Reviews describe Ichigo Ichie Izakaya as a standout Japanese spot with a lively yet intimate vibe where sharing plates and a thoughtful mix of cold dishes, hot plates and noodles really shine. Dishes such as hamachi and Yuzu tuna tataki, various tartares, gindara black cod, carbonara udon, and crispy chicken karaage come up repeatedly as highlights, with desserts like tiramisu and chestnut tiramisu also earning praise. The atmosphere, decor and generally warm, attentive staff are frequently highlighted, and cocktails and mocktails are noted as strong complements to the food. The experience can be bustling and loud, seating can feel tight and the layout can be a bit cramped, especially on busy nights. Reservations are often advised to minimize waits, and there is some discussion about the different pacing or policies between the izakaya area and the ramen area, sometimes causing confusion about ordering certain items with a booking. While prices are described as high, many reviews feel the quality justifies the cost and consider it among Montreal’s top izakayas. Overall the spot is seen as a great choice for dates or gatherings who enjoy bold flavors, a dynamic atmosphere and the option to customize bowls, with the caveat to plan ahead for crowds.
Last night I went to Ichigo Ichie Izakaya, a Japanese izakaya in Montreal whose name translates to'this time only'… a reminder that every moment, & every meal, is meant to be experienced fully. It's written right on the menu, & somehow the food actually lives up to that philosophy.
I was there with my friend Farzy, who was invited to shoot content for the restaurant. She brought me along because I'm a hand model, a food lover, & honestly… we just always have a good time together. That energy matters. The night felt relaxed, unrushed, & very present.
We ordered a mix of cold dishes, hot plates, & noodles.
The Yuzu tuna tataki was bright & clean, with just enough citrus to wake up your palate without overpowering the fish.
The hamachi was the standout for me… genuinely melt-in-your-mouth, silky, & balanced. One of those dishes that makes you pause between bites.
For hot dishes, we shared the yakiniku épicé. I loved the flavor & the spicy sauce, but the cut itself was a bit too fatty for my personal taste. Still good, just chewier than what I usually go for.
The gindara (black cod), on the other hand, was everything you want it to be… buttery, delicate, & deeply comforting. Beware of the fish bones though…
We also tried the carbonara udon. I'll be honest, I'm not an udon noodle girl. I prefer thinner, less chewy noodles. But the flavor was nice. The bacon pieces were thick, crispy, & cubed nicely. Farzy asked for Japanese BBQ sauce on the side & we drizzled it over for a bit of sweetness, which made the dish work much better for me. That's something I appreciate… being able to tweak a dish to your taste at the table.
For drinks, I had the Shiso Sour, which was refreshing & light… the kind of cocktail that cuts through rich dishes really well.
Farzy had the Mango Majin Buu in the mocktail version, which looked fruity , refreshing , & fun.
There is always room for dessert even when you are stuffed so even though my jeans were tighter around my stomach at this point we decided to order a sweet treat. The tiramisu was great… it was light , creamy, & balanced, not overly sweet, the kind that feels comforting without being heavy. The monaka aisu, with its crisp wafer shell, red bean mochi , & green tea ice cream, was cool, delicate, & quietly satisfying.
The space itself is intimate, with small tables set fairly close together, so it can get lively & a bit loud as the night goes on. That said, I loved the atmosphere. The decor is beautiful, with murals of geishas & Asian-inspired artwork lining the walls, giving the room a warm, transportive feel. It's the kind of place where the energy feels buzzing rather than chaotic… especially if you enjoy being surrounded by conversation & movement.
One thing I noticed quickly is that Ichigo Ichie is connected to the Michelin-recognized ramen spot Yokato Yokabai Ramen, & you can customize a ramen as part of the experience. A lot of tables around us were ordering ramen alongside the izakaya dishes.
Service was warm, the pacing felt intentional, & the menu offers something for different tastes… whether you love rich dishes, lighter bites, or playful cocktails & mocktails.
I share local gems & cultural eats over on IG @foxyappetite & Tik tok @foxy.appetite, & this one truly earned its place.
Last night I went to Ichigo Ichie Izakaya, a Japanese izakaya in Montreal whose name translates to'this time only'… a reminder that every moment, & every meal, is meant to be experienced fully. It's written right on the menu, & somehow the food actually lives up to that philosophy.
I was there with my friend Farzy, who was invited to shoot content for the restaurant. She brought me along because I'm a hand model, a food lover, & honestly… we just always have a good time together. That energy matters. The night felt relaxed, unrushed, & very present.
We ordered a mix of cold dishes, hot plates, & noodles.
The Yuzu tuna tataki was bright & clean, with just enough citrus to wake up your palate without overpowering the fish.
The hamachi was the standout for me… genuinely melt-in-your-mouth, silky, & balanced. One of those dishes that makes you pause between bites.
For hot dishes, we shared the yakiniku épicé. I loved the flavor & the spicy sauce, but the cut itself was a bit too fatty for my personal taste. Still good, just chewier than what I usually go for.
The gindara (black cod), on the other hand, was everything you want it to be… buttery, delicate, & deeply comforting. Beware of the fish bones though…
We also tried the carbonara udon. I'll be honest, I'm not an udon noodle girl. I prefer thinner, less chewy noodles. But the flavor was nice. The bacon pieces were thick, crispy, & cubed nicely. Farzy asked for Japanese BBQ sauce on the side & we drizzled it over for a bit of sweetness, which made the dish work much better for me. That's something I appreciate… being able to tweak a dish to your taste at the table.
For drinks, I had the Shiso Sour, which was refreshing & light… the kind of cocktail that cuts through rich dishes really well.
Farzy had the Mango Majin Buu in the mocktail version, which looked fruity , refreshing , & fun.
There is always room for dessert even when you are stuffed so even though my jeans were tighter around my stomach at this point we decided to order a sweet treat. The tiramisu was great… it was light , creamy, & balanced, not overly sweet, the kind that feels comforting without being heavy. The monaka aisu, with its crisp wafer shell, red bean mochi , & green tea ice cream, was cool, delicate, & quietly satisfying.
The space itself is intimate, with small tables set fairly close together, so it can get lively & a bit loud as the night goes on. That said, I loved the atmosphere. The decor is beautiful, with murals of geishas & Asian-inspired artwork lining the walls, giving the room a warm, transportive feel. It's the kind of place where the energy feels buzzing rather than chaotic… especially if you enjoy being surrounded by conversation & movement.
One thing I noticed quickly is that Ichigo Ichie is connected to the Michelin-recognized ramen spot Yokato Yokabai Ramen, & you can customize a ramen as part of the experience. A lot of tables around us were ordering ramen alongside the izakaya dishes.
Service was warm, the pacing felt intentional, & the menu offers something for different tastes… whether you love rich dishes, lighter bites, or playful cocktails & mocktails.
Feb 5, 2026
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Pretty good, enjoyed it & would go back. Heard about the udon carbonara, it was familiar, good but I wasn't wowed as much as I thought I'd be. Came back another time, much better, the black cod was INSANE. melt in your mouth goodness.
I loved the black cod & the drinks were superb. Every single dish we had tasted soo good I forgot to take pictures ! Even though the tables are really close together & it can get noisy, the service was delightful & the staff was really attentive.
I absolutely recommend, just make sure to make a reservation !
Food was great, the service was wonderful, the food suggestions were on point. Quite noisy, but it is a sign that the restaurant is well known & appreciated. I highly recommend the black cod, the octopus beignets & the beef or tuna tatakis. The noodle dishes are really yummy too.
Get the Fuji pork. Would call it life changing. Somehow it is lean enough that we thought it was beef. The apple miso pairs perfectly with the pork. Juicy tasty flavorful & another 200x positive adjectives. Also got the black cod fire. Teppanyaki beef is a little gimicky would not recommend. Carbonara & ramen big rec.
The black cod may have been the single best piece of fish I've ever put in my mouth. All the dishes were interesting & it was nice to have part of the menu be seasonal
Dec 10, 2024
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Excellent all around. Really high quality ingredients. The hamachi, grilled calamari, & blackened cod were special. The Tokyo Sour was lovely. &, the staff - helpful, charming, foxy! Go to Montreal just to go to this place.
FYI this & Yokato Yokabai are connected & both places serve the same ramen. We tried going to Yokato first & there was a 90 minutes wait. We went around the corner thinking this was a different restaurant but after getting a table immediately (yay!) we were happy to realize they served the ramen as well ! So you get two menus, awesome decor & a lot less waiting time ! Amazing atmosphere, fast service & tasty food ! Both ramen black cod were amazing. However, the fried chicken I got was just ok. Can't wait to come back & try the rest of the menu !
By far my absolute favourite Ramen in the city! Their broths are so flavourful & their ramen always hits the spot. I prefer going to Ichigo Ichie, cause it's more of an izakaya. Their cocktails are great, the atmosphere is warm & their have great food in addition to the ramen. Their takoyaki is a right side dish with the ramen & so is the yuzu tuna tataki, the tataki has the right amount of zest & a great bite it, since they don't slice it too thing . Also, I highly recommend the black cod, it just melts in your mouth. If you have a sweet tooth, their black sesame Tiramisu is out of this world. The only drawback is that they don't take reservations & there is always a wait, but definitely worth the wait!
A lot to say about this place. Overall, great place to come back to. They separated the ramen & izakaya area, so the reservation only get you the izakaya menu & ramen is on a first come first serve base. As other comments noted, place is really crowded, you hit another table within your arm's reach. Seat is not comfortable at all. Service was just so so. Not very attentive. Had to stop a server to get more water. Waited more than 10min for the bill. Now I understand they are busy, & the limited space doesn't really allow for more servers on the floor. Maybe don't make it so crowded... Food is bipolar. Their regular menu is great. I had the gyu tartare, cod, & fried ramen from their regular menu & they are above standard. Fresh, flavourful, & decent portions. I got the fried pork from their seasonal (winter) menu & it was meh. Proportion of the meat is off, too much fat, salty. Vegetables aren't enough to offset the grease from pork fat. Not an enjoyable dish to have. Cocktail I got the peach one & like it.
Good gyu tartare & cod. Winter season pork dish isnt good - the portion of the meat is too much & over flavoured compared with the side ingredients. Cocktail is nice. Crowded seats, slow service
Fantastic place, we discovered it by chance & we returned for another meal, it was that good.
The ramen / broth was better than any other I have ever tasted. It was creamy, velvety smooth, flavourful, complex & simply divine. No words can do it justice. We got extra broth for $5
The short ribs are also delectable, tender & full flavoured.
The grilled black cod takes you straight to heaven. This should be at the top of your list. Buttery, melt in your mouth & wonderful. $23/pc
Great place! The ramen is great of course but the cod & the black sesame tiramisu are not to be missed. The real standout is the amazing service (Sue was great!). Definitely worth the visit & a great cuisine change if you get tired of the French food.
Best Asian-inspired meal I've ever had. Great music & atmosphere. Young funky crowd. Worn minimalist wooden furniture in a dark, casual space. Fun, innovative cocktails. Amazing Asian dishes served tapas style, each with a creative, surprising spin. We loved the ichigo tonic cocktail & ichigo IPA, a deep-fried eggplant dish, the udon noodles with mushrooms, the black cod, & especially the hamachi sashimi. Service was superb — friendly, knowledgeable, & efficient. Even the desserts were great — tiramisu matcha & a donut dish. Highly recommend this restaurant.
