Karin is a restaurant renowned for its sushi and traditional Japanese cuisine as well as its Korean dishes. In addition to serving sushi of exceptional quality and absolutely fresh seafood, the restaurant offers an authentic Japanese gastronomy experience. Located on Queen Mary Road in Montreal for over a quarter of a century, Karin has stood the test of time and has proven it is one of the greatest Japanese restaurants in Quebec.
This renowned gastronomic experience that Karin offers would be impossible without the efforts and dedication of one man: the renowned chef Hansoo Im. A recognized authority on Japanese and Korean cuisine, Chef Im has confirmed his calling with great pride and application in over forty years of work in two very different countries.
At Karin Restaurant in Seoul, South Korea, Chef Im chef cooked Japanese dishes for people with the most refined tastes. This prestigious establishment, located near the Central Government Complex (the center of political power in South Korea), was host to a distinguished clientele. Chef Im learned the intricacies of his vocation. Officially qualified as a Japanese chef after only a few years of studies and apprenticeship, Chef Im has the merit of being allowed to prepare fugu, a dangerous delicacy, which requires a unique skill gained only by years of rigorous training.
Come and dine at the Japanese Restaurant Karin of Montreal in a warm environment offering taste, beauty, sophistication and tradition. Sample the results of 40 years of commitment and dedication of a family to culinary excellence.
Karin offers a unique dining experience in an original environment. Private booths are designed to ensure privacy and to be a haven, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Here everyone can rest and savor the subtle pleasures of authentic Japanese cuisine that calms and awakens the senses.
Raw fish is rich in essential oils and vitamins and low in saturated fat. Traditional nori seaweed in itself provides high levels of minerals and antioxidants. The sushi is therefore an excellent healthy choice.
Karin is a warm family run Japanese restaurant in Montreal's NDG offering an intimate setting with private booths and traditional decor that evokes Japan. The menu features incredibly fresh sushi and sashimi with toro noted as melt in your mouth, along with well prepared tempura, yaki soba, and a range of set menus that let guests sample a little of everything. Service is consistently attentive and friendly, with a welcoming atmosphere that makes diners feel part of the family. Ingredients are repeatedly praised for freshness and quality from sashimi to kimchi, and the overall experience includes a strong sake and drink list to complement meals. While some reviews mention prices being on the higher side, many feel the value is justified by the quality, ambiance, and attentive service, making Karin a reliable choice for special occasions or repeat visits. The restaurant is described as a hidden gem with a cozy, authentic vibe and a memorable, homely touch that keeps guests returning year after year.
Amazing food. Authentic family run Japanese restaurant. The service was really nice & the atmosphere was really soothing. The restaurant was filled with decorations associated with the culture.
a little gem in NDG, been walking in front of it for years. Familly owned & operated. Authentic food, good ambiance & good quality ingredients. highly recommended.
Aug 25, 2025
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Karin Japanese Restaurant is an absolute gem! This place just reminded me of Japan. The decorations with every detail thoughtfully crafted by the owner's mother, it is realy an authentic atmosphere.
The food is great & everything is made with care. Best sushi & sashimi I ever tried in Canada & as you know, freshness is true a true testament to quality. The flavors are fresh, & you can tell they use top notch ingredients. The selection of beer, sake, & other alcohol perfectly complements the meal also, if you are a tea lover you can choose from their range of Japanese teas.
The owners are originally from Japan, & of course the service is warm & welcoming & the entire restaurant feels like a slice of Japan right here in the heart of Montreal in Canada.
If you're looking for authentic Japanese dining experience look no further, I highly recommend this restaurant & will definitely visit it over & over again!
The food was fresh, savoury & tasty. Portions were enough. I liked that the vibe is cozy & authentic. Priced reasonably. Loved the service & attention to my dietary restrictions.
Amazing & authentic Japanese food experience! Great service & homey comfortable feel the place. I highly recommend the gyoza which felt fresh & are the best I have had in a long time, the yaki-udon was delicious & a very generous portion, the matcha cheesecake was a rich & tasty way to end this meal. I would recommend making a reservation as it was pretty busy & we happened to get an empty table just in time. Will be coming back! (There was also a decent vegetarian section in the menu for those who prefer the option)
I love this place! The fish & vegetable soup is savory with natural flavours. Sashimi quality is excellent. There's a wide variety of authentic Japanese dishes. I order delivery & they always write nice words on the bag, which makes me feel very special. It's obvious that this establishement is passionate about what they do. You can feel & taste the love that goes into each dish. I highly recommend! I appreciate you! 💗
Been coming here for the last 6 years with my family. Very good Japanese (as authentic you can get within this price bracket) food & service. Would highly recommend
The greatest restaurant in Montreal. The quality of the food is absolutely incredible. We got the Aki course which ran us 150$ for two people, & let me tell you the sheer quantity & quality of what we were served would have cost us at least double anywhere else. The sashimi was incredible, the sushi was delicious, the tempura was perfect, the grilled fish was amazing as well. It's incredible just how much food they gave us, & it was more than worth every penny. In fact it's comparable to prices you would see in Japan, which really blows my mind. To the point I don't understand how they make profit selling such high quality fish at that price. They also have inexpensive meal options which are also amazing in their own right. Just a wonderful restaurant & wonderful people. This restaurant is actually owned & ran by japanese people unlike most japanese restaurants in town. It is highly authentic & you can tell they put a lot of love & care into everything. I recommend going there multiple times. I also highly recommend the course meals; it's an amazing experience.
The best & most authentic Japanese restaurant in Montreal that I've been to! A nice little hidden gem. The food is delicious, especially the seafood (sushi, sashimi) & their main dishes. Best tempura in town! Service is great, the owner lady is very kind & friendly. Just keep in mind that it's a slow dining place, so it might take a while to order / get your meals especially on busy days. I love this aspect as well, great for longer conversations & it feels very private in the boothes. Try also their teas & desserts, yuzu jam & ensemble taiyaki are may favorite, but their mochis are great too! The only downside is that it's not cheap, but considering the overall experience & quality, it's well worth it! We rather try to cut our spending elsewhere & return to this hidden gem :)
It feels very authentic, i feel like I've traveled to a quaint restaurant in Japan. The service was amazing. The food was SO good & fresh. Some dishes are a bit pricey but very worth it. Will go again!
May 16, 2024
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My wife & I had an amazing evening lasting 2 hours here. We had the Haru menu for two. We added an entrée of Okonomiyaki which was probably too much food but we did not regret. Our hostess was pleasant & welcoming. Even endulged us with our pitiful attempt to speak some Japanese. We wanted an authentic Japanese meal & I can honestly say it was fantastic. The decor is quaint & had cute Japanese stationary, baby shoes, dolls & other cute decor at the main entrance. The service was not overwhelming & each dish had authenticity we were looking for. Dessert was to die for & homemade. Sushi & tempora shrimp & vegetables was delicious. Practice eating with chopsticks beforehand to really feel like you're in a Japanese home. Going back for sure! We parked on a side street but plenty available on a Friday night on Queen Mary .💜
One of the best sashimis in Montreal! The fish is fresh & so tasty, I was very impressed by the quality ! Ordered the authentic Japanese menu for 2 & everything was so delicious, the portions are big & everything was so fresh, definitely one of the best Japanese restaurants in Montreal !
