Kazu specializes in authentic Japanese soul food characterized by intense flavor profiles and meticulously prepared ingredients. The menu features signature items like succulent pork belly bowls, rich shrimp burgers, and expertly seasoned ramen that anchors the culinary focus. Every dish reflects a commitment to traditional techniques while utilizing high-quality proteins and fresh seasonal vegetables. Diners experience a compact and high-energy environment where the open kitchen layout allows direct observation of the cooking process. The atmosphere remains consistently lively, mirroring the busy stalls found throughout Tokyo. Each preparation emphasizes deep umami notes through precise simmering and grilling methods. This establishment provides a focused selection of Japanese comfort classics designed for rapid service and immediate consumption within an intimate, bustling space that prioritizes the integrity of every individual bowl.
Kazu is widely celebrated as an authentic and vibrant Japanese izakaya in Montreal, offering a menu filled with fresh, creative, and comforting dishes that consistently impress diners. Many visitors describe the experience as a culinary journey, highlighting the lively atmosphere, the skill of the chefs working in the open kitchen, and the friendly, efficient service that keeps the bustling space running smoothly. While the restaurant is known for its compact size and the inevitable wait in line due to its popularity and no-reservation policy, the vast majority of guests agree that the quality, unique flavors, and overall memorable experience make the wait well worth it. Whether enjoying the signature grilled items, seasonal specials found on the wall, or the popular shrimp burgers and curry, patrons frequently return, often describing it as one of the best dining destinations in the city.
Worth the 45 minute wait outside. It was Saturday evening. We got there around 7:30 PM. Had the salmon burger, 48 hr pork, kalbi beef & the beef shoulder - wow so good! Great friendly service too
I love Kazu restaurant, it is a gem in Montreal for great quality food, fresh ingredients, consistency. The reason I gave 4 is because of the huge line to get served. Although I tried many dishes there, my preferred one is the shrimp ceviche served with mussels, tomato, onions & cucumbers. It is fresh, tasting & comforting at the same time. The chicken burger was ok, but I would prefer less mayo inside. It was a bit to much. The curry chicken was ok, not the best I had.
J'en ai beaucoup entendu parlé pour son burger aux crevettes, il fallait donc que j'aille l'essayer moi-même. En un seul mot: Excellent!!!
L'ambiance est très animée & bruyante, mais c'est à quoi il faut s'attendre. Ce n'est pas dérangeant, au contraire ça rend l'endroit plus vivant. Le restaurant est un peu petit, mais le service est tellement efficace que le temps d'attente n'est pas trop long (pour 2 personnes).
D'ailleurs, concernant le service, les serveuses étaient au taquet! Beaucoup de travail rapide, mais aucune faute & très sympathique malgré le rush en continu alors merci à elles! Les plats sont arrivés rapidement, la présentation était belle & pour deux burgers aux crevettes, des gyozas, deux sorbets & deux boissons, le tout nous a coûté 60$ avec le pourboire. Excellent deal!!
Pour la nourriture maintenant: le burger est l'un des meilleurs que j'ai pu manger. C'était une première expérience & ça m'a franchement surpris. La première bouchée était incroyable, mais la seconde avec la mayonnaise maison ouffff. Ce moment lorsqu'on goûte à quelque chose de nouveau & que la seule chose qu'on peut faire c'est rire d'étonnement tellement que c'est bon. Ehh ben voilà! Nouvelle découverte aussi, le sorbet au litchis & basilic. Très frais comme goût, très bon,mais très spécial.
Bref, je recommande Kazu à tout le monde, le temps d'attente en vaut vraiment la peine. Un des meilleurs restaurants à Montréal que j'ai pu essayer jusqu'à présent. J'y retournerai sûrement bientôt pour essayer quelque chose de nouveau & ajouter des photos à mon avis haha.
Aug 9, 2026
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So good! Worth the wait. Definitely try to come at opening to avoid the long line.
Seabass, lamb chop, & the unagi bowl was the best.
Shrimp burger & smoked duck was good aswell but I probably wouldnt re-order.
Homemade ice cream good finish :)
Absolutely love this place. I have visited numerous times & will continue to visit. I especially love the shrimp burger (not fishy at all, extremely juicy & is complimented very nicely with the sauces), Beef Kalbi Plate, Tuna Salmon Salad Rice Bowl, beef Bibimbap (the beef falls off the bone), the salmon/tuna belly (literally melts in your mouth), & the grilled seabass.
The only items I didn't love are the chicken & the octopus so if you visit definitely opt for beef or fish instead. The desserts are quite basic, I usually skip it.
In terms of service they definitely prioritize table turn overs over everything else so they do tend to rush you towards the end but I understand given that it's a very small place & there's usually a line out the door. I only had one bad experience in this regard but have been back since then & was treated nicely by the same waitress so she could have just been having a bad day.
Lastly, I would recommend visiting as a smaller party as it is a small place.
I got to dine in at this Japanese restaurant & the food was so delicious that I went back a few hours later to enjoy my second meal. Both times I had to wait around 20-30 minutes in line but it was worth the wait. Beef bibimbap was absolutely delicious, the beef was tender, moist & flavorful. Shrimp burger was super soft, ramen was big enough to share & the homemade tofu was ultra soft & delicious. Finally to end the meal, there is selection of ice cream flavors to choose from. I had the chocolate brioche & it was not too sweet. I enjoyed all the dishes that I got to try out from here, very fresh & authentic. Despite service being extremely busy, they were helpful & friendly.
There is a reason that there's always a lineup in front of this restaurant ! It's simply the best one in town! So flavourful & mouthwatering! We enjoy every single dishes! I especially love the beef carpaccio, the sashimis & the shrimp burgers. The wait is about 45 minutes depending on what time you arrive. They make their own soft ice cream which is extremely delicious!
I love coming to Kazu regardless of the wait. The service is great, with servers always happy to have you. My favorite drink is the yuzu beer, & the food is phenomenal. Highlights include the shrimp burger, Bibimbap, & Okonomiyaki. Be sure to try their specials on the wall.
This restaurant is a must try!! It was some of the best food I've ever had!! It's a tiny place, they're only open half the week, & they don't take reservations. Because of this, I was warned about how busy they get so I lined up at 4:30/4:45 to get in. They were really nice & let you sit early if your whole party is there. I'm so glad I did because it completely filled up by just after 5, & there was a line out the door. They have tiny tables all shoved together so there's very little space. No high chairs but they do have a booster seat. There's a menu but most items are actually written on pieces of paper all over the walls. I recommend that you try a lot of different things, though honestly the portions are very generous for the price. We had the deep fried green beans with truffle mayo, the 48 hour pork with curry, the homemade tofu (only available on Sundays), the shrimp burger, the onigiri (see picture), & the salmon/tuna sashimi plate (can't remember what it was called, something zushi - see picture). Everything was really good, but the beans, pork/curry, & shrimp burger were AMAZING. Life changing. The only things I found disappointing were the onigiri (nothing inside, just rice balls with a layer of some kind of pate under them, I assume salmon - I'm used to onigiri with salmon or whatever inside) & we also had some ice cream for dessert which wasn't all that great (the one with cheese & cookie crumbs & the cherry blossom one - neither were worth the price though cheese on ice cream is interesting). The service was okay, they were very friendly but you could tell they were a bit overwhelmed & the ice cream took forever to come. Otherwise food generally came out quite quickly (we barely had enough room on the table for everything). The price was very reasonable for how good (most) of the food was. I will definitely be going again!
