Sai Woo

Name: Sai Woo
Address: 158 E Pender St, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6A 1T3
Telephone: (604) 568-1117
Price range: CAN$31 to CAN$50
Rating: 4.4

4.4

147 Reviews

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Contemporary Asian

Top tags:

In the heart of Chinatown a historic storefront conceals the secrets of Sai Woo. We serve Asian Inspired Fusion Cuisine created with Chef’s Han and Takumi’s skills, using fresh local ingredients with surprising, light hearted twists. Diners Choice award on OpenTable with 4.4 stars and a 96% recommendation. Certificate of Excellence on TripAdvisor for third year running. Awarded runner up for Best Interior Design by Vancouver Magazine. Rated #9 out of 3000 Vancouver restaurants by TripAdvisor. Sai Woo is the only restaurant in Vancouver that has been a restaurant for almost 100 years since the original Sai Woo opened in 1925. Bringing you a selection of hand crafted cocktails, local wines and sake’s to complement our unique dining experience.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Nov 30, 2023

7:00 p.m.

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Cuisines
Contemporary Asian, Fusion / Eclectic, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service
Hours of Operation
Tue, Wed 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Thu 5:00 pm–11:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–11:30 pm
Phone number
(604) 568-1117
Website
http://www.sai-woo.ca/
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress Code
Smart Casual
Executive Chef
Han Seung-Min
Private party facilities
Both the Main Floor dining room and the downstairs Woo Lounge can be rented privately and can be set up for either sit down table service or a standing cocktail reception. Either floor can host all kinds of events from speakers and a/v presentations to DJ's and dancing. Upstairs capacity 125.

Location
158 E Pender St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1T3
Neighbourhood
Chinatown
Cross Street
East Pender St between Main and Columbia St
Parking Details
Street Parking
Public Transit
Number 3 Downtown Bus stops at Main just south of Pender St. Stadium / Chinatown Sky Train station is within walking distance.Car2Go / Evo can be parked on Columbia and Keefer St just around the corner from Sai Woo
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Dancing, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 147 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.4

4.4 based on all time ratings

4.4Food
4.4Service
4.5Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

147 Reviews

OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on September 9, 2023
overall1food1service1ambience1
This place is closed and in a not so great neighborhood/location. Sure wish Open Table or whoever is responsible would take the reservation availability down. Definitely a waste of my time and safety.
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J
Jason
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 10, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience5
The food is amazing. Great portions, so that you can share and try a lot of their dishes. The bartender and servers made it a special evening for us. Thank you.
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BF
BorjaF
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on May 10, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience4
What a great hidden gem - would totally recommend eating here.
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KR
KathyR
Vancouver
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on May 6, 2023
overall5food3service5ambience5
Drinks : 12/10 ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC Food : 7/10 it was a little oily and we had the chow main that was overly sauced Service : 10/10 only one waiter for the entire restaurant and she was attentive to everyone Washrooms: 6/10 honestly its a restaurant not home sense fill the paper towel dispenser don’t just leave a huge soggy roll out .
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s
stuffbysilk
Vancouver
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on May 3, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fabulous food, clean, fresh flavours and impeccable service.
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H
Halo37
Vancouver
10 reviews
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on April 30, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
What a pleasant surprise to find this gem! Sai Woo is the oldest restaurant in Chinatown. The service was attentive and not intrusive. Nice delay between courses. The food was delicious- veggies were crisp tender, meat was tender, flavors were complex. We really enjoyed our experience here and will definitely be back! Next up will be their tasting menu. And prices were very reasonable
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MT
MichelleT
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 16, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience5
Enjoyed the decor and ambience. Allows you to have Asian food in an elevated environment.
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L
Liang
Vancouver
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 30, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The modern Asian cuisine was put a delightful spin on familiar flavors. The service was attentive and the ambiance was stylish, making for an enjoyable evening out. Overall, I would highly recommend Sai Woo to anyone looking for delicious food in a trendy setting.
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PL
PocoLoco
Vancouver
14 reviews
5.0
14 reviews
Dined on March 12, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our first experience with Sai Woo was almost 3 years ago to the day - just before the COVID pandemic lockdown. We were impressed the first time and this - our second visit - reaffirmed our first impression that this atmospheric 'speak-easy' themed Asian Fusion establishment is a jewel in historic Chinatown. A great place for both couples and small groups to pass the evening away over interesting cocktails and tasty share plates. A wine list that showcases bouquet BC wines. Fast and friendly service.
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E
Eric
Vancouver
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on March 11, 2023
overall1food1service1ambience5
Dishes were average at best and took over an hour to get our food. Dishes ordered together but arrived one a time. No serving utensils
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M
Mash49
Vancouver
15 reviews
4.0
15 reviews
Dined on March 3, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience4
Wonderful interior, helpful staff, diverse menu, excellent food
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Vancouver
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on February 19, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience4
Music was way too loud- rap music is not dinner music. Only serving ramen. Not what we were expecting at all. Would not return.
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k
kikieats
Vancouver
2 reviews
vip
2.0
2 reviews
Dined on February 19, 2023
overall2food4service1ambience2
I have been to Sai Woo twice before and loved it. Unfortunately, third time was NOT a charm... We had some family visiting from Ontario so we decided to book a table on a Saturday night about 2 weeks in advance-- at no point did anyone tell us that it will be a pop-up event (Japanese ramen pop-up) which thankfully turned out to be yummy but was a limited menu and a bit disappointing since we were expecting to enjoy things family/tapas style. Instead, we adapted to each getting a ramen bowl which wasn't as fun but this was not nearly the problem. THE SERVICE WAS ABSOLUTELY EMBARRASSING. I can't tell you how much I can't stand bringing folks somewhere from out of town and having the servers paint a poor image of our restaurant scene. The ladies at the bar and the one who was our server were almost out of a movie with their attitude of NOT WANTING TO BE THERE. They made us feel like we were inconveniencing them by showing up from the get-go. When she would take our order, she would just stare at us blankly and we would have to guess if she heard us or what was going on in there.... I hate showing up at a restaurant and feeling judged-- I'm unsure if they were just the pop-up servers or if they actually work there all the time, but if it's the latter-- that was abysmal. The first two times I went there the service was great and I didn't see those girls working there which makes me think they might be part of the pop-up but who knows. All I know was that was really unfortunate and we will definitely not be returning there. Bao Bei will be our pick from now on. Sai Woo's service was absolutely unreliable.
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F
Faerie
Vancouver
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on February 15, 2023
overall4food3service4ambience4
Music stopped, then got loud. The lighting changed twice as well. I felt the staff were super friendly and nice, they did their best. The kitchen was a bit backed up so our mains came within 25-30 mins apart of each other. Also the first of the mains came at least 20 mins after I finished my appetizer. We had short rib and the sable fish for the mains. The mash on the short rib had very little flavour, I don't mind the grainy texture but a little more salt would've been nice. I eat pretty light already. The protein didn't really even fall off the bone (which I'd expect from a short rib). It also didn't have much flavour to it. Where as the sablefish was quite rich in flavour so the balance was quite weird. We had a good time anyways but I thought the main courses could be better. The appetizers we had hamachi + tartare were very good. Cocktails were ok too. Hope to be back in half a year to see how you've grown ^^
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A
Amirk
Vancouver
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on February 15, 2023
overall3food3service3ambience4
There was no mention of set menu when we booked for Valentine's Day until we sat down. Food on the set menu was okay but it came out as if it had been warmed up in microwave. Wasn't great. We go there all the time and food is amazing but was not happy with Valentine's Day dinner.
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R
Reviewer
Vancouver
8 reviews
4.0
8 reviews
Dined on February 12, 2023
overall4food5service4ambience4
Everything we got was delicious! Beef tartare, shrimp dumplings, duck noodles, creme brulee. The portions were bigger than I expected. Only thing was it took a while to be able to pay for the bill but it was a busy night!
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NB
NicoleB
Vancouver
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on January 27, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience3
Good date spot. Ordered the eggplant, green beans, pork belly lettuce wraps and beef tartare. Would order again
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DQ
DanielaQ
Los Angeles
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on January 26, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Went for the Dine Out Vancouver festival and truly enjoyed the entire experience! The place has amazing decor, drinks were fantastic. The Dine Out menu was excellent and it was plenty of food! We already want to go back and try the rest of the menu. 10/10 excellent night.
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XD
XtaDutch
Vancouver
19 reviews
5.0
19 reviews
Dined on January 21, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great cocktails and bar staff. Super friendly and flexible. We went there before a play and they accommodated us with a la cart during Dine Out. Would totally recommend for date or cocktails…or in our case Theatre nerd night out.
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GC
GregC
New York Area
18 reviews
vip
5.0
18 reviews
Dined on January 21, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Very nice evening, from the custom cocktails to our delicious entrees, all were enjoyed. The service was wonderful, with just the right amount of attention. Highly recommended.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Vancouver
7 reviews
vip
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on January 8, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food here is incredible. We've been twice and both times it was so incredibly good. We opted for sharing a bunch of appies so we got to try more things, def recommend this.
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LE
LEEC
Vancouver
4 reviews
4.0
4 reviews
Dined on December 28, 2022
overall4food4service3ambience3
Shareable plates were the most successful for our Party. Many exciting choices. We ordered full plates as well that were not 'as' shareable. Could have probably stayed with just the small plates. Our group enjoyed the cocktails as well. Good quality restaurant.
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PF
PriyaF
Vancouver
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on December 18, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience4
Food and Service was very good. Might go again....
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VM
VatMan
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 17, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Really really delicious. Glad i came. Thanks for the eats!
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CG
CarenG
Vancouver
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on December 15, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food and service were amazing! Every dish we tried was tasty. And the cocktails were excellent. We had the beef tartare, szechuan beans, yunan fried rice, duck and soy chicken. Can’t wait to come back.
1 person found this helpful
MR
MotherRunner
Vancouver
11 reviews
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on December 11, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great dishes for sharing. It's better with at least 3 people.
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C
Cupcake
Vancouver
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on December 10, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
I love Sai woo. My fav restaurant in Vancouver.
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LB
LBINVAN
Vancouver
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on December 10, 2022
overall4food4service3ambience5
We REALLY enjoyed the food here, delicious lettuce wraps and prawn appetizer!! Reserved a regular table and got sat at a high top which is hard on my back, they brought u La the non-alcoholic drink list only to tell us they were out of the non-alcoholic drinks, but of a bummer but not the end of the world.
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LB
LoveBugs
Brazil
6 reviews
4.0
6 reviews
Dined on December 4, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience5
Had a great time here catching up with a friend. The food was pretty good, the cocktails were outstanding and the space was nice. The was excellent; Carmen was our server and she made the night memorable.
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S
Sean
Vancouver
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on December 3, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Happy Hour was excellent - Tokyo Gyoza, Szechuan Green Beans & Hanoi Butter & Soy Wings were tremendously delicious!
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CG
CarolGirl
Portland
6 reviews
3.0
6 reviews
Dined on November 30, 2022
overall3food3service3ambience3
I have been to Sai Woo before a few times and loved it, but this time it came up a bit short. The highlight being the chilled apple fennel salmon appetizer... light, refreshing and delicious, but the rest of the food was lacklustre. It felt like the food was just reheated and not make to order. The server was very nice, but we had dirty plates on our table for far too long and would have ordered more had they come by earlier. The music was loud, but the server kindly agreed to turn it down (considering we were the only table at that point not a huge imposition). Still I want to believe this was just because it was a slow night. It's a great room and like I said earlier I have had great meals here.
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NB
NurseBetty
Vancouver
62 reviews
vip
4.0
62 reviews
Dined on November 26, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience4
Not my first time, but first time bringing a friend. As always, great food and good service. Love the decor and atmosphere. I would have like you to have given the place a full five-star review. However, the bathrooms were in a very sorry state. Dirty, and out of paper. Bathrooms these days like the restaurants should be destinations.
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PD
PatrickD
Montreal
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on November 20, 2022
overall4food5service4ambience5
Food was fantastic, wanted more. Visiting from Montréal. Highly recommended.
Sai WooResponded on November 22, 2022
Hi Patrick! We are thrilled to hear you loved the food here at Sai Woo and thank you for sharing your feedback with us! Let us know the next time you are back in town as we would love to have you back! Cheers!
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RM
RachelM
Vancouver
8 reviews
4.0
8 reviews
Dined on November 6, 2022
overall4food5service4ambience4
The Tianjin fried rice is the best fried rice Ive ever had. The tempura shrimp were excellent. The decor, ligjting and ambiance are great. Ill be back.
Sai WooResponded on November 17, 2022
Thank you Rachel! We are so happy to hear this!
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SM
SanjayMR
Vancouver
32 reviews
vip
3.0
32 reviews
Dined on November 6, 2022
overall3food2service2ambience3
The food took a while to come out (the kitchen was backed up); the server didn’t come back to ask if we needed more drinks - he was busy at a large group that arrived later; the Tianjin fried rice was soggy. The prices have increased so I would expect the same level of service as they did in the past and more.
Sai WooResponded on November 17, 2022
Hi Sanjay! We are so sorry to hear you did not have a great dining experience. I would love to invite you back for a meal on us where we showcase what our level of service standards should be. My direct email is Katalena@saiwoo.ca I hope to hear from you. Cheers
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Vancouver
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 5, 2022
overall5food5service4ambience4
Great meal! Lovely flavours. Always dependable for a wonderful meal!
Sai WooResponded on November 17, 2022
Thank you so much for the kind review! Always love to have great feedback!
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PG
PeteG
Vancouver
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on October 29, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food selection and very good service
Sai WooResponded on November 5, 2022
Thank you for sharing your experience!
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O
Onlythebeth
Vancouver
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on October 23, 2022
overall4food5service3ambience4
The food was outstanding! The service was very friendly, but lacked some kitchen and bar knowledge. There were discrepancies between the printed menu and the online menu accessed via the QR code, of which the server was unaware. The kitchen seemed a bit slow as well, but it was a busy Saturday night. Overall, would recommend 9/10; and will return.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Vancouver
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on October 22, 2022
overall1food2service1ambience3
Very poor service. My main dish did not arrive. When we notified the kitchen they said they will put it soon we waited for half an hour and it did not arrive. I left hungry and disappointed. A promised discount on wine was not in the bill and the waitress never ever checked the table to see if every thing is ok. Obviously no tip was left.
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A
Aceman
Vancouver
7 reviews
4.0
7 reviews
Dined on October 19, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience5
Enjoyable meal in Chinatown, had the Fried Chicken, Perri Perri Brussel Sprouts and Fried Rice, all delish. Our Server was attentive and made great suggestions.
Sai WooResponded on October 20, 2022
Thank you Aceman for the lovely review. Love the feedback!
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Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitising
- Surfaces sanitised between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitised menu provided
- Sealed or wrapped utensils used
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitiser or wipes provided for customers
- Contactless payment available
Physical distancing
- Limited number of seated diners
- Distancing maintained in common areas
- Extra space between tables

Protective equipment
- Waitstaff wear masks
Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

Sai Woo is rated 4.4 stars by 147 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Nov 30, 2023

7:00 p.m.

158 E Pender St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1T3

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross Street
East Pender St between Main and Columbia St
Neighbourhood
Chinatown
Hours of Operation
Tue, Wed 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Thu 5:00 pm–11:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–11:30 pm
Price
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Cuisines
Contemporary Asian, Fusion / Eclectic, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress Code
Smart Casual
Parking Details
Street Parking
Public Transit
Number 3 Downtown Bus stops at Main just south of Pender St. Stadium / Chinatown Sky Train station is within walking distance.Car2Go / Evo can be parked on Columbia and Keefer St just around the corner from Sai Woo
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive Chef
Han Seung-Min
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Dancing, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.sai-woo.ca/
Phone number
(604) 568-1117
Private party facilities
Both the Main Floor dining room and the downstairs Woo Lounge can be rented privately and can be set up for either sit down table service or a standing cocktail reception. Either floor can host all kinds of events from speakers and a/v presentations to DJ's and dancing. Upstairs capacity 125.

Sai Woo

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information

Menu

What 147 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitising

Physical distancing

Protective equipment

Screening

FAQs

How is Sai Woo restaurant rated?

Is Sai Woo currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information