Stopped by for a late lunch today and realised I've been coming here to eat for almost a decade. It's a cozy little cafe right across from the skytrain station and one of my favourite places in the city. Staff are friendly and the adorable Japanese lady who runs the place always has a cheerful smile. I don't think I've ever been disappointed with a dish I've ordered here. Prices are reasonable and the portions are quite filling and I say that as an overweight glutton. Everything is made with care and they're pretty accommodating with dietary restrictions. Lots of milk alternatives for lactose intolerant suckers like myself. Highly recommend the hamburg steak with curry or tomato bisque sauce and garlic rice. Omurice, mentaiko udon and the hayashi rice are also all very delicious. Lots of desserts for those with a sweet tooth too. Their strawberry pudding is so good I'd eat it by the bucket if I could. Only downside is that the place is pretty small. 7 tables/16 chairs and the place gets packed at mealtimes. If you're not a fan of lineups or crowds try coming a little after breakfast or lunch hours for a more comfortable, relaxed atmosphere. Usually very easy to get a seat mid-afternoon. If you haven't tried this place I'd highly recommend giving it a try. Always good to support local small businesses like this little gem :)
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Waffle with Whipped Cream & Syrup, Omu-Rice w Hayashi Sauce, Japanese Breakfast with Natto, Omu Curry Rice, Eggs Benedict
Dietary restrictions
Lots of milk alternatives! :)

Finally got to try this place out! Very cute Japanese cafe. Came to have their omurice as I've been craving it since my trip to Tokyo way too long ago. I probably hyped it up too much in my head that the dish fell a little flat. Don't get me wrong it was still very delicious. The garlic rice with the Hayashi sauce that had a little bit of beef in it was great. The omelette is more a thin piece of cooked egg, not quite the runny egg omelette that I was expecting. Wish I had the stomach space to try their other dishes. Will need to just go back. Want to have their waffles or Japanese breakfast the next time I'm there. There's not a lot of parking in the area especially with the underground Subway construction happening on Broadway and being close to the hospital. Best to take transit here. They have a decent washroom, self-serve water area, and you order up at the front even you're ready. Super friendly staff who are Japanese.

I have been going to Marulilu Café for about 12 years. The food has always been priced well compared to other cafes in Vancouver. It's unique to other cafes as it offers many Japanese breakfast and lunch style options with a quaint, calm atmosphere. My go to option is one of the Breakfast Plates and I also love their drip coffee as the first sip always satisfies that need for coffee! The cafe also offers plenty of other coffee options. The food has always been great and consistent for many years. Also, the service has always been awesome and the owners of the cafe are very friendly, pleasant and they recognize their customers, which is one of the reasons I keep returning to the cafe.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Omu-Rice w Hayashi Sauce, Japanese Style Breakfast

I think this is my number 1 favourite restaurant in Vancouver. The food is just exceptional. If you've heard of the famous Saku, dare I say that Marulilu's curry rice surpasses Saku (although Saku does have amazing cutlets). The omurice with curry and karaage is my top choice! If you want a bit extra, switch to garlic rice and it is sooo amazing. I come here several times a month now and always order this item. Their matcha latte and caramel macchiato is also amazing, reasonably priced, and better than Starbucks. The dining area is small inside but service is really fast. My food comes so quickly I'm never disappointed. Only thing I would say that can be improved on is that it is boiling inside!! I want to say 26C or something. Very hot with the heater blasting.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

This is my go-to spot for Japanese comfort food. As a half-Japanese girl who grew up in Japan for the first 18 years of my life - this place hits the cravings I need when I miss authentic Japanese food. I always get either the Omu-Hayashi Rice (pictured below) OR the Omu Curry Rice (get it with Katsu , it’s gooooood) because it’s so freaking good! Marulilu is also cheap and affordable (you’ll always spend under $27 !) Their coffees (I got the iced caramel macchiato today) are EXCELLENT. Their takoyaki is steaming hot and yummy as well! Highly highly recommend - support this local business !
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$20–30
Recommended dishes
Beef Curry Garlic Rice, Takoyaki

I visited this unique Japanese restaurant for a few times but this was my first time having breakfast there. I ordered breakfast wrap with curry sauce. The curry sauce was blended so well with the mash potatoes and I just love it. My friend ordered a full combo set, with omelette, with tofu, miso soup and some rice, what a healthy meal to kick off the day. As a friendly reminder, Marulilu Cafe is just across Broadway - City Hall Canada Line station, it’s better to take public transit to get there .
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Brunch
Price per person
$10–20
Recommended dishes
Omu-Rice w Hayashi Sauce, Japanese Style Breakfast – All on It, Japanese Breakfast with Tofu

The food was delicious but the wait is really long but it's worth it. One time when me and my mom went to this place for lunch we had to sit next to a stranger which made me really uncomfortable since I have social anxiety and after we ate our lunch my stomach started to hurt. I don't know what happened maybe I just got unlucky.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4
Recommended dishes
Omu-Rice w Hayashi Sauce
Parking space
Difficult to find parking
Parking options
Paid parking lot
Parking
There is not a lot of parking spots. We just parked in Whole foods and walked there.

I've had this cafe bookmarked on my phone for a while, but it never quite caught my eye. However, after a particularly taxing day at work, I finally decided to check out Marhlilu. The simplicity of everything, from the atmosphere to the diverse menu offering Japanese and Western cuisine, was a pleasant surprise. It provided the perfect escape from the stresses of work, and the food was truly fantastic. A brief 30-minute lunch break transports me to the serene countryside of Japan in those 30 minutes of dining.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 3
Atmosphere: 5

Amazing family restaurant. The food is great and there is a verity of dishes to choose from. The waiters are extremely polite. You will be greated once you steps into the door. Though, keep in mind that they sre Japanese after all, and sometimes their English is, indeed, a bit hard to comprehend. The atmosphere is very cozy and relaxing. That being said, there is a few chairs that are a bit dated, which cause them to be slightly uncomfortable. I would say this is a hidden gem in Vancouver, and more people definitely should try it out.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Thank you Marulilu cafe for a wonderful breakfast☺️ the staff was exceptionally kind and accommodating for our toddler w a high chair and little toys for him. We had a large party and all the food was quickly served and delicious. Lattes were high quality and we felt the food tasted fresh and homemade. We will recommend to all our friends! I got the garlic omurice w pork cutlet. The pork was thin and crispy - so good.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Brunch
Price per person
$100+
Recommended dishes
Omu-Rice w Hayashi Sauce, Eggs Benedict

I can’t even start to describe how amazing this place is! The food is phenomenal, the atmosphere is the most cozy and the care and respect we receive from the staff is the most heartwarming. Me and my partner come here every weekend and we can’t think of a better brunch spot! Thank you Marulilu staff, thank you for the birthday cheesecake and for the love! You guys make our days better!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Brunch
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

My first time having a Japanese breakfast meal but it wasn’t anything I hadn’t had before so didn’t feel like a new experience to me. Having the packaged natto and seaweed wasn’t that appealing presentation wise. The soup was fantastic very flavourful! Staff was friendly. It was pretty hot temperature wise to be in the restaurant and felt cramped. The match vanilla latte was great as well!!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Brunch
Price per person
$20–30

I wish I could post a higher review but I wasn’t too impressed. The place seemed to need a good clean as the overall cleanliness of the place wasn’t quite up to par. This includes the bathrooms (sadly very disgusting). I did enjoy my yin Yang latte! I ordered the Japanese breakfast all in and everything that came out seemed packaged and microwaved. The price for this meal was $19.99, so I expected a bit better…
Food: 2
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 2

Super cute Japanese cafe serving various Japanese and Western breakfast dishes at a very affordable price. Easy to access as it's right across the Canada Line SkyTrain at Broadway City Hall station. Tables are on a first come basis so there is a wait sometimes but they are pretty efficient about getting tables cleared and set up.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Brunch
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

I ordered a curry omurice for lunch and it was served within minutes. Delicious, but probably also easily replicated at home as the curry tastes exactly like the $4-5 boxed curry cubes you can buy from T&T. Cute little family style cafe. Water is self serve and you order and pay before you eat.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$10–20
Recommended dishes
Omu Curry Rice

Old canteen look. Not sure if you can call their omurice “omurice”, because it’s just fried egg on rice. Omelette (in Japanese breakfast) and fried egg of Omurice are fully cooked, not runny/ soft. Quick service homey food, ie can cook at home, but this comes quickly.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Brunch
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 3
Service: 3
Atmosphere: 2

my bf recommended me here & he brought me here - hands down one of my favorite restaurants in Vancouver, very affordable price and huge portion, and it tastes very good will be my comfort food :)
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Omu Curry Rice

I love their Japanese breakfast! Where else can you go for a good cup of coffee and many options for an Asian breakfast?Very small place so no large groups.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 3
Recommended dishes
Mini Breakfast with Half Waffle, Japanese Breakfast with Tofu

Simple Japanese breakfast with clean ingredients in an unfussy cafe. Good if you’re wanting a healthier choice. It’s quite busy and a little cramped as it’s a small restaurant but nice to visit once in a while.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Brunch
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 4
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Lovely small cafe serving delicious Japanese classics at a very respectable price. Amazing hospitality by the servers.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4
Recommended dishes
Omu-Rice w Hayashi Sauce, Japanese Style Breakfast – All on It

Very cute restaurant serving diverse Japanese dishes such as Japanese breakfast, curry rice, omurice, donburi and desserts with affordable price. We tried Katsu-don and Japanese breakfast this time, and I like Katsu-don a lot! I want to try omurice next time. Highly recommended!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Delicious and authentic, it was flavoraful Japanese style curry with crunchy karage and port cutlet. Though one thing to note is that there was no water served when we dined in on a weekday lunch time.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 4

Very authentic Japanese restaurant! The personal is very friendly. We got our dishes very quickly too.The sitting area is quite small so if you are a big group (more than 4) i would suggest you get it to go. Would come back without any hesitation!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$10–20

Amazing café! The food and service are great! It can get packed at times, but the wait is worth it. Good portions for good food.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Onigiri

10/10, will come again! First time coming, tried Chicken Karaage Don. It was wonderful Amazing coffee too. Low key a restaurant ️
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

I came here with my mom for breakfast! The atmosphere is very cozy and homey, the staff are very welcoming and helpful. We tried matti for the first time, with a little guidance, and I certainly enjoyed it! The prices are very agreeable. I highly recommend the Rosie Latte.

my favorite home style Japanese restaurant. Foods are great. Omu curry rice with fried pork cutlet is the have to try
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Very delicious omelette rice, great portion and reasonable price
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 4
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 4
Recommended dishes
Omu-Rice w Hayashi Sauce

The food is delicious and reasonably priced. Their signature dish, the omu curry rice with katsu, is a must-try.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

I think this cafe is overly rated. The picture turned out good but my pork cutlet was not freshly made and very thin. It seemed to me that was frozen food and just heat it up. Curry also was okay the only thing I really liked was coffee and

Had the omurice with tomato sauce, plus a matcha latte and the matcha cheesecake. Everything was tasty and the staff were attentive. Good place all around, even if not particularly outstanding in any way, and the price feels right. More

They serve authentic Japanese food and very delicious. People working here are very welcoming and kind. I felt like I was in Japan. However, their homemade pudding was not so delicious. But I will visit here again. More

This place looks like nothing on the outside but is actually great. Highly recommend the onigiri combo (the marinated egg yolk onigiri is delicious), the basic Japanese breakfast with natto and the coffee jelly!

We came here because of the reviews but were disappointed. Seems to have a lot of potential, nice cozy Japanese cafe style and menu options. Sadly... I am not sure what the hype reviews were about.

Cozy little place on W. Broadway. Great food, friendly service. Very reasonable price, inexpensive, not cheap, speaks to the quality
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Absolutely love this place! It's pretty small, so it's packed almost all the time. I usually go at odd hours so I don't have to wait as long.

Wonderful food. I think the Katsu sandwich was better than the eggs bennie. Hopefully I can come back to try more on their menu.

Cute little cafe with authentic Japanese traditional breakfast. Their cheesecake and matcha are very good in portion sizes. More

It's a nice place out you want to try different Japanese dishes, other than the traditional sushi and ramen.

Delicious Japanese homestyle dishes and cafe drinks here!
Food: 5…
More