Restaurant

TAKENAKA Uni Bar

Name: TAKENAKA Uni Bar
Address: 52 Powell St, Vancouver, BC, V6A 1E7, CA
Telephone: (604) 834-3331
Price range: splurge

Japanese•Vancouver•splurge

TAKENAKA Uni Bar is one of the best japanese restaurants in Vancouver for special occasion, especially if you want a strong option in Vancouver.

TAKENAKA Uni Bar occupies a deliberate lane in Vancouver's Japanese dining landscape — not an izakaya stretched across genres, not a sushi counter performing for the room.

Editorial review•May 5, 2026

TAKENAKA Uni Bar occupies a deliberate lane in Vancouver's Japanese dining landscape — not an izakaya stretched across genres, not a sushi counter performing for the room. The menu centers on uni as a serious organizing principle, and the mid-range price point means there is nowhere to hide behind tasting-menu overhead. Regulars, by all accounts, treat the broader menu as background and go straight to what the bar is known for. That kind of return behavior is telling: it suggests the kitchen has identified something specific it does better than most in the city, and has the discipline not to dilute it. The Frozen Uni Cream Udon is the dish that anchors the restaurant's reputation. Diners consistently describe it as a polarizing, commitment-level preparation — briny, cold, and built for people who already know where they stand on uni. The Aburi Sushi Omakase is the counter's technical showcase, with torched pieces reportedly finished with enough control to develop fat in the fish without losing the ocean character underneath. The Omakase 5 Kinds Assorted Onigiri reads as a studied, restrained exercise in a form that rarely gets taken seriously at this level — rice temperature and filling ratio handled with the same intention applied elsewhere on the menu. The Seafood Bara Chirashi Bowl is noted as a stronger lunch proposition than a dinner one, when fish rotation is at its freshest and the room less compressed. The strategic pairing, according to what the restaurant is known for, is the Frozen Uni Cream Udon alongside the Aburi Sushi Omakase — that combination is where TAKENAKA's identity is reportedly sharpest. Counter seats are available by booking; walk-in bar access exists but is unreliable on weekends. Come with a clear sense of what the room is about, or the point of being here will escape you.

James Whitfield, Restaurant Critic

Methodology•Vancouver guides•Editorial team

Omakase special occasion date night intimate precise omakase

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Taste ID

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Rating (Google) 8.8

375 reviews

Vancouver

At a glance

The fastest read on whether this place fits tonight.

8.8

Rating

Based on 375 reviews

Best used for

special occasion and Omakase

Price and pace

splurge

Neighborhood

Vancouver · 52 Powell St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1E7, Canada

Price

splurge

Google rating

8.8 from 375 reviews

Phone

(604) 834-3331

Photos of TAKENAKA Uni Bar

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TAKENAKA Uni Bar on video

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What to order

Signature dishes at TAKENAKA Uni Bar

Omakase 5 Kinds Assorted Onigiri

Selection of 5 assorted onigiri with varied fillings

Onigiri Makunouchi Bento

2pcs onigiri with miso soup and 7 kinds of appetizers

Aburi Sushi Omakase

8pc daily omakase seared sushi complemented with garnishes and sweet soy sauce

Wagyu Beef Hamburg Curry and Rice

100% premium Wagyu beef patty with own blended spices and slow cooked onions, onion pickles, steamed rice

Seafood Bara Chirashi Bowl

Sashimi cubes, snow crab, scallop, salmon roe, sweet egg omelet, radish sprouts, shiso marinated kelp, tobiko on original sushi rice

Why go

What makes TAKENAKA Uni Bar worth the move

TAKENAKA Uni Bar is an easy yes when you want somewhere that feels considered rather than fussy. Omakase 5 Kinds Assorted Onigiri and Onigiri Makunouchi Bento also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 8.8 rating across 375 Google reviews.

What to know fast

Public rating

8.8 from 375 Google reviews

Best used for

special occasion and Omakase

Style

Japanese in Vancouver

Spend

splurge

Best for

Omakase special occasion date night intimate precise omakase

Know before you go

Google rating: 8.8 from 375 reviews

Price point: splurge

Popular dishes: Omakase 5 Kinds Assorted Onigiri, Onigiri Makunouchi Bento, Aburi Sushi Omakase

Website linked on this page

TastyPals Reviews

What diners are saying

0 diner reviews · reviewed by James Whitfield for TAKENAKA Uni Bar

Google snapshot

8.8 from 375 reviews

TastyPals notes

Editorial review by James Whitfield

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

Plan the visit

Quick details

Book on OpenTable Menu Directions

Address: 52 Powell St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1E7, Canada
Phone: (604) 834-3331
Price: splurge
TastyPals score: Coming soon
Google rating: 8.8 (375 reviews)
Cuisine: Japanese
Neighborhood: Vancouver

Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does TAKENAKA Uni Bar serve?

TAKENAKA Uni Bar is a Japanese restaurant located in Vancouver, Vancouver. TAKENAKA Uni Bar occupies a deliberate lane in Vancouver's Japanese dining landscape — not an izakaya stretched across genres, not a sushi counter performing for the room.

What is TAKENAKA Uni Bar best for?

TAKENAKA Uni Bar is best for omakase, special occasion, date night, intimate, precise, omakase. TAKENAKA Uni Bar is an easy yes when you want somewhere that feels considered rather than fussy. Omakase 5 Kinds Assorted Onigiri and Onigiri Makunouchi Bento also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 8.8 rating across 375 Google reviews.

How much does it cost to eat at TAKENAKA Uni Bar?

TAKENAKA Uni Bar is in the splurge price range (splurge). Google rating: 8.8 from 375 reviews

What should I order at TAKENAKA Uni Bar?

Start with Omakase 5 Kinds Assorted Onigiri, Onigiri Makunouchi Bento, Aburi Sushi Omakase and Wagyu Beef Hamburg Curry and Rice. These dishes are shown from TastyPals notes or restaurant data on this page.

Is TAKENAKA Uni Bar worth visiting?

TAKENAKA Uni Bar holds a 8.8 Google rating from 375 reviews. TAKENAKA Uni Bar is an easy yes when you want somewhere that feels considered rather than fussy. Omakase 5 Kinds Assorted Onigiri and Onigiri Makunouchi Bento also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 8.8 rating across 375 Google reviews.

Where is TAKENAKA Uni Bar located?

TAKENAKA Uni Bar is located at 52 Powell St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1E7, Canada. Directions are available via Google Maps.

Does TAKENAKA Uni Bar take reservations?

Yes, TAKENAKA Uni Bar accepts reservations. You can book a table online through their reservations page.

Is TAKENAKA Uni Bar good for a date night?

Yes — TAKENAKA Uni Bar is tagged for date night dining. TAKENAKA Uni Bar is an easy yes when you want somewhere that feels considered rather than fussy. Omakase 5 Kinds Assorted Onigiri and Onigiri Makunouchi Bento also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 8.8 rating across 375 Google reviews.

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