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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)

4.9
4.9
1191 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
9:00 p.m.
Booked 8 times today
Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Price
    CAN$51 and over
  • 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, 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/vegetarian options, PLEASE NOTIFY US YOUR DIETARY RESTRICTION AT THE TIME OF MAKING YOUR RESERVATION.

What 1,191 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.9
4.9 based on recent ratings
  • 4.9Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Vancouver / British Columbia

    Japanese

  • Vancouver

    Best Overall

  • Vancouver

    Best Food

  • Vancouver

    Best Service

  • Vancouver

    Japanese

1,190 Reviews

  1. OpenTable Diner

    Vancouver

    5 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Excellently prepared high quality Japanese cuisine, with tremendous service and ambiance. Always a pleasure to dine at Yuwa!

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  2. Pettirosso

    Hawaii

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 25, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    A wonderful meal, every dish was excellent. It was beautifully presented and the quality of the ingredients was allowed to shine. We enjoyed the Masumi Aka Yamahai Junmai Ginjo sake with our dinner We had wonderful pickles to start, the matsutake tempura was a seasonal treat, the kale goma-ae was the best I've tasted, the sable fish was delicate and perfectly prepared, the red wine miso stew had a delicious umami sauce and we finished off with a spectacular Kabocha cheesecake for dessert. It was comfortable seating and the music was soft. the perfect ambiance for a relaxing dinner and quiet conversation.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Didier

    New York Area

    22 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    22 reviews

    Dined on November 23, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Fabulous Japanese food. Our group really enjoyed both the cooked dishes (with seasonal specials) and also the classic very fresh sushi. We can't wait to go back. Manager Iori really knows a lot about sake!!

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  4. AnitaS

    Vancouver

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on November 19, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Food was delicious and the service very thoughtful. Time just flew by, a lovely experience.

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  5. GavinF

    Los Angeles

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 19, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Elevated and beautiful food, great service. Will be back for sure.

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  6. OpenTable Diner

    Vancouver

    1 review

    vip
    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 18, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    This is my favorite sushi restaurant in Vancouver. Real authentic japanese cuisine and great service from staff there. My husband is a vegetarian so they call us to make sure what he can eat or not. Just show us how much they care their customers. Every time we go there we enjoy all the dishes. Highly recommend to go there.

    Is this helpful?

  7. LisaMarieB

    Seattle

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 12, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    My husband and I decided to try Yuwa for my birthday dinner after reading many favorable reviews. Yuwa did not disappoint; the food was incredible and the service was top of the line. We both highly recommend Yuwa!

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  8. DiegoM

    Houston

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 11, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Fantastic high-end Japanese cuisine! A pleasant surprise for Vancouver. Highly rated!

    Is this helpful?

  9. JoshuaC

    Seattle

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 5, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Lovely restaurant, wonderful service and delectable food.

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  10. Abby

    Vancouver

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on November 3, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Delicious dinner, served with thoughtful care. Love the classic jazz in the background.

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  11. Cindy113

    Vancouver

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on November 3, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We've been there before the pandemic, it was great then. We tried it again last night and it was still great!

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  12. vincent

    Vancouver

    9 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on October 29, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    Great service , beautifully presented dishes and fresh

    Is this helpful?

  13. Passion4fandb

    Vancouver

    30 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    30 reviews

    Dined on October 28, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    We enjoyed a traditional Keaisrki meal with friends and highly recommend it.

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  14. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 22, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Amazing food, and service was the best we ever had. Truly memorable.

    Is this helpful?

  15. MarkW

    Vancouver

    10 reviews

    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on October 16, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Immaculate and innovative menu, food, and service, as usual.

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  16. Kiki

    Vancouver

    1 review

    vip
    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 8, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    My go to place for quality Japanese cuisine. Their seasonal menu is always a nice surprise

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  17. Bacio

    Tokyo

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 7, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Every time we return home with a happy feeling.Very delicious foods, nice presentation and excellent service. Thank you Yuwa!

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  18. Bearbear

    Vancouver

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 5, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience4
    Ambience is good as always. We think it is time to update the decor. Service level has always been high. We noticed quite a few of new waiter(s) and trainee (s) . Menu extensive and dishes are tasteful. Portion smaller likely the result of inflation, we believe. Only a dish not up to par . One large piece of the slow cooked pork ribs is obviously overcooked and hard to chew. Believe that is an isolated incident.

    Is this helpful?

  19. hungryinyvr99

    Vancouver

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 24, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Attentive service, great food. The timing of the dishes were great, there wasn't a long wait between dishes. Child friendly as well, so you can still have a good time enjoying fine dining with kids.

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  20. 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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  21. 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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  22. 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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  23. Analeave

    Vancouver

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on September 10, 2023

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

    Is this helpful?

  24. 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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  25. 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!!

    Is this helpful?

  26. 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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  27. 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.

    Is this helpful?

  28. 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!

    Is this helpful?

  29. 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!

    Is this helpful?

  30. 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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  31. 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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  32. Wendy

    Palm Springs

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on August 24, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Amazing service , food , preparation and Ambiance Drinks pricey

    Is this helpful?

  33. 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.

    Is this helpful?

  34. 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.

    Is this helpful?

  35. 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.

    Is this helpful?

  36. 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.

    Is this helpful?

  37. 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.

    Is this helpful?

  38. 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.

    Is this helpful?

  39. SarahM

    London

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 6, 2023

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

    Is this helpful?

  40. 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.

    Is this helpful?

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 4.9 stars by 1191 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people
9:00 p.m.
Booked 8 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
  • Price
    CAN$51 and over
  • 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

Featured in

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