Sushi Masuda

Sushi Masuda

Sushi Masuda, located at 1066 W Hastings St., Vancouver, BC V6E 3X2, is a premier omakase restaurant that opened in March 2024. Founded by Chef Yoji Masuda, a Vancouver native who honed his craft in Tokyo’s Ginza district, the restaurant offers an intimate dining experience with a five-seat sushi counter. Within months of opening, Sushi Masuda earned a Michelin star, and Chef Masuda received the Michelin Guide’s Young Chef Award in 2024. The restaurant is renowned for its authentic omakase experience, featuring meticulously prepared sushi that reflects Chef Masuda’s dedication to his craft. Due to its limited seating and high demand, reservations are essential. Prospective diners can make reservations through the restaurant’s website.

Entering this humble five-seat counter that is tucked in the corner of an unrelated restaurant and through the glass doors of a print shop serves as a pointed reminder not to judge a book by its cover. The plain, spare room is brought to life by the artfully simple, meticulous preparations of Chef Yoji Masuda, whose time spent in a top counter in Tokyo is amply apparent, though his own personality comes through. With the assistance of his wife Akari, who provides a warm, attentive hospitality, the meal proceeds gracefully, from an indulgent savory “pudding” of sweet, pure-tasting monkfish liver to a wonderfully gelatinous beltfish cooked with sake and kombu, before arriving at the impeccable nigiri, which showcase exceptional ingredients alongside a singular delicacy and precision.