Sushi-Ya Japan — Restaurant in Toronto

Dear Owner,

I’m writing to formally report a disturbing incident at your Toronto location involving two of your staff—one named Helan, the other deliberately forgettable.

As an Asian woman dining alone, I experienced clear disrespect and discriminatory behavior. Before I could even order, your staff removed the beverage menu from my table without a word. No greeting, no eye contact—just erasure. I was treated as if I didn’t exist.

This wasn’t a misunderstanding. It was stereotyping. It was internalized racism from your own staff toward someone who looks like them. That’s what makes it worse.

I came in for lunch. I left feeling dehumanized.

Other customers seemed to notice a shift too. One commented, “It used to be quiet here. I think I’ll leave…” The energy has changed—and not in a good way.

I’m not here to start drama. I’m here to hold people accountable. When Asian women are disrespected by fellow Asians in professional spaces, that’s not just bad service. That’s a betrayal of dignity.

I became a member just to make sure you receive this message. If you care about your business and your values, you’ll investigate this and take action.

No more passive discrimination. No more silent hierarchy. We’re not nobodies. We’re paying customers—and we see everything.

Sincerely, Shan Zhou

The final server was Jade she was kind and made me feel much better the tips are all for her and sushi chef Guam and Tony …..

The food was great and don’t get me wrong that was my attention got caught because the food reputation was nice….

But I want you all know that stand up for yourself then your own kind then every one is worthy since we are...

This restaurant is often my lifeline to satisfy my hunger whenever I go to Anime North - because having proper food is important (energy drinks and snacks are NOT meal substitutes!), especially if you need to march around a convention for 12+ hours.

This restaurant is very small (if you come here with a party that's bigger than 4 people, you will definitely need to wait for a table) but since I often come here on my own or with a friend at most, there are lots of single seating or dual seating options - worst case scenario, you'll have to sit at the sushi bar.

The bento box options are pretty decent, but the sushi/sashimi combos are easily the best you can get (having food THIS good is a godsend at a convention environment, where the only options are often pizzas, poutines, burgers, or high-fat comfort foods - I'd kill for food this amazing at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre) and at a decent price too. I was able to get a full sushi and sashimi platter combo for around 25 dollars, and it was perhaps some of the best I've had especially for what I was paying for. If you are a big eater though, you might have to order more food - but Japanese restaurants in general are not known to serve big portions.

The waitresses were also very accommodating with me when it came to my cosplay props (I often carry big gun props, and they weren't bothered by the fact I was bringing heavy artillery pieces and cumbersome body armor into an already cramped environment).

Hopefully this restaurant stays in business for many years to come. They're doing congoers a big favor by offering them actual food at a...

My recent visit to Sushi Ya left me deeply disappointed and disrespected, prompting me to share my experience with others.

I was appalled by the unethical conduct displayed by Sushi Ya's staff when I chose not to leave a tip. This decision was influenced by a previous incident where I discovered they had tipped themselves without my consent on a prior order. Such behavior not only violates trust but also demonstrates a complete disregard for customer autonomy.

Moreover, the quality of service during my visit was unsatisfactory. The staff appeared indifferent and inattentive, failing to address basic requests promptly. Additionally, the atmosphere lacked warmth and hospitality, contributing to an overall unpleasant dining experience.

To compound matters, the final interaction with the staff was deeply disrespectful. When I explained my decision not to tip, I was met with a dismissive remark suggesting that if I didn't want to tip, I should not return. This dismissive attitude towards customer feedback is unacceptable and speaks volumes about Sushi Ya's values.

While the food at Sushi Ya may be decent, it is overshadowed by the establishment's unethical practices and lack of respect for customers. I cannot, in good conscience, recommend Sushi Ya until they address their unethical behavior and improve their customer service standards.

In conclusion, I advise potential patrons to think twice before dining at Sushi Ya. Until they demonstrate a commitment to integrity and respectful treatment of customers, I will be taking my business elsewhere, where it is valued and...