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 beloved family-run Japanese restaurant known for its high-quality sushi and a broad menu that also features udon, soba, and fried rice dishes. The sushi is praised for freshness and variety, with options to choose specific parts of the fish, and many reviews recommend the sushi assortment and sashimi plates. For those not into sushi, the place offers delicious noodle bowls, donburi, and comforting miso soup, while dessert lovers rave about the matcha cheesecake. The dining spaces feel cozy and intimate, with small booths and the option to reserve for larger groups, adding to a warm, homey atmosphere. Service is described as friendly and attentive, and the overall vibe is welcoming and authentic, though some diners note that prices run a bit high for the portions. Taken together, Karin comes across as a standout, family-run spot offering attentive service, thoughtful décor, and consistently tasty, well-prepared dishes that many guests say they would return for again and again.
Really good restaurant if you want a delicious high quality japanese meal. The food & especially the sushis are of very high quality, you can even choose the specific part of the fish (e.g higher vs lower fat pieces for tuna). I discovered several fishes that I had never eaten in sushi. I highly recommend the sushi assortment (Combo sushi hakata or Kyoto) if you want to discover new flavors. If you're not a fan of sushi, they also serve delicious udon or soba noodles, & fried rice dishes like beef donburi. For dessert everything is delicious, but my favorite is the matcha japanese cheesecake ! The restaurant itself is also very cosy, you can have your own little cubicule, & you can also reserve for larger groups if your going with family or friends.
Mar 21, 2026
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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 gem of traditional Japanese cuisine, the service is good & the dishes are quality. I had the pleasure of trying the o-toro that melts in your mouth. The selection of nigiri was excellent, of great quality & freshness. If you have the opportunity to live the experience, I highly recommend it.
Cute Japanese restaurant in NDG. I have been coming here for years. I love the set menus. You get to try a bit of everything. The food is excellent & the waitress is super friendly.
The single best Japanese food restaurant I've ever been to. The atmosphere is amazing, cute decor made by the grandparents of the server, few tables which makes it feel all the cozier. The food is exceptional in every manner, some of the freshest sushi I've ever had. The server is the sweetest woman I've ever met, so kind she remembered us every time we've been. Any rating below 4 stars is just disingenuous. Forever our go to for any occasion.
Another late review. Better late than never! What a fantastic surprise to find a great Japanese restaurant in Montreal. This is a family business; the people running it come from the same household. The owner was so lovely & friendly! We came here twice while staying in Montreal because we loved the food. Everything we had was so delicious! We had tempura, poke bowl, sonomono, sushi combo, vegetable yaki soba, bento box, & probably a bit more that I can't remember. I loved how they prepared the sonomono, even the tempura was well prepared using real Japanese ingredients. Yaki soba had the taste of Japanese spices. Best sushi in town! Please visit & try their food because it was excellent! The place is cute & successfully decorated with a Japanese-style design. We saw a lot of pretty items from Japan. Excellent food & service. Highly recommended!
Best Japanese restaurant in Montreal ! I totally recommend, service is one of the best I had, go there you will understand.
Price is totally justified & worth it.
Thank you so muuuchhhh
This family owned & run Japanese restaurant was immediately reminiscent of my trip to Japan in terms of the atmosphere & private seating areas. The toro sashimi was the best I've had in Montreal & the tempura is as good can get. A real hidden gem, well worth the visit
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!
Mar 10, 2025
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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)
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.