Dans l ensemble, Ichigo Ichie Izakaya propose une experience japonaise animée avec des espaces ramen et izakaya distincts, et les avis louent le bouillon des ramen, riche et savoureux, ainsi que la variété de tapas et d autres plats. L ambiance est chic et animée, avec une belle décoration et une atmosphère chaleureuse autour d un bar, bien que l espace puisse sembler bondé et bruyant lors des soirées très fréquentées et les places assises parfois petites. Le service est perçu comme sympathique et attentif par certains, mais plusieurs avis signalent une cadence variable, de longs temps d attente ou des particularités liées à la réservation qui compliquent la commande de ramen. Bien que certains trouvent les prix élevés pour le quartier, d'autres estiment que la qualité et l originalité des plats comme le tataki, le gindara et l udon carbonara justifient la visite, faisant de Ichigo Ichie Izakaya une adresse populaire pour les amateurs d izakaya et de ramen à Montréal.
Came as a large group. It was a really nice evening. All the food choices in the group menu were amazing. Great for sharing amongst friends. Service was excellent, quick & friendly. Drinks were also very 👍. Place was packed. Great atmosphere.
Been back & ordered à la carte. Excellent also.
20 avr. 2026
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Sorry for starting off strong, but I really had my hopes up for this place. After hearing so much about it & the general praise that it gets I really had high hopes, perhaps too high, but all I got was a very average experience, one that you can recreate much more easily... I'll get into that.
First of all, we had a reservation, which doesn't allow you to order ramen. They make that very clear when you're booking the reservation. That made me think that perhaps it was a shared space, & that the ramen was like, it's own restaurant. Which when you look at google maps it makes sense! Yeah, one side is a ramen bar, the other side's the izakaya, different thing. Sure? For that to be the expected setup, only to be seated next to tables who were ONLY ordering ramen is so silly. Why seclude people who are willing to reserve?
Staff were very friendly, although service times were extremely inconsistent. We ordered plates to share as that's pretty much to be expected with their menu offerings, we got dish 1 super quick, dish 2 maybe 10 or so minutes later, & then dish 3 & 4 came out at the same time close to an hour later? So in what felt like the middle of the meal, just 40 or so minutes of staring at people eating ramen. LOL
Also staff mispronounced Edamame & Shiso, but I digress.
We ordered some drinks, & I gotta say this was the highlight of the night. The Shiso Sour is seriously banging, & they have a really decent selection of beers.
The food; we ordered the Karaage with Wasabi Mayo, the seasonal Buta Cheese Shiso Fried stick, Takoyaki, Takowasa, & we wanted to start with that & perhaps order more, based on the outcome of these first dishes.
The karaage was well cooked but very underseasoned, the meat was very much lacking any flavour & the wasabi mayo was a broken starchy mess. It had the consistency of heavy cream & a grainy-ness that I assume comes from the powdered wasabi yet had absolutely zero wasabi kick to it.
The takowasa was 90% wasabizuke & 10% octopus, but ok.
The takoyaki were not right. Heavily deepfried texture with a flat bottom, you'd think a'high-level' izakaya would be able to fry takoyaki in an actual takoyaki pan. The octopus pieces were also pretty much bouncy balls but unfortunately for me I'm a sucker & will eat the worst takoyaki on earth if it means it has bonito & mayo on it, so it still went down.
The real crime of the night were the'Seasonal' buta shiso cheese stick things. Tough pork belly wrapped around a block of'pizza' mozzarella, rolled with a shiso leaf & deep fried. If it weren't for the (actually pretty flavourful) shiso leaf, I would've assumed this was a bit & that they were just flipping something from the frozen section at Super C.
Needless to say we didn't order anything else after that.
What really ticked me off is that I noticed someone taking food to go, & they were handed a paper bag with 2 logos on it, one being this restaurant, & the other being IMADAKE Izakaya! & then it clicked! I have had this underseasoned Karaage before! At IMADAKE! It all made sense, this was the same-ish menu as what I had always seen as an average izakaya, wrapped into the bones of a michelin mentioned ramen restaurant!
I dont know. Maybe I'm a sucker, & the Ramen is really amazing, & everyone else knows not to order the other stuff. Overall I'm kind of at a loss, I knew not to expect true Japan-level food, after all we're not in japan, but being that (i guess) half of this restaurant is michelin level (kind of) I had high hopes. But I won't be there to find out if the ramen's good, that'll be without me.
Oh I do have to mention, the interior decor is stellar. Seriously whatever agency did the interior design & branding coordination on little details like the branded chopsticks, hats off, those are tight.
TL;DR - Lower your expectations, & maybe you'll like it!
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.
I'd like to start by answering the main question: is this restaurant worth the hype? Unfortunately, no.
We showed up around 7:40pm on a Saturday night & only got a table at 9:15pm. Thankfully, they have a system where you can check in & get a text when your table is ready, but the fact that they don't take reservations is already a bit of a deal breaker for me.
The decor is great & really gives you the feeling of being in Japan. The atmosphere is lively & energetic rather than intimate. Service-wise, the staff was friendly & welcoming, although they clear plates extremely quickly, which makes the whole experience feel rushed. The restaurant is quite large, but tables are packed closely together, so if you're looking for something more intimate, this isn't the right place.
Food-wise, we tried the Takoyaki, which seems to be popular. It was tasty, but you're supposed to get octopus inside & we found only a tiny piece. We also got the Karaage chicken which, to my taste, felt like basic breaded chicken-nothing special.
As for the ramen, the broth was delicious & there were plenty of noodles. However, 20 minutes after placing our order, we were told they had run out of eggs & that our ramen would be eggless. Honestly, that was a big disappointment. The ramen itself was good, but not incredible-& definitely not worth the long wait.
When we got the bill, the eggs weren't removed from the price. I'm not going to fight over $1, but it's a matter of respect & honesty toward customers.
One last thing worth mentioning: going out to restaurants has gotten incredibly expensive lately, so I was pleasantly surprised that we could enjoy drinks & a full meal at a reasonable price. That was definitely a nice touch.
Me & my bestie came here for the Umeshu (Japanese Plum Wine), but it was delish! Atmosphere was packed on Wednesday, Dec 17, 2025, so better RSVP in advanced. Food was fresh & fragrant but I loved the Chestnut Tiramisu. It's about 10-20$ per food ordered, so I highly recommend coming here on a date, wedding celebration, or with friends. For food, it's best to share unless you're here for the ramen. Our order took a long time so the waitress offered us her own special shots drink, not pictured. (I ordered the cold takowasa, karaage, edamame, & tiramisu of the month which was chestnut. My friend ordered takoyaki & mochi doughnuts).
My favorite restaurant in Montreal! The food is top notch, however, there is always ridiculous wait time for drinks, & you barely ever see your waiter. Service definitely needs to be improved, & more bartenders are absolutely required for obvious reasons, but still giving this place 5 stars for the amazing food.
This spot is always packed except for super late at night. They do not take reservations for the ramen side of the restaurant, so I recommend getting there earlier than you'd want to eat. Put your name in & go a block over to a bar & have a drink & play cards/watch a game before being called in as it can take anywhere from 30-90 minutes for a table to be ready. The environment & staff are wonderful. Watching the kitchen work is like watching an orchestra perform; it is an act of art. The food is great, though I'd recommend their appetizers more than their ramen. Personally, I found the ramen to lack flavor, but the broth was wonderful. The fried chicken appetizer is to die for. Definitely experiment with your ramen bowl as the ordering process is designed for your own creation. I'd recommend getting thick & not thin noodles as I believe choosing thin added to my negative bias towards my meal.
The food was fantastic but unfortunately I just wish the service was better :( was seated for nearly 30 minutes before I asked someone if we could order. Not even a drink order was taken yet, & it was my boyfriend's birthday so really wanted to have a good evening here. Thankfully the food was great but I wish the service matched what the kitchen was executing
10 oct. 2025
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My wife chose this place knowing that I would love the menu. The food was very good. We had 5 different dishes & they were all very good. But the service was terrible. We were sat on time for our reservation but other than having waters dropped at the table we waited & waited for service, after 25 minutes with no one coming to the table I had to get up to ask for service. Sitting there I could that service was chaotic…you couldn't tell who was your server…we could see tables sat after us getting served. After getting service we got our first food item before we got drinks, it was 40 minutes from when we sat that we got our drinks. It was pretty much a struggle to get service all evening. So service was an epic fail & forget about hospitality, there is no connection with the restaurant or a welcoming atmosphere.
We had such a great experience at Ichigo on Friday night! The service, the drinks & the food were all fantastic. Every dish was incredible, but our particular favourites were the Yakisoba noodles & the Yuzu tuna. Definitely recommend for a great Izakaya spot in Montreal.
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 !
Some of the best food I have eaten since going to Japan! Cool atmosphere, great service, & yummy drinks. Definitely recommend for an evening out with friends!
I have been here four times. It was awesome four times. Everything is so clean & organized (& you can see it all because the kitchen is open & the bar is in the dining room). The service is always great. You almost always have to wait a little because they're so popular (I only just figured out they do take reservations!) but its fully worth it & its never long. The food comes out fast & it's excellent. The drinks too. Beautiful presentation & delicious. Not going to lie I kind of envy the staff getting to eat their staff meals here. I recommend this place to anyone who will listen.
