Tanpopo Japanese Restaurant (1122 Denman Street, Vancouver, BC, phone 604-681-7777) serves “all you can eat” sushi in its downtown, West-End location. Lunch time prices are around $12 for the sushi buffet, and dinner (which features a greater selection) is around $22. Service was attentive, and the kitchen was fast, bringing our orders out quickly. The sushi tasted really good too. Tanpopo is just steps away from the English Bay beach and within walking distance of Stanley Park.

(update Jan 2, 08) Olivia writes:

Also noteworthy is the fact that you can order unlimited sashimi. I don’t eat raw fish, but for sashimi lovers, this is great news! ^_^

Pictured below are some of the items we ordered.

Pan fried gyoza

Ebi sunomono salad (with shrimp)

Salmon and tuna sashimi

California roll and salmon maki sushi

Salmon maki sushi

Chicken katsu (breaded chicken cutlet)

Yamato Sushi Restaurant (visitor reviews, 616 Davie St, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604-682-5494) is a tiny hole-in-the-wall Japanese restaurant on the edge of Yaletown downtown. Yamato has decent food quality and incredibly low prices.

Carrotstop, a reviewer on Dinehere.ca writes:

[…] Yamato Sushi on Davie is the perfect place for me. They have great combo deals, like 18 pieces of sushi for $5.50. That’s what I always get. Sushi combo, and with a little extra cost, I can twist the combo a little and get the special rolls I love (the avocado roll). The portions are on the larger side. The quality of the sushi rice is nice, soft and fluffy. The wasabi is to kill for. It is very strong, I love it.

Pictured below are various selections from the Bento Box A, which is about $7.00 and includes miso soup, green salad, California roll, chicken (or beef or vegetarian) teriyaki, prawn and yam tempura, and deep fried gyoza. What a deal! Also pictured below is the BC Roll (around $2.00).

Japanese Bento Box, California roll sushi and prawn and yam tempura.

Japanese Chicken Teriyaki

Japanese BC Roll Maki Sushi

Another photo of the delicious BC Roll sushi.

The Urban Thai Bistro (1119 Hamilton Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone 604-408-7788, located in the downtown Yaletown restaurant and shopping district) offers one of the best lunch specials in the neighborhood. For around $7.50 you can get a salad, spring roll, and a tasty entree such as spicy chicken with green beans (pictured below), with rice. The attractive prices and yummy food attract big crowds - a good reason to arrive just before 12 noon, so you can be sure to get a table. The dinner menu has a more expanded selection but the prices are still quite reasonable. (For more photos of Urban Thai Bistro, view: Part 1.)