped up and even switching out my plate after noticing a stray fish bone. That said, I have to deduct a star due to an unexpected surprise in the hamachi from the Tojo’s Selection. Biting into a fishbone at this level of dining was disappointing and not something you'd expect from such a revered establishment. If you’ve got a big appetite like us, don’t show up on an empty stomach—unless you’re prepared to part with a leg or an arm. This place isn’t for the faint of wallet.

Huge thanks to Tomo at Tojo’s in Vancouver. The sashimi we had was amazing and the Tojo Maki was even better. Tomo went out of his way to make sure our anniversary was memorable and his attention to detail made all the difference. Top-tier service and unforgettable food. Meeting Tojo was also an amazing highlight, what a kindred spirit he has!

Food was obviously bad. Overcooked sushi rice, not salty miso soup, cucumber signature roll was disgusting. Also we were the only table at 6.30pm, service was also bad, we never got our bill we had to go ask for it twice and then ended up paying by the door. And the prices! Waaay too high for what you get. They were good 10 years ago. Not anymore

Delicious. From the salmon ngiri to the chicken karaage and golden roll - everything was good. The yuzuyu (alcohol free) was nice but I wish the quantity was double. Always a good time.

The service and the presentation of the food is pretty great. The food itself? Not so good. The fish does not taste fresh and the cut of the quality is perhaps the same level at Sushi Garden. I've had $400 Omakase before and $70 Omakase as well. At $220 this is pretty much unacceptable. The only saving grace is the Sable Fish. I feel like this restaurant would have been great.... in the 1990s... Vancouver has seriously up the game in terms of food quality especially when it comes to Japanese Omakase. If you HAVE to come. Come for the Sable fish and i would skip everything else.

Went for the seasonal omakase experience with the famous Chef Tojo himself and it was such an engaging dinner! Chef Tojo’s dishes are unique and have his own creative style that is not necessarily traditional Japanese, but a fusion of Japanese and certain more western preferences. Each dish was beautifully plated and everything tasted amazing. The restaurant is also beautiful with super high ceilings. Chef Tojo is also filled with pleasant surprises and it’s like a museum visit and history lesson at the same time since he invented the California roll and is a great story teller, entertainer, and OG sushi chef since the early days in Canada when sushi was not as popular or accepted as it is now. Highly recommend his thinly cut octopus salad which was unlike anything we have ever tried. The zucchini flower stuffed with fish was also super tasty. Chef Tojo invents new dishes and his omakase dinner experience is totally worth trying.

Tojo's was an unexpected delight! The food was expertly prepared, the fish was extremely fresh and the service was excellent. I think the fact that I speak Japanese made the servers much more relaxed and Chef Tojo even came to chat with me as we are from the same part of Japan. However, the Golden Roll and the sashimi did not need any translation to appreciate and enjoy! We ordered tempura to test the kitchen for cooked items and it came out perfectly battered and crispy. The best shrimp tempura ever! I would definitely return for the Omakase meal when I return to Vancouver. Thank you Chef Tojo for a delightful meal!

Hidekazu Tojo the inventor of Inside out sushi roll aka California roll. The food is always excellent. My favourite is the golden roll and baked oyster's , dessert of the day. My husband met Tojo San when he was 13 years old and I met him in 1992. Until now we go to his restaurant in every special occasion. Service is always pleasant and knowledgeable of the food. They will greet you with a smile. I always make homemade cake for Tojo San birthday in February 8. We always have photo taken with him every time we go there. Domo Arigato! Tojo San

Came here to celebrate my son's birthday. Restaurant is very spacious with lots of seating area, cubicle seating around the walls with the Omakase bar rightfully situated in the middle. Restaurant is clean and well lit. We ordered the Seasonal Omakase and some a la carte dishes. Seafood were very fresh. Staff were very knowledgeable of the dishes and spent time to tell us how to eat - with or without soy sauce, which nigiri sushi to enjoy first (less fatty ones like amaebi and flounder) then indulge in the fatty pieces. It was an enjoyable night tasting very very good food.

Did the seasonal omakase at 6pm on a Thursday. Tojo himself greeted and said goodbye to every guest. Quiet by design, very respectful servers. You can say what you don't like and they will adjust the omakase (for me, snapper). 6 courses. Ours was: marinated tuna-10/10, tempura 4/10, mustard yuzu and smoked salmon salad 10/10, crunchy breaded snapper with small vegetable pairings 6/10 very fishy, sashimi with a seasonal prawn 9/10, matcha creme brûlée with fruit 8/10. We were both full at the end tho two of our courses were very lackluster for $120 each. Definitely worth a try if you can afford it =]

Price/quality (3/4): Ordered some rolls, including their signature Tojo Roll. That's their version of the California Roll, which Chef Tojo invented. While the Tojo Roll really was a cut above pretty much all the other California Rolls in the city, other rolls aren't necessarily as impressive, though they're all expensive. Service (1/1): Service was friendly and efficient. Then again, we did come here when the restaurant was mostly empty. Would I come here again: Yes

The service, chefs and food were top notch! It was an experience, we got the course tasting. It was a nice mix and served at a great pace. Highly recommend

Phenomenal meal at tojo's. So glad that we came here at a friend's recommendation. We ordered seasonal omakase for one person and a la carte for the other one. I like this approach so you could try a wider range of items on the menu. The seasonal omakase was fantastic. I really loved the tuna tartaki, nigiri (The fish quality was exceptional), tempura, smoked salmon & octopus with pickled vegetables, black sesame panna cotta (light and flavorful). On the other hand, the hot dishes was solid but not as good as I expected. Both the halibut cheek + scallop dish and the sable fish dish were on the bland side. For the a la carte, our favorites were: - wakame salad; just enough vinegar to make the ingredients flourish with killing one's pallette. - gyu sashi - tender tenderloin with light sauce - nigiri: unusual ones some of which I had for the first time. All are exceptional I preferred the tuna tataki over tojo's tuna. The latter one was a little bit too salty on its own - it tastes more like shoyu poke fish. If you order this dish, order some rice to go with it ( which is exceptional btw). Also I ordered a kitsune gimlet (yuzu gin cocktail) - the best cocktail that I had in the past two years. Highly recommend if you like citrus and yuzu and don't like your cocktail too sweet or spirit forward.

Came here for a mid week fine dining experience and had the omakase. Each dish were meticulously put together. Tuna Tataki - Tojo's signature Tempura - a nice starter Black cod with burdock, mushroom, asparagus - wrapped in parchment paper, baked to perfection. I love burdock and the accompaniment compliment this dish very well. Halibut cheek + scallop + eggplant, asparagus - my favourite dish that evening. Love the eggplant, so flavourful and the halibut cheek was perfect in flavour and so moist. Assorted Nigiri - beautifully presented. Mochi green tea ice cream and cream brulee - this was yummy Sake

My personal favourite restaurant. The food is perfectly prepared and fresh. Our waiter was very nice and the ambiance was calm and nice. A bit expensive but worth it to go for a special occasion.

This place was great! Tojo was the creator of the California roll for those who don't know. We came here on a Thursday night and sat up at the bar with the chef. He created a special gluten free course for me and was very accommodating. They even had gluten free soy sauce. The quality of the fish was outstanding. Everything was fresh and in season. I was highly impressed with the presentation and the taste of everything. The portion sizes are small, but we'll worth it. Will definitely be returning when I'm in town again!

Came here on Valentine's Day and ordered the course set menu. we sat at the bar and service was great, very prompt and friendly. I would say the ambiance was a bit of a dated feel and lights are very bright in there. Besides the "vibes" and ambiance aside, food was very very good. It was my first time and husbands second time. Very fresh, quick and each dish was prepared well.

It was amazing to meet Tojo! He was so kind and he even had me come up to have FaceTime my father so he could talk with him. Great man, great restaurant and amazing food. He is the inventor who created the California Roll and many others.

I have never had better sushi or food in my life and most likely I never will. The service was educational and kind, the ambience was spectacular and the food, the Sake flight, the dessert were all of the highest quality and standards. I'm sorry that I will never have better food than this, but happy that I had it.

We ordered the Seasonal Omakase which included 5 courses + dessert. Every dish was beautifully executed. Here's what we had: - Tuna Sashimi - excellent. My friend drank the sauce. Server said he does that too :D - Assorted tempura - light batter, perfect; fresh flavourful prawn. - Smoked salmon & octopus salad with yuzu dressing - I don't usually love smoked salmon or octopus, but these are super tasty both in texture and flavour! - Sable fish soup with asparagus and burdock - SO flavourful - A flight of nigiri - fresh fish with shiso and wasabi embedded inside - yummmm - Black sesame panna cotta topped with fruits I would say the soup and the nigiri are the most memorable, but really each course was fantastic. The staff was fabulous too! Very friendly and not pretentious at all. Our server sang the loudest birthday song to my friend and it made us laugh.

Best sushi ive had. Everything is fresh and clean. Little bit pricey but the food quality is amazing. Also get the yuzu gimlet.

M and I ate at Tojo's back in April. We almost cancelled our reservation due to time constraints, but I'm so glad we didn't. Easily the best sashimi we've had in a long time. The salmon was so fresh, it melts in your mouth like a mint strip. A must-stop for any sushi lovers who are visiting Vancouver.

We came here for my boyfriend's birthday and came during their cocktail hour. We ordered some cocktails to start - I had Tojo's Milk Punch which was exactly what I wanted. It was sweet, not too boozy, and yes it looked milky! My boyfriend got the Salaryman which was which had a heavy whisky flavour and definitely for those who like a strong drink. Both fit our palettes We ended up ordering various items from their cocktail hour including their citrus and sea salt wings, pacific salmon battera sushi, Great Pacific Roll, Tojo's tuna, and tuna tataki. The fish we ate here was deliciously heavenly. We really enjoyed Tojo's Tuna (not marinated in any soya sauce!!) and so delicious, the tuna tataki we had similar sentiments. We were so impressed with the freshness and recommend to eat fish that is stand alone and not with rice! While they were unique and definitely filling, the pacific salmon battera and great pacific roll weren't mindblowing but definitely satisfying. The battera was unique because it was in house smoked (not sure if many places can claim that), but I was really craving more sashimi like bites! The wings were really good so definitely try them out when you are in. The space was really beautiful and the service was great! Would recommend for a special event or if you have guests in town. Glad to say I've been able to try this iconic Vancouver restaurant.

We have never been to Tojo's but it turns out the restaurant has been around 13 years! It was our first time as we wanted to pick a nice omakase place for a celebration. The parking was mostly street parking. The interior of the restaurant was gorgeous. We would rarely find a restaurant of this size in Japan but it was definitely very Japanese feel. You have a choice of sitting at the sushi bar (but you have to order the omakase menu) or sitting in one of the tables. We chose to sit at a table because we weren't familiar with the bar experience. We ended up ordering the chefs special menu omakase for one of us and the other ordered a wagyu dinner. We were sharing everything. To accompany the meal we had ordered a beer and a sake. They ask you what you like and dislike so I asked for no Saba (mackerel) but wanted mirugai (geoduck) and Uni (sea urchin). The first round of food was sashimi. It was some of the freshest fish I have ever had. Comparative to the fish in Tsukiji. I also had one of my favourite. Chu toro. The next course was tempura. The batter was very fine (unlike some of the run of the mill stuff). There were crab legs, fish, yam and pumpkin. This was followed by a seafood stuffed mushroom. Next were salads. One was seaweed and mixed veg while the other was served in a crab shell - with fresh crab meat and apple/mango. There was also a side of oysters on the plate. Next we had seared fish carpaccio. This was probably our least favourite (but it was tasty). I would have preferred the blue fin tuna as sashimi. The wagyu cubes finally came with a bowl of rice. The meat literally melts in your mouth. The rice was perfectly seasoned so I really wanted to finish it. There was also a sable fish on a soup. That was really good texture but not the best part of the night. The special menu then came with a lobster cone (AMAZING) and assorted nigiri sushi. The sushi was one of the best assortments I had. There was a ikura, mirugai, uni, ebi and an anago (seawater eel). Finally dessert was a green tea ice cream with a creme brûlée; a sesame panna cotta with vanilla ice cream. Both absolutely delicious. The service was over the top. We really enjoyed the meal. To the point that we got pictures down with the chef (Chef Tojo himself)!!

We stopped in for the Seasonal Omakase menu. Very nice presentations of sashimi, tempura, and cooked fish and a nigiri course. 6 courses including the dessert course. It's nice to leave the choosing up to someone else for a change.

Worst " cocktail hour " . Ever . Sign outside says 4 - 6 pm but when we got in at 5:40 we were told last order was 5:30 ! Whaaat ? ! If you're closing shop at 6 I'd totally accept that arrangement but you're not so that to me is false-advertising . To add insult to injury the waitress said rightaway " it's ok if you want to leave " . Wow . How's that for customer service eh ? But in the face of borderline arrogance and rudeness we should always strive to respond with patience and politeness so we stayed and we ordered . Yes we did catch a glimpse of Tojo-san in the kitchen but our overall feeling regarding the whole experience can be summed up below . . .

5 stars. The cocktails and the ambiance first rate. The sashimi was served on a glorious block of ice, a real show stopper. I wish I could dine there every night, but I certainly will be back.

This place is a has been that once was. Food was average with a few decent courses but in end we felt ripped off. $230 each for Omakase for 4 people and wish I just ordered from local sushi restaurant for $50 per person. Best part of dinner was off key waiter who sang happy birthday to whoever mentioned it was their "birthday". Sad to say I don't believe they will be around for much longer if this is how they choose to operate. Antony Bordain was all over walls but they can only surf their old waves fir so long. Hard pass next time we are in town.

Excellent Japanese restaurant. Not only is the food excellent but it has beautiful atmosphere. We always order Omakase which means the chef decides what to send out for your meal. I have tried some really wild dishes I would have never dreamed of ordering. All of it delicious! On the rare occasion that I choose my own dish, I always order the sable fish soup which comes wrapped like a present. My favourite is definitely sitting at the bar and pairing the bites with equally interesting drinks.

Covid doesn't affect their great quality and attentive service. We are very satisfied at both dine in or take out experience.

Incredible as always. Tojo is master sushi chef who is named among the top Japanese chefs in the world. Do the omakase at the sushi bar but beware it is very pricey. Tip: you can go past the planned omakase if you want more. I asked them to keep sending food and they kept making new creations for me to try.

If you are a seafood crazy lover then you must not miss this place. Though expensive but worth enjoying dishes prepared by one of the best japanese chefs in the city. My friend took me here who himself is a vegetarian but he wanted me to experience it without realizing that i barely eat seafood except prawns. Their whole seating capacity is quite huge and mix of bar, booths, dinning tables and high tables with couches. Marvellously laid open kitchen where the chefs along with head chef prepare your sushi or ur special dish for you. Drinks menu has everything but most interesting was desert sake which tasted sweet and had less alcohol or not enough to hit you. We didn't eat anything outstanding as we sticked to vegetarian food except wagyu n let me tell u , it was amazing. It was so soft and chewable, full of flavours and immensely pleasable to tastebuds. The best and most commendable was their hygiene conscious staff. All members from chefs to servers were wearing double masks, gloves and maintaining the distance between tables . Overall a good experience.

My date and I were extremly excited to dine at Tojo's and were we utterly surprised at the lack of attention to details. They had first forgotten our cocktails and served us food and to then forgot what we ordered. We had to remind them twice. We had ordered the Hamachi Collar and in typical fashion if you provide the shaved radish you pair it with a ponzu dipping sauce, not only did the waiter say we are wrong said it in a condescending way like we have never been to a Japanese Restaurant before. Overall the food was below average. Their most notable creation was the BC Roll and they told is it was sold out?!. Amazes me. Sadly this is one of my worse Japanese dinning experiences in Vancouver.

Chef Tojo has been featured on Anthony Bourdain's shows a few times. Absolutely realized why a few years ago. Just booked and cant wait

I have had my fair share of sushi from a variety of major cities, and I have had several omakase experiences. I can honestly say Tojo's was one of the best with excellent service, beautifully curated plating, great selection of Japanese alcohols, and a stunning compilation of flavors. Our waitstaff was incredible - constantly refilling our tea, clearing plates as soon as we were done but not a moment before, explaining each dish, throwing in some free drinks since we were celebrating, and the pacing of the meal was appropriate. We got the six-course omakase, which was more like eight courses, and we left feeling stuffed. The kitchen was accommodating of our preferences, as I don't eat mackerel and my fiance doesn't eat shrimp. The pictures of each course are worth more than my words, but I think the price for what you're getting is very fair. Chef Tojo is excellent at what he does and certainly does not lack in creativity - there's a reason he has been in this business for over 30 years. I highly recommend making a trip here for a special occasion or if you're in the mood to treat yourself.

Omakase is something that's been on my food bucket list for quite some time and what better place to have this unique experience than at Tojo's. The luckiest part of this all was that Tojo himself was the sushi chef that served my whole meal! He was so meticulous and an amazing listener. During one of the many courses, I whispered to my co-diner that I loved yuzu (because it was in my drink), the next thing I knew a fish dish with yuzu was right in front of me. When I thought Tojo was focused on his craft of creating the meal at hand, he was multi-tasking and listening to my heart's desire. Tojo was very funny, humble, personable and down to earth; telling us all the stories and talking to us about Japanese cuisine. This experience was a once in a lifetime thing; unless you live in Vancouver, then you can maybe be lucky enough to catch him at a down time and get this all star treatment. However, the food at Tojo's was amazing. You can get spot prawns even if they're out of season at most places. There is a roll wrapped with egg that has the perfect balance of sweetness. The tempura is lightly battered with a wonderful sauce. The sushi is the freshest in the city and the dishes come out Michelin star quality. The staff is very friendly and super attentive. The location on the outside looks to be small but once you walk through those doors, a beautiful magnificent dining room awaits you. If you're a sushi fan then Tojo's is the place to go!

The omakase was ok, but not worth it at $120 pp. It's a well rounded meal but definitely not worth it compared to many other Japanese restaurants around the city. Course 1: blue fin wrapped inside napa cabbage. Course 2: tempura: cauliflower, mashed up shrimp inside zucchini blossom, sweet potato Course 3: smoked salmon salad Course 4: roe crusted seabream Course 5: sablefish wrapped around burdock, mushrooms, mango, asparagus Course 6: lobster avocado handroll Course 7: sushi: seabream, yellowtail, blue fin tuna, local tuna, spot prawn Course 8: dessert: green tea creme brulee If I return, I'll just be ordering their sashimi varieties and rolls. I saw some being served around me and they looked much better than what I was having. Our drinks were alright. He loved his Japanese rice beer which you can only order in restaurants or from private liquid stores that carried the brand. I enjoyed my lychee orchid cocktail, which was basically soho and blue curacao - very sweet. My bf and I also definitely got sick after the meal. We both ended up in our bathrooms all night afterwards :( Service was what saves this review from being a 2 star. The server helping us was very welcoming, sweet, and informative. She explained the menu and what were the specials in detail.

I was taken here for a special outing and was told it would be a most memorable experience. It was, but not in the way intended. The restaurant is lovely. Seating is comfortable. Service is good. Chef Tojo introduced himself initially and then went to the kitchen and never reappeared. For me, an omakase experience is largely based on the chef. His absence was a drawback to my enjoyment of the experience. The food was okay. Two dishes of the six were nice. Nothing was spectacular. A sable fish and prawn course was served in a messy aluminum foil wrap and the prawn was so overcooked it was rubbery. I would have left it but I was trying to be polite to my friend who was treating me. After we left we discussed our meal and I learned she felt the same. Lesson learned, better to be honest than polite. Along with the aluminum wrapped course there was a small serving of white fish tempura and another of a deep fried oyster. Too much cooked and deep fried for my taste. At a premium omakase meal I look for the best quality, well prepared fresh fish. There were a few pieces of California roll, three very good slices of tuna sashimi and a lobster hand cone. The courses I've described along with dessert formed the entire meal. Nothing had impressed me, and I was still hungry. Dessert was heavy, as if they knew you'd still be hungry and would need to fill up on dessert, rather than the dinner satisfying the appetite and dessert being light and refreshing. The cost was far above the food choices or chef experience. The value is underwhelming. There is about $50 of food and a whopping four times that amount for preparation, presentation and the chef's name. It was an okay experience and nothing more. Food quality was good, not exceptional, and the overcooked prawn was terrible. Appetite satisfaction was lacking. The regular menu might be fine but the omakase is not worth the cost. My friend was wishing to show me a special time and she not only understood my disappointment but also agreed that it had not been up to the standard she'd previously experienced. Chef Tojo has a renowned reputation that he chose not to share on the night we went. Maybe his restaurant has changed or maybe it's hit-and-miss. A work of caution, ask questions about the chef's choices before agreeing to the steep upfront price. From my experience I don't recommend it.

The reverence these people have for what they do should be applauded. The fish is incomparable, but they'll blow your mind with what can be done to a few simple vegetables. I cannot stress this enough: get the omakase!!

I've been to Tojo's several times throughout my time. It's a very high quality Japanese restaurant with minimal decor/ambience but excellent food. The chef is often there and he does care a lot. Drinks are tasty and unique (although I wish for a bigger selection of fresh tasting cocktails) and service is top notch. The halibut cheeks, filet mignon, nigiri and sablefish soup are all outstanding. Whenever I've gone here with other people, the reviews are always rave when we order a la carte and less so for Omakase. The menu has good variety and choices so I do really recommend the a la carte because the hot dishes are actually incredible and the a la carte sushi is really good and you can focus on getting what you want (otoro!!!) :)

I've always wanted to have Tojo san's California roll. Finally made it here! Had a fun experience with some friends to celebrate my retirement. Did not disappoint. Food was amazing and service was great. Took some pics with Tojo san too! It's pricey so this is definitely a special occasion restaurant for me. Sushi rice was well flavoured. Seafood fresh and glistening. Flavours were bold. Clean washrooms!

I had the high honor and distinct pleasure of meeting Mr. Hidekazu Tojo, owner and chef of Tojo's Restaurant. After a brief interview of my background and food preferences Mr. Tojo commenced preparing and serving the six course Omakase dinner. Tojo's focuses on local ingredients and their course pairings were perfect from beginning to end. My favorite was the cedar smoked Sable fish but the Sashimi & Sushi we're both world class. I have dined multiple times in some of the top sushi restaurants in both Kyoto and Tokyo and believe Tojo's to be of equal or greater stature with any of them. Admittedly, my opinion maybe a bit biased by the fact the Mr. Tojo took the time to converse with me throughout the meal - the customer service that he and his team provided was exceptional.

Tojo's has lost their way. What was once the pinnacle of Japanese perfection on the west coast, has grown into another Japanese Village style common place. Though the food is wonderful, the ambience has vanished and the off key waiters screaming birthday songs do little to impress guests. Bigger is not better and Tojo's has lost its magic.

The women's washroom has 4 stalls and adequate privacy. Like the restaurant, the decor is simple and clean. The washroom itself is also very clean and the relaxing music makes it even more pleasant. The large mirrored wall and good lighting make it easy to adjust your make up. The faucets are automatic, but the paper towels and soap are not. 4 out of 5 flushes.

Really good sushi. Pricey. But it is what it is. If you are one for the fanciest craziest roll then this isn't for you. But if you are looking for good high quality fish then come here. Some people were here on some classy dates! The washrooms are nice and clean which is always a good sign! We ordered an assortment of sashimi, sushi, tempura and rolls. All delicious.

We had an amazing dining experience here at Tojo's. The food was delicious and the service was incredible. I definitely recommend checking this place out! The bluefin tuna and the wagyu is incredible. All the seafood is so good.

I caution all on the way Tojos is currently operating with unacceptable dimished food selection and poor quality at ridiculous prices. The fish and food quality have nose dived and are a serious disappointment these days. I have been a regular customer for many years, and I always knew you can get financially wiped out by Tojo jacking up the bill if your not careful to establish the prices up front. However the last visit was the worst ever at a sky high prices, delivering poor or no value. Will be taking a long pause as even being a repeat customer doesn't get you a good meal. After 2 x $250 a person "omakase" kaiseki or whatever they serve, and $42 for 2 larger sized beers we realized our meal sucked, and we left felt cheated and exploited. The plates were dominated by cheap ingredients including non fresh fish, and several wilted vegetables were served with brown spots. What was served was cheap crap and fundamentally void of finer sashimi or sushi. No uni, no chu Toro, no oh Toro. It was albacore tuna overload, abd I am not sure we had any crab, and no lighter fish like Japanese snapper or similar seemed to ve served. 70% of what was served was mediocre and lousy. Seems like tojonis buying the cheapest local product he can find and marking it up all he can if he can get away with it. We hated coming here paying the same price as we would for 3 to 4 meals for two at other great Vancouver restaurants. I guess after 50+ years Tojo is either tired or has given up on quality just to collect short term cash off his name brand. Our last meal is an emvarassment to his legacy and seemed dishonorable. You hear so many dishes with Tojo in the name. Well, he should be ashamed of how shamelessly his name and brand is being sold out now. While they strive for up front reservations, they sure do not seem very busy right now. Presumably it is because others feel as we did. The meal sucked, seemed like a rip off, and we left unsatisfied. Not the way you shoukd feel after a $650 tab for 2. Out of town visitors beware of your concierge sending you here. The glory days seem over and now it seems like a tourist trap.

Do not recommend Omakase here. Even though most of the service is usually excellent, the food is very inconsistent and often not a good value. We were served very little fish of lower cost and lower quality. Some fish tasted quite poor quality, and I actually got stomach sickness that kicked in late in the night or early morning after dining here. we paid around $650 for two and got one beer each and a terrible disappointing meal. Will start trying other places as Tojo has broken our trust again, and this time it was the worst experience ever. it feels like the restaurant is focused entirely on short term maximum profit and no longer high standards and great value to uphold their long term reputation. We were regular customers but not any more. We cant pay that kind of money for such a bad experience.

This place is definitely way to overrated! I know there were extreme reviews - some Loving it and the others on the opposite side of the spectrum. I come from So Cal and I've had many many Japanese cuisine before; from Japan Ryokans, Omakase to the best in Tokyo and throughout. Tojo's is NOTHING near it. It can fool the average bear or Wanna-Be's but it can't fool me. It was average to subpar at best. All the reviews that I read that awarded less than 4/5 stars was correct. This place was not worth the money. Quality is a lot better at Blue Water Grill. Service was good though; not pushy and touched our table. Obviously Tojo and the other sous Chefs chatter with the non-Asians to suck up to them but all the Japanese lady servers were extremely nice and also checked on us. They switched new plates for us often too. None of the dishes really stood out. Or I've had something better at another place. The U-10 ish scallop was over grilled along with the tiny prawns that came with the 6-course Omakase. Seabream presentation was super nice but I think it was steamed a bit too long. My favorite hotate nigiri didn't taste delish nor fresh. Sorry, this place just doesn't do it for me. Wasted my $$$. Thanks to the other Yelpers- we didn't order hot tea ($6) nor fresh wasabi ($15)!!!

Of course this place lived up to the hype! Tried the Ode to Anthony Bourdain Omakase menu, which they graciously made gluten free for me. It was lovely. A beautiful mix of flavours that spoke of local tastes, just what an Omakase menu should be. Also, as we are mid pandemic, the restaurant is set up will for social distancing and the wait staff are wearing nearly hazmat suites so I felt quite comfortable.

Tojo is a legend and I finally made the effort to dine at this restaurant. I had booked this restaurant for my date's birthday dinner. We ordered a number of items to share. Our server made some recommendations as well. The ambiance was elegant. The service was attentive for the most part. Our server forgot my drink order and I had to ask her where it was. She offered complimentary dessert because the drink order took so long. That was a very nice gesture. Somehow they forgot to wish my date a happy birthday as I saw staff doing so for other customers. The seafood was very fresh. The food presentation was beautiful. However, I found the prices a bit on the steep side when there are so many other Japanese options at a lower price range. I would only considering this a special occasions type of restaurant because our bill was over $200 for two people and we did not eat a lot.

This is one of my favourite places for Japanese food. I come here at least once every 3 months. Food is always fresh, service is attentive and spacious and formal dining area. I must agree with many who say it's pricy but Tojo's is a celebrity chef and many things on the menu is unique and invented by him, eg California roll. I recommend their specialty rolls, wagyu beef and uni and geo duck sashimi. Great place for entertaining and I have bumped into some celebrities while dining here!

Once again had a great life pleasure of eating at this amazing restaurant. Eat here five or six times a year and always graciously greeted like the best customer they have. Omakase at the bar, OUTSTANDING! The house Sake to start, always delicious, chilled to perfection (I know this sounds trite, but in this case so true). Followed by brilliant dishes of sablefish, tuna, lobster, salmon... end of meal sweets... Each presentation more outstanding than the previous one. Would you eat a Picasso? A Litchenstein? Eating at Tojo's is like eating the finest art the world has created. No matter what the price is here (and it's not for the faint of heart!) I always walk away feeling that I got great value.

great dinner and great atmosphere. The sushi in the ultimate menu is my favourite. I would consider this the best Japanese restaurant in Vancouver. It's a little expensive but definitely worth it's price.

After dining here for my belated birthday, I could finally understand the hype around Tojo's and I can honestly say that their food is authentic Japanese cuisine. I used to live in Japan so I have extremely high standards when it comes to traditional sushi and fresh sashimi. The bluefin tuna (hon-maguro) sashimi here tasted extremely fresh and had the melt-in-your mouth quality that most North American restaurants cannot achieve. The secret behind their outstanding quality is that they actually order shipments of seafood from Japan every single week in order to keep a supply of fresh fish. Their unagi was extremely delicious and actually tasted like the eel that you can eat in Japan! Tojo's is definitely a restaurant which you would go to for a special occasion because their prices are quite high (many people choose the $120 omakase course meal, where the chef decides for you) and could easily reach a few hundred dollars per person if you add on alcohol! I feel that their prices are definitely way too high, so I deducted a star after much contemplation. If I feel that my money would be better spent at Miku, as their food quality is also superb as well as their amazing location. The staff here are extremely friendly and knowledgeable, being able to name each fish and its origin. Even though the restaurant was very busy, there were more than enough staff to wait on each table so our teapots were filled frequently and our plates were changed nearly every single course. For my birthday, they actually gave me two complimentary desserts (Green Tea Brûlée & Black Sesame Panna Cotta) and their staff sang the "Happy Birthday" song at our table! It was a bit embarrassing but it was great how they decided to add that personal touch to finish off our meal.