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Restaurant Top Pick

Kazu

Inspired Japanese eats, from house made tofu to shrimp burgers, in a cozy nook with an open kitchen.
Downtown
4.7$$
CLOSEDOpens Today at 5 pm
Monday
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Kazu Montreal Restaurant: Menu, Reviews & Reserve (2026)
JapaneseAsianRamenSoupsBurgersIzakaya / Japanese Pub

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Reviews for Kazu

Food
Service
on Google4.7 (2500+)
*as of 2026-02-15
5★
84%
4★
7%
3★
4%
2★
5%
1★
0%

Review Summary

Many reviews describe Kazu as a bustling intimate Japanese izakaya with a warm authentic vibe and a wall of rotating specials that rewards trying different dishes. The food is frequently praised for authentic flavors and careful preparation, with standout items including beef ribs, katsu curry, sashimi, smoked duck, tofu, and vegetable dishes; a few reviews call certain items underwhelming or pricey for the portion. Many note the long lines and cramped seating but say the wait is worth it, and arriving before opening or sitting at the bar is advised to secure a table. Service is often described as fast, friendly, and attentive, though the kitchen can be chaotic when crowded. Value is a common thread, with prices considered fair for the quality, and the experience is frequently described as memorable and highly recommendable. Overall the reviews present a consistent picture of a must visit for those seeking genuine Japanese flavors in Montreal, with the caveat of crowding and wait times.
Page 1 of 14 - 276 Reviews

Authentic Japanese vibe. Food is excellent & I went to Japan 🇯🇵! They have a nice menu with a menu of the day written on paper. They didn't have two items that we wanted but other than that it was perfect. Staff is efficient & nice. My new favourite spot in Mtl.

Feb 26, 2026
on Google
5.0

Kazu is a modern Japanese restaurant with a creative twist. The owner brilliantly combines traditional Japanese elements with Western cooking techniques, resulting in dishes that are both innovative & incredibly delicious.

If there's one downside, it's that there's almost always a line. But that just proves how much people love the food - it's so good that everyone is willing to wait for it. Definitely worth it!

Feb 24, 2026
on Google

Favourite Japanese restaurant in Montreal hands down. Everything on the menu is fantastic & it never disappoints.

Feb 19, 2026
on Google

Best Japanese curry I had in Montreal, it was absolutely amazing & reminded so much of the ones in Japan. We were sat at the bar & it was nice to see the staff work & have a little chat about Japan at the end. 100% will come back but not during winter because of this 1h-wait in line hehe ;-)

Feb 16, 2026
on Google

Absolutely amazing food, quality, value, & service. 10/10. The wait is very long & seating is limited, but it was truly worth it.

Feb 14, 2026
on Google

One of the most authentic Japanese restaurants in Montreal.
Cool atmosphere, delicious food!

Feb 7, 2026
on Google

It's a nice spot, the atmosphere that is. Waiters are a bit in a rush because there is always a line up so you better be ready to order your appetisers 😤. We ordered some raw salmon & tuna which were good. The beef short rib was nice but after two chews I had to visit the dentist the next day. Might not come back but i understand why people may like it.

Jan 31, 2026
on Google

A must in Montreal. The original izakaya in MTL.

Jan 31, 2026
on Google

The food at Japanese Kazu is really great - fresh, flavorful, & clearly made with care. Everything we tried was excellent, & it definitely lives up to its reputation.

On weekends, be prepared for a long wait, as it gets very busy. The space is quite small, so it's not really suitable for groups larger than 4 people. Smaller groups will have a much better experience.

Overall, if you don't mind waiting & you're coming with a small group, this place is absolutely recommended for quality Japanese food. 🍣✨

Jan 23, 2026
on Google
3.0

The food quality is average, but the service is overall great. The ambiance is always busy & there's not much space ever.

Jan 19, 2026
on Google
4.0

Very unique restaurant! Cozy, busy, & yummy! Great service, delicious food. Long wait time to enter.

Jan 14, 2026
on Google

MONTREAL's BEST JAPONESE SPOT !

Dec 27, 2025
on Google

Kazu is always worth the wait - even when the line is 20-30 minutes or more. The food is truly authentic Japanese cuisine, to the point that you can fairly compare it to what you'd get in Tokyo itself. Everything feels genuine, from the flavors to the overall experience. If you're looking for real Japanese food & don't mind waiting a bit, this place never disappoints.

Dec 24, 2025
on Google
5.0

Worth the hype! Such an authentic japanese resto!

Dec 20, 2025
on Google

Bit of a wait to get seated & the place is quite cramped, but service was great & attentive. We had the Bibimbap bowl (beef) & Katsu curry chicken - both tasted good albeit a bit underwhelming given all the great reviews. Would still visit again to try some other dishes

Dec 16, 2025
on Google

This place has been on my bucket list for almost a decade, & finally I decided to go against my policy against waiting in line for anything & bit the bullet on a Friday night.
We got there early, so we had to wait out those who showed up at opening, it wasn't too bad, we had a spot inside to sit.
What I love about this place is that there's something for every taste & every budget.
My table mates were varied, from curious but cash strapped to down right picky, & everyone loved their meal. Simple soups & small appetizers, everything was really well done, with that perfect Japanese sense of balance. I went full baller mode. The smoked duck with garlic bread was fantastic, almost like a build your own bruschetta. I ordered the nakaochi, basically the tuna ribs where you scrape off the tender meat, it was amazing. My short rib curry rice was perfect, so was my +1's pork.
The desserts were simple but great.
Service was efficient, friendly & bilingual - or should I say, trilingual, my Japanese needs some work 😁
I had this place on a high pedestal for so long, & I'm so glad that it lived up to the hype & went above & beyond.
Be patient & get in line - I suggest not going there with a large group, space is limited. I recommend this place to anyone & everyone.

Dec 12, 2025
on Google

We were sitting at the'bar'..& honestly its the best spot cause you can see food being cooked in front of you
Food was delicious... we were lucky not to stand in line :))) because usually the line is kind of huge :)

Dec 7, 2025
on Google

Kazu is a traditional style Japanese restaurant where your dish is artistically prepared right in front of your eyes!
Get early to the restaurant, as there is usually a line of people wanting to live this tasty experience again! 😋

Nov 20, 2025
on Google

Best restaurant in Montreal, we travel to Montreal at least twice a year to eat here! Get there before opening to avoid lineups, they don't take reservations. Highly recommend eating any of the raw stuff, tempura green beans are crack, the katsu curry was probably the best katsu I've ever had. Never had a bad meal here.only thing I wouldn't recommend is the tuna scrape as it's quite pricey for what you get. Wouldn't recommend for a group of more than 4 as it would be super tight, it's a small place.

Nov 18, 2025
on Google

Thank you Kazu, this was the best food & experience :)

Nov 16, 2025
on Google