Gonoe Sushi — Restaurant in Toronto

I recently visited Gonoe Sushi and overall, it was a very pleasant dining experience that I’d gladly recommend to sushi lovers looking for authentic flavors and good service.

Food: The sushi here is fresh, flavorful, and thoughtfully presented. I especially enjoyed the Dragon Roll and Salmon Sashimi — both were melt-in-the-mouth quality. The Spicy Tuna Roll also had a nice kick without overpowering the freshness of the tuna. Portion sizes are generous for the price, and the ingredients seem high quality. Miso soup and edamame were good starters, though not extraordinary.

Service: Staff were polite, prompt, and attentive. We didn’t have to wait long between courses, and they were happy to answer questions about the menu. One small miss: our server forgot one item we ordered, but quickly corrected it once reminded, so no major issue.

Ambience: The setting is warm and welcoming — simple Japanese decor, clean seating arrangement, and a cozy atmosphere that works well for both casual meals and small celebrations. It can get a bit noisy during peak hours, but nothing too disruptive.

Value for Money: Pricing is reasonable considering the freshness and quality of the food. Some specialty rolls may feel slightly on the higher end, but overall...

This restaurant is awesome. I had almost given up on sushi in Toronto - there aren't a lot of spots that I enjoy anymore. Everything here just hit the spot, from the service, to the environment, to the sushi. It looks non-descript outside but there is more than meets the eye.

We ordered the small sushi and sashimi boat ($59). It came with around 40 pieces - 6 maki rolls, around 15 sushi pieces, and the remainder sashimi. There were various types of fish, my favorite was the tuna. Some of the fish tasted more fresh than others, but I wasn't too bothered by that. I would definitely reccommend this boat - the presentation is top tier and the price is reasonable. We also ordered a chicken karaage as a starter, which I didn't 100% enjoy - it was tasty but not what I expected. The outer shell is a bit hard for my liking and there wasn't enough sauce. I'd get something else next time.

Also appreciated the free edamame to start. Overall it was a very fullsome meal and ended at around $100 including tax and tip for two people. Pretty reasonable in Toronto, and the meal could have been done for cheaper if you ordered a dinner set each or skipped on the fancy presentation....

Subsequent owners have not lived up to original Gonoe (5star)- founder provided amazing quality with value pricing and superb service (a couple of decades ago). Current food quality is good (fish is good, sushi rice is well made) but pricing is high for what you get (stingy portions of very regular fare,). Also, do not keep to posted hours, recently went in one hour before closing and was advised kitchen is closed.

Further to the response of the owner - I have lived in the area since 1998. It is difficult for me to relate to you the high level of service, quality and food delivered by the original owner - you simply would not understand. There is no indication in your response that you actually understand customer service or how to deal with and service actual human beings. Again, you rice is good, fish is ok, presentation/quantity is very poor. If you are closing your kitchen early, post in on your website. I wish I could give your facility a 0 star, but to be fair, the small scrumpled sushi pieces you offer are with good rice and ok fish (the rice is just so...