Ko-Doraku is our go-to Japanese restaurant in Halifax, actually the only one we frequent. The working owners are so friendly and informative and we love their specials. Amazingly fresh and unbelievably delicious authentic Japanese preparations. We recommend getting your order in early on Fridays when the place is really hopping, though the food comes out at a good pace no matter when you go. The dine-in space is clean, comfortable and not noisy. You might even be lucky enough to catch live music on a weekend evening. If you're looking for sushi in Halifax, go to Ko-Doraku first! read more

What nice staff! The kitchen and front staff thanked us when we left. How nice is that? The food was great. I'd never had a sweet potato and avocado roll before, but I tried it and loved it. What a great taste and texture combination! Their location is slightly odd (lower level of a semi-mall -- you can get to the restaurant from the street or from the mall's main entrance). But they have nice booths and tables in one area, and it pretty much felt like a regular restaurant in that section. The lighting was perfect, and it wasn't noisy either. read more

This place is so good! It is hard to find, and located in a strip mall but don't let that turn you off from this location. The fish is amazing and the salmon tastes extremely fresh. I enjoyed it a lot! read more

See all

-Friendly staff -Really good sushi and katsudon -Quality fish -Great decor, love all the manga -Good volume -Sashimi is too expensive and not a lot of options -Shushi was not wrapped tight enough, so fell apart when we tried to pick them up (using chopsticks) but had good initial presentation and taste -Not super pricey overall -Lots of options for drinks : soft drinks, Japanese drinks like ramune, alcohol, etc. -I like the Japanese music -Lots of options for combos, party platters, etc. -Order at the counter then seat yourself, they bring the food out to you. -Daily special is a good bonus -Very efficient, we got all our food within 10 minutes while it was moderately busy. Party of 7. The location is a bit hidden - down a side street and past Chatime - so overall I think we found a hidden gem in Halifax. read more

See all

Amazingly fresh and flavourful sushi. Would highly recommend! And the surprise of the night, the fried chicken, which was delicious! Although Uber messed up our orders delivery, the restaurant fixed our order quickly. We are very impressed. Great customer service and food! read more

I like the casual vibe in this basement sushi restaurant. You order at the counter, find a table, they bring you your sushi (quickly), and then you clear your own table after you're done, taking the used dishes to a clearing station. This is normal for small restaurants in Japan. There's a huge shelf of books, not all about Japan. There are often a few toys about for keeping kids distracted. There's a big screen TV that sometimes has Godzilla films showing. There's a suit of bushido armour on the wall. There are quite, simple tables out front, and some nicer tables and booths towards the wall. The sushi isn't the best I've had in the city, but it's good. read more

Ko-Doraku - Friday night sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Halifax, Nova Scotia

I knew I had to return to this sushiya-cum-corner store-cum-japanese restaurant and I enjoyed the food as much again. Firstly though Ko-Doraku is unlike any other Japanese restaurant in town. It is not the cafeteria style setting, which means no waiter service, adjacent to the food court. It is that these guys are Japanese and can write the name of the food they are making. Compare that with every other Lee, Chan or Wang who has a 'Japanese' pastry, fake sushi, fake ramen, fake you name it business in Halifax (and the rest of the world). No one with any taste, discernment or self-respect wants to eat Chinese 'sushi' or Korean 'katsudon.' I would say the same thing if a Japanese crew tried to sell me their kimchi or Lebanese tried to sell me Chelo Kabob and the list goes on. In other words, I have nothing against other nationalities. I love all their foods. This place has non-Japanese employees. I sneer at the penchant for anyone from East Asia insisting on masquerade as Japanese. Case in point while I was there a group of Japanese customers showed up to order food. Contrast that with the 'sushi roll' places in the area selling false ersatz spicy this and Atlantic roll that. Back to Ko-Doarku, they have both cooked food and sushi. I went with an order of the five nigiris on their specials' list. The Tobiko roe was great, the Hotate was sublime and the clams were perfectly textured. Most importantly, they get their rice right! The service is polite, the staff are cool and kind and, if you absolutely insist, you can play on the Playstation too. The sushi is good enough to be served at a legitimate and authentic sushi restaurant. read more

This was a good find and one of the reasons that Yelp and sharing information via internet is such a great improvement to our lives. I would have never have found this place on my own. I had the famous Yoga roll (pretty good), a barbequed eel roll and a salmon roll. Very nice. Same quality as Sushi Nami Royale for half the price. The catch? Well- not much of a catch, really- but it was hard to find- tucked in the basement of a non-descript office building/small mall. Oh- and it's cash or debit only. Still- I don't give 5 stars readily and this place deserved all of 'em today. read more

See all

I love coming here for lunch and have filled up many a yellow card with stamps. My personal favourite is the rainbow roll which is filled with creamy avocado, silky salmon and tasty tuna. You get 6 yummy pieces for $7, and, embellished with soya sauce, wasabi and a piece of pickled ginger, each slice of this roll is a taster's heaven. The service is fast and friendly too. I really like having sushi which is freshly made, just like they do here. I will be back! read more

Lovely cozy atmosphere with delicious food! Amazing quality for the very affordable cost. Hopefully you can offer delivery soon, I'd have this every night if I could! Lol read more

Ko-Doraku - Chicken soba - Sushi Bars Near Me - Halifax, Nova Scotia

This is the 2nd time myself and my fiance has come here and service has always been so friendly. The food is so good and very diverse food/drink items by the counter. Katsu-don is best thing i have every had and highly recommend it. read more

Excellent Japanese Restrauant . Relax , quiet and clean . Feel like in Japan . Food is as good as the environment . Staff is excellent also . You can watch TV . Book . Buy some Japanese snack . Feel like home also . Highly recommend the place . read more

See all

excellent traditional Japanese food. best Ramon in town. Amazing Sushi. very fresh fish.

Two sushi gluttons were on the prowl tonight. I still have some trouble typing as I recover from my food coma. What were we thinking ordering over $50 worth of sushi? And no, that's NOT normal for two people. It might be normal for three (hence the food coma) Everything was excellent. I highly recommend the Sashimi Salad. I love the mango and avocado and the oil that binds it all together - is it possible that they are using olive oil? maybe not, but it tasted GOOD. Gomae, Ebi sunomono, salmon nigiri, unagi, hot love roll (yeah baby!), prawn tempura (bit too much batter for us, but hey - it's tempura what did we expect?), tuna tataki ... and a bottle of sake that was enough to require a crane to transport us out of the restaurant. And between us - shhhh!!! - I'd do it again. It was amazing. Beautifully presented, creative use of raw beets, mango, cilantro - not the usual sushi garnish - refreshing change from plastic lawn decoration on my rolls. Arigato Sushi Nami! read more

Thank goodness for Yelp or I wouldn't have ever found this place.Even then it took a bit to figure out where it was. In the basement of the Mills Mall on Spring Garden Road. Quick, affordable sushi in an unlikely location. I had a combo with a cucumber/avocado roll, a sweet potato tempura roll and a piece of nigiri. The sushi was rather large (had to eat some with my hands straight up) and the rice was slightly overdone but all in all for $9 it was pretty great. My main quibble however has to do with how much waste is involved in their operation. The plates the sushi come on are Styrofoam. The salad comes in a plastic container and the dressing is also in a little plastic container inside the salad container. Just too much waste. I would like to go back to get some sushi sometime but the waste involved is excessive. They have what looks like a good amount of space as well so reusable plates and bowls should be an option for dine in methinks. Might have to come back with my own container sometime. read more

Love sushi? Like a bargain? Want it quick? Ko-Doraku is for you. Tucked in the basement of Spring Garden Place, Ko-Doraku is the hidden jewel in the surprisingly large number of Halifax sushi restaurants. This casual sushi bar has an extensive selection of rolls, rounded out by a few other items including teriyaki dishes and spring rolls. When you arrive, don't be surprised to see a line. More people than you would think know about this place, but the staff move at top speed. Even when the line is long, it moves along very quickly. As you place your order, you can peek into the kitchen and watch the sushi masters whipping up your food. My favourite is the yoga roll (shrimp tempura with avocado and spicy sauce). I can usually see the shrimp tempura coming out of the fryer. Just something about being able to see that kind of freshness makes the sushi even more delicious. I also find the rolls to be wrapped more loosely than other places, keeping the rice light and fluffy. Most rolls are $5 and under. There are usually a couple of specials, often a combo of a couple of rolls or teriyaki with salad and rice that run about $7-8. Keep your costs down by rounding out your lunch with a glass of ice water from the cooler on the counter. If you find the food delicious, be sure to get a lunch card. You get a stamp for every $6 you spend (taxes excluded) and after 10 purchases, you get a free $6 lunch. For the price, quality and speed, Ko-Doraku is one of Halifax's best sushi bargains. read more

No time for the full meal deal? Doraku offers a take-out express on the lower level of Spring Garden Place Mall. I hopped down for a peak one afternoon last week, and let me tell you-- the line up was knee-deep. Mind you, it was lunch hour and business folks were bustling. I am a huge Doraku fan, so naturally I assumed that the express food will translate. Prices seem pretty clutch, with $4-8 dollar bites and full meal combos for under $8. The results were tasty and cost effective. Sold. Quick, easy, cheap, delicious. What's better than that? I suggest avoiding peak business hours at noon, but other than that this spot is a steal. Great sushi dishes to take home and enjoy in your own sweet time. read more

I work close by so I come here quite often. The food is fantastic and affordable, and the service has been consistently friendly. They are always adding new specials/features and there is truly something for everybody. They also offer a selection of Asian treats and beverages. The decor of Ko-Doraku is nice - there is a dine-in lounge area open after 5pm. Aside from that, there are a few tables scattered about. Overall, I highly recommend Ko-Doraku, especially if you're looking for a good, quick lunch. read more

Ko-Doraku is not the best sushi in Halifax. However, it is the best quick and affordable sushi I have found so far. To give you an idea, in the last 3 weeks I have gone here 7 times (I know because I have a lunch card that I can't wait to redeem when I get to 10!) I usually get vegi sushi because I don't eat fish and have not had a roll I haven't liked. The average price with a drink comes to about 7 or 8 bucks, and really where else can you get a consistent good lunch for 8 bucks!?.... if you know please tell me because I can't eat sushi EVERY day! One more thing. If you are paying with debit bring a few bucks in change for a tip because they don't have an option on the machine :) read more

This place is amazing! I've been here twice; the first time the line was super long but they're so fast it took no time at all! While in line I was amused by watching them make sushi with a machine. So cool! (They make rolls by hand aswell) The second time I went they had just opened not long beforehand so I was the only one in line. I ordered chicken teriyaki and a yam tempura roll and expected it would take a bit to cook it but they put it on my tray instantly. I figured 'oh great, it's been sitting awhile pre-prepared' but no, it tasted super fresh and was still warm. The chicken was very tender and just...perfect! Everything I've ever tried here is great and fast and I have no complaints! So why 4 stars then? They take CASH ONLY!! I'm one of those people who only carry my cards. Cash is so annoying. :( read more

This place is my favorite spot for a cheap and quick lunch, it makes me miss working downtown. A counter service sushi spot, with cheap per piece or per roll options and well as some sushi combos. The rolls are not super fancy, but they are fresh and made to order and hit the spot. Their sweet potato tempura roll is a fave of mine as the roll is warm, because they fry the tempura to order.The team at Ko-doraku are very efficient and friendly. They have a lunch stamp card which entiles you to a free lunch after 10 stamps, which is nice. I also like that you can help yourself to their cooler filled with ice-water. The one downside, which is a large one for me is that they are cash only and I never carry cash on me, so I have to make a point of going to an atm before I go for lunch. All in all a great spot for a quick hit of sushi and a much better option IMO than Petes take away sushi. read more

Great food, amazing service, lovey decor, clean, awesome prices, lunch specials. This spot is another hidden gem of Halifax. Locals love it, visitors should find it! read more

I love Ko-Doraku. Every time I am in the Spring Garden Place at lunch time, I try making a pit stop here on the lower level. The sushi is always very fresh tasting. The rice is always warm and the spicy sauce is in fact spicy. Complementary ice water is also provided, just in case you can't take the heat. There are usually two daily specials in addition to an entire board of combo options. The only drawback that I can think of is that they are cash only. My personal recommendation is to try the spicy salmon or spicy tuna rolls. read more

This is my personal favorite for sushi - Ko-Doraku is a one of a kind food-court sushi restaurant that gives good servings and excellent sushi. One thing - they serve their sushi warm and that is what I like about them. For some, warm sushi is not their thing, but I think it adds a layer of freshness to the whole sushi experience. The ko-doraku roll (tempura shrimp, avocado, cucumber, and spicy mayo sauce) is the best specialty roll they have and is even better when they have it as part of their daily special. Although the owners are known to take off to Japan for weeks at a time, Ko-Doraku is a great place to eat weekly (if not daily!) sushi in downtown Halifax. read more

I had unadon or eel bowl here! It's super duper good! Not exactly same but almost as good as what I had at Tsukiji Japan. 13 bucks for a thick eel is awesome! If you want to taste real Japanese eel, I strongly recommend this place! I don't think the noddle type menu is good because it's small, the noddle is too soft, and it's not enough dashi (Japanese seassoning) on the soup! But one thing, they offer cheaper price and real Japanese meal taste!! I will love to come again and try others meal! read more

Ko-Doraku is was I like to call my "sushi on the fly"- perfect for when I'm on the go but still craving my sushi-fix. I'm not usually a fan of food-court sushi bars; in my experience, the vast majority of selections there look and taste like they were merely " thrown together", and yet they are priced like higher-end sushi restaurants (Essentially, they're sort of rip-offs). Ko-doraku is a definite exception. The rolls here are made fresh and fast, but still feature the attention to detail and quality that is characteristic of the authentic Doraku sushi restaurant. The most incredible aspect about this place? The pricing is excellent- comparable with other "fast-food" Sushi joints (ie,under $10), yet as mentioned, the quality of the food here actually warrants a higher range of pricing (not that I'm complaining!!) Bottom-line: this is the place to go for quality, conveniently fast sushi at a price that won't burn a hole in your pocket! read more

Ko-Doraku! I discovered you quite by accident. I came for the Indian, but instead chose your delicious and cheap veggie rolls. Service is super-fast and friendly. Food was filling. The only bad thing is that knowing this exists means that sushi is no longer a night out for dinner affair. I can have it once a week! This is bad for my wallet and for my comparatively sad-looking leftover pasta from home. read more

The wonderful people and fantastic sushi has made this one of my favourite lunch spots in the city! Sushi is always made fresh to order and is the most reasonably priced around town. I always start with their house salad, which is rather simple - lettuce, tomato, cucumber, corn with a vinagrette. Depending on what their daily special is I often order is (usually $6.75 and includes a side salad and 9 piece rolls). If I'm not into the special, Ko-Doraku roll and a spicy tuna roll always does the trick! The Ko-Doraku roll is legendary - tempura shrimp, avocado, cucumber, spicy sauce - it is a two bite roll and is definitely my favourite menu item at any sushi place in Halifax. That being said, I'm hungry and off to Ko-Doraku for lunch! read more

This cheap lower food-court sushi outlet in Spring Garden Place(the place with the Roots on the corner) otherwise known as 'Basement Sushi' is the best sushi deal in town. Why? Halifax is expensive whether you live there or are visiting. Ko-Doraku can satisfy your cheapo lunch-time hunger for only $4 with a delicious sweet potato tempura roll, freshly made and loaded with rice. They have great combos for $6-8 and daily specials. Try the Zen combo - 8 pieces of avocado-cucumber roll, 2 inari rolls, and a side salad. Bonus: they have a huge tank of filtered water on the counter so don't forget your bottle for a free fill up. There's an atrium area with skylights, a tv tuned to CNN and nice couches to lounge and eat. Prime for meeting a friend for a quick, cheap, and healthy mid-day bite. Closes at 4pm and not open Sunday. They cater as well and are prone to randomly closing if they are doing a big event. They are the sister restaurant of Doraku on Dresden Row selling basically the same food for much, much less. read more

I feel as though I never truly tasted sushi until I started coming here at the recommendation of my corworkers. They're really reasonably priced, have a great, low-key location that's beautifully decorated, delicious food, and lovely staff. read more

SUPER stoked I FINALLY made it here during its very limited business hours!!! I've been reading about this place for over a year and a half but was never able to bask in its sushi glory because they are open for 4 hours a day - and for that reason I am docking a star (and no miso soup with combos). Yelpers have got it on point! Rice, always warm. Fish, nice fresh cut. Spicy sauce, spicy. Price, very reasonable. I ordered the Ko-doraku combo (daily special that day which was a big roll with spicy sauce, shrimp tempura, cucumbers, and celery!!) along with a piece of tuna sushi and salmon sushi. Came up to just under $15 and it filled me right to the top. Looking forward to going back to Halifax for this takeout gem!!! Worth the walk down the stairs (don't be lazy, guys!) and allllll this time waiting for my shot at KDRK! read more

Heads up! They've moved! I don't know how long ago they moved...it's been quite a while since I've been there. They're no longer the first place you see when you hit the bottom of the stairs. In fact, I was meeting friends there and when I went down to the bottom floor I turned around and I had to text my friends to ask where they were. Just hang a right and keep walking...you'll eventually make it there. On that note, the new location is much better! It's actually a place all to itself now with cute decorations and lots of space to sit. The food still tastes the same and everything is very tasty and fast. Also, some of the rolls are huge! Still not a fan of this place being cash only. Who actually carries around cash nowadays anyways?? But that's really the only drawback. read more

I love the new digs on Breton Street ( or where I found the entrance), nice open area, quiet, oh my I love that. Their deals are great, food tasty, tho my rolls seemed rushed, not visual appealing ( but again I stress , it is very tasty). good portions to cost, quick lunch, great value. read more

Just the best maki-sushi in HRM. Wow. What a hidden gem. The specials are excellent. The price is moderate. The quality is the highest. I go to different Japanese restaurants for different items depending on what I'm craving and I go here when I'm craving sushi rolls. To me, there are 2 things that distinguish good from amazing sushi rolls. 1) The rice and, 2) The rice We could talk about fish quality all day, but to me, great maki sushi is all about achieving perfectly seasoned, temperature controlled, expertly steamed rice and the chef at Ko-Doraku takes so much pride and care with rice preparation that the bags of rice are even featured as part of the restaurant's decor. As the Japanese government forbids rice exportation, expat Japanese chefs must have a hard time deciding on which (Californian) rice to use in place of their beloved Japanese grain. The chef at Ko-Doraku has found some magic formula to creating the best sushi rice in Halifax. Ko-Doraku does rice perfectly. If you think that's a silly thing to base a sushi review on, because "well, isn't all rice the same" then head over to Ko-Doraku (go early because they often sell out of stock early), order your favourite rolls and eat them right away when they are served. Notice the warmish temperature of the rice and how it affects the fragrance of the rice seasoning. Notice how the sweetness is lifted by the rice's temperature (if you don't believe me, save one piece and take it home to eat from the fridge later to note the differences). Notice how the individual grains lightly stick together that seem to melt away from each other when you have a bite in your mouth. If you order a traditional roll containing just fish (plus possibly sauce), notice how the rice seasoning compliments the fish differently when it is served warm. The subtleties of the maki coming out of Ko-Doraku's kitchen may go unnoticed by some sushi goers, but for those who are on a quest for the divine sushi experience, Ko-Doraku should be a mandatory stop over. I've had a few blissful moments in my life, and experiencing Ko-Doraku makisushi for the first time had me in a state of awe, pleased at life. read more

Love going to Ko-Doraku, cozy atmosphere with lots of available seating. Service is quick and friendly, the employees are always smiling! The sushi is exceptionally fresh, and so cheap! Would definitely recommend going to DoraKu. Great for large groups too! read more

Absolutely prime if you want some delicious sushi and you want it quickly. Walked in, ordered my combo (salad and two rolls- yoga roll and sweet potato) for 9 bucks. I had a plate with two ginormous rolls, warm and fresh in my hands in less then two minutes!! Thank god I found a place I don't have to order ahead. The girl at the counter was so friendly and sweet, this place was so worth the hunt! New go-to!! Mmmm yummmm read more

I always love stopping in when I am in the area. One of the best sushi restaurants that I've been to. The atmosphere is very reminiscent of restaurants that I've been to in Japan. As well as having great food, with generous portions, they have a great selection of Japanese snacks, cooking utensils, and drinks, both alcoholic and non. Seating can be a bit limited due to how busy they are during lunch and supper times, but the service has always been very quick and thorough. read more

Best sushi in the city and service is impeccable, a prime example of hospitality! Ko-Doraku never ceases to amaze with new offerings and service beyond your expectations, the staff is genuinely kind and you can see the hard work that goes into making the amazing food through the open kitchen. Kitchen and dining room are always perfectly clean. I can't say enough about this establishment, if you're downtown for lunch, you gotta try it and for supper, they managed to create a very relaxing atmosphere in their new dining room. Always a memorable experience, absolutely perfect! read more

I don't come here enough.... This is a wonderful place for sushi. Great sushi, service and food is consistent!

If you want really good sushi... let me rephrase, if you want the best sushi in town, Ko-Doraku is the place for me. It is fast, it is inexpensive, it is the.best.sushi.I.have.ever.had! It is hidden in the basement of Spring Garden Place mall; it is a gem of a place. My favorite is spicy salmon maki. The rice is warm and the salmon melts in your mouth. Being in a food court, it has better sushi than any fancy sushi place in the city. I love the fact that there is no tempura bits. It takes only cash, but that's not a downside at all, because there is a bank machine in parklane mall which is directly opposite to spring garden place. I spoke to the owner of Ko-Doraku to let him know that his little store is the best ever sushi I have had in this city. He chatted right up with us and we found out that he is actually the pioneer of sushi in Halifax. He owned the first sushi restaurant in Halifax and eventually owned three of them. He is an older man, and sold all his business and just does this for hobby. The only disadvantage of this place is that it is a lunch place, and is not open for dinner. I can see myself spending 2 or 3 nights at Ko-Doraku for dinner a week. Sometimes, it is closed for lunch on weekends too. This is a great disadvantage to me because I do not work downtown and I can only make it in the weekend. read more