Having been to the other Hana Don location in North York multiple times, I was delighted when they…read moreopened a new location in downtown. It's my go-to spot to get my don fix - I love the wide variety of dons (rice bowls) that they offer with various fish and seafood combinations. There are also unique appetizers in the menu, such as Purple Yam Croquettes, Crab Crackers, Braised Bamboo Shoots with Shirasu (immature whitebait fish), and Takowasa (marinated raw octopus pieces, to be eaten with or wrapped in nori / seaweed). Although the dons are the main highlight of their menu (hence the restaurant name), they also offer traditional sushi, sashimi, sushi rolls and sets (similar to other Japanese sushi restaurants). Miso Aburi Scallops were very flavourful - nicely torched, giving the scallops a nice grill / char taste. They came with red and green seaweed, and a bit of fish roe. Large Premium Hana Don contained a good amount of fish and seafood, including a whole abalone, uni, shrimp in the shell, aburi salmon, ikura (salmon roe), salmon sashimi, tuna sashimi, yellowtail sashimi, other various fish sashimi, tamago (egg), and a few slices of cucumber on a generous bed of rice. I liked that the rice was a mix of white rice and some type of dark-coloured grains. Unatama Don came with a big piece of unagi and tamago (egg) that were both excellent. The sashimi were all fresh. Okonomiyaki was disappointing but it was sort of expected... for only $9, it was about 99% just flour pan-fried in a patty, without any substantial fillings (unlike real okonomiyaki, which usually contains protein / seafood, cabbage, eggs, and other ingredients). Location is super convenient near Bay & Dundas, ambiance is very casual, and service is quick.

First time trying this place and I was very pleased with the service. We went pretty late and they…read moremanaged to accommodate us. What I really liked was that they had 3 options of warm water - Hot, Warm, and room temperature. Instinctively I knew this place cared about the clients digestive health. Though I'm sure if you asked for ice water, they would accommodate (my friend asked for no sauces in her maki roll). The fishes were plated very pretty and because it's sushi of course it tasted good. But I was surprised at the level of wasabi that was plated. Cleared up my sinuses for 30 seconds. The establishment is very clean and bright and a great place to head to if you're in a rush.

Had such a great experience at Taoshi Japanese Grill! The food was fresh, flavorful, and…read morebeautifully prepared. The staff were super welcoming and attentive too. Definitely one of the spots I'd come back to again. Highly recommend!

Food is great, but service was super rushed. Barely reached our 2 hour limit, and waiter asked us…read moreto eat our dessert outside while it was RAINING, because they had to clear the table. Made the experience not as enjoyable, could definitely be improved.

This meal felt like such a beautiful little treat, with every bite tasting fresh, delicate, rich,…read moreand incredibly satisfying all at once, and the whole experience was so comforting and memorable that I could already tell I would happily come back again just to enjoy that same wonderful flavor and feeling one more time.

The aburi sushi was such a rip off. Some of the salmon and shrimp were paper thin and didn't even…read morecover the whole piece of rice. I didn't move any fish, I scraped the sauce to show that there was no fish underneath some of the sauce. I asked the server who asked the sushi chef who said that's just how they make it, and that they will take my feedback to improve for the future. About 5-10 min later, not sure if it's because they saw me take pics and write on my phone, but they came back offering me 15% off my bill. Nice gesture but not enough for me to recommend this place or ever return.

Amazing food,especially loved the Japanese chicken and Tokyo fries.They were able to seat us right…read moreaway without reservations,even though they were very busy.

Overall, this is a restaurant I would recommend. The food, service, and atmosphere were all well…read morebalanced, and everything came together for a very enjoyable meal. It works well for a date night, dinner with friends, or even a solo visit. A solid choice if you are looking for a dependable place to eat. I can also turn these into a more elegant, feminine Yelp style if you want.

Setup counter style, which adds to the theatre of watching the chef craft your meal…read more Stopped by and got the sushi, roll and handroll combo. The sushi and rolls were a bit heavy with rice but pretty good quality and reasonably priced. The pacing of the meal was great, the service was welcoming. Overall, a step above the standard downtown sushi offerings.

Back again to Hand Roll Sushi Bar, this time for their lunch menu and takeout…read more For $30 for two, it's hard to beat. Got a Roll Combo A and Sushi and Roll Combo A with the cash 10% discount, it was super worth it. Taking only 10 mins, the place had lunch goers, other takeout/delivery pickups, it was a nice level of busy. Packaging, sauces, utensils were well provisioned, got everything for a nice meal. Their lunch menu is a good price for the amount of food. Will be back to try it again, maybe splurge on a party tray...

Came here on a thursday peak dinner time with no reservations and had to sit at the bar. so make…read moresure you make reservations if you care about that! The service was decent. The food was good but not amazing. The best dish I got was the tuna tataki. The skewers are too pricey for what it is. The spicy udon and takoyaki was good. The ambiance is cute. It's like you're tucked into a real japan restaurant! The menu was quite big, and I would come back to try more dishes. It's just a little too pricey for my liking.

Tried this Izakaya for the first time, food tasted pretty good, was a bit pricey. Vibe and decor of…read morerestaurant was nice. Service was good.

Came here for a casual dinner and drinks, and overall it felt like a really easy, relaxed…read moreizakaya-style spot in downtown Toronto. The space itself leans more modern and clean rather than the typical dark, cozy izakaya vibe, which I actually didn't mind. It felt comfortable, not too loud, and easy to settle into for a slow dinner. We ordered a mix of small plates to share, and everything came out looking nicely put together. The aburi-style salmon sushi was one of the highlights for me.. lightly seared, with a soft texture and just enough flavor on top without being overwhelming. The tuna tataki was also fresh and clean, simple but well done. Some of the fried dishes leaned a bit richer with the creamy sauces, but they were still enjoyable, especially if you're in the mood for something a little more indulgent. The beef fried rice was straightforward but satisfying, one of those dishes that's easy to keep going back to between everything else. Drinks were a nice touch too.. refreshing, nicely presented, and added to the overall experience. Overall, this feels like a solid spot for a casual night out with friends. It's not overly traditional, but it's easygoing, shareable, and comfortable.. the kind of place you'd come back to when you just want good food and a relaxed atmosphere.

Great spot for small plates and drinks!…read more Love the vibes here. It really does remind me of Japanese izakaya. Their pressed sushi is a signature! Dont skip on the karaage cuz the sauce with a onsen egg is bomb! It can get busy and its a small place. So go early!

Saw that they have table side hand rolls so i had to come try. That was literally the best thing on…read morethe menu!!!! They still do the old school paper ordering. But they didnt miss any orders so ill give it to them lol the maki rolls, aburi sushi and nigiri were huge and packed with too much rice. The fish to rich ratio was not great. Flavors were not bad. My grandma loved the eel fried rice. Not a whole lot of cooked food options for her who doesnt eat sashimi. Save room for dessert as they have quite a variety!

Came here for the first time. Was a little disappointed by their selection…read more It has a good size menu, but it's mostly just rolls, and the rolls don't really have a variety of choices. It's all either salmon, shrimp or crap. The sashimi was ok. Not the freshest we have had. They come in decent sizes. What sold us was their limited menu for the holiday. But the sauces in it were weird. The place itself has a good selection of seatings. But it does get busy on the weekends. It's best to make a reservation to skip the wait.