Top Japanese restaurants in Canada

Sushi Nishinokaze ★ 4.8 · Montreal

mile-end · 5400 Boulevard Saint-Laurent, Montreal, QC H2T 1S1

Sushi Nishinokaze is chef Vincent Gee's eight-seat Edomae omakase in Mile End, Montreal, awarded a Michelin star in 2026 for exacting, understated sushi.

Tip: Just eight seats and one nightly seating, so book the moment reservations drop on Resy.

Kaiseki Yu-zen Hashimoto ★ 4.7 · Toronto

north-york · 6 Garamond Court, Toronto, ON M3C 1Z5

Kaiseki Yu-zen Hashimoto in North York is chef Masaki Hashimoto's eight-course kaiseki tasting room since 2009, Michelin one-star since 2022.

Akira Back ★ 4.5 · Toronto

king-west · 80 Blue Jays Way, 2nd Floor, Bisha Hotel, Toronto, ON M5V 2G3

Akira Back at the Bisha Hotel is chef Akira Back's first Canadian outpost since 2017, the 2nd-floor Japanese-Korean fusion room behind the hotel lobby.

Tip: Reservations on OpenTable. Sister Kost on the 44th-floor penthouse upstairs.

Park ★ 4.4 · Montreal

westmount · 378 Avenue Victoria, Westmount, QC H3Z 2N4

Park is chef Antonio Park's Japanese omakase restaurant in Westmount, Montreal, where sustainable sushi meets subtle Korean and Argentine touches.

Tip: Sit at the counter for the omakase; the dining room is fine, but the sushi bar is where the real show happens.

Kazu ★ 4.3 · Montreal

downtown · 1844 Rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest, Montreal, QC H3H 1M1

Kazu is the tiny, roaring Japanese counter on Sainte-Catherine in downtown Montreal, famous for its 48-hour pork, salmon bowls and long sidewalk queue.

Tip: Expect a line and cash-friendly bowls; go at opening or off-peak to skip the wait.

Tri Express ★ 4.3 · Montreal

plateau · 1650 Avenue Laurier Est, Montreal, QC H2J 1J4

Tri Express is chef Tri Du's cramped, joyful sushi counter on Laurier Est in Montreal, a Plateau favourite for inventive maki eaten elbow to elbow.

Tip: The space is tiny and cash-friendly; go early or expect to wait for one of the few seats.

Yokato Yokabai ★ 4.3 · Montreal

plateau · 4185 Rue Drolet, Montreal, QC H2W 2L5

Yokato Yokabai is a lively Hakata-style ramen shop on Rue Drolet in Montreal's Plateau, simmering a rich tonkotsu broth many locals rate the city's best.

Tip: Order the tonkotsu and add a flavoured egg; the counter fills fast at both lunch and dinner.

Otto Yakitori ★ 4.2 · Montreal

downtown · 1441 Rue Saint-Mathieu, Montreal, QC H3H 2M4

Otto Yakitori is a late-night izakaya near downtown Montreal, grilling charcoal skewers and pouring sake and highballs until one in the morning.

Tip: It runs late for the neighbourhood; go after ten for skewers and drinks when other kitchens have closed.

Jatoba ★ 4.2 · Montreal

downtown · 1184 Rue du Square-Phillips, Montreal, QC H3B 3C8

Jatoba is a slick pan-Asian room off Square Phillips in downtown Montreal, plating robata skewers, sushi and Korean-leaning share plates in a buzzy room.

Tip: It fills with a downtown after-work crowd; the robata grill and share plates are built for a group.

Ryu ★ 4.1 · Montreal

downtown · 1468 Rue Peel, Montreal, QC H3A 1S8

Ryu is a polished downtown sushi bar on Rue Peel in Montreal, turning out creative maki and sashimi, a reliable mid-range Japanese pick downtown.

Tip: The Peel location is central and busy at lunch; the creative maki are the strength over the nigiri.