Makoto - Burnaby, British Columbia

A Gem Tucked Away in Burnaby This past Friday night, I stumbled upon a hidden gem in Burnaby: Makoto, a charming little Japanese restaurant with a warm, family-run atmosphere. Stepping inside, the decor was unpretentious, focusing on clean lines and a comfortable ambiance. It became immediately clear that the focus here ... was purely on the food. Despite being a two-person operation, the service was surprisingly swift. The husband, who skillfully doubled as both bus boy and server, was incredibly efficient. While the wife worked her magic in the kitchen, he expertly handled the floor, his genuine warmth adding to the homey feel of the restaurant. Now, onto the star of the show: the food! I started with the agedashi tofu, a classic Japanese dish that can be a true test of a restaurant's skill. Makoto's rendition was nothing short of delightful. The tofu was perfectly cooked, achieving that delicate balance between soft and firm. The light, flavorful dashi broth it was bathed in was a symphony of umami, and the accompanying crisp panko crumbs added a delightful textural contrast. Next up were the crispy California rolls. I have to say, these are a must-try for any California roll enthusiast. The seaweed salad (a delightful surprise!) added a touch of freshness and a delightful crunch, while the avocado and cucumber offered a cool counterpoint to the savoury crab meat. The true star, however, was the tempura batter — perfectly light and airy, it encased the ingredients without overwhelming them. Finally, I couldn't resist the ten tama don, a dish featuring plump shrimp tempura and a perfectly cooked, fluffy egg. Each spoonful was a delightful combination of textures and tastes, with the delicate sweetness of the egg and the savory pops of the shrimp. The entire meal was surprisingly affordable, which only added to the overall satisfaction. Makoto isn't a place where you go for fancy ambiance or a trendy scene. It's a place where you go for delicious, authentic Japanese food prepared with care and served with genuine hospitality. The husband-and-wife team at Makoto are clearly passionate about what they do, and it shines through in every aspect of the dining experience. I left feeling happy, content, and already planning my next visit. If you're looking for a hidden gem in Burnaby that offers fantastic Japanese food at a great price, Makoto is definitely worth checking out! Read more

Really laid back Mon and Pop Japanese restaurant. Sushi is the big focus in the menu, but there are other things as well. The wife had a sushi combo (G), and I had teriyaki beef (with rice and salad). We started with gomae salad, and agedashi tofu. Everything was tasty, and I ... think we'll go back another time to try done other things. Read more

I went here for my birthday with my family and got to try some pretty exotic Japanese dishes. I feel like this is one of the few authentic Japanese dishes in the area. Although they also had some typical Japanese such as California rolls and tempura, I decided to try something ... new this time. I can’t remember the name of all the dishes, but the black cod was pretty tasty (it was marinated for 3 days), mackerel sushi, deep fried California rolls and croquettes. The owner was very friendly (I think he was Japanese?) and it was easy to find street parking. I’ll definitely come back to try other exotic dishes this place has to offer. Read more

Very delicious food and great service! Each dish came with lots of toppings and rice which was wonderful. We got the fried tofu, tuna poke, salmon sashimi and katsu don. There were all very delicious and our food came fairly fast

Tastes like Japan! The sushi rice was perfect. The tempura was fried perfectly crisp on the outside. Their tea is special and high quality and tasted so fragrant in flavour and aroma. The miso soup was one of the best I’ve had. Very fine tasting with real tofu bits and ... seaweed with fresh green onion. Tried the bento A and B and both the chicken and beef were juicy and went well with the steamed rice. The potato salad tasted like it was made from scratch, but was a little bland. Sushi rice was perfect and the sushi and sashimi were fresh and good. A solid standard Japanese restaurant. Read more