Saku exceeded all my expectations and more. It was so good!!! I had a lot of tonkatsu at popular places while working in Japan so I know what to compare to. I can say that Saku certainly deserves its fame! It's a delight to experience Japanese level of friendly service again. I will come back with an even bigger appetite!

Wow - hands down worth the wait! If you don’t want to wait in line in person, download the Yelp app and wait virtually. They text you to tell you you’re third in line if you’re not already refreshing to check your spot, which is super convenient. Upon entering the restaurant, I found it to be super bright and clean with a beautiful open concept design and natural wood finishes and a touch of (fake?) plants. We were seated in a spacious booth with a QR code photo on the table as our menu. We ordered the hire and premium katsu, both which were tender and juicy with a super crispy crust! The set comes with rice, shredded cabbage (which tastes pretty delicious with the sesame dressing), miso soup, pickled veggies, sesame seeds with mortar and pestle for grinding and a a katsu sauce that reminds me of barbecue flavour. The set is beautifully displayed in a large wooden katsu tray making it look substantial and beautifully presented compared to other katsu places. The servers were constantly refilling our water and checking in; very attentive and I felt looked after. I also really liked the way our server explained that the premium pork might look pink inside but it’s cooked and fine to eat. While I would’ve eaten it anyway, it was a helpful and proactive reminder. Average price was $20-$23 per set but I would order and try the cheese katsu or even the larger zebu set next time (good for two people). I’ll definitely be back!

Very pleasant and friendly. Food was fantastic. The chicken breast was prepared very well, hot and tasted fresh. The soft drink was a bit of novelty but tasted good (strawberry). The waiter we had was always smiling and very pleasant. The place was quite as most patrons despite the place being full most of our visit spoke in low voices.

Delicious food with beautiful presentation. The server could tell it was my first time and she asked when dropping the food. So she gave the run down on each dish as this is an immersive dining experience where you add your own salt, grind sesame seeds to add to a sauce and other garnishes and refillable sides. I loved it and loved the experience. It was quite bright inside otherwise loved the atmosphere. Being of North American heritage I wasn't sure if it was so we could see our beautiful food or if evening lights had not been dimmed yet. I will definitely be bringing anyone here who has not been before. Thank you!. Also, I had to leave in a hurry and asked for my bill while still eating. They brought the bill and paid promptly. In today's lowered service quality this was nice to see good service again.

Loved it! The tonkatsu was so tender and juicy on the inside and crispy and crunchy on the outside. Very friendly servers constantly asked me if I needed any refills. One of the best meals I've ever had. I recommend coming here if you want incredible food!

A great gathering place . We ordered their Zenbu (everything) katsu for $39.50 and added $8 for additional rice, cabbage and soup. It was more than enough for the two of us! If you have big appetite, their rice, cabbage and soup are refillable and all you can eat, so you have no excuse not to get stuffed.

Decided to come here for a late lunch, but even then, the place is still packed. Very popular and I could see why. We got the Zenbu set and it was a lot of food for 2 people. It was so good though. Esp the fatty pork and scallop. Also have to mention the salad. Seems very simple but the dressing is amazing. Service was just fine but the atmosphere was really nice. Will come back for sure.

The katsu is definitely worth the hype, the crust is incredibly flaky and fresh without being overly oily, and the meat was juicy and soft. The house made sesame sauce is to die for and the unlimited cabbage salad makes for a good delivery vehicle of said sauce. Beautiful ambience, almost fine dining-like. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

맛 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 분위기 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 서비스⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ First of all, among all the restaurants I've been to, this one can proudly claim to be the most courteous. Furthermore, I can confidently say it was the tastiest tonkatsu I've ever had. The reason is that I've tried over a hundred tonkatsu places, both famous ones in Korea and Japan, but while 90% had similar flavors, none of them were 100% friendly. That's because the best places are usually too busy to be friendly. However, here, every staff member was exceptionally friendly. Even though I used basic Japanese instead of English, they treated me with utmost kindness. Among them, a staff member with slightly dyed white hair was fluent in Korean and provided excellent service. As a result, I'm leaving this comment now. Even when I asked for extra vegetables or miso soup, they gladly provided them without any sign of inconvenience. Every staff member was genuinely, truly friendly and provided top-notch service, which is why I plan to visit frequently. If you're planning a trip to Japan, I highly recommend going here. It's a definite pass for Vancouver's best restaurant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Delicious food, with large portions and very kind and attentive staff! There was unlimited rice and salad refills, and the most amazing sesame sauce to use as a topping for everything! I came with a group of friends and after one taste we all used up 2 bottles of it on our food because it was so good, so it was nice that we also got unlimited refills of the sauce bottles too!

Delicious cutlet, entirely worth the wait. Despite the restaurant being very busy, the waitstaff was very attentive and courteous. The curry katsu was amazing, very flavourful curry sauce. And they provide free refills on the rice, salad and soup! Interior design of the place was also lovely.

The food and service are good, and reasonably priced. Bottomless rice as well which was a surprise. Nice ambiance in the restaurant. There can be long wait though and the bathroom is kind of odd, the sinks/mirror area are communal without a door and in full view of the dining room.

Came here for brunch and the wait to get a table for 4 was honestly not too bad (~15 mins). If everyone at the table gets a dish worth $9 or more then you get unlimited rice, miso soup, and salad. Which is great because their salad is so good as is their dressing and really gives your palate a break/reset from the deep fried foods that is your main meal. We got a side of curry because katsu and curry is just a perfect combination and if you've never poured curry over your katsu before, definitely recommend it!

One of the best restaurants I’ve ever been to in my entire life. The food was phenomenal, presented beautifully, and the service was efficient and attentive. Each person gets 1 free miso and 1 free rice refill (meaning each person gets 2 misos and 2 rice bowls in total, at least when we were there). The food was so fresh, tasted delicious, and I don’t think we had to wait too like despite it being quite busy. We ordered 1 rosu katsu ($25), 1 rosu curry ($28), and 2 cheese katsus ($26.50 for one order). Although this place is quite pricey, it’s worth it for the experience and the quality and amount of food. The cheese katsu is quite rich, the rosu curry is quite flavourful, and the breading of all of the katsus were amazing! We highly recommend coming here, but DON’T FORGET TO MAKE A RESERVATION/BE PUT ON THE WAITING LIST ONLINE, because it’s super busy once it opens, and you’ll have to wait 30+ minutes if you don’t have one.

Saku over exceeded my expectations. I’ve had many katsu dishes in the past and the cheese katsu I got at Saku has to be one of the best I’ve ever tried. I am also very pleasantly surprised that the cabbage, miso soup and rice are refillable - so my friend and I got one meal set and extra katsu on the side. The atmosphere of this restaurant is amazing. It is so aesthetically pleasing and the employees are very accommodating. I would definitely return when I’m ever in Vancouver again. Thanks for the amazing meal and great service.

Small wait but they have a Yelp waitlist and the interior is so nice. We got the zenbu katsu, it is more than enough food for two (it comes with 3 whole katsu!!!) if you add $8+ for an additional set of rice and salad…. We messed up and order this set and another katsu set

Its very decent place for katu Food is hot and fresh. quite busy all the time. However I do not recommend going here after 9. It says open till 10 also last order is 9:20 something. I havent been here after 9 so I didnt know. they start cleaning at 9. So even there are not many customers, its very very noisy. Also they want me to pay the bill during my meal. I felt force to eat fast and leave, dont have time for enjoy my meal is because they keep walk around and clean all the stuff. I understand they want to go home ASAP after close or is maybe they have to do this way somehow. But Im also customer who paid same amount bill as other customers. very disappointed. Hope this review help other people.

Simply amazing! A friend suggested we meet here I had no idea what to expect. The breaded and deep fried pork was amazing. I don’t know how they get the consistency they do. Portion seemed a touch small so I added a cheese katsu add on which was delicious.

I am absolutely smitten with the culinary delights offered at this remarkable Japanese restaurant. However, what truly sets it apart is the exceptional team of individuals who work here. The waitstaff exhibited unmatched friendliness, going above and beyond by attentively checking on my friend and me throughout the dining experience. Their genuine care and attentiveness truly left a lasting impression. Kudos to this establishment for fostering such a warm and caring environment!

This restaurant in Vancouver offers some of the most delicious tonkatsu menus around. The ambiance of the place is excellent, and most of the menu items are delectable. While it's a bit pricier compared to other tonkatsu restaurants, I personally find the value unmatched, making it hard to compare with other establishments.

The pork, chicken, shrimp katsu is very juicy and tender on the inside. The outside is crunchy and not oily. The sauce is great but sprinkling salt and sesame seems to bring out meat taste more. Do not recommend the white fish as it was slightly soggy at the bottom and the fish was quite tough in the middle. Other white fish I had before is very fluffy and light with a gentle sweetness to it. This one was briny only. Presentation of the food is great. Seating is wonderfully spacious. Service is quite attentive and friendly. All in all it was a very pleasant experience. Slightly on the expensive side.

I dream about coming back here for tonkatsu. The whole experience was so magical. The restaurant is beautiful and bright, spacious but cozy, and decorated with warm wood throughout the space. The waiter was kind, respectful and detail oriented. The tray held your tonkatsu and an assortment of little condiments and side dishes. Each had its own role to constantly change up your eating experience and reinvigorate your taste buds to go in for another bite: juicy tender fatty pork with a crunchy exterior with a squeeze of citrus spark on top, thin crispy fresh cabbage, total body warming miso soup, a little salt to amplify your tastes, DIY freshly ground sesame seeds for a nutty, earthy tone mixed into the deep umami sauce vs the creamy and tart.. tartar sauce, pickles to cleanse your palate and cut the fat, and Japanese rice to bring everything harmoniously together. Not to mention the rice, cabbage and miso soup have unlimited refills? I've never had tonkatsu like this before.

Outstanding 10/10. Happy to say my meal lived up to my expectations and the hype. I'm a stickler for over paying for food, but even at $32 after tip I was stoked with my meal. I ordered the Hire katsu with a cheese katsu side addition. The katsu pork is soft while the crunch is perfect, the rice freshly steamed and the simple cabbage salad just brings it all together. Whatever that sesame dressing for the coleslaw is, is absolute fire. When you take a bite of katsu dipped in the sauce, then a big bite of rice and cabbage... that is a perfect flavour profile. Also the cheese katsu was delish, I could ravage a lot of that. After three times being denied as it was too busy I finally got in and I'll definitely be back. Thanks SAKU!

Very good katsu! The unlimited rice and cabbage refills (only for some menu items) really make the price worth it. One thing to keep in mind is that it gets insanely busy sometimes, so book a table beforehand. They take orders outside the restaurant when you are waiting so this place might not be a good option if you are not prepared to stand outside for a while in the cold during Winter.

Place can get busy so be prepared to wait on busy hours and dates. Food here are pretty much top notch when it comes to Japanese Katsu. Service is also exceptional, living up to Japanese high standard. Food wait time is not too long but not too short either. I am sure I will come back to this place for more. Also to mention, cabbage salad and miso soup refills are free of charge. That is big ‘good’ point extra.

Will 100% be coming back when I visit Vancouver again!! Wow this place was fantastic and for the price?! It’s so utterly worth visiting. The place was so busy but worth the 10ish minute wait I had. You walk in and are immediately presented with the aroma of the oil and breading (in a good way). They kindly explained how everything worked, what everything was and even left me be so I could FaceTime my partner and have a meal with him (he’s staying home in Winnipeg) so I really appreciated that. The food was absolutely delicious, crispy coating, juicy pork and just overall amazing sides!!

Saku has ruined me for pork cutlet. These were simply outstanding and I'm not expecting to have a a katsu nearly as good anywhere else. The breading is so crispy & crunchy and the pork was tender and fatty and hot and juicy and oh so perfectly cooked. I normally do not eat very much food and when my tray arrived I thought that with all the side salad and miso soup and rice and all that I would have maybe 2 or 3 bites of katsu but I could not stop eating once I started and before I knew it I had finished the whole thing. I even did the thing where I had to loosen my belt. It was all too good to stop eating. Saku is the pork cutlet category killer for sure. I've never had one that can compare.

Delicious katsu. The curry and rice ratio was spot on. Everything was delicious. We entered ourselves on the waitlist and when we were called, they got our order as the table wasn’t completely ready but the wait for our food was shorter because of it. Cheese katsu as a side was definitely worth it. With the amount of food and quality we got, it was definitely a bang for your buck. Would definitely come back here.

Saku is one of our favorite spots for lunch on Sundays. Saku offers a awesome quality/price/value ratio. We normally put our name on yelp waitlist while we’re driving . By the time we get there normally it’s not much of a wait. Once seated, ordering is pretty quick . The food comes out pretty quick as well . Other than the protein, the rice, the soup, and the cabbage is unlimited, which makes it a really good deal for the customer . Service is pretty much usually on point, nothing outstanding, but just average . Ambience is very good, the washrooms are clean, one thing I have to say is the table cleanness is 110% Always a treat.

One of the best Katsu restaurants I've ever been to, including restaurants in Japan. Generous portions and amazingly tasting food. Servers were polite and professional. We had a small wait after joining the waitlist and a server took our order to get the food started before we even sat down so I loved the efficiency.

Visited at 430 pm when they closed for lunch due to technical issues. Order the mega bento with all sort of meat and two type of seafood. Sadly no white gosh the day, so one scallop and prawn. Crispy and juicy meat. It’s supposed for two but a big eater like me only have three pieces unfinished. They offered me a big box to pack and extra sauce for dipping. Found the spider web once sat down and there obvious dirt at the barrier. Seems never be cleaned. #hygiene problem.

The tonkatsu at Saku is simply outstanding, with a perfectly crispy breading that gives way to juicy and tender pork. Each bite is bursting with flavor, and it's clear that the chefs here take great care in selecting and preparing the highest quality ingredients. With friendly service and outstanding food, it's clear why this restaurant is a local favorite.

This place is a Vancouver treasure. Best katsu and Japanese curry in the city. I eat here everytime in Downtown. Very courteous and cheerful servers always make me happy. Go visit now!