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.
What a gem! The atmosphere & food can be described as more home cooking, excellent balance of portion size, favor, variety & quality of the fish for the price is unmatched in Montreal. I love their is saumon, nigiri & sashimi plates. The noodle dishes are a treat as well. Try the matcha cheesecake for dessert maim
I went a couple times over the years & I'm never disappointed. I come from French Polynesia & my standards of fresh fish is pretty high & the Tuna (& all sashimis they serve), is on par with what I grew up with.
Definitely one my fevorite restaurant. You also have some separated spaces for small or bigger groups which adds a little bit of intimacy & I really like it.
Awesome place. You got the blessing from a South Pacific Islander, so go!
One of, if not the best Japanese meal I have ever had in my life. Everything was perfectly flavored, the fish was very fresh, the Wakame was delicious. Our server was the nicest woman, & the space is peaceful & charming. 10/10!
I discovered a pretty good Japanese restaurant near the udem area. The sashimi didn't have any fishy taste & was reasonably priced. It's not super fancy, but the value for money is great.
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! 💗
Sep 17, 2024
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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.
Perfect place if you want a private area to talk. Great experience with package autumn for 2 people. Sashimi were fresh & sushi were tasty, fish was 3/5 & veggies tempura were fried perfectly. We changed the sake into one pot of lotus tea & one pot of herbal tea tasting like Ku Qiao. We were super full so very good deal
LOVE this restaurant so much! The space & decor was lovely. The waitress was so kind & the staff are very friendly! I had an incredible experience & EVERYTHING is DELICIOUS! The fish was SO fresh. Sashimi, tempura, homemade kimchi, miso soup, uni, matcha cheesecake & the drinks were amazing. I have an incredible experience everytime I come with my family & the service is always exceptional ! Highly recommend to anyone who love japanese/korean food! I will definitely come back again!
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 !
Dec 27, 2023
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This restaurant is the best kept secret in N.D.G., Côte Des Neiges & next door Westmount. For sushi & sashimi freshness, price & service, there is no other restaurant in Montreal that completely fits the bill as Karin does. Unpretentious & homey, it makes you feel you're part of the family. This is our 25th year we have been eating there & we will for years to come. Chef-owner David is an absolute pro. His generous super fresh house sashimi is melt-in-your-mouth heaven on a plate. Same for his sushi, nigiri, maki & cones. During the pandemic chef David doubled down on generosity, freshness, & cleanliness to reassure customers things will be OK. We love - & always order - uni, that sea urchin which is now on a number of upscale sushi restaurants' menu. De-li-ci-ous! Everything else on the menu is tops, from the miso soup to dragon balls, gyozas, karaage chicken, vegetarian & seafood tempuras, grilled fish (yum!), teriyakis, okonomiyaki pancakes, & the soups, ramen & rice bowls, OMG! Karin's homemade wakame & kimchi are simply the best in town. Japanese wife Ai is the most attentive hostess, & her front restaurant decorations are beautiful. She's an artist!