The Humble Lotus — Attraction in Kitchener

Humble Lotus has quickly become my favourite sushi restaurant in KW.

From an experience point of view, Jared and My are very kind, welcoming folks. My second time to the restaurant, in March 2023, I brought in a date (I'm a gay man) and they made us feel not just accepted, but welcomed into the space. Many spaces feel inclusive, but this was a the rare experience where as a gay couple I felt wanted and welcomed into the space. I've had very few experiences like that and it won me over instantly.

Since that experience I've been back nearly every week to grab sushi. I take food photos as a hobby, so I've included some photos of my favourite rolls over the last 6 months (I paid for all of these rolls, I just do the photos for fun.)

From a food point of view, the food is incredible. The sushi is very fresh, I always feel great after eating it. The flavour combinations are unique and interesting with a real focus on local ingredients and seasonality that you rarely see in sushi in KW. In contrast to the many AYCE places, this is very high end sushi and you can feel the care put into every roll.

The shop is quite small, so I would plan for takeout. There are currently only two seats. If you do want to sit down and chat with Jared and My, I would recommend going at a less busy time. If you are able to make time to get to know Jared and My you will meet some of the loveliest people in our community.

From a personal point of view, I very much appreciate how much Jared and My are focused on giving back to the community, particularly through their partnership with Food4Kids Waterloo Region, and also with their commitment to using all compostable packaging, and being able to serve the...

My wife and I had the privilege of reserving the Chef's Table at the Humble Lotus last week, and let me tell you, it was an absolutely amazing experience! From the moment we walked in, Jared and My treated us like VIPs, and their attention to detail throughout the entire evening left us completely stunned.

Imagine being served course after course of exceptional quality ingredients that were prepared with meticulous care and paired perfectly with their own beautifully crafted sauces. Each dish was thoughtfully accompanied with exquisite trimmings that left us in awe and eager for more. They started off with some of our all-time favorites and seamlessly transitioned into a series of off-menu surprises that continued to exceed our expectations. I cannot stress enough just how exceptional the dishes we savored that day were—they easily rank among the best culinary experiences we've ever had. I'm not exaggerating one bit.

It's worth mentioning that we've been loyal patrons of the Humble Lotus since it first opened, so over time, we've together come to know exactly what our ideal dining experience should be. However, Jared and My truly showcased their cooking skills, and every single dish they presented was nothing short of amazing. Their genuine passion for creating and sharing an unforgettable culinary journey is evident in every bite.

We had an incredibly enjoyable time at the Humble Lotus, and we will definitely be returning for our anniversary dinner and more.

Thank you...

I have passed The Humble Lotus many times on my way to the Kitchener market and heard about their good reputation for fresh takeout sushi. Today was my son's birthday, and I made the spontaneous decision to get him some unagi(eel) rolls for lunch, his favourite. My expericence blew even my high expectations. Although the place was still half an hour away from officially opening, Jared and My (apologies for not asking them their names when I was in; I inferred them from other posts) welcomed me in with kindness. I told them about my plan, and that I would return from the market half an hour later to pick up the rolls. When I did, a take-out bag decorated with hearts and birthday greetings awaited me, with a personalized post-it note with personalized birthday wishes for my son on the sushi box inside. It made for big smiles on my son's face at home, and we all loved the extraordinary freshness of the ingredients, especially the generous amount of avocado in the rolls, and ginger/wasabi outside. Yes, it's somewhat pricier than Zehrs or T&T, but definitely worth the difference, in terms of freshness and warm-hearted service. Bonus points for sustainability: Instead of just stuffing my take-out bag with unneeded cutlery, chopsticks and napkins, they asked me specifically what I needed (just soy sauce in my case). I can only wish them continued success and longevity in their business, and it won't be long until I come back to try some of the other rolls/items the other...