Before you taste the food, a true Japanese sushi restaurant signals perfection in these ways: - hot towels to clean your fingers so you properly taste the sushi - all staff are Japanese - no Korean items on the menu. If you want Korean, there are many great places. But hybrid and fusion menus mean compromise read more

My wife chose Zen to celebrate our anniversary. I'm so pleased she did despite getting caught in post Blue Jay game traffic that delayed us 30 minutes. However, she texted them prior to our arrival and responded with "no problem. Have a safe drive". We were greeted warmly and taken to our table in a back room. We asked to be moved to the sushi bar to see the chefs work despite the privacy of the table. We immediately received a couple large cups of steaming green tea which was delicious. The space is simple & contemporary in its bright & clean design. We ordered the omakase sushi chef's choice (13 pieces each), dancing tempura mushrooms and seared & marinarated duck. We most definitely ate more than 13 pieces though! The courses covered sea bream, toro, oyster, eel, maguro, chopped scallop muscle wrapped in nori and a chopped maguro hand roll stand out in my memory. Some preparations were brushed with soy and others topped with a delicious bead of Japanese green onion & ginger or yuzu/ginger. Absolutely wonderful additions that still make my tastebuds sing! We shared a chilled 300ml bottle of hakkaisan sake with our meal. The chef explained each bite he delivered and the staff was consistent & attentive without interfering at all. The evening was extraordinary and very memorable. I recommend at least a visit to this exceptional spot! read more

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Absolutely amazing!! I'm completely speechless! My husband took me here for my birthday per his sister's recommendation and we were really impressed. The chefs weren't super chatty, but that's ok! They were concentrating on making the best sushi possible for us and I appreciated that. We got the sushi/sashimi set with the apps and were super happy with what we got! At the dessert course, they brought out some sorbet with a candle in it.. it was super thoughtful of them! Will definitely be coming back here in the future for more celebrations together with my husband. read more

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I went here again with my friends to celebrate my birthday again (it never ends) Venue: Plenty of seats, it's good to make a reservation instead of walking in. Service: Always spectacular. We had the same servers as the first time I went here. They don't remember (I wouldn't expect that) but they were so kind and Japanese themselves. Food: My two friends ordered the omakase and this time I ordered the wagyu don. The beef was really delicious and just how you'd want your wagyu to melt in your mouth. To be honest I wouldn't order it again. I don't think I'd pay for a few things pieces of wagyu for $75. The spinach salad was really good though. Next time I'll be having their omakase! read more

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So I recently came with a group to celebrate our friend's bday. We were seated in the back of the restaurant in 2 separate rooms because our group was so large. So one room sat 6 ppl and the other room sat around 10. If we had a smaller group we would've definitely chosen to sit at the bar because it truly is a different experience seeing the chef do his artistry and having him tell you what each fish is and their seasonality. The bday boy had called in earlier to arrange all the details around a month in advance for the booking. Some of us ordered mid tier sets, some ordered the higher tier sets (these came with appetizer courses and dessert). Since we didn't have the chef explaining every piece to us at the bar, the restaurant provided everyone with a list of the fish we would be having for the night. When the sushi arrived, the waitress also guided us through them all which was helpful. My top 5 picks out of all the sushi we experienced (in no particular order) were: 1. Uni 2. Ocean trout 3. Hamachi (smoked so it tasted like deli meat which was so delicious!) 4. Otoro 5. Anago For our table we got 2 orders of kamo roast duck to share. The yuzu salt that came with the duck was very flavourful. A little drop of it on your duck slice and the entire inside of your mouth was coated by seasoning. Our waitress cleaned our table and then gladly helped us take group photos for the occasion. I would give her a shoutout but we didn't catch her name! As a side note, when the bday boy had initially called in, the restaurant had told him that it would be 18% auto-gratuity because of how large our group was. We were fine with this. However, when the bills came around, they did not auto-input the 18% gratuity into the machines which I thought was very honest of them. We all tipped 18% or more anyways but these are small attention to details that make the customer feel much more at ease. As far as omakase goes, in the York Region area I think this is the best one I've been to. read more

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No sushi restaurant has even come close to the quality I had here! Mind blowingly good! read more

Zen Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Markham, Ontario

Came here for my anniversary and really enjoyed it. We ordered their current omakase special which is $99 and includes several appetizers, nigiri, miso soup and a toro hand roll. We also ordered a sushi omakase set (without appetizers). I liked how not everyone has to order the same set so we can share. We were not a huge fan of the appetizers though, so next time we come I would get the omakase sets that are just sushi. The sushi is super, super good though, reminds me of Japan! read more

Had the Omakase experience in the private room for my friends bday. Although it was at the back, service was never lacking. One example, I dropped my chopsticks and they were replaced before I even got a chance to ask for new ones... The appetizers were really fun to try. All were well balanced with texture and flavour! Their fish was really good and probably my favourite in Ontario, so far... Top 3 being the blue fish, not on menu, smoked yellowfin and ocean trout! Highly recommend a try, but unlikely to come back since there are so many other ones to try all the other ones. read more

I was craving for sushi on the weekend and suddenly thought of the Zen Japanese Restaurant, as I have visited them multiple times since their old location. Compared with other mid/downtown Japanese sushi restaurants, the parking is free and easy. Plus, you don't have to walk all the way from the parking lot to the restaurant, which is a huge plus for me. I booked for the 12:00 PM Saturday lunch session and only waited shortly unlike other sushi restaurants. Appetizer: The appetizers included all the items listed below and everything is amazing. Maybe I was very hungry that day. My favourite appetizer is the Lobster Chawanmushi. The egg steamed silky smooth and the umami taste (not MSG) is like I am swimming in the ocean. This is one of the best Chawanmushi I have had since the pandemic. * Lobster Chawanmushi * Roast Duck Breast * Tempura * Vinegared sea seed * Simmered dish * Miso soup Sushi: The young sushi chef who served me that day had excellent skills and very attention to detail, which made me feel very comfortable. My favourite sushi of all are the Salmon Roe and Toro sushi. The Salmon Roe is so fresh, that it pops in my mouth. The Toro sushi is the highlight of the show and is very well crafted. The toro has been fire torched and some caviar on top to further enhance the umami flavour. The fire-torched toro sushi just melts in your mouth. I was very surprised when I was serviced sushi by the sushi chef piece by piece like an Omakase sushi experience instead of just a plate of eight different types of sushi. The Omakase experience is great and I feel it is worth every penny for this Sushi Gozen lunch set. The secret is to book in advance for the sushi bar instead of a table. I will definitely go back again. read more

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Outstanding meal! The sashimi/sushi omakase was absolutely delicious and the portions were perfect Side items agedashi tofu and ohitashi were also superb The miso cod on the ale cart menu was so delicious that we ordered two pieces. Highly recommend Miyabi Japanese sake, which was a brilliant pairing with the miso cod. The service was absolutely perfect and much appreciated read more

Zen Japanese Restaurant - Omakase menu - Japanese Near Me - Markham, Ontario

One of my favourite Japanese restaurants in Markham. Zen offers authentic sushi and sashimi omakase as well as a limited time gozen menu with dishes other than just pure nigiri. Service is always impeccable and the fish is very fresh. Seating is limited to be sure to make a reservation in advance! No high chairs but they do allow babies / young children in the restaurant. The staff were great with my little one. Would highly recommend. read more

Zen Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Markham, Ontario

I happened in this restaurant one late evening on my way from downtown Toronto to Richmond Hill. It was late but the the ad said opened until 10pm and the this place has a mention by Michelin Guide. Sei San, if I spelled it correctly is the owner and chef. I arrived about 9:30 and Mama san graciously allowed me to sit despite most everyone wrapping up. I opted fro the Omakase but was taken aback at the $200 tab (Canadian $$). Chef Sei san provided me with about 12 pieces of nigiri and I also tried the slow cooked Beef tongue. Firstly I never like to visit Sushi restaurants that paint my fish with sauce before serving. However I must say of all the places I allowed that to happen, Zen was the absolutely best at it. The soy sauce was soooo balanced and complimented the fish very very well and it was all so delicious there was no disappointment whatsoever. Except to say there are a number of items I ordered and I could have done without the torch, like Ingawa and Anago. I still prefer my Sushi mostly with sea salt and few of them with soy sauce. I did try the restaurant one more time when Chef Sei san was not there. I was recommended the dinner menu and the gentleman (forgot his name because too much sake) who served me was also excellent and I had a fantastic meal. Now the restaurant is pricey, but the food is excellent (amazing stuff comes out of the kitchen also), the ambiance is beautiful and all around worth the visit. I am a little spoiled with California sushi, but nonetheless it was a pleasure visiting Zen Sushi as a home away from home. I look forward to my next visit there. Thank you for your hospitality chef and for listening to my simple words... read more

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I absolutely love this neighborhood . Usually ppl would think the best omakase places are usually in the city (Toronto) but I'm so glad that in Markham there is an amazing omakase restaurant that is in the suburbs! Featuring their omakase sushi and sashimi course for one, chawan mushi (steamed egg),Gindara Saikyo Yaki (miso black cod), mandarin orange cream pie and their special dessert tray! Literally every bite was heaven lol. I have tried fish I have never had before. The textures and flavours are just mind blowing. The fish is extremely fresh. Rice is super flavourful. Steamed egg was perfect. Black miso cod - delicious. Toro hand roll - freaking amazing The desserts were great - light and citrus that pie is incredible. The dessert tray was delicious! It changes all the time but we were quite happy with the variety! All in all, if you haven't tried this place and you are a huge sushi fan... you must try this place! read more

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Came here to celebrate a late Valentine's Day dinner on a Friday night. We got a seat at the table for a more intimate vibe, and ordered the sushi omakase. You can opt for the sushi and sashimi set instead where 6 of the pieces become sashimi instead of sushi. The service was amazing, each course came out at the appropriate time and the servers were very attentive. We liked that they had unique Japanese appetizers aside from the sushi such as the wagyu roast beef and beef tongue. Our favourite sushi pieces were the scallop, ocean trout, toro and uni. This is definitely a restaurant for a special occasion, but the quality and care that goes into each dish makes it worth the price. read more

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I had a chance to visit Zen Japanese Restaurant for valentine's day and tried their Dinner Sushi Gozen ($95/pp)! We didn't get to sit at the bar since we gave up our seats to another couple, but the service here is amazing and the waiters paid close attention to us Each dish is really packed with flavour and you can tell it's made with love. I really enjoyed how we got so many pieces of sushi + other dishes for a reasonable price - especially since other places will only give you sushi and nothing else The inside of the restaurant is also beautiful, I wish we had a chance to sit at the bar for the full omakase experience, however the other seating is very intimate which I enjoyed. I was skeptical about omakase before since I thought I wouldn't be full, but this restaurant really hit the spot. I loved the appetizers they started us off with and how fresh each dish was. The matcha ice cream was crazy good too If you're looking for a good omakase place that will keep you full, i'd highly recommend checking them out! read more

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If you haven't tried omakase and would like to, I highly recommend Zen. The atmosphere was very comfortable. We sat by the sushi bar so we could watch the sushi chefs work their magical knives, slice by slice. The fish were deliciously fresh. The scallops melted in my mouth. And the uni was of generous portion. Best uni I've ever tasted. I love the sushi with a touch of citrus flavour so yummy. The presentations were impeccable. And the service were pleasantly polite and fast. I want omakase again. read more

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Oishee! Every time I come here, it's a "gold" standard for quality of fish and professionalism. I have not been disappointed. The fish is delicious, even the cuts that I don't normally enjoy at your typical AYCE or a la cartes. They know how to balance the soy sauce and wasabi, if you want it. Even though you are full at the end, you don't feel "heavy". We thoroughly needed this evening to detox from our work week and enjoy our time together. Perfect atmosphere to enjoy great company and wonderful food. Worth every penny. read more

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All of their fish were from Japan. The quality of the fish are so fresh and high quality! They never disappoint us. The most important thing is this restaurant is own by Japanese . Since sushi is raw , it is very crucial who and how to prepare them. Only Japanese will insist certain way to prepare them. read more

Zen Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Markham, Ontario

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*Experienced before COVID 19 Lovely experience and glad there is a really good omakase option in Markham! We asked to be seated in front of the bar and the experience lasted 2 hours long. I had the sushi omakase and 2 of my group members got the sashimi and sushi omakase. I would say the sashimi and sushi omakase is worth it for the extra bucks since you get the extra pieces. Our party also shared the hida gyu hohba yaki which was hida beef on a small grill. The portion was expected (small), but the beef was fatty, juicy and flavourful. One thing to note we weren't served different cuts of tuna (lean, medium, fatty) which is something we usually look forward to in an omakase. We were only served the lean cut. Overall, it met my omakase expectations and is comparable to Toronto omakases. Definitely a great place to try if you're in Markham and don't want to make a trip downtown for the experience. read more

Fantastic food. Hand roll was the best one of my life. Sushi was great. Everything was fresh and well above average. I would have given this 5 star if it was a bit less. If all the food was as good as the hand roll I would have paid $500 and been very happy. I would say it' was all great but other than hand roll nothing blew my mind. I'm happy to pay a lot of money for amazing food. I would say 500$ for 2 people was too much for the meal I had. That's my only negative. read more

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we were craving sushi and found this little place nearby. we stopped by for lunch. we ordered duck, agadashi tofu, udon, and a sashimi sampler. the duck was tender and moist. agadashi tofu was flavorful. the tuna bowl was super fresh. same for the sashimi plate. if we're ever in the area, we'll definitely try the omakase. parking is out front for free. read more

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In 2018, I went on a trip of a lifetime to Japan and just as the other travelers warned, it practically ruined Japanese food for me back home. Some time later, back in Markham, I walked through the nondescript doors between a Karaoke lounge and a car decal shop and suddenly, I was teleported back there. Zen Japanese Restaurant: the gateway from a Canadian suburb to a Kyoto alleyway sushi shop. From the beautiful wooden hallway to the quiet dining area where chefs work diligently at their craft, the entire place evokes the concept of zen. The menu takes your taste buds on a flight all over Japan. Unintentionally, it perfectly mirrored my own adventures to the country, from the seaside coast to the inland cities. Sitting at Zen's counter and watching the chef create one of the most exquisite Omakase Sushi & Sashimi meals, I relived the experience of sitting in a small shop at Kanazawa's Omicho Market. The fish was fresh and exotic with flavours that I seldom taste on this side of the world. The refreshing feel of amberjack, the meatiness of horse mackerel, the sweet smokiness of a piece of charred sea eel...Each piece of sushi was a delicacy and each slice of sashimi was a fresh burst from the ocean. Travelling south from Tokyo, we saw the peaceful villages of Shirakawa and Takayama, built around the mountainous Hida region terrain. This region is also home to the famous Hida cows, which provided the juiciest skewers and tastiest meat buns. Our appetizer gave us a small piece of that melt-in-your-mouth Wagyu sensation again. Served beside a piece of miso squid and sweet scallop, it made for the most amazing mini surf-and-turf ever. The steamed egg and homemade tofu made wonderful pairings. Travelling further south still, we spent a fair amount of time in landlocked Kyoto. Known for colourful Geisha and golden temples, a regional delicacy is actually the humble tofu. Far from a flavourless chewy block, Zen served homemade tofu reminiscent of the type you may have in a traditional Kyoto Kaiseki meal: soft but very aromatic. The soy milk broth we ordered was surprisingly savoury and as it bubbled away on top of a mini burner, it formed "tofu skins" that you can scoop up and enjoy with a bit of soy sauce and dried seaweed. Definitely a highlight of the meal and something very unique I've never seen anywhere else in Toronto. While it is unlikely you will go to Zen for dessert, our meal was capped off with an eclectic mix of sweet touches that I would order again in a heartbeat: homemade soy ice cream with red bean and, one of my favourite flavours in the world, black sugar syrup. Chewy mochi added texture while a pink wafer heart with cream filling added whimsy. The most unique, and the one I crave again, is a slice of melon imported straight from Japan. It is mind-blowing how good the fruit is in Japan, and I am reminded of it again here. Zen is an absolutely beautiful experience, with a luxurious price tag to boot. The regulars here definitely exude Crazy Rich Asians vibe (but hey, this place IS next to a Karaoke lounge and car decal place.) I will likely never take another 3 week trip to Japan, but at least I can justify an infrequent treat to, arguably, Markham's best Japanese restaurant. read more

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You'll never find this place if not for the internet. The sign is so small and dark, it's as if they don't want you to. Adjacent to some shady gaming venue, all blacked out. The food here is great and it's nice that the chefs choice menu is forefront. We got one sashimi and one sushi/sashimi. Added the beef tongue at the waitresses suggestion. The food was great, but the prices are stupid. If you're going to charge 130-180 per person, the place better be perfect. Wooden chopsticks on a cheap metal holder. Washrooms with bare white walls. Seating average. Location and exterior sub par. Cut the prices in half and I'll come back. For now I'll stick with Tomo. read more

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Good news: My most recent visit to Zen was an improvement over the last couple of years. There was a dip in quality and etiquette at Zen over the last couple of years that was disappointing, but food was great (a Zen hallmark) and authentic and the service level high. The waiter and waitress were Japanese and so was our chef. The owner was not in for lunch and we were served by a younger chef, but the sushi and maki were excellent. The prices are ... sigh ... but it is what it is honestly. At least, one is served the real items with great ingredients here. Two classes of people dine here. Lovers of real edomae sushi who know and appreciate the food and certain class of folks who want to appear suave and hip to it all. There is still a Chinese chef available to speak to Chinese customers signalling the owner's savvy business acumen (see the restaurant's location), but I was delighted as always. It is too bad the prices do not allow me to visit more often. The toro, chutoro, sayori sashimi and temaki were excellent and no complaints could be levelled. Chutoro is $10 each sushi nigiri, Aburitoro is $15 each and a roll could set you back $15 too. Several oddities: They seem to place reservation signs on all tables and in front of counter seats, yet the seats do not become occupied. The drink I wanted was advertised but out of stock. The exterior plaza is shabby and the asphalt is not even recently paved. Does anyone remember the old location? Zen seems to make a habit of nice interiors, good food and embarrassing locations. read more

My recent dinner at Zen was wonderful. I think it was because this time I sat at the sushi bar for the Omakase dinner instead of at a table. I thoroughly enjoyed the food and thoughtful service. The overall experience was a perfect. read more

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We always make it a point to come here and eat when we visit Toronto. We loved every part of it. The seaweed they use on the handrolls is mouthwatering and we constantly crave it! See you next time! read more

Zen Japanese Restaurant - Lunch special sept 2023 (part 1) - Japanese Near Me - Markham, Ontario

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Been here twice, once for omakase and most recently another time to try their Gozen set. The first time, I would say the quality was the best out of the omakases I've tried in Markham. Mostly recently though, while still good, it was far from how good it was previously. Felt like the pieces of nigiri were not as well put together read more

Zen Japanese Restaurant - Nigiri from Gozen set - Japanese Near Me - Markham, Ontario

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4.5 stars! My family went here for lunch and it was pretty good! We got the Nigiri Sushi, the Chirashi & Udon, the Saba Shio Yaki Set, the Hamachi Kama Set, and we got an order of Tempura to share! Oh I also wanted to note that they were out of mackerel for the Saba Shio Yaki Set and gave us another, similar fish to go with the dish instead! Everything was really fresh and delicious- especially the tempura (the batter was so light and good!). The servers were also very friendly and was really quick to refill our tea mugs :') I'm only knocking it down a half star because of the high prices :/ read more

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Excellent service, friendly staff, fresh and good variety of fish, and an quiet atmosphere

I was surprised with a visit here to try out the kaiseki menu a while back; this review is super outdated so the menu options most likely have changed since then. The quality of the food was absolutely amazing - I especially enjoyed the yakimono (grilled A5 hidagyu steak & sea perch) and the zensai (roasted duck, foie gras, uni). The food tasted like it was literally fished out of the sea an hour before it was served. To be honest, I normally despise raw fish - I just can't seem to keep it down no matter how many times I give it a chance. However, this time I was pleasantly surprised as I didn't mind the taste of it! Although I personally wouldn't ever dish out this much money for kaiseki, if you're a fan of raw fish and want top notch quality I highly recommend trying it out. The service could not have possibly been any better - our server explained every single menu item in detail, checked on our table consistently, and made sure we were satisfied with everything. At the end of our meal the chef even came to our table to formally greet us. Fun fact: the main chef of Shoushin actually was one of his students! If you enjoy sushi and you're looking for the best of the best, Zen is the spot to go! I definitely do plan on coming back, but probably just for a la carte instead of the course menu. read more

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I used to frequent Zen for lunch when it was in Scarborough. Funny now they moved to Markham, which suppose to be in my hood and I only been here for lunch once?! The decor here definitely more upscale than their older location. The sushi bar area so much more spacious and can fit more customers! I always sit at sushi bar even I am here for lunch and order off the lunch menu. Service now is more formal with younger wait staff in uniforms. More chic but I kind of missed the older no nonsense waiter/waitress. Lunch menu did revamped. I ordered NIGIRI SUSHI にぎり寿司 ($29.50) and really enjoyed it. Classic with good cut of fish (uni, scallops, fatty tuna, spot prawns) with none of the fusion/torched. Maybe I would one day come for dinner? They do have Hida Gyu A5 飛騨牛 on the menu?! read more

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Service and Food is still top notch!! Zen has taken careful precautions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, they take your temperature upon entering. The plexiglass installed at the sushi counter is much nicer than most I have seen. It is basically transparent and the installation was seamless and barely even noticeable. The courses are incredibly fresh and executed beautifully. Seiichi-san & his team are incredibly incredibly skilled. They take extra care in every piece. Every item is a work of art. I recommend the Omakase Sushi Course ($160) for those that are coming here. It starts off with appetizers then the nigiri then dessert. Some outstanding pieces I had today include: Hokkaido Scallop, this was incredibly juicy and huge in size Squid, the texture was spot on. Uni, insanely fresh Otoro, melt in your mouth texture Overall, you get what you pay for. The food is top notch and the service is very very good. The servers are very attentive. The water refills are often, the plate clearing, the table cleaning, etc etc. The price is worth the service that you are also receiving. I will be back to try the ultimate omakase course !! read more

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Delicious sushi and sashimi. All the fish was very fresh. Service was good as they were attentive. Price was not cheap. There are cheaper options but quality and food tasted good. Highly recommend making a reservation as they get busy. read more

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Came into this omakase experience with pretty high expectations and was frankly disappointed overall. Opted for the Omakase Sushi Course which included an appetizer, soup and dessert along with a healthy selection of sushi. Right away when seated, I realized this wouldn't be the experience that I would enjoy. Everything seemed disjointed as the sushi bar had everyone ordering different sets and courses which meant that the chefs were not really there with you the entire time. What ends up happening is the chef just makes the sushi, drops it on your plate, says what the specific fish is and then leaves to make a completely different sushi for other guests at the table. It just took away from the entire thing and lacked the small conversations that you can have with chefs at other omakase places in town. Quality wise it was decent at best. Nothing really blew me away but nothing was bad either. Pretty much as I expected for food, high grade, fresh sushi. The appetizers and dessert was solid overall and added a nice touch to the course. Would not recommend for those looking for a more interactive and holistic omakase experience as I was because you won't find it here. read more

This review is for the takeout menu that was launched post COVID. I was a bit disappointed in the chirashi because the sashimi didn't taste as fresh as I expected. The handrolls were good though - I had them at their sister restaurant that specializes in udon and they are always tasty with crunchy seaweed. I might try other items on the takeout menu but only if I feel like splurging. read more

Zen Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Markham, Ontario

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Came with my girlfriend for my birthday on a Friday night, and reservations are a must. They took our coats at the front and were seated at the sushi bar. The atmosphere and service is a bit more relaxed, and we were given a wet towel and a place setting. It all reminded me of actual experiences in Japan. We both ordered the Omakase Sushi Course, which comes with some appetizer dishes, the sushi course, and a dessert. The appetizer dishes felt like a mix of traditional Japanese, sometimes with a more modern topping, so were quite interesting. There was also a light soup. After that came the sushi course, made right in front of you if you're at the bar. There were 12 pieces of nigiri sushi (including one very delicious seared tuna piece), followed by the BEST Tuna + Green Onion roll I've ever had. The seaweed is so crispy, so they tell you to eat it quick as they hand it to you. Dessert was a coffee jelly, a very sweet honeydew slice and some pieces of a light mochi. All in all, the meal was very good. Price was on the high end but reasonable. read more

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I've been to Zen Japanese Restaurant a few times over the past few years, though unfortunately somehow I don't have much pictures left in my phone. So this review is going to be fairly dry :P Overall experience is decent. I wouldn't call it perfect as there were pieces of sushi that I found were a miss, but on average the food is good enough for the price charged. One particular good experience was the Kaiseki Course - there was one time we had Kaiseki Course 1 (around $180/ppl, requires 24 hours advance reservation) for a party of 5. The course was well paced with cold/warm appetizers, sushi, grilled fish, noodles etc. and every dish was fairly well crafted. I especially liked the green tea flavored dessert at the end. Most recent experience was their takeout - this time I did have pictures taken. One thing to note was the reservation could be made over the phone and the pickup time would be more flexible than what appeared on the online ordering system. read more

Zen Japanese Restaurant - Sashimi to go, quite fresh! - Japanese Near Me - Markham, Ontario

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Summary: Food and service were amazing but in my opinion, the quality of the sushi is lacking considering the high price point. My boyfriend brought me here for my birthday and I loved it (his wallet didn't). We each got the sushi omakase course and the total after tax and tips was around $300+. We've had high quality omakese multiple times before, both in Toronto and Japan, so we had a good baseline of what to expect. We made reservations to sit at the sushi bar and we don't regret that one bit - we got the watch the chef prepare everything in front of us so definitely recommend this experience for anyone else. The omakase course included appetizers and dessert so we left pretty full afterwards. I'm leaving 4 stars instead of 5 because we thought the rice quality was lack luster and the fish wasn't as fresh (the fish being pre-sliced was a big sign). Very disappointing considering the high price tag. Also, the only piece of sushi that made us go "wow" was the torched otoro (fatty tuna). Every other piece was good but we feel like we could've got the same at any mid-range sushi restaurant. read more

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If this is touted as the best sushi uptown, I'll opt for the downtown trip in the future. The quality of the sushi was just alright and the other parts of the experience didn't make it much better. Came for a Friday dinner with my brother, and we had reserved spots at the sushi bar as we got the omakase sushi course. The course that we ordered included a variety of appetizers and desserts, which served as nice bookends to the sushi. The only pieces that really blew me away were the tuna belly pieces - a seared tuna belly sushi as well as a tuna belly hand roll. The seating was a bit puzzling and frankly ruined the experience for us. We were at the very edge of the bar, and in front of one of the chefs responsible for prepping fish. Our actual chef was about 5 seats down which was odd as we expected some interaction, and definitely a close up to the sushi making. Instead, the chef would make the piece, drop it off and mention the type of sushi and where it was from, then immediately go back to their station. Not once were we checked on to see if the rice/wasabi ratios were ok, or if we were enjoying the course in general. Looking around it seemed like there wasn't much interaction with any of the sushi bar customers. The fact that everyone was ordering different courses and started at different times meant that the chefs were doing a bunch of combinations at the same time. As a result, our course sometimes had delays between pieces/items. Given the high price point, it was disappointing that the experience part of the omakase did not stack up. read more

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Reason for Visit: Anniversary dinner (there goes my lunch money for the month). Menu: Zen is a high end Japanese restaurant for over 20 years now originally from Scarborough. The owner/head chef (Seiichi Kashiwabara) currently manages Zen and also their new Zen Sanuki Udon restaurant that just opened up. Zen offers an omakase menu as well as a la carte. As other Yelpers mention, this is a more casual omakase experience. The chefs are talkative, fun and genuinely like interacting with the customers. Chef Vince who served us trained under Seiichi for over 20 years . Vince was quite impressive with his knife work. You can tell that Vince and Seiichi were very proud of their work as they went over each piece and educated us and other guests in the history behind each dish. This was probably the main reason why I enjoyed Zen. It was essentially an amazing food experience with a lot of education. Some of the waitresses don't really speak English well so when they were introducing the appetizers, I really had no idea what they were saying. However, that being said, food was superb and the waitresses were super friendly and nice. The sushi is similar to what you will get at other Omakases. What stood out to me is their appetizer of abalone soba noodles. That was quite refreshing and tasty to start. Also, their desserts of home made soy milk ice cream was also very unique and delicious. It was also very cool they import their melon from Japan. Service: Exceptional. They really have an emphasis in making sure customers have a great time. Note: If you are late for your reservation, you will lose your spot. Zen is very strict in arriving on time to be fair to waiting customers. Atmosphere: Very clean. very nicely decorated. Their sushi bar is beautiful with excellent lighting. Perfect for Yelpers and IG. Overall: Spectacular food. However, this is really one of those places that can easily hit $200/person a meal so won't be able to come back often except for a special occasion or if I win the lottery. I informed head chef Seiichi that once I save up enough money again, I will return. FYI: Seiichi said his favourite udon at Zen Sanuki Udon is the thick pork slices one with an onsen egg read more

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