Entering through Kingyo’s door is like wandering into a great pub in the middle of Shinjuku. Loud and almost always packed, Kingyo is one of the most consistent, and one of the busiest, izakayas in Vancouver. Although you can get sushi, the cooked dishes are the real standouts.

$$ | Area: West End | 871 Denman St |Skytrain: City Centre | Website. An izakaya-style Japanese restaurant that’s famous for a delicious assortment of small plates, similar to a Spanish tapas restaurant but with tomato kimchi, tuna tataki, crispy chicken karaage and more. This is also an under-the-radar sushi spot with their pressed sockeye salmon with jalapeño mayo being one of my favourites in the city.

Travel abroad to the Far East by means of the exotic creations served at Kingyo, a place that features innovative takes on Japanese, Korean, and Chinese cuisines. Savour every mouthwatering tender piece of stone-grilled Kobe beef alongside a bowl of sticky rice. Indulge in tastebud-tantalizing Chinese beef ribs sauteed in sweet balsamic vinegarette accompanied by miso soup and kimchi.

Walking distance from Vancouver’s Stanley Park, Kingyo Izakaya is the perfect destination for Japanese small plates after biking the seawall. Renowned for their kobe beef, tuna tataki, and famous tan-tan noodles, Kingyo Izakaya is not your average sushi and teriyaki joint. Open daily for lunch and dinner, if you’re in the mood for Japanese, this is the place to go!

Kingyo earns its reputation as one of Vancouver’s premier sushi destinations by blending traditional Japanese flavors with contemporary flair. Their commitment to culinary excellence is evident through a diverse menu featuring skillfully prepared dishes. Because of their inviting atmosphere and attentive service, Kingyo offers an unforgettable dining experience.

Kingyo brings a dash of creativity and a splash of fun to the Vancouver Japanese restaurant scene. Here, you'll find an inventive array of Japanese small plates that take you on a culinary journey through Japan. From the bold flavors of their signature dishes to the subtler notes of their unique creations, Kingyo's menu is a symphony of taste sensations.

Kingyo, a perfect lunch place in Denman Street in Vancouver, is a truly authentic Japanese izakaya serving a great selection of creative tapas-sized dishes, unique cocktails, and delicious Sake. Come in for a quick bite to eat or sip some sake and be wowed by their exciting flavours. Their cheerful chefs and servers will greet you with a warm welcome.

A post shared by Maria Claudia |Eating By Bites (@eatingbybites) on Nov 3, 2019 at 12:20pm PST. Kingyo means “goldfish” in Japanese and their artistic bowl of live goldfish as decor may suggest, their commitment to originality is impressive. Kingyo is one of the more well-known Izakayas in downtown Vancouver, with a prime location in the West End.

What they had to say about it: Can we just take a moment to appreciate how beautiful this sashimi bowl is?. Kingyo Izkaya actually serves a good selection of traditional Japanese food and people can enjoy a huge and delicious lunch under $20. Besides the sashimi bowl, I also highly recommend their pork cutlet.

Capable, unpretentious and fun, Kingyo is also one of city’s most consistent restaurants. I always recommend it to out-of-towners looking for an emblematic bite of Vancouver, and this is partly due to their always excellent boneless fried chicken karaage with shredded red pepper (which I never fail to order).

Step into Kingyo and be transported to a local Izakaya restaurant in Tokyo. The restaurant offers a diverse menu of Japanese dishes and lively atmosphere. It also offers a range of delicious small plates, perfect for sharing – from sizzling grills to fresh sashimi, and of course sushi for everyone.

An Izakaya is a casual Japanese pub and Kingyo managed to get that vibe just right. With its relaxed and friendly atmosphere, this restaurant welcomes you just right off the bat. At the center of this restaurant is a communal table that already shows you the atmosphere they want.

IZAKAYA | If you’ve never done Japanese tapas before, do it in Vancouver and start at Kingyo. The dishes are small, so just have at the menu and start with what tickles your fancy. People like to order the smoky hot stone beef, so wear an outfit that you can throw in the wash!

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (614 reviews) - Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.5/5), Atmosphere (4.5/5) - Type of cuisine: Japanese, Asian - Price: $$ - $$$ - Address: 871 Denman St, Vancouver, British Columbia V6G 2L9 Canada - Read more on Tripadvisor

This delicious ramen shop has caught our eye for quite some time now. We absolutely love their spicy miso shrimp ramen, and for a unique experience order the stone grilled wagyu beef (it’s actually grilled on a stone!). View this post on Instagram

Probably the only kind of place that we deliberately avoided on the trip. Most of them are smoky, noisy pubs with food of questionable quality. In Vancouver, I also ignored them for a long time, until I happened to stop by one of them for lunch.

This delicious ramen shop has caught our eye for quite some time now. We absolutely love their spicy miso shrimp ramen, and for a unique experience order the stone grilled wagyu beef (it’s actually grilled on a stone!).

Another of my favorite izakayas in Vancouver is the fabulous Kingyo. Also in the trendy West End, it's the best lunch around. Try the Deluxe Bento Box that has 12 different items for $16.00.

Order lots to try a bit of everything, but we definitely recommend their famous stone-grilled Kobe beef and deep fried fresh corn!

For a twist on the Korean classic, try the sea urchin bibimbap, or to keep it more traditional, grab the Kingyo negitoro sushi.