Food:
The food is hit and miss. It really depends what you order. I would stay away from the Tuna Maki and the Salmon Maki. It's mainly just rice and you can barely see the fish. The Salmon Belly nigiri, on the other hand, is amazing.

Service:
Outstanding service. It seems like a family business. I like how they give you complimentary Pocky at the end of your meal. It's a nice touch! The restaurant is Japanese owned and operated.

Value:
The value is in line with other restaurants in Kitsilano.

Ambiance:
I think this is more of a takeout place. The ambiance is really just average. Not a place to impress, but not dingy either - it's clean.

This has become my come to place to satisfy sushi cravings.

If simplicity is a virtue in restaurant biz these days, then Hitoe would set the standard. Without the ostentatious furnishings and ornaments that cluttered and distracted diners, the restaurant was neat and clean. The sushi were presented in similar tone.

I ordered my favorites and what I usually use as a basic comparison to assess the quality of the sushi when I dine at a new place: miso soup, Avocado Roll and Yam Roll.

The miso soup was outstanding. Vancouver's other 240+ sushi restaurant have duped us into believing that miso soup was just salty, brown with seaweed. Just after one spoonful- you'll taste the difference in Hitoe's miso soup. The combination of different broths yielded layers of flavors that told a traditional way of brewing miso. It was definitely an experience to meet a Japanese Chef who honored his career and cooked whole-heartedly.

The avocado roll and yam roll arrived pleasantly arranged on a wooden platform. While the rolls were amongst the most solid and tasty rolls, it was the "way" it was presented that slowed you down in order for you to savor it. I did not wolf down my few, but delicious servings as I would other rice blobs in a plastic container. I enjoyed the bite, texture, and flavor of each piece.

The owner/head chef was quite a gracious host as well. We received complimentary edamame and pokie sticks. The dinner was worth more than what we paid for. All in all, good feng-shui breezed through the restaurant, and I felt good and healthy eating there.