Reviews Sushi Kaji

If you are looking for a sushi restaurant than you should go to sushi to go . I give it a 4 star . The food is good and their rolls are huge

Nelson: The parade of sushi came fast and furious. We begin with octopus that had wasabi flavouring. It had great texture, not mushy, not too hard, not too chewy. Just smooth octopus. We were instructed to not have any soy sauce with this. Next came the spot prawn. Hard to tell from the picture, but it was quite large. The spot prawn meat was lightly sweet and overall very fresh tasting. It had a lot of yuzu as well which I found a tad excessive. It was great overall though.
This was a really great meal. Fun and inventive, it reminded me of eating in Japan. Although not quite as good as Japan with a few risks taken, which although not necessary successful, are welcome. Kitty complained that the earlier sushi had too much wasabi, but I thought it was fine. The chef adjusted for subsequent sushi on Kitty's plate. I haven't had a true omakase experience in Toronto before, so having a restaurant like this in Toronto is appreciated. I recommend Sushi Kaji, a unique experience for an unique experience in Toronto.

Worth a Michelin star. Great Japanese meal (not just Sushi). Counter seating makes the ambience, otherwise don’t expect to be floored by décor.  An overall stellar experience and absolute must for any fan of Japanese cuisine. Easily one of Toronto's best restaurants, period.

We recently enjoyed a multicourse dinner at Kaji Sushi in Toronto's west end. This post contains images of our many, many course meal. We atemany Assorted appetizers:chicken fried with potato starch, marinated in sweet dashi, onion, carrot, daikon leaves; chicken terriyaki soy beans carrot, yam potato, konbu, burdock root;PEI oyster with yuzu jelly, and fresh yuzu grated on top and vinegared snow crab, shiitake mushroom, and cucumber wrapped with egg and topped with ikura (salmon roe); vinegared snow crab, shiitake mushroom, and cucumber wrapped with egg and topped with Ikura (salmon roe); daikon radish cake with shrimp, peppers, sesame sauce; Sashimi Sayori fish from Japan; Sayori fish from Japan (deep fried bones); salmon, Spanish mackerel, lobster, sea bream, toro, octopus, scallop, radish, seaweed, shiso; salmon and Spanish mackerel; lobster, sea bream, toro, octopus, scallop, radish, seaweed, shiso; dipping sauce and house made soy sauce; Lotus root cake stuffed with chicken; Japanese tempura Anago (sea eel), tempura sweet pepper, shishito, Anago sauce, yuzu dressing; Sautéed European sea bass, bed of nori (seaweed) sauce, topped with rapini; Wagyu Sukiyaki - top ranked beef, tender sweet taste, melt-in-your-mouth quality ($68 supplement); Sushi pickled ginger, house made soy sauce; uni (sea urchin); aji nigiri (Japanese horse mackerel); aji nigiri (Japanese horse mackerel) (deep fried bones); ocean trout, salmon roe; hamachi (yellowtail); toro; shrimp; chopped toro; Japanese sea bream, shiso; torched toro (tuna belly), ginger sesame dressing, anago sauce; charred scallop with green peppercorn; Greek octopus, garlic dressing; Dessert - yuzu sorbet, pear compote, fruit, green tea macaron; Dessert - vanilla ice cream, red bean paste, fruit, jelly yuzu macaron; Dessert - tea; all ezquisitely prepared by Executive chef/Owner Mitsuhiro Kaji and Sous Chef Ian Robinson

Sushi Kaji is well known in Toronto for chef Mitsuhiro Kaji's skills in the kitchen (and, if you sit at the bar, right in front of your table).

There's no à la carte menu here; instead, the restaurant serves food omakase style. The tasting menu sushi is all the chef's creations and varies by the night. Luckily, you're in good hands—Kaji's concoctions are both creative and delicious.

Highlighting any particular dish would miss the point, as going to Kaji's is all about a unique experience, but past selections include lily bulb cake, torched scallop with fresh wasabi, duck soup, octopus, deep fried monkfish karage, and simpler but amazing selections like eel and fantastic toro.

It's rather expensive but visiting Sushi Kaji is a great once-in-a-while treat.

One of the very few authentic Japanese restaurants in the GTA with a real sushi chef. Great food. Traditionally the meal changes according to what is in season and the chef does a great job to reflect this. Service is good. It's a set menu. Pricey but worth it ($300 for 2 people).

Top notch. This place is fantastic. Better quality than anywhere I've been downtown. Don't let the location bother you it will be worth the trip.

One of the best. Kaji is one of my favourite Japanese restaurants despite its cost. I would come here for special occasions. I also take my important clients to Kaji because I know they will never disappoint. They only use the freshest ingredients which are in season. That's why the menu keeps changing, another reason why I love going there. The only thing I don't like is its location...not the best looking neighborhood...but then hey, if the food's great, who cares?

Definitely worth the price. Probably one of my more expensive meals but it was very very worth it. High end, unique, and creative Japanese dishes, not limited to sushi. The atmosphere is very comfortable and the staff is very friendly and helpful in explaining what the dishes are.

Great choice for a special dinner. To be honest I have no idea what they're doing in a place like Etobicoke. lol

Absolutely world class restaurant. The flavours are so delicate and balanced. When we were done, it felt like my tastebuds went to the day spa. Worth the splurge every now and then.

Known as one of the best sushi restaurants in the GTA, I was beyond excited to try Sushi Kaji. They have two options - either the Waza menu for $100 or the Takumi for $120.

Occupying the last stretch of an ordinary strip mall in Etobicoke is Sushi Kaji, a small Japanese restaurant known for their long-standing impeccable quality, inventiveness and commitment to excellence. Yeah the restaurant may not look like much from the outside but we all know that looks can be deceiving....

Occupying the last stretch of an ordinary strip mall in Etobicoke is Sushi Kaji, a small Japanese restaurant known for their long-standing impeccable quality, inventiveness and commitment to excellence. Yeah the restaurant may not look like much from the outside (it could easily pass for a typical sushi joint or AYCE restaurant on Bloor St.) but we all know that looks can be deceiving, right? Well, damn right 'cause even after 14 years Sushi Kaji remains as one of the best restaurants in the city (notice I said "restaurant" not just "Japanese restaurant"). Whether Sushi Kaji is indeed the best or not, in whichever category, is irrelevant because food is so subjective. However, what I can confidently say is the following: the dinner I had at Sushi Kaji two weeks ago was the best omakase I've ever had in my life (so far).

So aside from the fact that Sushi Kaji doesn't offer an a la carte menu, what makes this Japanese restaurant so special? The simple answer is chef Mitsuhiro Kaji himself. Chef Kaji has been making sushi ever since he was 13 years old. For more than 10 years he apprenticed under many different master chefs all over Japan. Since immigrating to Canada in 1980, Kaji has opened eight different sushi restaurants. In May of 2000, he finally opened his very own Sushi Kaji.

Just as important as chef Kaji himself, the quality of ingredients also plays a crucial part in Sushi Kaji's success. Chef Kaji believes that the secret of good sushi is to always select best ingredients, and never compromise on quality. Kaji's Japanese supplier flies fish from Tokyo bay within 24 hours after it has been taken from the water. Kaji serves fish in the evening that he has purchased the same morning, never keeping fish overnight. Other ingredients such as vegetables, condiments and even garnishes are also exclusively imported from Japan.

Chef Kaji's attention to detail is commendable as well. He uses different kinds of vinegar during different seasons: a soft and sweeter vinegar in the summer and a slightly more bitter one in the winter. As for soy sauce, chef Kaji prefers to make his own from scratch with dried bonito because he finds regular soy sauce too salty.

Once we sat down at Sushi Kaji the first thing I did was order sake; there's absolutely no way I can fully enjoy an omakase meal without sake! I had my favourite type of sake that evening: nigori.

As I mentioned before, you have the option of two set dinners: either the Waza or the Takumi. Both my date and I chose the Takumi (actually I decided Takumi for the both of us). Don't you know my mantra for tasting menus is always "Go big or go home"? Hah :)

Without further adieu, I present to you Sushi Kaji's "Takumi" dinner:

AMUSE
Simmered daikon radish with chicken miso sauce

APPETIZER
Deep-fried calamari cake, Japanese style omelette, shrimp & mushroom wrapped in egg crepe

SASHIMI
Ocean trout, lobster, octopus, sea bream, amber jack

STEAMED SEA BREAM - DOMYOJI STYLE

SAUTEED SCALLOPS

GRILLED SEA BASS & DUCK WRAPPED IN PAPER

Remember "go big or go home"? As if the Takumi wasn't enough, I decided to order the wagyu sukiyaki too...just for kicks.

Many dishes at Sushi Kaji sound and look simple, but the reality is it couldn't be further from the truth. It's kinda hard to explain but for many dishes Sushi Kaji, layers of flavours seemed to emerge after each bite. From the firm pieces of lobster sashimi and the sweet sakura-flavoured rice ball, to the heftier courses such as the paper-wrapped grilled sea bass and duck, and the spool of green tea noodle floating in a clear consommé, everything seemed simple but yet you know it's anything but that. Can I just say it's pure bliss? And of course the wagyu sukiyaki was amazing. Thin and delicate slices of buttery wagyu layered on top of veggies and udon all in a richly flavoured broth, what more can one ask for? And seriously, the amount of marbling on wagyu never ceases to amaze me...it's all so beautiful. Anyway, moving on to sushi. Toro, lobster, scallop, octopus, abalone, salmon roe, toro, and more toro! Wahhh I'm in heaven :) Even Kaji's desserts were stellar. The yuzu mousse's cloud-like texture and the sweet, velvety green tea cake were delicious. Though tasty, I did find the macaron's vivid, hulk-like green a bit weird.

What an exquisite dinner. I admit this meal sets us back several hundred bucks (ouch!) but I would do it all over again in a heartbeat (yes I'm crazy!)

“The fish melts in my mouth”- that’s how amazing Kaji is. My partner and I came here for our three years anniversary and it was a highlight of our celebration. Every single dish is so spectacular- it’s an eatable art! Chef Kaji is very fun to work with! He is so kind and has a brilliant sense of humour- the whole team made our experience so wonderful It’s worth the price! Please don’t miss out!

Food was great, but nothing amazing or exceptional. Could have been a more personal experience with the chef regardless of where guests were seated at the bar. Bar seating ambiance could be better if the cleaning sink was covered with a plank of wood or cutting board.

Wonderfully quaint restaurant which feels like a private dining setting. Sitting at the bar, watching the master work is an experience. Daily imported fish from Tokyo Bay. Exquisite flavours and presentation. Great for a special occasion.

My all time favourite sushi restaurant in Toronto. Pricey?...yes! Worth it?...definitely. What gives it 5 stars for me...the simplicity and tradition combined with a hint of innovation in the dishes they produce. The sashimi and sushi are also very fresh. It might seem like the portions look small, but the full course meal had us satisfied and feeling full.