Japanese Restaurant Lounge featuring some of the best deals for drinks in town. Delicious tapas & inventive, original sushi created by our master chefs straight from Japan. The trendy modern design of our dark spacious interior, many big screens and a huge projection TV help to set the perfect ambiance for either a small romantic dinner or large parties!
Suggest changes to this restaurant listing.
Reviews
Added Sep 9, 2009 by tcj of Vancouver (1 Reviews) Nothing special
Went there for an early dinner and saw that they offer happy hour menu from 4:30-6:30 pm. There's fresh oyster @ $0.99/pc, 2 rolls for $6.50, and even nachos. The rolls aren't impressive at all, but all dishes are presented nicely. Green tea was solid, and that's probably why they charge $1.50/person. Don't think I'll be going back again. |
 |
| Food: |
 |
| Service: |
 |
| Value: |
|
| Ambiance: |
|
| Added May 27, 2009 by pookiebear of UBC (38 Reviews) Regular hangout
I come to this restaurant about once a month or every 2 months just to hang out with the girls to have a few drinks.
Their food and drinks are pretty cheap considering where they are located. I also love the selection of cocktails they have (I am a cocktail kinda girl). The food is tasty and consistent. My favourite dish is the fried tako, chicken karaage and taco rice.
The service is pretty friendly and the ambiance has a hip and fun vibe to it. One thing i don't like is later at night, there's always a few people that get really drunk and someone always pukes, which is kinda gross. But the staff is quick to clean up the mess and escort the drunk customer out.
On a side note, the last time I went, I went to watch a Canucks playoff game. I got there at 5:30 to get a table and noticed they now have a happy hour menu from 5-6:30pm everyday. Wings are only $0.30/ea and there was also some sushi on this happy hour menu. It's definitely a good deal. |
 |
| Food: |
 |
| Service: |
|
| Value: |
|
| Ambiance: |
|
| |
<More reviews below advertisement>
| Added May 23, 2009 by daerave of Burnaby (2 Reviews) Good food, but the service is terrible...
First and foremost, the food is good, and the drinks are cheap.
If thats all you care about, then don't read the rest of this.
But the service is horrible.
My girlfriend and I went there with 6 other friends, so we expected a complication or two.
And yeah, they messed up a bunch of orders for the group, most specifically the two dishes my girlfriend and I ordered, they completly forgot about one of them.
However the real problem is with the tip.
What they dont tell you, is that the tip is already included in the bill, at least a base percentage is.
I paid by debit, so when the debit machine asked if I wanted to include tip, I declined because I had a ton of spare change and bills I wanted to unload.
The waitress immediatly told me upon reviewing the bill that I had forgotten the tip, I mentioned I would pay in cash and she seemed ok with that.
That is until however that I had noticed on the bill that the tip was already included.
That soured the experience for me. With that, the forgotten order and the other mistakes, I decided to leave them with the 'auto-tip' and be done with it. In my eyes the service didnt warrant more.
.... so the waitress chases us down, noticing I didnt leave the physical money I said I would, and demanded I pay it. What ensued was a 5 minute arguement over her NEW bill that was an extra 10 dollars on top of what we'd already paid for.
Eventually we explained to her that it wasnt against the law to not pay a tip, I ~had~ paid for the food plus the base tip, and that was that. She seemed convinced and trotted off, I think she just didnt want to bother anymore (she was kind-of outnumbered)
We probably wont be going back there.
Too bad too, as the booze is cheap. |
|
|
| Food: |
|
| Service: |
 |
| Value: |
|
| Ambiance: |
|
| Added Apr 20, 2009 by msem of Vancouver (8 Reviews) Needs Better Organization
Went to Ebisu with a larger sized party so I understand that it might be more hectic and slow. The service itself was good enough, they got us what we wanted, there when we needed and were nice. However, we were getting items we never ordered (and they insisted we did when we told them otherwise) and some items we did order we never received even though we reminded them. At the end the billing was also a mess it was split into two different bills but the orders weren't organized by the two different tables. We also got billed for the items we didn't get. I think the problem was that we had way too many servers taking orders it was hard to get it organized.
What really bugged me was that my boyfriend paid for our portion of the bill and we left we shortly got a call from a friend who said the server insisted that he didn't pay. So we had to walk back to the restaurant and luckily he paid by debit and not cash so we had proof that we paid but nonetheless it was unnecessary.
I was pleased with the food but I'm not sure if I would go back. |
 |
| Food: |
|
| Service: |
|
| Value: |
|
| Ambiance: |
|
| |
<More reviews below advertisement>
| Added Apr 9, 2009 by KimmyK of Kerrisdale (8 Reviews) That much sweeter!
I haven't been back to Ebisu in a while so decided to pop in with a few of my girlfriends.
It was super busy for a Tuesday but I later found out why when the hostess asked me if I wanted to watch the game or just dinner. I wasn't even sure what "the game" meant so I answered "dinner" and she seated me on the other side of the restaurant. Then the Canucks game went on and you heard all the "ooohs & aahs" with the occasional "YEAH!" when they score. As you can tell I'm not into hockey so it was a little noisy but I'm glad the restaurant was big enough to seperate the hockey crowd with the dining crowd (very clever!)
The waitress was very warm and friendly when she came by and we ordered a pitcher of red sangria which was absolutely delicious, she also mentioned that they were doing a hockey night special for pitchers of beer so maybe that's why so many people were there but I don't like beer so I had to pass on the deal.
Had a chance to look at the menu and realized they were doing Happy Hour from 4:30 to 6:30 which I don't think they offered the last time I was here (unless I missed out) but wow it was cheap! They were offering 25 wings and dollar oysters along with sushi that was like roughly 40% off. We got a couple of their special rolls that I also noticed were cut in price from their regular menu. I guess the economic times hit everyone. Their rolls that used to go for $12 are now down to $8, we had to get 2 rolls because it was so tempting! We got the Mango roll which was good, the Volcano roll was just ok, I wouldn't get that again and this shrimp ball hotplate that they pour in front of you. The clam pasta was good but it seemed like there were more shells than the actual clams? Some of the shells were empty.
I still can't believe they are making it cheaper now and they were still just as great tasting as the last time I had it, hardly believe this is on Robson! Impressive!
I can't even figure out why it took me so long to re-visit this spot but refreshing all my sweet memories (and adding to them) have got them on the top of my list again! |
 |
| Food: |
|
| Service: |
|
| Value: |
 |
| Ambiance: |
|
| Added Mar 20, 2009 by foodnme of Vancouver, BC (13 Reviews) Got sick from eating here..
I wrote a review, but it must have been deleted.
Anyways, I ate here with my other half and we both got really sick eating here. It wasn't food posioning, but I would say the cleanliness of the place probably. We both got sick right away eating here and were sick for the next couple days. My other half got sick last time we ate here about a year ago as well.
The first table we were seated at smelled really bad, so we asked to move to another table, and they politely moved us.
Service, decent, except we ordered spici tuna sushi and they brought out a spicy tuna sushi, which we ate, loved, and then they brought out another spicy tuna sushi (which looked like regular spicy tuna roll) and then took away the first half eaten order of spicy tuna sushi and told us it wasn't supposed to be for us. It was a strange moment.
Ambiance - ok, but I just didn't like how the first table smelled.
No matter how much I crave the food, I would not go back to this location. |
|
|
| Food: |
|
| Service: |
|
| Value: |
|
| Ambiance: |
|
| Added Mar 4, 2009 by KungFu of Coquitlam (6 Reviews) Good Times!
I've been here quite a few times for lunch & I always come here with my sisters for dinner! I've told all my friends about it! The parking can be a hassle and if you just waltz in with a group on the weekend be prepared to wait, a long time! Reservations highly recommended to avoid a packed line-up!
The lunch menu is SO CHEAP! It's got awesome deals rarely found anywhere around DT (I've been working in DT for many years so I know) and the quality is excellent, same as dinner! For around 10 bucks you can get a 4 course meal! Soup, Salad, Entree (Katsu Curry is DELISH!) and chocolate cake! Then there's the usual bento boxes (but much better quality then the little take-out places) and this 3-item special where you can choose any 3 things for 10 bucks (Sushi, sashimi, bunch of stuff!) If I was basing this review on lunch only the Value would give a 5-star hands down!
Dinner is a bit pricier so it averages out to about a 4-star. Dinner would get a 3-star.
Food is pretty unique, they got some dishes here I've never seen anywhere else like the cheese gyoza, this spicy salmon grill and thinking about taco rice makes my mouth water! The tapa usuals like the ebi mayo and chicken karage are good too! They could do with some new sauces though, seems like their popular cajun mayo is a bit overused in some of the dishes. It helps that I'm obsessed with fresh oysters and they sell a dozen for $14 and they are unbelievably fresh! I can't justify paying at the other places that sell oysters for $3 per piece for the SAME oyster. (Fortes?) The cocktail variety is impressive! They have all these inventive cocktails I've never seen anywhere else and they are truly heavenly! Golden Ball has got my vote for the best cocktail I've ever had anywhere! I drink at least 3 of these every time I go! For $5 something it's pretty good price!
The servers are all very friendly and I'm guessing good eye-candy for the masses. Sometimes it can get super busy and you can see the waitresses get a little flustered with those huge rowdy parties but for the most part they are fast and pretty nice.
Ambiance, just wow. It's practically like a huge lounge in there but runs itself as a restaurant, my dream come true! Their selection of music feels like they stole my iPod and downloaded my iTunes library, they play Pop & R&B earlier in the evening then they slowly change over to hip hop, good club oldies later at night! Perfect! It's dimly lit inside but not too dark that you can't even read the menu! (a certain chophouse comes to mind) The decor is very posh looking with some dark stained wood and high ceilings so you don't feel constricted like the small izakayas.
Whenever my friends don't have any opinions to go anywhere that night I always suggest Ebisu, I've never had a bad time there. Always lots of fun with good food and flowing drinks to pass the night! |
|
|
| Food: |
|
| Service: |
|
| Value: |
|
| Ambiance: |
|
| Added Feb 28, 2009 by foodgoer of Vancouver (1 Reviews) I love Ebisu
I have been to Ebisu several times over the past year and I will continue to back. It's one of my favourite hangouts in downtown to grab some drinks and a bite to eat. My experience with the host has been a friendly one. If it's possible, he will find you a place to sit if you show up on a Saturday night without reservations (that's my own fault for not making any), although you may have to wait. You just have to show some patience. The servers are always courteous and very prompt. The food is very delicious, and not too pricey for the location. I always have fun sharing multiple dishes with my friends while drinking sake and beer. The dark lighting is very comfortable and if you don't mind the noise from the constant chatter, you'll fit in on a Friday or Saturday night. From Sunday to Thursday, expect a calmer and more relaxed mood. |
 |
| Food: |
|
| Service: |
|
| Value: |
|
| Ambiance: |
|
| |
Credit Card Debt?
Search and compare every credit card in Canada and find the best one to suit your needs at Credit Card Search.
| Added Dec 31, 2008 by JooJoo of East Vancouver (63 Reviews) Poor managment, bad food.
This place is busy because its on Robson, they hire rookie unexperienced servers, most of them don't know what they're doing. You ask for something they forget to come back or ignore you even when its not busy, you have to ask 3 times to get what you want. They try to do the Japanese Fusion style but they are horrible at it. The presentation is sloppy. The deep fried dishes are greasy, the sushi rice is too soggy. The raw oysters are ok. I have been here 4 times since they had their grand opening, only the first time was good. The food is overpriced for the poor quality. |
 |
| Food: |
|
| Service: |
|
| Value: |
|
| Ambiance: |
|
| Added Dec 27, 2008 by mister_jacky of Port Moody (12 Reviews) Ignored.
Ive been here a few times for drinks after work with work peeps. Once for food. Very chill spot, nice hip decor, nice tunes (i swear they found a mix cd of mine). Good looking drinks, food is presented well and is tasty. This place had $11? pitchers of beer at one point. what a deal for dt, except i realized they tasted pretty watery. Still I thought what a cool spot.
When I returned with company for drinks and some food, I was seated and then proceeded to be ignored. The other customers who were seated after us were getting service but we werent. We sat for close to 20 minutes before getting up and walking out. Racist or what, it happened another time i came in to give it second shot. Will never go back. And im half asian. guess they couldnt tell, maybe i would have gotten an order in. |
|
|
| Food: |
|
| Service: |
|
| Value: |
|
| Ambiance: |
|
| Added Dec 20, 2008 by zetafix of Vancouver (3 Reviews) Hot destination on a Friday or Saturday night
Make sure you reserve, and make sure you don't take your girlfriend, specially if she's jealous. This place is packed, and happening on the weekend, and the food goes and goes. The servers are friendly, it's almost like it's hooters japanese style, I guess something rubbed off of the old hooters at same location, sans the obnoxious hooters food. The food is pretty good, the sushi is not cheap but nice, and your bill for a night of good gastronomic fun is probably a $100, but it's worth the visit, it's about the experience, after all. |
|
|
| Food: |
|
| Service: |
|
| Value: |
|
| Ambiance: |
|
| Added Dec 8, 2008 by cocoeater of vancouver (187 Reviews) Tapas lounge
Went on a weekend and this place seems to attract large groups celebrating birthdays. Very busy at around 8pm onward and more of a lounge than restaurant. Large drink menu. Food is Japanese but has a bit of fusion in it as well. Tried the raw oyster special at $15/dozen, good deal and very good. Beef sashimi (good), agadashi tofu (good), deep fried prawns (average). Value is average for this type of restaurant. Good place for get together. |
|
|
| Food: |
|
| Service: |
|
| Value: |
|
| Ambiance: |
|
| Added Oct 10, 2008 by noshingallday of Quilchena, Vancouver (24 Reviews) Can't say I hated it.
The food here bores me! it's the same thing being repeated in all the other "hip" sushi joints around town. I mean, it was good, but really, it didn't live up to the hype.
It's a fun place for a huge group and it does have a pretty specific target demographic (if you go in you'll find out for yourself).
Maybe I just didn't feel the 'vibe' of this place. It's not prententious, but it just irks me for some reason. |
|
|
| Food: |
|
| Service: |
|
| Value: |
|
| Ambiance: |
|
| Added Sep 30, 2008 by Bonka of Vancouver (290 Reviews) Great location, great food, great fun
What a great location. The decor is clean and the high ceilings encapsulate you with the surrounding buzz.
I always enjoy the food here. It's consistent, colourful and nicely presented. There's really nothing that leaps out on the menu but there are a lot of menu favourites. It's hard to only pick a few when you're dining for 1, 2, 3 people. There's the Spicy Calamari Tofu, Tiger Mayo, Salmon Sashimi, Cajun Tuna Tacos, the list goes on. The drink selection is large as well. I especially like the Lychee Slush.
I must admit some of their dishes are overpriced and the dishes themselves seem a little pretentious on the plate considering there's nothing that's particularly unique about them.
The service is adequate although at times it's hard to flag down a server. There are always servers passing by our table but sometimes I feel invisible. I've also noticed some of the servers standing around or socialize with other servers or the bartender up front. Also there usually isn't anyone to greet you and bring you to your table. You may end up waiting for a while but I've been lucky and have only waited at most a couple of minutes to be seated. I hear the Manager there is trying to resolve this with his staff so hopefully the improvement in the service will improve.
I've come here at least a dozen times and recommend it to everyone. It's too good a location to offer mediocre service so if they can get that resolved this is a great place to enjoy with others. |
|
|
| Food: |
|
| Service: |
|
| Value: |
|
| Ambiance: |
|
| Added Aug 23, 2008 by ManU33 of Coquitlam (1 Reviews) Delicious
Tonight, I went to EBISU on Robson for dinner!
It is a Japanese fusion restaurant. Yet another one~ XD
The menu prices range from $4ish to $13ish, so it is not very expensive~ Because it is a lounge kind restaurants, there is a range of cocktails, liquor, and wine to choose from!
interior of EBISU
The interor is dark and filled with Japanese paintings. Also, the restaurant put a lot of little western lamps here and there; it is very nice!
lamp~
The food was very nice too! Although the waitress was kind of... not very professional, it is a nice place to dine with friends and have fun!
AMBIANCE: Mild!
FOOD: GREAT!
PRICE: GREAT!
SERVI: OK!
MENU of the night: for 2 ppl
Oyster Blowout: The oysters are place on a big platter over ice. There are 6 different things you can put on your un-seasoned oysters. They are: the regular ponzu (sour spiced soy sauce), a tomato cocktail sauce, a teriyaki kind soy sauce, some grounded carrots, lemon and chopped onions. This was very delicious! The oysters were very fresh and the sauces really complemented the oysters and brings out its fresh taste! THIS IS A MUST ORDER!!!
Prawn Tempura: The prawns were very fresh and the batter was deep fried very nicely. Not oily, and not very heavy! Also, it comes with an asparagus tempura too! XD It was very delicious!
Ika Meshi: This is my favorite dish! Grilled Squid with unagi, ****ake, and sushi rice all rapped together stuffed inside! The squid was grillled perfectly! Not too crunchy that will gonna hurt your teeth, and soft enough to taste the charcoal taste and the juiciness of the squid!!! THIS IS A MUST ORDER!!!
Creme Brulee Cheesecake: This is a baked cheesecake with a creme brulee style topping ontop! It comes with whipped cream, a few petals of strawberries, and caramel drizzles! It overall tastes good. The only bad thing about it is the cake base of the cheesecake was soggy and too sweet... so it makes the whole cake kinda weird... but if you take the cake base off, it is really good! One of the best baked cheesecake I ever tasted! Very creamy, and filled with vanilla bean and very eggy!!! XD
Large Hot Sake: If you order a cold sake, they serve it in a bamboo sake bottom! IT'S REAL BAMBOO!!! SO COOL~ XD If you are legal age, I would totally urge you to order it!! haha~
|
|
|
| Food: |
|
| Service: |
|
| Value: |
|
| Ambiance: |
|
| Added Aug 23, 2008 by babyboy of Vancouver (1 Reviews) Good Memories
I had a good time on last monday night in Ebisu with my girlfriend. I called ahead to book a table and asked some special offers for my birhtday girlfriend on that day. The manager really help me so much to arrange everything on that night. My girlfriend was so surprised when the Cream Bruee cheesecake came to the table. It was playing birhtday song at that moment. Other customers were singing too. She was really happy!
Special thanks to manager Eric, he gave me and my girlfriend a good memory. Good timing on presenting the cake, good service and good arrangement!! |
|
|
| Food: |
|
| Service: |
|
| Value: |
|
| Ambiance: |
|
| Added Aug 17, 2008 by Sammark of Richmond (1 Reviews) wow
i tried to sangria which was great, i tried the yam fries, which was awesome because it was different (as in shape) and the sauce was spicy yet compliemented each other. The samurai roll (with eel on top) was good, meh.. nothign too special, colorful i gotta say. The sasahmi (beef and the seafood) were both above par.
i just want to make a suggestion and see if you can expand and come up with some special sauce. i know this is easier said than done but what Ebisu is lacking is the wow factor in taste. The decor was decent, the color and presentation are just above par but the taste and shocking value weren't there to WOW someone.
|
|
|
| Food: |
|
| Service: |
|
| Value: |
|
| Ambiance: |
|
| Added Aug 16, 2008 by Makulit of Vancouver (11 Reviews) I love Ebisu
I love the ambiance and the food. The service was alright. The items i tried on the menu are chikukwa cheese, agedashi tofu topped with spicy calamari, red ocean sushi. I'm looking forward to going back and trying other thigns on the menu. My only complaint is the price. It's a little bit expensive for the portions that you get. |
|
|
| Food: |
|
| Service: |
|
| Value: |
|
| Ambiance: |
|
| Added Aug 14, 2008 by yaya of Richmond (1 Reviews) Relaxing place
This restaurant is not a high-end one, not high level of service, not high level of food quality, not high level of ambiance!
However, I feel so relax and joyful when I stay inside!
That's what I want to crab some drinks and snacks after work. That's what I want to hang out with my friends with cheap pitcher beer!
Guys, if u want a high end restaurant, this is not the one u like! But, if u want somewhere to chill out....absolutely...this is the right place!!! |
|
|
| Food: |
|
| Service: |
|
| Value: |
|
| Ambiance: |
|
| Added Aug 10, 2008 by KungFu2008 of Burnaby (1 Reviews) Dark Atmosphere!!
We went when it was pretty slow, so it was a good service at that moment!
The food is good because i generally love all japanese food! Especially Salmon Carpaccio, Asari Pasta, Chikuwa Cheese, Tiger Mayo....
The lighting was super dark, i kind of like it though! It felt like sitting in a Batman house..yeah!
I dont know a lot of people don't usually like this restaurant because the food is quite expensive!
The hostess was not really did their job, but all the servers were nice and hotttt!
Price were pretty expensive, but in downtown that's acceptable!!
|
|
|
| Food: |
|
| Service: |
|
| Value: |
|
| Ambiance: |
|
| Added Aug 10, 2008 by canucks11 of Vancouver (1 Reviews) Little bit overpriced
Overall
Having been in various cities in Japan, I can't say the food you find here will be completely authentic; however, I can attest to the fact that the design of different rolls/dishes are unique and creative. I would recommend friends and family to try this place at least once (if not more).
Food
The sizes of the sushi / sashimi here will cater to those who enjoy authentic sushi. (Sorry, Sushi King and Samurai Sushi lovers will be left wanting.) The quality is good, and as mentioned, creative.
Service
During two dinner visits, the service could be said to be attentive and timely. Other tables appeared to be served as well. Due to the layout of the restaurant, it is possible for some tables to be "unseen" or easily forgotten.
|
|
|
| Food: |
|
| Service: |
|
| Value: |
|
| Ambiance: |
|
| Added Aug 7, 2008 by Faster of Richmond (2 Reviews) First time here
First time in Ebisu on Robson, big different in menu and price compare to Ebisu in Richmond. Here has more different choice in appt., main dishes and dessert. Most of the food are so delicious and don't forget their drinks...so many different kind of shooters! This was really a good moment over there in this weekend!
However, when I read those last posts in here. I totally agree that their service need to be modified. Some food and drinks are really too slow coming to my table. I hope they can do it better later.
P.S. they didn't force us to pay for large tips!
Cause we did a wrong calculation on the bill, they just kindly asked us "something wrong on our service or food?" and we said "no, everything is good" No one gave us bad attitude afterward. However, we found out that we calculate wrong! Feel so sorry for them! We will go there again and pay more tips to them!
|
|
|
| Food: |
|
| Service: |
|
| Value: |
|
| Ambiance: |
|
| Added Aug 7, 2008 by joytoeat of Richmond (2 Reviews) Keep Going
Be going there for over 1 year!!! Their food and service are still in good shape! Both managers are nice and helpful! However, one thing need to be improve - SERVICE! I have been there for a while...they keep changing waitresses! Those new waitresses are not as good as those before. They are always talking and standing around...most of them are japanese! Because most of the time those japanese will group together talking in japanese!!!
Also, time for waiting food is really too long...lot longer than before! I hope they can improve these two things! |
|
|
| Food: |
|
| Service: |
|
| Value: |
|
| Ambiance: |
|
| Added Jul 28, 2008 by yumemi of Vancouver (3 Reviews) Racist Cashier Demands Large Tip?!
The meal was alright. The waitresses were okay.
But when we went to pay, the cashier started making racist comments towards my friend. WTH!? Not only did he offend my friends, he then Demanded a large tip from us!!! What a jerk! No one is obligated to pay tip - Tip depends on service. The websites feedback email is bogus too FYI.
We are NEVER going back to such a place. There are much, much better restaurants out there with much, much better service. |
|
|
| Food: |
|
| Service: |
|
| Value: |
|
| Ambiance: |
|
| Added Jul 28, 2008 by MeiMei of Vancouver (1 Reviews) It was fine...till it came to the bill
I've been to many sushi restaurants before, some good some bad but this one took the cake. It was around 6:30 pm, we decided to grab something to eat, nothing too big or too small. We looked at the menu and everything was overpriced for some dishes that were over dressed and others that didn't belong, I mean come on, these were food that I could make at home for the fraction of the price. The food itself was passable, no one has gotten sick from it yet. The waitress were fine; nothing outstanding, just another person waiting on us. Then it came to the bill, we actually went up to get our bill and waited for our friend as he was at the washroom before paying. We were discussing of how to separate the bill properly then this ill-mannered male cashier stated that we HAVE to pay at 10%, that's where it got ugly. He then insulted us by saying, "aren't you Canadian?" That was the final straw, we had an argument and left, I regret not taking the tip back but one thing's for sure, I am never going back to that place ever again. |
|
|
| Food: |
|
| Service: |
|
| Value: |
|
| Ambiance: |
|
| Added Jul 22, 2008 by tastytasty02 of Burnaby (44 Reviews) Great food, delicious drinks!
My friends always have their birthday parties at this restaurant, they are good at accomodating large groups. Food here is really great and creative. Usually order the fresh oysters, samurai roll, and udon. Tried the chicken skewer with cod roe mayo but that was boring and burnt. They have a list of their most popular menu items so choose from that if you need help. Drinks are awesome here and they have some cool combos. I usually order the white sangria (boring) but really delicious with the food. Service is just good...great. I noticed the price of items have gone up by a few $ so the value is only decent for me. Ambiance is cool and hip, a great social spot! Give it a try! |
|
|
| Food: |
|
| Service: |
|
| Value: |
|
| Ambiance: |
|
| Added Jul 13, 2008 by rashpal of Burnaby (2 Reviews) Good Food
Great spot on Robson, tasty dishes which were brought out in reasonable time. The restaurant was pretty busy, however the service was still good. The prices were reasonable as well. Nice touch with the Saki in the bamboo jug and cups.
Can't remember what the dish was called but it was one where the waitress came and "blow torched" it on your table - it was great, highly recommend it! |
|
|
| Food: |
|
| Service: |
|
| Value: |
|
| Ambiance: |
|
| Added Jul 12, 2008 by curmudgeon of Downtown Vancouver (79 Reviews) decent japanese
Went to Ebisu for a going-away luncheon for a work colleague.
I ordered choose-your-own combo, picking the asari soup, garden salad, katsu curry and the strawberry mousse.
The soup was good, the salad was excellent (I loved the combination of asparagus, snow peas, cucumbers and leafy greens, with the sweet miso dressing). The curry was tasty (as japanese curries go) but I found the pork cutlet a tad dry. The strawberry mousse was decent but unremarkable.
The service was prompt but I found the servers a little terse and aloof.
|
|
|
| Food: |
|
| Service: |
|
| Value: |
|
| Ambiance: |
|
| Added Jul 9, 2008 by FLR of Somewhere in New West (2 Reviews) Rude host, mediocre and overpriced food
I heard great reviews from friends for Ebisu on Robson so when we decided to go there on Friday, I was excited.
We requested a table for 9 people and since it was a busy night, we understandably had to wait an hour. Around the time the hour was up we returned and went inside to wait for our table, we had to wait an additional 20-30 minutes and the host reluctantly decided to let us in as the rest of our party was not there. I reassured him, they would arrive shortly. He said well "I don't like to wait", but I will let you in.
We were seated and began looking at the menu, we ordered drinks and as we were settling in, only 10 min's later, the host came over and began ranting, he said "I told you I don't like to wait", you should have waited outside "don't EVER let this happen again", "next time (as if!!!) don't do this again" I said, we waited over an hour for our table and we have already ordered drinks, our friends are parking the car. He reiterated "Next time, don't let this happen again" and stormed off. As he left the rest of our party walked in.
We ordered a variety of items on the menu, I found the food mediocre, nothing special, though, I quite liked the tempura fries. Beer was cheap and the waiters were very helpful and friendly, it was the host who ruined the evening for us. We ended up with 10 people in our party and the bill came up to about $210, the gratuity was included in our bill.
Based on my experience, I will NEVER step foot in that place again, I would rather go where the host knows what customer service is all about.
|
|
|
| Food: |
|
| Service: |
|
| Value: |
|
| Ambiance: |
|
| Added Jul 3, 2008 by nogami of Coquitlam (42 Reviews) The day everything went wrong...
Went to Ebisu on Robson for dinner on Canada day with three people, and it was a bit of a catastrophe... Arrived at about 7pm, seated immediately, restaurant was only about 2/3 full at that point.
Ordered about 2 dishes each, some cold, a few hot. Gomae showed up quickly, followed by the sashimi salad 15 min later. Both orders were very tasty.
Took almost 45 min for my first sushi order to show up (Samurai Power Roll). It was very tasty, but the wait was inexcusable. Cue another 30-45 min wait with no more food appearing. After asking one of the waitresses and another host what happened to the yakisoba and motoyaki we ordered, I finally (20 min later) got a plate... of yakispaghetti instead of yakisoba. I mean come on, it's not like it's difficult to tell the difference between soba noodles and spaghetti (read: spaghetti has bright yellow noodles and the noodles were just boiled in water, not cooked like yakisoba).
Finally decided not to bother waiting anymore for the motoyaki, and we paid up and left. There have been a lot of other good reviews, and the staff did apologise for the delay as we were leaving and said they had computer issues - the "yakisoba" really sealed the deal for me - rather than giving us substitute food, or making us wait on our orders because of kitchen problems, just tell us so we can order something else instead. I really can't see myself going back... |
|
|
| Food: |
|
| Service: |
|
| Value: |
|
| Ambiance: |
|
| Added Jul 2, 2008 by epicurious of Burnaby, BC (523 Reviews) Love the cocktail glasses!
I wouldn't call Ebisu an izakaya, but it is a tapas restaurant.
Three of us went this past weekend and sat on the patio. Table and chairs were fine comfy-wise and the table's lazy susan was unnecessary since it was so small, but cute nonetheless.
They have a huge menu for food and drinks. I love how each drink was pictured and on the side, showed alcohol content. The best was the glass it was served it. Picture the top part of a martini glass nestled in a bowl-shaped (like a fish-bowl) glass filled with ice. Brilliant! Keeps the drink cold!
We ordered a few dishes to share. Overall, dishes were pretty tasty and very reasonably priced. However, I did not enjoy their Oyster motoyaki. The mayo sauce was thick and gummy. Kinda gross actually.
Great place to chill with friends over some drinks and snacks. Pretty good in my opinion. I would be return. |
|
|
| Food: |
|
| Service: |
|
| Value: |
|
| Ambiance: |
|
| Added Apr 9, 2008 by chispita of Vancouver (5 Reviews) Good food, good service, badpaying policy
Came here last night with a group of friends, and had a great time. The ambiance was nice, though the noise level did get a loud at times. Service was good.
Don't be afraid of over ordering since portions are quite small - 2 or 3 dishes per person should do.
Everything was great until we came to pay. The problem was not the price (we came up to $25 per person, tip included) but the fact that we first of all asked for separate bills (which wasn't honored) and we were later told we could not pay with more than 3 credit cards dividing equally. We wanted to speak to the manager but our waitress had promptly disappearing after telling us we could not pay with all our credit cards. This was the sour point of the evening. |
| Added Apr 4, 2008 by FoodKING of Vancouver (5 Reviews) Best 'Chillin' place to go !
I have been to ebisu many of times with my friends and have always had a great time !! The ppv's on the amazing flat-screen tvs with great food ! The service could be a bit better but other then that . its all goooood !
If you're having a b-day party or need a place to chill and have some drinks with some friends. id definently recommend ebisu ! |
| Added Jan 11, 2008 by Diamonds of Vancouver (3 Reviews) 1st time- WOW, afterwards-EHHH
love the environment and everything when I went there the FIRST TIME. Food was great ..everything was great. Became a regular customer ever since then. However, I've heard that the beef tataki is not very good (b/c i don't eat it). The wings, saba sushi--must try! The lychee cocktail is really good too! Will mostly go there again, but once in a while only. |
| Added Jan 10, 2008 by FoodFiend of Downtown, Vancouver (3 Reviews) In Awe
I am honestly befuddled at some of the reviews on this restaurant. How anyone can have anything bad about this establishment is really beyond me. Could be competitors of other Japanese Izakaya-like places or just jealous? I have been dining at ebisu regularly for well over 6 months now. The servers are very nice and the friendliest I've ever experienced at any restaurant. Casual and very comfortable, although not as attentative or experienced as those high end restaurants but Ebisu isn't charging 25 bucks for a Beef Sashimi either to warrant that kind. Definitely not snobby like Hapa. The food is pretty good too. I stick to my regulars, Chicken Karage, mango roll, saba inferno, all delicious, last time I went they had a hot pot special too but didn't get to try it, the server told me they are doing a dine-out type thing too. Only little peeve I had was the fact that they put way too much onion in the Yakiudon, but easily remedied by telling the server you want less, then it's perfect. Atmosphere is very cool, sometimes the place get's a little too packed and loud on the weekends but hey, a good sign if the restaurant is packed eh? |
| Added Jan 6, 2008 by foodforall of West End (21 Reviews) Nothing Special Here
This is a typical Japanese fast food chain style izakaya. There are countless numbers of them in Japan. The food is very mediocre, the ambiance bland, and the service inconsistent. Stick to the dishes they can handle (like gyoza). I prefer something more original and cozy in an izakaya. If it's late, you need a bite to eat, and you find yourself walking past, and you can't walk any further without food, sure. Otherwise, skip it. |
| Added Jan 6, 2008 by bellarosa of vancouver (1 Reviews) new hooters izikaya
new restaurant, same dish. its like a japanese version of hooters. cute young servers with not too much expirience but still ok. food is same as any j-food mall stand except for the cold sake in a bamboo idea that was made popular by hapa. over all, i would go back to chill but will only order the safe standard dishes here. |
| Added Dec 28, 2007 by ChinaMan of Vancouver (12 Reviews) A good place to chill
I frequent this place often, about once per week. The food is not the best compared to the other two izakaya down the street, but it's not bad. The niche for this restaurant is that it provides a relax, chill, and lounge kind of atmosphere for you and your friends to kick-back and relax so you can catch the game. I usually go to this place before heading down to the club with my friends, so it's awesome to grab a light snack and get tipsy on a budget (they have drink specials). To sum it up, if you want a sports bar with comfortable seating, come to Ebisu. If you want uncomfortable cramp seats with good food, head down to guu with garlic. If you want over-priced and overrated food, head down to Hapa. |
| Added Dec 20, 2007 by roofofhouse of Vancouver (9 Reviews) Good place
I've been here soooo many times, both with small groups (3 people), as well as huge groups (25+ people). They always manage to accomodate us. There are lots of staff usually so if you can't find your server, it's not hard to get service. Once in a while, however, there are servers who try too hard to impress with their cleavage. This one girl in particular, wears the most low cut V-neck skimpy shirt and literally bounces through the restaurant. Other than her, the servers are really nice. The decor of the restaurant is really sophisticated and clean. The sashimi salad is really good too but the spicy sauce is just that: spicy. The creamy sauce might sound weird but it is actually really good with the salad. Chicken wings are okay, oversalted at times. Salmon carpaccio is really good too. The asari pasta is yummy. The food is pretty good but the drinks are the main thing. The brown cow... yum. Always get it double, though, it just tastes like chocolate that way. So good. |
| Added Dec 6, 2007 by diningdandy of downtown vancouver (46 Reviews) Good place to get plowed!
Went here for dinner and i noticed it looked like a fun place to get drunk with friends but the food was only decent. My guest had noodle box #1 and he said the rolls that came with the dish were bland he also had a noodle soup and tempura. He said the soup was good but the tempura was "Blah". My meal was a tofu miso with a sashimi salad with spicy sauce and some sort of beef thing with green tea ice cream. It was alright nothing special. Like i said great place to get plowed but blah food. Nice servers and looks really clean. |
| Added Nov 19, 2007 by Ema of Vancouver (9 Reviews) Potential...
Had a pretty nice dinner at Ebisu this evening. Looking a past posts, my comments are similar, this would definitely be a great place to grab some drinks before the club, or while watching a game, not typical for a japanese place. Drinks are cheap, and the atmosphere is nice. The service is not so fast, but the waitresses are pleasant enough. We tried the tuna tacos in crispy wontons, which were quite good, and the prawn gyoza, which was also good. We ordered a strange Kobe beef roll with cream cheese too, not quite like anything I've tried before, but interesting for certain. I'm sure I'll be back as the prices are quite reasonable, and it would be a good place to go with a bigger group. |
| Added Nov 15, 2007 by Trevor of Vancouver (63 Reviews) Wanna-Be's
If you're looking for a place that will provide poor service with mediocre food, then this is the place for you. Ebisu is trying hard to be trendy, yet failing miserably. Yes, they have a nice decor. But their numerous problems can't be ignored.
1) The service is rude - waitresses are snooty... for what reason though, I have no idea since this is no high-end restaurant. The servers are also very slow, and even trying to flag down your server is quite the challenge.
2) The food could definitely be improved upon. They do have some good food (fresh oysters-pretty hard to get these wrong; ebimayo; yam fries), but much of the food was only eaten because we were starving and it took the kitchen forever to cook up our dishes. The stir-fried udon that we had was drowning in this watery creamy-tomatoey sauce and the flavour (or lack thereof) was just plain bad. Sushi was also meh. Completely overpriced food for the quality you get.
3) Although the interior looks nice, the acoustics is horrible. It gets VERY loud inside and you have to speak so loudly that your throat gets sore.
Bottom line: Cheap drinks can reel in customers for the short-term...but in the long run, the rude and indifferent service and below-average food will turn away repeat customers. The Rugby Club is a prime example of this. |
| Added Oct 30, 2007 by nana79 of East Vancouver (2 Reviews) Not the best, but very good!
I don't think this place is 'The Best' as others claim it to be but it's pretty darn close! My favourite japanese joint for a bite is still the little place down the block (towards denman) but in terms of comfort and service I give them a big thumbs up. Super nice servers and a very cozy booth compared to the loud servers and rock hard park benches at the other place, what would you prefer? The cocktail list is very original and delicious to boot! Quality of food was decent, some dishes weren't very impressive but not terrible either, tried their pasta and stone rice bowl which was pretty darn good. Probably will come here back and forth with my old frequent dining spot, pretty hard to pull me away from my regular but ebisu just might do it. |
| Added Oct 8, 2007 by hollywood_gal of Los angeles, CA (5 Reviews) A great spot for to drink
I'm from L.A and a friend from Vancouver was showing me around robson street and we ended up at Ebi su.
We ordered the raw oysters and loved it!! the old bad thing was The beer tasted watered down.
This place is great if you want to be in a loud drinking atmosphere but after 3 pitchers of the watered down beer the noise was tollerable. The waitress kept on hitting on every guy at the table and kept ignoring the girls....
Overall the food was great and I would probably go there again maybe just for dinner before the drunken parties. |
| Added Sep 20, 2007 by KimmyK of Kerrisdale (8 Reviews) Best Birthday Ever!
Had my birthday party here, it was outstanding! We had a big party so we tried almost everything on the menu, like over 20 things and every dish was fabulous! My only complaints were that the NY steak was a bit chewy & wasn't warm enough and the Yakiudon had a very strong herb flavour to it which I didn't like but my partner loved it so I guess it's to each person's preference! The thunder fries (yam fries) were crispy and the dipping sauce was very good! The service was beyond my expectations, they paid very good attention to our group and one thing I most point out is this: My friend told me after dinner that he didn't have enough time (or effort) to get me a personalized cake so he bought a plain generic chocolate cake but the staff offered and asked him for permission to decorate it a bit. It was far from perfect but very kind of them! I was wondering why my name was so crooked but the additions they made to it were very thoughtful and I was delighted! Great service! The place itself was very posh but it was a bit too noisy but how can I complain part of the noise came from us! Awesome find! Note: The reviewer has submitted a more recent review for this restaurant. This review does not affect the overall rating and is displayed for information purposes only. |
| Added Sep 8, 2007 by fishtron of Vancouver West (8 Reviews) Confused servers!
Food was all delicious (especially the Colossal Cheese Skewer and the fusion rolls), beer was cheap ($10 pitchers sunday-thursday), but the servers could not recall who ordered what so lots of food got switched around. They also failed at separating our bills. I suppose they are used to large parties gathering to share drinks and appetisers rather than ordering suppers separately.
Though we never got around to go beyond beer, the drink menu was seriously impressive. Go after supper for drinks and chat a lot: the ambiance is great for that.
--
Review by Fish on behalf of The Last supper, recorded 2007-09-02, posted 2007-09-08 |
| Added Sep 5, 2007 by Monika of West Vancouver (2 Reviews) Cheesecake Heaven!
My sister brought me here to this little hidden gem on the 2ndfloor of robson for the first time, hot place it was packed with people. I gave Ambiance only a 3 because it looked like everyone was having too much fun making it a bit too nosy for my tastes but the atmosphere it great if your more with you friends, dark and nice music!! Serving japanese tapa kinda food, most of it pretty good but i ate better before; i usually don't get dessert but my sister insisted and i'm so glad i did, the cheesecake pie i had was absolutely mindblowing i felt like in heaven!! my sister had the a strawberry crepe and itwas pretty big. My waitress was super nice and always smiling and got us everything we needed promptly! Coming back at least for the dessert and cheap drinks and snacks |
| Added Aug 29, 2007 by DUI of Downtown (3 Reviews) Way beyond my expectations!
My friends told me to come to this place which they said was "the old Hooters" so I was expecting something of the like. Little did I know they completely revamped this place from the tacky white and orange Hooters to a super trendy looking lounge/restaurant! I was immediately impressed by the decor as soon as I walked in, from the bumpin' music to the big wooden sign at the front everything looked in harmony and very hip!
The place looked more like for drinks so my expectations for food weren't that high either, which was a great idea because I was totally blown away by their delicious dishes, the tiger mayo, the oyster motoyaki, thunder fries, deep fried chicken, it was all so good I ordered more even when all my buddies were already full and we had to pack it!
The servers were super friendly and not to mention hot & cute (I think I know why my friends were wanting to come back so desperately now!) The owner/manager guy even came up to chat with us, nice guy! I'm guessing he knows some of my friends since they come quite often. Also after reading some reviews here I need to clarify a fact. I don't know where these people source their stories from but I spoke with the staff and they swear that the operators of this place are authenticly Japanese. It's the same company as Kamei Royale which obviously is Japanese owned. (duh same owner)
DEFINITELY coming back, gonna make this my regular stop from now on and bring friends to party and eat! |
| Added Aug 12, 2007 by LordofFoods of Vancouver (55 Reviews) Decent drinking place that serves Japanese food
went there on a friday nite. there were four of us. got a booth. ordered a couple dozen oysters, black cod, salmon sashimi, dynamite rolls, cali rolls, beef teriyaki, and a bunch appies of other items. there are quite a few drinks and shooter specials. the oysters were good as it came with a bunch of condiments and sauces. the menu consisted of japanese items with a few japanese items with a twist.
overall the food was ok, but no better than your average good japanese food in the city. so i can't justify the higher cost based solely on the food. but the drink specials and location helps to make up for the cost of food. it is chinese owned and operated and the food is a reasonble fascisimile of the real thing.
the servers are young and not bad on the eye. but could use some more experience. thier food and beverage knowledge in particular. So i see myself coming here for drinks or snack with booze. But not just for the food. None of the menu items warrant a second visit. Total $190 for four with drinks and tips. |
| Added Aug 4, 2007 by hbelle of vancouver (18 Reviews) Good food, good location.
If it wasn't for the food, I wouldn't come back. Ambiance is decent, design is poor and doesn't go with the type of cuisine - feels like you're at Milestones. However the food was excellent -- sushi rolls are unique and just as good as its partner Kamei Royale. Service was OK and perhaps a little too casual. We ordered about 7 dishes! and finished it all! again, great food! |
| Added Aug 2, 2007 by mem of east vancouver (20 Reviews) Good restaurant
Dined here with 12 people before fireworks.
Ordered the dozen oysters; delicious, fresh and great condiments included. Sumarai sushi was a bit sweet for my tastebuds (sauce) but very tasty. Good amount of seafood in the sushi and good portions. Shared a pitcher of pale ale beer for $12.00 (tax/tip included). Pint of beer was $3.33 without tax. Good selection of dishes. All diners were very satisfied with their meal and full after eating. I will diner here again. |
| Added Jul 31, 2007 by Anjew of Vancouver (6 Reviews) Not a suitable dinner choice
I can picture Ebisu as a solid lunch and after dinner experience. It does almost feel like an asian sports bar.
The one memorable dish I had was the taco rice which was flavor full and to die for. Of course without being too lazy, I'm sure anyone can prepare this dish at home.
The service was alright and the food wasn't too bad overall. I found it a bit too pricey for what it was.
Their drinks are flavorful and sweet as we had a lychee drink which came highly recommended.
I will probably end up back here at some point... |
| Added Jul 27, 2007 by misosweet of Vancouver (11 Reviews) Lunch at Ebisu
This was my first time coming to Ebisu. The ambience is really nice - I can only imagine what the atmosphere is like at night. Lunch is not bad, although I wish they would offer some tapas along with those bento boxes and boat combos. California rolls are nothing special, almost mediocre. I don't know why but I was almost surprised to see the fake crab filling. I guess I was expecting the real thing. Another thing I noticed was the sizes of avacado. I'm not a big fan of avacado but I thought the size of the avacado was a bit excessive (for the Dynamite roll), considering it took up half of the filling. I liked the Chicken Teriyaki namely because it was unlike all those other Chicken Teriyaki bowls they usually throw a handful of bean sprouts along with a bunch of fatty chicken skins and drown it in sauce. I liked that the bowl had cabbage, some seaweed, and mushrooms. I thought it gave a much better flavour. Service was all right. You can't really complain when you were pretty much the only one dining in the restaurant at lunch. The waitresses probably could have checked in once after our food arrived. They pretty much leave you alone after you get your food, and we had to tag them down to get the bill. I have yet to return for dinner, but judging from past reviews, I may have to wait until the service gets better. |
| Added Jul 18, 2007 by Natsuiro of Vancouver (3 Reviews) Great!
I've been here a few times and I think I've tried almost everything on the menu that's not sushi and the only thing I didn't like was the yakitori. Everything else was pretty good.
I love this place because of the cheap beer and oysters! I also really like the ika meshi. They even put small bits of unagi inside.
The service is pretty good but the ambiance is so so. I like being able to watch tv but that kinda takes away from the experience.
|
| Added Jul 6, 2007 by Atarius of Burnaby (10 Reviews) A Great Find!
Me and my friend decided to go one Thursday night. The service was excellent! The hostesses and our servers were all very polite and efficient. We ordered yaki soba and california rolls (we were snacking) and we thoroughly enjoyed and finished everything!
I loved the ambiance of the restaurant; it's very modern and you get a great view overlooking Robson street. It's also got an intimate atmosphere, so I suppose it would make a good "date" restaurant.
I highly recommend Ebisu to everyone and I will surely return! |
| Added Jun 9, 2007 by dish245 of Vancouver (3 Reviews) Sangria and Oysters? I'm in!
Some girls and I came here for some drinks after a friend had told us about the cheap jugs. Must have raised their prices, but didn't matter, we ordered sangria instead. Delicious! Also feasted on cheap oysters (12 for $13) which were fantastic (but you can't really screw up fresh raw oysters), we will definitely will go back. |
| Added May 14, 2007 by hamsup of Vancouver (14 Reviews) Improvement from last time !
Went there again this weekend and thought I would write up another review. After looking at everyone's post, i must admit alot of the issues have been fixed now. The service has gotten much better. The drinks are still coming a bit slow but I believe its due to a few odd customers who stand at the bar demanding drinks !!! Its a bit annoying when you are eating at the bar and a buzzed customer is demanding shots... wait your turn !!!!
Besides that.. there is now PATIO SEATING for you to overlook robson street ! The chairs outside are comfortable.. and one section of the patio is quite secluded.. great for a party of 6-8 people this summer..
|
| Added Apr 22, 2007 by forgamez of Vancouver (15 Reviews) It is more a sports bar than a restaurant
I was there at the exactly same time as the poster below (Right at 5:00pm to catch the Canucks game). In regards to the service, I would agree it was a little lacking for the first hour. Took 15 mins from the time we sat down before "I" had to flag someone down for attention. The bar was only 15% full at the time. And after we ordered, it took another 15-20 mins to get us our drinks, which again "I" had to remind them of.
Actually, I noticed that the kitchen is really slow at getting items out. I ordered oysters (raw), chicken wings, nachos, tacos. Each took 20mins each. (I remember I ordered nachos at the 1st intermission, didn't get it till 3:33 left in the 2nd period). The bar was at max 75% capacity, and the items I ordered are not that complicated.
In terms of food, it was average. The menu looks exactly the same as R^2 in Richmond (which I have left a review for). So i avoided the izakaya + sushi type dishes.
The oysters were decently fresh. Nachos were your standard nachos. The wings were standard too. And the Tuna tacos were slight above average (I would get those again).
The one good thing is drinks here are cheap. So I would recommend this place to get drinks for sure.
Ambiance and decor could have been so much more. Excellent location and space, but the interior design justs lacks any coherent style. It looks too generic. Ebisu is kinda of going for the izakaya style, but falls short because of the food. It will never be what Hapa Izakaya is in terms of a restaurant if it stays this way.
If you are looking to get drinks or want to go to a sports bar but want Japanese food, go to Ebisu. Don't come here for just the food.
PS. Please hook up your LCD screens so you can see the games in High Def. I know the Canucks game I watched yesterday on CBC was in HD, and your tv were not displaying in HD. The picture quality was awful. If you want to be a sports bar, you need to fix this easily fixable problem immediately. |
| Added Apr 17, 2007 by pompey of Vancouver (38 Reviews) Nice hangout
I think this place will have a lot of potential, especially in the summer. The ambiance was very nice, TV screens, bamboo trees, overall a very pleasant atmosphere. The food was solid, I'd have to come back here a few more times to get a good taste of it. Definitely will go back. Beer and drinks are very reasonable!
|
| Added Apr 15, 2007 by hungry_guy of Vancouver (16 Reviews) Easy on the eyes...
A few of my friends really like coming here for cheap beer & Canucks games. I finally went to the place on a Friday night & it was packed. When I first walked in I thought I was at the wrong place because it felt more like a club than a restaurant. The bar area was packed with people milling about with shooters and drinks in hand. I have to say that the set up & decor is very nice. There was definitely A LOT of eye candy around (workers and patrons alike). It was like an Asian Cactus Club! Most of the waitresses were in black dresses/skirts.
As it was just a get-together for a few drinks, we really didn't eat too much. I was told that the beef sashimi was really good though. I think they raised their prices on beer (used to be $9.99/jug, now $12.99) but it is still a decent deal. The "fresh" oysters at $1.00 a piece is a good deal too. We ordered the Nachos just so we could say we had "Mexican Nachos" at a Japanese restaurant! LOL
In any event, the menu looked pretty extensive and I would definitely want to give some of the items a try. I just hope that the raising of prices is not a trend here.
We had a very wobbly table as well...resulted in a few spilled drinks but otherwise a minor annoyance. |
| Added Mar 4, 2007 by iluvjapfood of vancouver (5 Reviews) not worth your dinner money!
This was my first time heading to Ebisu (Friday night). I had heard a lot of good thing about it. I came here for dinner with my bf and order only 5 dishes. We orderd the unagi roll, the sizes are NOT worth the price, 7.85 or something for 5 pieces. The presentation of the rolls were not worth it at all. I don't know if it was that night or the chef who was making the roll, but for the price of those roll, I expected more. Their "Ebi Mayo" Tiger Prawns, seemed like SHRIMP size! I've had tiger prawns "ebi mayo" at other Jap tapa places and these were not even close to par with them. The scallop over the flaming pot dish was not worth it. There were 4 pieces of scallop on top of a big shell cooking over a fire stove. The pieces were way too small. The chicken karaage was too salty and the mayo SAUCE that came with the chicken and tiger prawns ebi mayo were exactly the same and they had NO taste at all. These were typical dishes we tried, and they weren't even that great.
Food wise, I was totally disappointed and wouldn't go back for dinner unless I had to. The food is NOT comparable to Guu or Shiru-bay, espcially for the prices.
Overall, the ambience was nice, more of a lounge / drinking place (place to watch the game) with snacks, than a place to have a decent japanese tapas dinner. It seemed like more drinks/beer were served than food. I bet the prices are hiked to cover the cheap drinks. The food seemed to be "chinese" style rather an authetic japanese. Our table was slanted and wobbly. I say, you should try it once and decide for yourself.
|
| Added Feb 24, 2007 by bman65 of Downtown, Vancouver (1 Reviews) Whats with the service??
This restaurant had been recommended to me by a colleague so I had high expectations. Boy was I disappointed! I do have to say that the food was exceptional but the crappy service majorly ruined the night!
When you go to a new restaurant with 10 people you would expect that the service would maybe be a 'little'challenged but these guys were poor. We got 2 bills for things we didnt order and bills that had exactly the same items on them had different totals! And they include a gratuity on the bill! Sorry but you have to EARN a tip! After waiting 2 HOURS for someone to even come and take an order a tip isout of the question!
The quality of food though was quite exceptional and it might drag me back there in the future, maybe with a smaller crowd though as a larger one is out of their capabilities!
|
| Added Feb 15, 2007 by David Lee of Richmond, Vancouver (26 Reviews) New Hot Spot on Robson!
After the old Hooters location was vacant for quite a while I was surprised to see somebody has taken over this location. The same company that runs Kamei Royale and Kamakura (it's shown on the business card) has decided to totally revamp this place into a very modernized izakaya style restaurant lounge outfitted with Plasma TV's, huge projection screen, great music and a vibrant energetic atmosphere! Very comfortable with a great window view of Robson and high spacious ceilings as well.
I had fairly high expectations considering it's the same people that run Kamakura and they are known for excellent food. I was definitely not disappointed. Everything was fresh and tasty, from the oysters, sashimi, thunder yam fries to the rack of lamb, oh the rack of lamb, it was so tender and juicy .. makes me drool just thinking about it now! They definitely need more BBQ items to compliment the cheap beer & sake they sell. (only $9.99 a pitcher?!)
I was there on Saturday night and it was completely packed! I had to lineup for almost 25 minutes so I'll be sure to make reservations next time, but the wait was worth it. Quite Surprising since me nor any of my friends have heard of this place prior to this. I'm guessing the staff didn't expect it to be that busy as well as I felt they were understaffed that night but they still did a great job attending to us, our beers were left empty for a bit longer than I would have liked but I'm sure they will improve on that little tidbit since they are pretty new still.
All in all this is a great new welcome addition to the Robson strip and I'm sure they will become a big hit in the near future. I'm already sold and will be back a lot more often! |
| Added Feb 11, 2007 by billie_j of vancouver (4 Reviews) Cheap eats but could be more
I've been to Ebisu several times since it opened. The menu has a lot of great deals on drinks and cheap tapas and while they seem to have streamlined their menu since opening, it is not on par with Hapa and Guu's inventiveness and creativity. Many of the dishes are tasty though - their teriyaki steak is one of the most tender and flavourful we've ever had, the seafood and sashimi satsify and they have a chocolate mousse cake that is heavenly. Service is seriously lacking - drinks take longer than the food, table maintenance is abysmal, and we even had to get up to ask for our bill on a quiet night. A restaurant offering a wine list which ranges from $30 - 100+ a bottle needs to train their staff on wine service etiquette (ex. topping up guests' glasses). The restaurant itself looks fantastic - dark lighting and booths, funky music and great energy. Beware on hockey nights - they play the game on every screen and blast the volume; a very sports bar-like atmosphere. We were there during one game and we looked around the relatively empty restaurant - no one seemed to be paying attention to the game but it was so loud that you almost had to yell to hear eachother talk. There are so many izakayas in town and many Vancouverites have high expectations on food and service which with some work and effort they could achieve. They just need to decide who and what they want to be and run with it; they could be so much more than just a "cheap place to eat". |
| Added Feb 4, 2007 by xlee8 of Delta (112 Reviews) Are You A Sports Bar?
Food: instead of trying the tapas i went for the set menu. $25 for crab salad, steak w/ teriyaki sauce, dessert. the crab salad was good...i was expecting artificial crab but it was real soft shelled crab. steak was cooked perfectly (they even sliced it into bite size pieces!). the presentation was terrific. by the time i got to dessert, i was already pretty full. it was some sort of chocolate mouse cake or something...
Service: when we arrived through the doors, the hostess thought we were w/ some girls in front of us so left us standing there. we had to flag down someone else to seat us. the waitresses were very nice for the most part...but there must have been some sort of miscommunication somewhere b/c we were asked if we wanted our dessert 2X and then had to follow up another 2X!!
Ambiance: kind of hard to describe what kind of statement this place is trying to make. it's not quite a hapa izakaya or guu feel, not quite fine dining, not a full sports bar...i cant make up my mind!
Overall: i dont think i'd come back for dinner, but maybe for drinks to watch a game (there is a big screen TV). a pint is only ~$3.33 and wings ~$7.77. |
| Added Jan 29, 2007 by hamsup of Vancouver (14 Reviews) missing a signature dish !
I've dined at Ebisu approx 10 times since grand opening. And each time I've had a blast. The sushi rolls are original, presented nicely, and of course delicious. The chicken karage and nachos are always a great hit for shared plates over a few pitchers of beers. Yup that's right there are nachos on the menu. the food is unique and unlike most izakaya type restaurants.
Things I wish would happen...
- more yakitori type dishes. The chicken yakitori is great there but i wished there were a few other types available
- A signature dish, b/c you're menu is so large, it'd be great to have a signature dish that showsoff the chef's skill =)
- Weekly/Monthly specials based on seasonal ingredients
- Patio Furniture with umbrellas =) though I know this is in the works
- A smaller menu, a fine tuned menu with perhaps less items.. less is more... less is more.. (charming ultra commercial)
Overall, the ambience is hip, food is delicious, and the staff all ahve smiles on theirs faces =)
I'd come back again.. maybe this Thursday... and um. Saturday.. lol !
|
| Added Jan 15, 2007 by foodfanatic of South Vancouver (295 Reviews) Looks fancier than it tastes.
Nice plating. Lots to offer on the menu. Some items didn't seem very "Japanese" especially the pumpkin/squash soup. It tasted pretty boring tho thick & rich as well--it seemed a little out of place. Now I'm curious about the burger offerings--will it be a hint of Japan or just a taste of... well... burger. The mentaiko yakiudon, quite large in portion, is also several dollars more than other d/t izakaya places that offer similar. It's also too heavy--possibly too much butter or mayo used. The tuna taco is pretty & textually nice but was boring in taste. The unachee looks better than it tastes (a lightly battered deep fried sushi roll). The smoked black cod's good but u can't go too wrong w/ the smoky flavour, it was a definite hit, but not by much. The deep fried softshell crab was just ok. The deep fried sweet potato fries (Thunder Fries) are nicely crisped & a bit better than the ones they make at Kamakura Kamei on Broadway (owned by the same ppl). But for the most part, I think the cooked food actually tastes better at Kamakura.
Also, if they're still passing around shooter-sized free trials of their lychee slush drink, I'd suggest u hold off ordering the full order of it otherwise, they'd just skip sharing some w/ u while u see everyone else w/ it, all u get is a shrug & giggle that "it's the same thing you have". Which is fine, just makes one feel a little left out of the party--in this case the "treat". I wouldn't have minded having a little "sample" sized portion as well, easier to shoot one down than to suck all of the lychee goodness out of the thin straw anyway.
Service is pleasant & efficient for the most part.
Love the space, seating, decor, location. Great for larger & smaller parties. I would definitely be returning more often than not for the location & atmosphere while you don't get the loud greetings upon entrance & departure like u do from the Japanese-run ones, you also don't get the long waits & the crowds for the time being. |
| Added Jan 14, 2007 by foodock of Vancouver (13 Reviews) Japanese Fusion Needs a Little More Direction
After walking by it a few times and hearing about it on a couple of websites, we decided to stop by to avoid the traffic mess outside.
We were seated quite promptly and were placed on a kind of smallish table for three. It was a half semi-circle which when dealing with tapas got quite crowded quickly.
We ordered in two flights. The first batch of orders included a dozen oysters with a cocktail sauce, ponzu sauce and balsamic sauce. It was okay and the sauces didn’t seem to add much to it. A little tobasco might have helped. Next up were the thunder fries, which were tempura style sweet potato sticks. It was served with a creamy Cajun dipping sauce. It created quite a bite and was actually tasty. The next to follow was the Lemon Pepper Tuna. The tuna was fresh tasting and the flavor was good but not overly outstanding. Then came the Sashimi. There were pieces of Salmon and Tuna and I believe some Red Snapper. It was fresh tasting and for once I had Snapper that didn't have that overpowering fishy taste.
They also a chicken ceasar salad with basil in the dressing. It had a different taste to it, but it seems to be a little bland. It needed to have some pepper added to it.
Overall, it was okay but not outstanding. I think its worth another try to try some of the other menu items. |
| Added Jan 6, 2007 by daisuke of Richmond (9 Reviews) tasty
Pretty decent food and view for a place that now occupies the old Hooters space. Interesting food mix as it's Japanese meets western meets Mexican in a way. They have natchos japanese style as well as burgers.
The tuna dishes were pretty good but I loved the chikuwa dish as well as the steak. The service was very good considering all the drunken yahoos that must have been celebratiing a birthday or a wedding.
I'd like to give it another go and add to the review. |
|
|
