Sake Bar Kushi — Restaurant in Toronto

First few times we went we loved the place, great selection of sake, food is ok, but servers are very nice and friendly and the atmosphere in their back "party" room is so good so this weekend we decided to go and celebrate birthday at this place and we really trusted them with the event. I called to make a reservation over the phone and we were told that if this is a big party you have to pay a $10 deposit per person which will be taken off the bill at the end and we were okay with it. We had a reservation for 11 people and you know how it happens someone is always late so when me and my boyfriend got to Kushi on time they refused to sit us and they told us that we had to wait for everyone to come. This was never mentioned at the time of the actual reservation so we though that this is not fair. After 25-30 minutes of sitting in the waiting area they finally decided to sit us. Everything went great, servers were great as always and when the time came to pay for a bill we've realized that the all the Sapporo beer that they have on special after 9pm and that we were ordering was calculated at the regular price. Let me also mention that at the time when the deposit was brought in we specifically asked if the special will apply to us and they said that all will be taken care of which it wasn't. We mentioned it and we also mentioned the fact that we had to wait for 25 minutes to get our table that we reserved and we came on time and we dont appreciate the fact that in addition to this we also have to overpay now. This is very sad and we just wanted to mention it because we really liked the place. After some time of chatting with the manager he smashed our check and said that we dont owe them anything. We tried to pay and tried to convince him that this is not what we were trying to get at and he just said it again that we dont owe anything so we just went back to finish our food and drinks. And also because we were told that we dont have to pay for our bill we diced to leave a tip for server on the table because they were very nice and very helpful the whole night. When we were ready to go the manager came back and he said that we had to pay because we were aware of the fact that we had to have the whole party to be seated because they mention it online. Where as I said that we made the reservation over the phone and I told the manager that it was their responsibility to let me know about all the rules that have prior. And this is such a stupid excuse to give if you changed you mind you can just say sorry and ask us to pay. Let me also mention that we didn't hear sorry from the manager even once, he never apologized for such behaviour or for any other issues that we went through. We ended up paying our bill and taking our tip back. We are never going to this...

I recently went to Sake Bar Kushi on Eglinton and overall I would say it’s a good spot with potential, but there are definitely a few things worth mentioning so people know what to expect.

First off, the atmosphere is fun and lively. It has that modern Japanese bar feel with dim lighting, a cozy vibe, and lots of energy in the room. It’s a place that makes you want to stay for a couple of hours, order a few skewers, and enjoy sake with friends. The staff were friendly and attentive, which stood out right away. They greeted us warmly, explained the menu clearly, and made sure our drinks and food came out in good time. Service-wise, I can’t complain — they were on top of things and created a welcoming experience.

Now, when it comes to the food, it was good but could be better. The skewers and small plates were enjoyable, but they didn’t blow me away. Some dishes were nicely seasoned and came out hot and fresh, while others felt a little underwhelming or just average. The presentation was neat and appealing, but the taste didn’t always match the visual expectation. For a place that builds its concept around skewers and sake pairings, I think there’s room to elevate the flavors and consistency. I wouldn’t say the food is bad at all — it’s tasty enough for a casual evening — but if you’re expecting a truly memorable culinary experience, you might leave thinking it could have been just a little better.

Another thing to note is the space itself. The rooms are very tight, and the tables are quite close together. It’s cozy to the point of feeling cramped, and when the restaurant gets busy it can feel almost overcrowded. If you’re someone who likes a bit more personal space when dining, or if you’re going with a larger group, this might be something to consider. It works fine for a quick meal or drinks with a friend or two, but it’s not the kind of place where you’ll feel like you can spread out and relax.

On the positive side, the drinks menu is impressive. They offer a solid selection of sake that pairs nicely with the food, and the staff are happy to make recommendations if you’re not familiar with different varieties. That alone makes it worth visiting if you’re into exploring sake or just want something different from the usual bar options in Toronto.

Overall, I’d say Sake Bar Kushi is a great spot for atmosphere, service, and drinks, with food that’s decent but not necessarily the star of the show. It’s fun, unique, and worth trying at least once, especially if you’re in the area and want a Japanese izakaya-style experience. If they put a bit more focus into improving the food and maybe rethinking the spacing, it could easily become one of the standout places...

NOT EVEN WORTH ONE STAR. DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME AND MONEY THERE.

They don't know the definition of reservation. NO POINT OF MAKINNG A RESERVATION UNLESS ALL OF YOU ARE GOING IN ALL TOGETHER. We had a reservation of 6 people but we were not sitted because all my friends were not there yet. Me and my bf were there at 8.50 and asked if our table for 6 at 9pm was ready. We were not sitted till 9.30 and the owner''s excuse was" oh we had a party of 50 and only 19 came in and blah blah blah". HONESTLY, I'M NOT SURE IF HE IS STUPID OR JUST BEING DIFFICULT. we made a reservation for 6 and 4 of us were already there before 9. They didn't want to sit us cause all 6 of us were not there. DOESN'T MAKE SENSE AT ALL.

IF YOU ARE KOREAN, YOU WILL GET DISCRIMINATED. For some reason it looks like they don't welcome Koreans. When I tried to make a reservation in Korean, they refused by saying they don't take any reservation on weekends. Then I called back and asked for a table in English and they got me a table.

CUSTOMER SERVICE IS JUST HORRIBLE. Okay. you guys open door for cusomers and shout out some Japanese words to pretend that it's a real izakaya. BUT learn how to treat people right first. People don't care if you guys shout whatever or open doors for them. You guys basically kicked us out by not sitting us on the table for hours although WE WERE THERE ON TIME. AND beside that, the restaurant was freaking empty. SMH.... LEARN HOW TO TREAT PEOPLE FIRST.

If you are a foreigner, they might treat you better but you will see how dumb and stupid their business is overall.

그리고 한국분들은 영어 쓰세요. 한국어 하면 예약도 안받고 가서 손님 대접도 ㅈ같이 받으니까. 예약하셨으면 꼭 그 인원수 문앞에서 만나서 들어가세요 손잡고. 예약해도 테이블 안줍니다.

주인한테 말을해도 사람면상 보지도 않고 무시하고 직원들만 불쌍하네요.... 저런사장밑에서 어떤취급을 당하면서 일할지 너무 뻔히 보임.

6명이갔는데 4명이 미리와있었는데도 예약한 테이블을 줄수없다는건 어디서나온 장사비법인지 결국엔 그냥 박차고나왔는데 미안하다 그딴말도 없고 결국엔 사장은 숨어버렸습니다.

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