Q Shi Q Japanese BBQ

Interesting location next to automotive repair and Fabrication shops. We went here as a group around 7pm as all surrounding businesses were closed. I don’t know about going here for lunch as the smells and sounds around might be disturbing. Nice bright sign welcoming and big mural outside on the wall telling us we have arrived at q-​SHI-​q
We sat quickly at the center bar. Décor was nice and modern. No where to hang our coats thou was kind of a bummer. Please get some coat racks somewhere after all this is raincouver.
We ordered a bunch of skewers. The 5 chicken balls for $ 11 is a good starter to get an idea what flavors they use miso, Shio, yuzu-​miso, ponzu sauces. Juicy Succulent slightly char’d pieces of marinated meats (chicken blend) on a stick grilled over a BBQ, traditionally with charcoal briquettes but I guess due to Vancouver by-​laws (fire code) that’s not allowed here? None the less the taste is there. Cooked just right and always to order. The next favorite is the beef tongues @ $ 1.8/pc is great value and has the crispy factor melded into the flavors of marinated tongue. I’m not so much a fan of the beef steak cubes thou a bit dry. same with the Angus Rib eye, but the Waygu beef was on another level. $ 10/0.8oz/stick thou it gets pricey FAST.
Next was the Octopus which I was told the best bbq octopus around. I didn’t think so thou even thou it was much softer tenderized consistency it’s not my favorite, neither is the shrimp.
The pork cheek on the other hand was very crunchy and savory. The layer of crisp fat on the outside held up the cheek juices was phenomenal. I could order the cheek and beef tongues all night.
The 48h pork belly was tad bit dry if it wasn’t for the fatty bits in between holding the morsels just ever so gingerly together it would have been a pork jerky style yakitori.
The kare korokke was a bit small for what I expected $ 7.50, even Suika has rice with it. Rice was ok with garlic chips on it.

Recommended by a friend to drop by on a Monday evening. Not that busy it the food was great! Check out the photos I’ve posted
Ps the octopus skewer was the best I’ve had in town!

I went with my coworkers for lunch since it was close by and finally decided to give it a try. With a severe lack of decent eating places in this area, we were looking forward to hopefully finding a «go-​to» place of sorts.
The main menu was a la cart but thankfully there was a lunch menu for busy-​yet-​lazy people. We all ordered the $ 12 oishii plate which comprised of meat skewers (ie. chicken, pork, rib-​eye) and some rice and soup (the soup was good btw).
Half the meat was delicious (pork belly, one of the chickens and maybe the steak). The other half was just ok.
It would have been a good lunch if the price was more in the $ 7 range. This place seems to go for the «Quality over quantity» rule; however, there needs to be quality in order for it to succeed.
It wasn’t terrible. But as for so many eating places in this area, its the lesser of many evils.

Came here when it first opened expecting awesome skewers. I think if skewers are your specialty, then you need to be the best in town. I feel that other Japanese Izakayas (who btw do NOT specialize in skewers) had way better food. I would say the atmosphere is decent, hence 2 stars, but rating the food alone I would give it 1.5.

It was the first time going to Q Shi Q with my group of friends. We wanted to give this place a try because the skewers and cocktails looked delicious online! We were a group of 10 and sat at the large booth near the door. We ended up sharing with two other strangers which is cool. They like to do their communal sharing with tables. Into our dinner experience. Our server took our orders for all of us and we ordered the pork belly, chicken breast, chicken thigh, nana fries, and the $ 11 for 5 chicken meatballs. There was a lot more, but we practically tried out the whole menu. We also ordered two drinks: Tokyo drift and Q Shi Kir. The Tokyo drift drink was like paying to go see Tokyo drift in the theatre: regret. I asked the server on a drink they recommended that is fruity and doesn’t taste too heavy on the alcohol. This drink was the complete opposite. It wasn’t sweet or fruity and it was very strong on the alcohol taste. As for the service. It took away from our experience. We got our food very slowly and most of the items we ordered were either taking awhile to prepare or they forgot we even ordered it. The two people who sat with us got their food within 20 minutes, after we ordered way before them. I don’t want to dislike this place as it looks like such a cool place to hang out with your friends but the service and food was just not cutting it for us.

I’ve come here a few times to check out the neighbourhood. Being a new restaurant, I expected a few kinks but was pleasantly surprised.
First thing I noticed was the pricing. The drinks are so inexpensive! The salty yakitori food was complimented by their sake list and shochu selection.
I’ve been here with a group of friends, which is honestly how it’s best enjoyed, and as a couple. I really enjoyed the communal style of dining as well as the variety of food I was able to try. This is a place I would definitely come to eat and drink with friends. Try it out!

Came to try out this new place. We got there when it opened at 6pm. There were only 2 tables including ours.
We both ordered a cocktail each, I normally love any cocktails that uses egg whites but I wasn’t impressed at all. It’s too bad. $ 9 each.
We decided to order 2 Q Shi 5 plate (5 skewers) each, Nana fries and added the 2 skewers of the 48HR pork belly.
Presentation look good but the food was not very flavorful. When the Ebi fritter and the chicken skewer came out they both looked alike, texture was kind of similar so we weren’t sure which was what. We had to ask again, that already says a lot. Plus the top pieces of each of the chicken skewers were burnt. Then came the Nana fries came and they were nothing special… yes French fries with seasoning. I would have been happier with no seasoning if they double fried like frites. Miso mayo was not very good either, it was not a good consistency for a mayo, it didn’t wow me or made me want more and it’s unusual for me not to finish French fries. Emo balls were pretty good but only if you dip it with the sauce, flavorless by itself like a potato croquette. Oishii pork skewer was small and flavorless considering it was suppose to have their signature flavour? The Karashi sirloin came which I was hoping would be good, but to my disappointment it was a bit chewy… beef was overcooked and again my top piece was burnt! Finally came the 48HR pork belly which was $ 3.30 a skewer, again my top piece was so burnt and charred that I had to tell the waitress. She apologized and ask if I’d like another one, so I said yes. When it came out great, the pork was tasty and tender. It was the best skewer we had that evening.
We left the place quite unsatisfied $ 60 later. For the quality, size and taste, the skewers were not worth more than $ 1.50 each, their pricing was $ 2.40-$ 3.90 each pending on which skewer. I don’t understand if a place is not busy how do the skewers become so burnt and charred?
Sorry but this doesn’t come close to other Japanese Zakkushi places in town. I am willing to pay more for each skewer if they were good so I doubt I’ll be coming back.

I ordered the $ 8 chicken yakitori set. I love the tsukune chicken skewers, spicy mushroom soup, nana fries and mushrooms. It was surprisingly filling thanks to the rice. The ambience is eclectic and modern with class. On one wall, great black and white Japanese films from the 1950’s plays in silence while you nibble on delicious yakitori. This is a great place to take a date or hang out with friends. Servers were attentive, knowledgeable and friendly. Don’t miss this gem amidst the industrial buildings! It’s well worth a visit.

This is a great place to come if you don’t mind rubbing elbows with a few strangers while enjoying your meal. The food comes in small portions so that makes it possible to enjoy a variety of Japanese inspired BBQ skewers each with its own unique flavor.
When we got there yesterday the place was packed with various groups of people and the two of us got wedged between different groups. The atmosphere picked up my mood and the friendly staff catered to my needs in a timely manner. I enjoyed all the variety of dishes each unique and hot off the BBQ. I must admit to being hungry when I showed up and having my fill for a decent price. Even the fancy veggie stuff was good.

Always excited for a new restaurant to open in the Olympic Village area. We need more real food restaurants, already good with the pubs and craft beer (although they are good too!)
We were looking to book a birthday party for 18 people. It was a bit difficult to get someone over the phone but maybe it was the times and days that we were calling. Anyways… we were able to get someone about a week before who was able to take our reservation. For large parties they take your credit card number and tell you that if not everyone shows up for your reservation, you will be charged $ 20/​no-​show person. Well, we really wanted to try this place out and it’s hard to get a large party reso on a Saturday night so okay, we made sure to confirm with everyone and we were set for 18.
That would’ve been all fine except for when we arrived for our 8:30pm reservation, the area they blocked off for our party was definitely not big enough for all of us. It’s a large booth and then the outside section had 3 bar stools, not a great use of the space as they could’ve fit at least 1 – 2 more to have more seating. We could fit 13 at the table, 10 in the booth and 3 on the stools and no more. How were they expecting to fit 18 people at this table? No idea. Well, we asked, a few in our group were a bit late but when they arrived had to stand around while their staff figured things out.
Apparently we were supposed to get the long communal dining table but for some reason they gave it to the party before us who were still dining. We were told that party was ‘half way through their meal’ and that we could order at the booth and then move there after they were done. Not exactly an ideal solution. I know this is a new business but please don’t accept our reservation if you can’t seat all of us, PLUS tell us about a no-​show fee had we not all shown up when you can’t even fit us at the table! OR maybe don’t give away our table to another group knowing that when we show up there’s going to be an issue. It just doesn’t make any sense… but maybe that’s just me.
In the end, we stayed in the booth (who wants to move half way through a meal?) and the extra 5 people had to sit separately at the end of the long middle communal table. Not ideal as we weren’t all seated together as we had planned, but whatever.
Thankfully the food was okay. I wouldn’t rave about it, but it was decent, the skewers were good, the gomae decent. The staff did their best and service our table fairly quickly and our food came out promptly. I wouldn’t bother with the desserts, just stick to the skewers.
It was a cold night but the restaurant was really warm. Like really really warm so layer if you’re going here. There are coat racks by the front door. Lots of free parking in the area as well so that’s always a plus.
Overall not the best experience and the start of the night left an annoyed taste for me so I don’t think I will be back. Hopefully they can improve on their group reservation practices and figure things out better for future guests.

Have been 3 times in the last 2 weeks! Really great to have in the area and I know they will do well. I know I should be commenting on the skewers, they were all really tasty but the Fries in sea salt are out of this world!!! Will go back to try a few other things on the menu. Great concept.

I was hoping for better, but sadly the meat was only «ok». The beef was waaaaaay too chewy, as was the pork. The chicken was awesome though! Seating was super challenging, and when the serving staff goofed up one of the bills putting on the wrong items, we were told «we don’t really do separate checks here… its not encouraged.» Hmm, its Vancouver and you’re a restaurant. I think you’re going to have to get used to the idea of some people asking for separate checks or you’re not going to have any returning customer with that kind of an attitude.
I was also unimpressed with how long we had to wait for someone to take our order. We had to ask who was our actual server so we could place our order and they basically said to go back and sit down someone would be over soon. Sadly, no one came over anytime «soon» and we had to track another server who in turn was much more helpful.
Don’t think i would return since the food wasn’t that good. Had the food been better I might have given them a second chance.

Um… yea… I know you guys jus opened, but come on…
Ordered Q shi Q 10 pcs set menu with some beer. They came out cold (food) after 25 mins of waiting. We left with total unsatisfaction.
Would I come back? I dunno… maybe not. Gave an extra star cus of its location being not in busy area which was easy to find parking spot.

Was excited for this place to open but left so dissapointed.
Firstly, the guy at the door gave these two pretty girls in front of me some vouchers, right in front of me, and offered me nothing, so right off the bat I was annoyed. Then, they only had a 5 skewer deal on the menu, so I asked the same guy if it was possible to get 3, the guy said no then he asked if I was going to eat at work, when I said yes he said «So, what you do is get the five skewers, and then offer the others to your workmates, and when they ask where you got the delicious skewers from, you can say from here and it’s happy workmates for you and free advertising for us» then he winked. Firstly, it’s not free advertising when I am paying for it, and secondly, I don’t need a sales pitch when I just want to get a takeaway lunch, and if that’s your sales tactic then cool, but maybe don’t tell me that. The fact that the girls in front of me got a discount and I was asked to spend more was humiliating, and I was actually so put off that would have left then, but my friends had already ordered.
After all that the girl at the counter said I was fine to just order three. They are $ 2.50 per skewer, so for $ 7.50 I got a small jalepeno pepper, 2 mushrooms and two small bits of broccolli, although nice (for what it was) I felt hugely ripped off. The kale gomae was good and tasted fresh, but I felt like I needed another meal. From the reviews here it sounds like the meat skewers are better, and my friends liked the fries, which is good, so maybe this place just isn’t good for vegetarians or as a healthy lunch option.
They are trying and clearly still working out the kinks, but I won’t return. It’s a shame as there are very few good quick lunch spots around, especially for food that’s freshly made. I’m glad my friends enjoyed their meal, and the rest of the service people were great, but I can’t justify $ 11 for a meal that didn’t fill me up, and service that filled me up with vitriol.

Yippee it’s open!
A great spot for lunch and excellent prices. $ 8 Chef plate (a variety of skewers) and $ 5 beer? How is that a bad thing?
The overall space, music and friendly service will have me coming back for more.