Restaurant

Octopus' Garden Restaurant

Name: Octopus' Garden Restaurant
Address: 1995 Cornwall Ave, Vancouver, BC, V6J 1C9, CA
Price range: $$$$

Sushi•Vancouver•$$$$

Octopus' Garden Restaurant is one of the best sushi restaurants in Vancouver for date night, especially if you want a strong option in Vancouver.

Editorial review updated•Jul 28, 2026

Octopus' Garden has been doing something quietly important on Cornwall Avenue: holding the line on serious, chef-driven sushi in a Kitsilano neighbourhood that has cycled through every dining trend imaginable. Chef-owner Sada Hoshioka — Sada-san to regulars — is widely credited among those who track Vancouver's sushi scene as one of the foundational figures who helped the city build its case as a North American sushi capital. That's not a marketing claim; it's a reputation assembled over three decades by a chef who stayed put and kept working. The 2024 and 2025 Michelin Plate recognition is meaningful here not as a headline but as confirmation of what the neighbourhood already knew: this is a room that operates at a level of craft most restaurants at this price point talk about and few actually sustain. The octopus decor — everywhere, deliberately — signals that you are somewhere with a point of view and a sense of humour about itself, and that the regulars who keep coming back are in on the joke. The dishes that have emerged as signatures tell you exactly what kind of kitchen this is. Sada-san's Nomu Uni Shooter — fresh sea urchin layered with mountain potato, quail egg, wasabi, dashi broth seasoned with sake, mirin and soy, served over rice with seaweed and shiso — is the kind of composition that requires both classical Japanese technique and enough confidence to present it as a single cohesive drink. It's been cited repeatedly as a signature, which means it isn't a seasonal flourish; it's a statement of philosophy. The Foie Gras Nigiri is another example of a kitchen that understands Western luxury ingredients well enough to fold them into a Japanese format without the result feeling like a fusion experiment — diners consistently flag it as a highlight. The Art Sashimi, described as showcasing chef creativity and knife skill, rounds out a menu that rewards the kind of diner who wants to be guided rather than simply fed. The practical reality of a room like this: at price level four, you are paying for the chef's attention, and the move is to lean into it. Order the Uni Shooter. Order the Foie Gras Nigiri. Ask what the kitchen is featuring on the sashimi side rather than defaulting to a standard combination. Kitsilano regulars who have been coming since the nineties did not build this restaurant's reputation by playing it safe on the menu. Reservations are the sensible call — a 30-year-old room with Michelin recognition does not leave much to walk-in luck on a weekend.

Marcus Chen, Senior Restaurant Critic

Methodology•Vancouver guides•Editorial team•Report outdated information

date night

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Taste ID

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Taste Score 8.1/10

Rating (Google) 9.2

521 reviews

Vancouver

At a glance

The fastest read on whether this place fits tonight.

8.1/10

Taste Score

Google 9.2 from 521 reviews

Best for

date night

Price and pace

Splurge territory

Neighborhood

Vancouver | 1995 Cornwall Ave, Vancouver, BC V6J 1C9, Canada

Price

Splurge territory

Taste Score

8.1/10

Address

Vancouver | 1995 Cornwall Ave, Vancouver, BC V6J 1C9, Canada

Inside the restaurant

Photos of Octopus' Garden Restaurant

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Menu and ordering

Octopus' Garden Restaurant menu: what to order

Start with the dishes below, drawn from the restaurant details and TastyPals notes available on this page. Octopus' Garden Restaurant is listed in the Splurge territory price range. Menus, availability, and prices can change, so confirm current details before visiting.

Uni Shooter (Nomu Uni Shooter)

Foie Gras Nigiri

Art Sashimi

Why go

What makes Octopus' Garden Restaurant worth the move

Octopus' Garden Restaurant works for date night because the room and the food both help the evening land. Uni Shooter (Nomu Uni Shooter) and Foie Gras Nigiri also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 521 Google reviews.

What to know fast

Public rating

9.2 from 521 Google reviews

Best for

date night

Style

Sushi in Vancouver

Spend

Splurge territory

Best for

date night

Know before you go

Google rating: 9.2 from 521 reviews

Price point: $$$$

Popular dishes: Uni Shooter (Nomu Uni Shooter), Foie Gras Nigiri, Art Sashimi

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TastyPals Reviews

What diners are saying

0 diner reviews · reviewed by Marcus Chen for Octopus' Garden Restaurant

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Google snapshot

9.2 from 521 reviews

TastyPals notes

Editorial review by Marcus Chen

No diner notes for Octopus' Garden Restaurant yet.

Nero Tondo operates out of a conviction that 18 seats and a single counter is enough room to say something serious.

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Plan the visit

Quick details

Visit Website Directions

Address: 1995 Cornwall Ave, Vancouver, BC V6J 1C9, Canada
Price: $$$$
TastyPals score: 8.1/10
Google rating: 9.2 (521 reviews)
Cuisine: Sushi
Neighborhood: Vancouver

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Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does Octopus' Garden Restaurant serve?

Octopus' Garden Restaurant is a Sushi restaurant located in Vancouver, Vancouver. Octopus' Garden has been doing something quietly important on Cornwall Avenue: holding the line on serious, chef-driven sushi in a Kitsilano neighbourhood that has cycled through every dining trend imaginable.

What is Octopus' Garden Restaurant best for?

Octopus' Garden Restaurant is best for date night. Octopus' Garden Restaurant works for date night because the room and the food both help the evening land. Uni Shooter (Nomu Uni Shooter) and Foie Gras Nigiri also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 521 Google reviews.

How much does it cost to eat at Octopus' Garden Restaurant?

Octopus' Garden Restaurant is in the Splurge territory price range ($$$$). Google rating: 9.2 from 521 reviews

What should I order at Octopus' Garden Restaurant?

Start with Uni Shooter (Nomu Uni Shooter), Foie Gras Nigiri and Art Sashimi. These dishes are shown from TastyPals notes or restaurant data on this page.

Is Octopus' Garden Restaurant worth visiting?

Octopus' Garden Restaurant holds a 9.2 Google rating from 521 reviews. Octopus' Garden Restaurant works for date night because the room and the food both help the evening land. Uni Shooter (Nomu Uni Shooter) and Foie Gras Nigiri also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 521 Google reviews.

Where is Octopus' Garden Restaurant located?

Octopus' Garden Restaurant is located at 1995 Cornwall Ave, Vancouver, BC V6J 1C9, Canada. Directions are available via Google Maps.

Is Octopus' Garden Restaurant good for a date night?

Yes — Octopus' Garden Restaurant is tagged for date night dining. Octopus' Garden Restaurant works for date night because the room and the food both help the evening land. Uni Shooter (Nomu Uni Shooter) and Foie Gras Nigiri also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 521 Google reviews.

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