I have been going to Yasu and witnessing their price increase each time, but I still believe it's the best go-to omakase for relatively affordable option for the quality that you get. Although other options in downtown Toronto may be cheaper, the quality is not there at all and the fish does not taste fresh (Tachi, Yuzuki, or Oroshi for takeout etc.), so it feel more worth to pay a bit more for a quality experience. read more

Small restaurant however great for omakase. Make sure you reserve in advance. We booked for bar seating and it was wonderful watching the sushi chef prepare each dish. There were 20 dishes- Favorite dishes were the lean, medium and fatty toro as well as the snow crab. They also had some more daring dishes- cod sperm and monk fish liver to name a few. The entire meal was delicious however portions were a little small and we left hungry afterwards however quality and service was great. read more

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Yasu ruined sushi for me. I ate here and dreamt about it for literally three nights afterwards. All other sushi I've had afterward this omakase pales in comparison in texture, taste, and just overall quality. The rice was amazing, I think it's the best tasting rice I've ever had. I really liked that our chef explained each fish every time he served us a piece of our meal. I didn't expect to be full afterwards, but we were very full. Every piece melts in your mouth, and each fish actually tasted very different. I once read somewhere that you can tell how good a sushi chef is by their tamago. Duuude this tamago was THE BEST THING I've ever had. Seriously it was so beautiful I didn't want to eat it. I played with it for a while because it had such an amazing texture and it was so bouncy. I'm salivating just thinking about it right now, and I ate here FIVE MONTHS AGO. The servers were very attentive and recommended a really nice sake for us to enjoy with our meal. At $135 per person before tax and tip, this is definitely a meal for special occasions. We came here for a birthday and they put a candle on our dessert course. Cute gesture :) I've only had omakase a handful of times, but this has been the best BY FAR... so far! VERY highly recommended. Be sure to reserve online if you're planning to come here for a specific time/event. There is very limited seating, and I feel like they're full on most nights. However, if you wanna be spontaneous, keep up to date with their Instagram, most of their posts tend to be updates for open spots they have that night/week. read more

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YASU was my first omakase experience and after hearing great reviews and seeing all the pictures, I had high expectations for both the restaurant and omakase in general. We came in on a Sunday night at the 9:30pm slot with reservations and it was still a full house, so reservations are probably either required or highly recommended (we had reservations). I understand there is a penalty for late cancellations We sat at the bar infront of the 3 sushi chefs, which I highly recommend as you get to watch them prepare your sushi in awe. Our sushi chef appeared to be the lead / head sushi chef and was fantastic. He clearly explained each piece of sushi to us and was kind and smiled to us throughout. We ordered the omakase experience at $105 and added the sashimi special for an extra $25 - pricey. My favourites were the toro (tuna), stripe fish, shrimp, and the sashimi platter (which I think was worth the extra money). Overall, a great and I'd recommend YASU to anyone looking for a premium omakase experience in the city. read more

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At Yasu, I would compare each bite to the first kiss at the end of a date. The careful preparation by the chef is the date itself, building up to the moment. He presents the sushi carefully in front of you, and it's like you're staring into the eyes of someone you really like. You take a bite and explore the flavours and textures. And just like a first kiss, it's slow, deliberate, and sweet. Sitting at the sushi bar, Yasu's mastery of minimalism is clear. Things are black and white, polished and organized. Each piece of sushi is highlighted with just one or two extra ingredients. The chefs are clearly dedicated to their craft. You can sense their disappointment in a slight head shake if something is not up to standard. Every imperfection is carefully carved away. Preparations start promptly and piece after piece arrive at a good pace. Everything is meant to be eaten in one bite. There's monkfish liver from Bosnia, a fatty and rubbery delicacy that is cut perfectly by a sliver of shiso leaf. Then comes red shrimp from Argentina and fluke from North Carolina, that taste like the sea the moment your tongue touches it. Alaskan Salmon roe that explodes on impact, enhanced by yuzu zest. Creamy sea urchin from opposite coasts. A tuna journey from Mexico that takes you from smooth to decadent. Striped jack, Amberjack, sea eel, things that I have never heard of, let alone tasted. On and on it goes until you reach 18 pieces and you're left in a state of pure bliss. Servers are prompt, informative, and professional. Endless sake is brought out and described in great detail. The plum wine is a perfect palette cleanser in between dishes. You are encouraged to ask the chef questions though chatter is kept to a quiet minimum. It is, after all, a show. And the chef's handiwork doesn't demand, but encourages, undisturbed respect. No, this isn't a complex 'mouthgasm'. It's not a messy love affair, like tacos, or a complicated whirlwind of spices and herbs, like curry. It's a different kind of delicious, simple and beautiful. All of your senses are engaged. Take a bite. Fall in love. Repeat. (100/100) - 2016, Yes...I might've planned for Yasu to be my 100th review of the year :). Definitely worth it. read more

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Signage is not easily visible so we literally passed by it. There are three chefs and we got the quiet one which is fine as we are here for the food. Overall, while the selection is varied they are underwhelming except for 3 pcs and 5 pcs out of 18 that are mind blowing and uniquely good tasting respectively. I like the taste of the rice though it would fall apart unless I quickly eat it. I got 70% full after the courses but felt like we had to order a bit more so we each ordered gindara for $7 each before we could call it a night. To those curious, I took note of my own personal experience of each piece and what u can expect to receive in the summer time: Bonito fish (tuna) - Nothing special Monkfish liver - it's diff, don't hate it but I wouldn't say I love it either Amberjack - just like it Hokkaido Uni - no bitter taste, fresh, but less taste. Good, like it Hirame? or fluke - just ok Scallop - buttery super good and crunchy topping; thought it was squid Hamachi or yellow tail fr japan - hamachi not my fave but this one tastes really good; the slices allow the sauce to seep in the meat Nova Scotia lobster - mind blown. The grated lime makes a huge diff, light soy sauce Fish broth - taste like any other miso soup 3 types of tuna - akame, chu-toro, o-toro, last of which is my fave but Miku's o-toro remains my best experience Gindara or black cod - van island; explosively good I smiled. A bit too much of chopped radish but doesn't detract White shrimp from Toyama, japan - good Small bowl: ikura & negitoro - ikura not bitter; negitoro nothing special Mackerel Norway - tender and more refined taste; very good. Eat this whole. Norway trout - better than others I've tried Anago/ sea floor eel - cooked and taste like tilapia, less sauce than usual; prefer the regular unagi with generous sauce Sesame ice cream - 1 tbs, good and premium but nothing special I have been to Japan and also lucky enough to have a lot of exposure in BC's sushi scene and I feel this place is overhyped. For two people, we paid $370 total with (2) extra sushis and tip/taxes. We went for the unique experience but so far only 6pcs were new to me. We also went to the next door ice cream place immediately after going here and that's when we felt satisfied/full. read more

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I have been to many omakase around the world and for the price point and the food quality, yasu is one of my favorite. Chef is from Japan. I also love the sake pairing even though I am not a huge alcohol fan, very generous with the pour. I was super excited to get the 9:30 seating not very many omakase is open that late but that fit my traveling plan better and also less crowded. You can seat up to 12 people at one siting but it was just me and my guest today read more

Yasu - 17 course omakase with sake pairing - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

The omasake course was absolutely delicious and left me wanting more. Each course was beautifully presented and service staff were friendly and named each item as they were dropped off at the table along with a brief description. Taking one star off because online booking and verbal confirmation over the phone indicated we'd be placed at the bar but upon arrival, we were seated at a small round table by the window. Although it was still a pleasant experience, we felt that we didn't not get the true authentic omakase experience. read more

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I took my fiancée to Yasu for his birthday, and we both loved it! Time: Thursday at 6pm - we booked a reservation Service: - Friendly - Their knowledge of the menu amazes me - Our chef did an outstanding job, he's also funny - made some jokes throughout the night Food: UNREAL- every piece was made with so much care and precision. Each piece was really a piece of art, we loved every bite. In conclusion, I can't wait to go again! read more

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Attractive surroundings, attentive service, food very good, but I now know I'd prefer to select my own sushi, so perhaps omakase not for me. Tip of 20% is added on. They claim it's 18%, but it's on top of the tax, so comes to 20%. read more

It's my second time being here, always an amazing experience. - don't forget to choose sake pairing to get the full experience, why not? read more

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Incredibly attentive service from the owner Yasu, himself. He'll directly respond to your emails about allergies. I have a very specific one where I could eat molluscs but not crustaceans and it was so nice he could account for that. I had the pleasure of dining on the first day of reopening, which also happened to be my birthday. There were plexiglas dividers between the open kitchen and the diners. I was sat at the only dining table in the space. The omakase experience at Yasu is more of a traditional sushi experience. Of note the following dishes caught me by surprise: Blackened cod nigiri had the texture of mushrooms and a roasted aroma. Totally fascinating and enjoyable. Eel nigiri. I usually don't care for the slimy skin of eel but this had such a tender and mild flavor, it was more like eating cooked white fish Monkfish liver nigiri. I thought it would taste like fishy foie gras but it was neither. I really gotta eat that again to figure out my feelings on it. Chutoro sashimi. To me this is the goldilocks' just-right chair of tuna. Not too fatty. The otoro nigiri was overkill for there being oil melting in my mouth but my partner loved it. The huge bisected scallop sashimi was so luscious and sweet. That was also memorable. read more

Lovely omakase experience. $135 /per person Note it's a bit of a quiet place so your neighbours may hear your conversations but I highly recommend sitting at the bar. We were fed enough food not full but satisfactory. I really enjoyed the variety and rarity of the fish we tried. read more

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Wow! Yasu was my first omakase experience and let me tell you it did not disappoint. I think it's more tailored to people who are new as they don't encourage you to eat with your hands as some other places do. You have the option to add the sashimi appetizer which we regrettably did not try. Remembering each piece of fish is too difficult to remember but I will say that each and every piece was fresh and enjoyable. The unique thing about yasu is that they make an effort to serve fish that isn't as commonly served in traditional omakase restaurants so that was unique. The service was superb and it couldn't have been any better. The servers are very educated as to what is being served and they will tend to your requests promptly. They will also keep a close eye on your water to make sure it's filled to the brim. I would definitely come back and i encourage anyone who hasn't tried omakase to try it here first. read more

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This was my second time having omakase and Yasu is definitely on par with the quality you could get in Japan read more

Yasu - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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All the food was amazing! It was my first Omakase and I was not disappointed!! The food was everything I expected. It was a 20 course meal each with its own unique experience. Good decor, reservations required. The food spoke for itself but the chefs weren't very entertaining or lacked a degree of interaction that would have been appreciated. read more

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Quite excellent but shockingly expensive. The food and service is absolutely worth five stars. It's only the extreme pricing that bothers me. read more

I had a good time but I cannot for the life of me remember any standout pieces from my omakase set. I was still hungry afterwards. Niigata beer was damn tasty tho. To sum up: go, if you're a weeb in training. Otherwise - level up somewhere else. ooh side note for my fellow drivers: Parking is not fun and very limited. I suggest you take other means of transportation. If you're a shitty driver, I suggest you take other means of transportation. read more

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Lately I tried the $85 takeout sushi box - fewer pieces than a full Omakase experience but in my opinion it did a great job in capturing all the highlights and available-all-year-round pieces. Flavor and freshness are still top notch, just like all the dine-in experience I've been enjoying in all my visits. It's quite worth it. read more

Yasu - What's in the takeout box! - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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If you looking for a real sushi experience, go to Yasu. If you just want to eat salmon sashimi till you full, there are tons of ayce places you can go to on Bloor St. I am just happy that Ouchi San decided to open Yasu. I have been to his previous restaurant Nigiri-Ya at Leaside it was good but not as good as what he is doing at Yasu now. $80 seems to be steep for "sushi" but trust me the experience more than worth it! Fresh fish and seafood from all over the world including Japan, Europe, North America. Each fish is featured as a piece of art in nigiri sushi with just the perfect preparation method and condiments (fresh wasabi, soya sauce, yuzu salt, shiso, ginger....) Procedure: - watch the preparation - listen to the explanation - admire my food - smell my food which will further enhance my experience - use my hand and put it my mouth and eat slowly and just let my taste buds dance - making happy noises and smile - Repeat I was sad that I miss the fresh Hokkaido Uni but seriously Aburi O-toro, Ankimo, Hokkaido Scallop even Mackerel tasted so good... I will be back.. I want to be back... When am I coming back? (let me go check their availability on Yelp reservation!) read more

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If you're looking for rolls drizzled with mayo or stuffed with cream cheese, don't come here. (Just wanted to get that out of the way!) Now that we've gone a second time, I think it's pretty safe to say this place is our favourite sushi place in Toronto. With only ten seats and two seating times (6pm and 8:30pm), make a reservation so you won't be disappointed. There is a menu for drinks with a selection of sake and beer. A wet towel is given to each guest to clean your hands and to continue using if you choose to pick up the sushi with your fingers. There is no food menu. Everyone gets the chef's choice of fish for the day. Everything is amazing. The texture and taste of the fish is sublime. We are talking straight up nigiri sushi---ranging from 18-20 courses with a small dessert at the end. $80 per person. Totally worth it. If you want to have traditional, Japanese sushi, this is it. The range of fish is incredible. Last time we had Uni (sea urchin) but since it's no longer in season, we were able to try other delicacies of the day. I've never had Shima Aji (striped jack/white trevally) before. That was so good! You can't find this just anywhere either! I can't compliment them enough. Service was extremely friendly and welcoming. The pacing of the dinner is very comfortable. You can savour each piece and never feel rushed. I hope they get to the point where they are booked weeks (months?) in advance. I want to see these types of places succeed. You can tell the chef really cares about what he's serving and is maintaining high standards. I've already recommended Yasu to numerous people, some of whom have already been and plan on returning as well. I love making a recommendation and having it so well-received! read more

YAS (u)! My boyfriend surprised me here for my birthday a few months ago and I gotta say =D =D =D When we arrived at the restaurant, there was another group finishing up their dinner so we waited for 10 minutes for the staff to clear the tables (we were the first ones in line and then it took NO time for the line to grow behind us). When everything was all set, they took us in couple by couple (it was literally like couples night that evening) and sat us down and since we were the first ones to arrive, we had the BEST and most secluded seat in the house (we were seated at the bar in the corner), ALWAYS get seated at the bar. The restaurant had tables but from that distance, your view is obstructed. The waitress sat us down and took down our orders and both the BF and I did omakase. It consisted of 20 pieces of handmade sushi delicacies made right in front of your eyes, the freshest fish from the sea with a side of miso soup and green tea. I remember the first thing our sushi chef asked us was "Is anyone allergic to anything or doesn't like a certain thing?". I was the only one who voiced my disdain that I hate (nay) loathed uni aka sea urchin, gonna go off on a tangent... (STORY TIME)! It was about 7-8 years ago when I was in Hong Kong for vacation with my siblings and my aunt took us to a sushi restaurant. I saw and heard of uni for the first time in a menu and I asked my aunt what it was, she said "sea urchin and you might not like the taste but you can try it anyway." So, I ordered one piece of sushi with sea urchin, took a tiny lick and BLERGH! It was one of the weirdest and saltiest things I have ever tasted in my life! I gave the piece to my aunt and she ate it with no complaints, it's not her favourite thing but she doesn't hate it like I do. Back on track to the first piece of sushi that night was uni. Since I opted out of it, the chef made a special replacement piece for me, it was Vancouver striped jack ABURI style. It was DELICIOUS and everyone at the bar saw that I got a special piece while they got uni either because they liked it or because they were too afraid to speak up LOL (their loss, my delicious win =D All of the pieces were beautiful and the ratio to rice and fish was very even. The whole dinner ended with another surprise, it was a bowl of black sesame ice cream with a candle in the center (there were four birthdays that evening, 2 with candles, 2 without LOL). PRESENTATION - The restaurant was very clean and was moderately lit (I HATE restaurants with dull lighting, I like to see WHAT I'm eating to make my meal more enjoyable). PROS - Quality fish, adjustable rice portion size (for people with smaller or bigger appetites) and they make certain accommodations such as considering your likes/ dislikes (uni vs Vancouver striped jack ABURI style) and the chef staff and waiting staff were really nice! CONS - If you want an extra piece after the omakase, you gotta pay for it LOL (it was FREE at Dai Sushi [renown in Japan]), reservations ONE MONTH in advance (can do walk in but may not get seating). FAVE EATS - I've only been here once and it was an amazing experience. My favourite piece was the Vancouver striped jack ABURI style and the fatty tuna with medium fat :3 PRICE - It is VERY EXPENSIVE so take someone worth going their with (i.e - S.O) SECONDS - YES PLEASE! =D read more

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Awesome omakase experience in Toronto. It was fascinating to watch the chef prepare each course and the food was divine. 2 hours went by very quickly and I didn't want my meal to be over. All the fish were very fresh, the toro, uni and scallops were remarkable. However, there is one course where they serve the red snapper testicles.. I kind of wish that that was on the menu ahead of time, I would have told the chef that I didn't want that. lol So for anyone that's not as adventurous like the others. I would recommend that you tell your chef before the meal starts. Overall I had an amazing experience, service was very good. The chef was very knowledgeable and friendly. The waitstaff were attentive. this is great for any special occasion. read more

Yasu - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Wow this place is amazing! The value is SO worth it for the quality and quantity given. I was stuffed to the brim at the end, almost couldn't finish but it's too delicious to stop. You can ask the chef to give you less rice if you start to feel bloated :) All the dishes were delicious and they do a great job in providing a number of interesting and different fish items. I loved how they gave us two uni pieces! Normally you'd only get one at the place I go to. We were very up close to the bar so you could see everything that's going on. Our chef was a little reserved and didn't seem to like it when we spoke to him. He had a more quiet demeanour and kept a straight face the whole time. He also didn't fill my ginger unless I asked :( nonetheless, food was exceptional. I wish they gave us a menu to keep! read more

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I feel like a thief! To all my New York friends. 18pcs plus home made black sesame ice cream uhhhh yes please... $80CAD that's give or take $65USD?! For Omakase this is a must visit if you're in Toronto. The price is a steal compared to the prices in Manhattan and the sushi is just as good, comparable to many good jap (not the best in New York ofc) And if you have ANY doubt look at the price just look at it...Great value. Recommend to come with 2 people or max max 4 people bcs the place is small and only ofc only sit at the sushi bar otherwise as we all know it's wasted Omakase experience if you aren't. I look forward to visiting again. Cheers! read more

Yasu - A steal! - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

The omakase box was amazing! Every piece of sushi was so fresh. Also had some fish I hadn't tried before like the bonito fish which was very smokey and tasted charcoal-grilled. The toro was so amazing too, very "oily" and intense. I hesitated for a long time on whether I should try this because of the price, but it was worth it. Would've given this 5 stars but it seems that the toro rice was missing the ikura UPDATE: Yasu gave me a partial refund for the missing ikura. Changing my rating to 5 stars as they owned up to the mistake and rectified it! read more

Yasu - Omakase sushi box - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I decided to try an omakase restaurant in Toronto since I had been craving some really good sushi since Michigan does not have many good sushi places. I saw on yelp and other websites that this place was good so I decided to make a reservation. Man was this place good. The sushi was fresh, and the ginger was amazing. It was a modern looking omakase restaurant compared to the other omakase restaurants that I have been to before. I highly recommend trying this place if you want some good sushi but make sure you have enough money since this will cost you at least $100 per person. read more

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Made our booking exactly one month ahead in order to finally try out this famous omakase sushi bar. The restaurant was a lot smaller than I thought it would be, we actually walked past it twice when we were looking for it. You have to specify in your online booking whether you want table seats or sushi bar seats, as there are only 2 tables available and the rest of the seats are at the bar. We booked the 7:15pm slot, when we got there, they were just finishing up the 5pm seating everyone who arrived for the 7:15pm slot had to wait outside for a bit. They mention on their website that the entire omakase experience will be around 2 hours for 22 pieces, so make sure you have your evening freed up for this life-changing meal! I would recommend you opt for the sushi bar seats so that you can watch your chef make every single piece in front of you. We were seated at the corner and served by sushi chef Ken. As he made each piece he would explain to us about the ingredients used and where these ingredients came from. Each piece was made with such a high degree of detail and quality, and Ken made sure each piece was perfected before he served it to us. He would also ask us if the proportion of fish-to-rice was what we preferred and he told us he can adjust it according to our liking if need be. The selection of fish varied from your basic tuna and mackerel all the way to rare and seasonal firefly squid and monkfish! I was surprisingly really stuffed by the end of the menu, and the two hours go by in just a blink of an eye. We also ordered the sake pairing to go along with our omakase. The pairing includes a total of 5 different sakes that are specially selected to go with the different flavours of the sushi. The waitress would explain where each sake came from and why it accompanies the next couple of sushi pieces. This was by far one of the best omakase I have ever had, and one of the few places in Toronto where you can watch your chef at the bar. There are other places where they just serve you the entire omakase menu on a platter and you do not get the same experience. They no longer have the sashimi add-on selection so they increased their prices and added a few more pieces to the menu. Yes it is on the pricier side, for $135 per person, and the sake pairing is $65 but it is definitely worth the experience! read more

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Exquisite quality. I've not been to Sushi Kaji but have been to other omakases in the city (most recently Skippa and Shoushin), and Yasu is easily the best one. The seafood is fresh and top notch - the type that is plump and juicy and melts in your mouth. The place itself is small, though you never feel cramped, and the service is attentive without being obtrusive. Expectedly, the price makes a sizable dent on your wallet ($135/pax with no drinks or extra food) though not out of the norm for this quality of an omakase. Overall, Yasu is a definite, bonafide, 100% fine dining treat! read more

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I don't want to sound like a broken record so I will keep this review brief. My pal and I needed to a restaurant to go to for our annual Christmas dinner. After reading about (and hearing) great reviews of Yasu, it was a no brainer - our dinner was going to be here. Reservations are a must because of how small the restaurant is- there are 8 seats at the counter and 2 by the window. There are two dinner times - 6:30 and 8:30. You can easily make reservations online, but based on my experience, do it early so you get the day that you really want. The concept is really cool. Our sushi chef was very personable; I also enjoyed watching how he would slice fish with his knife so beautifully and make the sushi rice in a perfect rectangle. The food is fresh and very good! I can't wait to return again. Good for: night out, celebrations, sushi read more

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What an experience!! Sushi lovers, the hype is real. I don't even know where to begin because from start to finish, it was a great evening. I booked the reservation to be seated at the bar hoping to get to chat with the chefs serving us. The staff was amazing, the chef was super cool and a young guy that just came over from a little town in BC. He was responsible for us and the 2 other tables that were not seated at the bar. He was so precise with every single piece of sushi he made, from cutting the fish, to rolling the rice in his hands, to garnishing. It was almost like an artist in action. The food was incredible, but I do have to admit. From a price perspective, it's pricey. I've been told that yasu is as close to japan as you'd be able to get in Toronto. The fish is ordered straight from japan and prepared on the spot for you. Chef does a great job in explaining each individual piece during service. He was also very helpful with any questions that I may have had. Although 20 pieces doesn't sound like a lot, I was stuffed by the end of the meal. Each piece was amazing and I'd recommend trying it even if the name may catch you off guard. The tuna was a the favourite for the night. Chef mentioned it was farmed tuna from Mexico and honestly I wouldn't have been able to tell the difference between that and wild. Wild Blue fin tuna has been excessively fished and respawning can't keep up with the demand. The uni was also unreal! There were two pieces on the dish and it was so creamy and fresh. I couldn't tell the difference between the uni from japan and BC. The tamago at the end was a perfect way to cap off the night with a nice dessert. It was so fluffy and light, almost cake like consistency and texture. This is made fresh every day by the restaurant. I was told you can tell if a Japanese restaurant is good by the quality of their tamago. I gotta say, the tamago was the best ive ever had. read more

Yasu - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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One of our favourite sushi restaurants in the city. It has been a couple of years since we have been here, and the food and service is still amazing. They offer sushi omakase and sashimi as an option to your dinner. A small restaurant that seats 12 people at the sushi bar, and I believe there is a 4 and 2 table seater available. Definitely make reservations before going. I believe they have 2 dinner time options. On our last visit this is what we had: Lobster sashimi from Nova Scotia and Scallop sashimi from Hokkaido (one of our faves of the night) Cod testicles from Japan (very different) Fatty tuna from Mexico and Salmon Roe from Alaska (another favourite) Spanish Mackarel from Florida (it was so much lighter than the saba, really good) Cured Fluke from Japan Uni from Boston Amberjack (aka shimaaji) from Japan (it is the best, great flavour and texture) Snow crab legs with liver from Nova scotia Shimaaji soup (so flavourful) Lean, medium, and fatty Tuna from Mexico (amazing) Mackerel from Iceland with pickled and grated ginger Fresh Water Eel from Hiroshima Steamed egg sushi Last dessert was sesame ice cream to end the delicious night read more

Yasu - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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If I could give them 6 stars, I would. I have had Omakase before, but this has been my absolute favorite experience. I love sushi. My friends always tell me that I am going to die of Mercury poison. Might as well die happy. My boyfriend and I decided to celebrate our 1 year anniversary here. We traveled all the way from Atlanta to eat here. There were many sushi restaurants in the area, but I decided to choose this one since Hiro's apprentice works here. It was worth every penny. First, make sure to book your reservation way in advance, at least a couple of months to get a seat. Sit at the sushi bar. There are only 12 seats. It is worth it, so you can enjoy every bit of the omakase experience. The chefs will interact with you. At first, we had Hiro's apprentice but later we had a younger chef. He was much more entertaining and loved to joke with me each. Each time I guess a fish, I was wrong. For example, I said that is salmon, & then he would be like no it was king salmon. haha It was a 12-course meal that you will remember forever. We were the last booking for the night, so we were able to order whatever we wanted after the meal. We ordered more of the famous striped jack, scallop, uni, and king salmon. Those were the highlights of our night. The fatty tuna toro with salmon roe & sushi rice was also delicious. We ended the night with sesame ice green. They also have sake pairings but I stuck with the roasted green tea. Its brown, not green, because it's roasted! It complimented my meal. Overall, my boyfriend and I had the best anniversary dinner a girl could ask for! This dinner was truly amazing. Thank Yasu! read more

Good omakase in a cozy atmosphere. The service was warm, attentive yet not disruptive. Everything was delicious especially the tuna and the baby sea bream (kasuo). The sushi rice was good but pretty standard and there was a bit too much acidity in the aftertaste. We wished there were more non-sushi dishes. Price was reasonable for a 17-course meal. read more

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Came here on a Thursday night for anniversary. This is the best sushi I've had in Toronto so far. Going for Omakase is not only for the food, it's also for the experience. I'm a huge fan of fish(especially raw), and watching the chef cutting fish, assembling the nigiri, and presenting it to you was pure happiness. I would definitely recommend counter seating so that you can enjoy the whole process. $135 for 20-piece set was worth it. I have huge appetite and I didn't have to order extra to feel full. They also adjust everything to your dietary restrictions, and you can ask to have smaller rice portion if you have small appetite. I liked all the pieces, except the miso soup was a bit salty. Overall I'm very happy that I decided to give this place a go. Will definitely come again! read more

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Wow! Yasu did not disappoint and also topped all the other sushi places I've had so far. This was my second time having an omakase menu (Chef's choice) and first time at Yasu. The parking situation is a bit of a bummer there isn't much street parking or a lot that I saw so my wife and I ended up parking on Spadina Circle and walked over to the restaurant, you can luck out and get parking on Harbord St. but not a whole lot of street parking that is close. We were served a 20 course omakase in a time span of 2 hours. My wife and I sat at the sushi bar and watching the chefs prepare each course was very interesting, you can see how much effort and heart each chef puts into making your meal. I'm not sure if it is me or serving sushi directly from their station to your plate does make difference in taste compared to sitting at a table further away. Now that we have experienced eating at the sushi bar I think we will try to eat at the bar more often when we go out for sushi. We were served many different types of fresh fish from all over the world and everything that was served we were told that they are in season. We also ordered a bottle of sake and also a small 9oz of carafe of sake both types were very refreshing and went well with our meal. After the full omakase is done you are also offered the opportunity to reorder any of the items that was served, we ordered another round of the Hokkaido uni because they were so sweet. The service was outstanding right when we were greeted at the door very friendly and polite, our server offered to take our jackets to the back to hang right away as well. It is a very small restaurant with 12 seats at the sushi bar and another 5 or so at 2 tables. I am sure a lot of people are already aware that there is no walk-ins and it is highly recommended to make a reservation, BUT you might luck out and get a couple of seats for their later 9:00 PM seating. Reservations can be made online or by calling the restaurant, oh and have your credit card handy because reservations will not be made unless you leave your credit card. Reservations can be made up to 1 month in advance and can not be cancelled within 48 hours of your intended seating or the full price will be charged. Great experience and would definitely do it again. FeiJai Out! read more

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"Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it" - Michelangelo I believe that food and art share characteristics that elicit basic instincts of human curiosity and creativity. Time has endowed us to evolve from acquiring food for survival to expanding it into the very fabric of our culture. Similar to a sculptor finding a statue in a marble block, a chef is able to find a dish in their produce. Omakase experience provides congenial depiction of food, culture and art seamlessly coexisting. Similar to a spectacular performance, Yasu displays theatrics with perfection by inciting your visual and gustatory perceptions. Their sushi are masterfully crafted in front of your eyes. Like a carefully placed pen stroke, every move of the chef's hand is purposeful and precise. Symmetry of their nigiri, placement of their knives, layout of the fish and the carefully grated raw wasabi root pays an accurate homage to authentic Japanese cuisine. Their phenomenal taste is supported by seafood across the world, Japanese flavours are maintained while still providing taste and freshness of the various Canadian coasts. Michelangelo had a very particular philosophy regarding art and sculpting, he was an opponent of assistants and frequently insisted that he worked on sculpting solely on his own. This solitude workmanship allowed Michelangelo to absolute his sculpting by bearing the entirety of the work on his own two hands. The experience of having an authentic omakase will allow you to appreciate the above sentiment by realizing the course of sushi making and the prior effort that is required until the meal hits your plate. The audience appreciates the final product, while the artist is burdened to realize the entire process. The experience leaves you to imagine the strenuous process that went into produce such perfection. 5/5 read more

This review is from my visit back in July of 2018. I have to be honest, this is my first Omakase experience. I have nothing to compare it to. I can only say this was not only an amazing meal but an amazing experience. I have to first off by saying, I'm huge into sushi. Traditional or modern, I'm all for it. This tiny restaurant sits approximately 15 people at the sushi bar, and it's a bit of a squeeze. You'll be comfortable and not shoulder to shoulder, but it is tight. There are a few tables that surround the sushi bar for customers that prefer a more quiet and less direct interaction visually and verbally from the chefs. The restaurant offers a 13-15 course omakase meal. There is no menu, and everything is 'chef's choice.' All the ingredients are mainly from Japan, and stretch to other countries as well. These pieces of nigiri are expertly formed in the hands of a Japanese master. Just the right amount of rice to fish ratio, to the amount of soy sauce applied. All the ingredients were not only fresh, but at it's optimal quality. The only thing I found that could be troublesome to travelers such as myself is the parking. We ended up parking a block away on a side street. (Only a 5 minute walk). I want to point out the amazing attention to detail. I have to give bonus points on Chef Ken noticing my brother was left handed. After a few pieces of nigiri, he started to place the gari (ginger) on my brother's left side of his plate. That small gesture impressed me. I can confidently say, this is by far one of the best meals of my life. A huge thank you to Chef Ken who was our Chef of the night. I was able to capture many pictures and video, and I was able to compile a video which I've uploaded to YouTube in case my review doesn't do this restaurant justice. Here it is from start to finish. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN0gTS8EagI Quality: 10/10 Atmosphere: 10/10 Service: 10/10 Presentation: 10/10 read more

My favorite omakase sushi spot! Standard omakase is 105, upgrading to the premium sashimi platter is an additional $25. If you're sitting at the bar, would recommend upgrading so you don't feel left out! Small, intimate restaurant with limited number of seats, and clean and minimalist design. The focus is on the fish and the nigiri (which it should be), chefs and waitresses are attentive and friendly. If you've ever watched Jiro Dreams of Sushi, it's a similar style - the chef places the nigiri at the bar and you're meant to eat it almost immediately. The fish is extremely fresh, the waitress show you photos of what they look like, and some dishes are seasonal (ie. firefly squid in the spring). There is no choice of what you receive, but you can notify the waitress beforehand of allergies. Personal favorites are the monkfish liver, firefly squid, and the fluke! Having been 1-2 times over the past year or so, I've noticed they are starting to add more dishes at the beginning (ie. sashimi platter, striped jack fish miso soup, salmon roe and negitoro on rice), which filled me up fairly quickly compared to what it used to be, of simply 18 pieces of nigiri. Make reservations at least 1-2 weeks in advance, and make sure to show up on time! read more

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I have to agree with some of the reviews describing Yasu as "meh." I am not saying the meal was bad, but at $400 per person, I would have expected more. read more