Came by for a pretty quick lunch. Wasn’t really impressed by the meal. Sushi wasn’t that great/didnt taste very fresh. Dessert was also mediocre.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Lobster Miso Soup
Ralph Damico
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.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Panna Cotta, Lobster Miso Soup, Jabistroll, Aburi Sushi
Adele
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.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: 板压寿司
Nicole Bartner
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!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Panna Cotta, Lobster Miso Soup, Agedashi
May Tran
Absolutely ? ? ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
B
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!
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 3
Paul Nazareth
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 timeThis 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.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lobster Miso Soup
Noel Mirzoyev
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.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Johnny Hsu
This Japanese restaurant is very nice with its service, and I think the excellent service just reflects the price. We really like this restaurant, but the only weak point in our opinion is the price…….
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Koren Chou
Made a reservation for a Friday night dinner. Started off with the wagyu carpaccio, which was unique and flavourful. Highlight for us was the oshizushi - we tried the salmon, wagyu and scallop (all delicious but I would definitely recommend the salmon). Sashimi was ok - tasted fresh but wasn't particularly memorable. 4-stars given the price point.
Heard two friends recommending this place but they all came before COVID, I have to say now the food here is awful!!!The sashimi is icy, they didn’t give enough time to soften.The texture of wagyu foie gras tastes like cheap beef, not like wagyu.The seafood roll (jabistro roll) was just like those sushi to go that you can find at a train station.The fish cheek was sooooo salty, just like the lobster miso soup. I honestly never had such salty Japanese food before, even if it’s fusion, it should be like this!!!!In sum, this place is NOT worth the price at all!!!!避雷！！！！
I have been a loyal customer of JA Bistro for years, and I can confidently say that it is one of the best Japanese restaurants in town. Every time I dine here, I am always left satisfied and impressed by the quality of the food and service.My absolute favorite dishes at JA Bistro are the aburi salmon and aburi shrimp sushi. The way they perfectly torch and sear the fish just elevates the flavors to a whole new level. The freshness of the ingredients is always evident, and the presentation is always impeccable.The staff at JA Bistro are always welcoming and attentive, making sure that every dining experience is a memorable one. They are knowledgeable about the menu and are always happy to make recommendations based on your preferences.If you are a fan of aburi sushi, I can confidently say that JA Bistro makes the best ones. The flavours are outstanding, and the texture is just perfect. I highly recommend trying them out if you haven't already.Overall, JA Bistro is a gem of a restaurant that never disappoints. Whether you are a regular like me or a first-time visitor, you are sure to have a fantastic dining experience. I will continue to dine at JA Bistro for years to come and look forward to enjoying more of their delicious offerings.
Delicious sushi! Good value for money. I got the lunch prix fixe which came with lobster miso soup, wagyu+uni+7pcs sashimi, 5pcs nigiri, and 5pcs aburi. Also, a panna Cotta which had a delicious sweet yet nutty and creamy flavour. (However the sauce on it was much too sweet). Torched Saba/mackerel was my favorite. Jabistroll had a very nice texture too.
Michael Halualani
lunch pre fixe was great. lovely presentation. good sushi and cold sake, what more do you need?
Came by for a pretty quick lunch. Wasn’t really impressed by the meal. Sushi wasn’t that great/didnt taste very fresh. Dessert was also mediocre.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Lobster Miso Soup
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.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Panna Cotta, Lobster Miso Soup, Jabistroll, Aburi Sushi
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.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: 板压寿司
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!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Panna Cotta, Lobster Miso Soup, Agedashi
Absolutely ? ? ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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!
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 3
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 timeThis 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.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lobster Miso Soup
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.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This Japanese restaurant is very nice with its service, and I think the excellent service just reflects the price. We really like this restaurant, but the only weak point in our opinion is the price…….
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Made a reservation for a Friday night dinner. Started off with the wagyu carpaccio, which was unique and flavourful. Highlight for us was the oshizushi - we tried the salmon, wagyu and scallop (all delicious but I would definitely recommend the salmon). Sashimi was ok - tasted fresh but wasn't particularly memorable. 4-stars given the price point.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Heard two friends recommending this place but they all came before COVID, I have to say now the food here is awful!!!The sashimi is icy, they didn’t give enough time to soften.The texture of wagyu foie gras tastes like cheap beef, not like wagyu.The seafood roll (jabistro roll) was just like those sushi to go that you can find at a train station.The fish cheek was sooooo salty, just like the lobster miso soup. I honestly never had such salty Japanese food before, even if it’s fusion, it should be like this!!!!In sum, this place is NOT worth the price at all!!!!避雷！！！！
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Lobster Miso Soup, Wagyu, Sashimi Sampler, Jabistroll
I have been a loyal customer of JA Bistro for years, and I can confidently say that it is one of the best Japanese restaurants in town. Every time I dine here, I am always left satisfied and impressed by the quality of the food and service.My absolute favorite dishes at JA Bistro are the aburi salmon and aburi shrimp sushi. The way they perfectly torch and sear the fish just elevates the flavors to a whole new level. The freshness of the ingredients is always evident, and the presentation is always impeccable.The staff at JA Bistro are always welcoming and attentive, making sure that every dining experience is a memorable one. They are knowledgeable about the menu and are always happy to make recommendations based on your preferences.If you are a fan of aburi sushi, I can confidently say that JA Bistro makes the best ones. The flavours are outstanding, and the texture is just perfect. I highly recommend trying them out if you haven't already.Overall, JA Bistro is a gem of a restaurant that never disappoints. Whether you are a regular like me or a first-time visitor, you are sure to have a fantastic dining experience. I will continue to dine at JA Bistro for years to come and look forward to enjoying more of their delicious offerings.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Lobster Miso Soup, Wagyu Oshizushi, Aburicious, Wagyu, Sashimi Sampler, Platter
Delicious sushi! Good value for money. I got the lunch prix fixe which came with lobster miso soup, wagyu+uni+7pcs sashimi, 5pcs nigiri, and 5pcs aburi. Also, a panna Cotta which had a delicious sweet yet nutty and creamy flavour. (However the sauce on it was much too sweet). Torched Saba/mackerel was my favorite. Jabistroll had a very nice texture too.
lunch pre fixe was great. lovely presentation. good sushi and cold sake, what more do you need?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lunch course is super super
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5