JaBistro

One of my favorite sushi spots in Toronto. The lobster miso soup is the best miso I’ve ever had. The blowtorching of some of the nigiri is a nice touch. Also great value given the quality. Highly recommend JaBistro.

The last time I was in Toronto was over 20 yrs ago and I came to go to Medieval Times (!!) and also ate at some very mediocre, strange restaurant that rotated high above the city. Weird, vague memories. But also that was during my weird, vague marriage… This time I was on a 4 day road trip driving a big loop from Central Vermont out to Niagara Falls, NY over to Toronto and then to Montreal and finally back down to Vermont because I had tickets to Jon Batiste in concert in both Toronto and Montreal on back-to-back nights. So I did my research and created a Yelp collection of potential restaurants for dinner in Toronto. If you’re new to this channel let me tell you that sushi/Japanese cuisine is my JAM and so that’s what I looked for in Toronto. I chose JaBistro because the vibe looked like my thing (I mainly dine alone, so I like to sit at the bar) and they opened at 5, which would give me a few hours before 8pm show time. I hate to be rushed when I’m eating out. My plan is to enjoy my time and my meal and my sake. Actual Omakase does not seem to have really reached Canada. But JaBistro has an “Omaskase menu” which is basically table service Omakase: it’s not piece by piece, it’s served in “sets” because apparently there is no interaction with the sushi chefs here?? And by “here” I mean Canada, because I had the same experience in Montreal. I greatly dislike the “social stratification” being enforced in these restaurants by not allowing the guests to interact with the chefs. By this I mean that the chef has the waitperson my dish and then that person serves me. Even though I am sitting there, directly in front of the chef. This is not correct service. This is silly, “Old World”/“European” classism. It didn’t occur to me to make a reservation to sit at the counter at 5pm on a Tuesday. Which I think is a result of the fact that I forgot Toronto is like a legit big city?? Whoops. They were able to seat me and I ordered a lovely bottle of Sake (good Sake selection). I ordered the dinner Omakase and was able to request a substitute for the wagyu beef (I don’t eat beef, pork or poultry). The Lobster Miso was INCREDIBLY GOOD!! They substituted salmon for the Wagyu carpaccio and it was OUT OF THIS WORLD. An amazing dish. Sashimi and sushi pieces were good. “Pressed rolls” were weird? Meh. I pushed the boundaries and ordered two more things: Bistro Salad (one of the best salads I’ve ever had - truly excellent); and the Agedashi. O.M.G. That huge bowl of Agedashi was one of the best things I’ve ever eaten in my life. (They even gave me extra broth when I asked.) I’d consider driving back to Toronto just to eat that again. WOW. Next time I’d actually skip the Omakase because the menu items were so spectacular and I was officially, uncomfortably full by the end…NO REGRETS!

We visited for lunch and opted for the omakase, which, overall, I greatly enjoyed. The service was outstanding, and the fish served was notably fresh. However, the lobster miso soup left something to be desired, being somewhat mediocre. Both the sashimi and sushi were satisfactory, but some of the pressed sushi pieces were excessively salty. Despite these minor critiques, the experience as a whole was positive.

Absolutely

I day dream of coming back here all the time and salivate at the thought of eating the sushi here. I am big sushi girl and can have it everyday but Jabistro is beyond My favourite sushi place ever. Literally orgasm when I eat the sushi.

This is a place to have a quality conversation. Over one of the most affordable Omakase offerings in the city. Omakase, Google it, I was born a few blocks from here and am not Japanese - but the set course meal, chosen by the chef and artfully plated over the course of the evening is perfect for; - a real business meeting - a human conversation with a friend - a romantic meal, quality time This is a highly sensory food experience, not garish grocery store maki rolls with cream cheese in them. Again if you compare their creative offerings, Aburi torched sushi, exquisite sashimi, the lobster miso - it’s an experience and is competitively priced. The location is near the Osgoode subway, around the corner from the Four Seasons Arts Center, the Scotiabank Cinema and there is good paid parking nearby. A secret spot for business lunches due to its unassuming exterior. The service and atmosphere are as advanced as the food. If you respect real sashimi, if you’re looking for an Omakase spot, give it a shot. Parking: This is a one way street so you can’t park “out front”, but there are paid safe secure parking lots nearby way better than street parking.

Finally decided to give this restaurant a try after many years of passing by and wondering if it was worth the hype. I reserved seats at the sushi counter so we could get a view of the chefs, but I was disappointed to find that the fish is pre-sliced and kept chilled until it is time to plate and serve. Although everything was beautifully presented and the quality of the fish was quite fresh and melt-in-your-mouth, there was not much innovation with the menu that I wouldn't find at any other izakaya considering the value. Great service otherwise!