Japanese food in Toronto: sushi, ramen, izakaya and how to order

How to tell a real sushi bar from a combo shop, what an izakaya is for, and where to eat Japanese food across Toronto. Every place with its own phone number.

Japanese food in Toronto runs from a conveyor belt to a ten-seat omakase counter, and the price and the point change completely along the way. The fastest way to spend well is to know which kind of room you are in before you order.

The kinds of room

  • Sushi bars are about the fish and the rice. At a proper one, sit at the counter, and if there is an omakase let the chef choose. The tell of a serious place is warm, seasoned rice and fish sliced to order, not a fridge of pre-made rolls.
  • The combo shop is the cheap-and-cheerful bento and all-you-can-eat end. Nothing wrong with it, but it is a different meal, and the rolls are the point rather than the fish.
  • Ramen shops live or die on the broth. Tonkotsu is the rich pork one, shoyu is soy, shio is salt. A good bowl has been simmering for hours and the noodles have a bit of bite. Eat it fast before they go soft.
  • Izakaya is the Japanese pub: small plates, grilled skewers, karaage, and drinks. Go with a group, order in rounds, and treat it like tapas rather than a set meal.
  • Donburi and udon counters are the quick lunch: a rice bowl or a noodle soup, in and out.

Downtown and midtown

  1. AFURI ramen + dumpling Toronto, japanese kitchen at 411 Church Street in Old Toronto, Toronto
    AFURI ramen + dumpling Toronto411 Church Street, Old Toronto
    +1 416-928-6566
  2. Ajisen Ramen (Chinatown), japanese kitchen at 332 Spadina Avenue in Old Toronto, Toronto
    Ajisen Ramen (Chinatown)332 Spadina Avenue, Old Toronto
    +1 416-977-8080
  3. Ajisen Ramen and Bar (Church/Carlton), japanese kitchen at 399 Church Street in Old Toronto, Toronto
    Ajisen Ramen and Bar (Church/Carlton)399 Church Street, Old Toronto
    +1 647-933-2464
  4. Akira Back Restaurant, japanese kitchen at 80 Blue Jays Way in Old Toronto, Toronto
    Akira Back Restaurant80 Blue Jays Way, Old Toronto
    +1 437-800-5967
  5. Boru Toronto, japanese kitchen at 495 Adelaide Street West in Old Toronto, Toronto
    Boru Toronto495 Adelaide Street West, Old Toronto
    +1 437-562-8012
  6. Brown Donkatsu - Dundas, japanese kitchen at 138 Dundas Street West in Old Toronto, Toronto
    Brown Donkatsu - Dundas138 Dundas Street West, Old Toronto
    +1 416-585-2782
  7. Chotto Matte Toronto, japanese kitchen at 161 Bay Street in Old Toronto, Toronto
    Chotto Matte Toronto161 Bay Street, Old Toronto
    +1 416-988-8097
  8. Don Don Izakaya, japanese kitchen at 130 Dundas Street West in Old Toronto, Toronto
    Don Don Izakaya130 Dundas Street West, Old Toronto
    +1 416-492-5292
  9. Flame sushi, japanese kitchen at 204 Queen Street West in Old Toronto, Toronto
    Flame sushi204 Queen Street West, Old Toronto
    +1 416-599-6666
  10. Gonzo Izakaya 根性, japanese kitchen at 940 College Street in Old Toronto, Toronto
    Gonzo Izakaya 根性940 College Street, Old Toronto
    +1 416-901-3246
  11. Guu Izakaya, japanese kitchen at 1314 Queen Street West in Old Toronto, Toronto
    Guu Izakaya1314 Queen Street West, Old Toronto
    +1 647-351-1314
  12. Gyou Ramen, japanese kitchen at 630 Yonge Street in Old Toronto, Toronto
    Gyou Ramen630 Yonge Street, Old Toronto
    +1 365-314-9955
All 83 japanese restaurants in Old Toronto →

North York

  1. Ajisen Ramen (North York), japanese kitchen at 5229 Yonge Street in North York, Toronto
    Ajisen Ramen (North York)5229 Yonge Street, North York
    +1 416-223-0618
  2. Haru Shabu Shabu 小春日和 寿喜烧, japanese kitchen at 5095 Yonge Street in North York, Toronto
    Haru Shabu Shabu 小春日和 寿喜烧5095 Yonge Street, North York
    +1 416-901-3248
  3. Ichiban Asian All You Can Eat North York, japanese kitchen at 5095 Yonge Street in North York, Toronto
    Ichiban Asian All You Can Eat North York5095 Yonge Street, North York
    +1 416-228-8881
  4. Japanese Noodle House, japanese kitchen at 4901b Yonge Street in North York, Toronto
    Japanese Noodle House4901b Yonge Street, North York
    +1 416-224-9403
  5. Ju-Raku Japanese Restaurant, japanese kitchen at 2901 Bayview Avenue in North York, Toronto
    Ju-Raku Japanese Restaurant2901 Bayview Avenue, North York
    +1 416-335-7713
  6. Ki-ishi Izakaya, japanese kitchen at 5437 Yonge Street in North York, Toronto
    Ki-ishi Izakaya5437 Yonge Street, North York
    +1 416-225-0075
All 16 japanese restaurants in North York →

Before you go

Ring first for an omakase or a counter seat, which are limited and often booked, and know that the best ramen shops run out and close early rather than drop the broth. The number on each page is the restaurant's own.

Written by See The Six · kept current from the directory, last checked 2026-08-24

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