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.
Reviews depict Karin as a warm, family-run Japanese restaurant in Montreal's NDG that feels like a home away from home. The atmosphere is intimate, with small private booths and traditional decor that adds a cozy, authentic touch. The kitchen earns high praise for fresh, well-balanced dishes, from standout sushi and sashimi to comforting staples like miso soup, tempura and various noodle bowls. Toro and other fatty cuts receive special mentions for melting in the mouth, and the nigiri selection is described as excellent and very fresh. Value for quality is noted, with some guests finding it a bit pricey, but most agree the portions are generous and the experience justifies the price. Set menus and family-style service make it easy to try a bit of everything, and the staff are consistently described as friendly, attentive and welcoming. The restaurant is repeatedly called a gem, a place that transports diners toward a Japanese dining experience in the heart of the city, with decor crafted to feel homey and intimate. Diners also mention Korean influenced options such as bibimbap and kimchi, highlighting the diverse offerings. Overall, Karin is seen as a reliable, beloved choice for occasions, returning guests and travelers seeking fresh, high-quality Japanese cuisine in a warm, inviting setting.
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!
May 30, 2025
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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!
J'ai adoré ce restaurant japonais ! La nourriture était excellente & incroyablement fraîche : sashimis, poisson & même les cornets étaient savoureux. Le service était rapide, & la servante, toujours souriante & gentille, a ajouté à l'expérience. La décoration traditionnelle japonaise créait une ambiance authentique & apaisante. Grâce a cela, on s'y croyerait même au coeur du Japon. Une adresse à recommander absolument ! 10/10
Some of the freshest, melt in your mouth sashimi I've ever enjoyed. We ordered sparkling sake & the prix fixe for two that came with salad, rice, gyoza, sashimi, tofu stew, kimchi, & grilled mackerel. Charming, warm ambiance & excellent service. Highly, highly recommend this place!
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! 💗
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 :)
May 22, 2024
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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
Amazing experience at Karin. The staff is so friendly & the food is delicious, so many different things to try. Some of our favorites: Yaki-udon, sashimi & the bibimbap. They were also very careful with my allergies. We will definitely return!
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!
Reserve a couple of days before if going on a weekend as the place gets packed in the evening. We ordered sashimi & it was very fresh & delicious. The service was impeccable - everyone was welcoming & nice. The atmosphere is very cute. There are individual rooms that make it a lot more intimate.
Jan 24, 2024
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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 !
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!
