Kazu is described as a busy, intimate Japanese izakaya in Montreal where traditional flavors meet a creative twist, with many dishes prepared right in front of diners at the bar and a lively, authentically Japanese atmosphere. The menu is large and wall postings keep things interesting, and while the space is small and lines can be long, the consensus is that the quality, freshness and value make the wait worthwhile. Dishes like beef short ribs, curry, sashimi, and a variety of small plates are repeatedly praised for depth of flavor and thoughtful preparation, with some items singled out as standout favorites and others noted as less compelling or pricier. The staff are consistently described as fast, friendly and attentive, and the kitchen’s in‑view hustle adds to the appeal, a highlight that keeps guests returning. A common refrain is that Kazu delivers an authentic Japanese dining experience in Montreal, offering a distinctive vibe and dependable, high quality food, even for those willing to queue at opening and endure limited seating.
My favorite japanese place. My husband proposed me at that place. FYI Typical japanese restaurant like in Japan.
You need to wait in line (they don't take reservations) but it's worth it 200%. Be patient. The Bar section experience is recommended!! You can be 4 persons but you need to squeeze.
The service is excellent & fast. The Owner & his Staff are always smiling & working so hard. Lovely vibe. They are really good people. Awesome team.
Food. Wow wow. Different kind of plates (tapas, meal, appetizers, vegeterian stuff.) with different prices. Really affordable. Always fresh, nice presentation, big menu. If you don't know or have never tried, try it. You won't be disappointed.
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. 🍣✨
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.
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.
J'ai adoré mon expérience dans ce restaurant ! La nourriture était vraiment exceptionnelle, savoureuse & bien présentée. Le personnel est accueillant & attentionné, & l'ambiance du lieu est très agréable. Franchement, je recommande vivement cet endroit, ça vaut le détour !
One of the best restaurants in Montréal. Amazing food. Great prices for the quality. Great ambiance, feels like you're in Japan. Would recommend a thousand percent!!
After 6 years, it's still Kazu that tastes the best for its price range. The atmosphere suits seasoned foodies. I order some appetizers & mains. The dishes come quickly & are served one after another, very suitable for two people to share.
Price-wise, with tax & tip, it came to $160 for two people, & even for two people who worked out, it was a bit too much food.
We ordered:
• Fried green beans ($12) - generous portion & delicious.
• Sashimi platter ($28) - tasty, but a bit small; just enough to get a taste.
• Lamb chops ($27) - very good, portion was on the smaller side.
• Pork shoulder ($27) - tasty & very large portion, but the center part of the meat was a bit dry.
• Squid salad ($16) - delicious, moderate portion.
• Beef heart ($12) - tasty, portion slightly small.
Overall, it was a very satisfying experience. The flavors were complex & high-end. The pace was fast, & the staff were warm, friendly, & eager to recommend dishes & drinks. At the bar there are hooks for bags under the table which is super convenient. We arrived at 5pm & didn't have to wait, but by the time we left at 6pm, a long line had already formed.
The food was out of this world! Everything was really good. The place is bit tight but the food makes it super worth it :) also take a picture of the specials on the wall. I recommend getting there early, we arrived at 5:10 & we got the last table, the place was packed (they open at 5:00)
10* /5 :)
Always the best taste & dish presentation! We recommand cod dish & morue head ! The cod filet skin-on ( for me is an excellent choice to keep skin-on ) was incredible soft velvety, juisy texture, right cooking time....a dream. The grilled morue head also very juicy very far from dry, excellent size, sauce amazing, variety of salads. Excellent restaurant & no 1 in our hearts! Helpful, fast waitress. Unforgettable.
Jul 13, 2025
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Bon plats à bon prix, atmosphère peu agréable. Je recommanderais plus du take out parce que c'est un resto relativement rapide, donc je n'irais plus là pour m'assoir & prendre mon temps. Nous avons attendu 1h pour une table. Nous ne savions pas non plus que nous pouvions commander les plats affichés sur les murs (ressemblent à des dessins d'enfants)… Nous aurions aimé savoir, car il y a une belle diversité. Bref, c'était correct sans plus.
Best restaurant in town without spending an arm & a leg. Service is incredible. They are fast, competent & really nice. Kazu is the guy with the yellow shirt in the kitchen, extremely nice guy. I recommend you sit in front of the kitchen. Its such a vibe eating & watching them cook. Its well worth the queue. If you don't want to wait, try to arrive 15 to 20 mins before they open.
This place is 100% worth the wait! I had heard a lot of good things about this restaurant before trying it last week & it was definitely worth the hype. We went on a Friday at around 8:30 & got seated about an hour later. They gave us the menu while we were in line so we could be prepared to order right as we were seated. I started with the Yuzu cocktail & the egg drop soup which was very good. For an appetizer we had the chicken dumplings & the chicken skewers, also delicious! As a main course I had the beef short ribs & I would recommend those as well! The serving sizes were great for the price. Service was very fast too which makes up for the wait imo! Next time I will for sure try things on their menu on the wall. Great overall restuarant I will be going back!
3 words. Worth the wait.
The food here is absolutely fantastic. You may be greater by a 30-45 minute wait, but wow is it worth it. The Japanese curry is absolutely fantastic, & the beef ribs, amazing.
The service is really quick & friendly.
Perfect for a quick date night. Recommend 10/10.
May 31, 2025
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Fantastic Japanese Restaurant!
Delicious food, fair prices, & a unique atmosphere make this place a standout. The staff is warm & attentive, adding to the overall great experience. Loved every moment-highly recommend!
Quelle belle surprise. Rien a dire c'est simplement excellent. J'ai été surpris par la qualité, les saveurs, le goût & même les prix. Tout est à la hauteur. Je recommande fortement. Je vais y aller souvent. Seul bémol, la ligne d'attente c'est super lent. Victime de son succès!!
Real amazing authentic experience at Kazu. The food is 😍🤤 & the portions more than generous. Highly recommend the homemade toffu on Sundays. We will definitly come back to try the rest of their large menu.
Just wow!! Everything we had is really good & the service was fantastic! There was a line up when we came Thursday night at 9:00pm, but it was worth it! We were lined up with a local who told us that they keep coming back here. The place is tight but it didn't take away from our dining experience. I highly recommend this place to anyone visiting Montreal.
