Guu serves homestyle Japanese food in a loud and electric atmostphere. Food is served from an open kitchen and the dishes are generally tapa sized.
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Reviews
Added Jul 26, 2009 by reilax3 of Vancouver (7 Reviews) very disappointing.
i understand the whole Japanese ambiance thing.. but blasting music while you shout? It was also SOO DARK i couldn't even see what i was eating. Overall, i thought the food was tasteless and bland, really no bang for my buck. The "tea" was horrible. Probably 95% water and COLD. Disappointing.
The chairs were also wobbly, i couldn't even eat without feeling i was going to fall. |
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| Added Apr 16, 2009 by doule of vancouver (1 Reviews) Gone Waaaaay Downhill
I usually never write reviews.
I first went to Guu more than 10 years ago in 1997 when I lived in Vancouver. I had lived in Japan before for 4 yrs so I am fond of these type of food. Back then Guu was named "Raku" and the food was great!
Since then, I left Vancouver but went to GUU on Thurlow whenever I come visit Vancouver.
I don't know since when...maybe 5 years ago?
The food is terrible!!!! What happened?
Today was the 2nd lunch I had in 2009.
Karaage-don, there is no chicken meat, just more jelly than meat!
It used to be whole chicken ball, now they slice the ball into 1/2.
Rice is half the portion. Even the curry rice looks like instant curry.
Granted, that was $7 menu.
But the Asian couple next to me didn't look so impressed with their pricier lunch boxes either. Not to mention you can see the piled dishes when you stand near the register to pay the bill.
I understand if they serve high quality food in low quantity due to rise
in cost...but this is low quality + low portion.
For the Canadian folks out there, do not think this is the real "Japanese way" to serve food. This quality would go out of business in Tokyo, seriously nobody would eat this. I lived in Japan for 6 years total and speak Japanese.
If you can spend little bit more, go to Zakkushi on Roboson and Denman where they haved skewered meat.
I wasn't impressed with their dinner either.
This place has opened 3 other stores and got its success.
So mad, I had to write this review...should've gone to Mc Donald for lunch. |
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| Added Mar 25, 2009 by kewpiebaby of Vancouver (119 Reviews) Guu IS Addictive
I LOVE this place! It's always so much fun!! Every single time we come here, we are exhilarated, curious and ravenous! First off, the menu is extremely unique and delicious, added along with the warm inviting atmosphere, you can't help but go back for more. From when you enter, sit down, eat, and leave, the chefs and the waitresses holler in Japanese at each other - it's hilarious. I can catch snippets of "Welcome", "If you please", "Table 4, 5, 7,8" , "Thank you very much", "No problem" with my small knowledge of Japanese. It's great! It's a noisy and cozy place but I don't mind it at all because it's all a part of the fantastic hip and happening ambiance of Guu. We often get seated at the bar, where we see the chefs in action. Our favorite scene is the engorged flame of the wok and the chef's handy flip work without dropping anything out of it, WOW! We've tried several dishes in our past 3 visits, but here's few worth mentioning: Japanese Pickled Rice, Grilled Chicken Wings, Sweet Potato Croquette, Grilled Beef Tongue and Deep-fried Prawns. The Rice is filling and yummy, the wings are tangy and spicy, the sweet potato croquette melts in your mouth and leaves a warm tingly feeling, the beef tongue is delicious and the prawns huge and mouthwatering!! Our favorite so far is EVERYTHING!! We found that around 5 or 6 of their tapa style dishes are pretty good for 2 people, but every time I see an order go out from the bar, I'm always curious what it is and want to order it even though I'm full from my own dishes! The food usually comes fast so no worries if the wait to get into the restaurant is around 15-20 minutes even on a Tuesday evening at 9:30pm! We've tried to go around 5:30 or 7pm before and it's always the same wait, but once you get in, you'll be addicted for sure!! =) |
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| Added Mar 7, 2009 by VcrFoodie of Coal Habour (11 Reviews) A fun place to eat with friends
I'm not really a big fan of small plates or tapas - I don't like going home hungry after tasting 5 or 6 dishes - but the food here is very good and the more people you are with the more you get to try different things. I've been to this place 3 times and my top favourite is the kimichi udon - it's mild, with what I think might be some sort of subtle fish sauce. I could eat three of these plates on my own. The deep fried chicken breast (karage) is crisp but not greasy and the haave some awesome fish dishes. The place is noisy but that's part of the charm. |
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| Added Feb 28, 2009 by peppe of Burnaby (23 Reviews) Long time regulars
We've been regulars for years at this location. This place gets busier every time.
Food was great, we always have the assorted Oden (broth with assortment of Japanese fish cakes, eggs, radish). Recently, they had Ahi Tuna on the special menu and I have to say it's better than some of the mainstream restaurants. It's cooked just right. The best part was, it was $8 (other restaurants charge more than $20 for the same portion).
If you don't want to wait, go right at 5:30pm when they're open for dinner. |
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| Added Jan 23, 2009 by JCLG of North Vancouver (8 Reviews) Original, delicous, and fun: a true Japanese experience
Sushi bars are so North American. Welcome to the heart of downtown Tokyo (or Osaka or any other major Japanese city)! Here is a chain of very unique Japanese-style "tapas bars," aka. "izakaya." If you're looking for traditional sushi fare, you won't find it here. Prepare for an experience if it's your first time!
Immediately upon entering the somewhat small - yet eternally packed - place, you're loudly greeted by the staff, in Japanese (side note: there was one Caucasian girl who spoke perfect Japanese, which I thought was awesome). Take a seat; the bar is "where it's at," they claim, but if you're with people, tables are also available.
As I previously mentioned, the food is tapas-like; thus, you order a 3-4 small dishes priced anywhere between $5-$8. About half the fare is served raw "sashimi" or "carpaccio" style, though they also have a selection of cooked dishes one would fine at an izakaya in Japan (wiki it). One of my favourites is the seared Ahi tuna steak, but since the fish is slightly endangered, I don't get it often. I would replace it with the seared salmon sashimi with garlic ponzu sauce, which is equally amazing.
What's unique about the food here is that some of the dishes are a combination of European and Japanese cuisine. An odd - yet tasty - dish is their "pumpkin croquette ball" which consists of a hard boiled egg wrapped in pumpkin and deep-fried, drizzled with "original sauce". My friend, who normally hates eggs, loves this particular dish.
My suggestion: check out their menus for a better idea of what they offer. The selection is too diverse to do justice in this review!
I personally love the atmosphere of the place, though it can grate on people's nerves if they don't like loud noises. It pretty much consists of the staff calling out orders to each other loudly (in Japanese, of course). I find it to be both exhilarating and hilarious, but this probably isn't the best place for a *quiet* romantic date (but it's definitely date-worthy). |
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| Added Dec 7, 2008 by alpha_dog of richmond (61 Reviews) not your typical japanese place
if you want cali rolls or bc rolls, this place does not serve them but that doesnt mean its a bad thing either.
wanted to try something "different" so we came here when it opens at 5:30pm and we arrived a little earlier than that. surprisely, there was already a line up to get in and fortunately for us, we were one of the last couples to get through the door.
the menu is basically all tapa-based so my gf and i ordered a wide variety of dishes and with all honesty, everything tasted great.. their food is packed with flavor, i can see why people enjoy eating here so much!
our waitress was sweet but forgetful, she didnt remember to fill up our waters when we asked and didnt bring our bill when we wanted it but the fact that she was very polite made it easy to overlook those things..
the atmosphere is very loud, everyone is talking and not to mention how everytime a customer leaves, the staff perform some cheer in japanese... kinda entertaining at first but its overdone after 10 or so people leave the store.
no real complaints here, would certainly love to dine here again but i would wanna try the other Guu restaurants and see how this place compares with the others |
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| Added Nov 17, 2008 by blahing of Vancouver (8 Reviews) Amazing food
The food is delicious and arrives quickly. It is all presented nicely. One drawback for the food is some items are too salty. I would say their presentation of the food is really outstanding.
We had the really salty eel gratin which was on the special menu. But I guess with drinks it would be alright. Some of the items seemed to be better value than others. But overall, it is a bit pricey to go as a regular dining option. Without drinks for 3 people, dinner was about $70 with tax and tip.
This is a place to enjoy with friends and visiting guests. It was a really unique experience. |
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| Added Nov 7, 2008 by papercut11 of vancouver (12 Reviews) Great Izakaya
We loved it. An authentic Japanese Izakaya.
The other reviews were right about the noise. But this was fun and part of the atmosphere.
The food was great. We sat at the bar and watched them make everything.
The servers were nice and worked hard.
We were lucky and didn't have any lines to deal with.
The only bad things I could say, is I could have eaten more, as the dishes are small. It's not expensive, but it's not cheap either.
We enjoyed ourselves. |
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| Added Sep 28, 2008 by 99north of Squamish (15 Reviews) Great Guu !
Well..after having been to Guu with Garlic we decided to give the Guu orginal a try!
It's as great as the other 3 locations,,,food is solid,,,,service is great for such a busy place and just as LOUD as the other locations ! LOL!
We were so looking forward to the EEL but its wasn't available that day :(
Oh well that just means another trip back to Guu,,,
The menu is different at all of the locations and I would say my fav is Guu with Garlic........I think they do that on purpose so you have to go to all 4 to enjoy your Fav dishes!
Anyway a short review here, we al know how good these places are......GO , Try them all,,,you'll love em!
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| Added Sep 14, 2008 by toffee_bear of Burnaby, Vancouver (5 Reviews) Yummy Yummy Yum-Yum!
Want to try something different? Go to Guu's! They don't really have sushi, but their fusion menu is just absolutely incredible! I can never remember what I ate there b/c I always order diff. things each time I go.... This is the kind of place where you cannot remember the dishes' names (because the talented chefs create their own dishes where you will not find in other typical Jap restaurants) but you will definitely remember the great experience!! |
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| Added Sep 6, 2008 by alvinlin123 of Vancouver (2 Reviews) Wow!
I loved this place, very much! Been there 3 times, and every time I leave with a happy face. Their food are just great! I loved the Daikon, and the baked duck breast. Beef sashimi and eel rice are also great. The atmosphere are very exciting and lively, but sometimes servers would yell beside my ear and scared me for a moment. That place always have a long line up, however you can usually get seated within 30 minute or so, but it was always worth it. It's a must go place for me whenever I have out of town friends visiting! |
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| Added Aug 5, 2008 by chinlatino of Vancvouver (14 Reviews) Guuuuuud, Very Guud Indeed
This is my second time at Guu, the first time we went was the Robson location near Denman Street. This time we went to the Thurlow location.
They don’t accept reservations for 2 people so go earlier. We waited 10 minutes and we were asked if we would sit in a shared table; we agreed.
The place was very small although the bar seated more people than the location in Robson. It was very noisy too. Our server did a pretty good job, even though the place was jam packed.
We ordered 7 dishes:
Chopped Fresh Tuna Sashimi and green onion, it was more minced tuna and came with some seaweed so you can roll it yourself. The flavour was very pleasant and not fishy at all; the green onion added the punch that wasabi adds to sushi.
Fresh Beef Sashimi Calpaccio, the beef was not entirely raw. It was actually quickly seared on both sides, thinly sliced and place on the plate like rose petals. The combination of the sauces and the beef made it a well balance dish.
Fresh local Seafood Sashimi Calpaccio, the seafood was very fresh although I wouldn’t order it next time. This one was a not a good value at all. For the money I could order 6 pieces of salmon sashimi.
Grilled Black Cod with Miso Mayo, the black cod was cooked to perfection and the miso mayo was the perfect companion.
Grilled Beef Tongue with Salt & Pepper, the tongue was perfect, very tender and not chewy at all. This is one my favourite dishes. But somehow the Robson location had much better flavour.
Kimchi Fried Rice, as a Chinese-Latino, I had my shared experiences in the art of eating fried rice, and I tell you it was really good. It came with ham bits and it was not too spicy at all.
And from the special menu of the day, we had the Deep Fried Pork Stomach, the pork pieces came inserted in skewers and it tasted like one of the best Chinese Roasted Pig.
Overall, both places exceed my expectations and no doubt I will come again and try the other delicacies in the menu.
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| Added Jul 9, 2008 by cindyliu of richmond (5 Reviews) AWESOME
The food is very authentis japanese food. I tried many dishes including the pumpkin croquette, beef sashimi, salman sashimi, oden, pork belly, takoyaki and many more. All were incredible especially the beef sashimi with its home-made sauce. I have there to Guu for lunch and dinner, both time are very packed, but the longest i have waited was 30 minutes, not that bad since the place is pretty small.
The lunchtime menu is limited but very filling esp the donburi (rice bowls). I tried the chicken karaage bowl and it was scrumptious!!
The ambiance is rather noisy but i really enjoy it. Servers are very friendly and attentive but there was this one girl server who forget an order but it wasn't a big deal. Overall, the experiences there were fantastic! |
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| Added Jul 5, 2008 by yummitummi of Vancouver (46 Reviews) yum!!
I brought some out-of-town friends here for a quick meal on Canada Day and we were all quite impressed. The food was tasty and nicely presented. We were very happy with the marinated eggplant and the calimari. The oden was also very tasty and adding additional items into it wasn't expensive at all.
During ordering the waitress yelled out a few of the items to thek kitchen. I could take or leave that aspect but it's all part of the ambiance. Service was friendly and fast.
We spent about $10 a person (not super stuffed, but comfortable feeling). If you're really hungry then you could potentially break the bank eating here to stuff yourself silly but I suggest saving some room for a dessert crepe down the street to finish off a great meal.
Affordable and tasty - I like! |
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| Added Jun 25, 2008 by eatwhere of vancouver (6 Reviews) Guu is Good Goo
If you've never been, you need to make you're way there. The menu hasn't changed much over the dozen times I've gone but it's great for what it has.
They always seem busy. Try right at opening. They take reservations too. Nice fusion food and seems to be a good value for the money and out of the ordinary. Not much Sashima, at least at Guu Garlic, but then I'm not a sashimi fan. |
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| Added Jun 10, 2008 by blaw of Vancouver (15 Reviews) Very cozy japanese isakaya place
This is always a very crowded restaurant and they wont take reservation unless you are going after 10pm. So you have to be patient to wait outside, which normally will take at least half an hour. All the servers are so nice. Food is good but not too many options thou. Not recommend for big party ^.^
The bacon asparagus roll and panfried bacon mushroom roll are so good. But the best part is the fried udon! Dont miss it. We didnt order any drink and the bill surprised us as it is only $24 per person that we are so full without any space left for dessert. And there is still full of people waiting when we left at 10pm. |
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| Added May 7, 2008 by bling of Vancouver (8 Reviews) Yummy but loud and stuffy!
Food: The tapa sized dishes are great for me and the food is fresh and good. Their beer is actually great too and I usually don't enjoy drinking beer!
Service: The waitresses and waiters are very attentive. They yell their orders to the cooks and the cooks yell back in Japanese. I think that is what makes this dining experience extraordinary.
Ambiance: Very, very small restaurant that doesn't seem to have any windows open for fresh air.
*** The restaurant is busy during the evenings through night time. I recommend this restaurant to everyone wanting to try something new. |
| Added Mar 31, 2008 by doodlebug of vancouver (43 Reviews) VERY attentive servers...
and lots of 'em! Felt like they were hovering around us, took away our dishes before we were done. Food was mostly good. You have to know what to order. The assorted carpaccio was GOOD! The prawns and calamari were very good! The pumpkin croquette was good in a weird kinda way. Wouldn't order it again. The steamed mussels were quite bland, the cabbage roll tasted like it was stuffed with SPAM and the pickled veggies in rice wasn't good. The rice was hard and crunchy (stale crunchy). Loved the atmosphere. It's loud, fun and everyone around you is having a good time. |
| Added Feb 15, 2008 by criacow of Mt. Pleasant, Vancouver (19 Reviews) Fun times, okay food
The ambiance of this place is amazing. It feels a lot like the sort of places you'd find in Tokyo; loud, happening, exciting. You're greeted at the door, everything's good, the chefs will comment on your food choices and help you find other ones.
I came here with a friend one day after work, and we tried a bunch of different menu items. I wasn't super-impressed by anything; it was all pretty good, but nothing fantastic. Same for the drinks we tried.
But the service is friendly, the ambiance is excellent, and I'd totally go back. |
| Added Jan 25, 2008 by feebs of Yaletown (4 Reviews) Guu-licious
I come here regularly and it never fails to disappoint. As for previous posts, you should not come here expecting only sushi and sashimi. It is a Japanese Izakaya place. They even have a menu outside so you can see what they serve before you go in!!
I love all Guus, but this one is the one i come to the most. For ambience, it is a small, slightly crowded restaurant and as some have said it can be a bit loud. But i find it entertaining.
Service: can be a bit better. Sometimes, the girls sort of forget about you. Last time, it took a while to get some tea. But normally it is good. I tend to wait about 10-15 minutes.
Now i don't typically come for the service or the ambience. It is the FOOD that is amazing. I always get the beef sashimi, so o good. The mustard and other sauces they add complement it very well. I also like the Eel&mushroom rice dish, pumpkin corquette, Seafood pancake (Thats the only way i can describe it), stri-fried udon, the fried prawns. I love it all!
One problem is that typically when i go with guys, they never seem to be full... so guys may need to eat more filling items or order more food, but this means you have to spend mroe money. Typically for 2, i can usually spend about $30-35. I highly recommend this place to everyone! |
| Added Jan 4, 2008 by lamy of Vancouver (3 Reviews) So-So place for lunch
Nothing special for lunch. I agree with one of the earlier reviewers - it's more like a neighborhood restaurant and definitely not worth a long drive. The lunch menu selection was very limited - no sushi or sashimi. I had a pork cutlet curry (the curry was good, but the pork was very dry and tough); my sister had a grilled chicken rice bento box (this was the better of the three dishes) and my sister's friend had a bbq beef with a layer of cheese on top (I didn't try it but it didn't look appetizing) and our lunch meals came with either salad or miso soup. The salad was fresh though. All in all, this is a very average restaurant. If it didn't make sushi/sashimi for lunch, I would expect it to make good cooked dishes given the raving reviews it have received... So, I don't think I'll be returning to this restaurant. The experience might be better for dinner since its website suggests a wider selection of food, but think I'll try other restaurants instead. |
| Added Dec 29, 2007 by lovesong of richmond, vancouver (2 Reviews) Guu awesome.
Despite the fact that we had to wait 15 mins even with reservations, my friends and I were pretty pleased with the food. The cooked salmon was great and lots of different sashimi. Its quite affordable indeed. Everytime the employees would yell welcoming or saying good bye, I guess its pretty warm but then it cuts out the romantic part. Anyhow, good food, good restaurant. Defintely worth a try and I'll be back. |
| Added Nov 19, 2007 by bedlum of GTA, Ontario (1 Reviews) Guu Is Good!
Visited Vancouver for a week and heard that Guu would be a good place. Found it to be crowded for a weeknight but that means it must be good. After a short wait, we had a seat at the bar.
Lots of fun and exitement from servers and cooks. It was cool to watch the cooks make the dishes. Constant yelling from staff which adds to the ambiance.
Had some great dishes like the ling cod, grilled squid, smoked eel and fried smelts with a couple of Japanese beers.
Will go back on my next return visit. |
| Added Oct 17, 2007 by candysweet of Burnaby (4 Reviews) Guu... is guuuuuuuuuud
Guu is guuud. There's no denying it. It is reasonably priced compared to the other tapas places like Hapa or Kingyo. Food is as good as other izakaya places, but a little more affordable.
I would highly recommend the Grilled Black Cod with mayo miso sauce. (It is better than the one at Kingyo.) I also love their seared salmon in garlic n ponzu sauce, and the kimchi fried rice. Overall, their food is very tasty, cooked just the way it should be cooked. Only thing is, if you've a big appetite, maybe eat a little before you go because the portions are jst enough for 3 to 4 ppl to sample the dish.
Ambience is awesome. I love how they greet every customer that comes and goes. Very Japanese. Some people may find the staff to be a tad too loud, but I personally think that it feels very warm, friendly and welcoming.
Have been to Guu several times, and am definitely going back again, even if i have to wait in line for 40 mins (which i usually do ><) |
| Added Oct 6, 2007 by burvan of Burnaby (30 Reviews) Great energy - fun time
When we normally walk by this location and it is always full with a lineup. last night we were lucky and there were 2 seats at the counter and we had a great time watching 4 chefs turn out dish after dish . the service was quick and efficient and lots of noise as orders and greetings are all in Japanese and really adds to the uptempo nature of the room . As to the food we started with the Spot Prawn Sashimi which was nicely presented and very fresh and delicious . Next up Mussels in garlic which had a wonderful broth and the mussels were generous and large ( also very fresh) The 3rd shared dish were grilled beef short rib that had been marinated in a delightful teriyaki sauce . We finished with Japanese fried Udon noodles . With 2 large Asahi beers the bill cam to $48.00 which is terrific value for both the quality of the food but also for the fun entertainment the young enthusiastic staff brings to the operation .We will be back |
| Added Sep 22, 2007 by boobun of overseas (5 Reviews) love the food.. but it's too loud...
I can barely hear what my friend was saying, it's probably because we are sitting at the bar. Once customers enter/ leave the restaurant, all the staff would start yelling. It was quite interesting in the beginning, but for an hour or so, I just can't stand the noise. It seems like the staff didn't care if they were standing right next to you, they'll still yell.
Food wise, it's great! I love their salmon sashimi with the fried shrimp chips (great taste with smooth and fresh salmon), beef tongue (it's quite interesting, tender yet chewy - must try!!) and the pumpkin corquette (cheap thrill!!). |
| Added Sep 4, 2007 by azn_msfyt of Delta (174 Reviews) Never fails to disappoint
Food: everything was really quite tasty. The panfried noodles were interesting, chicken/spinach/bacon salad was quite good and a lot larger than I thought it would be and the deep fried calamari and shrimp was my favorite out of all of the dishes we ordered. If we hadn't been in a hurry and if it wasn't already so late, it would have been nice to try a few more dishes.
Service: an order was forgotten and servers seemed a little flustered. Overall, not so bad as the chefs and servers seemed quite friendly. 25 minute wait on a Saturday night at 9:30... kind of ridiculous but it's Guu so understandable at the same time.
Ambiance: I like the dim lighting and intimate atmosphere but I would prefer to have a little more elbow room but all of the Guu's (except maybe the Aberdeen location) seem to be quite cosy in that respect. A little loud but I think we like it that way - more entertaining.
Would def. return if I can stand to wait a while for a table. Wouldn't mind trying some of the other dishes as well. |
| Added Aug 24, 2007 by pachowhi of Vancouver (13 Reviews) Great place for food and drinks
I've heard lots about Guu since moving back to Vancouver last year and I finally tried it on the weekend. The one on Thurlow is open late and has your typical Vancouver izakaya groove and fare, which my partner and I LOVE. It's lots of fun, a great place to have a few drinks and order lots of different items (think tapas size) with your friends or as a couple.
The atmosphere, like other Izakaya's, is very social. This is a hang-out spot. And the food is fresh, fun, and tasty.
I found good to be a pretty relaxed, funky and down-to-earth sort of place with very reasonable prices and good food. Service was good - not great - but definately solid.
Guu is a happening spot and I would definately go back. |
| Added Jul 6, 2007 by Atarius of Burnaby (10 Reviews) A Breath of Fresh Air
Guu isn't like any other Japanese restaurants I've been to yet. It's more modern, young and fresh. They're more of a tapas/appies place. I loved how our servers would yell our orders out loud and then some chef off by the bar would echo it back to show that the order's been taken. I thought that was very amusing.
It's a pretty snug restaurant, I think the capacity's about thirty people if they're packed together like sardines. They have tasty food and good presentation. Plus, the servers are friendly and polite. I love the ambiance of the place, it's a cool hang out, although it can get quite busy and they don't take reservations. I highly recommend Guu to all! |
| Added May 28, 2007 by curmudgeon of Downtown Vancouver (79 Reviews) Oh, I'm glad I came here for lunch
I've been looking for a good casual place for delicious food at a reasonable price, and this looks to be one of them.
After hearing so much about Guu and it's related restaurants, I met a friend for lunch at the Thurlow location, and I wasn't disappointed.
I ordered the pork cutlet curry. Being a fan of indian, thai and malaysian curries, I figured I'd given japanese curry a try. While much milder than those of other cuisines, it was still very tasty. The pork cutlet was perfectly prepared.
Its a little bit loud in there, so not a place for an intimate dining. |
| Added May 16, 2007 by LordofFoods of Vancouver (55 Reviews) One of the Original Izakaya's
With so many Izakaya's opening up now all over the city, both Japanese and Koreans, I decided to try an old fav haunt. I remember the first time I tried the(i think) quall egg, wrapped in sweet potato, battered and deep fried. It was unique. That was many years ago now.
Guu's still solidly satnding with many actual Japanese frequenting the place. It is debatable which Guu is better. I have noticed that they precook alot of the items. Not happy to see precooked grilled items that get warmed up before serving. A big no-no for me.
Still as well frequented with similar experince to before. Good place to meet a couple of friends and share some sake and japanese tapa's. Recommend you try so you can compare to Hapa, Kingyo etc...etc . |
| Added Apr 25, 2007 by PromQueen of Kitsilano (21 Reviews) Definitely Not My Thing
Don't laugh, but I admit this is my first visit into an Izakaya type restaurant. And maybe its just not my thing, it was so loud, and awkard. It felt like we were behind the scenes with the staff yelling orders at each other from right at our table.
The food wasnt that enjoyable. I think I prefer the standard sushi places to this. Our chicken was ver oily, dripping with oil-really!
It may be a while before I try another Izakaya type restaurant, based on my first experience, I dont know if it is this one, or the style all together that I do not like.
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| Added Mar 24, 2007 by wooky of vancouver, vancouver (11 Reviews) wish i could say better
i'm a huge fan of japanese izakaya and have been dying to try Guu after all the rave reviews on the net and through friends. my friend lined up for 15 min before getting a table (seems this place is super busy regardless what day of the week you go) and we got seated by the entrance, which seems to be the loudest and most chaotic part of the restaurant, as this is where the all the calls, greetings, and goodbyes are hollered. I love the loud and hip ambiance as you would find at Hapa or Zakkushi, but this place is a little too much. Really, the server who hollers out individual orders as you're ordering, is really unnecessary. Granted i know this is part of the ambiance, it just got really irritating after the first couple times. Also, what was up with the tea? it was COLD. even the 2nd and 3rd refills were lukewarm at best. my friend decided to drink a little water from her sports bottle and was promptly told she couldn't do that here.. err, alright, wahtever. service the rest of the night was very inattentive, had to flag down 3 or 4 different servers. The food was decent but gotta say none of the dishes were very memorable. The chicken karaage was so greasy that oil dripped all over the place as I bit into it. And several pieces were still raw inside. the bacon-wrapped aspargus skewer was probably the best tasting dish i had, but for 4.95 is not comparable to the $1.80 yakitori's at zakkushi. overall maybe i was just expecting a little too much but i do not want to give up yet, i will definitely go back and/or try their other locations. |
| Added Feb 1, 2007 by lovely of vancouver (1 Reviews) YUMMY!!!
Guu, is reasonably priced for very yummy and different style of japanese food that we are accustomed to. It's a great place in gastown to relax have drinks with your friends and have really great food for cheap. I really like the japanese pancakes, the chicken karrage, and the spinach salad. And, yes they don't speak perfect english, but really are you going to complain? it's part of the ambience :) |
| Added Jan 28, 2007 by LADYEATSGOOD of Lower Mainland (15 Reviews) Guu is pretty good!
Went here with some friends on a Saturday night. Get here quickly, it fills up pretty fast. Fairly quick service, pretty solid food. I recommend the Japanese style calamari, beef tongue and pork cheek. Only issue, dessert was slow to arrive. Fairly awesome place to go, and loud. Recommended. |
| Added Jan 5, 2007 by Trevor of Vancouver (63 Reviews) Gotta go to Guu
This place really is as good as the other reviewers say. I went with a friend recently and we had a ton of food! It all tasted very good. Despite forgetting one of our orders, service was still good- friendly, polite, and prompt. Great atmosphere- quite noisy, but the loud greetings and people yelling out orders actually make it a fun place to be in. Definitely will be back. |
| Added Dec 26, 2006 by foodingworth of West End, Vancouver (5 Reviews) Very Guud
Happened upon Guu on a reccommendation from friends. It was all that it was promised to to be. I had okonomiyaki, fried calamari, beef yaki udon and sake. Intimate but casual enough to be comfortable at all times! Would suggest to anyone looking for a break from the seemingly thousands of Western Japanese restaurants as this seemed to me as Japanese as I've found in this city. |
| Added Dec 8, 2006 by fussyeater of Vancouver (10 Reviews) stay away from BBQ beef
have only tried the BBQ beef here, which I cannot recommend. The cuts weren't the best, and I found the sauce too salty. Servers were very polite, though. Service was on the slow side, perhaps because it was the height of the lunch rush.
Will have to come back to try the other menu items. |
| Added Nov 25, 2006 by serendipityfood of Downtown (19 Reviews) Good food but kinda dirty
Went with a couple of friends and the place was busy. After hearing good things about the place, we decided to wait.
Once we got seated, we ordered and the food came pretty quickly. Service was decent. Food is very good - different from all the regular sushi restaurants.
But I wish it was cleaner.
The table was sticky and the washrooms smelly. Maybe they were busy and didn't have time to clean the washrooms. I don't know about you but a dirty washroom will make all the good food in my stomach turn!
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| Added Nov 18, 2006 by mixed90 of Vancouver (21 Reviews) Best Japanese Tapas in Vancouver!
I am a huge fan of Guu on Robson. I love everything about it from the authentic Japanese servers yelling the order to the sushi bar to the tiny sized restaurant with hewn picnic benches seated close together. The food is reasonably priced with garlic chips generously sprinkled over everything. My favorite dishes would have to be the Octopus and batter balls and Yaki Udon noodles. The Beef Sashimi has gone down a little bit because the slices are too thick therefore become much more chewy. Great place that is as authentic as it gets. |
| Added Nov 6, 2006 by pkwok of Shaughnessy, Vancouver (80 Reviews) Absolutely delicious
What a fun place, and what delicious food! After going to Japanese restaurant after Japanese restaurant, all serving the same kind of food, it was a most pleasant surprise to find this place that serves a "different" kind of Japanese food, but most delicious nonetheless. No need to repeat all the comments already posted by other reviewers. Just go there and try it for yourself! |
| Added Oct 15, 2006 by gir of vancouver (7 Reviews) the best japanese tapas place!
I've been coming here with friends for a while now and it's one of our favorite places!
Food: Pretty good. Since the entrees are tapas size, it's always a sharing experience. There have been times when we've ordered the mackarel or some kind of fish and it's been undercooked. Otherwise the other stuff on the menu have been quite amazing.
Service: Prompt. And everyone in the staff always have to shout out greetings and the menu.
Ambiance: You have to get here when it's not so busy, otherwise seating arrangements can be hard if you're with 2 other people or more. It can be cramped.
Overall: I always come out with a full tummy and a smiling face. |
| Added Sep 19, 2006 by lowawa of Kitsilano, Vancouver (14 Reviews) Share the food
Guu is all about sharing the food. Most of the dishes comes in small porportions around (4-6) pieces which allows everyone to get a little. My favorite dishes are the croquettes and the fish chin (i forgot the name, but it is located on the menu's right column middle section). Never forget to check out the special menu! Best way to go is to pair the food with japanese beer! The overall service is attentive and polite but the degree depends on their busyness. Ambiance is great, noisy, energetic. Great place to hang out with friends. |
| Added Sep 11, 2006 by DaGasMan of Vancouver (18 Reviews) tasty....
Good atmosphere for the type of food they serve...the yelling of the waitresses makes for a nice authentic japanese feel. Food was pretty good. The chicken karaage was slightly oily but quite tasty, and some of the pieces are boneless...the raw oysters were delicious, but they weren't perfectly shucked (there was bits of shell when eating). The japanese pasta was really good; nice chewy noodle with kimchi sauce. Great place to hang out, have a drink, get some munchies...the waitresses are cute too |
| Added Jul 19, 2006 by aaunheim of Vancouver (13 Reviews) I guess I'll be the first to disagree...
Went to Guu last night to check it out, since we usually go to Hapa or Gyoza King. I guess there is a reason for that. We got seated promptly and the waitress took our drink order. We then noticed that our table was dirty from teh people before us. Our drinks arrived and we ordered food.
The "fresh salted squid" which apparantly means raw squid in its own liver, not too tasty; we had the roasted duck breast, which we expected to be warm, but instead was chilled and definitely dried out. It seemed to have been around for a while. We had the pickled rice, which was fine, but nothing compared to the rice at Hapa or G.K. Then came the ebi mayo with calimari. Again, overcooked, dried out, and too crunchy. Hoping for something more exciting we tried the Ling Cod, which was the only saving grace of the night. It was cooked perfectly and was nice and hot, and the sauce was delicious.
We ordered another round of drinks somewhere in there, and only one of them showed up, and we also had to ask twice for water. The time that we were there was not that busy, the bar was full but most of the tables were empty, so there was no real excuse for this. All in all I was quite disappointed with this experience, and would not return. Check out the other izakaya style restaurants before you go here. |
| Added Jul 14, 2006 by moussy of Vancouver (60 Reviews) It's All Guu....!
Went with a friend.....welcomed by many....overwhelming sound!
The ambience is very very noisy, so brace yourself! If you don't like noise, then it's not the place for you. I sat in the bars too, and my bag had to be on the seat, so it was a bit crowded and uncomfortable.
The food is very good. Had a bunch of food....the pumpkin croquette ball, the beef tongue, sweet shrimp sashimi and chicken karaage. ALL delicious! I can't pick a favourite! Then had some Oden and shark fin daikon salad. The cassis drinks are AWESOME! Definitely try the Aloe Vera cassis cocktail. The white sangria was alright, but the cassis blew me away. You can't taste the alcohol at all!
Definitely trying out the other 2 guus and coming back :) |
| Added May 22, 2006 by epicurian of Kerrisdale (43 Reviews) the original izakaya
The izakaya here is tried & true. Very yummy. There is a good variety of items to order and the items dont have a tendency to repeat itself. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed the kimchi fried rice, yakiudon, beef tongue, beef short ribs. This is a great place to go with a few friends to sit, chat, eat & share a couple of pitchers of beer. Don't be frightened when the servers start yelling your order out while they are taking your order! |
| Added Mar 19, 2006 by foodi of Burnaby, BC (12 Reviews) Awesome Izakaya, casual dining experience
Guu menu consist of small dishes that are diverse and unique. Each can hold its own well, and are relatively cheap, but the value of a dish can depend a lot on personal preference. Over all, the food offers above average menu.
The ambience is fun and casual with a lot of yelling from servers and chefs. Izakaya is a Japanese version of cheap pub food, and it shows as most dishes work very well with beer and sake.
It's a place where the food is of restaurant quality, but there's no need for dress up and there's no akwardness dining alone. That's one of my favourite thing as I like to try out new restaurants alone.
The service can be slow. The servers are not good at English, and are not familiar with the concept of serving automatically. It's because the type of restaurant I suppose, so just yell out for a server when you need something. It's fun.
I've been there three times, and will probably try every dish in the menu soon. |
| Added Jan 17, 2006 by kwailan of Coquitlam (78 Reviews) Great Food
I went with a friend and we had Chopped Salmon Sashimi topped with a raw quail egg, raw beef, grilled snow crab legs and stewed beef tendons. Other than the beef which was a tad tough, the rest of the food were all very very good.
We ordered tea but was told they were brewing and that it will take a while. After 3 dishes were served, the tea was still not served. It was served almost immediately after I order a beer. Perhaps a coincidence, but you get the feeling they want you to order a paying drink.
Overall, good food. Will definitely return. |
| Added Nov 13, 2005 by kaikit of Langley (4 Reviews) Guu - What a deal !!
My wife and I arrived around 7 o'clock and the restaurant was packed. We managed to get 2 seats at the sushi bar. We ordered 4 plates (seared Ahi Tuna, Jellyfish, Tako and Tuna, and the seared eggplant.) and a large sake. Food was decorated exquisitely and was absolutely YUM ! The best of all our bill was $31.00 including the tip. A great deal in town for food, but arrive early. |
| Added Nov 1, 2005 by rabbit of West End (3 Reviews) Best "Izakaya" in town
Guu is a kind of tavern which is called “Izakaya” in Japanese. This style of eating is usually reasonably priced and frequented by students in Japan, as such, its popularity is restricted to that same age group and you won't find a business crowd going there to impress their clients. Here however, we have no preconceived notions like that in place and the “Izakaya” tavern presents itself as a new and exciting venue to relax and enjoy but even after the novelty wears off, Guu is without a doubt, the best “Izakaya” in town. Don't go if you are looking for california rolls and tempura. Instead, peruse the menu and pick anything and everything that looks weird like the hardboiled egg wrapped in pumpkin meat, deep fried and served with special house sauce. You just can't lose by going to Guu! |
| Added Sep 26, 2005 by madddskillz of Burnaby (58 Reviews) Great food and service
Went here with a party of 4 today, ordered around 10 dishes, and in total the bill came out to only 55 including taxes!
Was really impressed with the food. My favorite dish was the Yukke of salmon, a salmon tartar with shrimp chips! Good stuff!
Service is great, only had to look up for a couple of seconds to get a waitress' attention. Food also came very quickly.
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| Added Sep 15, 2005 by sgtoca of Kitsilano, Vancouver (85 Reviews) An apres work place
its Japanese tapas style here and they do it so well. great drink features, loud and fun service and quaint well prepared dishes make it such a delight. I patronised this place on a regular basis and it never failed to impress. not a romantic place nor a good business place to meet but rather a place for friends and family to get together, dine, drink and be merry. Stellar dishes include chicken karrage, okonomiyaki, fried calimair, beef yaki udon amongst many others. |
| Added Aug 26, 2005 by foodfanatic of South Vancouver (295 Reviews) My favourite Japanese tapas location!
Although it seems the staff previous to the current were more skillful in the setting of the flavours, it's still delicious. Just not AS perfect as it was before. Do they rotate the kitchen staff and the waitresses between their 3 locations? Or maybe just a changeover in staff... I liked the previous bunch that seemed to have been there forever. However, it's still good; inexpensive and yet very tasty. You can eat a lot of variety and still not be gorged come time to pay the bill. This is their best location! The gastown one is more fancy in menu and display, but only comes 2nd to this one. I'd have to say the Guu with Garlic on Robson comes 3rd. |
| Added Aug 1, 2005 by foodguru of Vancouver (4 Reviews) Guu is GOOD!!!
I've been there countless times... and it gets better and better. I went there last week after shopping... 2 people - 11 dishes plus 4 drinks and the total came to $80 including tip. We ate a lot tho... but you can have a good variety for around $20. Each dish costs around $5, and some of my faves are... tuna tataki, bonito sashimi, pumpkin croquette, beef sashimi, raw oysters, cooked fish with spinach sauce (sooo good), etc. I love their drinks too.. theyre around $4.5. Try the Pineapple Soho, Ume Cooler, & Cassis. The waitress was such a sweetie and although the restaurant isnt decorated with much effort, the noisy loud street-like ambiance is excellent! |
| Added Jan 7, 2005 by GuyGlorious of Burnaby (10 Reviews) A JAPANESE Japanese Restaurant
If the ambience you're looking for is that of a "real" Japanese Izakaya then this is the place to go. Furthermore, it's one of the few Japanese restaurants in Vancouver that is actually staffed by Japanese people. The food is good and fairly priced and the staff is more than attentive. |
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