Lakeside Sushi in Lake Cowichan

78 Cowichan Lake Rd #2, Lake Cowichan, BC V0R 2G0, Canada

★★★★★
(188 reviews)
Categories: Sushi restaurant Japanese restaurant
Address
78 Cowichan Lake Rd #2, Lake Cowichan, BC V0R 2G0, Canada
Plus Code
RWGX+RP Lake Cowichan, British Columbia, Canada
Time Zone
America/Vancouver

Business Hours

Monday
Closed
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
11:30 AM–8 PM
Thursday
11:30 AM–8 PM
Friday
11:30 AM–8 PM
Saturday
11:30 AM–8 PM
Sunday
11:30 AM–8 PM

Services

Service options
Takeaway Dine-in
Highlights
Great tea selection
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park Wheelchair-accessible entrance Wheelchair-accessible seating
Offerings
Alcohol Beer Coffee Healthy options Small plates Wine
Dining options
Lunch Dinner Dessert
Amenities
Toilets
Atmosphere
Casual Cosy
Crowd
Groups
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments Credit cards
Parking
Free of charge street parking Free parking lot

Photos

Reviews

4.6
★★★★★
188 reviews

Most Mentioned

price (16) tempura (7) monkey brains (3) island (3) valley (2) rolls (2) craving sushi (2) crab (2) teriyaki (2) yam (2)
5 stars
143
4 stars
28
3 stars
9
2 stars
5
1 stars
3
★★★★★
September 8, 2024

I highly recommend the monkey brains and sushi tower. The fish was fresh. The miso soup was okay, sadly no seaweed. Service was good.

★★★★★
September 1, 2024

The service is ok, the ambiance is good and the food is amazing! Their tempura is so light and fluffy. Best I ever had! The sushi is also very good.

★★★★
August 12, 2024

This restaurant has amazing sushi. The service is great. Usually not extremely busy or the wait is not long. We have made a ritual of going once a week.

★★★★★
July 28, 2024

Lake side sushi is my all time favourite restaurant in lake Cowichan. The employees there are very nice, polite and professional. The food here is delightful nice and tasty and delicious. I rate like ♾️ stars

★★★★★
February 3, 2024

We had a great meal there tonight. The service was excellent, and the sushi was delicious. Very fresh, and the rolls are just the right size. We had the Agadashi tofu for an appetizer, which was really good. It was really nice to see so many people at the restaurant as well. The prices are more than fair, and the staff are very good and friendly people. We’ll definitely be back again soon.

★★★★
July 13, 2023

Good food. The lunch boxes were a good deal. The tempura was tasty. Excellent choices on the menu but unfortunately that day they didn't have enough salmon. Good service too. I'd be back.

★★★★★
February 24, 2023

Simply delicious. Our sushi was fresh, the wasabi was my kind of hot and flavorful. I was quite surprised by the price and service. Great prices and service! Thank you. We will have to visit Lake Cowichan and Lakeside Sushi more often.

★★★
September 13, 2018

Competent sushi, at tourist-only prices. Lakeside Sushi is a place where you can get tasty sushi that tastes fresh. Right away, I'll let ya know that you don't have to worry about this sushi being terrible; because it will be totally acceptable. The service was good, and the food came out in a reasonable amount of time. I think they could spend a bit more time making the restaurant feel more welcoming (the tables and chairs are pretty basic) but that doesn't matter to most people. The miso soup was really tasty, and is my favourite miso on the island. The rolls I tried were well made, but contained fake crab (which, oddly, wasn't listed on the menu) so I had to pick it out. The sashimi was bizarre. I ordered 8 pieces, but received 10 thin strips of fish. I have a feeling that they are pre-cut for nigiri, and simply dolled out as sashimi. I'm not a big fan of this technique, as sashimi should not be served in thin strips; and considering the price/size, this might be the most expensive sashimi on the island. I've had less expensive sashimi in New York (which is saying something) This restaurant is clearly aimed at tourists who don't mind paying inflated prices. Considering the lack of combo deals for supper, and the 30% inflated price tag for most items; this place seems to price locals out from eating here (which would explain the emptiness of the restaurant). The food was good, save for the sashimi; but I won't be coming back due to the high tourist tax.

★★
October 22, 2024

Very bad sushi quality

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

Have been going here for years and thought I would finally write a small review. I come from Vancouver and have had a lot of Japanese from various places all over the lower mainland. Although in comparison Lakeside is on the pricier side, the quality and service are excellent and it stands in my top 5 for Japanese cuisine. A favorite of mine is the veggie roll, its hands down the best Ive had.

September 22, 2024

The food was good, but the service from the waitress was poor. I found the service rude, he even threw the dishes at my table in an unprofessional manner, and I took the bill to pay without first asking us if we wanted to order something else. Its a shame because the sushi is good but I definitely wouldnt go back with that kind of customer service.

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Nice little spot. Super nice folks

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

Had a great meal yesterday

★★
July 22, 2024

The sushi was mediocre and overpriced for the quality. The restaurant is located on the main road and has very few tables for dining in. Do not expect to find any atmosphere or good service either.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Delicious food as always! Amanda is always on it, and everyone making the food goes above and beyond with their plating! Thank you for having some of the best sushi Ive had in the valley!

★★★★
May 22, 2024

Great food friendly service really enjoyed it

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Delightful surprise! We were hungry, craving sushi and came upon this spot! Some of the best sushi I have eaten! My husband s meal included tempura, he raved about it! Highly recommended and we will definitely be back!

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

We order take out from here every once in a while and every time Im impressed by the quality, freshness and flavour. Comparable to the sushi restaurants I frequented while living in Asia for 8 years.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

When for Sushi last night and wow it s was so fresh and absolutely delicious. Definitely recommend.

★★★★★
February 22, 2024

Always delicious! Best dynamite roll in the valley for sure.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

My daughter and I tried the gyoza and the honeymoon bay roll. They both were delicious and will definately be coming back when we get that sushi craving!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Always awesome

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Delicious sushi! Really good price and service. Enjoyed that!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Great food Great prices with friendly service

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Good food, good people! Fast and friendly!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Volcano roll, yam tempura roll, a generous portion of tempura and Beef Yakisoba - everything was delicious. Staff were attentive in their food preparation and it showed. So so good.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Delicious every time never a really long wait and the staff are very friendly.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Amazing Sushi! This place is a regular for us. Platter B and Gyoza is a favourite. Super fresh!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

My favorite food choice in Lake Cowichan. This unassuming sushi restaurant has excellent food I recommend to anyone.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I used to enjoy this sushi every month when I lived in the area. Recently came back for a visit, and was eager to try it again. Nothing has changed! Same great taste and freshness. The Monkey Brains are my favourite unique dish!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Great sushi! Really loved the nigiri!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The food is great.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Amanda and team are absolutely amazing... 10/10 for service and food. If you love sushi you definitely need to eat here

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Delicious! Customer service is great!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Amazing food

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Fist time there, and a very pleasant and tasty experience from an unassuming exterior.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

I honestly love this place, never had a problem and the lady there is very nice

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

An excellent gem in a place I did not expect.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Simply amazing food, no other way to describe it. Ive never had such good Japanese cuisine, let alone at this price! I might have a new problem lol

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Best sushi restaurant between here and well everywhere! We are so blessed in this small town to have a top rare sushi restaurant

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

I have my fav teriyaki salmon tempera roll. I always have to get but they have many more great shushi rolls .Love it

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Probably the only sushi restaurant in the area. Good quality with speedy service

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Delicious Sushi. Portions were good but definitely on the smaller side since the quality is just so good. Not much room for dine-in, but still good service for the price

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Quite good, especially for a little hole in the wall place in a small town. Staff were friendly and the tuna was delicious!! Would recommend if you re looking for a place to stop for dinner after a day on the lake.

★★★★
December 22, 2022

Yummy sushi and very quick service. As a less savvy/shy sushi eater I didnt understand what the menu meant by combos and what was included. More info or pictures would have been nice. I ordered the safe California roll and was happy with it.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Love it

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Best local take out hands down!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Best in and only one in Town.

★★
December 22, 2021

over prices and the food was not very good

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Damn fine sushi

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Really good sushi. Not good-for-small-town sushi, but honest to goodness good sushi. Try it out. Delicious.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Convinient location and tasty sushi

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Tried monkey brains on the menu and it s amazing!!!! Best I ve ever had!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

This is the best restaurant in Lake Cowichan! I can confidently say that Johnny at Lakeside Sushi makes the best sushi Ive had on the Island (and I eat a LOT of sushi). His rolls are always impeccably constructed, exceptionally fresh, and consistently delicious. Johnny and his staff are always welcoming, kind, and attentive. The cooked dishes on the menu are delicious as well, so dont rule out lakeside sushi if you arent a fan of raw fish!

★★★★★
December 22, 2020

One of my favorites, sushi is always good and very consistent

★★★★★
December 22, 2020

The sushi is fantastic, and the owner are friendly. This is a great place!

★★★★★
December 22, 2020

Cheap and really good! Recommend this place highly and you should have a Dynamite Roll.

★★★★★
December 22, 2020

Amazing food... everything!! Weve been weekly regulars there for 5 years, since they opened, and its our favourite restaurant. The food is beautifully prepared and soooo delicious! And the service is excellent! Love this place, and the amazing team. Highly recommend it!!

★★★★★
December 22, 2020

Glad we found this place. We ordered several hot and cold dishes and they were all excellent. For now, its take out only (covid safety). I was pleasantly surprised to find they use compostable/burnable containers, so not a lot of waste. We enjoyed our sushi by the lovely river. Well be back.

★★★★★
December 22, 2020

Love this place! We eat there at least once a month, and it is always great! Have not had a complaint in the 2 years Ive been eating here! Serving sizes are great, and the sushi rolls are superior to other places I have tried.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

I love sushi, and you could imagine my pure joy when I found this place to have some of the best sushi Ive had. Its a hidden gem and they give you extra here and there too ;)

★★★★★
December 22, 2020

Amazing service always

★★★★★
December 22, 2020

YUMMY IN MY TUMMY. Superior

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Friendly staff, good pricing, and great value for money. We purchased a platter and asked for extra ginger and wasabi and were blown away by the mountain they gave us when most other restaurants are pretty stingey with that!

★★★
December 22, 2020

Mango roll is top notch

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Must try the monkey brains. So delicious.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

I was very impressed, great food, attentive service and good prices. So glad I finally stopped in.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

My husband and I went to Lakeside sushi for supper Saturday night. I had to drag him there, he had the impression that Lakeside sushi only served sushi, so I ordered for him. He had beef teriyaki, which came with several delicious items on the side. Salad, a plate of tempura vegetables, a bowl of rice and the teriyaki beef that came on a sizzling skillet. My husband loved it! Myself, I had tuna tataki and a spinach salad. It was so delicious. I never had their spinach salad before . It came warm with this delicious dressing on it(YUM!). We also had sake. My husband was surprised when we got the bill, it was under $50! What an amazing little gem this place is! Lakeside sushi, more than just sushi!!!

★★★★★
December 22, 2019

Excellent food great service

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

The spicy agedashi tofu is our fav but have never been disappointed here!

★★★★★
December 22, 2019

Fresh and delicious, always friendly service.

★★★★★
December 22, 2019

Literally Best Sushi I have ever had

★★★★
December 22, 2019

Delicious sushi!

★★★★★
December 22, 2019

Excellent! Very tasty!

★★★★★
December 22, 2019

Great food

★★★★★
December 22, 2019

Great sushi. Fresh sashimi. Favorite gomae :) love this place

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Friendly staff, fast service, flavourful food.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

I loved the tasty food and the generous portions...Haha. my kids enjoyed the tempura udon and I personally liked the unagi don. Just needed more ginger...my family comes cowichan lake often for camping...this place is gonna be our regular sushi restaurant!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

My family and I always enjoy the delicious food at Lakeside Sushi. The attention we receive is very appreciated and we always leave very satisfied. Thank you very much for many yummy meals!

★★★★★
December 22, 2019

Best place in town

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Food the Best! Monkey Brains my favourite.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Always good food, good service and fast. Everything is fresh and well made.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Consistently good. My 2 friends from Victoria enjoyed it also. The Youbou roll is my favorite.

★★★★★
December 22, 2019

Such care and detail went into the food preparation:) Good portion sizes. Well done.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Best Sushi in Vancouver Island/BC/ Nothing comes close, a true hidden gem recommended to everyone!

★★★★★
December 22, 2019

Delicious and fresh

★★★★★
December 22, 2019

Sushi and tempura were excellent

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

best sake Ive ever had. sushi is awesome and service is fantastic

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Great food good price friendly staff great little place

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Sushi was okay but didnt feel worth the money

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Love this place . Great service

★★★★★
December 22, 2019

Great presentation, incredibly helpful and friendly staff, delicious food, good proportions. Love it here

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Pretty good sushi

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Have had sushi all over Langford and Victoria but Lakeside Sushi is probably my favourite. So fast, delicious, and consistent.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

It was a good time I was getting hungry

★★★★★
December 22, 2019

Love the sushi and staff!! Also they treat their staff very well ;)

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Good staff great food beautiful atmosphere

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

Place had great atmosphere for a small town place. Food came out fast and efficiently. Was pleased with the quality of the Cali rolls I ordered but felt the Sashimi was warm and the fish wasnt kept well. Reasonable priced when you order a big portion or combos.

★★★★★
December 22, 2018

Great food and service.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

They have great food

★★★★★
December 22, 2018

Simple, well-prepared dishes. Consistent service.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

Great food and service

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

Really great sushi for a small town. Try their local rolls!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

Delicious sushi, nice staff

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

Great price and people

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

Good service. Has vegan options but ingredients not listed. Ask your server before ordering (ie yam roll had crab). Great experience overall

★★★★★
December 22, 2018

It feels like the freshest fish tastes delicious I always go there when I can

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

Chopped scallop roll is delicious.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

Kind and good food

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

Always delicious food, friendly staff, cozy atmosphere.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

Fantastic food quality. Price isnt the lowest Ive seen however the service was top tier. Food presentation was incredible and of course absolutely delicious. Will be back and will recommend! Thank you.

★★★★★
December 22, 2018

Excellent negitoro!

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

Excellent food

★★★★★
December 22, 2018

Excellent!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

Love the sushi here find myself accidentally stopping in atleast twice a month!

December 22, 2017

if you cant make rice you cant own a restaurant. sushi more like eewwshi

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2017

Great sushi. Fresh ingredients.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2017

Just ok.. average sushi

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2017

No regrets of having lunch there. Good food and friendly service. Definitely a place I would visit again

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2017

excellent Sushi. A must for Lake Cowichan

★★★★★
December 22, 2017

Great sushi, great price, my dad and i make a point and look forward in having their sushi at least once a week:)

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2017

Delicious and fairly priced.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2017

Fresh and delicious.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2017

Absolutely unbelievable food ! The service can with a smile - I eat alot of sushi and this was fresh to order and amazingly flavoured

★★★★★
December 22, 2016

The food here is fabulous! We drive back from the city to eat sushi here. Service is first rate, too. Everyone is friendly. The take-out is so convenient: we just phone and its ready for pick up when we get there. Highly, highly recommend.