Manzo Itamae Japanese Restaurant — Restaurant in Richmond

Nestled in Richmond, Manzo Itamae Japanese Restaurant combines modern Japanese flavors with traditional preparation techniques, providing diners with a well-rounded culinary experience. With a carefully crafted menu and attentive service, this restaurant showcases both the creativity and precision of Japanese cuisine, though minor technical flaws in some rolls slightly detract from an otherwise impressive meal.

Food

Mentaiko Lobster Roll The Mentaiko Lobster Roll is a standout, artfully combining the rich, salty notes of mentaiko with the sweetness of tender lobster. This roll’s flavor profile is both balanced and satisfying, setting a high bar for quality. Unfortunately, the rice lacks cohesion, causing the roll to fall apart easily when picked up, which impacts the overall presentation and ease of eating. Despite this flaw, the flavors are truly excellent. Rating: 8/10

Lobster Mango Roll This inventive roll pairs the richness of lobster with the bright, fruity sweetness of mango, resulting in a vibrant and refreshing bite. However, like the Mentaiko Lobster Roll, the rice structure is loose, making it difficult to handle without the roll falling apart. Despite this, the flavor pairing is a delightful combination that remains a memorable part of the meal. Rating: 7/10

Aburi Salmon Battera Lightly grilled with a gentle sear, the Aburi Salmon Battera highlights the natural flavor of the fish with a subtle smokiness that adds depth without overpowering. The delicate preparation and clean flavors make this dish a must-try for those who appreciate simplicity in their sushi. Rating: 7/10

Oyster Motoyaki The Oyster Motoyaki is rich, creamy, and full of umami, with a perfectly balanced sauce that enhances the oyster’s natural brininess. This dish is indulgent and well-executed, appealing to those who enjoy a comforting, flavorful bite with a decadent texture. Rating: 8/10

Motsu Teppanyaki Prepared on the teppan grill, this dish showcases a harmonious blend of flavors and textures, with each ingredient seasoned to bring out its natural taste. The Motsu Teppanyaki is warm, satisfying, and showcases the restaurant’s commitment to expertly cooked dishes. Rating: 8/10

AAA Beef Sukiyaki The AAA Beef Sukiyaki offers a striking presentation, with the dish prepared tableside for a full sensory experience. The beef is thickly sliced and high-quality, simmered alongside fresh vegetables and noodles. The broth is rich and subtly sweet, creating a satisfying flavor profile that highlights the quality of the ingredients and the precision in cooking. This dish is a highlight of the menu and delivers both in taste and presentation. Rating: 9/10

Ambiance Manzo Itamae provides a warm, inviting setting with a clean and thoughtfully designed interior. The cozy atmosphere enhances the dining experience, making it a comfortable choice for both casual meals and special occasions. The restaurant is well-maintained, creating a space that feels both refined and relaxed.

9 out 10

Price The pricing at Manzo Itamae is reasonable given the quality of the ingredients and the generous portion sizes. Diners can expect value for money, with thoughtfully prepared dishes that emphasize flavor and presentation.

Service Service is one of Manzo Itamae’s strongest attributes. Our waitress was exceptionally friendly and attentive, regularly checking in to ensure our satisfaction and that we had everything we needed. Her attentiveness contributed positively to our dining experience and highlighted the restaurant’s commitment to customer care.

Rating 9 out 10

Verdict Manzo Itamae Japanese Restaurant stands out as one of Richmond’s best destinations for Japanese cuisine. Despite minor technical issues with the sushi rolls’ rice structure, the flavors and presentation of each dish demonstrate a commitment to quality and innovation. With its inviting atmosphere, excellent service, and skillfully prepared food, Manzo Itamae is an excellent choice for those seeking a refined Japanese...

We discovered Manzo Itamae some years ago and found their hamachi sashimi to be superb – the best in town at the time. Recently, I was craving BBQ items, and checked a lot of Japanese BBQ restaurants in Vancouver, but could not find one with the breadth of menu equal to Manzo Itamae. We came back and had the most amazing meal experience. We took full advantage of the breadth of menu, and ordered Hamachi Sashimi, Nabeyaki Udon, Vegetable Teriyaki, Salmon Toro Nankotsu Shioyaki, BBQ Chicken Wings. Everything was delicious, but in particular, the hamachi was very amazing – still the best in town, with just the right texture an no fishy smell or taste. The salmon belly was also very good, and the chicken wing was tender and peppery. The Nabeyaki Udon is good to the last drop, delicious broth. The stir fried vegetables was a disappointment, so, next time, I will eat vegetables before we show up. One thing though, we both had trouble with the wasabi – I like to use a lot of wasabi when I eat raw fish. We didn't anticipate the wasabi being so HOT!, I had quite a long moment of coughing from the hot wasabi trying to catch my breath. I'll have to remember to use less in this...

This was one of my favourite go to Izakaya’s in Richmond for a while. Everyone knew Manzo and they even opened a second location because of their success. Ebi mayo was synonymous with them and they were great back then.

I will admit I haven’t been here for a few years, but coming back it seems a lot of other izakaya’s have surpassed them, unfortunately.

We may have caught them at a bad time, but we sat down around 8pm and ordered promptly since it was a late dinner for us and we were hungry. We didn’t get our first dish until close to 8:45pm. The table beside us sat down around 8:30pm and got their food at the same time as us. There was a large group being served so it’s probably just bad timing, but spreading out orders or letting your customers know could be helpful. After asking twice, we were finally told it’s on the way.

We ordered 5 things but only 4 were keyed in so we decided to just leave it at that, didn’t want to risk waiting longer for food.

The waitress that took over later and got our bill sensed we weren’t happy and comp’d ice cream for us, which was a nice touch.

Like many reviews have said, it’s quite hit and miss for them. Unfortunately, we got...