Japanese Bistro Kamome

Heard quite a bit about this spot & decided to give it a try for lunch. The restaurant is small & homey, & they only accept debit or cash.

They have a wide selection of onigiris that go for $3.25-4.50 each. Bowls, noodles & sets range from $6.50-15. I didn't see any item over $15 on their menu!

- Cold Udon Set with Prawn Tempura & Miso Soup
- Onigiri of the Month: Yuzu Shio Chicken Onigiri
- Tuba Mayo Onigiri

The cold udon was served al dente & came with dipping sauce on the side. The 2 prawn tempura were small & could've been crispier, but overall this set was decent in taste & value.

The onigiris here are quite chubby. They're mostly rice as expected, but there was an adequate amount of filling in both the ones I tried. I liked this month's special onigiri -- the salty yuzu shio flavour was quite unique.

This entire meal only set me back ~$20 & I was stuffed! Overall, not a bad spot to hit up for lunch in the Joyce-Collingwood area.

Japanese Bistro Kamome serves a mix of classic Japanese foods such as Onigiri, Udon, Soba and Donburi bowls along with more modern fare such as their "Japanini" rice sandwiches. They are located in the Joyce-Collingwood neighborhood, just one block away from the skytrain station.

The Japanini is a rice sandwich with different fillings inside, wrapped with seaweed and then grilled with a panini press. I ordered the Vegetable Japanini. When I first read the description for this item on the menu, for some reason I thought it was going to be a Yaki Onigiri. I was a bit disappointed with this item. Even disregarding the fact that I misinterpreted what the item was meant to be, it really just wasn't anything outstanding. I think they could take Japanini off the menu and replace it with what I originally thought it was going to be...Yaki Onigiri!

The Tempura Udon and the Onigiri were the best of the bunch. Unlike some other Onigiri we have encountered in restaurants, where there's just a small amount of ingredient on the tip of the Onigiri, but no filling inside the riceball itself, the Onigiri at Bistro Kamome actually had more filling inside. Pretty decent compared with other Japanese restaurants in Vancouver but still...no comparison with the wonderful Onigiri that we had for breakfast everyday in Japan!

Prices here are very reasonable. For affordable, Japanese homestyle cooking, this is a great place to come to. Omurice would be a lovely addition to the menu, but I would still come back to try some more eats from what they currently offer.

I love that they not only allow but they request people to bring in their own reusable containers.
Kudos to them for making an effort to be more environmentally friendly!

I was looking forward to trying this place! It is small with about two tables, one two-seater, and one four-seater, and about 5 counter seats. Street parking is available in the area.

I got a kid's meal for the toddler and a hamburger steak for myself. The food was not too memorable but I did like how they have a kid's combo.

I do have a gripe about the service though. I entered the restaurant ahead of my husband and toddler. At the time of my visit, there was a cashier / waiter, and another lady, presumably the owner or chef? There was one person at the counter seat, and the two-seater table was taken.

I told the cashier that I will need a high chair. The group at the two-seater table motioned to me that I could take their table soon as they were just about to leave. The cashier tried to grab the high chair, but the other lady blocked her way, and said something in Japanese to her so she stopped. The entire time, no one said anything to me. Nothing to acknowledge my request or to explain what I was waiting for, or even to offer me the menu to look while I waited. I stood around waiting, not sure what was going on.

Eventually, I asked for the high chair, and again, the cashier tried to grab it, and once again, the other lady stopped her. After standing around for a while awkwardly, I picked up the menu to browse while waiting, still unsure what was going on. Then the group at the two-seater left, and the cashier finally got me to settle in that smaller table.

When we finished, and was packing up to leave, one couple walked in, and took the four-seater. So in the end, while we, a group of 3, were left standing and waiting without any information, had ended up at the small table of 2, a couple walked in and easily took the table of 4, after we were already done our meal. We could have sat at the 4 seater more comfortably and finished our meal, before the couple would have needed that table. Had they told us what was happening or offered us the menu while we waited, that would have made the experience more palatable.

Kamome Bistro is a gem of Japanese culinary excellence nestled in the heart of the city. With its charming ambiance and authentic dishes, it promises a memorable dining experience.

The menu features a delightful array of traditional Japanese delicacies, including exquisite bento boxes and onigiris. Each dish is expertly prepared and beautifully presented, reflecting the restaurant's commitment to quality and authenticity.

From the moment you step inside, you're greeted with warm hospitality and attentive service, ensuring a seamless dining experience from start to finish

Quaint little Japanese restaurant was my first thought seeing the size of the place. There was about 4 bar seats facing the window on each side of the entrance, a 2 to 3 seater table and a 4 to 5 seater table and that was it.
We called to make reservation for 4 and it was allowed surprisingly for such a small place. You order and pay first then return to seat.
We arrived just after six on a weekend and the place filled up quickly over the next hour.
The menu is extensive ( a book and several double sided laminated sheets. Plus we later realized they had additional menu items and what seems to be weekly or daily specials along the counter/prep area.
We ordered takoyaki and epi mayo for sharing and it was really tasty. Also had the chicken japanini ( cute name for a grilled rice sandwich/wrap) and the beef udon combo with a salmon onigiri. The beef had the sauce you usually get on a beef teriyaki don on it. Broth was comforting and full of umami flavour, noodles were bouncy and the perfect texture.
The food came on dishes that you might serve yourself at home and slightly on the smaller side but it was all delicious and authentic. This place is suitable for a quick work lunch (with no need to take leftovers) or if you are feeling for snacks and you want to try a few things.
With an extensive menu that they have , I will have to come back and try !

A small but busy restaurant near Joyce Station! At first glance, the ambiance reminded me of Hachibei - a family-owned, homestyle Japanese restaurant. Equipped with only a few tables and bar seating, many people stopped by for take-out and understandably so. The restaurant has you order first before taking a seat. There is a LOT of options available for such a small restaurant.

I ordered the ebi tempura udon combo with tuna mayo onigiri. I loved the crunchiness of the onigiri seaweed, which paired perfectly with the filling. Mayo did not overpower the tuna, but rather accentuated the taste. Ebi tempura was unfortunately slightly soggy as it was resting on top of the soup but nonetheless tasty. I found that the batter was quite thick though. Udon was al dente and soup was light and refreshing.

We also ordered the seafood soba which was great for a cold day. Loads of small pieces of seafood, and the soup had a stronger taste than the udon. Soba was slightly flavoured and delicious.

Overall, it's a great place to grab a quick bite if I'm heading to Metrotown. The food is quite worth it for its price - even the combo was only ~$12 - You can barely find other places to fill you up for that price and quality! There's also free parking out front which I appreciate.

Authentic homestyle Japanese spot in the collingwood-joyce area. Definitely recommend if you're looking for a cheap japanese meal. The quality is ok here for the price.

A small Japanese eatery near Joyce station. Parking is available on the side streets.

It specializes in onigiri and quite reminds me of Japan where it is very common to eat the rice balls for lunch or snack.

Come here if you prefer the home cooking type of Japanese food, and not the typical sushi rolls or special rolls.

The dishes are mainly grilled fish, noodle, rice and onigiri. There is a special everyday so go on that day to save a couple of dollars on your favorite dish. I like the unagi don. The portion is not huge but it is sufficient for a 70-80% fullness.

Note:
It is cash or debit only.
And it is awesome they allow you to bring your own containers for take out. I like that very much.

Authentic Japanese bistro serving up comfort food and small bites. We sampled a number of items including:

Ebi Tempura Japanini (grilled rice sandwich) - 3/5 STARS
Ebi Tempura Udon - 4/5 STARS
Ebi Cream Udon - 4/5 STARS
Takoyaki - 4/5 STARS
Salmon Roe Oniguri - 4/5 STARS
Spicy Tuna Oniguri - 3/5 STARS

Everything was delicious, fresh, and made with care.

Some restaurants you have to judge based on how they make you feel. Less about how the food taste, the service or value.
Upon entering Kamome, you will feel very comforted. In my last visit, I saw a mom and son smiling and laughing while playing cards. On a separate occasion, I saw a pair of teenagers in tranquility playing their mobile games without anyone bothering them. While these behaviours may be normal at a cafe, it's just interesting to see in a small restaurant.
I was able to experience the same feelings when I ate there... outside noises melt away making the meal extra homey.
You won't get this type of peace unless you are on the toilet alone while watching YouTube on your phone. Just a nice relaxing poop.

Food is basic Japanese comfort meals. Stuff Junskitchen make.
Be nice to the new boy working there - feels like that's his mom or aunt who runs the kitchen. She is constantly directing him... like how your mom hovers over you while you are cleaning the kitchen, noticing every spot you missed. Poor guy.