39 Best Japanese Restaurants in Ottawa

“My family really loves to eat here.I celebrated my birthday tonight and we had fun we’re all satisfied.It is worth the price!!I also appreciate Sherry for serving us.She is really nice and patient even if we never stopped ordering.Thank you so much!!“

“I had a great dinner with friends on 8 June. Good food of great value. Waiter Samuel is cheerful and helpful.“

“This cozy little sushi spot is family-owned and run by a lovely mother-daughter duo, which gives it such a personal and welcoming touch. The space is quite small, but it has a warm and comfortable vibe that makes you feel right at home. They also offer daily specials during the week, which is a nice bonus and shows they care about keeping things fresh and interesting.

I tried both the Tuna Love and Salmon Love combos. Personally, the tuna didn’t impress me much — it lacked the same freshness and flavor that I was hoping for. The salmon, on the other hand, was absolutely fantastic — fresh, buttery, and perfectly cut. I’d honestly go back just for that combo alone.

The gyoza was the only slight disappointment, as it tasted more like something cooked from frozen rather than made in-house. Still, that’s a small trade-off considering how great the salmon sushi was overall.

If you’re looking for a warm, family-run sushi spot with quality salmon and friendly service, this place is a hidden gem worth checking out!“

“Shinka sushi bar must be the best sushi place I have been to in Ottawa especially for the atmosphere. The food was just a wow, great combinations, fresh fish, optimal flavouring, everything just felt right. I really recommend the Senshi if you love the cheese on sushi combination, have to order this every time we had food from Shinka. If you are a fan of fried sushi definitely pick the Tenji instead dragon roll or Kazu because the flavours truly hit as the crispness is very complimented with fresh avocado instead of everything “greasily” fried like normal fried sushi. But the best one overall for me must be the Subarashi, it is a dine-in only plate for a reason as the fish is kept fresh, this will fit best if you love the fish part of sushi.

Another thing was that I hoped Shinka add more drink options to the menu since it was just mostly alcohol (and ofcourse water, pops and hot tea). But a very bonus point would be because we went during noon and we were kind of the first customers so the place felt so private and cozy for us. Very fun and good experience, I really love and recommend Shinka and 100% will come back.“

“An absolute must for sushi connoisseurs

Perfectly cooked and seasoned rice, high quality seafood that has been skillfully prepared and melts in your mouth! I ordered the Chirashi, my usual go-to, and was not disappointed - hands down the best I’ve had in many years. If you love good sushi, you don’t want to miss out on this hidden gem. Make yourself a reservation - it’s well worth the trip, even if you don’t live in Orleans.“

“I had an amazing experience at rice n roll - the staff were so lovely and friendly and happy to help. The food was delicious and reasonably priced, the tofu poki bowl was so flavourful and so much was included for $23! Would recommend this to anyone looking for a delicious meal!“

“Went early on a Saturday--no wait, hostess was very sweet and attentive. Food arrived quickly, absolutely delicious! We shared an order of takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and chashu don. The okonomiyaki is a specialty item, and absolutely worth it! The store itself is lavishly decorated with posters and toys, many of which are for sale. They also run a seasonal Gachapon--you earn plays based on your bill total. Very fun, a wonderful place to gather with friends.

Aisle were wide enough to pass a walker through but there are steps leading up to the restaurant, music and lighting were mellow“

“Wonderful little place that serves alot of my favourite Japanese comfort food 😋 especially love the Halal teriyaki chicken donburi! location is a little trickey to get to. Just go inside of the front entrance of the Green Valley Office building!“

“Excellent choix! Sushis très frais, choix varié et différent. Tout y est parfait!“

“My son and I love coming here, it’s both of our favourite restaurant. The sushi is phenomenal, the price is fair and the service is always wonderful. Nice quiet dining experience, definitely recommend if you enjoy sushi!“

“Free cotton candy made this review 👍“

“The sushi are really good and the service is amazing! 😍“

“Do you want an exceptional restaurant with amazing delicious food ? Then Tomo should be your new experience. I was awed by the beautiful display of fish and beef . It was so tasty and so attractive . Satisfy your palate with a new expérience at TOMOS!!!! 🌹“

“THE BEST sushi place in town! I absolutely love the food and the wonderful couple that runs it! Their regular items are always superb and the daily specials are always different and excellent! The owners are very welcoming and accommodating!“

“Sushi Fresh took a wet, tired evening in the ByWard Market and quietly turned it into something almost luminous. Rain was still clinging to coats when the door closed behind and the room wrapped everything in a softer light. The staff moved like they actually cared whether the day ended well. Small questions, careful glances, water glasses topped up before they were empty. Nothing showy, just a calm intention that settled the table and slowed the clock a little.

Then the sushi arrived, all together on the most beautiful plate I have ever seen. A long wooden board, smooth and warm, carrying five specialty rolls laid out like a painter’s last careful strokes. Colour everywhere. Deep reds, pale greens, small sparks of orange, each piece holding its place as if it had rehearsed it. For a moment it felt wrong to touch anything. The first bite broke the spell only to build a new one. Rice with the right weight, fish that tasted clean and alive, sauces that whispered instead of shouted. Sharing those rolls in that quiet bubble of warmth while the rain kept falling outside felt strangely intimate. It was only dinner, yet walking out it felt like the kind of small, perfect scene the mind keeps for days when it needs proof that beauty still shows up without warning.“

“Festival Japan Restaurant has great food, no question. Their tempura is the best I’ve had, and their sushi is delicious (not to mention that new Izakaya Bar is fabulous!) Oh! And they enthusiastically support live music!! We all benefit from their great generosity! Hands down, it’s Festival Japan’s friendly and personalized service that makes it so special. Everyone works hard to make sure the customer has a great experience, and in how many places are you greeted and served by the owner?! Way to go, Samantha Liu. You, your staff & your restaurant are awesome! People come in as customers and leave as friends. 💖“

“Creative unique flavours & decent sized rolls (usually between 5-8 pieces depending on your selection). We were fairly full after ordering 4 rolls & chicken karagge. We had the Dynamite, red dragon, salmon oshi, and sunset (my personal favorite where the fish melted in your mouth!)

They don’t take reservations and we arrived 430 (opening hour) on Sunday, and the restaurant was packed by 5! Definitely recommend arriving early.“

“Absolutely delicious. I regularly wait for them to open in the morning for break instead of ordering elsewhere“

“Sushi was really good. We tried to walk in and order, there was some confusion and then we were told to come back in an hour. There are a couple of small tables, but it really isn't an eat in place.
Next time we'll order ahead.“

“Authentic non hyped sushii. The other places are not quality oriented the way Genji is.“

“Great sushi. Only concern is that either I have covid or their wasabi is very weak. Have to add a lot to get that zap“

“Discovered this restaurant today and happy we did. The food was excellent, great experience allowing us to cook our meal while chatting. Attentive service, excellent quality. A lot of food in the options. We really loved the experience and will definitely return.“

“A great family friendly experience. A true gem in the heart of Ottawa. fantastic food, great service and a personalized interaction with your chef. 100% in my books“

“Love this place. The food is so good and authentic, the staff is friendly.

My friend and I both ordered Bento boxes with teriyaki chicken, gyoza, shrimp & veggies tempura, California rolls,rice,ect).

We also order a pot of Japenese green tea.. so good.“

“Love this place!

The sushi is high quality and well priced. They offer plenty of vegetarian options, unlike most places that only have an avocado roll or a generic “mixed veggie” roll. The mushroom tempura and crispy lettuce rolls are especially delicious.

Excellent food, excellent service. I don’t get my sushi anywhere else!“

“First time yesterday and the Sushi was great, now I know why my friends go there often Very friendly as well“

“Visited with a friend on the evening of November 14th. The place was busy and had a great atmosphere. We sat by the window, and I ordered a variety of grilled skewers. However, I was really disappointed that the skewers were unbearably salty, to the point of tasting bitter. Even with the sauce, they were overly salty and sweet. Personally, I prefer my skewers with just a light sprinkle of salt and without any sauce.

I mentioned this to the server, who promptly took the untouched skewers to the kitchen. The kitchen staff tasted them and agreed that they were excessively salty and bitter. They immediately contacted the owner, who comped those skewers from our bill. We were told that a new chef, who had only been working for two weeks, was responsible.

My suggestion: Would it be possible for the chef to set aside a few samples to taste before serving? This way, they can ensure the seasoning is balanced—not too salty or too bland. Overall, I appreciate the staff’s responsiveness and professionalism in handling the situation!“

“Excellent, fresh, sushi. Service was quick, orders were accurate and staff were friendly.“

“Great spot for quick, fresh sushi and poke bowls! The fish is high quality, and the poke bowls are flavorful with generous toppings. Service is friendly but a bit slow during peak hours. Overall, a solid choice for a quick, healthy meal. Will definitely return!“

“I've dined at Japanese Village many times since 1991. I remember seeing the goofy television commercials in the 1980s and ate there when the waitresses still dressed in kimonos. It's always been Ottawa's original simultaneous dinner and a show with the chefs cooking your meal right in front of you.

I went there yesterday for the first time since May 28, 2019 and nothing has changed. The same formula has worked for them since 1973 and there's no need to change it. I had the New York Striploin and Yaki Shrimp and enjoyed my meal as always.

My only complaint is that they need to have a website. This place is very pricey. With tax and tip, my meal came to $75. People should be able to see the menu and the prices. Chez Lucien had this issue for years.

This is a great restaurant to visit every year or two.“

“Omg! It was so good! It tasted so fresh. I had it delivered and it was like I was sitting in the restaurant.
Thank you 🙏 your hard work doesn’t go unnoticed, especially by me.
If you’re wondering I ordered the
11 Pcs /Kamikaze Salmon+ 6
Hosomaki (Combo Kamikaze
Saumon)“

“Extremely fresh ingredients, extra crispy onions on top and perfect other ingredients-rice ratio.

It's not cheap, but also quality comes with a price most of the times. I forgot that here in Canada prices are displayed without taxes, I was hoping to pay 17 dollars for this dish, but I ended paying almost 20.“

“I recently had the crispy ebi, and it was delicious. What truly made the experience stand out, however, was the exceptional service. Murshed not only was incredibly helpful and attentive, but he also made the dish fresh for us, going above and beyond to ensure everything was perfect. Great food paired with outstanding service definitely deserves a second visit.“

“100% recommended! The best Japaneese food ( especially sushi) you can get around. my family from Stratford and Birmingham comes to Redditch just for their sushi. It's always fresh and great variety ( not just sad tuna or salmon rolls). Kids love the bubble teas, the hot pots are amazing. Plum wine and cocktails are also worth mentioning. Staff attentive and friendly - always ready to explain things, let the kids dress up in kimonos.“

“We stopped by this restaurant on Saturday evening with our family of five and were greeted and seated right away. Instead of the all-you-can-eat BBQ, we ordered a variety of dishes from the menu. Even my three picky kids enjoyed everything we tried. We had the bibimbap, bulgogi, seafood platter, pork and potato stew, chicken fried rice, and California rolls. Every dish was perfectly seasoned, full of flavour, and absolutely delicious. We’ll definitely be coming back!“

“One of my favorite spots in Ottawa. L-O-V-E the sushi - especially the speciality rolls. More importantly, the staff is amazing from the hostess who greets you to all the servers. It is always consistently good. It makes for a great dining experience.“

“This is a great place, the staff was super friendly even after I spilt 2 items. They were quick to grab us napkins and help tidy up.

Staff is quick with orders even though they use paper ordering that you just leave on your table.

The food was very good, I would definitely recommend this place if you want all you can eat sushi.“

“Highly Recommend Edo Restaurant!
I had an amazing experience at Edo Restaurant and wanted to share it. The food is not only delicious but also offers great halal options, making it a perfect choice for those seeking quality and diet-friendly meals. The workers are extremely friendly and willing to help, creating a welcoming and pleasant atmosphere. If you’re looking for a place that serves fresh, flavorful dishes with halal choices and excellent customer service, Edo is definitely worth trying. You won’t be disappointed!“