Jun I specializes in Japanese culinary traditions, emphasizing high-quality seafood and precise preparation techniques. The menu features a wide selection of signature sushi, sashimi, and maki rolls that prioritize fresh ingredients and balanced flavors. Guests encounter diverse textures and aesthetics through carefully plated appetizers and main courses inspired by traditional Asian cooking methods. The minimalist interior design supports an atmosphere focused on the technical delivery of raw fish and seasoned rice. Each dish showcases consistent attention to detail regarding slice thickness, temperature control, and the integration of seasonal garnishes. The establishment remains dedicated to serving authentic flavors while maintaining a standard of technical proficiency that defines contemporary Japanese cuisine. This commitment to culinary accuracy ensures that every plate reflects core regional values within a structured, focused, and efficient environment.
Jun I is widely recognized as a premier destination for high-quality sushi in Montreal, celebrated for its fresh ingredients, artistic presentation, and attentive service. Many diners praise the Omakase experience and specialty rolls, noting that the sophisticated flavors and unique textures justify the premium price for special occasions. While the vast majority of guests describe their visits as exceptional and memorable, some recent reviews point to inconsistencies in food quality, slower service intervals, and a perceived decline in ambiance. Despite mixed feedback regarding pacing and pricing, the restaurant remains a top recommendation for those seeking an elevated and authentic Japanese dining experience in the city.
Quel excellent repas!
Nous avions commandé l'Omakase; dorade en amuse-bouche fraîche dans sa sauce; calmars avec cumquat goûteux; magret de canard parfaitement assaisonné; truite avec un crumble fantastique; puis les nigiris, makis & sashimi, extraordinaires.
Le dessert à la crème & chocolat blanc (gâteau fromage déconstruit) délicieux mais aurait pu être un peu plus copieux.
Service totalement impeccable! Bravo !
On y retournera bien évidemment.
La nourriture est élégante. Les mélanges de texture sont extraordinaires. Les poissons sont frais. Nous vous remercions des accommodements pour le dessert. Le décor est harmonieux. Le service est irréprochable.
Apr 26, 2023
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Très belle découverte, c'était notre 1ere fois. Seul regret: ne pas avoir eu le temps de prendre un dessert :-) Il faudra que l'on revienne, avec plaisir !
Quel fabuleux festin!
L'omekase: pétoncles tendres, pieuvre un peu trop piquante, poisson blanc délicieux, palourdes tellement fraîches.
Les nigiris, sashimis & makis extraordinairement délicieux.
Nous aurions aimé un peu plus de dessert au chocolat blanc, tellement fantastique!
We ate here last night & overall enjoyed the entire meal. The kitchen staff is very talented & it is obvious in the output. They generally showed better than the front of house. We decided to order the omakase menu as the best way to try the most dishes & get a sense of the restaurant.
Here is the menu we had last night:
Asari kinoko
Palourdes, jus de palourde, tomates, fenouil, pleurottes royales, huile de poireau.
Clams, clam juice, tomatoes, fennel, king oyster mushrooms, leek oil
A fantastic little starter course served with a small bowl of marinated daikon radishes. The clams were perfectly cooked. It seems a bit weird to eat tomatoes this late in the season.
Hotate crudo
Pétoncles kobujime au gin Ungava, betteraves jaunes, vinaigrette au yuzu, huile de coriandre
Ungava gin kobujime scallops, golden beets, yuzu dressing, cilantro oil
This was my wife's favorite course. I loved it too. The scallops were delicious. The flavors complemented each other well. I felt the cilantro was a bit overbearing in the dish. (& yes, I do like cilantro)
Shiromi
Poisson blanc du jour mariné au shio koji, courge musquée, babaganoush d'aubergines asiatiques, myoga
Shio koji marinated white fish of the day, butternut squash, Asian eggplants babaganoush, myoga
I like this dish quite a bit. But I wish the wait staff had explained all the components rather than just dropping it at the table after saying it was white fish with eggplant. The chef is far more poetic in his wording & it would have enhanced the meal to see the eggplant was an Asian version of babaganoush. Reading it today, I now have a better picture of the dish & that would have added to the experience.
Tako
Pieuvre marinée au sel de Kombu & grillée, radicchio, piments shishito, pommes de terre, choux de Bruxelles, suprêmes d'orange, sauce yaki & ail noir
Kombu salt marinated & grilled octopus, radicchio, shishito peppers, potatoes, brussels sprouts, orange supreme, yaki & black garlic sauce
This is another course where the wait staff could have better explained the dish rather than simply drop at the table with only a few words. Black garlic was never mentioned & it is a key ingredient. It was a fantastic use of Fall ingredients. Bravo to the chef.
Omakase de Junichi San
Assortiment de nigiris, sashimis & makis : 15 mcx / personnel
A very nice selection of beautiful seafood presented well. We added uni & were thankful that our main server explained the difference between the taste & textures of the west coast versus east coast uni (oursin) choices. The tempura roll with a sort of salmon tartare on top was out of this world - the kind of dish I would have eaten a second plate of. The hand roll served alongside was incredible too.
I forget all the components of the dessert. Overall it had a very beautiful fall feel to it. The apples & salted caramels were great. My only complaint would have been to have fewer flavors competing for attention by my palate. I like fewer flavors & allow the ones present to shine more brightly. But I am nitpicking.
PROS: great food, beautiful dining room, good staff.
CONS: I mean this as constructive criticism to the dining room manager. The service does not match the quality level of the food. Service was done a bit too fast with plates being brought the second after we finished one course. I hate being rushed through a tasting menu. I want to savor every flavor & relax. I wish they had printed a copy of the omakase menu & left it at the table if the wait staff is unable to describe all the nuances of the dish when presenting it to us. So many descriptions were left out. I also wish the server would pour less when refilling our glasses - but that is a personal preference.
Exceptionnel !
Ne se limite pas à l'assemblage des matières
Tout est cuisiné, il y a un vrai travail sur la recherche & l'équilibre des goûts .....c'est d'une délicatesse infinie & ce jusqu'au dessert.
Le service est intelligent & précis.
Merci à toute l'équipe de jun I.
We had the omakase & was really underwhelmed by the experience. I have had omakase around the world & this was the first time I've had to share dishes with my dining partner. The portion sizes were small but ok for omakase I guess, but for 2 people to share a tiny 2 oz portion of black cod was both awkward & comical. I rather you charge me a little more & give me a proper dish on my own. Very weird plating choice, especially coming out of a pandemic. I dined here today with my cousin, but if I was taking a client out it would have been really weird to share those tiny dishes. The flavour & actual dishes were pretty good. The whelks with apples had a nice balance of acid & sweet. We really enjoyed the grilled octopus & nori paste. Smokey & full of umami. The black cod was well cooked but really tiny. The dessert was delicious, seasonal strawberry & rhubarb with a nice light sabayon. But the worst part of the meal was the sushi. Really disappointed. Aside from a pretty good tuna roll, everything else was just blah. First of all, I would not expect Maki rolls & creamy stuff on a omakase menu. I was expecting high quality sushi nigiri. Some of the creamy mayo stuff crab & scallop & some fried sushi roll was just gross. The fish was not sliced uniformly. Service was ok, friendly but not very intuitive. I had finished my beer after second course & was going to order more saké. But server didn't ask about another drink until we were halfway done the sushi course, by then I said forget it, not spending more money here. I had high hopes for this place & there were definitely some winners but overall was underwhelming & would not go back or recommend.
Jun I is the best sushi restaurant in Montréal - everything is perfect, the service, the atmosphere, &, of course, the food - sushi is simply divine, but don't forget to try their desserts, which are as delicious as they are beautiful!
