Kitano Shokudo propose une sélection ciblée de plats réconfortants japonais conçus pour mettre en valeur les techniques et les profils de saveurs traditionnels. Le menu se concentre sur des offres essentielles telles que les bols donburi, les ramen savoureux et diverses petites assiettes qui privilégient les ingrédients frais. Les convives découvrent un intérieur minimaliste et épuré qui met l'accent sur l'utilité et l'efficacité dans tout l'espace de restauration. Chaque plat reflète un dévouement aux méthodes de préparation authentiques couramment associées aux établissements urbains décontractés à travers le Japon. La cuisine produit des assiettes constantes caractérisées par un assaisonnement équilibré et un contraste de textures sans recourir à des garnitures inutiles. Les clients choisissent parmi une variété d'incontournables asiatiques misant sur la rapidité et la qualité. Cet établissement sert de point de chute pour ceux recherchant des recettes fiables exécutées avec précision.
Kitano Shokudo est une adresse montréalaise intime et très appréciée pour sa cuisine fusion japonaise authentique et son atmosphère minimaliste et chaleureuse. Les clients vantent régulièrement la qualité exceptionnelle des sashimis frais, du mazemen au canard et de la carbonara à l'oursin, soulignant souvent la présentation soignée et les saveurs vibrantes de chaque plat. Bien que l'établissement soit géré par une petite équipe, ce qui entraîne parfois des temps d'attente, de nombreux convives considèrent que le service personnalisé et le souci du détail font partie du charme unique du restaurant. Malgré quelques remarques sur les prix élevés et le nombre limité de places, l'expérience culinaire et le savoir-faire raffiné en font un choix incontournable pour ceux qui recherchent une cuisine japonaise de haute qualité préparée avec soin.
The quality of the ingredients is amazing. The tuna was incredibly fresh, & the uni was fresh too. You can tell this restaurant is all about highlighting the natural flavor of the ingredients.
For me, though, everything was just too rich. I ordered the tuna roll (very fresh & big portion) & the pasta. The pasta & urchin had a very similar buttery, creamy flavor profile. After a few bites I felt full of the richness & couldn't finish the pasta. I wish there were a few more layers of flavor to balance it out. Personally I would love some yuzu/ponzu or soya on the side to help me cut through the richness & add another layer of flavor. 🥲
I'd recommend coming with at least one other person & sharing a few dishes. I think it's a better experience that way since the flavors are quite rich. If you enjoy tasting premium ingredients in their purest form, you'll probably love it. It just wasn't for me.
Tucked away just off busy Mont-Royal, Kitano Shokudo is a charming little spot that's well worth seeking out. We started with a few sashimi dishes, & everything was exceptionally fresh. The Beach Baker oysters were fantastic, flavorful, & beautifully balanced. Another standout was the maguro futomaki (bluefin tuna roll). The tuna practically melted in your mouth & paired perfectly with the lightly vinegared rice, making each bite feel simple yet refined.
We also tried the duck mazemen, which was a touch saltier than I personally prefer, but the real star of the meal was the uni carbonara. It was rich, creamy, & absolutely unforgettable. Overall, it was a fantastic meal, & I'd happily come back.
We ordered the miso soup, chicken karaage, 8-piece sashimi platter, Hokkaido uni mazemen, & a maguro don.
The miso soup was average & nothing memorable. The chicken karaage was probably the best dish of the night.
As for the sashimi platter, the quality was fairly standard & didn't stand out in any way. The maguro don was the biggest disappointment. The rice was too hard for my taste, & the tuna was very ordinary. For $42, I was hoping for at least a little toro, but this tuna looked like it was training for a bodybuilding competition-so lean that not a single gram of fat seemed to survive. On top of that, the portion was surprisingly small. I honestly can't believe they serve such a limited amount of fish at this price point, especially given the average quality.
The Hokkaido uni mazemen didn't feel well balanced. The uni was fresh & creamy, but the green onions came in like they had something to prove. Rather than working together, the two flavors spent the entire meal arguing in my mouth.
I have a very small appetite, so it doesn't take much to fill me up. Somehow, after spending $200 here, I still left hungry.
Plus, there were only two people working at that time, one host & one cook. Super slow & no service at all.
Overall, the food was ok, but nowhere near good enough to justify the prices. There are many better Japanese restaurants in the city offering superior quality & value.
The restaurant has limited amount of spots, gotta reserve in advance. The entrance is not easy to find, the door is right next to Ohayo Cafe.
Pricier end but the food was delicious. Tuna sushi was super fresh & generous amount of fish. I picked the daily menu spicy crab soup with duck as my main dish. It's very good & special, never had this type of broth in other montreal japanese restaurant.
The best sashimi value for your money....the tuna maki roll is a mix of tuna cuts & the closest thing to eating at fish market in Japan. Noodles are also always perfect & the octopus salad is a great balanced bite to start a meal
The Brussels sprouts were the best thing I've ever eaten. The bluefin tuna was the freshest fish I've ever had. The sommelier was very helpful in choosing a wine & sake. The yuzu tarte for dessert was divine. Overall, a perfect experience with friendly, efficient service.
First dish was the Karage (fried chicken): $9 ($3 a piece) 8/10 nice tender & felt like a wonton based on the coating.
Chirashi: $42 lots of different types of sashimi & soy rice with salmon roe. 8/10
Uni Mazemen: $58 Uni with salmon roe, chili oil, fried scallions was probably the main dish to try. Overall I give it an 7/10 nothing special, was creamy & oily a little too oily basically ruined the texture of all the ingredients combined. Had a nice kick & an umami flavour but definitely a bit disappointing based on the hype I read beforehand.
Futomaki of Bluefin tuna: the last dish & probably the best dish 9/10. Fish very fresh & the rolls held up well. $46
Overall 6.8/10 the experience lacked one waiter one chef, I will note the food was good but the value was not there for me. If you are looking for a place to try some good food & something maybe a little different than the norm & want to be left alone like at home this is a good spot. But if you are looking for a WOW factor in service & being wined & dined this isn't the spot. I wouldn't go again especially if you are at a price point of $120 a person for this kind of experience.
To add: being one waiter & one chef isn't to say that it's a bad thing but you can tell that it was awkward &'cold' as it felt like you were taking time away from the server when they should be there to really make it an experience for every party dinning there.
Everything was just perfect, the cozy atmosphere of just like 15 people. Smooth beats by the DJ. Awesome presentation for all the meals & the food was just delicious. We shared most of the meals the four of us so we tried the Miso soup, octopus salad, Karaage, brussel sprouts, duck Mazemen, Uni pastas & the tuna 3 ways sushis. 12/10 would recommend. The best thing is that it wasn't that expensive for the quality of things we ate.
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!
