The Best Japanese Restaurants in Toronto

Despite its humble aesthetic, this Mount Pleasant spot serves refined, nine-course omakase experiences to select groups of fortunate guests. Creative and shot through with artistry, each of chef Daisuke Izutsu's seasonal plates is a stirring ode to Japanese cuisine. 

Chef Takeshi Sato's eponymous Mount Pleasant spot trades in Kappo cuisine served in a modernist room. Here, diners settle in for luxurious 12-course feasts constructed from premium ingredients and buoyed by chef Sato's considerable skill. That the restaurant holds a Michelin star comes as no surprise. 

Serving homey, Tokyo-inspired dishes, this Dundas West hangout is rarely quiet. Instead, it's bustling and buzzing, diners jockeying for nibbles of pungent wings and fatty ribs, miso-braised fish and other drink-friendly snacks. Care to linger longer? There's nothing quite like demolishing an order of Tokyo toast in the candlelit room. 

A Dundas West favourite, this relaxed spot has its gutsy moto eggs and savoury dyno wings, punchy tuna tartare and miso-butter-laced enoki mushrooms to thank for its perennially-packed seats. Having said that, there's no denying that the bracing cocktails and laid-back vibe are just as integral to the fun. 

Run by the team behind Yuzuki Fish Market, it's no surprise that this restaurant near Yonge & Church serves up the freshest fish there is. Morphed into rainbow-hued sushi and sashimi it tempts from amongst an assortment of classic Japanese dishes, including udon, donburi, tempura, teriyaki and more. 

Flame-seared sushi is just one of the draws to this Entertainment District restaurant, where diners pile in for pre-theatre meals, post-show nightcaps, and hearty snacks at every other hour of the day. Devoured in the detailed room, every starter and sushi roll, wagyu dish and cocktail makes that much more of an impression. 

Chubby, chewy udon noodles keep the door permanently swinging at this calm Queen West oasis. They're available in a dizzying assortment of bowls, doused in hot or cold broth and topped with everything from shiso leaf tempura to spicy miso pork, Hokkaido herring and mountain vegetables. Tear yourself away and you'll discover that the team also does right by donburi and a wealth of zippy, finger-licking starters. 

Made fresh daily, handmade noodles grace (nearly) every bowl at this vibrant Scarborough noodle shop. In addition to udon-rich sustenance, the team serves donburi and sushi, classic Japanese appetizers and set menus that invite diners to sample a healthy serving of it all. 

Prepare to wait for a table at this petite and popular restaurant at Yonge & Bloor. Once inside, cover the table with orders of cabbage-strewn okonimayaki brimming with meat, seafood or sautéed veg. Yes, you can also find teriyaki, curries, noodle dishes and more, but if you're not eating the pancakes, were you even there?