Located in the heart of the plateau in Montreal, Kitano Shokudo is a cozy and delightful Japanese restaurant that serves you quality handmade dishes, amazing unique sakes and wines as well remarkable service. This amazing bistro gives you a Japanese experience that you won’t want to miss!
At Chef Hiroshi Kitano’s Plateau restaurant, precise technique meets inventive twists on classic Japanese dishes. Made with top-tier local and Japanese ingredients, the fresh fish donburi and chirashi bowls stand out as some of the city's finest, while dishes like the uni carbonara, which weave in French and Italian influences, leave a lasting impression.
Patrons describe Kitano Shokudo as a tiny, intimate spot with a warm, minimalist vibe where fresh sashimi and carefully executed Japanese dishes take center stage. Standout items include duck mazemen, uni mezemen, chirashi and miso bowls, with sashimi praised for exceptional freshness, though some feel the ramen is overpriced and the broth underwhelming for the price. The two person operation can make service feel uneven or a little distant, even as when staff are present the service is friendly and attentive. Despite this, it is hailed by many as one of the best Japanese spots in Montreal outside Japan, thanks to quality, presentation and a lively atmosphere. Reservations are recommended because the space is tiny, and the overall tone is that the food justifies a visit for those seeking authentic, ingredient driven Japanese cuisine.
Incroyable resto. J'y suis allée plusieurs fois & jamais déçue. Un petit local (une vingtaine de places), plein de personnalité, avec de la bonne musique & un bon système de son (!!) un service courtois & efficace, des plats incroyables & une belle liste de saké a découvrir. J'irais chaque semaine si c'était pas un peu pricey...la qualité de paie évidemment. Pour donner une idée on a pris 2 bières, 3 petites entrées, deux plats & une demi bouteille de saké pour 235$ taxes & pourboire inclus. Pour l'excellence de l'ensemble de l'oeuvre c'est un très bon prix que j'ai paye avec plaisir. Merci!!
I honestly enjoyed my evening at this restaurant. It's been on my list for a while & I don't regret it. The fish was extremely fresh. Dishes were well balanced & flavorful. We took the charimi, Brussels sprouts, ramen & octopus salad. The total was about 100$ & worth every penny. I can't wait to bring other people here. If you enjoy authentic Japanese food focused on quality ingredients - this is your spot.
Kitano Shokudo is an incredible restaurant with a a warm & minimalist atmosphere, clean wood, soft lighting, & the faint sound of sizzling food from the open kitchen. The staff are incredibly kind & attentive which makes the experience feel personal.
The food truly sets Kitano Shokudo apart. Every dish feels like a small act of care. The miso soup is perfectly balanced, the sashimi melts in your mouth, & the duck noodles are perfection. The presentation is so thoughtful it feels almost too beautiful to eat. You can tell the ingredients are fresh & prepared with care.
I enjoyed a delicious lunch during my leisurely stroll around town. The food was exceptional, the service friendly & attentive, & the relaxed atmosphere made the experience even more enjoyable.
I made sure this spot was on our list for the trip, & we're so glad we went. We got to try their maguro futomaki, fresh, rich, perfectly seasoned, with tuna that melts in your mouth. The ramen was flavourful with a refreshing hint of yuzu. The karaage was golden & crisp on the outside, juicy & tender on the inside, just perfect. Service was friendly & attentive.
We had a wonderful experience & will definitely return the next time we visit!
Tremendous quality fish, classic presentation, just really, really good. & the must-get mapo tofu was unreal delicious. (Side note: my wife was disappointed that a scallop dish she'd seen online wasn't on the specials list that night; they made it for her anyway!)
Absolutely worth the trip. Fabulous food, great service & nice vibe with the music. At a volume that makes it possible to hold a conversation.
We'll be back for sure.
The best Japanese food we've had outside Japan! Everything was 10/10. The restaurant is a two man show - don't know how they do it but they pull it off well.
We ordered:
- Miso soup
- Crab Mazemen (explosion of flavour)
- Chirashi
- Maguro Don (the tuna was literally melt in your mouth)
- Dessert Pudding
I consider myself a sushi connaisseur & by all means not an expert but this restaurant was underwhelming. Fish had no flavor, presentation was bland & not a big variety of fish.
We had the sashimi, Maguro Don, & Uni Carbonara-everything was so good! The Maguro Don was my favorite-fresh, flavorful, & perfectly done. The vibe was awesome too, with a DJ spinning great music on turntables & stylish decor that added to the experience. Highly recommend!
Every dish was flavourful, especially the crab mazemen, very good. Need to make a reservation in advance & the service was great but a bit slow, though there was only one server doing the most so I don't blame him.
Incredible food, service, & spot. We got the sashimi, octopus salad, Brussels, & crab mazemen. Everything was just deeeeeeelicious. Oh, & the matcha tiramisu. I don't even like tiramisu but I saw another table trying it & it looked fantastic. So I ordered one & bloody hell it was good. I'll come back to Montreal just to eat here. Well done!
