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.
Kitano Shokudo is widely praised for authentic Japanese cuisine in Montreal with fresh sashimi, uni mazemen, duck mazemen, well balanced miso soups, and a mix of sushi and other dishes that keep flavors interesting. The kitchen emphasizes quality ingredients like bright seafood and carefully prepared karaage and Brussels sprouts, while some dishes stand out for texture and aroma and desserts such as yuzu tart can be divine. The atmosphere is intimate and cozy with a minimalist look and a lively vibe, and reservations are strongly recommended because seating is limited; the service can be attentive but occasionally slow or impersonal with a small team. Overall many guests consider it one of the best Japanese spots in town and it is worth the price for many even though a few meals did not hit the mark especially the ramen.
Favourite spot in town. Food is always exceptional & the vibe is cozy & warm. Hiroshi & Sam are truly the best. I've probably been north of 20 times & it continues to blow my mind each & every time. Kitano Shokudo foreve
Mar 8, 2025
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I mean, the place speaks for itself.
5 stars across the board. Hiroshi & Sam are the cherry on top. Always a treat whenever I go. Probably my favorite spot in the city.
Vibes: Live dj by the front window playing the smoothest mix of jazz & soul among plants & textiles. Intimate & homey decor. Four tables & a packed izakaya bar.
Food: the FOOD!!
The duck mazumen is decadent yall. Could have eaten a bowl of the noodles alone, so simply but richly seasoned with scallions, egg, onion. That duck skin is so fkn good I saved pieces for my last bite.
Tamago gohan (egg rice) was everything I needed. If you love egg rice or congee, this is an elevated must-get. Listed as'hotate ikura tamago ankake gohan' on the specials menu, it is fluffy rice nestled in a layer of pillowy dashi broth (more a sauce than a soup) with scallops, salmon roe, & the fluffiest scrambled egg. After days of traveling & rich food, this felt like a gift. Goes well with the phenomenal sake.
First time
coming back after the name change. The food is still fantastic.
The service is friendly & the atmosphere very pleasant. Definitely recommend this place to all japanese food lovers & we will be back to try more soon!
Feb 11, 2025
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The Chirashi bowl was lovely (fatty tuna ftw & how was the rice so impossibly perfect), the soy sauce/balsamic vinegar fried brussel sprouts were a revelation... the bechamel-infused cod croquettes? Delightful. The duck magret finale elevated simple ramen to special place. Ise City native Hiroshi Kitano runs a tight kitchen & he singlehandedly makes this small resto shine. Now for the sigh. I was so excited to try the Japanese crab egg dish & patiently waited 15ish minutes when the server took the order of people who arrived easily 10-15 minutes after us first & I lost my chance (he crossed out the crab on our menu as soon as he took the late-comers' order, I accidentally let out an audible "noooo!"). My dining partner had to finally flag the server down for our order after he went to take care of yet another later-arrived table even though we were sitting right at the bar in front of him. (We were able to place our sake order as soon as we walked in though; it was placing the food order that took a while). At first, I thought, well things happen, but then the server religiously poured & repoured the duo's water & libations beside us but he didn't do that for us. Still gave him a good tip. Is spending $180 for 2 not enough to warrant the same level of service as the others? Ever notice that it's a big club & you ain't in it? I was excited to come here for weeks only to leave feeling deflated.
Authentic Japanese experience where the food is just fantastic. The service is excellent as well - all in a cozy environment. A true neighbourhood gem.
Jan 25, 2025
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Exceptional high-quality dishes. The sashimi melts in your mouth, the gizzards are tender & "earthy". Really appreciated the originality of the ground boar+tofu dish - nicely spicy with strong lemongrass-y aftertaste. They didn't have matcha tiramisu so had to settle with the custard which was nice & silky, but just not that special. Will be back!
One of the best Japanese restaurants I've had in quite a while, although the amazingly high quality of ingredients & cooking techniques (for all traditional Japanese, fusion, & entirely Western dishes) were beset by the rather small portion sizes. The stars of the show were both the chirashi & à la carte sashimi orders. Every slice was decently thick, at a suitable cool temperature, & was cleaned appropriately with not a single bone or fish scale in sight. The short-grain rice was perfectly executed, al dente & seasoned just right. Would highly recommend the chu-toro tuna belly, rich but delicate & melt-in-your-mouth. The sudachi lime, shiso leaf & shiso microgreens were a nice touch for the sashimi, & so were the crisp nori laver squares for the chirashi. The sea urchin & salmon roe mazemen (which I assume is part of a limited time-only special menu) was delightfully creamy, & while the sea urchin was not raw (& appeared to be either cooked or tinned), it paired surprisingly well with the springy alkaline noodles coated in a carbonara-esque sauce that was not too heavy. The confit duck (?) gizzards (also part of the special menu) were remarkably well-done. Tender but not overcooked, fully immersed with herby undertones, & the parmesan on top was balanced by a refreshing zing of lemon. The seasoning elevated the natural umami of the gizzards while not masking it entirely. I finished every single drop of the remaining emulsified sauces at the bottom of the plate. The waiter was very helpful & attentive, & made me feel at home. Service was understandably a bit slow as it was only one person servicing a fully-packed room, but the food arrived at the right temperature & at acceptable intervals.
Kitano Shokudo is truly one of the best in Montreal. This two man show restaurant takes great care in the quality of their ingredients. The sake selection is also on par with the food & they know to recommend what would fit best with your meal or your preferences. I usualy get their sushi or sashimi since the quality is not something you find on every corner in Montreal but everything is excellent. The staff is impossible to dislike as well as their food. Do yourself a favor & go try this Japanese restaurant for a traditional japanese taste with a twist.
