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Toshi Sushi is a popular sushi house off Main Street ran by proprietors Toshiyuki Saito and Tomoko Saito. Get there early as there usually is a line up out the door.
Hello there,
I have heard about this place for years but only got to go there last wednesday with a buddy of mine. With a little bit of preparation....I got there at 4:45pm and I was the 4th person in line....I can only remember crazy lines up if only you were going to Stepho's or Anton's. So far so good.
At 5pm..doors opened. Ambiance...well small and a little bit tight but overall...nice place. We got seated and the waiter asked what did we wanted to drink...we said tea ( fought out at the back of the menu...it wasn't free...75 cents each... cash cow!!!). Several minutes later...we proceed to order..prices are quite inexpensive...I got one tempura appy, one california roll, one B.C. roll and several pieces of nigiri sushi. My buddy who's been here before...got the maguro tomazuke, chicken donburi and several pieces of nigiri sushi as well. My appy arrived soon after...hot and tasted light but a tad greasy...which was a bit disappointing. My disappointment would soon disappear as my sushi dropped in...Wow!! Rice was perfect...just the right amount of rice vinegar and water. Quality of the fish was definitely high quality!! As we finished...notice the line up just got longer and longer. My verdict...come early and enjoy some of the better tasting japanese joints around town....Highly recommended...will definitely be back.
While I don't like to encourage more people to make this gem even more crowded I have to admit the secret's been out for a while. This is my family's (wife and teen daughter) favorite restaurant and has been for several years.
I have been a sushi and Japanese food lover for 3 decades or more. I am not a snob about it and I don't obsess like some of the reviewers over at Tojo's. (One reviewer suggested that if you didn't know the history or couldn't tell which coast the food came from you were the equivalent of an AYCE heretic.) But I digress.
Toshi was a successful restaurateur in Whistler but found the pace too daunting in a big bustling restaurant. So he opened his little hobby--sized spot at 16th and Main. Before long he was coping with line--ups every night. And with good reason. The food.
We have never had a bad meal there or even a bad choice within. The fish is always fresh, tasty and the perfect texture. His specials are awesome---our current favorites being the soft--shelled crab in a light crispy batter and the best spicy agedashi tofu we've ever had. A few other recs: the house roll, just try it, the black cod in miso sauce, velvety heaven, the mango/salmon roll, their own creation (I believe); I could go on but am getting hungry and they're not open now.
A brief word about the service. The staff may seem less than warm--hearted at times but they are in fact. They're just very busy in a tight space. We've become quite friendly with most of them over the years.
Final word. Do I like to line up? Nope. But I don't mind that much. We know how to work it so that we never wait too long although once we waited an hour. But we've never, ever said "that wasn't worth it."
The food here is terrific
There is a reason why people line up for it (other than sheepish conformism)
The quality is that of a high end place but for regular prices
The servers are grown up, professional, hardcore, and serious.
The place has a good vibe minus the massive lines
its totally worth going but it probably won't become your go-to sushi joint because the lines are long.
The 1st time here about 2 yrs ago was a pretty avg experience w/ the cooked food being tasty while the sushi was pretty much standard. The toro's fatty & our table of 5 ordered 10 but later were mistakenly billed for 100 pcs (almost didn't notice just thought that the prices weren't all that cheap). Of course, that was easily resolved as it's a ridiculously obvious mistake on their part. Temp. for some of the fish served seemed a bit warmer than the melt-in-your-mouth experience called for, but I dismissed that as it being the harsh Arctic wind chill outside & the packed rm inside.
Recently, gave them another shot. A ~40 min wait when we foolishly thought hitting them a bit past 5pm would snare us a spot. The sushi pcs were skillfully packed so it doesn't come falling apart, incl. the uni pcs (tho somehow, the 1st pc tasted fine, while the 2nd had a hint of sewage). Admittedly cheap w/ the turnover they can afford fresh ingredients but the quality of the fish was just still so-so. Really fatty toro like overstuffed farmed fish, was almost sickening to eat because it was served so warm it was slimy. The saba somehow came out extra fatty as well while I'm not sure if it's b/c it was cut closer to the belly. The "spicy garlic beef" is not at all spicy but it has a hint of garlic but was very very dry. Not worth the price tag on that. Surprisingly expensive, imo, for the cut of beef & the way it's served relative to the cost of their fish items. The ika karage was interestingly served as fried squid sticks. The old fryer oils made it taste of those packaged Asian dried cuttlefish. Nabeyaki Udon broth was quite disappointing. The "baked" black cod was like drinking oil (possibly undercooked so natural oils didn't get a chance to seep out a bit). Too greasy to swallow, we left that to be tossed after a bite each.
Inexpensive sush but not worth the wait & doesn't quite deserve the hype. For 2, a little over $70 pretip, post tax, no drinks except tea.
So I had heard a lot about this place, and seen the lines, but never felt the need to stand in them myself... on Friday a friend wanted to go there, so we did. There was a wait, but once we were seated the food was delicious and plentiful -- and very inexpensive! Our service was brusk but acceptable, they forgot a few dishes and we had to re-order, but it was okay. I will definitely go here again.
The dining gods must been smiling down on us tonight since we snagged premium parking out front and waited only 10 minutes for our seats on a Saturday evening. We've been frequenting Toshi et. company since 2004 and have trained ourselves to get used to the long wait times. Surprisingly, during our meal, there was never really a throng of people at the door so that initially concerned us as we haven't been there in a few months. Did something happen to the food quality?? Rest assured, Toshi San and his regular staff are still there and the quality of food has not faltered. With only 38 seats and normally 6 servers on staff, the service is usually very attentive and highly effective. They turn these tables as quickly as Hon's. Food is prepared instantaneously and served to you piping hot. Tea quickly refilled and getting a hold of anyone is never problem since a server is within 10 feet from you. One minor observation is the militant control of the waitlist- all guests have to be present when called or next group on the list gets your table. Our new favourite dish is the boxed sushi (salmon,scallop, avocado) - it's not on the menu so you have to ask for it. Very glad to see that after 6 years of popularity, Toshi has kept up his reputation for great food at reasonable prices. Now only if the laundromat next door closes down so that he could expand.....that would be wishful thinking!
It's been said over and over again to expect a line up. On a weekday, the line ups are around 20-30 min so not that bad. Tried the salmon and tuna sushi and it's very good. House roll and scallop roll were above average. The cooked foods such as the agadeshi tofu, sable fish were above average. Service was fast and efficient but don't come here for the ambiance as there isn't any. It's just a small Japanese run restaurant that gives you great food for a good price.
Food here is pretty standard, not very unique or anything. Place is small and there are always long waits. I really wasn't expecting much, despite all the hype, and after waiting in line and looking at the menu, I wasn't impressed.
But the place really is very good. After a while of eating poor/average quality japanese food, you get conditioned to expect it a certain way, but when you receive the same food prepared right, with quality ingredients, it's just so good!
It definitely wasn't very expensive either. It's you haven't tried it, give it a shot. Altho.. I was there during the nucks game, 8:30, on a thursday, when the streets were empty, and still had to wait 20 minutes..
For the past year I have been going to Toshi's once a week, sometimes twice. I have never been disappointed with my choices. The staff is very friendly and always remember me and my favourite dishes. The spicy agedashi tofu is amazing...and the house roll is a must. Be ready to wait for a table...and try to keep your group small. The larger the group the longer the wait for you and the other guests waiting to dine. The food is definitely above average...and the price is very affordable
I love this place even I dont like the line up. The sushi is just perfect. Not so much rice and the rice was soft exactly how its supposed to be.The avocado was perfect ripe and fresh. I tried their eggplant too but it was ok to my taste because I felt it was a bit oily. But they do have very good sushi. Service is good and efficient.
Toshi's doesn't take reservations and is only open from 5 to 10PM, we had to wait for around 45 minutes to get a seat on a Thursday. In my opinion, it was worth the wait.
We were seated at a small table for 2 people and could barely squeeze between our table and the one next to us. Things could have been worse however, we could have been sharing tables with strangers. The restaurant can be noisy and the service is curt, so if those things are very important to you, you're probably at the wrong place. Try paying an extra $10-$20 at one of the more expensive sushi joints in the city.
The food itself is excellent and justifies the frequent line-ups that form outside this restaurant. We ordered a sashimi bowl, a tofu dish, and several of their rolls, including their chef's special that night. All of it was delicious, especially the sashimi. Good salmon is easy to come by in Vancouver, but good tuna is not. The tuna at Toshi's is excellent and on par with what I tried in Japan (though Japan is cheaper believe it or not). If you don't know what to order, look at what other people are eating and pick what interests you (it's so tightly packed so you should be able to get a good look at the people seated next to you).
Having been to many sushi restaurants around Vancouver, I would say Toshi has some of the best sushi at its price; around $20 a person if you don't order drinks. The waits are long and the tables are cramped, but it is what it is.
Went to Toshi's on feb 13th for the first time and again last weekend (due to an intense craving!). The place is small and we had to wait both times for quite some time to be seated but did no in anyway affect our night. The food was great in my opinion. The veggie gyozas were something different and really tasty. The tempura was great and the various rolls/nigiris we ordered were solid. On both occasions we were seated at the bar. This was okay, not so private or intimate for a dinner date but the food was good :) Never had a problem with service. Always attentive, quick, nice and willing to offer suggestions. Overall, no big complaints. It is what it is! Will definitely be back!
I had a craving for sushi yesterday and decided to roll by Toshi's and try and get in. I have tried a couple times in the past, there has always been at least a half an hour wait and could never be bothered. I was flying solo and managed to skip the 45 minute queue as a single spot at the bar opened up. Hungry faces in line did not seem too impressed and as I rolled past them when my name was called after only waiting about 2 or 3 minutes.
I order a bunch of different sushi items including a couple pieces of tuna and salmon nigiri, chopped scallop cone, dynamite roll, avocado roll, and a miso soup. Everything was good as I expected. The scallop cone was well prepared; not too much rice and the nori was crisp making it very easy to eat and not chewy at all.
I think the bill came to about 20 bucks including tip which was reasonable. I would probably come here more often but the wait in line is simply not worth it.
Went here a week ago with some friends on a weeknight. Arrived around 5:30, and waited for about 30 min.
Excellent sushi, one of the best and most freshest sashimi I've ever had in Vancouver.
Really amazing service, we ate and chatted until 8:30pm. We were never rushed to leave even with the line-up outside.
I will definitely be back for more!
This place doesn't take reservations so what you have to do is go there, line up and wait until they call your name. I've been here a couple times and the first time I waited less than 1/2 an hour and the second time, I am too embarrassed to say how long it was. The food is extremely good though, but I don't know if I can handle the wait times!
We would sometimes see lineups for this restaurant in the summer. We decided to give it a try.
The restaurant was tiny and that explained why the lineups spilled outside into the sidewalk.
Food was quite disappointing. The worse part was the fish was not fresh. We complained about our grilled black cod only to have the staff tell us the fish was fresh. We did not eat the rest of the black cod because of the rotten fish taste and smell. The service was poor. They did not reduce the price or offer a substitute.
The prices did not reflect a neighbourhood Japanese restaurant. The prices were quite high relative to other local Japanese restaurants.
My expectations were set quite high after constantly seeing the perpetual lineup each time I drive by Toshi's. This place does not disappoint!
The previous reviewer is spot on pointing out that the sashimi here is to die for! It's extremely fresh and the toro basically melts in your mouth. I found both the rolls and nigiri to be good as well, but the sashimi is definitely Toshi's main draw.
Ambiance is lackluster as the restaurant is tiny - hence the perpetual lineup. Table turnover is quite high though. On average, expect to wait 30 minutes.
The pricing is very reasonable. It's a bit more expensive than Seto Sushi in Richmond, but pennies compared to Tojo's!
As you can tell from my review history, I frequent Japanese restaurants quite often. For sushi, here's my ranking:
If price isn't a factor:
1. Tojo's
2. Seto Sushi (Richmond)
3. Toshi Sushi
Since this is the real world and price is a factor, especially considering the ridiculous prices that Tojo is charging, I'd highly recommend Seto in Richmond followed closely by Toshi.
I've been to Toshi's many many times. Each time, I expect to wait. That's because I know the food and service I'll be receiving that night is superb. The rolls are fresh and tasty, the sushi is not overloaded with rice as some restaurants do to make their sushi look bigger. The cooked items are just as fantastic. The eggplant is my absolute favourite~I often order one to go after I've finished my dinner.
The service is always pleasant. The ladies are always smiling... who wants to see a grumpy face?? They are efficient and courteous. Ambience is nice. You get to see the sushi chefs all working hard to get you your food as quickly as possible. The only minor blip is that the tables are sometimes too close together.
For the reviewer "screenap," each restaurant has their house policies for a reason. Given the small size of this restaurant, I'm sure you can try to understand from their standpoint why they don't want to seat parties in which some members aren't yet present. Who's to say that you won't be waiting for the rest of your party for 1/2 hour or more? That's lost business for them. If you were the owner, you might do the very same thing. But it's easy to say that you wouldn't because you're not actually in that position.
I think the (obvious) reason Toshi is so popular is value Yes, the waits are a nuisance but to get very good quality food without paying high end prices is what will keep me coming back again and again. On our most recent visit last week we had two miso soups, spicy agedashi (excellent), spicy garlic beef (very good), and 5 rools (real crab Cali, Alaska, House roll, mango/smoked salmon and negitoro). All good and all for about $50 including tip.
I've been wanting to go to Toshi for years but waiting in line just never seemed worth it. It was worth it!
We had salmon nigiri - beautiful wild sockeye. Tofu hotpot with dipping sauce - very light and tasty, nice start to a meal. The mixed nigiri plate was clean and tasty. Miso eggplant was tasty, smokey and creamy. Grilled squid was delicious, the sauce was amazing, texture of the squid was perfect.
Presentation on everything was great. Service was quick and friendly. I'm looking forward to my next trip.
Toshi could join Zippang on Main and Kappa in White Rock for top sushi.
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| 4. | Five Point, The (69 m) |  |
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| 9. | Well Restaurant, The (161 m) | |
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