Fantasy Sushi — Restaurant in Surrey

Truly a hidden gem and one of the best sushi I've ever had in Metro Vancouver! 💎😋👌

Words can't describe how amazing the sushi was, but I'll give it my best shot. The fish here was really fresh, in fact I couldn't even smell the fish and there was no strong fishy taste either which I heard from my Japanese friend that this is a clear indication of high quality sushi.

It is on the pricey 💲 side but if you want cheap low-grade fish, then this is NOT the place you should be dining in! This place was curated for those who can't afford to fly to Japan but want something as close to Japanese quality sushi without having to travel to Vancouver.

My friends and I ordered the following dishes: Assorted Sashimi Assorted Nigiri Beef Tataki Hanako Roll Pandora Roll Chicken Karaage Deep Fried Fish (on the house from the chef - thanks chef!)

Assorted Sashimi 🐟: Beautiful presentation, minimalist and good spacing - great use of the greens to balance out the colours of the fish. The fish was high quality that sits really nicely on the mouth, while the octopus had just the right amount of chew.

Assorted Nigiri 🍣: Simple and effective presentation. Good fish to rice ratio with high quality fish. Great assortment of soft and chewy nigiri.

Beef Tataki 🐄: Flavorful and prepared nicely. This was my first time trying this type of dish. Thinly sliced beef that just melts in your mouth. I highly recommend you try this dish at least once!

Hanako Roll and Pandora Roll 🤤: These rolls were absolutely perfect. The rice to filling ratio was perfect. If you look at my photos you can see how thin the layer of rice is - what was even more impressive was how tightly rolled they were which prevented the roll from unwrapping even when completely soaked in soy sauce. The pandora roll was my favourite - the spice level was good which gave the dish just enough kick without overpowering the other flavours.

Chicken Karaage 🍗: Nice, crispy and seasoned well. Not much to say about this staple dish aside from it tasted great!

Deep Fried Fish 🐠: Very delicious fish. Deep fried well and yet did not feel overcooked. The meat slides off the bones nicely and the seasoning was on point.

Finally got to the end of the review, but before I close, I just want to thank the server for their great service and the chef for blessing us with high quality sushi in Surrey that's comparable, if not better than expensive sushi restaurants in Vancouver. 🙏

This place is criminally underrated, you probably won't find many tiktok reviews of this place...and honestly a part of me wishes it stays that way because I know there will be long lineups and waitlists if it blows up LOL...but in all seriousness, this place definitely deserves more...

I'm very saddened to write this review, as Hanako used to be my favourite sushi restaurant in Greater Vancouver. I would drive from downtown Vancouver to Surrey just to eat there, had so many great meals, and even one of my first dates with my now wife was at Hanako when I simply Googled "best sushi in Surrey" when we had first met.

The last time we'd been to Hanako was quite awhile ago during the pandemic, and when we went there today we did not know that the previous owner/chef had left. When the first plate of sushi came out I noticed immediately that the fish looked to be of far lower quality than it had been previously. Being a big fan of toro, Hanako always had some of the best in town, it was always glistening with its own oils and silky smooth and delicious. Today it was translucent and tasteless, much like the toro you would get in a cheaper restaurant like Sushi Garden, and one of them even had a bone in it.

Speaking of Sushi Garden, it appears that the new owner is following that business model where while you do get a large piece of fish on every nigiri, the quality is so poor that I honestly had a hard time finishing it.

The following dishes were equally as disappointing as the toro, and the taste of the chopped scallop nigiri had me wondering if the scallops were spoiled. The tako was still a bit frozen, and don't even get me started on the saba. Even the ginger was now of the same fibrous and raspy quality you'd get in a low end sushi restaurant. Worst of all the prices are still that of a high end sushi restaurant. The only thing I enjoyed was the green tea.

My wife and I were so dismayed by the reduction in quality that we asked the waitress at the end if the owners had changed, and were unsurprised to learn that indeed they had. A sad end to a great restaurant, we...

(2023 update at the end)

Love this gem. Most authentic Japanese preparation in Surrey. Place is cozy and casual, but the food is excellent. Chef has excellent knife skills for the sashimi. Recently had a set omakase at Yumi and felt like the bill was strictly for ambience; all items were regular fare I order at Hanako, Yumi couldn't beat the preparation, flavor, portion or price. Must haves/honorable mentions: Nasu Dengaku (eggplant), crab salad, soft shell crab karaage, chicken karaage, Mai Tai Uzusikuri. Excellent seasonal items. Can really add up if you want to try everything, but worth it. Fish is always fresh, and service is great and friendly. Worth checking out, but don't come so often that I can't get a seat anymore! Lol. Update: currently sitting here a year later and they are still completely on point!!!

Years later update:

Popped in for a treat/meal, ordering the Hanako Chirashi Don.

Presentation+++ Variety +++

The cooked BBQ makeral and side of masagonis a wonderful touch Not too much rice, seems la bit light at first but by the time you finish all the fish it's actually perfect.

Octopus between two slices of lemon slices balanced and insightful Sushi rice cooked perfect, and there are other light garnishes that pair wonderfully.

BBQ mackerel was incredible, and the glaze a delight. A welcomed surprise for a Chirashi Don.

Tomo was fluffy and had a nice saturatuation of sweetness/mirin.

Scallop was incredible, and the diced scallop sashimi was +++

Price is $35, but the value is there. Everything tastes fresh and the whole experience is...