REVscene - Vancouver Automotive Forum

sh0n · 01-20-2010, 09:57 PM

New Guu recently opened up at Hornby x Nelson.

This new Guu took over the old Okada Sushi. Its a bit hard to find as there is construction going on in the little Plaza and there are no visible signs of the restaurant. You actually have to go up a small stairway along the SW side on Hornby St.

To the main course.

Restaurant: Brand spanking new. A modern zen like decor with industrial furniture and designs throughout. This place is probably single handily one of the nicest Izakaya in Vancouver. Its large a large space and can seat up to 80-100 making it one of the largest Guu's The space is seperated into the tatami like tables, the sushi/bar area, tables of 4 for small groups and tables of 2 at the end corner of the restaurant.

Drinks: Extensive Drink menu. They are running a construction sale 13.99 for a large pitcher of Saparo (regular 18.99). Many of their mixer x liquor drinks here.

Twilight Yuzu Collins: Had Whisky + Soda + Yuzu. 4/5

Strawberry Passion: GF had it but she said it was good.

Food: The menu features more sushi, sashimi, raw foods and not as many cooked foods like the other locations. I ordered the following:

Today's Special Menu:
Raw Marinated Octopus with Sea Urchin: Seaweed sheets were used to wrap around the raw marinated octopus with a sample of sea urchin. It also had some diced jalapenos in there which give it a kick and balanced the salty octopus. 4/5

Chopped Tuna with shiso hand roll: It's basically a chopped tuna hand roll with seasame seeds and chopped shiso. Amazing flavours. A tad expensive at $3.8 each (almost $5 for a hand roll). 5/5

Raw marinated Octopus with Yuzu: Delicate marinated baby octopus with yuzu sauce. It's decent but not my cup of tea. 4/5

Monk Fish Liver with Ponzu: So guuud and creamy. This is a very special item in my mind that you can't really order at any of the Vancouver restaurants. The ponzu sauce along with the marinated daikon that came along with the dish was also very good. 5/5

Regular Items:
Pumpkin Koroke: Guu signature item. Deep fried mashed pumpkin with a hard boiled egg and thousand island like sauce. I never get bored of this dish 4.5/5

Jelly Fish chicken and cucumber salad: Nothing special about this dish as its quite common in alot of places. Tasted good overall 4.5/5

Oden: Ended up getting daikon and fish cake. The broth was very good and I like how its severed in a large clay pot. 4.5/5

Yaki Udon: Horrible. Took the longest to arrive. The noodles were soggy and not al dente with a bite/crunch like the other Guus. 1/5

Sake Cheesecake: Very good. I would come to Guu Garden just for this.

Overall: 4/5

I would definitely take a first date or go out with a group of friends to chill/drink at this place. By far one of the nice Izakaya's in town

TRDood · 01-20-2010, 11:38 PM

how are the prices?

i find the thurlow guu is the best in terms of quality and pricing. minus the long wait.
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JulyZerg · 01-21-2010, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRDood

how are the prices?

i find the thurlow guu is the best in terms of quality and pricing. minus the long wait.
Posted via RS Mobile

+1

how are the prices?

hamsup · 01-21-2010, 10:50 AM

is the food and prices similar to guu gastown ?

Greenstoner · 01-21-2010, 01:55 PM

will try it out

ed99 · 01-21-2010, 05:18 PM

Thanks for the review. I was just looking for the place the other day and couldn't find it...LOL!!! But I will give it a go this weekend.

hotong · 01-21-2010, 07:16 PM

will have to try this out.. sounds really good!

mpr · 01-21-2010, 07:30 PM

I just went there.

Seems like a different style than the other Guu. The food was actually quite good but smaller portions than the other stores. $90 bucks just to fill 80% up for two people.

Definately hard to find. have to walk up the mysterious stairs on hornby side of the street.

sh0n · 01-21-2010, 07:32 PM

The prices are the same as the other Guu's

Their classic and staple dishes (pumpkin croquette, yaki udon and salads) are the same as the other Guu's.

There are even some dishes to cross the $10 mark which I didn't get a chance to try

Again this Guu, focuses more on the drinks, sushi and sashimi. There's not alot of cooked or grilled items.

sh0n · 01-21-2010, 07:34 PM

Yes. The place is very hard to find.

I gave up the first time. But I got to the Hornby x Nelso intersection and had to look it up on my phone.

Their signs are barely visible.

Edit: Just remember to go along the SE side on Hornby (where the construction is) there's a white narrow stairwell that brings you to the 2nd floor where Guu garden is located.

StealthFighter · 01-21-2010, 11:45 PM

i like the gastown one. haven't been to thurlow one or the new one.

richmond one isn't as good as gastown.

TRDood · 01-22-2010, 12:54 AM

didn't like the gastown one at all.
the food took forever to come and it was super salty.

the richmond one is a joke, i'm going to try out this new one soon hopefully

Chicken Balls · 01-22-2010, 04:58 PM

okada closed down? damn i liked that place

Durrann · 01-23-2010, 12:11 PM

wow when did this place open?

i hope the portions arent as small as u guys say
the thurlow and robson guus portions are perfect.

Jer3 · 01-23-2010, 04:18 PM

a new guu opened and i didn't even know about it!? saw pictures from a blog and it definitely looks like a very upscale izakaya. can't wait to try it.

link to the blog is
http://vancouverisawesome.com/2010/01/08/guu-garden/

KuSouL · 01-23-2010, 04:40 PM

i thought i'd share that ... the guu in toronto is pretty good too
as many people should know toronto food ... nothing compared to van
but somehow guu has been able to bring over the van quality over here

been in van a long time so kinda got use to the food
only when i moved to toronto did i realize what i was missing out haha

but ya ... toronto guu is really up to van standard
only thing is ... been open a month now and there's still like a at least one hour wait to get in haha but totally worth the wait