We came here on a date night. This is a small Japanese tapas (izakaya) restaurant located in ossington. The servers here are friendly and attentive. The menu is not too large, so if you're with the group you can probably try every item. They also have a good variety of beer and other drinks available. We got the pork belly yakiton skewer, Chicken karage, sashimi in the 6ix, and more. My favourite was the pork belly. read more

The Shozan Room - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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This is a cute little spot located at Lower Ossington and specializes in Japanese tapas (Otsumami). I decided to drop by for lunch as I was in the area, and was probably their first customer from opening. The atmosphere feels authentic, with some quirky décor like mannequins in kimonos, and is quiet at this time. The two individuals working, whom I assume were the owners of the restaurant, were very polite, and provided good service. Their lunch menu is a lot smaller than their dinner menu though, and because a lot of the tapas available at lunch time didn't appeal to my friend, we both just ended up ordering one of their Lunch Sets. The salad was fresh, and the chicken skewers and tempura were good. The nigiri sushi wasn't bad, but not the greatest. My opinion may be skewed by a recent trip to Japan though where I had really fresh sushi though... read more

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Cute little Japanese Izakaya in Ossington. They have outdoor dining along the room and a few tables inside. Very cute decor and some interesting statues inside that catch your attention. Didn't do a full meal but just mainly went to grab drinks and an order for the Tebasaki wings. The cocktails were well made with unique combinations (My Own Private Tokyo had a strong matcha flavour which was really good). The service overall was great. We got seated promptly and the waitresses were very attentive and would refill water constantly. Will come back to try the rest of the menu and try more of their cocktails. read more

The Shozan Room - Tebasaki Wings - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Cute little japanese spot on ossington. Theres not a lot of seating but it is very intimate and I feel quite fitting for a date. The menu is not extensive but it's quality not quantity here. The owner seems to be a petite Japanese woman and she does ask for vaccine passports upon entry. We ordered the Shozan sushi and the crispy shrimp and corn skewer (which I haven't seen before at other Japanese places). The sushi tasted great and she went over each piece to let us know what it was. The crispy shrimp and corn skewers were delicious. if you like the chinese fried crab claw balls- try these!! read more

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I LOVE the Katsu Sando from the Shozan Room! I'm ashamed to say that I love it so much I have yet to try anything else from here. However judging by how delightfully crafted the Katsu Sando is, I have no doubt everything else on the menu must be fantastic as well. That being said, I'll tell you why I love the Katsu Sando--just everything about it is great. The fried pork (katsu) is crispy and juicy, there is a slight hint of wasabi/mustard that is not overpowering but gives the sandwich a nice kick. The lettuce really lightens up the whole sandwich, so that despite the Katsu being fried, it's not greasy. The fries in the side is just and added bonus, nice and crispy but also moist and fluffy in the inside. I can't wait to go back and try more menu items! read more

The Shozan Room - Katsu Sando - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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This review is for the 2020 Winterlicious special, but there is some overlap with the original Shozan menu! The Shozan Room is a very quaint and intimate place - at night, the restaurant is lit by fairy lights and lanterns, and there's a cozy and ethereal ambiance. My boyfriend and I ordered practically the same things, but I made a negligent mistake when choosing my main and got the wrong and less yummy order... Grilled & Aburi Oyster, Scallop & Uni on the Half Shell with Umeboshi Miso Butter We both got the same appetizer - initially, he wanted the Curry Three-Way, but after seeing the table next to us all order the same app, he changed his mind. The appetizer was good, quite interesting. At first taste, the sour tinge to the miso butter was quite jarring. However, after a coupe bites, I got used to it. In fact, I enjoyed eating the kelp at the very end; the dish was quite heavy, and the tangy-ness really helped alleviate the richness. We both didn't enjoy the oyster... it didn't taste fresh at all. Fortunately, the scallop was quite the opposite - it had a pleasant bite. I couldn't really taste the uni; compared to raw ones, the cooked uni has a significantly more subtle flavour. Japanese-style Seafood Hot Pot While the description says an umami rich broth, the broth is actually a spicy one made using gochujang. I found this main to be quite lacking... I would've preferred a cleaner, warmer taste like that of miso. That said, the black cod was utterly delicious! So buttery and smooth. There were pieces of mushrooms (shiitake and shimeji), tofu, and some other shellfish (clams, oysters, one massive langoustine). However, I was quite disappointed with the option. New Wave Sushi & Sashimi Tasting My boyfriend ordered this as his main, and was kind enough to split it evenly with me because my choice was not ideal. The first thing I noticed was that the portion size was quite small. There were only 5 pieces of sushi and 6 pieces of sashimi. The smoked yellowtail sashimi was my favourite; it had a rich smokey flavour but was still quite clean. Second favourite was the cured scallop sashimi. Despite being cured, it still tasted quite plump and fresh. The smoked tuna sashimi was my least favourite - it had a very strong and overwhelming smokey taste. The sushi was okay... the ikura (salmon roe) was quite fishy, while the beet-cured salmon was fairly fragrant and interesting. I find the tempura shrimp to be quite comparable to the green dragon roll offered by other places. Black Sesame Tofu Cheesecake Our waitress strongly advised against the sake kasu ice cream, which was my second choice for dessert. She claimed that it left a nasty aftertaste in her mouth for almost a full three days. After that sort of description, any rational person would change their mind! We both got the black sesame tofu cheesecake, a dairy-free cheesecake made with tofu. I found it quite comforting and creamy, and had a great nutty flavour. The base was likely made with ground sesame seeds, as it was particularly strong and crunchy. My favourite part was the black sesame smear on the plate - you could taste each distinct seed, which imparted a rich pop of flavour with each bite. We also ordered two cocktails - my lychee martini was nice and light, and very fruity and sweet! The plum wine cocktail was also good, but definitively less sweet. Overall, the Shozan Room is a groovy and hip place that serves very interesting Japanese fusion food. However, I find it to be fairly overpriced, even for the -Licious offerings! Nonetheless, I'd be open to coming again for some drinks and light bites. read more

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MmmmMmmM We came here for Winterlicious 2020 and I would strongly recommend it. The downstairs part of the restaurant is quite small, but absolutely charming with its warm lighting, Japanese decor, and cozy atmosphere. We were seated near the back at a hightop table. From the prix fixe menu, I ordered: I) Grilled & Aburi Oyster, Scallop, & Uni on the Half Shell with Umeboshi Miso Butter - I'm not usually an oyster fan, but this dish was cooked well with an interesting combination of flavours II) New Wave Sushi & Sashimi Tasting - Loved the smokiness of the white tuna sashimi III) Sake Kasu Ice Cream - Such a unique dessert flavour - loved the touch of matcha My date ordered: I) Curry three-ways - Definitely the better of the two appetizers, but I'm a sucker for udon II) Sake Braised Beef Short Rib with Kabocha-Miso Purée + Brie-Filled Kabocha Rice Croquette - SO tender. The meat practically fell off the bone. III) Black Sesame Tofu Cheesecake, Sesame Seed Tuile, and Berry Sauce - The different textures of the cheesecake really made this dish stand out. The black sesame flavour was lovely. Presentation will not disappoint. As you can see in the photos, everything was plated beautifully, which illustrates the attention to detail. This characteristic was also present in the service. We were seated right next to the cash, and I loved the chill dynamic between all the employees. In between each course, our orders were carefully explained. At $33/person, I thought this experience was very much worth its value. Though this place is a bit out of the way from downtown core, I would suggest making the trip to try it out. read more

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I came here for Winterlicious 2020 and this is my super-late review just about their Winterlicious dinmenu. It was my first time coming to the SHOZAN room and I had no idea what to expect. However by the end of the meal, I was very blown away by the food and the whole experience. To start off, I ordered the grilled Oysters, scallop, and uni. I'm normally not a seafood fan but the ingredients in this appetizer sounded delicious. I was so happy with my choice because that was very very delicious! The ingredients tasted fresh and everything went well. For my main, I had the Sake braised beef short rib. The portion was huge! The meat was extremely tender and flavourful. I also especially liked the kabocha rice croquette. I felt myself being super satisfied by the end of this. Even though I was very full by the end of the main dish, I still had room for desserts. I got the black sesame tofu cheesecake. The plating was pretty and the cheesecake itself was delicious. You can't really go wrong with desserts :) The fruits didn't taste sour at all when eaten together with the cake. Overall I really enjoyed this Winterlicious experience. The waiters were also very friendly. The atmosphere and decor seemed cozy and perfect for a date. I would definitely come back even when they are not doing winterlicious! read more

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This place was a blast. Very extensive sake list. All dishes were delicious and at 8pm on a Saturday it was packed, for good reason. Take some friends and order all the things, as you should! Great beer and cocktails as well. I gotta get back here asap! read more

Absolutely amazing experience! I almost tried every single dishes from there, everything was absolutely AMAZING!! As appetizers, I had tuna tartare with nori taco and grilled shrimp with herb miso. Definitely creative dishes. I love their creativity and imagination. Tuna tartare with nori tacos: Nori tocos was absolutely fabulous. It went very well with tuna tartare. Tuna tartare with avocado was perfectly balanced. Beautiful dish! Grilled shrimp with miso herb: Miso herb was a phenomenal combination. Shrimps were grilled with finesse and the flavour was so creative. Sake braised short rib: The word cannot explain how good it was. The kabocha puree was so good. The kabocha croquette was beautifully done. All components perfectly made sense for each other. I will definitely come back! Amazing amazing amazing! read more

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DUG IN! I'm at a loss in terms of where exactly to start. Having had a meal at The Shozan Room and getting the opportunity to really appreciate the space itself, I feel it's important to revisit just how beautiful The Shozan Room is. Apparently the interior was done in collaboration with the architecture firm Quintessential, which did a brilliant job paying homage to traditional Japanese aesthetics while imbuing the space with a modern twist. The modern elements are subtle though, so that rather than give you the sense that an older Japan has been brought to today, you feel that parts of today have been brought to an older Japan. Not unlike the food, actually. I skipped the appetizers and went straight for the main, which is a decision I stand by despite now wanting to run back and order literally everything off of the menu. I was eating alone and the Sashimi No. 7 left me the perfect type of full. Chef Kohei Matsuyama has outdone himself here. The Sashimi No. 7 comes with 7 entirely unique dishes, all featuring different fish. Some you'll have had before, others not, but I can guarantee regardless of whether or not you've had the fish you have absolutely never had it prepared the way Chef Matsuyama's imagines it. In fact, calling it sashimi is a testament to Chef Matsuyama's humility. What you're really getting is the work of a master who's not afraid to explore new ideas and flavours. Each combination is grounded in a profound understanding of the constituent ingredients, so that while every bite will surprise you, no bite will leave you disagreeing. That feeling of being pleasantly surprised by a new taste is the primary reason I go out to eat. To have had that exact experience 7 times from the same dish is a rarity, and I'm very grateful for it. I won't go into detail as far as how each of the 7 fish tasted, but I will point out my favourites: the Smoked Hamachi, the Kombu-cured Hirame, and the Cured Botan Ebi. Those stood out to me, but honestly there wasn't a single one that I didn't enjoy. Also, don't make the mistake of thinking there are 7 pieces - some of the fish come with 3 pieces, and all of them come with at least 2. Not sure how long they'll be serving this (their soft launch ends next week, at which point they'll be offering a set menu), so I highly recommend you take advantage! read more

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The sashimi no. 7 is a must try for anyone who says they love seafood. The curing and smoking brings out unique textures and enhanced flavors to the sashimi, the result is a truly unique and luxurious experience. I thought the large plate is good to share between two people along with a few of the small plates. If I do come again, I would get the prix fixe menu which includes samples of a variety of dishes. The ground floor of the restaurant has a romantic and intimate feel, while group seating is available on the second floor. The staff is extremely attentive. Be ready to splurge a little on the food. Skip on the cocktails, and opt for sake for drinks enthusiasts out there. read more

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I liked the atmosphere, but not the offerings. Tiny little nook at Ossington. Maybe because I came here for food instead of drinks, but the food menu was TINY. It was also expensive for the portion you get for a taste of nothing special. Friend suggested it's a good place for drinks though, just don't come here for bites! read more

Came here for Winterlicious 2020 and this has been the best Winterlicious/Summerlicious meal I've ever had! I've eaten uni before in Japan and I'm not the biggest fan but the way it was made here has converted me. The other huge highlight was the tofu black sesame cheesecake. So soft and silken, the tofu added all that texture but it did not change the taste at all. I licked every last crumb and morsel off that plate and I was already full before starting that dish. I will definitely be returning to try the regular menu. For all my fellow anime fans out there, there's a demon slayer drink!! Traditional Japanese food with a modern twist, this has become one of my top places to eat! Definitely recommended! read more

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**3.5** The service here was amazing! The food was good but not the best Japanese food I've had, I found the price to be a bit high for each of the rolls and apps. We ordered two rolls for $14 each approx and while it was decent it wasn't worth that price. We also ordered two apps, one Tuna Tartare and the Grilled Mackerel (cheapest item ordered and the best item as well), both were delicious. We also had their traditional Sake for 2 which cost us $24 and having had quite a bit sake I can tell you it was not worth that price. Overall we spent around $70 -75 minus tax and were still hungry. I think I would have rated this place higher if the price was lower as I felt the quality did not match the price tag. PS: It's a good place for getting together with friends for drinks and light snacks but not a dinner spot as the menu is not as extensive. read more

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Went into this restaurant for takeout, owner had a terrible attitude and also requested me and my girlfriend to be 2 metres apart despite us being a part of the same household. Owner is very rude. Takeout that we got from there was badly packaged, the miso soup spilled everywhere inside the bag. The food was also mediocore, the chicken in the bento was extremely overcooked and sushi rice is bland. read more

Contemporary technique with traditional Japanese flavours, we tried the prix fixe menu ($45) to get a little taste of everything and left extremely satisfied! The space is candlelit and cosy. The seafood was fresh and even features some hard to find ingredients in Toronto like ankimo (monkfish liver). We enjoyed the $10 sake flight with our meal. Our favourite dishes of the night were the crab croquettes, crab and lobster steamed roll, and kabocha creme caramel dessert. Would highly recommend a visit. read more

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Delicious Food, Impeccable Service, and Thoughtful Ambience. Our meal came to 110$ for 2 people, much more than I would of hoped to be but I was truly happy by the end of the night, so it was well worth. This little Joint deserves to be recognized! It's located on a busy street, filled with competition really from the inside it looks nothing more than a small cafe, but it actually has 2 FLOORS! The food is really great, quality ingredients. Everything tasted spot on and suburb. I got the tasting menu ($45) which included.. ----Appetizer: duck pastrami wraps with miso-red wine reduction + cacao nibs & Cured ankimo (monk fish liver) with pickled lotus root & plum gelatin. Duck Pastrami Was just good, Cured Monk fish liver was not fishy at all! actually very fresh and enjoyable, the pickled lotus root was nice and refreshing! I almost licked the plate lol ----Entree lobster & shrimp "cake" with creamy miso sauce grilled salmon with kabochA-miso sauce This was also delicious! the lobster shrimp cake was a condensed little medallions on the plate, the creamy miso sauce complimented it so much. The grilled salmon was out of the park good, I've never had such crispy skin before, the texture is so much fun in the mouth. ---Dessert caramelized kabocha (JPN squash) crème caramel YUM, a LARGE portion of a more dense-er version of the original creme caramel, however it does not make you feel heavy and is not overly sweet. The squash bought the caramel to life, and the crispy brown sugar topping was super fun. ----Sashimi No.7 ($45) Slightly less recommended. I wasn't blown out of the park but I definately 100% enjoyed it, it offered a lot of smoked fishes, it really speaks for the new-age fusion cuisine Shozan talks about, however it wasn't worth $45, compared to the 3 course menu. ----The Service was great! Classic Japanese style hospitality, it makes you feel welcomed as soon as you walked in. The server greats you hello, and goodbye, and always goes over the menu once more once they set your food on the table. I was pretty blown away how high-class it felt in such a small space in Toronto. You don't feel an ounce of pressure in there. Shozan has become one of my Toronto Favorites, and I am definitely interested in going back to try more of what they have to bring! read more

Beautiful presentation at this contemporary Japanese inspired izakaya. Easily worth a visit, and every one I have talked to likes this place even more than I do. And there's still quite a bit I like. The dishes are creative and beautiful presented. Haven't really seen anything like their wasabi infused tabiko or their beat cured salmon. I feel like I've had much better sushi, but for the price point this might actually be pretty solid. My only problem is that everything is way out there when I'd almost argue that it's the simple and classic that they excel at. Their fried chicken wings and shrimp heads were both excellent. I wasn't overly impressed by the nigiri, but was blown away by the look and creativity. To me high quality raw scallops would be a huge improvement over their torched scallop, but then I'm sure they'd lose style points. The ankimo bites were good too. Loved the different textures. I'd start out with their ankimo bites and chicken wings. Haven't tried their sashimi plate yet, but that might be a safe bet than their nigiri. read more

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The Shozan Room Dinner ($33) 1 Grilled & Aburi Oyster, Scallop, & Uni 2 New Wave Sushi & Sashimi Tasting 3 Black Sesame Tofu Cheesecake / Sake Kasu Ice Cream ... @theshozanroom (164 Ossington Ave.) ... In my opinion, this Japanese sushi and sashimi restaurant is so worth it for my #winterlicious adventure, given the amazing variety, amount, and delicate touch to each dish. Absolutely blew my taste buds away. The modern decor and comfy seats upstairs (fit for large groups) made the experience so good. I would love to come back here for a regular dinner/lunch read more

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Great service and we enjoyed the ambiance and cocktails but our salads came out last and the dish flavours were very mild and forgettable.

This is a dining experience, not just a meal It is worth coming once, to try something different, but its not really the kind of place where you will come regularly. The duck filets are fantastic, and I almost wished I gotten two orders. Their tempura is first rate, but I was lured to try it by the avocado yoghurt dipping, which was good, but not the culinary experience that the duck was. Shortribs were easy to eat with chopsticks as it was cooked perfectly, but I found that drab, this was the only part of the meal I thought was just meh. Sashimi #7 is the star of the dinner, their showpiece creation. There was a wonderful balance of flavours, and even cuts of fish I usually don't like, I liked because of what they had done with them. I am not partial to smoked fish, but I LOVED this, so that is fully to their credit. Customer service was impeccable I do recommend going here once, and trying some of their culinary creations, as there is no guarantee this restaurant will be around in five years. read more

I really enjoyed my stay at the Shozan Room on Saturday night. The staff were all very accommodating and enthusiastic, they helped us understand the menu very well. We decided to go with two orders of the prix fixe menu to get a taste of all their best dishes. This meant we got to try half portions of some of the chef's recommendations. The dishes found here are a variety of Japanese fare with a creative twist. I would highly recommend the soft shell crab croquette and the lobster/shrimp roll! read more

A really great New Wave Japanese Izakaya style restaurant. Lovely ambience and an excellent staff of waiters, who are super nice and accommodating. Love the shareables and the chirashi is super delicious. (Coming from a first timer) it was a little difficult understanding how to order- what was expected or what would yield the best meal, because of how the menu is organized... but other than a few small complaints, this place is absolutely lovely! That being said, the food was prepared with utmost care and creativity. I implore you to give this new restaurant a shot- with time it could really grow into one of the best Izakayas in town. read more

Stumbled upon this place while walking on Ossington. Both the exterior and interior were nice and well decorated. We went during the nightly happy hour and service was great overall. The food was okay, not amazing. The best part was when the server dropped off our calamari skewer on a PAPER plate. I was literally at a loss for words because when she dropped it off there was no disclaimer or apology as to why it would be served on a paper plate? I was just very confused lol. Not sure if they ran out of real plates but the overall experience left me with a sour taste in my mouth. read more

The Shozan Room - calamari skewer served on a paper plate lol - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Good food, but their customer service has really gone downhill. Been eating from theor restaurant (formerly konnichiwa) for 18 years, and now they wont even allow customers to takeout food, and they are slowly taking all their most popular items off their menu. Last time i ate in i had to wait forever for water refills, and it didnt feel like i was welcome there. Such a shame. read more

Loved this place. Japanese owned and run, they have an amazing happy hour deal on food and drink. I'm coming back for sure.

Waited around for 2 hours (started at 6) for the free ramen just to be told near the end that I would have to pay half. This has nothing to do with their food but if you're going to have people wait in line for hours, estimate a cut off point at the half hour mark and don't waste people's time. Ended up leaving early out of frustration. I'll go somewhere else for my ramen. read more

Excellent quality fresh fish. Sushi dinner has many better than average offerings. Great selection of sake too!

This is a first class operation, authentically Japanese with excellent food. We are working our way through the menu but have trouble moving on to the next item because we liked what we had before too much. read more