Sushi Kaji Restaurant — Restaurant in Toronto

I'm sincerely disappointed with this restaurant and the experience we had.

This is not just another typical 'low-star review' intended to bash omakase prices and quantity, but rather to caution anyone looking for a top-notch experience to look elsewhere in Toronto.

Our family frequently enjoys sampling Omakase menus and chose to come here to celebrate a birthday.

We were not welcomed at the restaurant, nor when we sat down at the bar for our reservation. "Vaccine check - have a seat - here's your first dish." Seriously. The attitude of two of the servers there were shocking - for one individual (the young male staff member moving food around), he looked like he'd rather pound salt than be present there that evening. Scowling, smirking, glaring at the diners, and throwing packaged items on the bar and around the counter was EXTREMELY off-putting not only for us, but other customers as well. The fish was NOT prepared fresh or in front of you. For a close to $400 Omakase experience for two, you would expect the chefs to welcome you, at least communicate, or show you the preparation of the food in front of you. None of this happened. The first dish was fried chicken (?!) in 'sweet vinegar sauce.' The vinegar was so acidic it made me cough, the chicken was cold and soggy. Never had such an experience for a first dish before. Sashimi pieces were not a highlight - you can tell it was soaked in water for far too long, slices were thin, tasteless, and had no variety. Kombu seaweed on the side was bland and totally stale. There were a couple of good sushi pieces of note, but did not live up to simple expectation. *There was a piece of tako sushi that tasted like it was just thrown into the microwave after having sat in the freezer for two months. More shockingly, there was an insulting amount of GARLIC MUSTARD SAUCE on top. I even asked the chef to confirm and they said with pride that it was garlic mustard sauce. Terrible combination and I still regret eating that piece of sushi since leaving the restaurant. I still remember that sauce making my throat burn.

Kaji himself came out to say hi for two minutes. A lovely lady (his wife?) preparing food was also nice. Is that worth a $400 price tag for "Omakase"?

Would not recommend. Would NOT return. Didn't bother taking photos.

Go to Yasu. Go to Kibo. Or...

The hype for this spot couldn’t be more deserved. My husband and I celebrated our anniversary here last night in lieu of a trip to Japan, and it was an experience we’ll remember for a long time.

The service was impeccable—every staff member was friendly, attentive, and intuitive. From the moment we walked in to the moment we paid the bill, we felt thoughtfully cared for without a single detail overlooked.

We chose to sit at the counter (highly recommended) to fully appreciate the artistry and precision behind every dish. From the delicate brush of wasabi to the perfectly placed furikake, each bite was meticulously prepared.

We began with chicken dumplings, followed by black cod with a traditional Japanese omelette, and tuna tataki—all of which were divine. What followed was an array of the freshest sushi we’ve ever had, each piece presented with just the right amount of wasabi, fresh ginger for cleansing the palate, and helpful instructions on which should be dipped in soy sauce. A highlight was ending the sushi course with BBQ eel and a hand roll personally prepared by Chef Kaji.

To close the savoury portion, we enjoyed cold soba noodles in a light broth with tempura flakes—slightly sweeter than my personal preference, but still delicious. Dessert was a creative play on blueberry cheesecake, with cottage cheese, whipped cream, fresh blueberries, and graham cracker crumble. It was the perfect finale: indulgent yet light and refreshing.

Overall, Sushi Kaji is an absolute gem. It offers traditional Japanese cuisine and fine dining at its highest level—elevated yet approachable, without unnecessary pretentiousness. I couldn’t...

It’s kind of hard to wrap your head around this small, unassuming, almost “hole-in-the-wall” style sushi spot. It’s always busy, with only a handful of tables and seating along the sushi bar. The decor, atmosphere and drink menu is just as sparse and causal as any other neighbourhood sushi spot, and patrons roll in wearing old jeans and T-shirts - nothing fancy. Yet, at $500+ for dinner for two people (that’s just for the food - no drinks) Sushi Kaji is easily one of the top 20 most expensive restaurants in North America, possibly one of the most expensive restaurants in the world. If you add a bottle of wine (there are two choices of red and two choices of white - bottles only, not by the glass, and we are not talking like sommelier-selected wines, just run of the mill bottles, they do have several saki selections however) or let’s say you each add a side of steak to your meal (for an additional $85pp) it wouldn’t be at all hard to spend over $800 for dinner for two people with tip and tax (easily double what you’d pay for dinner at a four diamond AAA rated restaurant). So, is the food delicious? Yes it is absolutely delicious, no one could ever say that sushi kaji doesn’t serve delicious food. Also, the prefix menus (which are the only option - no a la carte) does include lots of food - it just keeps coming, and it is definitely the best sushi and sashimi I’ve ever had - inventive, beautifully presented, excellent quality, really very tasty. BUT is the whole dining experience really worth the one-of-the-most-expensive-restaurants-around price tag? I just don’t think so. It’s really good, but...