Miku

Miku brought aburi-style cooking, built around flame-seared sushi, to Vancouver in 2008. The restaurant began on West Hastings Street and now sits on the waterfront at 200 Granville Street, beside Canada Place, with views across Burrard Inlet. It is listed as recommended in the Michelin Guide and received a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2025.

The menu combines Japanese flavours and techniques with ingredients from the West Coast, many of them Ocean Wise recommended. Flame-seared sushi is the reason to come, and the signature is aburi oshi, pressed sushi seared on top, made with salmon, ebi prawn or saba mackerel, with a sampler for first-timers. Rolls include the Miku Roll and Red Wave Roll, and other highlights are aburi oysters and Iwate wagyu carpaccio. There is also a raw bar with sashimi, oysters and caviar, plus appetisers, small plates and entrées. Desserts are made in-house, from the Green Tea Opera to a Saikyo miso rare cheesecake.

For a longer meal there are two set menus, priced per guest and not for sharing: the seven-course Miku Kaiseki and the six-course Waterfront Kaiseki, each with an optional drinks pairing. At lunchtime the Lunch Shokai and sushi lunch sets are lighter options. Executive chef Kazuhiro Hayashi leads the kitchen.

Miku works for a wide range of occasions. Its location makes it convenient for a meal before or after visiting Canada Place, the Vancouver Lookout or Gastown, and it is open for both lunch and dinner. Cruise passengers leaving from Canada Place are almost next door. Couples can book a table with a view, while groups can use the private dining room, which seats up to 24; full buyouts are not offered. In good weather the waterfront patio is the place to sit. The restaurant is wheelchair accessible, with an accessible washroom and accessible seating.

According to Destination Vancouver, Miku is open from 11:30am to 10pm on weekdays and from noon to 10pm at weekends. Reservations are made through OpenTable and are advisable at peak times. Takeaway and delivery are also available if you want to eat aburi sushi at your hotel.

Expect prices at the upper end of the mid-range for the city. The combination of seared sushi and harbour views is what sets this branch apart.