Sushi Kaji was SO good! Everything was delicious, and it was definitely worth making a reservation. Reservations open online one month in advance, and they offer two seating times: 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM. There are three different price tiers for the omakase menu. My husband and I decided to go with the $190 CAD per person option, which is about $136 USD. We were served around 20 different items, and honestly, everything was delicious! The entire dinner took about 1.5 hours, and we were seated at the countertop, which made the experience even more enjoyable because we could watch everything being prepared. I highly recommend Sushi Kaji! read more

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One of the OGs of Omakase in the city, and it shows in the quality of their offerings and the well-oiled-machine-ness of their service. Unfortunately wasn't able to get counter seating but we were still able to enjoy the food up close and the theatre from afar. I like how they have different menus, so we upgraded from the standard one to get one with wagyu and the other with sashimi. Standouts for me were: - Wagyu Sukiyaki: melt in your mouth wagyu, perfectly salty-sweet sukiyaki - Tuna Tartare: best mouthful of the night - Scallop: plump and juicy - Saba Noodle: the little shrimps added a nice texture - Yuzu Sorbet: refreshing end to the meal - Plum Wine: excellent companion to the meal Place is small but well laid out so you don't feel cramped. Service and prices are expectedly high. Master chef had a playful energy. Overall, can see why this place has set the omakase standard for years. read more

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All foods were SO AMAZING! The fish was so fresh and melted like butter in our mouth. We were celebrating our first anniversary here and it was definitely the place to go. Etobicoke is a bit far away, but this place is worth it. Cannot emphasize enough how delicious everything was, and there were almost 20 courses so it definitely fills you up. Even the dessert was so good, cannot imagine how well the frozen blueberries and cheese go together! Chef Kaji is also very playful with our handrolls. Everyone was really nice as well. read more

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Lovely boyfriend took me here for my birthday for the bar table omakase menu and we chose to add on sashimi as well. Full meal consisted of the following courses: - Fried chicken appetizer: 3 pieces in a vinegar sauce. I'll be honest, this was a bit of a rough start. Because it was in a sauce the chicken was no longer crunchy. I was not sure if this was intentional or not... 5/10 - Miso cod and tamago: This restored my faith. The cod was delicious - fatty with a beautiful soy miso glaze. The tamago was a nice touch as well. 8/10 - Sashimi plate with a side salad: Delicious. The fish was very fresh and the tuna was nice and fatty! The salad was refreshing. 8/10 - Tuna tartare: Served over rice with a dollop of spicy mayo. I wish there was more of this, but I know I had to save room for the sushi! 8/10 - 10 courses of sushi: All the pieces of sushi were so beautiful - they came with little garnishes on top that was extra attention to detail. Good ratio of rice to fish and all the fish was very fresh. I especially liked the otoro. Unlike other places, they do not add soy sauce on it and instead will tell you how much to "dip" the sushi in your own soy sauce. It was also a bit heavy on the wasabi but nothing I couldn't handle. 9/10 - Hand roll: The roll itself was okay but the execution was hilarious. Chef Kaji will dance around the whole restaurant to give it to you. Amazing entertainment. 10/10 - Soba noodle: A nice way to finish and the sauce was sweet, salty and and tangy. 8/10 - Blueberry cheesecake mousse: Dessert was served in a little cup and I got a Happy Birthday note too! I particularly liked how light they made it which was perfect since I was stuffed after all the food! 9/10 Service here was amazing - very attentive from the wait staff and the sushi chefs made great conversation. Definitely recommend for special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries! read more

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This is my favourite omakase in Toronto! I've been visiting over the years and the food and service have consistently been excellent! Kaji and the staff are friendly, professional and attentive. The cold sake are smooth and refreshing. The food changes based on availability and seasonality and is always so delicious. They pace out the serving of each dish so that by the time the full course has finished, I feel satisfied and not too full and not still hungry. There's typically two or three options omakase options on the menu and I highly recommend selecting the top tier. A great dining experience! read more

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Dined in on Sunday night for an anniversary dinner with my husband. I had been wanting to try this resto for years as I heard lots of good feedbacks from my Japanese friends / coworkers. We were welcomed very warmly with all Japanese staff. The restaurant was not too big but cosy. We were seated at a counter table. We ordered Wagyu sukiyaki omakase & Sashimi Omakase (both were approx. $ 150). It started with beautiful appetizer dishes. I could see that they really paid attention to details. The flavor that was made out of multiple ingredients was phenomenal. Then I had Wagyu sukiyaki and my husband had an assorted sashimi. Wagyu was very tender enough to cut with chopsticks but it was not too greasy. After the dishes, we had Sushi. I didn't count how many sushi I got but it was more than 10 pieces. Many sashimi pieces were air-flown from Japan. A sushi chef handed each pieces and explained to us about the origin of fish, how to eat. Their sushi was one of the best sushi I have ever had. After sushi, we had a soba in soup, then dessert. The main chef was so entertaining and charming. We left the restaurant very stuffed. Highly recommended! read more

Sushi Kaji Restaurant - Sushi Bars Near Me - Etobicoke, Ontario

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Don't be put off by the unassuming exterior on The Queensway. They've renovated but have to say, miss the old kitchen tables and chairs of yesteryear. New set up is quiet and allows diners to enjoy. Always excellent and no 30 min limit. Choice of 2 omikase meals, Waza w sashimi and sushi or takami w wagyu. All fish is v fresh, rice is well seasoned. As always the owner is at the sushi bar making his exquisite sushi. Photos missing dessert- rice pan a cotta which was excellent. This is a real gem in Etobicoke. read more

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A gem hidden in plain sight. If you're looking to spend and enjoy yourself, along with doing a great date night, this is the perfect spot. We came early to our 8:15pm reservation and were seated quickly. They provided us the menu and took our order closer to the start of dinner time. Around 8:10pm, you can see them starting to prepare food slowly in a careful and crafted manner. After that, once the first dish was served around 8:25pm, it was a steady pace of food. We were quickly full by 10:10pm and enjoyed the entire experience as we watched each chef make their own craft and have their own flow. The only thing I think they can improve on is that only one chef serves the food, but I think it should be the chef that makes the food (there were three of them and only the head served, which we couldn't fully appreciate the one that made it and thank them directly) read more

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I usually don't give 5 stars to any restaurant but the meal I had at Kaji was simply outstanding. I had heard about this restaurant for years and am happy to say I was finally able to sample their fine fare for dinner last night. Every dish from the Sushi to the Wagyu beef Sukiyaki was simply delicious and impeccably presented. The Squid Sushi was so tender it was like butter melting in my mouth. I would even put this restaurant on par with restaurants I have eaten at in Japan. read more

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I have seen tons of good reviews about this sushi place and have always been waiting for a chance to try it out. Recently, I was running errands nearby and thought might as well order their takeout selection box (sushi, sashimi and toro rolls). However, the food was a bit disappointing to me. We waited about ten minutes after our scheduled pick-up time and the selection box came with two really pretty boxes. Everything was fresh but it was also missing that wow factor. They didn't offer any special/rare fish like many other fine sushi places do. The only items which stood out were the toro rolls and the fish roe. The biggest flaw was that they put way too much wasabi on the sushi and it completely covered the taste of the fish itself. It was hitting the back of my nose with every bite of every piece of sushi. This was definitely not expected from a fine sushi restaurant. The unagi don I tried was okay but not great. Being scared out by the wasabi, I wouldn't want to travel here to try their omakase dine-in in future. If I happen to be in that area, I might order some toro rolls at most. read more

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We came for my birthday today, and my husband asked the server for a birthday candle with dessert while I was in the washroom. She agreed right away and said no problem. To our disappointment they forgot. We saw someone else receive a candle with their dessert and how happy it made them, so my husband gently reminded our server about this, for which she went to check. She didn't actually come back until we flagged her down after we paid the bill, and she came back saying, sorry this isn't possible, and that we had to put it in the reservation next time. It would have been nice if she didn't say yes if they couldn't do it. Also, how hard is it to just wish me a happy birthday and put a candle on anything? Could have been a plate with a candle for all I cared. She didn't even say happy birthday to me. If this was a regular restaurant I don't think we would have been so upset, but considering we spent more than $400 on dinner tonight and my birthday actually fell on a Saturday this year (this only happens once every 7 years!), they could have made me feel more special, especially since they forgot, and it seemed like the waitress was just making a poor excuse. It made me sad and coloured our otherwise good experience in a bad light. She didn't even wish me a happy birthday, all she said was, sorry. read more

My dining companion and I had been talking about checking out Sushi Kaji for literally years, but we were never quite able to pull the trigger because of the insanely high price point. A recent milestone birthday, however, seemed like a good opportunity to finally splurge a little, and so it was that we walked through the doors on a recent Friday night. The only dining option is the $160 Omakase menu, which includes "Appetizers, Sashimi, Kaji Selection of Sushi, Soup and Dessert." I was certainly a little concerned that we'd be hungry after the meal, and that I'd feel like I'd just flushed more than $400 right down the toilet. I needn't have worried. This is a top-notch dining experience that more than earns its hefty price tag. The service is right on point, but it's the food that justifies the cost. Every single dish that we were presented with, and we were presented with a surprising amount, was beautifully thought out and prepared. Also, we were seated at the bar area (by my personal request), so we got to watch one of the chefs meticulously preparing various sushi courses. And while all the food was fantastic, it's the sushi that blew my mind one bite after the next. I've eaten a lot of sushi in my life, but I've never had any that was this complex in terms of its flavors. The fish and rice were top-notch, of course, but holy moly did they manage to pack every single bite with layers and layers of flavors. I have nothing bad to say about my meal at Sushi Kaji. After it was over, my dining companion and I both proclaimed it the best sushi we'd ever had, and he's been all over Asia, so that's quite the compliment. Do I wish it cost just a little less? Of course. Do I regret spending the money? Absolutely not. read more

During the lockdown period, suddenly i want to crave for some nice sushi and sashimi.  Sushi Kaji never disappointed me.  Ordered their sushi and sashimi set, and Unagi Don.  The sushi and sashimi set definitely worth the price.  All types of sashimi are fresh, the portion is good enough for one person.   The Unagi Don is really good, but the portion is really small compare to some other authentic Japanese restaurants.  Definitely recommend Sushi Kaji, especially with the omakase experience dine in. read more

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Sushi Kaji is the closest I have felt to being in Tokyo since I went to Tokyo. The staff are meticilous. Everything from taking your coat, to showing you the seats to explaining the dishes is done with a the Japanese commitment to doing the little things well. When we couldn't decide which sake to order, the waiter brought over a flight and let us try three different sakes, untill we picked the one we liked best. The dinner is very close to an authentic omakase expereicne. You chose one of three set meals which are differentiated by the main dish (I went with lobster while my partner selected black cod), while the sushi is chef's choice. The stars of the show were the perfectly-molded nigiri pieces. The fish was fantastic, properly seasoned (where needed) and spot on in every respect. All of it was fresh and coming from as far away as Japan. The ocean perch and the tuna belly were particularly memorable. Toronto does not have a ton of good high end sushi restaraunts. Sushi Kaji is an execption well worth the drive to Etobicoke. read more

Sushi Kaji Restaurant - Sushi Bars Near Me - Etobicoke, Ontario

I tried their omakase sushi takeout box which is not the full experience, but really enjoyed the food which was high quality. To be honest when considering prices I still prefer Yasu over them but I think it's really personal preference depending on what fish/flavours you like. I think Sushi Kaji tries to incorporate more intricate toppings on some of their sushi but I usually prefer just the raw fish itself. It was sad to hear about the scammers that have tried to rip this restaurant off during COVID. Please support them! read more

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First time coming to Sushi Kaji before the pandemic for Valentine's Day special and it was amazing. Good experience, really good food overall. One of the biggest highlights was the unago. That's a must if it's on the menu. I came for a second time shortly after the lockdown for take out and I've gotta say it's worth every penny. Brought me back to japan but in my own dining room. It's not quite on the same caliber as Yasu but it's definitely a close second in my option. Can't wait to go back to dining in restaurants once this is all over!!!!! read more

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Sushi Kaji was my very first omakase experience many years back, and I left feeling the same way as the first time... Happy and full! I like how this style of omakase incorporates more cooked foods than others. The main difference between the price points is the main courses (fish, scallops or wagyu sukiyaki etc.) but the other courses are the same. I would personally recommend the scallops over the pricer wagyu option The courses were all amazing! Each course was perfectly cooked and seasoned to enhance its natural flavour. The fish chosen for the sashimi and sushi courses were so fresh, and buttery and paired perfect with the freshly ground wasabi. read more

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OK I heard so many good things about Kaji's omakase sets... so we came here and had the shun ($180 per person set) it has some hot dishes (pasta, soup) waygu beef slices you dip in egg) and sushi... And we didn't feel satisfied after the meal or that it was anything amazing. It was really nothing special. Even tho we sat at the bar, we felt no interaction with the chefs, they just handed us our food. The waitress/waiter describes the food to us and we can not understand them... are they speaking English? Didn't find anything spectacular about this place, and money is not even the problem, we don't mind paying for good food. But it was really just "meh" read more

Sushi Kaji Restaurant - Sushi Bars Near Me - Etobicoke, Ontario

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I've been wanted to try an omakase restaurant for a while. A friend wanted to come here for her birthday so this was the perfect opportunity. There is free street parking behind the restaurant so park there instead of the green p parking spots located outside the restaurant. I believe after 6pm parking is free for those spots as well. Reservations are recommended at this restaurant. They only take phone reservations Wednesdays to Sunday from 3:30pm-6pm. We opted for the 9pm seating to accommodate my friends work schedule. It wasn't too busy, but there was still a decent amount of customers in the restaurant. We requested the bar seating space so we can see Chef Kaji do his magic. The service was very attentive and they explained each dish specifically. They even overheard my friend having a kiwi and eggplant allergy and made an effort to let us know that some of their dishes had these ingredients. We opted for the $160 meal WAZA meal. The dishes included: - snow crab and broccoli salad - Cold Burdock and Pork Vichyssoise - Sautéed Ayu with eggplant salsa - Assorted Sashimi (8 pcs) - Sautéed Lobster with shiso corn sauce - Kaji Omakase Sushi (10pcs) - Dessert (Pear Sorbet) I enjoyed all the dishes, specifically the cold burdock and pork vichyssoise. This was a cream based soup that was a mix of french and japanese influences. The flavours just went together really well and you can taste the quality in the ingredients that was used to make this simple soup. The lobster tail was cooked perfectly as well, which brought out the freshness of the lobster, while not overcooking this delicate dish. The sashimi and sushi was delicious. the quality was something I hadn't had before and was comparable to sushi I had in Japan. The chef saw that I was left handed so he ensured he placed the sushi in the right order to meet my needs. That's great service! If you are looking for a more traditional omakase experience, Kaji probably wouldn't a place for you. If you are looking for more of a fusion type of restaurant, Kaji would be a good place to go. I find that Kaji blends a lot of western flavours in its dishes while still keeping it traditional with the sushi and sashimi. But I genuinely enjoyed my meal here and felt it was worth every penny. read more

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It's been over 5 years since I've been to Kaji. I remembered my last meal there to be really good. We decided to have sukiyaki on a cold autumn night so we went all out and had the Shun omakase $180 / person. I won't be returning after this meal. Yeah it's not worth it but honestly, it's just not memorable. The service was polite but for the price, it's not worth it. "This is fluke, use soy sauce. This one no soy" with your $180 price tag. We sat at a table, they were just pushing out our orders wh were as other places or perhaps if you sit at the bar, I'm used to the chef asking you if you need a break before the next dish. We had at least 3 dishes on the table at one point. The place wasn't 80% full and they forgot our beer. We asked about it after they served the first dish, Mackerel. Chawanmushi was the highlight. Truffle flavour with crab. This pork dish with balsamic was so blah it doesn't belong on the menu. I regret eating that. Sukiyaki was flavourful but could have been better with veg or something else. Beef quality was good. Sushi - I rather go to Japango. I honestly think I get better takeout service there and I prefer the sushi there. I've never had sushi that served eel then scallop sushi at the end. tamago perhaps, but not scallop. Never had omakase that served crappy octopus as sashimi and again as sushi. How about changing it to nice squid instead? who repeats the same fish in sashimi and the sushi in omakase? exhibit number 2- Ocean Trout. Omakase at this price and no uni was also a disappointment. I'm glad the creme brûlée was good to end my meal. They just gave us the bill when we were resting after dessert. It wasn't the polite service where the staff leaves the bill on the table and say "your bill is here there is no rush." He just left it on the table. To think I almost came for my birthday, so glad I didn't do that. It would have ruined it. read more

High quality and delicious omakase!! We went here to celebrate my husbands birthday, it was his first omakase and he loved it! Everything was of high quality and simply delicious. While most omakase is completely up to the chef's choice, they let us pick an option between certain dishes are certain point. The main Sushi Chef was super cute and super friendly. Service was great as well. HIghly recommend this place for omakase for a date night or celebration. Keep in mind, they are fairly small so not best for large gatherings. read more

Sushi Kaji Restaurant - a bowl of ice cream and berries - Sushi Bars Near Me - Etobicoke, Ontario

The quality of this place has been kept up over the years. It is on the pricy side but the menu offers more food than other omakase places. You will definitely be full from all the different sushi at the end. The fish is always fresh.. especially the sea urchin, scallop, and ebi which are my favourite.. this makes the meal for me. They have 3 different pricing based on the main course/ you choose. The wagyu beef is reaaallly tender. The desserts are average. They have been the same for the past 2 times I went. I hope they come up with something innovative and more seasonal. They used to serve hojicha with the dessert but they didn't on a recent visit. That was disappointing because the hojicha was sooo good. The service is friendly and the bar options are not too expensive. read more

Sushi Kaji Restaurant - Sushi Bars Near Me - Etobicoke, Ontario

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I have eaten at Kaji on numerous occasions over the years, with different friends and groups, we always had great experience with the quality of the food and always left fully satisfied. It has been at least 4-5 years since our last visit, throughout the pandemic, we've been wondering how they are fairing. Very glad to have an occasion to visit them again this week, the experience was just as good, if not better, as I remember. We were at the sushi bar which is great to see all the meticulous preparations up close. All the appetizers were delicious and of course, the highlight was the sushi course. Every piece was fresh and perfectly matched with just the right sauce, be it yuzu or pickled or radish, all perfectly compliment the flavor of the fish. And there were so many pieces that kept flowing and my partner and I were both totally happily full and satisfied. Besides excellent sushi and hot courses, their attention to detail and customer service is what sets them apart. They took note of whether a customer is left or right handed and serve each sushi piece in the orientation that is specific to the individual. This is truly customer experience focused! read more

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Solid but it's reputation is overblown. This is a good Kaiseki restaurant but it's reputation as the best is a bit overblown. Very generous in volume however as you will definitely be full. However service wasn't all that special compared to other kaisekis that I have been to and not even remotely close to the quality of those in Japan. read more

Great food and service. My only complaint is it was a bit too much food - I couldn't eat another bite so you will definitely leave full. Very calming and relaxing environment. read more

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I've been hesitating to write a review for this restaurant. I have mixed feelings about it. Yes the fish is fresh like everyone said. But at this price range, you expect it to be. Yes everything was nicely presented but honestly, I can't remembered what they tasted like or looked like. Yes I enjoyed the way the menu was presented. Tasting menus are fun because they separate the dishes and put them on little plates so you eat them one by one as opposed to having everything on one big plate. This way, you eat in the order that the chef has specifically prepared. However, nothing WOWed me. The price tag was hefty at $130 pp and it just left me wanting a little more from the experience. STILL, if you are an avid sushi / sashimi lover, then this is still a must try restaurant. However, if you are happy with your AYCE places, then this place won't really wow you. read more

This is now my new favourite sushi restaurant! I could tell the moment I walked in that this would be a treat for my tastebuds. Tucked on an unassuming small street in the west end of Toronto, Sushi Kaji delivers the utmost spectacular dining experience. The service is friendly, welcoming, and humble; each dish is described so intricately as it is brought out, almost like you are the only customers of the restaurant. All the dishes are simply delightful--small portions help to pace the meal just perfectly, so that at the end you are just stuffed enough to be satisfied as you end with dessert. Though the set menus are on the pricier side, I'd say the food and fresh ingredients are well worth it. The udon noodles are amazing, and all the sushi/sashimi plates are definitely the best I've had in Toronto. Each piece seems to be crafted so carefully, with the right combination of ingredients that distinguishes it from your typical sushi. I highly recommend this place to any sushi lovers! read more

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My review is outdated because I went twice.... back in late 2019. I loved it and think about this place way too much. Probably first stop I'll go when things open up again. Intimate setting, great food, and nice fine dining experience. Can't wait to go back read more

Sushi Kaji Restaurant - Bar area - Sushi Bars Near Me - Etobicoke, Ontario

Good quality sushi & Good experience. I was seated by the bar which gave me the experience of watching all the chefs prep the food. Overall, I would highly recommend this omakase experience. It's a bit on the pricey side compared to most of the omakase's in Toronto but I would give this place a chance because of the quality of the food. I got the wagyu beef menu which was $180 (SHUN). The other option was $130 (TAKUMI) without the Wagyu. The wagyu beef wasn't worth it for another $50, which was served with very buttery sauce, mushrooms, and a side of soft pouch egg sauce. It wasn't good at all so I wouldn't recommend it. The only thing that I would have to say is that the chefs aren't as interactive. So if you're looking for the private experience with the chefs, this wouldn't be a place. All the chefs have different roles in the bar/kitchen. Chef Kaji was the one in charge of the sashimi and sushi. Btw, after leaving this place I was extremely bloated! Be prepared to eat lots of food. :) read more

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Never though we would order take out from Kaji as eating in the restaurant watching the chefs prepare each course, each piece of sushi is part of the experience! But now that all restaurants in the city can only do delivery or takeout, we thought we'd give it a try. Kaji totally blew our expectations away! Every single morsel was beyond delicious. Please support them and order take out to bring home and enjoy! read more

Sushi Kaji Restaurant - Appetizer set - Sushi Bars Near Me - Etobicoke, Ontario

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Sushi Kaji is a world class restaurant. I have eaten at many Michelin starred Japanese Restaurants (Soto, Sushi of Gari and Brushstroke to name a few). If Michelin stars were given out in Toronto, Sushi Kaji would likely get one. Sushi Kaji is not a traditional Japanese restaurant. The omakase (chef tasting menu) is mixed with a fusion flare. Some of the courses were so good that it transcends one's very notion of taste. The omakase was priced at $130 and came with the following courses: (1) Two appetizers (2) Duck and Foie Gras (3) Lobster Tail and Mushrooms (4) Assorted Sashimi (5) Assorted Sushi (6) Dessert All of the courses were exquisite. However, my favourite courses were the sashimi and sushi. For the sushi course, if you seat at the sushi bar, Chef Kaji would make the sushi in front of you and you would eat each piece one by one as he prepares it fresh. It is like watching a theatrical production - the culinary artistry that goes into the preparation of each piece of sushi. Chef Kaji has been compared to Chef Jiro a few times for good reason. His dishes were innovative and creative. The warm appetizers, duck and lobster were very good. While Sushi Kaji is located in a strip mall in Etobicoke, the interior is modern. The sushi bar is sleek and clean. The service is not bad, but I did find that my tea and water was not being filled up. I had to ask. For the price I was paying, I should not have to ask. I found that the service could have been slightly more attentive. Overall, I had a great experience at Sushi Kaji. I would highly recommend Sushi Kaji to sushi lovers. read more

Good: 1. A5 Wagyu steak - $80 addon for 2.5oz. Came with 3 different condiments, great with just sea salt. Taste and texture as you would expect. 2. Uni - I don't like uni normally but this is one of the best pieces from Hokkaido. Super creamy. 3. Tuna - All servings of toro, otoro were amazing and melty. 4. Black cod - I highly recommend getting the $130 to get this instead of the Wagyu sukiyaki. I feel Wagyu should be eaten in steak form and not in thin slices in broth. 5. Pear panacotta with yuzu sorbet was amazing! Bad: 1. Nigiri all either had too much wasabi or the wasabi was too strong and overpowered all the delicate fish flavour. Sauces/additions to the nigiri was often too heavy handed and drowned out the fish flavour. Neutral: 1. Pacing of the meal was a bit odd. Did the 6pm seating and didn't get amuse bouche until 6:30. First few courses came out rather slowly. Once the sushi course came, the pieces were made and placed on my plate faster than I could savour. Worth it?: Flavours and courses were good but not enough to overcome the unfortunate sushi course. There wasn't that wow factor anywhere. Overall I'd say not quite worth the price of admission. read more

Our group of four visited Kaji post-lockdown for their $160 dine-in omakase. Given the restaurant's strong reputation and reviews, and our adoration for many other high end omakase restaurants in Toronto, we had high expectations going into dinner. But unfortunately, despite some highlights, we were disappointed with our overall experience. I'll start with the positives. The cooked dishes (e.g. black cod, tempura and soba, eggplant with dashi broth, etc) were absolutely delicious. The uni was fresh and melts in your mouth. The dessert roasted green tea cake and pudding for dessert was a delicious way to finish the meal. The quality of the fish was OK (but not as as good as what we've had at other omakases). But what really ruined the experience for us was the sushi: - Sushi rice was cold, bland, and lacked texture. The chef would prepare our sushi a few courses in advance and had them sit in the corner of the kitchen for 15 minutes before being served to us, as opposed to preparing the sushi just before it was to be served. - Like someone else mentioned below, the chef was too heavy handed with the wasabi (it completely overwhelmed our palates and the back of our noses) and none of us could enjoy the taste of the fish - Lack of variety..we had some of the same types of fish in our sushi as we had for their sashimi - Ratio of rice to fish was too high - Fish was not deboned properly (found a bone in one of the sashimi pieces) Some of the points above might have been passable for an average sushi restaurant, but it was extremely disappointing to see this from a restaurant of this caliber and for what we were paying. Overall, the cooked food was great, but the sushi was mediocre. I won't be recommending this to anyone looking for a mostly sushi omakase experience (Yasu is still our top pick in Toronto). read more

Nondescript commercial retail unit in Etobicoke on the outside is actually a portal to Japan, who knew. Most reviewers covered off what Kaji is, so I'll save my overview to the foregoing. What differentiates this omakase is the sheer volume of food and courses that are produced by this minimalist kitchen and sushi counter - come hungry. I'd recommend skipping lunch if you're too busy and end up contemplating a meal later than 2pm. Counter seating is a must, I can't imagine our experience would have been the same at a table. Everything was executed perfectly, I disagree with the rice comments below. Was room temperature (maybe even a little warm), and seasoned appropriately. We personally had a large variety of fish. Hot prepared apps were very creative and the flavours combined into a sum greater than the parts. At this price, a 5-star needs to leave me on the floor in absolute reverence, which this didn't quite do; however, it's definitely worth checking out on an omakase tour of Toronto and we'll definitely be back at some point. Arigato, Kaji Son. read more

Recently I gave my brother my car and I purchased another one. To thank me he said he had wanted to take my wife and I out for a nice dinner. It just so happened I came across Sushi Kaji in BlogTO's top 10 splurge sushi places and it was ranked number one! I had warned my brother that this place isn't cheap and from what I read a lot of their menu is brought here from Japan. You see, I'm not really used to high end dining at least the kind that would warrant $$$$ by Yelp standards. We are mostly used to your typical AYCE place. A la carte for me is a treat. An Omakase place for me would be a whole different level. He like myself, was intrigued and seemed interested. My brother made reservations for opening (6pm) about a week before for a Sunday evening. This restaurant is only open 6pm-9pm. This was my first Omakase experience and for those that don't know what that means the menu is "chef's choice". Basically there's no menu really with the exception of 2 prix fixe options that vary slightly. The two options available on this particular service were "Takumi" which featured simmered eggplant stuffed with chicken and grilled yellow tail with daikon radish sauce and the "Waza" which instead had sauteed foie gras and daikon radish with chicken miso sauce. Both options included appetizers, sashimi, sushi, noodles and dessert. The Takumi was 150 dollars and the Waza was 130 dollars. We had all decided to go with the Takumi and I had told my brother I'd pay for the drinks. Green tea was served complimentary and on top of that I had ordered a medium sized cold sake (Okunomatsu Tokubetsu Junmai - yes I had to take a photo to remember), a warm sake (Okunomatsu Kinmon-Gold Crest) and a Sapporo beer. I sort of have a thing that if I'm getting sake I have to also have a beer as well. The cold sake was served in a carved bamboo crafted decanter and the cups were also bamboo. The bamboo decanter was placed in a square wooden "ice bucket". Cool, literally... Each plate that was brought to us was explained in detail such as ingredients and origin and for the sushi it was told whether soy sauce would be necessary or not. The presentation and service was very professional and attentive. With each plate brought I knew that I wouldn't be able to remember what everything was and where everything came from but I took photos just to remember the experience. The first plate that was brought to us had 2 items on it. One was chicken and the other was a croquet in an oyster shell. This was followed by shrimp, octopus, seaweed salad and then the sashimi. The sashimi was all from Japan and the wasabi had a ground texture to it. It wasn't as much of a kick than I'm use to however it was definitely different. Next came the chicken and eggplant dish. It was very tender to the point it basically almost fell apart. The following plate was eel followed by soup and soba noodles. After those dishes came the sushi. All the sushi with the exception of the first dish which was uni (urchin) were served 3 servings to a plate (one for each of us). As I mentioned the sushi began with uni and I can say that I've not ever had it before. It was something I always see Anthony Bourdain enjoying on his shows (besides roasted pork) where he was in pure delight. It was a very different taste than anything I can remember having but very soft on the palate with a unique flavor and texture. Following the urchin we had 9 more servings of nigiri sushi which included squid, tuna, mackerel, and one last plate of otoro maki two pieces for each of us. At this point each of us were pretty full and I have to think that considering the servings are tasting size still it was a lot of food. The desserts that were brought to us were all different but we all shared them. One was some sort of lemon cup, ice cream with berries and the third was a creme brulee. All in all we had a total of 19 plates served as well as 3 different desserts that we shared. The timing for each plate basically it was spaced out in such a way that we were able to enjoy each dish before we were brought the next. The place is quite lively and the service was excellent. I suppose what may be a bit unusual is the location of this place. It's something one may expect to see downtown but regardless of where this place is it doesn't change the fact that it is what it is which is in my opinion a high end restaurant in a place you wouldn't necessarily expect to see one. While I may give credit to BlogTO for influencing me to come here and try the place I have to say that while I don't have any previous Omakase experiences to compare it to I don't really need to. Regardless of the price the food and service here is pretty special as far as my dining experiences go and it will be remembered as such. I can see Sushi Kaji being a special occasion place for future visits. read more

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I wanted to try this place for a long time and so glad I did. This is officially my favourite sushi restaurant in the city. Given the high price point, it will not be my "go to" sushi spot but a nice treat a couple times a year. Two tasting menus - $150 with Wagyu beef and $120 ex. the beef. No a la carte menu at all. We tried both. Service is 5-star all the way. They really take the time to explain every dish which is key when your ordering Omakasi. Tea refilled instantly, amazing greeting when you arrive and a cool owner / chef with great personality. Great pacing for the Omakasi - didn't wait more than a few minutes between courses. They serve according to each customers eating speed. I recommend you sit at the bar so you can watch everything being made in front of you. Check out the owner making the sushi, it's almost like a hand dance! There are about 6-7 tables. The restaurant is spotless and clean. Our menu consisted of the following:: - Appetizers were really creative and unique. The deep fried Japanese eggplant and shrimp cake was delicious. Amazing bamboo shoots with various roe. Duck with Japanese melon combo was my favourite. - Sashimi was easily the best I had to date. Lot's of unique fish brought in from Japan daily. It's so fresh that it melts in your mouth. I don't liked cooked lobster but the lobster sashimi was perfect. - The Wagyu was incredible. So tasty and sweet. It was served with homemade udon in a broth heated at your table. Well worth the extra $30. You get lobster tempura instead if you order the $120 menu. - Sushi also was spectacular. I loved the abalone sushi. The eel was also unique - very long pieces of eel, you could make three pieces of sushi out of it. Toro was also very good. You get about 5-6 pieces of sushi which changes daily. - Next up was the cold soba noodles, perfect to cleanse the palate. - Last dish was various sashimi / egg roe combos and sea urchin. Once again, incredibly creative and delicious. - Ended the meal with green tea creme brûlée. Highly recommended, well worth the $150 / person price tag for a special occasion. Perfect service, amazing food and great atmosphere - the rare trifecta! BK read more

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Yes, it is expensive. Yes, it's in the middle of nowhere in South Etobicoke. Yes, every other sushi experience you will have in Toronto will leave you feeling sad that it wasn't as good as Kaji.....but you must go. At least once. Make it a special occasion....bday...anniversary something like that. I went with my best friend for her birthday. I made reservations for a table, not realizing that the sushi bar is the place to be, so make sure you don't make the same mistake. It's a whole other experience watching the chefs work. We ordered 1 Takumi menu and 1 Wagyu menu and shared. Wow - the meal was spectacular. The presentation of each dish was beautiful. It looked like art and the flavours were incredible. My only disappointment was the decor. I was surprised to see that it looked like pretty much every other sushi joint I've been to. I was sort of expecting it to be very posh and pretty inside, but it was just average. Whatever - it was still amazing. Go...go now actually. read more

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THIS. PLACE. GOT. RENOVATED! With the new renos, the bar area has been significantly enlarged and now seats approximately 12 people (versus 6 from before)!!! This has really transformed the space into an open kitchen concept and gives you better vantage points to watch chef Kaji live. The overall capacity likely remains the same. They've also replaced the boring dry wall with black stones and large inlaid murals of Japanese calligraphy. Gone is the ghetto-chic look of yore, but if you look carefully, their kitschy mustard colour table covers remain. My only knock on Kaji was always the drab interior, but with these new renos, can I give it 6 stars yet?! And yes, the food, as always was supreme - taste, texture, presentation and creativity. My well-traveled-and-dined cousins from abroad were mightily impressed and my dining partner - who's quite sensitive to that "fishy" smell - scarfed everything down. I can't wait to go back once my piggy bank's full again! read more

Long overdue review of the infamous sushi kaji. My fiancé and I went to celebrate our anniversary in December. It was super easy for him to book a reservation. He just called them. They ask on the phone if he was booking for a special occasion. *Tip* sit at the bar! Definitely the place to see all the action. We ordered two $120 tasting menus and added a wagyu hot pot. We got dishes right away. I can't even name all the dishes we tried, but if you look at my pictures, you will see! The sushi was so fresh and the hot dishes were so nicely plated, and tasted delicious. They spaced out the items nicely. The tea kept coming and was never empty. The wagyu beef was amazing! It put us over the top, but it was so tender and melted in your mouth! One of the Chef's made us a fresh veggie flower arrangement! It was so cool watching him crave the veggies into flowers and little did we know, they were for us! They even wrapped it up for us to take home! So awesome! This place is great for special occasions. The bill is hefty, about $350, but it was totally worth it! A sushi experience worth trying! read more

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My fiancé surprised me with a dinner reservation at Kaji last week. I knew to expect great food but this surpassed my expectations and gave me nostalgic feelings of the time when I was in Japan! We ordered the Omakase (Takumi $130) which includes Appetizer, Sashimi, Seasonal Dishies, Kaji selection of Sushi, Soup or Noodle, Dessert. We were seated immediately at the bar. I would definitely recommend sitting at the bar to see all the food preparation if you're into that. The chefs keep their work station extremely clean at all times which is important to me. We were seated closest to the kitchen, yet you barely ever heard a lot of noise coming from the back. The chef in front of us was skillfully cutting a few floral bouquets out of carrots and daikon and given to me as a gift! Service was exemplary! Each time our servers placed a dish in front of us, they would describe what it was, where the fish came from, and how to enjoy it. They came to refill my green tea almost every 15 minutes. The timing of the dishes were executed well and gave us enough time to savour each dish. Items we had were: ------------------------------------------------------------- Sweet shrimp sashimi Seaweed salad with sesame dressing Sashimi (ocean trout, seabream, octopus, amberjack, and mackerel) Seabream with shimeji mushrooms wrapped in cellophane Cold thin noodle with bonito broth Eel wrapped in banana leaf with house california roll Sushi (calamari, octopus with house dressing, sea urchin, king crab, torched tuna belly, scallop, shrimp, salmon roe, mackerel, tuna, ocean trout, and a few others I forgot the name of unfortunately) Crispy Fried Spanish Mackerel Vanilla ice cream with red bean, fruit, and jello Panna cotta with lime granita The chef team was very professional and friendly. You can tell they loved what they do! This was my first Omakase experience and it definitely set the bar. Thanks for a great dinner experience Chef Kaji and team! read more

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