Konbiniya Japan Centre — Local services in Vancouver

If I could provide ZERO stars, I would. The customer service at this place is sub-zero. I have witnessed rudeness by the old and grumpy owner in the past & just let it slip, thinking the old guy might be too tired, but hey, if you don't have patience, hire someone! The inefficiency and impoliteness we witnessed, made us finally make the decision to never shop at this place ever again! This place employs only two extremely slow female workers to make crepes and while they make crepes, they don't bother to have someone serve the soft ice cream from the machine which takes less than a minute for several ice cream cones while the two females waste so much time making a few crepes. It sure isn't a smart business choice, as they can make MORE MONEY serving soft ice cream cones every 30 seconds on a busy day, rather than WASTING 15 minutes to make a few crepes!!! Their crepes aren't the best either. Too bad the French Crepe shop closed due to the lock downs. Anyways, last Saturday, we waited over 15 minutes to get the ice cream the children wanted, as the two customers ahead of us had ordered four or five crepes each, and it took over 15 minutes for the workers to prepare their order, and the second customer was still waiting for her crepes that were being made in a sluggish pace while chatting on her phone & chewing gum very loudly, while children in the line got upset.

Yet, there was no one to serve the soft ice cream to the poor kids waiting in the long line!!! Three kids decided to leave DISAPPOINTED without ice cream. Two mothers with children, could not wait any longer, and they too, left while their children got sad. A lady standing in line behind the customer who was waiting for the crepes asked the slow and RUDE Asian worker if they could get someone to at least serve the ice cream (which takes maybe 10 seconds for each cone), but the unprofessional said, "we are only two people here with so many crepes to make, and by the way, you should pay inside the store, and then come here and wait for your order". We got quite annoyed and left, and so did the couple in front of us. Never coming back to this pit again, as there are many other places serving delicious ice creams and other desserts...

Konbiniya Japan Centre is my favourite place to go when I'm in need of authentic Japanese foods!

🍙 - They've got pretty much anything under the sun you can think of when it comes to foods; I'm talking snacks, sauces, condiments, seasonings, instant dishes, noodles, rice, candies, etc. I even saw something called "Tokyo Banana" which I'm pretty sure you can only usually get as a souvenir if you've actually visited Tokyo. So I was very surprised to see that in a shop along Robson St in Vancouver.

🍹- They've got an entire WALL of Japanese drinks, including sodas, teas, juices, energy drinks and more. Very convenient like a true "Konbini" in Japan, grab and go your beverages on a hot summer day.

👨‍🍳 - If you like to cook, I saw lots and lots of speciality ingredients to make all your favourite Japanese dishes.

🍦- They've also got a window outside that acts like a to-go style restaurant service, serving things like Japanese-style crepes and ice creams.

Overall, a fantastic store that I regularly come by to stock up on all the Japanese items I miss from the country! Staff are always amazing as well. Tip, visit their FB page every week, they have a discount code you can show to the cashier for 10% off. Love this...

This shop is a true treasure trove of Japanese delights! As someone who has never been to Japan, I find this place to be a fascinating glimpse into Japanese culture and cuisine right here in Vancouver. One of the highlights is the array of specialty ingredients like Koji, perfect for those eager to craft their own miso from scratch. Additionally, they offer a great selection of sauces and Japanese staples that are essential for authentic cooking at home.

I've had the pleasure of trying some of their grab-and-go items from the cooler, and I must say, they exceeded my expectations in terms of taste and value. I'm particularly looking forward to sampling their waffle bar next time. However, what truly excites me is their collection of Japanese candies. It's like stepping into a candy wonderland with all the unique flavors and textures that Japan is renowned for.

Whether you're a seasoned chef looking for authentic ingredients or simply someone with a sweet tooth craving Japanese treats, this shop has something for everyone. It's a delightful way to experience a taste of Japan without having to...