Sushi Bar Maumi

We had a fantastic experience at Sushi Bar Maumi. The location is a bit obscure with its blacked-out windows and limited signage but once you're inside, you're immediately immersed in their unique atmosphere. I didn't know it was Michelin recommended until I got there but I could understand why it got the prestige recognition. The restaurant is limited to a maximum of 18 seats (and 1 sitting per night) and starts on time so make sure you're there early - first come, first serve but all seats are at the bar where the chef makes the sushi right in front of you. For our sitting, we got 13 pieces of nigiri, along with their signature miso soup; my favourite were the O-Toro and Uni's. If you're not full by the last piece, you can order additional pieces from their menu. There's also an extensive alcohol list (mainly sakes) but we opted for the premium sake experience (which required to be selected at the time of reservation). Overall, I highly recommend this omakaze experience. For the great price point, fantastic service, and delicious food, you won't be left disappointed.

Relatively cheap for Vancouver omakase at $135 (others go up to 200-300). It is slow since it’s one chef to 13 people but personally I find that preferable to 1 on 1 with a chef who watches you eat, and it is part of the reason why it’s cheaper. We were full after the 13 set meal. The sake pairing is ok but all 3 sakes kinda tasted the same to me. The environment is calm and they have heated seats and a bidet in the bathroom.

Nice, clean, and affordable omakase spot. Really loved the interior design of the place, it definitely enhances the experience and vibe. You can tell that the waitress and chef were both kind and hardworking. Each nigiri was incredibly fresh and heavenly (especially the blue fin tuna pieces) .One thing to mention would be that there is only one chef so the whole experience naturally takes some extra time (each nigiri comes out slowly). Personally didn’t really bother me because my fiancé and I were conversing and enjoying our time together.

I’ve had some incredible sushi in Japan but Mayumi-san takes the crown. Don’t sleep on this highly underrated gem which surely won’t disappoint. The service and food are absolutely splendid and made for our top dinner of 2024. Domo Arigato! 🙇🏻

The worst service I have had in my life . IF YOU HAVE A KID, PLEASE READ!! We are from US, and I didn’t know the restaurant doesn’t allow children. I had my 7 year old son with us and after speaking to the front desk, the restaurant allowed us to have dinner there. My son was super behaved that night, only talking to me quietly. The chef obviously did not like my son’s presence even they allowed us to have dinner there. During the dinner, The chef was insulting us in front of the other guests, saying my son was disturbing them while the rest of the guests weren’t aware of a child present at all. After this interaction, my son felt insulted and cried, which made the chef scared to looked at us. He offered a singular piece of uni sushi as retribution. What do u think one uni sushi can do to recover my kid’s feelings? My son is only 7 years old, he told me he love that restaurant sushi and we were treated so rudely. If you can’t respect someone’s child, how can you respect your customers? We left halfway through the meal, at least the chef had enough spine to waive the meal. We will never support this restaurant again.

Haven’t been since the old location and love the new vibe! The table is much bigger and didn’t get to interact with the chef much and I just want to say thank you for the amazing dinner! All the items on the omakase menu were tastefully served and food was amazing from the start to finish. Can’t wait for my next visit 😋

My favorite sushi restaurant in Vancouver. Super authentic, and very skilled sushi techniques that compatible with sushi restaurant in Japan. Yumeko, the owner’s wife and as well as serve at the restaurant, is lovely lady who always take care to choose sake for this beautiful OMAKASE dinner. I felt so sorry about last night visit, because of the crazy weekend in Vancouver… Taylor Swift concert weekend!!!!lol Yumeko apologized to me and my husband at the end of the service, because I asked her if there any seats available I would like to invite my friends to join. It was fully booked night, but turned out there were a couple of people who didn’t show up. They didn’t mentioned anything until half of the members arrived. I am nothing to say to this customer, but i would never do “no showed” to any restaurant who only opens tables for reservations. Maumi, the owner/chef, prepared all sushi items flowing his restaurant’s reservations. I wished my friends could join that night, coz that dinner was amazing as usual!

In town for work and we visited Ozaki-san for the omakase nigiri chef special. The environment was very intimate as seating was limited. Because this they only have the two employees, they're able to source high quality fish while charging affordable prices, the omakase was substantially cheaper than other establishments, however the quality was on par. Would highly recommend visiting if you have the opportunity! Favorite nigiri pieces were the O-toro & umi.

A peek of my birthday dinner! Usually the default is Japanese cuisine when I am celebrating with the hubby. I have heard of this place so many times and finally got to go. The omakase is delicious but what really sets it apart is the list of nigiris you can add on at the end of your meal. There were so many unique options to choose from! For dessert, since it was my birthday, I ordered one of everything, and did finish them all! I highly recommend giving the kaki ensemble a try as that combo is amazing. We were able to find parking on the side streets. The restaurant is very minimalistic and clean. The service very professional. There are certain etiquette to be mindful of while dining, though, but they are mainly to be respectful of the Chef, food, and restaurant.

Fairly good and cheap Omakase spot in Vancouver. Good location, great server/hostess, and the chef was nice. The chef was very soft spoken and it was very hard to hear what he said Everytime he place the fish on your plate. When you ask again, they repeat, but expect you to check the menu online to see the menu. I was hoping to be in a more deep conversation with the chef since this was Omakase. The Omakase included 13 Nigiri and a soup. You can add additional Nigiri at the end for supplement. Only issue is they point you to their entire menu of 13 pages, and not even inform you what is available. We selected an additional 3 fishes only to be told they didn't have it at all. That was a disappointment so we didn't even opt for more. Overall, a decent Omakase spot for a great price. Wished they also did some cooked food as well.

The worst service I have had in my life . IF YOU HAVE A KID, PLEASE READ!! We are from US, and I didn't know the restaurant doesn't allow children. I had my 7 year old son with us and after speaking to the front desk, the restaurant allowed us to have dinner there. My son was super behaved that night, only talking to me quietly. The chef obviously did not like my son's presence even they allowed us to have dinner there. During the dinner, The chef was insulting us in front of the other guests, saying my son was disturbing them while the rest of the guests weren't aware of a child present at all. After this interaction, my son felt insulted and cried, which made the chef scared to looked at us. He offered a singular piece of uni sushi as retribution. What do u think one uni sushi can do to recover my kid's feelings? My son is only 7 years old, he told me he love that restaurant sushi and we were treated so rudely. If you can't respect someone's child, how can you respect your customers? We left halfway through the meal, at least the chef had enough spine to waive the meal. We will never support this restaurant again.

Excellent Omakase sushi - excellent quality where each piece is exquisitely prepared by Maumi-Son. The quality of the sushi is unbeatable. $125 for a 13-course omakase + $15 for a flight of 3 glasses of sake makes this place a reasonable deal. I think there's no doubt to the quality of the sushi here, so my review will focus mainly on the dining experience so you'll know what to expect. Maumi is now located on Robson Street across from Whole Foods. It has 17-bar seats, U-Shape counter with the chef in the middle, and only 1 seating at 6:00PM SHARP per evening. And just like you read all of the reviews and on their reservation policy: **do not be late**; **and I repeat: do not be late** for this reservation. Patrons who are more than 15-minutes late will be denied service and deposited forfeited. Knowing this and after weeks of anticipation, guess what, yes, our party of 4 arrived late for approx 13-minutes. ugh. Being a tourist in the area, our GPS was spinning and spinning and took us to a wrong spot (later was told it must have been their old location)... well, luckily we made it within the grace period Thank God!! Completely our fault but arriving late really makes for a less-than-stellar experience. All eyes on us upon walking in and we have apparently really upset Chef Maumi. :( sigh. Later we came to realize that being late really messes up his rhythm, as all patrons are supposed to be served 13-courses together. Now, Chef Maumi had to play catch up for the 4 of us. Sorry!! :( Anyway, 13-courses were served and every-single-piece was exquisitely prepared and absolutely delicious. The restaurant was nicely decorated - simple and elegant with black walls and black ceiling. Patron ambience was a bit serious and quiet, while Chef Maumi was busy preparing our meal. By the way, the chef does not smile and will not interact with guests. He seemed very busy and very serious. Contrasting to Maumi-Son was his wife, who was constantly smiling, and greeting everyone makes for a stark contrast and I guess that's why they make a great team. Other nuisance and note (I learned the hard way): 1.) Arrive ON TIME. Period. 2.) Do not reach your arm out and take pictures of the chef (use your zoom). Maumi-Son is not too fond of the arm-reaching picture taking style. He feels like he's in a zoo! 3.) Do not ask to take pictures with the chef. He will say no. 4.) Do not offer him sake (even it's customary). He will say no. 5.) Do not bring your own alcohol. They will say no. You buy your sake there. If you're looking for a fun, interactive dining experience with the sushi chef - then this place is not for you. But if you want traditional, superb sushi - then Sushi Bat Maumi is definitely a top choice. Come for the excellent sushi!

Great ambiance and exactingly prepared nigiri is what Maumi is all about. Extensive sake list and some nice Champagnes.

My two friends and I finally got to try Sushi Bar Maumi when they were still tucked away on Davie Street. PSA that they have just opened back up on Robson street across from the Whole Foods since the end of October. This establishment recently got a "Michelin Recommended" nod in the first round of Michelin noms for Vancouver, and it is well deserved! It's nice how the price hasn't gone up because of that, but instead due to changing ingredients and adding more pieces to the set omakaze. Before the move: The QUITE COMPACT restaurant is run by a courteous husband and wife team and they only host two seatings a night at 6:00pm and 7:45pm sharp for a maximum of 8-9 guests. **please be aware that this has since upgraded to 17 guests and one seating from 6pm to 8:30pm!!** If you come late, they will start without you, or worse, you might not be able to order additional nigiri. They only serve Omakaze style here, and if you're not familiar with it, it's a more upscale sushi experience where the chef is tasked with surprising you with the best cuts of fresh fish that they can offer and serving each piece to you one by one like a culinary art piece. Fish choices are typically more unique and exotic and pieces are best eaten immediately and in one bite. Sometimes I do two bites, but this time I ate each piece as one and it was amazing. No pressure to follow suit, but you may see some people using their hands to pop the sushi in their mouths when you go to these places, which I was told in New York to be the traditional way, but that's only recommended at Omakaze type places. The Omakaze consists of 11 pieces of sushi and a miso soup (left, middle). (You'll see 10 down below because I ate the scallop one before I remembered to take a photo). At the end of the meal, I ordered 5 more additional nigiri (right) to cap off the yummy meal. I'd say I'm quite happy with the picks I chose, since my friend and I are more adventurous with our food and from observing what other people chose. There is an extensive seasonal fresh sheet that lists out what additional fish are available, and what they do that I like here is they hand you an electronic notepad to write your order on. Talk about efficiency! If my memory serves me correctly, the cost of this Omakaze used to be $70-80 pre pandemic/inflation, and that was considered a steal for this kind of sushi bar experience. The omakaze at the new location now is $135 for 13 pcs + miso soup That being said, the Sushi Bar Maumi experience is still on the cheaper end as far as examples of Vancouver omakazes go (with some being $150-300+), and you do get the taste and quality you would expect for shelling out more for sushi. VERY VERY GOOD bang for your buck here, especially with the extensive additional nigiri list for the most adventurous foodie. But with this now going above $100, it'll be a special occasion thing for me too. I think this experience ranks quite high in terms of the Omakazes I've tried, maybe because the intrinsic taste of the fish was made so clear and effective without the need for additional sauces or garnishes. Highlights were the Aji, Honmaguro ChuToro and Bafun Uni.

As someone who has been to a number of omakase restaurants in Vancouver, I am unsure of this new location of Sushi Bar Maumi. The service was good, the ambiance was also fine, but there were 17 seats total for dinner time, which meant it took 2.5 hours for the chef to serve 13 pieces of sushi. At the price point of $135 per person, I was left slightly disappointed in the end. The fish was high quality and did taste good, but not sure I will come back.

DO NOT come here! The chef was incredibly rude and disrespectful to my family. I was in complete shock. My nephew Keith is a nice kid that does not act out ever. He has numerous fine dining experiences and knows how to behave. Keith is now traumatized from this restaurant experience. I am extremely disappointed that this place put a damper on our vacation.

What a disappointment!!!! The decorations and the ambiance is nice, but the chef/owner was very disrespectful. I will gladly spend my money elsewhere. No one should disrespect my son or any child of that matter in front of other customers. That's absolutely not right.

It is absolutely amazing! The food was exceptional. The service... caring! The value... unbelievable. I can't wait to take some friends back.

Nice fine dining experience and great services. Fresh fishes and chef explains everything.

I found Sushi Bar Maumi by literally Googling "Best Sushi in Vancouver". It certainly does feel that way after experiencing it myself. Dinner is served Omakase style or 'Chef's Choice', the chef being Chef Maumi himself. Every part of the meal was exquisitely handcrafted with care and incredibly fresh. Each piece is introduced and placed before us, like tiny plates of art. Each are eaten in one bite, a burst of flavour, and then it's gone. Getting dinner here is not as easy as walking in. Reservations open up a month in advance and they fill up quickly. Spots are limited, with only 2 dinner services a day and 9 seats per service. Through their online booking platform, you agree to a set of rules that help to set the atmosphere. Casual (no dress code) but also quite formal (18+, no loud conversation, no parties larger than 4). It's meant to be an intimate atmosphere where you can truly concentrate on the flavours before you. The fish is imported daily from Japan, the sauces and seasoning and hand made, and each piece of fish is prepared with forethought. Some fresh, some cured beforehand. At $80 per person, I think it's a great deal for the amount of work put into a single meal. Afterwards, each person can order one additional round of any Nigiri on the menu that's in season, even ones that weren't served in the main Omakase. This was the first dinner I had on my first day in Vancouver. I definitely don't regret coming here as one of my first meals, but boy, it sure set the bar really high for every place I went to afterwards! What a way to get initiated into the incredible seafood scene in this province!

I was very disappointed in their omakase. For the price it's not so bad, but rather pay twice as much and enjoy the food or have a meal from a Japanese restaurant a la carte. Nothing really stood out to me. There were 11 pieces + soup. Miso soup with prawn head which was too salty. The rice I felt was not cooked perfectly (just me being picky and comparing to other omakase) but amount of rice was good. I ended up feeling full after this and didn't order anything extra from the menu. I didn't feel like the chef cared much about who was there and would say what it is quickly and sometimes assume that the next party heard it. It is a small place and you can hear but it would have been nice if he had explained a bit more.

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Sushi Bar Mauri. The place was a lot smaller and cozier than expected, and the food was delicious! The sushi rice tasted great--the uni and toro were definitely the highlights of the meal. One small downside was that, despite the affordable price, I found myself not quite full at the end of the course. So I had to add extra sushi at the end. Unfortunately, one of the extra sushi we ordered, the Ikura, was extremely salty and was taken out of a weird container, so I'm not sure what happened there. But overall, I loved how authentic the sushi tasted and would love to go back.

Came here myself as it was very hard to get booking. I can see people booking almost a month in advance as there are only two seatings and the store is very small. Total seating of 9 people. I felt very rushed in the process...so obviously the food wasnt as enjoyable. The uni and otoro was the best pieces - so fresh and delicious. Price of 80 per omakase is reasonable.

This is an unassuming no-nonsense sushi joint in the heart of Vancouver. There are no distractions - just amazing sushi (there is no alcohol menu here)! There are only 2 seatings per night so reservations are a must. The ingredients used in the omakase are top quality and extremely fresh. Even the uni was one of the best from Bafun in Hokkaido. What was missing for me: I found the experience lacking more interactions with the sushi chef. For me that's an important element of a great omakase.

Amazing first Omakase experience at this popular sushi bar on Bute Street. Miso soup was served with the 11 piece nigiri sushi chosen by the chef. Everything tasted very fresh. We ordered extra nigiri sushi after the course so keep in mind it is an option after the Omakase. Price is a bit on the higher end but if you're looking for a traditional Japanese Omakase experience, this would be the place to go to. Definitely a spot for experiencing the authentic Japanese culinary delights rather than a sit down and order kind of restaurant. Note: This sushi bar has a 10 person seating limit and is highly popular so make sure you book weeks in advance!

I had an amazing time at Sushi Bar Maumi! Every piece of nigiri was wonderful! Fully seasoned and tender with every bite. For value its hard to beat! At the time we had to to book 2 weeks in advance. They only sit 9 seats I believe so it is hard to get reservations, but its very worth it! At the end of the omakase you'll be asked if you want to order anything else on the menu.

I had a pleasant dining experience here. The bar is zen and quaint. There are rules to adhere to, but I think that they apply to every restaurant so the rules weren't a big deal to me. I had the pleasure of watching the chef prepare each nigiri. It was mesmerizing; I especially loved how the uni was prepared! I was impressed by the variety of the menu. Unfortunately not all of them were available when I went, but I was able to try a fair share of fish not available at other sushi establishments. The miso soup was served halfway and it was pleasantly different. A shrimp head was part of it and it added creaminess to the soup. Sadly, it is a limited item so each guest gets one serving. The green tea was delicious. There was not much service because the chef directly delivered the food to you, but there was one waitress that came around the omakase was over to receive the guests orders. She was very lovely. I would definitely say this place is worth trying.

After researching authentic sushi option in town, I found Maumi. Saw lots of comments around their reservation policy and in-house 'manners' which actually gave me very good impression of how authentic they are! I was able to make a reservation online fortunately at the very last minute. I enjoyed all the items at the cozy and quiet environment: my best was hon-maguro zuke (soy-marinated tuna). I wish I could order another piece, but it was part of limited/special section and not available for additional order. I settled with 'Nodoguro' (rosy sea bass) and 'Shiro ebi' (white shrimp) as my additional order after the course which both were good. The chef is very serious and cares about what he serves which I could tell from our conversation. Considering the quality he delivered, I believe the course was reasonably priced in my opinion. I wish I lived nearby so that I could visit often. Well, I just have to fly up there again!

Holy hell, this was an absolutely amazing experience and MUST be tried at least once if you're in the area! My brother and his girlfriend made reservations for a Tuesday night and told us about it. I was able to make a reservation for the following Thursday and in the end, both groups agreed that it was a wonderful meal. Their rules for making reservations online was sort of intimidating as they require you to input your credit card should your party end up not showing up so they can still charge you the full amount. You're also given 24 hours to cancel before you're charged for it. With these rules in mind, my boyfriend and I went for it and waited... it was 5 mins from our AIRBNB so there was no way we could miss it. They have two dinner times - 6:00pm and 7:45pm. There's only 10 seats during each dinner time so be aware if you plan to come with a large group. Each group is limited to 4 people. Come on time if you want better seat selection! They have a bathroom pass the kitchen, but there are also 2 seats in front of the doorway to the kitchen so we got here early and got to choose seats based on where we want. The sushi chef is incredible. Very patient. Watching him work is like watching a live art show where you're kind of unsure on whether you should make a sound or not. We barely made a sound except for the occasional laugh or giggle as we took pics of our nigiri for the 'gram. Their menu isn't really set in stone. My brother came here on a Tuesday and they didn't have local uni, while I came here the following Thursday and there was local uni. Overall, absolutely amazing. Would love to try this again if possible.

This is a place to have omakase in an intimate setting. They serve a set course of 11 pieces of nigiri with a miso soup, and there are 2 seatings per night. You're all seated at the bar facing the sushi chef. Overall lovely ambiance, and there are no more than 10 people in the entire place. The nigiri was good and the overall experience was quite enjoyable!

We had an amazing time at Sushi Bar Maumi. The omakase is amazing, the food is so delicious and the service was friendly. It is a small restaurant and very strict on their service times so come a bit early so that you are ready to come in for your service time. The parking is just wherever you can find on the street so give yourself time. The seafood is super fresh, and I definitely recommend checking this very cool experience out.

Recommended by a friend so I had to check out this place out since I was in the area. This was my first time having omakase and everything they served was handled with so much care. The omakase set was about $80 a person (which is reasonably priced) but they give you the option of ordering more at the end which we did. However the $80 set alone is enough to make you full. The chef prepared all the sushi in front of us. Definitely a unique and special experience. Would recommend to all.

came here for their 11 course omakase and definitely didn't leave disappointed! - notes - card payments only! reservations must be made online in advance. only 10 max people can be served at a time in this restaurant, so it's not really the most optimal for big groups. - atmosphere - the inside of the restaurant is really intimate! there are short plastic barriers between each individual party, and not much walking space either. right when you walk in, you can see the area where the chef prepares the nigiri in front of you. it's a pretty cozy space, and the lack of space isn't a big deal since you'll be sitting for the entire course anyway. - overall experience - our party of 3 was originally running a bit late but thankfully 2 of us made it on time for our reservation. our last person arrived 20 minutes late, but the chef was kind enough to save her fish on the side and serve her separately once she joined us. this place is pretty strict with being late and cancellation fees, so i'd highly recommend getting here on time. right when we were seated, the chef started preparing our nigiri. he would tell us what type of fish was being served, but we wouldn't hear him that well. nevertheless, there was still a fair amount of time in between each course and we were able to truly enjoy our meal slowly! we were also served green tea and a bowl of seafood miso soup. the entire meal took around 90 minutes, but the omakase was mostly around 1 hour. after the 11 courses, you can order a la carte nigiri off their menu. their a la carte menu includes nigiri that was served during the omakase and some that weren't. the service here was great and we really enjoyed our experience! 8/23/22 out of the 11 courses, i would say i only really enjoyed only about half of them. the stars of the show were definitely the uni, honmagoru chu toro, and bluefin tuna nigiri. they had so much flavor and the pieces were tender as well! the other half of the course was just okay in my opinion. a handful of the pieces were a bit tough to chew on and not as tender as i would've hoped them to be. the sushi rice that was used fell apart easily at times too. overall quality-wise, i'd say that $80 for the 11 course meal is a bit expensive but not too unreasonable. however, we definitely didn't regret trying this place out! i wouldn't come back, but it was still a memorable meal.

Hubby booked the omakase $75 pp. It's an extremely small tight restaurant. Do not make the mistake I made lol by trying to go in early. Line up outside the door and wait for the waitress to seat you inside. Chef will request not to take pictures of him prepping the food but you are able to take pictures of your piece of food that he places in front of you. This is an extremely authentic experience. My favourite omakase meal I've had. Everything's imported from Japan! Highly recommend it . You get 11 pieces. If you're not full you can order the extra stuff ala cart!

My husband thinks the rules here are part of the marketing hype and they know it and capitalize on it. I don't know if I buy that theory - they are pretty serious about it all, the rules, the sushi, everything. But it did intruige me enough to eat here in the first place. Is this your idea of a fun night out and a good place to eat? If you're a natural rule follower like us, and you like to eat fast and are usually silent once the food hits the table anyway, then probably yeah. The food is literally the only focus here. The sitting space around the bar is literally barely open enough to pull out the chair and sit down. The chef and lone server are courteous but not really much into story telling or chit chat until the end when the chef had a conversation in Japanese with the Japanese couple in our seating. He only whispers the name of the fish as he places it in front of each diner. And his low volume set the standard for the room, as people in our seating barely spoke above whispering in each other's ears, us included. Now, they don't want to to take pictures of them or their working space and be show monkeys or whatever. But when you're there, only thing you can really focus on while eating is really the spectacle of chef maumi working with extreme speed and precision, and appreciating the care he puts into the details of each nigiri he makes. The number of times I've seen him adjust the roll by literally 5 grains of rice, I was just filled with trust in his process, and that he is indeed giving me the best combination of rice+fish that I can experience. As for the food, our experience was excellent. The rice was perfection. The sauces went perfectly with each fish, the amount of Wasabi, the service logistics, an extremely flavorful miso soup. The progression made a lot of sense. I left with an overall appreciation for sushi, both the products used and the craft itself, and immense respect for Chef Maumi. I mean, it was all I had to pay attention to for 1.5 hours! Still, this experience may not be for you if you don't want to be so serious when eating. I can see how this is not someone's idea of enjoyment while dining out, feeling a little on egg shells the entire time. There are certainly omakase places that are both fancier and more comforting /laid back. But I thought it was extremely good value for the meal, and the whole environment really forced me to take it all in and appreciate the food in front of me.

So awesome! One of the best sushi experiences I have had as far as creating an exclusive authentic sushi experience. This place offers limited seating so reservation with credit card is required and sushi chef also has some simple rules to follow to ensure he can provide the intended experience. He provides a menu at the beginning and as he prepares the sushi/sashimi he tells you what it is in both English and Japanese fish name. Once he completes his menu he the. Offers you the option to purchase more of the items that weren't limited on the menu. He had sooo many fish options and so many I had never experience before. I feel like this would be a very adventurous date night experience or if you are alone I also feel that it's not awkward because you are in the small room with others that are just as excited as you are to get to taste the surprise sushi.

Some fish are not fresh !!!There are 10 people today, some fish pieces the chef grab it from it's left over from before don't know when , I mean the customers are here , we can see! And he give the pieces to us , I didn't even eat it, I give it to my friend , and rice is keep falling out .

Mmmmm this place is so good. It was here that I truly developed my love for uni. I think sushi bar maumi has one of the best omakase dining experience in Vancouver and I've been to quite a few. Their pricing is really good too, I think when I went their premium omakase was $65. (I think it's different now and there's just one for $75, I could be wrong). The restaurant is small and cozy. You have to make reservation cause this place is always booked up. Inside is very traditional and to be respectful, the chef asks you not to take any photos of him but photos of the sushi is fine. Also chatting should be at minimal noise level to be respectful to the other guests and staff. I encourage those coming here to do some research on how to properly eat sushi as well for respect purposes. Their sushi and fish are amazing. Everything was delicious and fresh. Their uni was to DIE FOR. Prior to coming here, I never really liked uni. Now, I'm always trying uni everywhere I go and I have SBM to thank for that lol. At the end of the omakase, they give you a menu so you can select a la carte any of the pieces you particularly liked. Of course I ordered more of that Hokkaido uni. Watching them pull out that fresh box of uni was heavenly.

My friend recommended this omakase place to try. The nigiri were not bad. My favourite piece was the uni, not the local one. I deliberately ordered the local one to compare the difference. I didn't like it at all, it has a bitter taste. All the other fish were not bad, I didn't find anything particular outstanding except the soup. In terms of price, for two people, we added an extra piece of tamago and local uni each, the bill came up to $170 something. The omakase itself is $75 per person. It was an okay experience.

Authentic and delicious sushi omakase for $75 CAD. You get 12 pieces, each one a delicious jewel. Sadly, you will go home hungry, unless you shell out more dough for extra pieces. Still a worthy experience. Make sure you make a resy in advance. It's a small shop with only 10 seats. Arrive on time!

Sushi Bar Maumi is overrated. I went into this experience with high expectations based on reviews here and left the restaurant beyond disappointed and unsatisfied. I'm a regular omakase eater down in San Francisco, so I thought I'd give Vancouver a try since I'm originally from here. The fish wasn't fresh and the rice kept falling apart. The rice was hard and didn't stick together, so I'm assuming that's why it wasn't easy to pick up. After each piece there was always an unpleasant after taste lingering in my mouth. I ended up eating all of my ginger (and my fiancé's) with a need for more, but knew they charged an extra fee for ginger so I didn't ask. Though the price is on the low end for omakase, I'd still save your money and go somewhere else. If you're ever in San Francisco, make a visit to Hinata, Kusakabe, Ju-Ni, or Akiko's!

The place is very small, but cute and cozy, and the authentic Japanese service, by the couple that runs it, makes you feel welcome. There is fundamentally no drink menu, but just water and tea served which is actually fine unless you want beer or sake with your sushi. Sushi quality can vary. While all nigiri are made well, some of the products are not as fresh as others and that can disappoint. They have a smaller Omakase offering which may come across as a value for some that eat very little, but it's not a very big meal. You can still add more nigiri at the end, but some people stop early, pay, and leave while you are still eating, so it feels weird as the room is emptied around you when you're still eating. That kind of sucks the life and energy out of the experience somewhat. This part of the meal also feels very rushed Prices are similar to other higher priced places once you order enough to be full. Although the prices seem reasonable, not all of the nigiri is as fresh and at the same level of quality. For example, on the last visit the uni offerings were very good but some items like the Hokkaido Scallops and at one or two of the fish offerings clearly were no longer fresh enough to serve, yet they still did. I also get suspicious when sometimes they over do it with grounded salt on some nigiri. It is true that some of the items look like long left over pieces in cheap Tupperware like containers. To end on the positive side, their miso soup served with dinner has superior flavor compared to most others. They cook it with the shells of the sweet shrimp and the flavor is great. Not sure they need to leave the mostly empty shrimp shells in the soup, but it's still fun to see where the flavor comes from, and you can easily consume the soup around them.

Fairly pricey omakase in a small bar seating 10-11 per seating by reservation only, but the experience is incredible - great fresh fish and authentic style! Overall: 4.5/5 Value: 4.5/5 Experience: 5/5 Food: 5/5 Decor: 3.5/5 Ambiance: 3.5/5 Everyone orders the omakase, which is $75 CAD for 11 pieces (around $56 USD with the current exchange rate, a great deal for this caliber of standard usually), highlights including uni, scallop, fresh shrimp, kampachi, hirame, eel, fatty tuna, etc. Once the 11 pieces are served, one can order a la carte for additional pieces (ranging from $3 to $13 per piece extra). I especially adored the scallop (so fresh, offset by the delectable savory taste of the pink salt) and uni (creamy and rich). Each piece is prepared as it should be eaten, and it's a true spectacle to see the sushi chef at work - it's like an art (a very elevated form of the chefs performing at hibachi grills in a way haha). Fish is flown in fresh from Japan so the selection changes every time. Will say that the ambiance isn't the best - it's a cramped space with little room to maneuver, and it's inelegant to sit with one's purse on the lap or behind the back with the precarious possibility of tumbling to the ground. However at the price point it's fair in my opinion and the presentation at the bar seating setup is simple and clean. It's a bit of a somber atmosphere as parties tend to chat quietly amongst themselves as the chef does his work. Some soft music in the background provides some respite but it's not necessarily a scintillating and energetic vibe. Overall decent value for some great omakase, would recommend a trip!

Sushi Bar Maumi is a place that strives to give you the traditional experience of dining in an authentic Japanese sushi bar. We had 15 pieces of sushi this evening and each was prepared with finesse, attention to details, and well-thought sauce pairing. Quality sushi rice prepared with the right amount of vinegar. Fresh Wasabi. Among the Omakase pieces, I LOVE Bafun Uni (buttery, rich, ocean flavour, not overwhelmingly briny); Hokkaido Hotate (giant medallion, firm, slightly creamy), Surume Ika (translucent, mildly firm, sweet); Chu-Toro (my favoruite cut in toro, well balance of fat and meat), Botan Ebi (delicate, slight buttery, sweet), and Anago (soft, sugary, very distinct from unagi). We ordered additional pieces and Mejina and Sayori stole the spotlights. Mejina, slight buttery and firm; Sayori, delicate and soft with a firm kick. At first it may feel intimidating to dine here. From making a reservation to sitting down at the bar, you're honestly presented with rules after rules. This actually speaks to the personality of Chef Maumi and the system he has in place to provide you his vision of proper service, and you'll understand once your journey begins. The other part is obviously the cost to ensuring high quality fishes are served each time. Space wise, the venue is very cozy so be prepared to sit rather close to each other around the sushi bar. Relax, enjoy, and focus your attention on savouring each piece. One thing I really appreciate was the menu provided in the beginning that tells you the names of fishes available and sauces used tonight. I like to know what I'm eating, so that helps. Even if you're fluent in Japanese or have amazing memory, you'll rather be focused on enjoying the sushi than remembering the list of names for a quiz next Tuesday. ごちそうさま! That was a wonderful dinner. Thank you Chef Maumi Omakase Sushi: 1. Uchiwahagi 2. Botan Ebi 3. Surume Ika 4. Katsuo 5. Hirame 6. Bafun Uni 7. Hokkaido Nama Hotate 8. Maguro Zuke 9. Kanpachi 10. Chu-Toro 11. Anago Additional Pieces: 12. Tamago 13. Mejina 14. Sayori 15. Maguro Nakaochi

An amazing omakase - very traditional, with a great variety of fish. The chef is very serious and there is not much chatter in the room, as everyone is focused on the chef's fast pace and skill in preparing the nigiri. I came after a late lunch, thus the pieces filled me up very quickly. I would have to say that the price of the omakase does not include the extra pieces that you would order, making it a bit misleading for those considering to only pay for the omakase. The owners prepare a written menu so you can choose pieces following the course. Nonetheless, the pieces are fresh and the service is attentive. An intimate sushi counter - get ready to be snug at this one but delighted by the sushi!

Loved my dining experience at Sushi Bar Maumi with some of the tastiest sushi I've ever had. I would not recommend this restaurant to everyone though. It's definitely not a place for someone who wants to 'hang out', chat over dinner, order a few drinks etc.... Just reading through some of the reviews or go on their website and all the information is there. Very limited seating and very specific 'rules'. We were served a round of ten sushi and while there were definitely some favorites, everything was delicious. We were then given the opportunity to order off the menu (of the available selections) and wished we had ordered more. It was also such a great experience watching the sushi chef making every dish with great care and pride. He was very focused and didn't say much during the service other than to tell us what he prepared. The server also didn't say much, but always has a smile on her face. We never felt the service was lacking or rude, just very focused in what they do and on the quality of food.

During the last three times I was in Vancouver, this place was always fully booked. So when I finally had the chance to come, I had very high expectation. The $75 CAD for 11 pieces price is pretty decent for good quality omakase, but I felt the fish at Maumi was not amazing. Two pieces did really wow me: one of the mackerel that was probably the best bite of mackerel I have ever had; and the other being the medium fatty tuna. It's pretty hard to mess up medium fatty tuna, so I am not willing to give it too much credit. I was pretty disappointed with the uni and the scallop. The scallop in particular had a weird texture. Also bummed they did not fry the shrimp head, but the shrimp broth was pretty fantastic. What really ruined the experience for me was the fact that, two parties arrived late (one party 15 mins late and the other 40 mins late), and the restaurant decided to accommodate them. I get that things happen, and the late guests were all super apologetic. What I have beef with is how the flow for the rest of us was interrupted. When the first late party arrived, the chef decided to make the rest of us wait after piece #3 (I think) and catch them up to speed. That's fine, it's just 6 pieces he had to make. But the quality of the sushi later definitely took a nose dive - see picture of uni with seaweed unwrapped. When the second late party arrived, the chef did not make us wait. Thank goodness. But after we were done eating, he had to now make 22 pieces of sushi. Even though I really wanted to order more of that divine mackerel a la carte after the omakase was over, I did not want to sit there and wait for at least another 20 minutes. I'd like to think that my experience was an exception. Regardless, the fish was good, still not great at that price. The chef was also not keen on interacting with guests or answering questions. I find that odd for this style of dining. One last thing, as the only solo diner, I got a corner seat with very little space in this supposedly 10-person restaurant. I felt that they oversold that night. Coupled with the late shows, my experience was mediocre at best.

This review is for Wai! Hope you love dining here too! For hardcore sushi lovers, this is a must. ---- Information was very sparse about dining here. Let me share this important info: 1- RSVP only. The entrance is modest - assuming this is purposeful. They do not take walk in guests. They said they would confirm the reservation the day before; but I called them to verify. 2- They do 3 consecutive seatings per evening. And seems like in summer time it books out fast. Also this is not a place to linger on afterwards. You will be expected to leave so they can serve the next round of diners. 3- It's a very small dining space. All diners sit at the bar-counter. It's minimal elbow room and you sit quite close to the exterior wall (aka roll up doors). See the latest interior photo. There are no tables. 4- Note the rules (see photo) 5- Chef is actually friendly! But he is all business at the start of service and may speak very minimally. He will explain the items though. Near conclusion, he will engage in conversation more if you wish. 6- The fish is all pre-sliced to save time; didn't effect the experience. Be cognizant that only 2 people work this operation. Not to worry, nigiri is made to serve ofc. All groups will be served the same item in the round. If you want a more individualized experience - this is not it. 7- Appetizers can only be ordered prior to omakase service. No do overs. I actually recommend ordering them all. I regret only getting one appetizer. The tempura is excellent. Definitely try everything. 8- Available metered street parking was hard to come by. And in this neighborhood, you must pay by phone (or phone app) Be ready for this so you're not late for the seating. 9- Don't bring n00bs with you - ya know the ones that make a soy sauce wasabi pool to drown stuff in. Smh. --- I really loved dining here and thought it was an excellent value. Spent over $160 USD ($200 CAD) for 2 including tip (we had extras) Scallop was exquisite. Local spot prawn - head expertly fried (remember to get tempura!) and the body in nigiri form delicious. Hokkaido uni excellent too. Gotta represent Cali: our kelp forests produce the best urchins. Trust me :) I believe most of the fish were imported from Japan and super fresh. Kinda strange more local or Alaskan options were not available (not even salmon!) Also the wasabi root - imported, fresh, and grated that day. Super legit. Just watching the chef work and his technique - it's very similar to many reputable omakase joints I've dined at over the years. The one hiccup was the sushi rice seemed a bit off in texture to me. But everything else was so great, it's hard to dock it for that. Definitely going back for my next Vancouver visit.

I loved it! This is a legit sushi bar with only 10 seats and one professional chef. It really felt like a 'hole a in wall' sushi bar, and I felt like I was transported all the way to Japan! Firstly, you need to book in advance ( they book up fast!!) as they only have 10 seats and two time slots (6pm and 8pm) since they have a lot of cancellations in the past. You need to reserve with your credit card information as any no show or cancellations will result in the full charge of the omakase ($75/pp). We were seated and offered green tea along with a menu of the available fish they had for the day. The chef explained how omakase worked and he asked if we wanted less rice for our nigiri. Each piece of nigiri was introduced by the chef and served fairly quickly. He was very professional and was concentrated on making each piece perfectly. If you want to chat with the chef, this is not the place to do so. He is concentrating on making you amazing sushi!! Also this is a place where you want to just eat the sushi with your hand in the "traditional" way. You don't get your soy sauce to drown your sushi in it. Overall, I loved it! It was a great experience. The hokkaido uni, toro, prawn, flying squid and aji were my favourites and were VERY fresh!! They do not skimp out on their ingredients! The only hiccup for me was that the taste of their sauce and rice was a bit overpowering so it overwhelmed the integrity of light tasting fish. Two thumbs up!!! Already made another reservation to come back!

The sushi was fantastic and for a really excellent price! Will definitely be back! It's a bit unfortunate there's no alcohol served (I assume they don't have a liquor license), but then again it helps keep the bill more reasonable!

Throughly enjoyed the whole dining experience this place had to offer. I booked a month in advance, early in the morning, to ensure I got a weekend sitting. It was well worth the wait. I've never dined in a restaurant that had so many "rules" to adhere to, but it's there to ensure you have a great experience. The setting was very intimate and we had the full attention of the chef. I see why this place is voted one of the best sushi restaurants in town. Well worth the visit!

I came here to celebrate my 30th birthday, based on good recommendations from yelpers. What I did not realize was how AUTHENTIC this place is -- meaning, none of those modern fancy rolls of sushi with sauces drizzled over top. They basically just serve nigiri or sashimi, so if you're not a fan of those traditional types of sushi, you will probably want to eat elsewhere. However, I love nigiri and sashimi, so I was very happy here! Also, please note that you can make reservations, which if you're coming with more than 2 people is probably a must. The largest the restaurant can seat is 4 people and it only has a total of about 10-11 seats. The first time we tried to eat here we couldn't bc there weren't enough seats for our group of 4. As for the sushi, it was great! It tasted fresh, although not THE freshest sushi I've ever had. We ordered omakase, so we didn't get to choose what tpyes of sushi we were served. The only piece I didn't like was a sushi that was basically LOTS of little tiny shrimp stuffed into a seaweed holder. It was just too many little shrimp with all their eyes and legs and antennae.... not my favorite. In fact, I only ate 1 bite and gave the rest to my sister. I liked that I got try a lot of new fish that I had never had before though. Although I wish I could have remembered what each was... I wasn't really sure what I was eating.

Traditional Edomae Omakase style With seasonal fresh ingredients It's fun just watching Chef Maumi san's skills Simply just amazing Will be back again soon

This was my first omakase experience and it was how I imagined it to be. Very limited seating of 10 guests in a very small sushi bar and one sushi chef. My overall experience was very fulfilling and sets a decent bar for my next omakase experience. The chef presents you with the menu of what is available that night and explains the sauces he will be using. He also gives you an option for less rice in your sushi and explains why they need go charge for extra ginger and rice waste - this all makes perfectly good sense to me as everything is calculated and I'm sure their grade of ginger is top quality so they can't just be giving it away like a low grade sushi restaurant. The order of sushi is carefully thought out by the chef according to taste and type of fish; I really appreciate the thought and detail behind everything. The chef is very concentrated on each sushi piece he creates and explains to you what it is when serving it. Every piece was delicious and made me want to cry - especially the bafun uni and O-toro. Normally I stick with my staples but with omakase you kinda just have to eat what's put in front of you. Believe me, I was hesitant on trying the amber jack for the first time but it was very tasty. After your omakase is over you can order separate pieces that were either part of the omakase or not. I definitely had to get the bafun uni and O-toro again. And what would a sushi dinner be without tamago? Their tamago was fluffy, sweet and nothing like I've tasted before! Overall I was very happy and I would definitely come again to try a new set of omakase.

Sushi bar Maumi is hands down one of the BEST & most traditional places for omakase in Vancouver. They only serve omakase (nigiri), with just a few other appetizers on their menu. Take into consideration that they have limited seating of only 10 people, so reservations are a must. They offer 2 variations of omakase on their menu- regular or premium. The only difference is that premium includes bafun uni & bluefin tuna - both of which I LOVED. They were my 2 favorite pieces. I highly recommend this option, since it's offered for only $65.. totally worth it! Each piece of nigiri fell effortlessly onto our plates and dinner flowed smoothly - the chef is very skilled and experienced. I love how you're given the option of less rice.. but I didn't opt for this since the rice is perfect.. and I'm SUPER picky. The fresh cut of seafood fell generously over the rice which was a bonus. Very traditional spot and each piece should be eaten with hands opposed to chopsticks. I highly recommend the agedashi tofu as an appetizer - it was the best quality I've had so far.. and had a nice, almost smoky, taste to it. Ordered a miso soup, agedashi tofu and gomae as appetizers, 2 premium omakase sets and 2 extra pieces of bafun uni and the bill came up to about $180. For the quality of fish you get, it's a great deal. I'll be returning again at the end of the week because it's just that good & a great experience! .. Hopefully this time around they'll have o-toro available on the menu. :)

One of the best dining experiences in my life, it's a tiny slice of Japan in the middle of Vancouver. Food was absolutely stunning and delicious, the atmosphere like nothing I have experienced before. Overall 10/10 dining, will do again when I visit Vancouver.

Lovely little Omasake experience. The seating is quite tight and intimate (and I don't recommend sitting near the entrance to the kitchen because that's where the washroom is - you have to constantly sit up and move to the corner and then back down to make way for people using the washroom). The quality of the sushi was amazing!! We had the premium experience and ordered more after. As for the reviews regarding the "attitude" of the sushi chef.... well I can not comment because I had no issues with him and I chalk it up to him being very focused on making my food :) I thought he was very courteous and friendly though! The only issue I had was that there was so much sauce used on some of the pieces.. it was drowning.... wasn't able to taste the fish. But otherwise, would recommend others to try at least once.