Hiro Japan - Gastown - Vancouver

Located at the Woodward’s building, Hiro Japan serves up Japanese fast-food including bento boxes, sushi combos, rice bowls and noodle bowls. They also have a selection of premade take away options which are well-suited for professionals, students and faculty in the area who need a meal quickly. This Gastown location is one of three in Vancouver with the other two at Harbour Centre and Bentall Centre. I visited Hiro Japan on two occasions: once a few years ago and again recently. This post reviews both experiences.

The First Visit (2012)

Back in 2012, a Groupon deal brought me to Hiro Japan. The deal was $5 for $10 and I applied it towards a Hiro bento. It included 2 pieces of California roll, 3 pieces of dynamite roll, teriyaki chicken and beef on rice, green salad and miso soup. In terms of taste, the bento box was average with nothing that really stood out. The portions seemed reasonable for the price.

The Last Visit (2015)

I decided to grab a quick bite from Hiro Japan last week while I was doing some shopping in the area. The restaurant did not seem to have changed much in terms of the menu and physical appearance. I noticed a special summer menu handwritten on a white board and ordered the spicy tuna roll with avocado and tuna belly topping ($8.99). I was impressed with the presentation of the rolls and the portions were good as well. However, the taste was utterly disappointing. First, I noticed that the sushi rice seemed soggy. Next, the soft tuna texture combined with the soggy sushi rice made the rolls unappetizing. When I named this section of the review as “last visit,” it had dual meaning: the most recent visit as well as the last time I would choose eat at Hiro Japan.

Overall Impression

People who eat at Hiro Japan may be doing so out of convenience and budget. Even so, there should be a minimum in terms of quality and taste and I do not think that this Hiro Japan cuts it. Rating: 2.5/5

Website: http://www.hirojapan.ca/menu/woodwards