Yugafu Japanese Bistro

This is a great little restaurant run by a Japanese couple; it’s the best deal for omakase in the lower mainland right now. The quality and freshness is great, and so well done. It was one of the best Japanese meals I’ve ever had, we had to book 3 months in advance but it was worth it! Would recommend, despite the far drive from Vancouver. Looking forward to eating here again next year.

It’s so out of the way, over an hour drive from Vancouver. So why did I do it? Because for $80, this is quality that rivals any high tier omakase in Vancouver. In case you don’t know, similar omakase now charge you well over $150 per person. So in this case, how much do you value your time? I thoroughly enjoyed it but they’re so booked up for months, good luck finding any availability. It was great to check this place off though.

I know giving this review will just make it harder for me to ever make a reservation here, but I must!This place honestly was amazing. I've never had an omakase experience like the one I did here. The food was fresh, seafood was delicious, and dishes were made with love and quality ingredients. The pacing of this omakase was perfect and timed to each customer's experience. The couple sitting next to us ran late, and instead of making us wait, they timed our meals to work together. (Some Omakases I've been to don't start until everyone arrives, which is understandable, but this varies the experience)If you have the chance, the Yuzu sake and the Sake flight are also a must-have! The chef and waitress are extremely warm and welcoming as well! You can tell that they are a place that prioritizes the customer, the food quality, and the atmosphere over everything.Well worth the wait if and when you can get a reservation. Understandably, they are booked for the rest of the year!

My friends raved about this place when they first opened last year, and I’m just sorry to not have visited sooner! Came here for my birthday dinner and this place was absolutely well worth the hype! Everything was so well executed, from the service, the pace of the food being served, the quality of ingredients and the preparation & presentation—just impeccable! It’s definitely not just a sushi place but a true Japanese experience. Amazing value for $70 per guest, they served just the right amount of food, I was full and very satisfied. Highly highly recommend visiting! Reservation is a must.

All I can say is I can’t wait until they open up reservations for next year. A little gem of a spot that looked like it was run by husband and wife only. We were there right at 5 and it was a nice quiet experience with food that was out of this world. Fresh and unique, the Omakase did not disappoint!!! Words cannot describe this place, just go check it out for yourself!

9.5/10: Words cannot explain how content I am with the food and service at Yugafu. Because of its location, Yugafu is able to serve omakase comparable to those in Vancouver at an affordable price. Here is what I was served:Chawan Mushi (steamed egg pudding): silky and smooth and packed with umami flavors. Great starter.Ankimo (monkfish liver with seasonal seafood): Monkfish liver was incredibly soft and fatty with a hint of sweetness. Together with the ponzu sauce, the acidity and fat created the perfect balance to the palette. The monkfish liver was paired with charred prawn sashimi, seared scallop, and ekura (salmon roe). This was one of the highlights of the night.Katsuo (slipjack tuna) tataki: Extremey fresh tataki. Has a little bit more of a fishy aspect than your average tuna, but was extremely fresh.Grilled black Cod with Saiko Miso and dressed seafood (Bluefin Toro, Bluefin, octopus): Best black cod I've had. Extremely moist and tender whilst having crispy skin. Marination was spectacular and contained sweet, savory and umami hints. The seafood was refreshing, especially the bluefin Toro, which dissolved in my mouth.Deep Fried Tempura (prawn, unagi (eel), vegetable): This one wasn't too spectacular. The tempura batter could have been crispy and more airy. I've had better tempura elsewhere.Kinuta maki (raw fish rolled with radish and green shiso): There was too little fish for the amount of radish in the roll. That being said, I could not quite taste the texture and flavor of the fish in my mouth. Also, do not eat the green shiso. I felt like the flavor from the leaf is too strong to be eaten as a whole.9 pcs chef's choice nigiri: Fresh & outstanding. Was served bluefin, madai, shima aji, bluefin toro, shrimp, scallop. kinmedai, bafun uni, and unagi. Here are some that took me by surprise: Shima aji (striped jack) - had a texture that is kind of like a hybrid between cod and squid. I loved it.Bluefin tuna - was extremely fatty and melted in my mouthScallop - was extremely fresh and creamy.Bafun Uni - extremely different from any other canadian uni. Extremely sweet and creamy and slipped down my throat.Unagi - best unagi I've had, with crispy edges and the perfect amount of sauce (that was not overpowering) and char.Miso Soup: Strong miso but a little salty.Red Bean Mochi Taiyaki: A nice way to finish off the meal. This is what you should expect when you order mochi.Overall, I really enjoyed the omakase at Yugafu and believe that Yugafu is definitely worth the commute. Having went to many michelin restaurants in the past, such a restaurant is of michelin star caliber.

Highly recommend the omakse menu! Great quality, fresh seafood and delightful flavors. My family and I really enjoyed the ambience as well. It looks like they have a sake collection, and we would love to go back and try.

We enjoyed a delicious omakase dinner at Yugafu.Service:The welcoming husband and wife team provided a great dinner service experience. Freshly prepared items were brought out at a steady pace.Food:The starter items were meticulously put together and presented beautifully.Some unique/standout bites:-The Kinuka maki: radish and flounder roll was a refreshing with the shisho leaf-the black cod fish was perfectly grilled- it came with a tasty marinated skin which complemented the juicy meaty texture-the chef choice nigiri came with an assortment of fish and seafood from Japan. The uni and blue fin toro were favourites.Overall a fantastic experience was enjoyed at Yugafu with chef Toshiharu and his wife.Free parking is available in the underground lot and on the street.

One of the best omakase dinners I've had in Metro Vancouver. The only downside is that there is no online ordering and you will need to call and book months in advance. As of April 2023, the rest of the year is booked up and they don't open resos for 2024 until later this year. That is because the small restaurant is only run by the owners (husband and wife) and they only serve 3-4 parties at a time to maintain the high quality food and service.The appetizers and hot food served before the nigiris were surprisingly good, if not better than the nigiris itself. Don't get me wrong, the nigiris are really good too and all their fish are freshly imported from Japan. The monkfish liver with seasonal seafood was probably my favourite dish of the night. I have never tasted liver that is this fresh and sweet, and does not have any fishy taste.Overall, the $80 omakase kaiseki course was really worth it and well deserving of the 4.9 stars on Google. I'm hoping to be back next year if I can secure a reservation again.