Welcome to Japote, the family owned fast food restaurant that has been serving up delicious food since 2014. Our first location was in Guy-Concordia, and we moved to our current place in 2018.
We are famous for our long line of people as we have become a popular choice for McGill students looking for a quick, delicious meal. We invite you to come and enjoy our food and create lasting memories with us!
Japote is a budget friendly Japanese takeout spot in a food court known for quick service and strong value, often with a line at lunch that moves fast and a cash only policy. The menu features curry katsu, chicken cutlet curry, croquette, unagi don, tori don, veggie and shrimp tempura, and a sauce bar that lets customers customize flavors, all praised for fresh, flavorful dishes at affordable prices. Reviews emphasize friendly, efficient staff and a vibe that feels authentic to Japanese fast food, making it a popular choice for a cheap lunch, a quick date idea, or a reliable daily meal in a busy area. Portions are described as modest but adequate for the price, with some noting that upgrading to a large size is worth it; several note that opening hours are limited. The location in a food court, signage, and proximity to universities or offices are mentioned as easy to find, and the overall impression is that Japote is a hidden gem offering tasty, inexpensive meals that deliver good value and quick service.
Waited in line to order, read the reviews & realized it's **cash only** so I had to walk to my bank. As soon as I arrived, the line was completely gone.
The service is nice & the food taste pretty good. I had the number 10 which was curry katsu. It tasted really good & they gave a reasonable amount of katsu chicken for a 10 dollar meal.
Unbeatable lunch spot. Affordable, fast, & delicious in a way that is impossible to find so close to McGill or downtown. The food is good, but the sauce options bring everything up a notch.
Cash only, & if you have a bigger appetite I would recommend getting multiple items, but it is still worth it!
Mar 11, 2026
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cash only. i always take the number 10. i also recommend their croquette (must try!) I used to eat in this restaurant with my ex. good place to eat for a cheap date ideas
A no-frills yet delicious spot to satisfy your Japanese food cravings. Japote is a family-run eatery located in a food court. If you are looking for good value-for-money don, curry, or katsu, definitely give this place a try.
We ordered the Unagi Toji-don & the Japanese Chicken Cutlet Curry Rice with a croquette, & both were delicious. Service was quick, efficient, & friendly-just like what you would expect in Japan. There is also a sauce station where you can add & customise your own sauces.
One thing to note is that it is cash-only, so do prepare some cash when you are planning to drop by.
*cash only* The reviews are correct, the food here is excellent. Delicous savory umami flavors, s,m,l portion sizes for all appetities, lots of sauces to try, & pickled ginger to clean the palette. Bonus affordable prices. I had #7, the veggie & shrimp tempura covered in egg, with a crispy'karokke' & pickled ginger on the side. The best lunch I have had in along time & I will be back for more.
Yes, it's in a food court, but they are serving delicious, fresh, inexpensive Japanese meals. Very friendly & helpful service. Great choice for a quick lunch if you're in the area! Cash only, but there is an ATM nearby.
Went there for the first time today, loved it!! The staff is super nice too!
Edit: went back there many, many times during my undergrad. Absolutely delicious, nice staff & good prices (bring cash though!). Hands down my favorite place to eat lunch near McGill U, they have made so many of my lunches without ever disappointing. I may have graduated since, but I will definitely go back when I'm around. Thank you!
Jul 5, 2025
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Wow wow wow! Friendly staff, quick service & delicious food for cheap! This place is a beautiful hidden gem. I recommend the oyakodon, & don't forget to bring cash. Also, I recommend that you come early to avoid the line of hungry students :)
too good. too good i want to gatekeep but the workers here are so sweet, patient despite the long lines, & good at their job; they deserve all the success had katsudon with spicy mayo (#8) & my partner had #3. medium size is an actual solid meal, good portion, & for like 8$!!! whaaat!!! affordable food downtown? yes please. cash only!
find the escalators & head down twice, following the signs will bring you to this downtown gem!!! they only take CASH so please come prepared as their opening window is quite small! the pricing is not something you see often, it's affordable, realistic & absolutely a bang for your buck! I'll definitely be coming back!!
Jan 22, 2025
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I've been wanting to try Japote for a while after a friend recommended it but due to its opening hours it was really tough. I went at 11:30 & it was really busy. The food is really good & so are the prices. I got 2 plates because I knew it would be tough to come again so I took the opportunity to try multiple things. It's much cheaper when you order only one plate. They only accept cash. Even though the line was long, it moved quickly, the food & service were very good!
Great value 👍 Got the curry katsudon & a drink for 10$. Cute spot to grab a quick & tasty lunch. Fast service despite the lineup, please remember to bring cash~
The food is simply amazing. I love everything I have tried from Japote. I really love how their prices are student friendly, as you can eat lunch for 10$ (they only serve at lunchtime, mon-fri) I recommend you order the large option of the dish (the price will remain below 10$) but feel full enough. Also, the staff is super friendly & kind! Fav dish: teriyaki chicken [CASH ONLY]
Great food for really cheap! I had the teriyaki chicken (number 3). The line can be long but it's really fast once you've ordered, & the workers are very friendly! They only accept cash
