Aka-Oni Izakaya & Ramen — Restaurant in Richmond Hill

Aka-Oni Izakaya & Ramen is a Japanese eatery offering a genuine culinary experience, with authentic options like sushi, ramen, and yakitori, complemented by a selection of premium sake. From the moment patrons arrive, they are captivated by the warm and cozy decor, which echoes the classic charm of Japan's intimate izakayas.

Following a friend's recommendation, we went to this restaurant for lunch, although my sister had forgotten to book a table. Thankfully, the waitress granted us an hour to enjoy our meal. The menu features an impressive range of exquisite cuisine, and the variety on offer left me spoiled for choice.

Our order included the maki set, tonkatsu don, toza tofu, and a blind box, a special offering that allows the chef to prepare four dishes at his discretion, without being listed on the menu. Upon arrival, our blind box was opened by the waiter, who allowed us to capture the moment on video, revealing a selection of expertly prepared dishes, including salmon roe wrapped in cucumber, chili wrapped in beef, crab with avocado on a taco, and marinated sea snail. Each dish was a testament to the chef's skill. Furthermore, we enjoyed complimentary miso soup and salad, which provided a refreshing start to our meal. The miso soup was notable for its balanced flavor, lacking excessive saltiness, and the inclusion of a clam, indicating that the soup was cooked with seafood, thereby enhancing its flavor.

We were told by our friend that she had tried the house specialties, such as Hokkaido King Crab Milk Ramen, Barbecued Eel Thin Crust Pancake, and Grilled Dried Spanish Mackerel, a delicacy that undergoes a meticulous cooking process involving extensive marinating and drying. Nevertheless, we opted to try our own preferred dishes first and save the house specialties for another occasion. The Maki set showcased fresh ingredients, with the rice expertly cooked, featuring a texture that struck a balance between hardness and looseness, a significant improvement over other restaurants, where the maki rice tends to be either overcooked or undercooked. The dishes are impressively fresh, skillfully prepared, and visually appealing. The toza tofu served in a special sauce featured a satisfying crunch on the outside and a soft texture on the inside. The tonkatsu was crispy on the outside and juicy and tender on the inside. The meal included ice cream -- I selected the Yuzu, which was invigorating. The tofu crème brûlée ($1.50) is highly recommended. It is an exceptionally delicious dessert to cap off a wonderful meal.

For added seclusion, the booths incorporate a cloth drape acting as a screen, making them well-suited for capturing Instagram photos and friends/family gatherings without distractions.

The service was quick, and our server Emma was attentive and courteous. Good servers with good manners who are willing to provide excellent service are hard to come by these days.

For sushi enthusiasts, this place is a must-visit. To avoid disappointment, a reservation is highly recommended.

Some tips:

A more economical option is the lunch menu, which offers better value than the dinner menu. Finding an available parking spot during rush hour can be somewhat challenging. The blind box is an absolute must-order, as it is sure to exceed...

Came here Friday at 5:30pm with 2 friends and we made sure to make a reservation beforehand. They let us know when we made the reservation that they have a 1 1/2hr policy, which was fine with us. Unfortunately, their 1 1/2hr policy is more like a 45min policy... I really wish I was kidding but this whole experience was like a fever dream and incredibly unpleasant.

The server was rushing us from the moment we sat down- as in handed us the menus and immediately asked us what we wanted to order 4 times in row barely a moment apart. The food itself was fine but honestly I barely remember it, as I was not even 1/3 of the way through my ramen when the waitress came by and demanded what we want for dessert. I was so confused as 1) I was keeping an eye on the time and we still had an hour 2) there was literally an empty table behind us and 3) there was nobody waiting.

But ok, we order ice cream and the waitress drops off the dessert along with our check. We ask her if she can split the check while I'm trying to eat this ramen as fast as possible like I'm competing against Matt stonie or something. She refuses to split the check, which was weird, but my friend is kind enough to offer to pay and says we can e-transfer her after. Great!

So the waitress brings over the lil terminal machine and, I kid you not, watches over my friends shoulder as she pays. We're all extremely uncomfortable at this point and my friend is kind enough to still tip her, but apparently not enough to the server's liking. So, this waitress asks us what the problem is- "what's wrong? was the food bad? was the service bad?" I tell her the food was fine but I feel very rushed and uncomfortable, and we still have 30mins left..

I really wish I was kidding but this lady reaches over the table and GRABS MY PHONE to show me the time. First of all, please don't touch my stuff without my permission. Second of all, I tell her yes it literally says it's 6:30pm. Our reservation started at 5:30, so we still have 30mins.. I guess she realizes her mistake at this point but instead of apologizing or just backing off, she decides to double down and starts raising her voice and blubbering something about how there's lots of reservations and people waiting and a bunch of other things and making a scene and then DEMANDS THAT WE TIP HER MORE. We're all sitting there in shock, I still can't believe this happened as I'm writing this. Looking back, I really wish I had stopped my friend but she just reached into her wallet and gave her some coins for more tip.

Here's a tip for restaurants: if your policy is 1 1/2 hour, then it's 1 1/2 hour no matter if there are people waiting, or other reservations or whatever your excuse is- it's not the customers fault if you choose to overbook (which was not even the case here- there was nobody waiting and an empty table right behind us...)

So yeah. Hard pass. If you want food here that badly, order takeaway. I've had lots of interesting experiences before but this was a...

Frequently overlooked, seldomly disappoints!

It never ceases to amaze me as to why this super busy and popular Richmond Hill Japanese eatery has constantly been overlooked when the topic of note-worthy Izakaya was being discussed. Featuring one of the largest selections of Sake in town, this buzzing and intimate eating house also features a vast and diverse menu. Offering a whole slew of favorite Japanese casual fare, these range from Yakitoris and Skewers to Sushi/Sashimi to fried and baked dishes to Ramen and Dons. As well, daily specials using special exotic ingredients, air freight from Japan, such as Hokkaido Uni, Abalone and Kinki fish from Japanese water, A5 Japanese Wagyu….etc were separately listed. Despite its huge offering of different food repertoires and dishes, the skilled kitchen managed to maintain and deliver across the entire spectrum, an extremely high standard of cooking.

Tonight’s standout dishes extend from start to finish. They include the sashimi platter, featuring some impeccably fresh and generously portioned seafood selection. The bowl of rich and creamy butter infused Tonkotsu Ramen with, again, generous slices of Char-Siu and a top-notched flavorful broth. The nicely charred and tender Angus steak and Ox-tongue skewers were exemplary...may be the best I have tasted in town, including Zakkushi! The medium rare interior was moist and juicy, the caramelized exterior, well glazed with thick and delectable Teriyaki sauce. The multi-dimensional ‘ Oyster Bomb ‘ Maki features layers of flavor and texture, resulting in a most enjoyable mouth-feel.

Service was friendly and attentive.

Overall, a most delightful dining experience.

BTW, on busy weekends, all tables are assigned only an hour and a...