Hamaei Japanese Restaurant in North Vancouver

2601 Westview Dr, North Vancouver, BC V7N 3X3, Canada

★★★★☆
(311 reviews)
Categories: Japanese restaurant Takeout restaurant

About

Japanese standards like sushi, teriyaki & udon served in simple environs with traditional decor.

Website
hamaei.netlify.app
Address
2601 Westview Dr, North Vancouver, BC V7N 3X3, Canada
Plus Code
8WM6+7J North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Time Zone
America/Vancouver

Business Hours

Monday
12–2 PM – 4:30–9 PM
Tuesday
12–2 PM – 4:30–9 PM
Wednesday
12–2 PM – 4:30–9 PM
Thursday
12–2 PM – 4:30–9 PM
Friday
12–2 PM – 4:30–9 PM
Saturday
12–2 PM – 4:30–9 PM
Sunday
12–2 PM – 4:30–9 PM

Services

Service options
Delivery Takeaway Dine-in
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park Wheelchair-accessible entrance Wheelchair-accessible seating
Offerings
Alcohol Beer Healthy options Small plates Spirits Wine
Dining options
Lunch Dinner Dessert Seating
Amenities
Toilets
Atmosphere
Casual Cosy
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments Credit cards
Children
High chairs
Parking
Free of charge street parking Free parking lot Parking

Photos

Reviews

4.4
★★★★☆
311 reviews

Most Mentioned

price (27) chefs (13) tempura (9) nigiri (6) rolls (6) chirashi (6) bar (6) food quality (5) scallop (3) fresh (3)
5 stars
208
4 stars
56
3 stars
15
2 stars
13
1 stars
19
★★★★★
November 29, 2024

As a Japanese person and also having worked at a top notch sushi restaurant in Roppongi, I am very strict about the quality of sushi. I tried more than 10 places here in Vancouver but hamaei is truly the most authentic and the best!!!! (Also polite, friendly and professional staff ;)) My personal recommendation are toro taku, real crab roll, umejiso and hotate!

★★★★★
November 24, 2024

My experience at this restaurant was delightful. Everything, from the exceptional service to the high-quality food, impressed me. The staff were attentive and efficient, and the fish was incredibly fresh, which added to the authenticity of the Japanese cuisine. This place is a true find, and I’m already looking forward to visiting again on my next trip to North Vancouver.

★★★★★
October 25, 2024

authentic Japanese restaurant with Japanese chefs. Amazing food quality and taste. Can't say anything else. just amazing.

★★★★★
September 23, 2024

Hamaei is my FAVORITE spot in North Vancouver. I often dine in, but I also enjoy ordering takeout. Every time I have their food, I'm always impressed by the freshness of the sashimi and nigiri. If you're a sushi lover looking for a restaurant on the North Shore, I definitely recommend Hamaei. Once you visit, you'll see why ☻

★★★★★
July 5, 2024

I can't get enough of Hamaei. Every time I visit, this restaurant consistently delivers the freshest and most delicious sushi I've ever had. The atmosphere is cozy, and the staff always makes me feel right at home. I think I'm addicted to this restaurant. Their Saikyo yaki is also a must-try. Highly recommended for any sushi lover!!

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

This place is THE SUSHI place in the north shore! I’ve been going there for the past 25 years and it really hasn’t changed much. Fresh fish and excellent service brings me back here every time. It’s a must!

★★★★★
September 3, 2023

I was told this place has the best and most authentic japanese sushi on the north shore. And got to try it out for the first time with someone who frequents the restaurant for years. It definitely stood up to the status quo because it was amazing!! So fresh and unique, they know what they are doimg here! But be prepared to pay a bit more for quality. Not only did they have imported seafood from japan such as uni! But They even have imported beer! Okinawa beer!

★★★★★
April 6, 2022

Amazing food ,When I entered this restaurant, I felt like I was in a small Japanese village <3 The chefs are amazing. It was a luxurious experience like when I traveled to Japan. I can confidently tell you to try everything here. If you are worried about what to order, make sure to eat chirashi donburi and toro nigiri! I'm sure it's the best sushi I've ever had in Vancouver. Glad they are opening 7 days a week now!

★★★★★
December 1, 2024

One of the oldest and best sushi spots on the north shore! Hamae never disappoints. Best quality fresh fish and friendly service. Highly recommend if you want authentic Japanese food and service!

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

I went there on the recommendation of a Japanese person. The most satisfying Japanese restaurant in Nolvan. This is the first place where I was satisfied with the freshness, ripeness, texture, size, and taste of nigiri. If you want to fully enjoy the taste of nigiri, I highly recommend Omakase. Ignore Jawan as an appetizer, and recommend Sisa as a side dish.

★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

A little claustrophobic but good quality sushi items

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

I was recommended by friend and wow! It was super fresh! Unbelievable. The service was superb and staff was very friendly and accommodating. Thank you I will come again Food : 5/5 |

★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Went for a birthday dinner with my brother last week. We were the first ones in the restaurant in the afternoon. Ordered the salmon oshi and double dragon roll. The double dragon roll was great, the salmon oshi unfortunately tasted like butane. When I mentioned it to the server, she just kind of laughed at me and said she would tell the chefs. ( nothing was comped or acknowledged ) The service was awful, was checked on once the whole sit down meal, the tea was never refilled, and we were the only ones in the restaurant. The server seemed too preoccupied doing takeout orders, maybe more staff is needed. This used to be my favourite sushi restaurant on the North shore, but it was a disappointing experience for my brother s birthday and first time there. Sadly I cannot recommend dine in service here anymore, I did hear that they were recently under new ownership so that could be the issue.

★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Overpriced and small portions. It was good, but I ve found other places in the city with the same quality, larger portions, with more fish and less rice in the rolls and at a lower cost. Food : 4/5

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

Really good food and service, i wish they would play some japanese music tho, and maybe a little quieter

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

The best sushi in town!

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Parking: Westview Mall parking Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

All the food was fresh and clean. The grilled squid was a little salty, which was disappointing. The salmon rice bowl was generous and full of fresh salmon, so my son enjoyed it very much. The sashimi was fresh and tasty. I ate everything else, including rolls, udon, and grilled fish, but I was disappointed that the portions of the rolls were small. If you want to eat sushi, I recommend this.

★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Delicious and peaceful

★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Food it not bad. I was not site inside bud thier customer looked happy after eating.

★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

It was a weekday lunchtime. The food was good, but the price was high. You get what you pay for. Service was slow due to single floor staff.

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

Beautiful fresh sushi well-prepared and well-served. Absolutely the best in North Van.

★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

I ve been coming to Hamaei for years, but something seems to have changed recently, and it s disappointing. Perhaps there s new ownership? We dined in on Friday, and the place was completely empty, which is a red flag other nearby restaurants had lineups. I specifically requested miso to be served with my meal, but it was brought out immediately, well before my sushi. I ordered prawn tempura as an appetizer, yet it arrived after I finished my sushi. When I asked why, I was told the kitchen was busy. Additionally, the prawns were overly greasy, making them inedible. Sorry, but this was not a great experience.

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

Food is fresh and really good quality. Friendly staff really made our visit welcomed.

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

Been eating here for 20+ years. never a bad experience. A bit pricey but always great quality.

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

Best sushi place I ve found by FAR. Never disappoints, delicious food, friendly staff, fast service, and they always have amazing specials. I d rather pay more for better quality sushi, well worth it in my opinion.

★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Food was tasty, but portion sizes were too small. My partner and I spent over $60 on dinner and left hungry. The grilled salmon dish for $15 gets you two small pieces with very little meat. The same dish at Sansho costs $12.75 and the portion is significantly larger.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

This an OG Neighborhood favorite Japanese restaurant thats been around for 20+ years. Really fresh and high quality sashimi and sushi. The tempura is authentic. The servers are kinoronahan and they have great daily specials

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

For sure the best authentic japanese restaurant in the North Shore!

Local Guide
March 22, 2024

I have been coming here for 20 years and this was my favorite sushi restaurant. I was seated at the bar and then completely ignored for at least 15 minutes while the group next to me who came in 5 minutes after me were served before any of the staff even acknowledged I was there. I am unable to rate the quality of the food because I felt extremely embarrassed sitting there being completely ignored. I felt very unwelcome so I politely let the server know I was leaving. The young lady did not even offer an apology. Throughout the pandemic I made a point of getting take out regularly in support of this restaurant but I feel that the quality of the experience is no longer worth the price point they are currently asking.

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

Very authentic Japanese food, one of the top ones in north shore. Parking: lots of parking in the shopping square Food : 5/5 |

★★★★★
March 22, 2024

Absolutely fantastic. Amazing authentic Japanese food

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Great fresh fish and service

★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Lunch time on a Friday and Hamaei was busy. Seems like a popular spot. I went in for a bento box but the price was a deterrent. So I took a miso, 1 yam roll & gomae The miso was a miss. I wont be ordering that again Gomae was tasty. Not too sweet. Yam roll was nice. Service excellent and friendly. Chef was kind. Tea was lovely

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Top notch JAPANESE sushi. You know youre winning when youve been here for a while and are maintaining 4.4.

★★★★
February 22, 2024

Quality...

Local Guide
January 22, 2024

Dated decor, mediocre service, and above all small portions & bad food quality. Expensive for what it is. Realistically this place should be a 3.5 not a 4.4.

★★★★★
January 22, 2024

Been coming here for many years now! Sushi is always fresh and service is always great!!

★★★★★
January 22, 2024

This place is phenomenal! Unbelievable! Everything very fresh, well priced, tasty! The staff was also very informative and attentive, Highly recommended! Definitely try it again! Wow!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The store recommended by a friend is small and the ingredients are fresh. The lunch set is generous and the chirashi sushi is good.

December 22, 2023

I done care about the food. Staff are absolutely rude and unresponsive. We had to wait a long time for someone to take our order or even offer us some water or tea!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

A true gem of a place. So glad I was introduced to this restaurant by a long time friend who is local to the area. Incredibly high quality sashimi and personal, friendly service. The place to come if you re looking for fresh fish. We had a wonderful experience and I hope to come back again soon.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

It is a small place and I had to wear a sweater to stay warm. It is the winter,but still. The quality of the dishes was outstanding. I will definitely be going back

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Fresh and tasty! Little overpriced but acceptable

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Very reasonable place, bit short stuffed at its peak hour. Will come again.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Nice Sushi place, looks really authentic and run by Japanese. Nice food, great Quality. Its located next to MacDonald. Parking in the compound is easy (Westview).

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I have been coming here for almost 20 years, and never been disappointed. They serve actual authentic Japanese food, which is a rare find nowadays. Their lunch combo is always great and a la carte menu at dinner are superb.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Hands down the best sushi on the North Shore and exceptionally good compared to other places in Vancouver. If you re looking for cheap sushi and large rolls, this is not the place. I won t have sushi any where else in North Van! The fish is really fresh and high quality, cut nicely (not huge pieces that are ice cold) and the rice is perfectly cooked. I usually order nigiri, tempura and negitoro roll or fresh kani roll - all good! I ordered the lunch special today, not knowing what was in it and it was really good (no filler rolls in sight). I normally order takeout and it takes 30 mins and up to an hour for large orders during peak hours.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Its one of our favorite sushi spots in Vancouver. Weve been going to this place for years now and have had amazing sushi every time and everytime it takes us back to sushi places in japan. Today we went after more than a year and i think some of the staff and maybe the management and one of chefs were replaced and some of the dishes were changed a bit. I hope they bring back the hot towels and the miso soup back to the old recipe, but after all, the food was absolutely amazing. Absolutly loved their daily special nigiris as always. It is so delicious and tasty, and they have a broad range of fish to choose from. Today, we had miso soup with tempura appetirzer, negi toro and spicy tuna rolls and tuna, Toro, Aji, Hirame, Nodoguro, Kinmedai, Tamago and ikura negiris. Even though it seems a bit overpriced, I feel compared to many top sushi restaurants in Vancouver, they are much better priced with their quality of sushi. Definitely recommend

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Delicious sushi but very expensive

★★
December 22, 2023

This is not the same Hamaei. Staff and taste/look of the food are all different, likely change of owners; prices are similar. Even the imitation crab in the California roll was not as good (tasted a bit fishy). The don looked different (you will know what I mean if youve had it here before). Ordered dinner takeout for pickup, was told the food will be ready 40 minutes - ended up waiting an extra 30 mins at the restaurant.

★★
December 22, 2023

I haven t visited this place for few years and noticed they went from great to mediocre. Lunch menu s were all boring and grossly over priced. The owner must have been changed. There was only one waitress handling the entire restaurant thus, service was very slow. Too bad Hamaei was always hands down favourite for me and for all my Japanese friends in North Vancouver.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Great little gem tucked into a strip mall. Very fresh sashimi, we ordered mostly from the fresh board. Wasnt cheap but everything was amazing. Regular items were also available on the menu.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Lovely

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Best lunch combo

December 22, 2023

Overall: Would not recommend coming here. Portions are incredibly tiny, tempura was undercooked, staff are unresponsive and inattentive, and prices are very high. We ordered takeout from Hamei - not only was the order not ready when we arrived at the agreed upon time, but the sever exhibited zero customer service. It appeared she was working on her computer and was entirely engrossed with that. She did not greet us, asked us to wait while she was changing fonts on her computer (it appeared she was making a new menu?). Furthermore, for the $75 we spent, the portions were pitiful. There was only one tiny portion of ginger and wasabi. The BC roll was so small. I get that prices have increased, but two people should not still be left hungry after spending what we did. We were very, very disappointed.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Yes Im a sushi hound. This is my go to place for sushi. There is nothing on the menu I would not eat. Super place. Only downside, parking sucks. Updated May 2, 2023.... Well, so much for my go to place. The sushi and service have gone off the deep end. Most of the sushi was just not good. The chef obviously has changed things but for the worse. My favorite ankimo first came dry in a bowl, then when I asked where the sauce was, a puddle of some sort of sauce dumped on top. Had to ask for basics that normally one would not need to.... Like tea or plates, etc., And the place was mostly empty. Possibly a tell I missed. So much for service.

★★★★
December 22, 2023

High quality Japanese food! A bit expensive but worth it. Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

High quality and reasonably priced. The oshizushi is amazing.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

One of the best Japanese restaurants ever. Never had sashimi like this before plus friendly staff. Definitely worth the higher prices. My only regret is that I live across the continent from here.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Rather Expensive Good service 8/10 sushi Recommended dishes Sashimi, Seaweed Salad

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

These guys over delivered. Food was awesome

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

still the same decor and everything, but just feels different after the original Hamaei owner sold the place. Its a Japanese sushi restaurant but you hear Korean being spoken now, nothing wrong with that just the vibe is different. Food wise I guess its still about the same as it was. Hope they use Japanese soy sauce , the soy sauce they have now is too salty and not suitable for sushi.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

The sushi here is probably one of the best quality places in Vancouver with the price to match. One of my all time favorite sushi places.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The fish was so fresh and the service was lovely. Highly recommend on stacking up on nigiri as fish quality here is beyond your typical sushi restaurant!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

It was so good we couldn t take more pictures. Sit at the bar. Have a sake. Watch the chefs. Order the specials. Have another sake. Enjoy.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

I dont always write reviews, but this time, I had to. I think I eat the best sushi I ve ever had! Highly recommended.

★★
December 22, 2023

For nearly 20 years, this place used to be the best sushi on north shore if not the entire Vancity. But since the new ownership has taken over, everything is below average. Go somewhere else.

December 22, 2023

Tuna expired, tasted/smelled instantly upon opening

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

We are spoiled on the lower mainland in terms of access to sushi... But i come here as a reminder as to what good sushi is all about. Whether it is the usual sushi items: the fish is fresh, sauces and soups have a complex taste rather than the generic hit of MSG. The wow factor comes from the availibility of fresh fish not seen elsewhere... And always treated sensibly. Nothing flashy... The fish speaks for itself. Excellent service. Bathrooms are clean but could use an update.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Great I recommend.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

World class sushi in North Vancouver. They still get an entire fish cut it here, who does that!!!!! Hamaei is the real deal

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Best omakase sushi!

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

I am so happy to be living near Hamaei! They are Japanese owned and you can definitely tell based on the authenticity of their menu along with their quality. I love the freshness of their dishes and really enjoy their Hama Sushi set.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Best QUALITY Nigiri in Vancouver PERIOD

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

So fresh sushi! I love this place I will come back!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Order Tekkadon to go. The vinegared rice was warm, fluffy, and delicious. I met a delicious sushi restaurant for the first time in a while. The tempura looked delicious, but I decided against it since it was my lunch break from work. Next time I would like to order chirashi sushi or a lunch set.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Best Sushi in the Lower Mainland, maybe BC! (Probably BC) fun to watch Traffic chaos in the calm atmosphere of Hamaei.

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

I don t understand why this restaurant got many good reviews. It was easy to get a table on Sunday night but service is quite slow. Food is below average. The sushi rice was too wet and sticky. The rolls were ugly and not so tasty. The unagi roll I got was probably the worst. I couldn t taste any unagi but just cucumber instead.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Visited Hamari for the 1st time and was surprised how good the quality was. I would highly recommend

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Hamaei is a place you want to keep secret, just so you can ensure you have it all to yourself! Located in a nondescript area of North Vancouver, this cozy locals favourite will dazzle you not with its fancy rolls and over-the-top decor; instead you will find some of the most fresh sashimi and seafood the north shore has to offer. I truly believe they have a reserved spot at the front of the line as the fishing boats come in to ensure first choice and best cuts Incredibly grateful to have such a gem so close by.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Didnt know they can have omakase to go so we gave it a try. Overall the sashimi were fresh and spot prawns were sweet and gotta love the crispy deep-fried head! Another highlight is the fresh seaweed thats garnishing the plate. Too bad the omakase set doesnt come with uni or otoro; otherwise, itd perfect.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Their seafood is always very fresh and love their chicken teriyaki, the best!

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Very fresh ingredients, good service. This place give you a feeling like a small sushi place you will find in Japan. I think the owners are Japanese.

December 22, 2022

Picked up a quick spicy tuna roll and it was absolutely foul. I understand there s a risk of restaurant s using older fish for their spicy rolls, but this was putrid. It was my first time trying this restaurant. Hopefully, I was just unlucky but I won t be back.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Authentic, high quality Japanese food in a cozy place.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Hamaei is one of the best Japanese Restaurants in Vancouver. Everything is fresh and amazing.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Best cali roll ever. Definitely coming back

December 22, 2022

Service was good, but the tempura was bad (like fast food restaurant style, very dry). Compare to other Japanese restaurants, they mark up about 40-50%.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Very nice sushi place, the quality of food is good, the restaurant staff are friendly. The only negative point is lack of soy sauce on the table, the amount of soy sauce provided with sushi is not enough.

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

$20 for 7 thin slices of sashimi, with less than 500 mL of cooked rice... Enough said.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

I tried a few rolls from here and was happy with the quality of the sushi. The larger rolls especially had a fantastic flavor profile. I didnt care much for the salmon, though. The person who took me here has been a fan of the restaurant for over a decade, so it must be doing something well.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

A small restaurant that has only 4 or 5 tables. But the food quality was great. I also liked the small dish size cuz I could try out many different dishes. Chirashi bowl, grilled salmon cheek were the best

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

So I am a former Vancouverite who now lives in Ottawa, sushi is a challenge in the east. Just want to call out the folks at Hamaei Sushi for the outstanding food i got for my drive to Whistler. The BBQ Salmon Skin Roll, Spicy tuna roll and the chopped scallop rol was outstanding. Thanks for a fresh, tasty road treats. wish I could have stayed in to eat at the resto

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Perfect friends.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Great little authentic sushi restaurant. Sashimi is always excellent. Service is very friendly.

Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Staff is nice. Restaurant is clean. Food is not good.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Very traditional Japanese cuisine. You really cannot find an authentic restaurant like this in Vancouver. Food, service and welcoming atmosphere is all a five star for me.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Best sushi in Vancouver! I live in Burnaby but drive all the way just for their food!

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

One of the best sushi restaurants in Vancouver. Consistently great food, friendly service, and high quality ingredients. They might be a couple dollars more than your local cheap sushi place, but theyre absolutely worth every extra cent.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Food is incredible.

★★★★
December 22, 2021

Good food, been ordering for a long time. Quality remains the same. Takeouts: have to wait for 10 mins at least. Once, had to wait for 25 mins

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Amazing local sushi joint. Rolls are top tier. They use great quality fish and everything tastes great. They are a few dollars more expensive than some of the other places in the area but they more than make up for it in terms of quality. Definitely my go-to sushi restaurant on the North Shore.

December 22, 2021

worst restaurant ever!!!! Owner is RUDE. Dont waste your money here!

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Simply the best sushi in town. Been going here for at least 15 years! fresh, good quality sushi. we dont go anywhere else.

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Vegetarians rejoice! I ve long loved Hamaei for their stellar chirashi bowls, but lately I ve been trying to eat vegetarian, so I asked them if they could make me a veg version of the chirashi bowl. The chef very generously agreed to try. And what he made was delicious! It included egg, avocado, marinated mushrooms, cucumber, kampyo (pickled gourd much yummier than it sounds!), pickled daikon, cooked spinach, ginger, and shiso. Ideally it would have included a bit of inari, and perhaps some cooked yam for color and texture. But other than that, it was an A+. Will definitely order again!

★★★
December 22, 2021

Food was good, people were super nice and didnt take too long. The only unfortunate thing was the price for the unagidon. for 28$ I was expecting a lot more than meat on rice. Not even a vegetable. It was good, but you can get the same thing for half the price at other restaurants.

December 22, 2021

Was pretty up set when I stood in line for 10 minutes get up to the area to order wait another 2/3 minutes. She asks me pick up I said no I like to order she asked me to wait so she could help the ppl behind me that are picking up... are you kidding me why not get my order started then help the others seeing I waited already for ever... not cool

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Very nice and respectful owners.

★★★★
December 22, 2021

Best Japanese in North Van. The hot food is even better than the sushi. Gyoza is to die for, black cod and chicken Karaage are excellent too. Yes you will wait. They are very busy for a reason. Phone in your order like everyone else does.

Local Guide
December 22, 2021

After waiting for nearly an hour, we finally got our first dish. Its just me and my daughter right now. It was just before 5 p.m. A shop that makes us feel bad!!

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Had 4 rolls here. It was just average

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Exquisite Japanese sushi

★★★★
December 22, 2021

We were so happy to have found Hamaei Sushi after moving to North Vancouver 5 years ago. It was the only place we found that consistently matched the quality standards we were used to in Japan. The food has always been worth paying a premium for. I had my first interaction with the new management last week and couldn t believe I was in the same restaurant. We will be watching to see if the new owners keep the existing quality-conscious team in place.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

hard to get a seat at peak times, but worth the wait. excellent food quality, and owned, operated by Japanese which is rare in Vancouver. worth the drive !

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Ill be back was great

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Yes! So fresh and a wonderful ambiance.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Great sushi. Really great selection. The service is excellent. Really like the choices from the specials of fish they have fresh as well.

★★★★★
December 22, 2020

High quality sushi with respectable prices, one of the only in town. The sushi here is definitely the highest quality around. May not be the cheapest, but you get high quality sushi.

December 22, 2020

Very disappointing place. I have been a Hamaei client for over 18 years, quality of fish has gone down hell while prices have gone up, smaller portions...sushi has little fish with tons of rice. Customer services very bad. only reason we continue go there because it close by and not that many Japanese owned sushi places in North Van. Tonight I went for an early dinner by myself to Hamaie, the place was full except of two tables and 3 spots by the sushi bar. The server (who knows me very well) told me to wait for 30 minutes as the 3 spots by the bar are reserved and didnt want to offer me the table. I said no problem I can wait. Two minutes later a couple come in and the server offered them to choose between the table or the sushi bar (they had no reservation as she asked them if they did). The couple choose the sushi bar taking the two spots leaving one spot unreserved. The server sat them down and didnt even offer me the one seat by the bar. when I pointed it out and asked if can take the one spot left by the bar, she pretender that didnt notice... told me to take a seat by the bar. I politely told her that this is not a good customer service specially for someone who is being coming there for that long and she personally served me and my family for many years. No apology nothing... I do not recommend this place on all levels bad. very disappointing.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Authentic Japanese owned and operated restaurant and on the North Shore...

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

The best real Japanese sushi restaurant in my personal ratings!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

One of the better chirashi bowls Ive had.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Always busy, not great parking. Great fresh food.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Always fresh and interesting daily specials. Well prepared, great service

★★★★★
December 22, 2019

Great Sushi!

★★★★★
December 22, 2019

Absolutely incredible! I ve been going to Hamaei for two year and it has always been amazing. Delicious fish, friendly and kind staff that love what they do, and overall a fantastic experience.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

One best Japanese restaurant in Metro Vancouver. From the basic (miso, green tea, katsuo dashi, etc) to the top notch artisan sushi, every single experience was perfect.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

good sushi

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Nice authentic sushi place.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

If you go here you have to try the roll with quail eggs on top theyre amazing

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Not worth reviewing.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Best Japanese food on the North Shore. But dont tell anyone - its already hard to get a table!

★★★★★
December 22, 2019

amazing food and service

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Love this restaurant. I go there whenever I got the chance.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

This is a real Japanese sushi place where is not common in Vancouver. They do have fresh ingredients from Japan. the food quality is high and the price is absolutely reasonable. Everything is perfect except the limitation of the Space in the restaurant.

★★★★★
December 22, 2019

Great sushi.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

The best sushi in Vancouver!

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

The food here used to be excellent, sushi, sashimi and cooked foods. But over the years it has been getting a little worse year by year. Cooked food is still highly recommended but the sushi... Last time the rice was warm, big no no. Tuna was very stringy, and had gristle, avocado was hard not soft California roll and BC roll was ok but the rice was simply too warm. My guess is the sushi chefs arent as good as they were when we first started coming here over 10 years ago.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

my family s absolute favourite japanese restaurant! authentic, fresh japanese fare cooked by actual japanese chefs and served by actual japanese staff. this place is the real deal and we are proud regulars

★★★★★
December 22, 2019

Very enjoyable meal of sushi, fish used was fresh

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

I had sushi and it was delicious

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

A very special sushi place, shhhhhhh.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Really good chopped scallop cones! Definitely comparable to Kaide sushi which is my favorite but it s all the way in downtown.. I wish they had the same marinated spicy tuna sashimi and more special rolls! But overall very fresh and the service is great!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

There are more ingredients than at Japanese sushi restaurants, and its delicious!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

Really great sushi and japanese fare from this cozy little place in a strip mall. Very popular dinner spot in the neighbourhood so reservations are recommended.

★★★★★
December 22, 2018

AMAZING! This is the best sushi Ive had I would 100% recommend this restaurant

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

Love what I ordered!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

Fantastic sushi, and some great dishes for the more adventurous that you don t usually find. Something for all different palates.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

This tiny little restaurant offers some top-quality Japanese food. The food is very good as is the service. The small space means that it is difficult to get a table without reservation during peak hours. Call ahead.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

Best Japanese restaurant in North Vancouver. Very traditional, fish is always fresh and all the staff very friendly and always helpful, even if you are not familiar with Japanese food. The restaurant is usually full and its hard to have a table for more than 4 people.

★★★★★
December 22, 2018

Best Japanese restaurant I have been to outside of Japan.

★★★★★
December 22, 2018

Its the best real Japanese sushi restaurant. High quality, very clean, warm and super friendly atmosphere!!

★★★★★
December 22, 2018

What I believe to be one of the best Japanese restaurants in North Vancouver and Vancouver. Amazing quality, freshness of fish and variety of menu. The price is damn good for the food here. Make a reservation because its going to be busy.

★★★★★
December 22, 2018

Extremely fresh and tasty food.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

A very authentic sushi place. Run by a family, it was very cozy and food was super fresh

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

Fresh, tasty sushi and great staff.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

If you want authentic Japanese food/experience, this is the place to go to. Food quality and staff service is great. Only downside would be pricing. Place feels like small local sushi place but the pricing is that of high rent downtown area. But then again, I guess the West Van/North Van residents can afford their pricing.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

The best sushi on the North Shore but a little expensive.

December 22, 2018

There was a chaos in this restaurant: service was very slow, also they forgot to take us a cups of water. Terrible place...

★★★★★
December 22, 2018

The best sashimi i ever eat!

★★★★
December 22, 2018

One of my favorite casual sushi in town. Friendly and cozy atmosphere with authentic Japanese sushi style. Good quality of sushi rice and seaweed. Soup udon dish is highly authentic and very delicious because not many Japanese restaurant can make smoked vege flavored soup base. So their Udon and Salmon & Avocado roll are the things I always order. Try it :) it s definately worth :)

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

If youre looking for outrageous rolls smothered in sauce and a smattering of toppings, this place is not for you. Authentic flavours, traditional, seasonal dishes, and always a great selection of fresh fish. And has anyone noticed the beautiful floral arrangements at the bar? Hamaei has been our familys go to place for many years and will continue to be for many more to come!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

Service was excellent, and the food was lovely.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

Amazing traditional sushi. Fabulous fresh fish. Super kind, polite people. Impressive for anywhere, can t believe it s in Westview!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

Very authentic Japanese Restaurant. We ordered a bunch of nigiri sushi from their daily chef selection menu. They have large selection of fish/seafood and many that Ive rarely seen in Vancouver such as blue fin tuna. Their sashimis were amazingly fresh and the uni was creamy and sweet. Their price is very good value base at their quality. This is probably the best Japanese restaurants in North Shore.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

Authentic Japanese sushi restaurant. The Chirashi Don here is the best one I have had ever. After this one, you wont be able to order Chirashi Don from anywhere else as you will have high standards. The tea here is great and the staff here are very friendly also.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

My favourite sushi restaurant in Vancouver!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

One of the most authentic Japanese restaurants in Vancouver. Good service, amazing sushi. The chirashi don is of the highest quality and features a great variety of fish and shellfish. Grilled black cod is to die for. Be sure to make a reservation.

★★★★★
December 22, 2018

Best in Vancouver

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

Wow! I wish I had found them before!!! Great fresh sashimi. To die for cod. Great service. Traditional Japanese, no sloppy saucy over filled rolls. Very clean. Love it & will be my new sushi place in the north shore. I only go to places if a friend recommends them - I regret not following the reviews - otherwise I d have tried them earlier. It s never too late, I left with a very happy tummy :D

December 22, 2018

I was there with my daughters at 1130am. Not that busy. We sat there for 10 min. No one even bothered to take our orders. A simple acknowledgment or eye contact to ask for more time would have been great. But we got none so we left.

★★★★
December 22, 2018

It can get crowded - so sometimes I do find their service can be a bit slow but they really do try their best...and besides the food is worth waiting for. Consistently good. I have never had a bad meal.

★★★
December 22, 2018

Meh. Food was pretty decent. Service was slow and staff we re disorganized. Was also dirty.

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

No acknowledgement of customers by any of the staff when we entered its door. It takes a bit of an effort to get their attention... The food was mostly OK, with the exception of the tempura that came with nabeyaki udon; they were all half-raw and too crunchy. My wife is Japanese so she knows exactly how tempura should taste like.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

Top notch Japanese fare a cut above your everyday sushi joint. Quality and freshness are noticeably better than others, and they have a wide selection of appetizers, sushi, bento boxes, and à la carte choices. Seasonal recipes and fresh seafood selection, as well as great specials and features. It has been around for a long time and its no wonder why. Limited seating, and always quite busy. The one negative thing is that is hard to get take-out especially during lunch or dinner. They ask if you can wait until a certain time which is usually an hour or more away. I would eat here alot more if they could expedite their take-out process, which is my only complaint.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

One of the most authentic sushi restaurants in Vancouver. Nigiri is phenomenal. Great variety of very fresh, high quality fish. They dont have a lot of the typical specialty rolls with cream cheese or other western toppings youll find at most sushi places in Vancouver. Thats part of the attraction though. Really good quality simple sushi.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

Great food at a reasonable price.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

Too expensive for a lunch box, 29.99 + tax + tip

★★★★★
December 22, 2018

Always amazing sushi! Fresh ingredient, friendly staff. I love it here!!

★★★★★
December 22, 2018

Amazing little place. So authentic! Roll combo was amazing. I was very pleased to hear Japanese speaking customers conversing with the staff as well.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

One of the best japanese restaurants in town.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

Probably the best sushi in North Vancouver. Kitchen items are very good but not outstanding. I always judge a sushi place by the variety and uniqueness of seafood they offer, how they cut and present the fish for sushi or sashimi and how well they make the sushi rice. Most legit sushi in North Vancouver. The place is small so plan accordingly by going early, making reservations or ordering takeout.

December 22, 2017

This place is over priced and sub par. I dont know if its because its close to West Vancouver but the portions were tiny. This isnt fine dining, its sushi. I ordered tofu teriyaki and it was a peice of tofu that would cost me 2 dollars at any market, with no rice and a serving of steamed vegetables I wouldnt consider even half a portion. I wish I could give it zero stars. Usually if I spend over 20 dollars at a sushi place im pretty full. Not this time. Im starving still. Ive never felt so ripped off from a restaurant. Avoid at all cost.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2017

Good quality, average service you normally get in most sushi places. Price is not very cheap but somewhat reasonable.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2017

Good sushi, but pretty expensive.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2017

Tucked out of view, serves great sushi. Efficient service makes for a pleasant experience.