Guu Original Thurlow in Vancouver

Great and vibrant sushi place Recommend it highly! Food

The meal was really eaty

What a gem! We sat by the bar (great for two) and saw the our delicious food being made right in front of us. Sharing concept so you get to try a bunch of different items on the menu. Staff is very friendly as well.

Like any other Guu spot, always know what they are doing and dishes are amazing

Amazing service and amazing food. Highly recommend!!

Average

All the staff are friendly. Sashimi is not recommended. The three basic menu items are delicious.

One of the best Japanese restaurants in Vancouver. A friend took me here about two months ago and I was surprised by the food. We ordered Okonomiyaki and Yuki Udon and as an appetizer, pumpkin croquette. Everything was tasty and filling. The service was friendly and efficient. The atmosphere had a great and energetic vibe, I really love it. The place was clean however, the music was slightly loud and playing country tunes. The place is very tiny and almost always you need to make reservations. Otherwise, you can wait 30 minutes. The prices are affordable so this restaurant is highly recommended.

Great kimchi rice

Good lunch deals here and they have online reservation. Tried a few things but would recommend the curry

Delicious and flavourful japanese food. The special menu is always delightful to order from.

Great spot for my work lunch or after work meetings. The overall quality of the food is excellent with their set dishes at great value. I especailly like their cutlet / karaage combo set

The lively atmosphere of a Japanese izakaya Very satisfied with the food and service Only parking is really expensive and hard to find Also the price is still on the high side

This is my safe place in entire Vancouver. The first day I came here was a couple of years ago and I was in a pretty low mood. I came here and the atmosphere really lifted my mood. The food was beyond my expectations. Since then it has become my overall favourite in entire Vancouver. I cannot describe how lovely the staff are, how great and unique the marination and food taste is and how uplifting and feel-good the atmosphere is. Having this place around has been mentioned in my gratitude journal. I LOVE this place and their staff

We had assorted oden and kimchi fried rice, both are very good. The price is very reasonable and the portion size is generous. The atmosphere is that of a Japanese izakaya. Very nice. I forgot to take photos of the food but just know it s guud

Great spot for some drinks and snacks. Friendly greeting and goodbyes from the employees! Fun atmosphere and fun food menus.

Great Japanese restaurant!

We came late on a Friday and were happy to find a seat right away. It was a lovely meal.

Low key, cozy space for a quick lunch. Food was delicious.

Excellent food, affordable prices, good atmosphere, very warm service I think you can invite vegetarian friends, or those who only eat chicken and also those who love to try new dishes. I would definitely return to that place.

Food

By far the best Japanese food in Vancouver. Hands down. Service is amazing and friendly. Cannot miss.

A solid choice to get an affordable lunch in downtown.

I felt like I was in Japan by its atmosphere Servers and chef were enthusiastic and food was nice Food

Ive been visiting BC for the last week and a half and I can honestly say this was the best meal Ive had so far. We shared three appetizers and I had the salmon and tuna tataki. The staff were all super friendly and professional. Got to try so many delicious, authentic and unique dishes and drinks.

Authentic Japanese Lunch set comes with salad Not expecting Michelin Star But definitely satisfying experience Food : 5/5 |

Great sake selection. Tried octopus for the first time after a few, was awesome

This is a great place to have drinks with friends and catch up. The food is very good especially the beef yaki udon, which is my favourite! I personally think the yaki udon is the best in town, and of course, the appetizers are good as well!

Authentically Japanese. The food is delicious and the service, as provided by Hana-chan, is impeccable. Highly recommend for a true Japanese experience.

Every time I come to Vancouver, I always stop in for an amazing meal. The food is consistently great. The menu always changes and it is a great experience. Like being in Japan.

Simple and Tasty. Service was very prompt and courteous I used to frequent this location late night many years ago . GUU Original stil has the same vibes as when I first visited 15 years ago. A place where many memories were made! Food : 5/5

Great lunch time deals. Can get crowded fast. Reservations are available.

SOOO GOOD

The food is pretty good. Im from Mexico and I dont even know how to eat with chopsticks. You can ask for a fork without problems.

I come here often for lunch and its been consistently great. Sometimes they do get busy and the wait is slightly longer, but the value and food is great. Its around $15 for lunch, $20 with tax and tip, and they have a good range of options for izakaya food. You have lighter options such as grilled fish set meals, heavier options such as katsu curry, and options in between. My favourite is the tomago toji don which is essentially karrage and egg rice bowl with a light soupy sauce. Staff are also friendly.

The cheering, the delicious food, warm atmosphere, I cant wait to come back!

Very small and welcoming place with true Japanese tradition and hospitality. We got fried chicken, oden with 5 pieces, miso mackerel and yaki udon. Everything was really very good, especially the chicken, very tender and not greasy, while the udon, a large portion and well seasoned. The service was vocal and attentive. The bill was also really good, especially for staying in downtown Vancouver, around $80. The only negative note of the place is that when the chef sautés the food in the pan, it creates a lot of smoke and the hood is unable to dispose of it, so the place becomes filled with smoke. If you are looking for an authentic Japanese restaurant, this is the place.

I would like to thank the Guu crew and shoutout to Katsu and Satomi for making an amazing night for my friend, as it is his first time experiencing that kind of atmosphere and food ! Yall amazing and yall make it worth it to come back !

Both up GUI on my last night in Vancouver. Wish it had been my first night and I would have come back more. Had the enoki mushroom on lovely fresh tofu, okonomiyaki reminiscent of my days in Japan, yellowtail carpaccio (shown) and agedashi eggplant. Can t wait for a day in the future to explore the whole menu. Great service. Best meal I found in downtown.

Great little Japanese drinking hole with delicious food and excellent vibes. Me and my partner go here quite regularly.

Nice place to go for lunch

Amazing food with great flavors!! It took us right back to Japan!

I got a beef udon and highball which is my fav drink but their highball tasted very light kinda bland

Amazing food and ambiance. Will remember their Kimchi Fried Rice and Karaage when Im back home in Spain. Loved the playlist too!! Thank you also for giving me the sticker!

such a guuuud time here. very cool vibes with fairly priced food! youll feel transported to japan when you hear the waiters and kitchen staff shout orders in staccato japanese

Bomb

Oh wow! One of my top ten meals. Young, energetic and very competent team turning out crazy good food. Its noisy and chaotic but thats part of the atmosphere. If craft matters to you, eat at the bar.

Went here for lunch and living in japan i expected to get food you will get in japan. I got the salmon with rice which is a staple in the Japanese cuisine. It felt like i was in japan again, the service is great and very attentive. The atmosphere could be a 10/10 if they played Japanese songs instead of country.

Best Japanese restaurant in downtown in terms of quality, price and service.. They just to invest in their atmosphere, interior design I go here once per month Food : 5/5 |

Outstanding Japanese restaurant with impeccable customer service. The staff is attentive and welcoming, making every visit a delightful experience. The menu offers authentic dishes, beautifully presented and bursting with flavor. Highly recommend for a memorable dining experience.

There was a constant stream of customers, and a wide variety of people, not just Japanese, were enjoying the izakaya. There are many sushi restaurants, but I think this is a good option for people who want to pick a variety of things at an izakaya. The customer service was good, and since the restaurant was Japanese, it was a place where you could easily experience Japan without having to worry about the language. Kid-friendliness: I went with my middle school and high school children and the customer service was pleasant.

noisy lunch hour....crowded Food tastes Food

What an amazing surprise! I love to find these hidden spots. Amazing food, amazing service and the coolest atmosphere . Tip: seat on the bar the cooks are super nice and fun! Definitely we will return soon! Food : 5/5 |

I have been looking for a decent izakaya for a decade and i have found you. Im crying. Nice to meet you! Love it love It love it Food

Delicious Chicken Yakitori bowl washed down with refreshing Sapporo draft. Very friendly efficient staff and chefs. Cosy atmosphere. Food : 5/5

Checked out Guu original for the first time yesterday. On walking in, the restaurant is a bit older and cramped. However the food was to die for! The kimchi fried rice was absolutely amazing and so was the chicken karaage. Their cocktails are delightful too (we tried the sake mojito and high ball) and complement the food quite well. Their bathroom needs a bit more cleaning especially given how busy they are in the evenings. Despite that, a wonderful experience and makes me motivated to try out all the rest of the Guu restaurants eventually!

Really love the service at this restaurant - everyone is so enthusiastic and helpful and nice!!! I also loved the kimchi fried rice - so flavorful and full of umami. We also got the agedashi tofu, smoked salmon salad (a miss), and soup with yam noodles and tofu.

Love the food and the authenticity!!

Always delicious and affordable during lunch times.

Food

Super loud! Female server didn t put in complete order n couldn t understand when we told her the missing yellow tail is 30 mi s wait. They resubmit but not a rush order. Food didn t come out together for 4 people (2 finished eating n other 2 still waiting). Chirachi is such mushy rice (half rice soup) n chopped little pieces of unknown fish! Very disappointed n ruined the meal w companies!

We loved the food and ambiance.

First time at the Original Guu. Quality, service, izakaya and same selection, as expected. A very consistent experience. Miso sablefish

Lively and friendly place. Felt like I was in Japan! Their specials were great, agadashi zucchini, file fish jerky, fried oysters, smelt karaage, beef ochazuke to name a fee. The 2-hour limit on weekends still gave us plenty of time to enjoy the atmosphere and service.

Very nice original japanese restaurant, I felt in Tokyo for an evening

kicking karrage!!

always good food and good atsmophere.

Thanks to this restaurant I can remember what Japan tasted like

In Japanese-style Isaya, the fried chicken is delicious, but the fried pork chop is a little more ordinary! In summary, the service attitude of the store clerk is excellent ~ Good food

Best beer! Food is delicious and affordable. My friend and I always over stay and they never kick us out. They are so kind. Best place ever.

My friend and I love going to this place to drink beer and eat late night. Everything about this place is awesome 10/10 from the atmosphere, music, drinks, food and especially the staff who were super friendly and welcoming! Tonight we had a pitcher of Sapporo, ham cutlet, carbonara, kimchi, carpaccio and fries - all were delicious. Highly recommend! :)

What a little gem! Original and delicious food, and the atmosphere is wonderfully friendly and welcoming, thanks to all the staff.

Friendly staff. Best Japanese izakaya in town. Nice view from the window table~

My favorite place in Canada. It s far from where I live, but it s a must visit place for a special anniversary or a vacation in Vancouver. Master s fried rice makes my heart beat.

How to eat here: get several friends who want to share foods; dont bother drinking here unless you are into sakè; order a few things at a time; savor every bite--dont rush; split the bill with the table. We each paid about $20, all left stuffed, and we tried so many different foods.

Everything is good

Amazing food!! So many delicious dishes and amazing service :) definitely going back! The beef capaccio is amazing, so is the black cod in most. We tried some of the new dishes they offered, all delicious You have to go early if you want to avoid waiting in line, but even if you do have to wait, its worth it!! And they have Japanese style toilets!!

I came to Guu Original because I missed Raku (the former Japanese restaurant in the same location) and was happy to find similar vibes and tastes. Their lunch menu offered less variety as compared with dinner menu, but it has enough choices for you to choose from. Their food is more izakaya-style (sort of fast food style that goes with beer). I particularly liked their ebi mayo. Food and services were both wonderful. Pricing is very reasonable considering its location.

Don t go alone

Super fun restaurant with incredibly tasty food!!!!

We loved it! Went there for dinner right after we arrived in Vancouver. Lovely people, perfect service, very yummy food, great selection. A wonderful japanese izakaya. We wil try to eat here again when we are back in Vancouver at the end of our vacation. Food

Cannot get any better. Wonderful service and outstanding small plate selections. It feels like we had one of everything but the udon prawns and omurice were standouts, but all 6 or 10 plates were delicious.

Good vibe, food was fine. Sushi quality is on the lower band.

Excellent food, great service. Highly recommend the fish jerky appetizer and the BBQ eel fried rice. There aren t a lot of tables but there s a lot of seating at the bar.

Great, fast service where all the cooks are genuinely interested in your experience. The lamb was to die for and a must try with the Kimchi fried rice. I ve been here multiple times and love everything I try. Can t recommend enough

Love this place. Have tried most of the lunch combo many times and everything is good.

I went on a trip to Vancouver and this restaurant was truly one of my favorite restaurants. Dinner and lunch were all taken care of.

Always busy and food is always good. Feels like I m in Japan!

Best Guu of all locations, but quality and creativity has gone down throughout the years

Such fun ambience. You are welcomed on the way in and thanked on the way out in Japanese by the crew. So fun and great food. Their okonomiyaki was delicious. Smaller and different than in Osaka, but super delicious. Nice choices of sake as well.

Best Japanese restaurant in the town. The vibe is amazing, the service is nice and the food and beer taste like wow

Really felt like a scaled-up izakaya from our trip to Japan. We had the karage curry, which came with miso soup and a salad. We got tofu w/ enoki mushrooms on the side. The curry was particularly good. The mushrooms and tofu was also good, but didnt hit the flavor mark quite as good as the curry. Wed happily return to try some other items.

The food was amazing and the staff were great! Made fresh to order right in front of you.

Delicious authentic food!

Very good, filling lunch (Yakitori Don) for a reasonable price and very friendly staff. Definitely going back to try other options and dinner!

IT WAS GUUD TO SEE YOU Recently revisited @guu_izakaya and was reminded of why this place will forever have a special place in my heart. The ambience, the service, and best of all the food. Has never failed to satisfy my craving for Japanese food. I was first introduce to Guu when an ex of mine brought me to @guu_with_garlic years ago. And ever since that day this Izakaya has held a special place in my heart. Their menu varies by location but you can be sure to find tons of Japanese izakaya classics like chicken karaage, sashimi, and a variety of appetizers. I always order the tonkatsu with egg over rice if I go during lunch time. And their Unagi egg over rice is also *chefs kisses* genuinely the perfect spot for a casual date night or quick lunch. Have you guys tried any of Guu s chain of restaurants yet? *this post was not sponsored or gifted but please feel free to feed me @guu_izakaya * 8.5/10 10/10 $$ (aprox. $30-50/person) Guu Izakaya | 838 Thurlow St, Vancouver

Great restaurant to taste excellent Japanese cuisine in a friendly atmosphere. Super welcoming service. I loved!

Had my birthday celebration here and it was awesome! Got a gift, a Cowboy Bebop vinyl record from my friend, and then boom, the restaurant starts jamming one of their classic tunes. The staffs attention to detail and customer care blew me away. And when they all burst into a loud Happy Birthday, including some customers, I was surprised and embarrassed in the nicest way possible.

Best Japanese street food in Vancouver. Try: ikamaru (calamari), yaki udon (a version of noodle with beef), ebimayo (shrimps) and takoyaki (octopus) Of course with Sapporo beer Food

Food is always amazing. I came here pretty often for lunches in the past when I worked in the area. But one time they messed up our order and let us waited for over 45 minutes for a quick Lunch.

Love the little plates and 3 for $15 appetizer choice! You get to taste a lil bit of everything. It s always quite packed here and hard to get a spot, but the food is really great! Star of the show was the daifuku strawberry dessert with green tea ice cream, yum!

Best restaurant in downtown Vancouver.

Super nice staff and really good food! I would 100% go back

Always a consistent meal here at Guu. They get busy at all different hours of the day, but their food is always great, one of the best ebi mayo in Vancouver. Service has always been top notch, and it s a fun experience to come here. They also have decent deals on pitchers of beer. It s one of my personal go-to places when you re not sure what to eat.

Delicious food.

The potato salad side dish was super bomb

Dinner experience are wayyyyyy better than the lunch experience. One of the Lunch waitress always pose a poker face to me. And I ve never experienced anywhere else that when I ask for a cup of hot tea I only get half of the cup. Food : 5/5

Takoyaki is awesome!!

This place is amazing They are so young yet so good at Japanese cooking. Very impressed Food

The food is good, but your clothes and hair stay with frying smell.

AI bot reviews are wild.

Loved the foods, but loud atmosphere. I live about 200m from this restaurant, and the shouting from both employees and customers are kinda upsetting when you try to rest from your hectic day. Please let customers know the smoking area is not in front of your restaurant. Lets keep the neighbourhood livable. Thanks.

Bad food

Had a really bad exp tonight. First our server was super confused about our reso and ended up sitting us at the bar which was fine but then no one came for over 15m to take our drink order. I also explained to the server we didn t want bonito on one of the dishes and he simply couldn t understand what I meant despite bonito being a very common ingredient in this cuisine. The wrong wine was brought, then food we ordered wasn t available and finally no one refilled drinks or even asked if we wanted another. In the end the food we ordered without the bonito never even came despite multiple follow up. Staff needs to work on communication for sure.

Thank you so much for the great lunch offer, it is nearly impossible to find a good restaurant with such quality and affordable food nowadays! Chicken was not fatty and oily. Really like those side dishes! Will come back next time!

yaki udon is overly salty and peppery. The restaurant is really cold to dine in.

Foods are sooo good and servers are so kind and nice. We had birthday party last night, and they prepare for the candle and celebrate all together. We really enjoyed it. *Highly recommendation : Omurice, Beef hanger steak with chives * Recommendation : Karaage, Asserted Oden

You outta love Guu in all its locations, dishes and flavours. The udon carnonara is outta this planet!!!

Loved it! Great food, atmosphere, quick! Ill be definitely coming back

One of my favorite restaurants when visiting Vancouver. A must eat.

The food was delicious and the presentation was impeccable. Definitely a good place for dates or parties. Wheelchair accessibility: Theres a ramp at the entrance and open seating near the window.

The food service atmosphere is all very good! Will definitely come again!

Everything we tried was so delicious. The atmosphere is amazing and you feel so welcome immediately. The host was so nice to us, we had to ask, Do I know you? I guess we are not used to the hosts at restaurants being so sweet. Even the music and the cooks dancing while cooking were a whole vibe. Such a wonderful experience. I don t think we ve ever been treated so well in a restaurant. We will come back for more!

I havent been to Guu for many years, I remembered it used to be good but today the service was non-existent, long wait for meals (we were there for like almost 2 hours) and will not come back. Were out for a team lunch, and got a table at the back for 6 people, but only 2 of us were there first. The table was right next to the bathroom and it smells. They just completely left us there for 10-15 mins, no water, no nothing. When the rest of the people are here, then they gave us our water. We ordered a few set lunches, and waited 30-40 minutes, and during the entire time, no one came to refill our water, All the staff just past by us as if we dont exist, even when we tried to wave at them. We were literally sitting there with our empty cups. After at least 40 minutes of sitting, I couldnt take it anymore and I got up and told the waitress that weve been waiting for way too long for our meals and no one came to fill our water for us. They apologize and brought us water. Right when I was talking to the waitress, another server brought 1 of our meal. And then we waited another 10 minutes for the rest of our sashimi set lunches to arrived. The sashimi set lunch was decent, it came with rice and miso soup and a very small potato salad. I wish the side dish was bigger because I was not really full after finishing the mean. On top of that the long wait time just really ruined the meal for us.

Wonderful place and a must visit. The staff are so happy and make you feel at home. The atmosphere is so great and make you feel like you are in Japan. Yes, the food is fantastic.

One of our favourite places to dine, the food is always too notch. The dishes are great for sharing and you try a lot of different ones as a group. Service is very fast and there s a vibrant atmosphere in the place.

It is one of my favorite izakaya restaurants in Vancouver. Food is always good. The only con side for the restaurant is really small and its open kitchen, so your clothes will smell after eating here. Remember to make reservations, or expect to wait for a long time.

I went here when it first opened and I ve been going to Guu locations across Canada for years. Frankly I m disgusted. The limited lunch menu, absolutely filthy restaurant, slow and inflexible service, and otherwise lame atmosphere was awful. Even the tuna sashimi looked like it was pulled apart by hand. The salmon wasn t fresh. The teriyaki beef was pure sugar. The kimchi rice had no kimchi and no flavour. Not only was this a bad experience for an izakaya, this was a disgrace for a restaurant. Everything was atrocious. Do yourself a favour and go anywhere else because even a street hotdog is better

Awesome place for a drink after work. Foods are fantastic

Was recommended by a friend, and was blown away by the great food and dining experience. Have only gone once, so Ill try and do more visits so we can provide a more complete review.

Vibe was very good. I recommend ordering a large variety of appetizers and getting their hot sake for the chilly fall and winter Vancouver weathers.

I am a Japanese food fan and I Guu Thurlow has always been one of my favourites.

Cozy small place. They have a large menu online as well as a separate menu of daily specials. A nice variety of items. The dishes I ordered were tasty.

A restaurant serving traditional Japanese food. Having the same atmosphere even after 16 years!!! Love the food!

Visited Guu Original, a Japanese restaurant, on a bustling Friday night. We indulged in a variety of dishes including Chicken Karaage, Jellyfish, Eel Rice, and complemented our meal with Edamame and Mango Beer. The service was decent, perhaps impacted by the crowded setting, and while hospitable, it didn t quite exceed expectations. The culinary highlight was undoubtedly the Jellyfish and Eel Rice both dishes stood out with their exceptional flavor. The ambiance was lively, albeit a bit too crowded, which somewhat affected the overall dining experience. In summary, Guu Original offered a good dining experience with some standout dishes, but it fell short of delivering an extraordinary one. While the food was great, the experience as a whole left a bit more to be desired.

Food tasted great, beer was fresh. Floor was a bit slippery, due to the food grease... Food

All around great! Loved how everything was fairly small so it gave us a lot of opportunities to try different things!

Client since 1995! Can I say more? The closest feeling to Japan on this side of the pond! I have met great people here, now great friends! Can I give 10 starts? Food : 5/5

Love their food from both Lunch and Dinner menu. I always stop by whenever I go to the area. Used to go a lot when I was working in downtown.

Such a great vibe! Loud and alive. Food is fantastic.

Amazing food, amazing vibe

Everything about this place is awesome.

A staple dinner location for my wife and I whenever we visit Vancouver. I ve been coming to this restaurant since 2016, and it only gets better. Lively atmosphere, and great Japanese izakaya-style food. Highly recommend for dates, night out with the friends, or any occasion!

Yaki Udon was delicious

Since I visit here quite frequently, I thought it would be appropriate to leave a review. This place is the closest to an authentic izakaya experience in Vancouver. The food is delicious, and the service is excellent. The kimchi fried rice is a must-try! After 10 years in Vancouver, I still love it

Had never been to Guu before but it was late, and the restaurant was close. Such a fun meal! Cosy seats at the long table with a view into the very active open kitchen. Japanese 1990s rock covers playing, enough for atmosphere but not too loud to converse. Friendly service. Creative and very tasty menu that seems made to share. We ll be back.

How did I not know about this place before? Cozy casual spot with delicious food and enthusiastic service. Loved everything I had - kimchi rice and tataki beef. Yum!

Sat at the bar, felt partially adopted by the energetic and talented crew, maxed out our seating time allowance over 5 tap Sapporos and a steady stream of delicious izakaya plates. This is what dining should always be like.

I ve been here for over 10 years and the experience is still as amazing as day 1! I love it! I also love how it is the only restaurant I know that didn t cut down their portion. They have always stay true to their dishes and I quality.

awesome service with cozy japanese izakaya vibes! very authentic japanese food

December 15th, two guy servers and 1 female server. Never had such an angry female server in my life. The male servers were friendly and nice but the female server gave us a terrible attitude since the start. Horrible experience, will never come back. December 15th, 9pm

Honestly my favourite Japanese BBQ in Vancouver on all metrics.

Real taste of Japan , Carbonara Udon is my favourite dish , if you like creamy sauce, Sashimi very fresh and Staff friendly .

Never order wagyu steak. I received my food within an hour of ordering, and although it costs $24, it comes with a total of 9 pieces of wagyu.

This place make me feel nostalgic about Japan. I came here twice. Both were really quite decent. I ll visit again for sure.

Very good and unique Japanese dishes, the day specials tend to be my favourite dishes. Very good if you want to experience Japanese that is not sushi. Price is very reasonable also. Great for sharing!

Went there for my birthday, always am amazing experience. The sign of a good restaurant is consistency. And Guu is consistently the best! Some of the best seafood, and Japanese food in Vancouver we always go as a group so we can share as many dishes as we can.