Cuisine: JapaneseInspired by the jazz cafes of 1960s Tokyo, Kissa Tanto seduces with a moody vibe complete with white mosaic floors, antique Japanese panels and steely colored walls loaded with artwork and photos. If the stack of vinyl records by the bar didn't offer enough of a hint, the terrific music certainly will. There is a definitive laidback vibe here, but the ambitious kitchen pulls no punches with its mingling of Japanese and Italian cuisine.

Go past the nudge-and-wink ground-floor sign that admonishes you to “Please Fix Your Hair, and Remove the Mud From Your Boots,” climb the stairs to the second-floor reception. The restaurant, which takes its name from kissas, '60s Tokyo jazz bars, is stylish and sophisticated, with just a touch of irony. For chef Joël Watanabe, this approach is written into his DNA; his roots are half Japanese and half Corsican-Italian and Quebecois.

The combination of Japanese and Italian cuisine in this sophisticated 1960s-era Japanese jazz bar makes for a surprisingly exciting meal. Dishes include charcoal udon with Dungeness crab, prawns and squid and spaghettoni with ragu of Wagyu, nut-fed pork, Japanese curry and spiced pangrattato (crispy breadcrumbs to you peasants).

In an unassuming Chinatown building, Michelin–starred Kissa Tanto’s unique Japanese–Italian menu and supper club aesthetic create an enchanting experience. Veteran restaurateur Tannis Ling invited executive chef Joël Watanabe and sous chef Alain Chow to create a menu that evokes the elegance of a bygone era with delicate flavours in one–of–a–kind dishes like the Tonno Mantecato (confit albacore tuna, smoked potato, furikake and bruschetta with tobiko) or the Dandelion Pappardelle (with smoked pork, spicy salami, tomato and ginger). Since earning the number one spot on the Canada’s Best New Restaurants list in 2016, this culinary spot is no longer a hidden gem, but its dimly lit and intimate dining room make you feel like you’ve stumbled upon an undiscovered treasure from the past.

Kissa Tanto Find your perfect plate with your perfect date at Kisso Tanto – offering a wonderful blend of Japanese and Italian food. Your date is sure to be impressed not only by the menu but by the style in which the venue has been decorated – its visually impressive and offers vibes of London or New York. Address: 263 East Pender Street, Vancouver Phone: 778-379-8078 Website You may like: 25 Dates Ideas For Summer in Vancouver and Lower Mainland 25 Ideas for a Special Date in Vancouver 20+ Free Date Ideas in Vancouver 25 Date Ideas in Richmond #pt-cv-view-3a475400yk .pt-cv-title a,#pt-cv-view-3a475400yk .panel-title{font-family:'Open Sans',Arial,serif!.

Why You Need To Go: When people ask me what my favourite restaurant in Vancouver is, I say Kissa Tanto, which has been my answer ever since the restaurant snuck onto the scene in 2016. Fast-forward nearly a decade, and it seems impossible to imagine Kissa Tanto being a "hidden gem,"" but believe it or not, when I first stepped foot in that magical jewel box tucked away in Chinatown, it was. While the times (and menu) have certainly changed, Kissa Tanto has never strayed from its flagship dish, which earned the spot its reputation.

Kissa Tanto, a Japanese restaurant, for example, distinguishes itself with Italian-Japanese fusion dishes like Charcoal Udon with Dungeness crab, prawns, and Calabrian chili butter, Tajarin combining miso cured yolk with roasted mushrooms, and Spaghettoni featuring a ragu of Wagyu and Japanese curry. Chef Watanabe’s half Japanese and half Corsican-Italian and Quebecois heritage influences the fusion approach at Kissa Tanto, resulting in a thoughtful amalgamation of delicate Japanese flavors and the warmth of Italian cuisine.

While not officially classified as a cocktail bar, Kissa Tanto has a bar – with phenomenal drinks – and is definitely a must for those who truly appreciate a good cocktail…or six. Fraser Crawford, the bar manager, has created an impeccable cocktail and killer ‘after dinner’ drinks menu. Their “Pick Me Up” cocktail, consisting of housemade Japanese whisky cream with miso caramel, white chocolate ganache, and espresso is reminiscent of a highly elevated version of a Baileys Irish cream whiskey.

Drawing inspiration from 1960s Tokyo jazz cafes, this Michelin-Starred Chinatown eatery is hidden behind a rather nondescript entrance (save for its identifying neon light) before a dark, narrow staircase opens into the second-floor space. Once inside, chicness reigns: there are pink vinyl banquettes, tilework inspired by Haruki Murakami book covers, and decorative, botanical wallpapers adorning feature walls. It all creates an atmosphere that perfectly complements the Italian-Japanese fare.

Next is Kissa Tanto, the only other West Coast restaurant to make the top 10 on Canada’s 100 Best List. Kissa Tanto won Best Chinatown in the Reader’s Choice division of our restaurant awards (hey, our audience knows their stuff) and also won Editors’ Pick for Best Special Occassion (hey, our editorial team knows their stuff, too). Vanmag also awarded Kissa Tanto server Daniel Maguire with a spot on our 2024 Premier Crew, so make sure to say hi to him the next time you visit.

Kissa Tanto (review here) is a playful, Japanese-Italian fusion restaurant in Chinatown. They offer just an a la carte menu. You’ll find some small plates at around $25 like Tonna Mantecato (confit Albacore tuna, smoked potato, furikake, bruschetta with tobiko); Octopus Salad (crispy smoked octopus, fresh and pickled radishes, parsley and chili purée); and Carne Cruda (Snake River Farms wagyu, nashi pear, charred scallion soy, parmesan, arima sansho, gnocco fritto).

They are Angus An, owner/chef at Maenam, Freebird Chicken Shack, Sen Pad Thai, Fat Mao and Longtail Kitchen; Hamid Salimian, formerly executive chef at Diva at the Met, a veteran Team Canada chef and coach, and chef/instructor at Vancouver Community College; Joël Watanabe, executive chef at Bao Bei and the chef/co-owner of Kissa Tanto; and Robert Belcham, the co-founder/chef of Campagnolo, Campagnolo Roma, Upstairs at Campagnolo and Monarch Burger.

Let's switch gears and wander into the enchanting world of Kissa Tanto, a Michelin-star restaurant that brings together Italian and Japanese cuisine in the most harmonious way. Inspired by the vintage vibes of 1960s Tokyo jazz cafes, Kissa Tanto effortlessly creates a chic atmosphere where both the food and cocktails sing—literally!. You might be scratching your head about the Italian-Japanese fusion, but once you taste the food, you'll get it.

If you’re a foodie couple looking for a venue that’s a little outside the box, I highly recommend checking out Kissa Tanto. This Michelin-star, Italian-Japanese fusion restaurant is tucked into the corner of an upstairs building in Vancouver’s Chinatown, making it an ideal intimate and unique setting for a wedding. There’s definitely a moody vibe here, with the decor and furniture meant to recreate a 1960’s Tokyo jazz lounge feel.

Featuring 1960’s Tokyo jazz vibes tucked away in a chic little space in Chinatown, Kissa Tanto is an intimate and cool escape into a world where Japanese and Italian dishes are served up straight-forwardly but not without lack of creativity. Voted Canada’s Best New Restaurant in 2017, this swanky supper club-esque joint also shakes and stirs up excellent cocktails. Where | 263 E Pender Street Website | www.kissatanto.com

A post shared by Kissa Tanto (@kissatanto) on Oct 25, 2018 at 5:07pm PDT. Named Canada100Best’s No. 10 restaurant in 2018 and receiving a glowing review in the New York Times, this beautiful Italian-Japanese fusion restaurant is not your typical dining experience. This dimly lit restaurant with interior inspired by the 1960’s exudes sophisticated vibes, from the decor to the staff’s careful dress and attentive manner.

Kissa Tanto (263 E. Pender St.) makes a lot of best-of-Vancouver lists, and as far as I’m concerned, its place is well-deserved. The artful mashup of Japanese and Italian food, impeccable pastas (a special of house-made shells with pork and sesame ragù and pea shoot pesto sounded singularly delicious the night I visited, and was). The warm service and lamp-lit bar create a vibe that is as inviting as it is cool.

Tucked into the upper story of a characterful building in Chinatown, the decor of Kissa Tanto was inspired by the jazz cafes of 1960s Tokyo, featuring white mosaic floors, antique Japanese panels and dark grey walls filled with artwork. The menu, an expert mix of Japanese and Italian cuisine includes treats like Charcoal Udon with Dungeness crab, prawns, squid, and Calabrian chili butter.

Kissa Tanto is the kind of place where you can either start a beautiful love story or celebrate years of togetherness. It snagged its first MICHELIN star in Vancouver’s inaugural guide in 2022 and again in 2023. The name is a delightful mix – ‘kissa’ refers to a Japanese jazz café, and ‘tanto’ means ‘a lot’ in Italian, which perfectly describes how much you’ll adore the fusion dishes.

Stepping into Kissa Tanto is a bit like stepping into another dimension. It is perhaps Vancouver’s best-looking restaurant, a sexy approximation of 1960s era Tokyo that somehow also channels a Wong Kar-wai film set. A wonderful fusion of Japanese and Italian flavours, this elegant Chinatown restaurant offers a great mid-sized list curated by wine director Belinda Lu.

Kissa Tanto is an elegant little hideaway located on an upstairs level in Chinatown. The menu is flexible enough to serve you well for a full meal of shared plates or a visit to enjoy some drinks and a couple of snacks or dessert. However, the restaurant does note its intimate design means they only have one table for a larger group and it seats just six people.

Japanese-Italian fusion concept, stylish 1960s Tokyo jazz cafe vibe, acclaimed cocktails, intimate setting. Step into the ultra-stylish, dimly lit world of Kissa Tanto, where 1960s Tokyo jazz cafe cool meets incredible Japanese-Italian fusion cuisine. This Chinatown hotspot blends cultures beautifully, creating dishes that are both familiar and thrillingly new.

This chic space within Chinatown is inspired by 1960s Tokyo jazz cafes, combining Italian and Japanese flavors that we knew we just had to try. So the idea here at Kissa Tanto is to create Italian staples with Japanese ingredients. While we didn’t really know what to expect and weren’t sure how both flavors would blend together, we weren’t disappointed.

Kissa Tanto serves up Italian and Japanese-style cuisine/cocktails in a retro 1960s Tokyo jazz-style cafe. Don't miss out on experiencing an incredibly unique interior design and a deliciously unmatched menu. "Wipe the frost off of the Singapore Sling, inhale the burgundy scent of Barolo, sip tiny glasses of fine sake, and down chilly glasses of beer!

Kissa Tanto is an acclaimed Italian-Japanese fusion restaurant located in the Chinatown neighborhood of Vancouver, British Columbia. The restaurant offers a menu that creatively blends Italian and Japanese cuisines. This fusion is characterized by a focus on simplicity and umami flavors, utilizing local ingredients from both culinary traditions.

Imbued with vintage charm and Japanese-Italian fusion cuisine, Kissa Tanto offers couples a unique and intimate setting for their wedding celebration. With its cozy atmosphere, retro decor, and award-winning cuisine, this venue provides a memorable backdrop for couples looking for a chic and stylish wedding experience. Capacity: Up to 60 guests.

At first blush, you may not think Japanese and Italian food would make a merry pair, but Kissa Tanto knocks it out of the park. Inspired by "the delicate flavours of Japan and the warmth of Italian cooking", the menu here makes for a harmonious intermingling of the two. Dishes here are best shared, so plan for a couple per person for the table.

Inspired by a 60s Tokyo jazz bar, Kissa Tanto has been raking in the accolades for their food and drinks for good reason. It’s a fusion between 2 of the best cultures known for flavours – Japanese and Italian, so you know it’s going to be different, but delicious. The room is dim and cozy and the attention to every detail doesn’t go unnoticed.

A post shared by Kissa Tanto (@kissatanto) on Sep 8, 2018 at 11:58am PDT. Kissa Tanto is located in the heart of Chinatown on East Pender and serves innovative Italian-Japanese cuisine in a Tokyo jazz cafe-inspired setting. This spot tops the ‘best’ list for many locals time and time again, so visitors can’t go wrong dining here.

website | get directions | cuisine: Italian-Japanese fusion | best for: pasta from a 1-Michelin star restaurant. I’ll never turn down a funky fusion restaurant, and Kissa Tanto might just top the list with their clever fusion of Japanese and Italian cooking. They’re located in Chinatown in an unassuming old brick building.

Kissa Tanto blends Japanese and Italian culinary traditions in a cozy, intimate setting. Known for dishes like its signature Tajarin (Japanese-inspired pasta) and creative cocktails, it’s a unique dining spot that never fails to impress. The eclectic menu and stylish ambiance make it a standout in Vancouver’s dining scene.

Nestled in Chinatown’s faded building, Kissa Tanto welcomes diners into the House of Plenty, where Japanese delicacy meets Italian warmth. A culinary dance unfolds, celebrating the mutual love of noodles, rice, and proteins, accompanied by a selection of fine drinks ranging from Singapore Sling to Barolo and sake.

Same ownership as Bao Bei, but with a little bit more refined menu that combines Italian and Japanese. Your best bet here is grabbing a reservation a couple weeks before and saving up the money to really explore the menu. Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 5:30PM-12AM, Closed Sunday and MondayWhere: 263 E Pender Street

This chic space was created with 1960s Tokyo jazz cafes in mind. The unique spot is unlike anything else you’ll find in the city — therefore making it a special place to bring that special someone in your life. Dig into Italian-Japanese cuisine and sip on a selection of creative cocktails here.

$$$ | Area: Chinatown | 263 East Pender St |Skytrain: Stadium | Website. If your reaction upon hearing the words ‘Japanese-Italian fusion‘ is ‘why mess with two good things?. ’ then I’ll give it to you – until I discovered one of Vancouver’s hottest restaurants.

Among those, most respected restaurants have great cocktail programs as well: Kissa Tanto, Published, l’abattoir, the botanist, bao bei… and by no means do you have to eat a full expensive meal, most spots are happy to have you at the bar for just a drink!

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (200 reviews) - Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5) - Type of cuisine: Italian, Japanese - Price: $$$$ - Address: 263 Pender St E, Vancouver, British Columbia V6A 1T8 Canada - Read more on Tripadvisor

Kissa Tanto, a Japanese restaurant with tasty cuisine, is also an excellent place to celebrate life. You can go to parties here and enjoy yourself with your family and friends in the wonderful ambiance. You can also opt for takeaways.

Some of the most unique cuisine in the country is coming out of Kissa Tanto’s Chinatown kitchen. If the Michelin judges are looking for something that stands out from the pack, they’ll undoubtedly find it here.

And I mean that in the most complimentary association with classic cool jazz. Slightly aloof and detached, the restaurant is hidden away behind velvet drapes on a second-storey loft in Chinatown.

Modern Asian fusion food can be found at Japanese-Italian restaurant Kissa Tanto. Start your night with contemporary cocktails at the Chinese apothecary-inspired The Keefer Bar.

AnnaLena, which boasts “modern Canadian cuisine” and Kissa Tanto, a Japanese-French fusion restaurant, made the top 10 list for the first time this year.

Kissa Tanto has an extremely cool vibe to it, there’s just something satisfying about digging into their dishes or sipping cocktails at the bar.

Romantic, sexy, and channeling those In the Mood for Love / Wong-kar Wai vibes like no other, I can't recommend Kissa Tanto highly enough.

(And the NY Times loves Vancouver food, too; earlier this year their main critic wrote about his love for our Kissa Tanto.)