*This article includes mentions of merchants or brands who are partners of DoorDash, and DoorDash may receive a commission if you choose to make a purchase from these merchants or brands.
I’ll level with you: Almost all Japanese restaurants in Vancouver are good. We’re close to the ocean, so fresh seafood is all around us, and we have the immense privilege of a rich Japanese Canadian history (shoutout to my ancestors!) as well as a deep pool of incredible local talent. Sorry, Saskatoon. It’s just not fair.
That said, when the best Japanese food in the country is at your fingertips, you not only get hungry, you get picky. So whether you’re on the hunt for the most succulent tuna, the juiciest gyoza, or the most perfectly seasoned ramen eggs, read on and order up the best Japanese food that Vancouver has to offer for delivery near you.
AFURI ramen + dumplings
Sushi hogs the spotlight when it comes to Japanese food, but don’t count out the hot stuff. AFURI ramen + dumplings specialises in yuzu shio ramen (light, citrusy, and ridiculously comforting) and pan-fried gyoza (is there a better sound than chopsticks cracking that extra-crispy lace top?). It’s all perfect for the rainy days the city knows so well. On a warmer day, order the tsukemen and dip those cold noods into the ultra-umami sauce to your heart’s content. This is a Most Loved Restaurant on DoorDash, which means it is one of the top-rated and most reliable merchants on DoorDash.
Ah Long Sushi
I used to live across the street from Ah Long, and while it’s no longer my neighbour, it remains a go-to, particularly because it’s such a great deal for delivery near you. Case in point: For $18, pick any three menu items from a colossal list — more than 70 dishes, including sushi, tempura, and udon — and they throw in a free miso soup, too. This is where to go to feed your hungriest friend (it’s me; I’m the friend).
Ajiya Sushi Bar
They say you can’t have it all, but Ajiya is doing pretty damn well. From edamame to sashimi to yakisoba to robata (grilled items, including a whole barbecued squid), this Kitsilano restaurant offers an extensive menu that will legitimately feed the whole family, even the picky ones.
COFU pressed sushi
Traditionalists might say this isn’t sushi at all, and to that I say: Wow, you must be fun at parties. COFU is entirely plant-based, so you won’t find any tuna or salmon on this menu. Instead, look for colourful pressed sushi made from veggies like king oyster mushrooms, organic red chard, and marinated radishes. The dishes are easy on the eyes, too: I dare you to find a more photogenic sushi than their seared bell pepper.
Commercial Sushi
Some of the best Japanese in Vancouver can be ordered for delivery from Commercial Sushi. It’s always bumpin’ around dinnertime, and for good reason. The small east side restaurant has excellent takeout bento boxes (the Osaka Bento comes with chicken teriyaki on rice, goma salad, four pieces of sashimi, three nigiri, and a delightful little side of fruit) and is known for its efficiency and affordability. Don’t sleep on the deep-fried California rolls. This is a Most Loved Restaurant on DoorDash.
Cozen Japanese Cuisine
Cozen’s Sockeye salmon oshi sushi is a local fave. The restaurant’s menu has plenty of classics (think mixed veggie tempura, spicy tuna rolls, and toro nigiri) as well as dishes that are less common, at least at a casual spot like this one (kabocha croquette, sashimi salad) and a few truly out-of-the-box takes (avocado sunomono salad). This is a Most Loved Restaurant on DoorDash.
Green Leaf Sushi Cafe
This Kitsilano spot is another go-to for oshi sushi, particularly the salmon oshi — Vancouverites are a little obsessed with this jalapeño-topped flavour bomb — and the Basil Ebi Oshi sushi (tiger prawns, basil pesto, and a slice of black olive). App faves like agedashi tofu and tako yaki are on offer, as well as some more Korean-leaning choices like bibim gyoza and tomato kimchi. This is a Most Loved Restaurant on DoorDash.
Guu Davie
If you’re feeding a crowd, go with Guu for delivery near you. This local chain’s small, accessibly priced plates are designed to be shared and great for feeding a diverse group of friends or family: Salmon tataki with ponzu sauce for the artsy cousin, tofu and avocado salad for the yoga aunt, katsu curry for grandpa, and that picky nephew can get the Honey Bacon Fries (you can sneak a few, too). This is a Most Loved Restaurant on DoorDash.
Hapa Izakaya
This spot is an institution: It’s been open for two decades, and consistently serves up awesome Japanese dishes with a modern twist. Hapa Izakaya’s special rolls are playful and delicious (the Yaletown roll is made with tempura asparagus, miso mayo, red onions, and torched aburi hamachi) and both the hot and cold tapas are awesome. Try the aburi saba (that’s cured mackerel sashimi, also torched) or one of the five kinds of chicken wings (lemongrass, soy honey garlic, salt and pepper, teriyaki, spicy Korean miso). Or get all five for delivery near you: You’re the boss, applesauce.
Hello Nori R+D Kitchen
There’s grace in simplicity, and Hello Nori nails the beautiful basics. It’s relatively new on the city’s food scene (the first location opened in 2021), but Vancouverites quickly decided the hand roll-focused restaurant was something special. The menu includes made-to-order rolls like toro, scallop, yellowtail, truffle lobster, and spicy shrimp (a personal favourite of mine). Hello Nori’s hand rolls are bigger than your average sushi roll, but that’s a challenge most foodies are more than willing to accept. This is a Most Loved Restaurant on DoorDash.
Hime Japanese Restaurant
On top of serving hefty rolls and ultra-fresh sashimi, this Vancouver Japanese restaurant is open later than a lot of other spots in town (hey, we’re a pretty city, but the post-9 p.m. dinner scene isn’t exactly buzzing). The most popular dishes here are all the usual suspects — think California rolls (a Vancouver invention, which is controversial but I’ll die on that hill), pork gyoza, and chicken karaage. Less basic eaters (no offence) might try the gloriously buttery salmon belly aburi or ulta-comforting oyakodon. This is a Most Loved Restaurant on DoorDash.
Hinippon Japanese Restaurant
Handling raw fish is an art, sure, but anyone who has ever bought an avocado will tell you that getting the perfect ripeness is a science — and the brainiacs at Hinippon nail it every time. The avocado roll, salmon avocado roll, and yam avocado roll are stars on this menu. Other standouts are the fire dynamite roll (it’s spicy, and fire and dynamite are an obvious pair) and the stamina roll with (deep breath) eel and prawn tempura, tuna, crab cucumber, unagi sauce, and… wait for it… avocado.
Hokkaido Ramen Santouka
This popular restaurant was founded in 1988 in Asahikawa, Hokkaido — it was originally a nine-seat spot with only one item on the menu, shio ramen. Now there are locations in eight other countries, five in Canada alone, and two of them are in Vancouver. How lucky are we? Order the shio ramen that started it all, or go spicy with the kara-miso ramen; for vegans, there’s a kale noodle option.
Iki Japanese
Gluten intolerants, it’s your time to shine. Iki is one of the only restaurants in the city that focuses on gluten-free Japanese food. You wouldn’t really know it by looking at the menu (it’s got your standard miso soup, prawn tempura, tuna nigiri, etc.), which is part of the magic: No flavour or texture is sacrificed to make these dishes gluten-friendly. This is also a go-to for vegetarians and vegans (popular orders include the Yammy Roll and the crispy-soft agedashi tofu) — Iki 3, dietary restrictions 0. This is a Most Loved Restaurant on DoorDash.
Japan Rice Bowl Association
A rice bowl is so often the way to go — especially when portability is a consideration. These hearty, saucy, totally satisfying bowls travel like a dream and stay hot while doing it (celebrities are jealous). The Japanese pork cutlet curry don, gyudon (beef rice bowl), and chicken karaage don are hard to choose between. Throw in the wildcard melted cheese, chicken karaage, and curry rice bowl, and prepare for some delicious decision paralysis.
JINYA Ramen Bar
The only downside to eating JINYA are the crazy lines that form outside during peak dining times (so, yes, I’m recommending takeout). No matter how you order, this spot proves that good things are worth the wait — JINYA’s broth simmers for almost an entire day before it’s poured into your awaiting bowl. The tonkotsu black ramen is my menu item of choice here: Juicy pork chashu, nori, garlic chips, spicy sauce, and a perfectly yolky seasoned egg make this dish sing.
the kitchen dada
Another pressing pro, the kitchen dada is all about oshi sushi. The albacore tuna oshi has a secret umami-packed ingredient (okay, I’ll tell you, it’s truffle mayo) and is topped with nori sauce, proving that seaweed might just be the most versatile weed out there. Dada’s combos options are pretty sweet, too: The Spicy Lover (a combo name, not a dating profile descriptor) comes with spicy salmon, tuna, and scallop rolls.
Kokoro Mazesoba
Step aside, ramen: Mazesoba is in town, and it’s literally mixing things up. Instead of bathing in a soupy broth, mazesoba noodles arrive topped with an explosion of texture and flavour (the Tokyo mazesoba, for example, has minced pork and beef, seaweed flakes, garlic, green onions, ground Saba fish, and a soft-boiled egg). It’s a gorgeous mess of rich, salty treats that you stir around before eating. It might just convert the diehard ramen lover in your life.
The Ramen Butcher
Chinatown is a culinary hotspot, and the Ramen Butcher is so good that it’s a destination within a destination. The broth is super creamy, the toppings are fresh and vibrant (red pickled ginger is a standout), and every choice on the menu is filling, comforting, and cosy. The coconut curry ramen is recommended by doctors as a cure for the rainy day blues (don’t fact-check that!).
Sashimiya
This sushi was made for mobility: Sashimiya is a grab-and-go spot that slices up fresh fish on the daily for perfectly picnic-able dishes. Splurge on some uni or go for the chirashi (deluxe sashimi rice bowl) for a next-level meal, or keep it simple with a spicy tuna roll. The restaurant-slash-grocer offers tamagoyaki made fresh in-house and a DIY sushi kit for those who think they can do it as well as the pros. This is a Most Loved Restaurant on DoorDash.
Sushi Mania
Main Street’s small but mighty Sushi Mania is a popular spot for delivery near you and beyond. Its lineup of original rolls is pretty spectacular. Take the Crunchy Munchy Roll, which (while somewhat embarrassing to say aloud) is kickass: spicy tuna and cucumber topped with thin slivers of fried yam tempura. The teriyaki stands out, too, which is no small feat in a city teeming with teriyaki.This is a Most Loved Restaurant on DoorDash.
Sushi Mura
Sushi Mura has five locations in the Lower Mainland and two in Vancouver. It’s grown impressively fast for a small local chain, likely because of dependable, speedy service and sizable rolls. It’s not quantity over quality, of course — this food is delicious — but to ignore the value this restaurant offers wouldn’t feel right in my heart (I’m a babe on a budget). Bill’s Roll with sweet potato and smoked salmon rocks. Cheers to Bill, wherever you are.
Tom Sushi
I know a few Westenders who would get into a literal fistfight for Tom Sushi. This neighbourhood institution is known for perfectly cooked rice (it’s a basic, but they get it right), hearty rolls, and an extensive menu that goes well beyond sushi: Find cold soba, yaki udon, sashimi don, sunomono salad, and octopus here. This is a Most Loved Restaurant on DoorDash.
New customers get $0 delivery fee off their first order. First-time users only, on orders that meet minimum subtotal. Other fees (incl. service & small order fees), taxes & gratuity apply. Terms apply.
