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, consistently praised for its exceptional, fresh, and flavorful dishes. Many diners highlight the creative menu, particularly the seasonal specials posted on the walls, and the unique experience of watching chefs cook live from the counter. While the restaurant is frequently noted for its small, bustling, and sometimes noisy atmosphere, as well as the inevitable long wait times due to a no-reservation policy, the majority of visitors find the high-quality food and welcoming service to be well worth the effort. Though experiences regarding portion sizes and pricing vary, the overall consensus points to an unforgettable, high-energy culinary journey that captures the essence of a traditional Japanese eatery.
Venant de France en vacances à Montréal, nous sommes allés dîner dans ce restaurant avec nos amis qui connaissaient la place.
Nous avons demandé au chef Kazou de nous faire découvrir ses plats, nous l'avons laissé choisir pour nous. Cela fait très longtemps que je n'avais pas pris autant de plaisir pour un repas.
Le repas était merveilleux, délicieusement préparé & plein de saveurs. Chaque plat était un véritable régal. Merci pour ce moment gourmand & cette belle expérience culinaire !
I can't even begin to describe how phenomenal the Pork shoulder steak with mash potatoes was!! Pictures do not do it justice!! The flavor profile of every part of my meal was divine! Even more so when they were all mixed together! Very distinctive flavors & OH SOOOO GOOOD!! Definitely worth the wait & the hype! I felt like this was a 20oz pork shoulder!! MASSIVE!! It was thick, juicy, flavorful, & orgasmic!! I was so in love with every bite of this! The mash potatoes soaking up all the different sauces also elevated the experience. The real MVPs of the house cooking in this heat was so insane to me! Excellent customer service! These chefs make it look seamless! Just locked in & delivering quality, uniqueness, & a great service! I didn't even have to wait long for my food! Super impressed by how fresh everything was & the presentation!! I can't wait to come back!! Michelin star in the making! 🙌🌟
Been coming here since they opened. Have to come here at LEAST once a month. Love the Chef Kazu & his Wife. Adore Aya 🫶🏼 Every time I come here it makes my day. Favourite place in the world, worth the wait.
Jun 6, 2026
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Interesting concept of a fast, order off the wall type of menu. Ordered two things:
Yakitori - Smokey, salty with multidimensional flavours. Would recommend
Lamb - came with a sour slaw, but the smokey lamb itself was drenched in a sauce that was a mix of sweet, salty, & sour. It was a mess a flavours & a miss for us.
Service is speedy, & the chefs are super friendly. Unfortunately not worth the line.
Soy mexicana, tengo el gusto de conocer al dueno, increíble chef, vivo en México un tiempo, de ahí inspirado su menú con una función entre mexicana y japonesa absolutamente deliciosa, los precios son super accesibles, porciones grandes, el equipo es super amable y atentos, el único inconveniente es el tamano del restaurante es demasiado pequeno, pero vale la pena ir e incluso hacer fila !!! 🇯🇵🍙🍱🇲🇽🌮
Went to this place quite a few times as it was 15 minutes by foot from my office.
I knew I enjoyed the food, service & ambience but did not realise how much I would miss it now that I am in Alanya & never see a place like that.
When I think Sushi, I am more comfortable when I see really Sushi Chefs & thet did not dissapoint.
Love they way they greet everyone when we showed up.
The place is really small with very limited seating, so even though the restaurant opens at 5:00, there's already a lineup outside. Usually when you see a long line, you expect the food to be amazing, right? But honestly, I didn't really get the hype (especially after seeing it all over TikTok). We ordered the Japanese curry & the grilled meat as an entrée, & after waiting more than 30 minutes, the food was just… okay. Pretty mid for me.
The atmosphere is very Japanese, & it's cool that you can sit at the counter & watch the chefs cook right in front of you. That part was a nice experience. But overall? I don't really understand the hype.
We enjoyed our experience very much! The food was delicious & it was enjoyable to watch the chefs prep dishes from our bar seats. Worth the wait in line! Very fair prices as well.
Tried the Vegetarian range at Kazu. We had Veg Bowl & Bibimbap Japanese style (veg).
We wanted to try the Japanese curry which was in the chef's list apart from the menu but it was out of stock. But no regrets, both the dishes were absolutely amazing. The sauces, both quite unique were rich in flavor & i would highly suggest you to try them. The tofu was very soft, felt fresh. The vegetables were quite nicely done, carrots were pickled & sesame seeds drizzled on top. On the bibimbap contained an egg nicely done, the rice tasted soooo good & overall very well worth it compared to the price. Both bowls were very big & imo one bowl could serve 2 people.
Kazu stays at a bar to it's high rating, especially the staff is awesome. Very polite , helpful, quick service & everything you wish in a restaurant.
The ambience is also unique. Feels like a hustling & bustling restaurant in Japan with songs, happy people & tasty dishes.
Definitely order the fried beans on the side.
We also had desserts , one cheesecake ice cream & one sake icecream. While the cheesecake icecream was the best (really soulful) in Montreal, the sake icecream was very unique & we tried it for the first time. It has vanilla ice cream with sake on the top. Which made it taste quite unique & definitely try it out if you love experimenting things.
In all, superb place, deserves 5 star ⭐ & the staff makes the place lovely.
One of the few restaurants that I just keep coming back to. Amazing food, amazing presentation, amazing service. The chef owner & his wife are both so heartwarming & passionate about their work & it really shows in the food they serve!
I remember asking the owner if he ever planned on franchising since the restaurant was getting ever so popular & he said no because he needs to be there to supervise in order to maintain overall quality. Much respect for his work ethic, I hope they keep on flourishing.
