Toyokan Plaza

Introduction – All Credits go to ChatGPT

Toyokan Plaza in Vancouver’s Kitsilano is a volleyball-themed Japanese izakaya that puts uni front and center. With a lively, modern atmosphere, the menu balances playful small plates and grilled dishes with premium uni specials and donburi, making it a unique spot that blends fun vibes with refined seafood.

@eatswithwendy Toyokan Plaza brings some serious volleyball vibes and playful energy to Vancouver’s Japanese dining scene 🏐. From the moment we walked in, the whole space felt lively and fun, with servers who kept the energy high and made everyone feel welcome. 🍗The chicken leg was the star: golden, crispy, juicy — exactly as promised. 🦀Crab and crab butter shumai looked cute but didn’t quite hit the mark for us, especially compared to classic dim sum spots. 🍴Then came the uni risotto and uni udon, both creamy and subtle with a light uni flavor. We asked to add all the cheese and butter (of course 😅) which made them richer but slightly overpowered the uni. 🍹Don’t sleep on the fruit sours (kiwi lemon & mandarin orange) — they were refreshing and fun, but honestly tasted more like fizzy sodas; the alcohol was barely there. Overall, Toyokan Plaza delivers a unique vibe and great service, making it a go-to spot for anyone who loves energetic atmospheres as much as good food. Worth a visit if you’re after a playful night out! 📍Plaza Toyokan 1898 W 1st Ave , Vancouver, BC V6J 4W2 #yvreats #yvrfoodies #yvrfoodieeats #yvrfood ♬ original sound – eatswithwendy

Click here for Google Information about the place

Our Visits (Click the links below for more details)

Visit #1 – Sunday, September 7, 2025 @ 7:00 PM

Menu and Review – Starred = Tried/Reviewed

Chicken Leg

Tasted good and they weren’t afraid of seasoning. It was as the waitress said, crispy on the outside and juicy inside. They delivered, but at the end of the day, it’s grilled chicken.

8.1 / 10

Crab & Crab Butter Shumai

It looked interesting and funny, but tasted meh. We agreed that a regular Chinese dim sum shop would have done better.

6.6 / 10

Uni Risotto

We liked this dish. It was not too creamy, and the risotto did not become mushy after getting cooked one more time tableside. We asked to add all the cheese and butter while it was getting cooked which superseded the uni flavors. The servers will really want to cook it tableside for you, so do not touch anything until they say it is okay to do so :D.

8.5 / 10

Sea Urchin Udon

It tasted like Uni Risotto but just with Udon instead. It was creamy but not so much you will feel stuffed. The sea urchin flavors were really subtle and only showed up aftertaste (that is, if you really pay attention to distinguish cream and uni).

7.8 / 10

Kiwi Lemon Gin Sour (Left) & Mandarin Orange Sour (Right)

These were just flavored soda with alcohol and ice. Sadly, we felt like they forgot the alcohol…

4.4 / 10

No dishes found.

Fun Facts / Things to Know

• Fact 1: The decorations are volleyball-themed.
• Fact 2: They will turn off the lights and sing really loudly for you if you have a birthday or an anniversary. Even the dishwashing staff will sing from inside the kitchen.
• Fact 3: They are part of a group of restaurants with the main focus on Japanese fusion dishes.