Vancouver · Kaiseki · a la carte
Kissa Tanto
Japanese-Italian fusionMichelin one starjazz kissaChinatownItalian-Japanese
Chef Joël Watanabe's Kissa Tanto has held a Michelin star since the guide's Vancouver debut, marrying Japanese and Italian culinary traditions in a space evocative of 1960s Tokyo jazz cafés.
- Price
- ¥¥¥
- Area
- Chinatown
- Since
- 2015
- Chef
- Joël Watanabe
Plate № 02
About
Kissa Tanto occupies a mood-lit, first-floor room in Vancouver's Chinatown that channels the spirit of a 1960s Tokyo jazz kissa—niche coffee houses where vinyl records and great food coexisted. Chef Joël Watanabe, whose French and Japanese roots inform his singular culinary voice, has spent over a decade refining a cuisine that fuses Italian technique with Japanese precision. The restaurant's name—'kissa' for the Japanese café form and 'tanto' Italian for 'much'—signals the ambition: a house of plenty where two traditions enrich each other. Dishes like plum wine-soaked tofu tiramisu and miso-cured yolk tajarin have earned Kissa Tanto a Michelin star every year since the guide launched in Vancouver. It is also featured in the World's 50 Best Restaurants Discovery list.
Neighborhood & visiting
Kissa Tanto sits in Chinatown, one of Vancouver's neighborhoods where authentic Japanese kitchens have taken root. Reservations are available online — for a focused kaiseki counter this is strongly recommended. Check the posted hours before you go — traditional kaiseki restaurants often close between service periods.
Why it's on Washoku Guide
- Michelin one star every year since the Vancouver guide launched—a model of sustained excellence
- A genuinely original cuisine: Japanese technique and Italian ingredients in perfect dialogue
- The Chinatown setting, styled after 1960s Tokyo jazz cafés, is one of Vancouver's most atmospheric rooms
- Featured in the World's 50 Best Restaurants Discovery list alongside Vancouver's finest
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Frequently asked
About Kissa Tanto
- Is Kissa Tanto an authentic japanese-italian fusion restaurant in Vancouver?
- Yes — Kissa Tanto is featured in Washoku Guide because it meets our authenticity standard for japanese-italian fusion in Vancouver: a kitchen grounded in Japanese technique, ingredients and preparation consistent with Japanese practice, and a focused kaiseki format.
- Where is Kissa Tanto located?
- Kissa Tanto is located at 263 E Pender St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1T8, Canada, Vancouver, Canada in the Chinatown neighborhood.
- Do I need a reservation at Kissa Tanto?
- Kissa Tanto accepts reservations online. For an authentic kaiseki experience, especially at a focused counter, booking ahead is strongly recommended.
- What is the price range at Kissa Tanto?
- Kissa Tanto sits in the ¥¥¥ price range — typical for japanese-italian fusion of this format in Vancouver.
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