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.
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!
Yummy Japanese food for very affordable prices, for some reason there are a lot of potatoes in a lot of their dishes which was a little surprise & obviously a little wait to get it
Sep 3, 2023
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Truly an unforgettable experience. The service was beyond amazing. Everything we ordered was delicious. & despite the long wait time, the service was super quick & efficient. It is 100% worth your time & money to come here. I highly highly recommend it!
Wife & I go to Kazu whenever we come to Montreal. We agree the food has gone down in quality & quantity (albeit the huge amount of the same salad on every dish) but pricing has gone up.
Kazu seems to be riding the wave. You'd be a fool not to see there's no more genuine interest in the cooking anymore. The place is dirty, the dishes have missing bits & the menu written on yellow papers stamped on the wall doesn't look cute anymore. The waitress said those were not regular items & in some cases, seasonal. Well, if you pay attention, they're pretty much the same.
Malgré la neige, la pluie, le froid glacial, il y a toujours une file à l'extérieur, prête à entrer au Kazu. J'avais eu de chaudes recommandations pour ce restaurant, venant autant de foodies que de collègues au bagage asiatique.
J'ai donc fait la file ce soir pour enfin goûter à une cuisine que j'espérait subtile, savoureuse & reconfortante.
Nous avons commandé chacun une entrée & un plat principal. Rien de bon. Rien.
Entrée :
Raviolis au poulet : pas réconfortants, pas particulièrement goûteux, luisants d'huile.
Saumon calcium : quand on a reçu l'assiette, on pensait que la serveuse s'était trompée. Des tortillas, des rices crispies &...pas vraiment de saumon. L'équivalent d'un petit pouce éparpillé ici & là, à la manière du saumon en canne effiloché.
Notre ami avait commandé une assiette comprenant beaucoup de salade, des tortillas, 4 quarts de tomate & 4 morceaux de boeuf.
Plat principal :
Burgers Teriaki, Burger aux crevettes (sur recommendation), ainsi qu'un plat de Boeuf Galubi.
Les burgers dégoulinaient de mayo & de sauce & ça en levait le coeur. La viande ressemblait aux paddies écrasés que l'on retrouve au McDo, une montagne de salade romaine & des tomates.
Facture totale : 80$.
Il y a quelque chose d'incompréhensible pour moi vis à vis la popularité de cet établissement. Les restaurants à 5$ offrent des plats qui sont plus goûteux & complexes qu'au Kazu.
Petit resto charmant. Service très rapide. J'ai pris le bol de salade/saumon. Un vrai bol de bonheur! Tout est mixer à la perfection! Je vous le conseille!
Excellent restaurant situé sur Ste-Catherine. Ambiance animée
L'endroit est minuscule & les files d'attente sont monnaie courante. Pas conseillé pour les gros groupes.
L'accueil est sympathique, le service convenable, mais pas extraordinaire non plus.
C'est vraiment pour la nourriture qu'on y va. Le burger de crevettes est excellent & l'entrée que nous avons partagé à deux (sorte de fajitas de boeuf) était très bonne aussi. Les sauces sont succulentes.
Les portions sont raisonnables, tout comme les prix.
Bref, définitivement à (ré) essayer.
Aug 18, 2015
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Me & my girlfriend went to Japan this June & gorged ourselves on Raman in Kyoto & Sushi in Tokyo. Two weeks after we returned we were desperately Japan-Sick & craved another Japanese experience. Kazu is probably the closest you can be to Japan while staying in Montreal. You can read the 40 other reviews & it's pretty clear the food is amazing & I agree, but let me add that the eating experience is authentic Japanese. It's something special. A must-visit.
We have been going to this restaurant since it first opened & we always enjoy our meal. Some of our favorite dishes are the shrimp okonomiyaki (amazing) & the salmon salmon bowl. We have recommended this restaurant to many people & everyone has enjoyed it as well. There can be quite a wait at the door but it is worth while. The restaurant is very small, but the meals come out quickly which means there is a fast turnover. The bar seats are great, you get to watch the chefs prepare the meals in front of you. Great service with a smile & excellent food!
Resto japonais tout en contrastes, avec un look "reto-bar de ruelle" & des plats d'une finesse & d'une authenticité exemplaires. Les poissons sont toujours frais & savoureux.
Le service est ok: ils font ce qu'ils peuvent avec un espace réduit & des files d'attente tous les soirs. Quand le "hype" autour de cet endroit va se calmer, ça va être encore mieux. Par contre, vu la qualité de ce qu'ils servent, les files d'attente ne sont pas près de finir...
May 5, 2014
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IN-CROY-ABLE! Mon expérience culinaire au Kazu a été inimaginable. Parmi les meilleurs plats (le bol de thon & saumon tartare est à essayer) japonais que j'ai mangé. Service impeccable, très chaleureux.
Bémol: En raison de l'extrême popularité de ce restaurant, ainsi que sa petitesse, la ligne d'attente semble de mise à toute heure de la journée. Aucune réservation acceptée. Cependant, l'attente en vaut la chandelle!
I went here with a friend after work (she was horrified when I told her I've never been there). The line at the door was about 20 mins, & totally worth it because we got to sit at the bar :D
We didn't know what to order so we asked the waitress what she suggested. We has the shrimp burger, tuna & salmon sashimi, & this octopus tentacle. For dessert, we had the plum, & earl grey tea ice cream. The food was just amazing. I don't know what else to say!
The place was very hyped up & the line up is usually extremely long. I went for lunch & the food was a bit disappointing. The place is small & crowded as well.
Jul 24, 2013
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I am Japanese descent & we heard Kazu has an authentic Japanese Food. Well, the staff are Japanese but the food is pretty westernised. So I wouldn't say they are authentic Japanese food. The taste & presentation was good.
Excellent food. I have never been disappointed. The shrimp burger & sashimi are my particular favourites, & I have enjoyed the pork neck as well. Note that for the size of the portions, though, the prices are rather high.
The only thing is: expect to eat quickly & to wait since reservations are not a possibility.
resto cher mais trop petite portion. Je ne vois pas vraiment de typiquement japonais , y a pas grand choix de menu. Je pense que les plats sont assez facile a cuisiner c juste la presentation qui fait qu
What to eat, what to eat, what to eat? Not only did everything on the menu sound like it belonged in my belly, but seeing the dishes whiz by only added to the I-must-eat-everything-eyes-bigger-than-stomach thing. In the end, our helpful, friendly, & efficient server aided my wide-eyed over-excitement & guided me towards my friend, the grilled octopus leg. My Kazu-veteran chum chose the grilled beef with rice & salad. B-I-N-G-O homies. In an ideal world we would have ordered entrées & lounged with drinks, but 1) I just don't know how to be that hungry at 5:30, 2) we had a movie to catch, & 3) the ever-growing line-up of people eyeing your gluttony with restless disdain does not make for a lounge-worthy situation.
For full review, please visit: http://winedinemontreal.blogspot.ca/2013/04/kazu-1862-sainte-catherine-ouest.html
Une amie qui est allée au Japon m'a emmenée dans ce resto me disant que c'était authentique & sans MSG. C'est absolument délicieux. Le service est drôle, animé & ils parlent principalement japonais, puis l'anglais & deux personnes parlent français.
Préparez-vous à attendre à la porte. Ce resto est minuscule & extrêmement populaire. Pour une entrée, un verre de bière, le repas & un dessert, je m'en suis sortie à 40$.
Si vous pouvez vous asseoir au bar, c'est l'idéal. Pour moi ce fut tout un spectacle!
