Saku

    Claimed
    $$ Japanese
    Closed11:30 AM - 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM

    Updated 3 months ago

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    1588 Robson Street

    Vancouver, BC V6G 2G5

    Canada

    West End

    Mon

    • 11:30 AM - 3:00 PM

    • 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM

    Tue

    • 11:30 AM - 3:00 PM

    • 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM

    Wed

    • 11:30 AM - 3:00 PM

    • 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM

    Thu

    • 11:30 AM - 3:00 PM

    • 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM

    Closed now

    Fri

    • 11:30 AM - 9:30 PM

    Sat

    • 11:30 AM - 9:30 PM

    Sun

    • 11:30 AM - 9:30 PM

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    441 reviews

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    • Photo of Michael F.
      Michael F.
      Burnaby, Canada
      204
      16
      9
      Jul 25, 2018

      To start off there aren't a lot of places in Vancouver that do just katsu cuts. There's the Korean chain Daeji which is pretty good (although their fried chicken is better), and for Japanese katsu places most of them are doing curry katsu like Suika, Marulilu and ZacZac. I love à good curry katsu but I've got no hate for a place that just wants to do katsu. Saku is a place that just wants to do katsu.

      The menu is simple, the ingredients are high quality, and the staff are friendly. It's an expensive joint when you're dropping $16-$20 for a katsu set but the quality of the pork cuts and jumbo prawn are really nice.

      This place would have been a 5* spot for me if the pork wasn't overcooked however. The meat was a bit dry and that's a shame because the loin cuts can be super juicy when prepared right.

      Next time I'd try the curry katsu set because the curry sauce might help offset a drier cut of pork.

      Rosu Katsu Set
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    • Photo of DaDa F.
      DaDa F.
      West End, Vancouver, Canada
      0
      1
      1
      Aug 1, 2024

      "I had a wonderful experience at this SAKU!!!The atmosphere is delightful, and the staff's expressions and smiles reflect their excellent service mindset. The quality of the food is exceptional, especially the tonkatsu, which is top-notch and unmatched. Having lived in Japan for five years, I can confidently say that this is the only place in Vancouver where I can enjoy tonkatsu as good as the ones I had in Japan."

      shot of the restaurant entrance
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    • Photo of Evan C.
      Evan C.
      Vancouver, Canada
      18
      292
      387
      Jul 13, 2024

      Ah Saku. I took my family here to celebrate my daughter's birthday - she wanted nothing more than unlimited miso soup. Yes it's true - it's very cool hnlimited rice soup and salad!

      Prompt and courteous service.
      Great food.
      Unlimited extras. What more could you want?

      The cutlet is great. The curry is really good - my son wouldn't let me try it - it was hard to get some to sample. I ordered the Nabe which I liked - egg onion soup mixture was really tasty.

      You can't go wrong and you'll leave very full. This is an absolutely satisfying experience!

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    • Photo of Amy N.
      Amy N.
      San Jose, CA
      31
      189
      1148
      Jul 3, 2024

      We just tried a rosu pork katsu to go because my kid was really wanting Katsu. The inside was super cute, everyone's food looked delicious, they were super nice, a bit pricy especially for one piece alacarte but 15 min later off we went.

      My kid ended up eating a few pieces (and a bite for me to sample obviously) on the side right away because hello, fried food is always better on the spot! The crispiness and tenderness was on point, but the end piece I tried was quite fatty and chewy so not a great first impression. The other bite I tried was way better. My kid definitely enjoyed it!

      I need to go back so we can get the sit down experience with the unlimited cabbage, rice, soup, and yummy sauce! I'm sure that's more worth the cost and fresher!

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    • Photo of Sammy T.
      Sammy T.
      Oakland, CA
      752
      328
      453
      Jun 21, 2024

      Saku is a place with juicy katsu, unlimited rice, miso soup, and cabbage refill. Honestly, we need more of these!!!

      The Zenbu katsu is a great deal and enough to feed 2 people honestly. The portions here are HUGE and as someone who loves the cabbage, I could literally eat 3 of these nonstop.

      Overall, I'd definitely come again! But beware of the line! I wouldn't say the line moves particularly fast but the Richmond location definitely has a lot of seats (but also a lot of demand).

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    • Photo of Somya L.
      Somya L.
      San Francisco, CA
      463
      35
      25
      Jun 3, 2024

      One of the best Japanese curries I have ever had! So close to the curry in Japan.
      We got the Chicken Katsu curry and the Curry Udon (with pork). Everything was extremely fresh, service was great, and the salad was one of the best salads I have ever had. Extremely cute restaurant and will be back!

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    • Photo of Priscilla W.
      Priscilla W.
      San Francisco, CA
      256
      674
      2905
      May 2, 2024

      Saku had to be one of my best meals in Vancouver. They specialize in katsu (deep fried meat cutlet), and their katsu sets include tonjiru, cabbage salad, rice, pickles, and several condiments. Not a katsu person? Saku also offers udon.

      I ordered the Hire Katsu (pork fillet) for CA$26 and substituted the tonjiru for kake udon for additional CA$4 and added a jumbo ebi for additional CA$6.

      Presentation was on point. Everything was in its own dish or bowl and served neatly on a wooden tray. The katsu was elevated on a metal grate to allow bottom airflow, minimizing condensation that would otherwise cause soggy batter.

      Everything was absolutely delicious! The pork fillet was very moist and flavorful, and the batter was light and crispy. With the variety of condiments provided, you can dress up each slice of meat differently: tangy Japanese mayo, umami katsu sauce +/- nutty white sesame seeds, or simple salt. The ebi was meaty and had a nice crunch. Udon noodles had a good chew, and the dashi broth was light. The house made sesame dressing for the cabbage salad was divine! I would buy a bottle of it if Saku sold it. Overall portion size was just right as I came hungry.

      Service was also very pleasant. I was checked in twice and asked about dietary restrictions. The restaurant is also relatively large, spacious, and bright with natural lighting from the windows.

      Saku is open everyday for lunch and dinner and there's four locations: two in Vancouver, one in Richmond, and one in Coquitlam. I highly recommend Saku and would revisit if I'm back in BC!

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    • Photo of Grace Z.
      Grace Z.
      Cerritos, CA
      202
      212
      331
      Jul 25, 2024

      My friend and I came here since I have multiple friends recommending this place for tonkatsu, and it was overall pretty good. We came around 7pm on a sunday night, but we did put our name on the yelp waitlist and waited about 20 minutes. I got the cheese katsu while my friend got the chicken katsu with curry. Both were delicious and the meat were super tender. However, i did feel like the cheese katsu had more cheese filling than meat, but i still enjoyed it. The meal comes with rice, cabbage salad, and miso soup and I believe all of them are unlimited! The servers are super nice and food came out fast. It was a great experience!

      Cheese katsu
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    • Photo of Shirley M.
      Shirley M.
      Union City, CA
      20
      173
      610
      May 18, 2024

      Saku is THE place to get pork katsu in Vancouver! I'd say it's pretty close to what you would find in Japan. Located on a quiet, quaint street in the heart of Vancouver, the restaurant has peaceful and bright interiors and is easily accessible via public transportation and by foot.

      The menu features all sorts of pork dishes, but I got the curry pork katsu which came with a soup, a generous portion of white rice (they even refilled it), and some pickles on the side. The smell and presentation were heavenly, and I devoured my meal while enjoying a nice view. I've heard good things about their ebi and pork-wrapped mozzarella but didn't have a chance to try them myself.

      Was recommended this place by a friend and will be recommending it to anyone who visits Vancouver.

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    • Photo of Andrew T.
      22
      69
      139
      May 9, 2024

      If you are a fan of tonkatsu, you will love Saku in Richmond. The tonkatsu was tender, juicy, and crunchy, with a perfect balance of meat and fat. It came with a tangy and savory sauce, a refreshing cabbage salad, and a bowl of steamed rice (that has free refills!). The portion was huge and satisfying, and the price was very reasonable for the quality. We also ordered the Ebi Katsu to share. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Our server was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. The restaurant was clean, comfortable, and had a relaxing atmosphere.

      We had a great experience at Saku and we will definitely be back. If you are looking for a place to indulge in some delicious tonkatsu , you should give Saku a try.

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    • Photo of Lauren L.
      Lauren L.
      Los Angeles, CA
      145
      23
      50
      Aug 16, 2024

      Was walking around the neighborhood and stumbled upon this place because we were drawn to how pretty it looked inside! The food was incredible, definitely the best katsu I've ever had in my life without a doubt. Our server had a trainer badge on, but she was super tentative and informative. Definitely recommend the Katsu Nabe (Katsudon) and the Rosu. We also got a side of the cheese Katsu and it was a perfect small portion for us to sample.

      Yuzu Lemonade
      Katsu Nabe & Rosu Katsu
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