Guu Original Thurlow

Name: Guu Original Thurlow
Address: 838 Thurlow Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6E 1W2
Telephone: (604) 685-8817
Price range: CAN$30 and under
Rating: 4.7

4.7 (376)

CAN$30 and under

Japanese

838 Thurlow Street, Vancouver, BC V6E 1W2

Make a reservation

2 people

Jul 27, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 16 times today

About this restaurant

Lively
Great for happy hour
Neighborhood gem

*Please note that our patio is not allowed to serve any alcoholic drinks due to the license we have.

Guu Original on Thurlow is where the Izakaya boom started. It’s not only the first Guu to open, but is the very first Izakaya in Vancouver.

Established in 1993 as “Raku” & changed to “Guu” in 2000, this Guu offers the most authentic Izakaya experience, offering classic dishes like Yaki Udon & Oden. This is as close you’ll get to the real deal….unless you fly to Japan.

We keep seats for walk-in customers as well. No available seats on OpenTable do not mean we are fully booked. Please be aware that the time-limited per table is two hours during peak hours.

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
CAN$30 and under
Cuisines
Japanese, Tapas / Small Plates, Fusion / Eclectic
Hours of operation
Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 am–11:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–12:00 am Lunch Daily 11:30 am–2:00 pm
Phone number
(604) 685-8817
Website
https://guu-izakaya.com/Original_QR
Payment options
AMEX, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress

Location
838 Thurlow Street, Vancouver, BC V6E 1W2
Neighborhood
Downtown
Cross street
Robson
Parking details
Street Parking
Public transit
Canada Line: get off at Vancouver City Center station and 10 min walk Sky Train: get off at Burrard station and 8 min walk #005 bus, the closest stop is Robson + Thurlow
Additional
Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Wine

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What 376 people are saying

Guu Original Thurlow reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.7Food
4.5Service
4.4Ambience
4.6Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Vancouver
Best Value

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Guu Original Thurlow captures the authentic izakaya vibe with "fantastic service" and "delicious food." Guests love its "electric energy" and "outstanding" dishes like chicken karaage. While some mention slow service, the "friendly and welcoming" staff and vibrant atmosphere make it a top spot for a cultural dining experience in Vancouver.

376 Reviews

E
Erikaa VIP
Vancouver / British Columbia3 reviews
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Lively atmosphere, excellent service and food that prioritizes quality ingredients. Highly recommended!
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P
Patrick VIP
Vancouver / British Columbia27 reviews
5.0
Dined on July 9, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
We celebrated an amazing human being and cherished friend's 80th revolution around the sun here! The classic izakaya bites were dependably delicious. The warm and relaxed service was seamless. The energy, still going strong after all these years (I was here when Guu on Thurlow first opened), is electric. Unspeakably grateful for a place like this in Vancouver.....
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V
Vancy
Vancouver / British Columbia3 reviews
4.0
Dined on July 6, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Food were served a bit slower than usual, other than that, it's good as usual
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P
Paul VIP
Vancouver / British Columbia14 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 30, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This is the original Guu, that was called Raku even before that, back in the 90s. I like all the Guu restaurants, but this one has the most authentic feel. Not greta for big groups, go to Toramasa Guu for that. I love chicken karaage, and this location makes the best off all the Guus! When you eat at Original Guu you will feel like you are in Japan!
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J
Jane
Vancouver / British Columbia4 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 9, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
I always love eating at Guu! The food is fresh , unique, and tasty...and the staff have great energy, always making me feeling welcome.
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S
Steven
Vancouver / British Columbia1 review
3.0
Dined on June 6, 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 4
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
Nice restaurant but took a very long time to receive my food whereas my partner got his right away and was done for quite some time before a server came around to check in and I had said I hadn’t received my food yet. We ended up leaving and I ate somewhere else.
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R
RAFFAELE
Vancouver / British Columbia2 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 19, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
If you need a place to recharge your batteries and enjoy a tasty meal with a great vibe, this is one of Vancouver’s best spots. The staff is friendly and welcoming—just order from their ousume menu, sip a fresh beer, and let the atmosphere fill your soul.
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J
Jack
Vancouver / British Columbia1 review
5.0
Dined on May 13, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent service, great atmosphere, nice dishes! Came for birthday dinner, everything went well!
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M
Maria
Dallas - Fort Worth6 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 8, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
Great variety Happy place Yummy food We really enjoyed our meal
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J
Julia
Vancouver / British Columbia3 reviews
3.0
Dined on April 21, 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 4
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 4
Have emailed Direct review to restaurant. Food was great.
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FAQs

Guu Original Thurlow does offer delivery in partnership with Uber Eats.

Guu Original Thurlow is rated 4.7 stars by 376 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Jul 27, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 16 times today

838 Thurlow Street, Vancouver, BC V6E 1W2

Additional information

Cross street
Robson
Neighborhood
Downtown
Hours of operation
Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 am–11:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–12:00 am Lunch Daily 11:30 am–2:00 pm
Price
CAN$30 and under
Cuisines
Japanese, Tapas / Small Plates, Fusion / Eclectic
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Street Parking
Public transit
Canada Line: get off at Vancouver City Center station and 10 min walk Sky Train: get off at Burrard station and 8 min walk #005 bus, the closest stop is Robson + Thurlow
Payment options
AMEX, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
Additional
Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Wine

Website
https://guu-izakaya.com/Original_QR
Phone number
(604) 685-8817

Featured in

Where Chefs Eat in Vancouver

Guu Original Thurlow

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Additional information

Featured in

Where Chefs Eat in Vancouver

Ask Concierge
AI Beta

Menu

What 376 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

Does Guu Original Thurlow offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Guu Original Thurlow restaurant rated?

Is Guu Original Thurlow currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information

Featured in

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