Modern Club Japanese Restaurant

On one of our ‘date’ adventures, my partner and I decided to use the Entertainment Book, and needed something different… that difference led us to this place. Definitely not my usual ‘hangout’ area out on the west side, and while pulling up to the front the décor, while looking at the front looked like some recycled restaurant that wasn’t Japanese to start with, we decided to cautiously walk in. At the front there was the usual take out menus in colored paper, and a sign stating that they have been filmed on CBC for their housemade okonomiyaki!
We were out this far anyways, so we might as well go in. We sat right at the bar area, where the cooking took place. The experience was heightened as we met a couple there, who frequently come here for the okonomiyaki. They told us how they found this place, and what they usually order, at the same time while this conversation was happening, the okonomiyaki was being prepared on the flat grill right in front of us. This is the only place I can think of that makes okonomiyaki in front of you, so you actually know they are making it, and it’s not pre-​prepared in the back out of some frozen box. Be warned, these things are big, so if you have a small stomach, you may want to share. They do take some time to cook, but you see that, and you know that the people who run this place know what they are doing.
We spoke to the owner, and she is Chinese, your probably already checking out the door when you just read this, but here is the thing, this place used to be owned by an older Japanese couple who passed on the business to this Chinese couple now who runs it. All the craft of making this famous dish was taught from the previous owners, as they were working for them at the time. Our other experience with okonomiyaki was in a Japanese izakaya style restaurant in Hawaii, made by real Japanese people, and we found this one better in taste and quality. The perception of a matching race, going along with the race/​background of the food must stop!
They don’t cheap out on the meat, as we had our okonomiyaki order with pork, they may have given a little too much. The dish came out perfectly, an inch in thickness, filled with cabbage, this thing comes piping hot where you just want to keep eating when the steam hits your face. If your craving this dish, come here to try it, you maybe quite surprised. I would come back again, probably to have the same thing as the couple sitting next to us only comes here for that dish, and did I say, one of them was Japanese (if you want to go with the ethnic backing).
The décor maybe lacking, and it may not feel like a Japanese restaurant, but the service was good, and the food was good, no complaints, and I may come back!

I live in the Dunbar area and often get take out from Modern Club (occasionally eat in as well). Décor not typically Japanese, but who cares about that? It’s comfortable and staff (usually the owner) are friendly and welcoming. Food is always good and sushi is always fresh. One of my favourites for sushi!

Great service, granted, we were the only ones here at 6pm on a Sunday night. Rolls were good, I have had better, but also way worse. Did not feel very Japanese; décor was like a quaint coffee shop. No complaints, it was only place open in this area, we would go back if we were here again.

the atmosphere at this place was interesting
the presentation of the food was excellent
the taste and quality of the food was good
the portion of the sushi special was ok, not as big as other places
the miso soup was very salty… my co-​workers and were were super thirsty after getting back to work

The stars that I grant this place pertain to the great low prices and the tasty rolls! Unfortunately, the Teriyaki we ordered was burnt, and they forgot some of the things we ordered. As I understand they are known for Okonomiyaki but when we went, none of us felt adventurous enough to order it. The prices for the rolls were great though, and I’m always up for a bottomless cup of tea with my meal.

Has this place changed ownership?
I went there a handful of times from 2008 – 2009 and the okonomiyaki was delicious! I’ve had plenty of okonomiyaki before in Japan and this stuff tasted really good!
Last week, I went again and it seemed like the atmosphere and food were completely different. There are now flat screened TV’s on the walls (really weird considering the rest of the place is made to resemble a traditional wooden beamed Japanese restaurant.) Were these there before and I just hadn’t noticed it? The edamame wasn’t good and the agedashi tofu was almost inedible (greasy, soggy coating). The okonomiyaki just wasn’t what I had remembered it being.
I remember seeing a middle-​aged Japanese man making the okonomiyaki before, but this time it was a young guy speaking Chinese. Definitely not the same chef/​owners/​management.
My waitress was very nice, but that didn’t make up for the fact that the food was very disappointing. I will not be returning.

I think you can get better okonomiyaki at ANY japanese restaurants in vancouver that is owned by Japanese people. I agree, it’s not a hard dish to make, and it costs virtually nothing to make it. This place is definitely overpriced (around $ 20 for one). You have to pay extra for cheese and I expected shredded mozzarella cheese, but they put a slice of frozen processed yellow cheese. Yuk. No bonito flakes on it either, which I think is essential. Burnt outside, mushy inside, no flavor. Oh my… This is my first 1-​star review. I feel mean…

No, seriously, I’ll eat just about anything. Or try it once.
This is one of those places. The main draw is some kind of dish that resembles a large pancake. The cooks slowly grill it on one side, and then flip it. It has a bunch of mayo, and comes with some kind of sauce. Nice to try once, right?
I’ve been here a couple of times, and just wasn’t that impressed. The second time, the heater wasn’t working (and as you probably have figured out, that was in the last week, and it’s COLD up here). The sushi wasn’t that good by Vancouver standards. They were nice enough, but for what you get, the price really isn’t worth it.
For a city with so many options, this isn’t a place worth repeating.