Located in the heart of the plateau in Montreal, Kitano Shokudo is a cozy and delightful Japanese restaurant that serves you quality handmade dishes, amazing unique sakes and wines as well remarkable service. This amazing bistro gives you a Japanese experience that you won’t want to miss!
At Chef Hiroshi Kitano’s Plateau restaurant, precise technique meets inventive twists on classic Japanese dishes. Made with top-tier local and Japanese ingredients, the fresh fish donburi and chirashi bowls stand out as some of the city's finest, while dishes like the uni carbonara, which weave in French and Italian influences, leave a lasting impression.
Patrons describe Kitano Shokudo as a tiny, intimate spot with a warm, minimalist vibe where fresh sashimi and carefully executed Japanese dishes take center stage. Standout items include duck mazemen, uni mezemen, chirashi and miso bowls, with sashimi praised for exceptional freshness, though some feel the ramen is overpriced and the broth underwhelming for the price. The two person operation can make service feel uneven or a little distant, even as when staff are present the service is friendly and attentive. Despite this, it is hailed by many as one of the best Japanese spots in Montreal outside Japan, thanks to quality, presentation and a lively atmosphere. Reservations are recommended because the space is tiny, and the overall tone is that the food justifies a visit for those seeking authentic, ingredient driven Japanese cuisine.
Beware of'authentic'. The service is light-years away from any joint in Japan - no complimentary snack with your drink, ages between ordering & being served. The ramen is an exercise in blandness. Textures might be fine yet flavour is totally absent. For a fraction of the price, in Japan, a bowl of ramen is a trip though layers of different tastes. I'll surely won't come back.
Mar 19, 2026
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The Brussels sprouts were the best thing I've ever eaten. The bluefin tuna was the freshest fish I've ever had. The sommelier was very helpful in choosing a wine & sake. The yuzu tarte for dessert was divine. Overall, a perfect experience with friendly, efficient service.
Nothing really special with their overpriced ramen. Broth was so mid & tasted like water with just MSG. There were only 2 people working at that time (1 as cook & 1 as host) so service & food was mid as hell.
First dish was the Karage (fried chicken): $9 ($3 a piece) 8/10 nice tender & felt like a wonton based on the coating.
Chirashi: $42 lots of different types of sashimi & soy rice with salmon roe. 8/10
Uni Mazemen: $58 Uni with salmon roe, chili oil, fried scallions was probably the main dish to try. Overall I give it an 7/10 nothing special, was creamy & oily a little too oily basically ruined the texture of all the ingredients combined. Had a nice kick & an umami flavour but definitely a bit disappointing based on the hype I read beforehand.
Futomaki of Bluefin tuna: the last dish & probably the best dish 9/10. Fish very fresh & the rolls held up well. $46
Overall 6.8/10 the experience lacked one waiter one chef, I will note the food was good but the value was not there for me. If you are looking for a place to try some good food & something maybe a little different than the norm & want to be left alone like at home this is a good spot. But if you are looking for a WOW factor in service & being wined & dined this isn't the spot. I wouldn't go again especially if you are at a price point of $120 a person for this kind of experience.
To add: being one waiter & one chef isn't to say that it's a bad thing but you can tell that it was awkward &'cold' as it felt like you were taking time away from the server when they should be there to really make it an experience for every party dinning there.
Kitano Shokudo is a true gem in Montreal. The food is authentically Japanese, beautifully executed, & paired with a fun, lively vibe. Sitting at the bar made the experience even better. The menu strikes a great balance between excellent sushi & Japanese dishes. The duck was outstanding, the fried chicken & Brussels sprouts were addictive, & the saki was great. An all around great night with great food & energy. Can't wait to go back.
Everything was excellent. The sashimi was incredibly fresh, the service was attentive, & their chirashi is one of the best I've had. The portion size was just right - very satisfying without being overwhelming.
Jan 23, 2026
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Food was good, but when I come to a restaurant like this where the food is at a certain price point I expect a level of service too, this was mid at best. We came to celebrate a birthday & nothing was done to try & make it special. Had to ask multiple times for almost anything.
Incredible in all of the ways.
The miso was a hearty blend of seaweed & enoki, the brussel sprouts were super tasty, & the assorted sashimi was perfection. The yuzu tart was divinely decadent, & the sake recommendations fit beautifully in between it all. Fantastic service & atmosphere; such a gem
Everything was just perfect, the cozy atmosphere of just like 15 people. Smooth beats by the DJ. Awesome presentation for all the meals & the food was just delicious. We shared most of the meals the four of us so we tried the Miso soup, octopus salad, Karaage, brussel sprouts, duck Mazemen, Uni pastas & the tuna 3 ways sushis. 12/10 would recommend. The best thing is that it wasn't that expensive for the quality of things we ate.
Dec 7, 2025
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Hands down the best Japanese food!
The sashimi platter was amazing, we also enjoyed their miso soup, the uni carbonara & the mapo tofu.
Can't wait to return for more sashimi!
The waiter was nice & I love the cozy vibes.
Intimate restaurant, cool interior, excellent food, quality & value for the price. Nice service. Partner had the duck mazemen, I had the Uni & bone marrow mazemen special. Both were excellent! Interior is reminiscent of small cool Teishoku restaurants in Tokyo with vintage feel. Great place!
Incroyable resto. J'y suis allée plusieurs fois & jamais déçue. Un petit local (une vingtaine de places), plein de personnalité, avec de la bonne musique & un bon système de son (!!) un service courtois & efficace, des plats incroyables & une belle liste de saké a découvrir. J'irais chaque semaine si c'était pas un peu pricey...la qualité de paie évidemment. Pour donner une idée on a pris 2 bières, 3 petites entrées, deux plats & une demi bouteille de saké pour 235$ taxes & pourboire inclus. Pour l'excellence de l'ensemble de l'oeuvre c'est un très bon prix que j'ai paye avec plaisir. Merci!!
I honestly enjoyed my evening at this restaurant. It's been on my list for a while & I don't regret it. The fish was extremely fresh. Dishes were well balanced & flavorful. We took the charimi, Brussels sprouts, ramen & octopus salad. The total was about 100$ & worth every penny. I can't wait to bring other people here. If you enjoy authentic Japanese food focused on quality ingredients - this is your spot.
