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Yuwa Japanese Cuisine (fka Zest Restaurant), Vancouver, BC
Yuwa Japanese Cuisine (fka Zest Restaurant), Vancouver, BC
Yuwa Japanese Cuisine (fka Zest Restaurant), Vancouver, BC
Yuwa Japanese Cuisine (fka Zest Restaurant), Vancouver, BC
Yuwa Japanese Cuisine (fka Zest Restaurant), Vancouver, BC
Award-winning

Yuwa Japanese Cuisine (fka Zest Restaurant)

4.8
4.8
1173 Reviews
CAN$51 and over
Japanese
Top tags:
~ STORY OF YUWA JAPANESE CUISINE ~

Chef Masahiro Omori is the Executive Chef / Co-owner of Yuwa Japanese Cuisine who was born and raised in Chiba, Japan. His grandmother "YUWA" passionately owned a fish market in Chiba, Japan for over 50 years. Yuwa's dedication to her craft deeply touched Chef Omori and he lovingly brings her spirit forward with his professional experience at a well-known long-established Kaiseki restaurant in Tokyo, Japan.

Chef Masahiro Omori brings specialized regional dishes from across Japan taking advantage of the highest quality, freshest local BC ingredients. These can all be paired with our specialized selection of wines and sake.

Make a reservation

2 people
8:30 p.m.
Booked 16 times today
Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Cuisines
    Japanese, Japanese (Washoku), Sushi
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Wed–Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (604) 731-9378
  • Website
    http://www.yuwa.ca/
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress Code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Masahiro Omori
  • Private party contact
    Shin Knauf-Nakamura, General Manager: (604) 731-9378
  • Location
    2775 W. 16th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6k 3C3
  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN Plate 2022
  • Neighbourhood
    Kitsilano
  • Cross Street
    Mcdonald St. x 16th Avenue
  • Parking Details
    Parking is available in front of the building off 16th or at the back of the building accessing from Mcdonald St to the back alley. Or there are plenty of free parking along 16th Ave.
  • Additional
    Beer, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

Experiences

  • Kaiseki Course - 7 days notice required

    $190.00 per person

    Prepaid

    Multiple dates available
    Our KAISEKI COURSE is 7-8 seasonal courses including dessert. We offer this course at the chef's table (sushi bar counter) only, for up to 4 guests. We require a reservation at least one week in advance, which is FULLY PRE-PAID in order to have seasonal ingredients to be flown in from Japan. This charge is NON-REFUNDABLE after one week prior to the dinner, however it is transferable. We suggest a dining time anywhere between 2.5 hrs to 3 hrs to fully enjoy this course. We are unable to offer gluten free or vegan options, PLEASE NOTIFY US YOUR DIETARY RESTRICTION AT THE TIME OF MAKING YOUR RESERVATION.

What 1,173 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Vancouver / British Columbia

    Japanese

  • Vancouver

    Neighbourhood gem

  • Vancouver

    Japanese

1,173 Reviews

  1. AdeB

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 22, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    I love this restaurant - authentic Japanese food and service of an exemplary standard. I cannot recommend it highly enough - just go , you will love it. I have been on 3 occasions now and they recognised me this time which was lovely , sitting at the bar watching chef prepare our many dishes was also a delight.

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  2. BevH

    Vancouver

    16 reviews

    5.0

    16 reviews

    Dined on September 21, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Always a special treat to eat here. The food has been meticulously prepared and presented. We recently brought our friend from Japan here for dinner, and he was most impressed!

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  3. ARKADY

    Vancouver

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on September 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    very god please real jhampanis tasty good service ------------------------------------------

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  4. Analeave

    Vancouver

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on September 10, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Good food ..good service .. good location.. neighborhood gem

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  5. LMAS

    Vancouver

    18 reviews

    5.0

    18 reviews

    Dined on September 7, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Yuwa remains our favourite restaurant in the neighbourhood. The owner and her staff are attentive and very polite. The food is excellent and we always look forward to new wines to try. Thank you for also recognizing my husband’s birthday.

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  6. OpenTable Diner

    Seattle

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on September 4, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Absolutely fantastic food with a very chill ambience and extremely attentive staff!! This restaurant provided one of the best dining experiences of my life!!

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  7. MeganD

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 3, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    I love Yuwa and try to come for a meal whenever I am in Vancouver. The food is fabulous, the ambience and service is excellent, and it is located in a convenient location on bus and bike roots with good parking in the neighbour.

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  8. RossannaR

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 3, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Perfect experience. Diversity of food, each course was spectacular. I appreciated the detailed explanation of each course, the quality of the decor, and the flexibility of the chef to tailor make some dishes just for us. We drove all the way from WA to taste the Omakase offer and it was 120% worth it.

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  9. NancyE

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 2, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Yuwa is our pick when celebrating special occasions and it never disappoints!

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  10. CherylL

    Vancouver

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 1, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Always a pleasure dining at Yuwa! They provide just the right amount of attention. We love the overall experience. Arigatou Gozaimashita!

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  11. OpenTable Diner

    Vancouver

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on August 31, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We had an outstanding dinner sitting at the bar. Food was beautifully plated, experienced mouthfuls of intriguing flavours. Sushi was sublime. Brought back wonderful memories of travelling and eating in Japan!

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  12. MarkB

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 25, 2023

    overall3food5service2ambience1
    Service was challenging, wasps chased us out of our table and we were met with no apologies. Food was amazing, but there is incredible Japanese in Vancouver with immaculate service and atmosphere.

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  13. Wendy

    Palm Springs

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on August 24, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Amazing service , food , preparation and Ambiance Drinks pricey

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  14. JustinC

    Vancouver

    7 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on August 21, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We have been to Yuwa repeatedly through the years, and it is always a world-class dining experience.

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  15. OpenTable Diner

    Hawaii

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on August 20, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    The food was delicious! The tamago Nigiri was the best. Quite different than I’ve had before. A must try! Service was very friendly and efficient. Definitely will return.

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  16. Japanophile

    Vancouver

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on August 19, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    Eclectic menu. Outstanding salmon in paper dish; also different sushi were excellent. Waiters were friendly but highly professional; also were efficient and attentive. Soft jazz was nice background music. Possibly more baffling on walls would keep some loud diners‘ voices down.

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  17. JamieD

    Vancouver

    5 reviews

    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on August 17, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    This restaurant accommodates my special dietary needs beautifully. It is a pleasure to dine there. Thanks so much.

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  18. natashiap

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 17, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Excellent service. It was my son's birthday and they made him feel very special.

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  19. RobynR

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 12, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Yuwa is a gem - an oasis of calm, with delicious food and exceptional service. The outdoor patio is wonderful, creating a calm and comfortable environment with all the elegance of the indoor space. Their menu is eclectic and fresh, with new creations appearing all the time.

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  20. SarahM

    London

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 6, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Delicious food. Attentive service. Knowledgeable staff. We will be back.

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  21. IsaacV

    Sacramento

    7 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on August 6, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Too notch authentic traditional Japanese cuisine with some modern twists. Waiter was knowledgeable about all the amazing Sakis. Food was incredible. Just go there and try for yourself. Simple as that.

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  22. JenniferH

    Vancouver

    9 reviews

    4.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on August 3, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience4
    Excellent service, not rushed, wonderful flavours and variety. Such a lovely, quiet place and easy to get to. Highly recommend.

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  23. OpenTable Diner

    Vancouver

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 31, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Excellent all over, from servers all the way to owner.

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  24. Baileys

    Vancouver

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on July 28, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food was delicious and sashimi was fresh. Good atmosphere, comfortable seating for our gathering. Great service. We were last table and they were very polite to let us stay. Did not bother us at all.

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  25. Michael

    Vancouver

    3 reviews

    2.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on July 23, 2023

    overall2food2service1ambience2
    Service was extremely slow, took 2.5 hrs for our meal. Chilled sake and as served warm, ran out of 1 third of the menu by 8:30 on a Saturday night. Will not go back

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  26. Beeper

    Vancouver

    25 reviews

    5.0

    25 reviews

    Dined on July 23, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Everything about YUWA is awesome. The menu has so many items that we can never have elsewhere and it is prepared by a Japanese staff that has superior training. The prices are very fair. We can go somewhere else with similar prices, but the food and service never meet the quality at YUWA. The staff is attentive, they make wonderful recommendations and you might edit a bit longer to get your order than at other Japanese restaurants, but that is because everything is made just for you. We decided that we are only going to eat at YUWA.

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  27. JamieD

    Vancouver

    5 reviews

    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on July 20, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    Enjoyed our meal very much. The restaurant and staff were very attentive and the restaurant accommodated some specific dietary needs extremely well. Thank you for a lovely evening.

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  28. MurrayM

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 16, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Service was on their game, our server was charismatic, explained things well, they were efficient without sacrificing personal attention to detail or needs, food was relatively quick from the kitchen, presentation was strong with very good flavour combinations, didn't find a weak option on the menu.

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  29. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Fabulous food, wonderful ambience inside and on the patio. Service was excellent. Top of the list restaurant!

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  30. Paul

    Vancouver

    14 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on July 14, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    An absolute pleasure to dine there again. The chef, service team and Sake Masters are fantastic. Can't recommend enough

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  31. EugeniaL

    Vancouver

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on July 8, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience4
    It was a pleasant experience! Service and food were excellent! I will definitely come back!

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  32. Leslie

    San Francisco

    5 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on July 7, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Everything was outstanding, as usual. The outside patio area is bigger and even better than before.

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  33. PetraH

    Vancouver

    5 reviews

    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on July 7, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    My favourite restaurant. Love the food and the sashimi are fresh.

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  34. Amarr

    Vancouver

    21 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    21 reviews

    Dined on July 1, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Beautiful presentation and friendly service. All dishes were delicious and fresh fish.

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  35. JamieD

    Vancouver

    5 reviews

    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on June 30, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    The meal was delicious and staff very attentive. The chef was able to accommodate my need for gluten free diet and my vegetarian preference to create a lovely meal. Thank you.

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  36. AJmiku

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 26, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great restaurant, very nice vibe, I would say it is on the pricey side for the shares provided.

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  37. julieabroad

    Toronto

    7 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on June 26, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Spectacular food, helpful, informative service. Specials are a must…so interesting (and delicious)!

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  38. FrankH

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 25, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great restaurant. Food and services are outstanding. A bit pricey but worth it.

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  39. Michael

    Vancouver

    16 reviews

    5.0

    16 reviews

    Dined on June 25, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Fantastic food, excellent service with reasonable ambience. High recommend this gem if you're looking for high-end Japanese food.

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  40. RyanM

    Seattle

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on June 25, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We went there for a Saturday evening dinner and everything was excellent. The food was delicious, the atmosphere and service were both top notch, and we left totally satisfied and happy. Star of the evening was the Ayu Shioyaki and we were lucky to get the last one they had for the day. The exterior was salty, but that meshed perfectly with the flaky gentle flavor and a mellow aroma of the fish. Honorable mention goes to the suzuyaka dessert: Pineapple yokan jelly square, shiratama-mochi, smooth red bean paste, yuzu sorbet & shisho. If you're getting this try and spread the shisho out a little bit; I got a little too much in one bit and it was a bit overpowering. (Every bit before and after that one was excellent!) You know it's good when you and your dinner partner are fighting over the syrup that's left over at the end!

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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

Yuwa Japanese Cuisine (fka Zest Restaurant) offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (604) 731-9378.

Yuwa Japanese Cuisine (fka Zest Restaurant) is rated 4.8 stars by 1173 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people
8:30 p.m.
Booked 16 times today
Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Yuwa Japanese Cuisine (fka Zest Restaurant)

2775 W. 16th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6k 3C3

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN Plate 2022
  • Cross Street
    Mcdonald St. x 16th Avenue
  • Neighbourhood
    Kitsilano
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Wed–Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Cuisines
    Japanese, Japanese (Washoku), Sushi
  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Dress Code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking Details
    Parking is available in front of the building off 16th or at the back of the building accessing from Mcdonald St to the back alley. Or there are plenty of free parking along 16th Ave.
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Masahiro Omori
  • Additional
    Beer, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Website
    http://www.yuwa.ca/
  • Phone number
    (604) 731-9378
  • Private party contact
    Shin Knauf-Nakamura, General Manager: (604) 731-9378

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