Kazu shines as an authentic izakaya in Montreal, delivering flavorful, carefully prepared dishes with a creative twist that blends traditional Japanese technique with Western influences; the menu offers generous portions, great value, and standout items like katsu curry and a range of bar-side dishes you can watch being prepared; the atmosphere is lively, warm, and intimate with friendly, attentive staff, though expect long lines and limited seating, especially on busy nights, and some comments note crowding and occasional variability in service; overall it feels like one of the city’s top Japanese spots and worth the wait for many.
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.
Simply one of the best restaurants in Montreal & perhaps in all of Canada.
The attention & passions put into each dish can be not only tasted, but felt. The operation of the staff is like a moving painting behind the counter- I strongly recommend sitting at the bar to witness it.
There is something simply special within these walls. Always worth the wait & be adventurous with your order!
On this visit my favourites were the smoked eel wraps & the vegetable croquettes.
Kazu is undeniably one of Montreal's premier Japanese dining experiences.
Upon entering, you're greeted by a cozy, warm, & traditional ambiance. The staff exemplify Japanese hospitality, being attentive, polite, & eager to address any inquiries. The menu strikes a perfect balance, offering a diverse selection without overwhelming patrons. Notably, the menu is creatively displayed on a collection of papers affixed to the wall, adding to the restaurant's charm.
Every dish we sampled was impeccably presented & delectable, reinforcing the notion that there are no wrong choices at Kazu.
In short, Kazu offers an authentic & memorable Japanese dining experience in Montreal. I wholeheartedly recommend it without hesitation.
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.
Haven't been there for a few years but this is by far my favourite Japanese restaurant in Montreal. Recommend without any hesitation! Prices are fair given extreme quality. Chef is an as! Staff always friendly. Japanese tavern ambience so expect to be seated tight closed to other guests. Amazing experience, always.
I FINALLY went to Kazu last night & it was one of the best dinners I've had in Montreal. We ate so much & yet didn't feel heavy, actually felt nourished & happy :) We got soft tofu salad with Kimchi dressing, pancake w. Shrimp, grilled Seabass & Kalbi for just the two of us. & house warm house Sake to wash it all down. De-licious! Totally worth the 40 min wait in line. The servers were awesome & I even got to practice some Japanese with them. Highly recommend this eatery.
Nov 10, 2024
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The food is amazing! The owner is such a nice guy. The staff are fairly attentive. Everyone is pleasant & helpful. Atmosphere isn't fine dining & right but not unpleasant. The food is the star. The owner is a master of sauces. The forked meats are sooooo good. Highly recommend
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!
Mon restaurant japonais préféré à Montréal ! Ambiance familiale, belle proximité entre les serveurs & les clients, cuisine gustativement incroyable 10/10 👌🏻 Je recommande fortement !
Jun 16, 2024
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Highly recommend grabbing a seat at the bar for dinner & a delightful'show'. The ginger & egg soup is the perfect starter to kick off your culinary adventure. & don't miss out on the surprisingly delicious yuzu foam beer-it's a refreshing treat that pairs perfectly with the vibrant atmosphere.
Amazing spot!!! The food was amazing & the staff were so nice & generous. Definitely worth the wait in line. The vibe is just awesome, highly recommend!
I'd give this place 10,000 stars if I could!! Whenever any of my friends visit montreal for the first time I tell them to go to Kazu. Whenever I am in Montreal I try to go to Kazu. If I walk by Kazu it calls to me & I cannot resist its pull. The food is always super fresh-they will take items off the menu or have special items only in stock when they get certain ingredients. There are options for most food restrictions-veggies, halal, no fish etc. I would recommend their home made tofu if you go on a Sunday. Anything with raw seafood will be delicious. Any of the grilled meat will be incredible. Also their salads are fresh & flavourful sauces on everything! The desserts are always exceptional. The staff is all super friendly! It is a cozy little restaurant with a lot of energy so I might not recommend taking your very elderly family members or anyone sensitive to louder environments. I cannot recommend Kazu enough!!!!! This isn't a paid sponsorship (although if anyone from Kazu is reading I will gladly accept food as payment hahaha!).
Despite the long line-up, everything about this place is a gold! fantastic food, humble prices, authentic vibe. Recommend to go 5-10 mins prior to the opening to avoid the line:)
May 3, 2024
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2024 January 4.5★ At time of writing, this restaurant is one of the top 10 Japanese restaurants in Montreal. Along with the fact this is a small tightly packed restaurant, you'll certainly need to wait. Though with the speed of the restaurant, it helps with the lineups. CARPACCIO DE BOUF $10 Very good with some citrus notes. Would order again. YAKITORI - chicken $5 for 2 Not bad, though not as juicy as expected. Would pass next time. OKONOMIYAKI $13 Crispy Japanese pancakes with shrimp. A good flavor. Lots of cabbage base. Topped off with greens. Great 4 person sharable appetizer. Special du jour $27 pork shoulder steak. Very very good. Perfectly charred, perfectly cooked. Tender & very flavorful. Paired with some greens, mash potatoes & fresh tomatoes, it was perfect. Would recommend. Ceviche $22.00 A mix of hot (deep fried shrimp) & cold items (mussels, tomatoes etc.) in a tangy tomato style sauce. It's not bad, but would pass next time. Right on one of the busy street, you'll see this amongst many others. This is one to try. Note: seating is tight. Room for up to about 22 Some Free Parking available on side streets.
Worth the 2 hour wait! It was our last evening in Montreal when you came across this amazing place. It was packed to the rafters. We waited for about 2 hours in th3 cold but it was worth it! The food is fantastic & the service is nothing short of amazing. Would definitely recommend!
If you do not mind waiting in line, big recommendation! If you go early to beat the line, even better! Atmosphere was amazing, food was amazing, & the service was so quick, friendly & kind! Price range was alright, too! We got seated right away for two, however, we came a bit early, just before their opening time. We bought four items, which totaled $105 with tips included! Without tips was $90. Highly recommend this place!
Quelle excellente découverte. J’aime la cuisine japonaise mais ce restaurant propose des plats excellent! Surtout le bibimbap au bœuf quel délice.
Le restaurant est authentique mais très petit,en heure de pointe prévoyez 45 min de fil d’attente.
Néanmoins ça vaut largement le coup, le personnel est très qualitatif & réactif!
Le bibimbap japonais au bœuf est excellent! Les gyoza sont les meilleurs de Montréal sans aucun doute!
