If you’ve spent any time on Vancouver food Instagram lately, you’ve probably come across Nizu Cafe.
Located in downtown Vancouver, the Japanese-inspired cafe has quickly become one of the city’s most talked-about destinations for premium matcha. From its Matcha Reserve program to its beautifully crafted drinks and minimalist aesthetic, Nizu has built a loyal following among Vancouver’s matcha enthusiasts.
I recently stopped by to see what all the hype was about and happened to visit during spot prawn season, when the cafe was offering a limited-time three-course tasting menu highlighting fresh BC spot prawns. While the seasonal menu initially caught my attention, it quickly became clear that Nizu’s appeal extends far beyond a single feature menu.
What Is Nizu Cafe Known For?
Although Nizu offers a growing food menu, the cafe is best known for its matcha program.
Whether you’re ordering a traditional matcha, one of its specialty drinks, or upgrading to a Matcha Reserve, it’s easy to see why so many people make the trip specifically for the drinks. The attention to detail, presentation, and quality of ingredients have helped establish Nizu as one of Vancouver’s most popular matcha destinations. If you’re visiting for the first time, I would strongly recommend ordering a matcha drink alongside your meal.
New to their menu is a very refreshing yuzu tonic with matcha. It is truly the perfect summer drink. The earthiness of the matcha pairs so well with the bright freshness of yuzu.
Nizu Cafe’s Spot Prawn Tasting Menu
Available for a limited time during BC spot prawn season, the tasting menu showcases spot prawns across three very different preparations.
At $48 per person, it also feels like a relatively approachable way to enjoy one of British Columbia’s most celebrated seasonal ingredients. You can also order the dishes a la carte:
- Chawanmushi ($8.50) – silky egg custard, spot prawn dashi, shitake, spot prawn, ikura
- Crudo ($20.00) – yuzu kosho vinaigrette, avocado, cucumber, pickled radish
- Bisque ($25.00) – house made bisque, spaghettini, nori crumb, prawn oil
The Chawanmushi is silky smooth and has a strong spot prawn flavour from the spot prawn dashi. It’s filled with shiitake mushrooms, spot prawns, and ikura. Light, delicate, and deeply savoury, it sets the tone for the rest of the menu. The addition of ikura provides small bursts of salinity that complement the custard beautifully.
Next came the Spot Prawn Crudo dressed with yuzu kosho vinaigrette, avocado, cucumber, and pickled radish. This was my favourite course of the meal. The bright acidity of the vinaigrette balanced the richness of the avocado while allowing the freshness of the spot prawns to remain front and centre. It felt refreshing and balanced.
The final course was a house-made Spot Prawn Bisque served with Spaghettini, nori crumb, and prawn oil. Compared to the first two dishes, this course leaned into richness and comfort.
The bisque was intensely flavourful and packed with prawn character, while the nori crumb added texture and subtle umami throughout. It was a satisfying finish to the tasting menu and a great example of how versatile spot prawns can be.
What To Order At Nizu Cafe
If you’re visiting during spot prawn season, the tasting menu is worth considering, particularly if you’re looking to try several different preparations in one meal. That said, I wouldn’t leave without ordering one of the drinks that helped put Nizu on the map.
The matcha remains the star attraction here, and pairing a matcha drink with the tasting menu makes for a particularly enjoyable experience. If it’s your first visit, I’d recommend trying one of the cafe’s signature matcha offerings to get the full Nizu experience.
Worth a Try?
What I appreciated most about Nizu Cafe is that it manages to deliver on both substance and aesthetics. The matcha program may be what draws people in, but the food menu demonstrates the same level of care and attention to detail. The seasonal spot prawn tasting menu didn’t feel like an afterthought or a marketing exercise. The menu felt thoughtfully executed from start to finish.
At $48, the tasting menu offers a great way to experience BC spot prawn season, but even if you miss the seasonal promotion, Nizu remains worth visiting for its matcha alone. Whether you’re searching for one of the best matcha cafes in Vancouver, planning your next downtown coffee date, or simply curious about what all the hype is about, Nizu Cafe is a spot that lives up to its growing reputation.
Nizu Cafe – Quick Facts
- Cuisine: Japanese-inspired cafe
- Location: Downtown Vancouver
- Spot Prawn Tasting Menu: $48 per person
- Chawanmushi
- Spot Prawn Crudo
- Spot Prawn Bisque Spaghettini
- Known For:
- Premium matcha drinks
- Matcha Reserve
- Japanese-inspired food menu
- Ebi Katsu Sando
- Modern minimalist cafe design
- Best For:
- Matcha lovers
- Casual lunch dates
- Downtown Vancouver coffee breaks
- Spot prawn season dining
- Japanese cafe experiences
- Reservations Required: No
Nizu Cafe
Address: 800 W Pender St #110, Vancouver, BC V6C 1J8
Website: https://www.instagram.com/nizucafe/