The best Japanese restaurants Canada

NAMI was one of the first sushi and Japanese restaurants in the city and has since become a classic in Toronto. The framework is simple and clearly refers to the Land of the Rising Sun. In addition to combos, you will find a nice selection of sushi and sashimi à la carte, not to mention rolls and hand rolls and grills. For a more authentic experience, we suggest you take a seat at the Sushi Bar. The waiters usually greet your departure with a "Gochisosama Deshita! " (thanks for coming to eat).

Located a stone's throw from St. James' Church, this Japanese izakaya offers only Japanese specialties, as well as revisited versions such as Moshibèkon Yakitori ( moshi and bacon skewers). You can accompany your meal with a typical cocktail, a Japanese beer or, of course, a good sake. The place can be noisy at lunchtime, so be warned! Also worth discovering: its little gourmet sister, Hanzo Izakaya, located on Saint-Nicolas Street in the heart of Old Montreal. We recommend it!

A former Chinese art store is now home to THE trendy spot of the moment. The kitchen in the center of the room gives diners the pleasure of observing Japanese dishes in preparation. Sashimi, grilled duck aged in miso or tantan udon: these delicate dishes are ideal for sharing. Glasses of wine or sake take on a special flavor under the soft lighting. And for even greater intimacy, the small vinyl bar in the basement transforms into a unique club in the evening.

After the huge success of Sushi Momo, Christian Ventura is taking his vegan sushi concept one step further. With Bloom, the setting is a little more upscale, the style is refined in cream tones, between stone, wood and dried flowers. The menu, still in the same spirit, is very interesting. With konjac "salmon", tofu "crab" or sweet potato tempura, the vegetal creativity is limitless. The result is elegant and, above all, well-balanced. A good address for gourmets curious about new flavors.

Restaurant Kazu is (often) at the end of the queue, on the corner of rue Sainte-Catherine and rue Saint-Marc. Frequented by regular customers and students, this Japanese izakaya in the heart of downtown is a delight for the taste buds... and the wallet! The place doesn't look much, the interior is tiny and unpretentious, but you come for the good food: okonomiyaki, onigiris, nabemono... in short, real Japanese cuisine, tasty and surprising. It's THE place to go in the neighborhood.

Coming straight from New York where Raku has two branches, the Toronto facility slowly opened its doors in the winter of 2019. The front end is in Japanese style, as is the interior and its very clean design. The place is small and there is no way to book, so avoid peak hours. The speciality here is the famous udon noodles, which are served in a fish stock (dried kelp, different types of smoked fish such as herring or sardines). Gyozas, a kind of Japanese dumplings, are also recommended.