Okeya Kyujiro provides a theatrical omakase experience centered on precise culinary craftsmanship and traditional Japanese techniques. The menu showcases seasonal seafood flown in directly from Japan to ensure maximum freshness and authenticity for every course served. Diners observe the preparation of delicate nigiri and intricate sashimi platters within a minimalist, wood-focused setting designed to highlight the ingredients. Each sequential dish emphasizes the purity of flavor, focusing on balance between acidity, texture, and umami. The service follows a rhythmic flow, synchronizing the pace of the meal with the expert preparation occurring at the central counter. This commitment to ritualized preparation elevates standard sushi offerings into a choreographed performance of skill. The focus remains exclusively on the structural integrity of the fish and the seasoned vinegared rice that anchors the entire experience.
Details
Amenities, services & more
We accept: Master Card, Visa, AMEX, Interac, Mobile Payment, Contactless Payment
Okeya Kyujiro provides an immersive and authentic omakase experience in Montreal that consistently transports guests to Japan through its theatrical presentation, meticulous attention to detail, and high-quality seasonal ingredients. Most diners praise the professional service, the educational aspect of the meal, and the serene, intimate atmosphere, often highlighting the restaurant as an ideal destination for special celebrations. While a few patrons felt the pacing was occasionally rushed or that the execution did not always align with the premium price point, the vast majority of reviews describe the culinary journey as exquisite, memorable, and well worth the investment for those seeking a unique and sophisticated Japanese dining experience.
Came in for the lunch omakase this past weekend. Walked into a dark room, the counter hidden behind heavy blinds. Once everyone was seated, the blinds rolled up with the loud, sharp clack of hyoshigi (traditional hardwood blocks).
There weren't many performative beats after that, & since conversation with the chefs wasn't'allowed' (you communicate through the servers), the silence actually helped. It pushed all your attention onto what was happening behind the counter.
The meal itself, though, didn't match what I expected at the price. Outside of the kegani (Hokkaido hairy crab), there wasn't much in the way of unique selections across the course. The neta was solid, but for a place that strictly adheres to Edomae traditions, the flavors weren't as concentrated as they should've been. I could still taste moisture in some of the fish. A few of the fatty pieces & skins never got torched either, so the kin medai & saba came off a little flat.
There was also a mismatch with the shari. They used larger-grain Sasanishiki, which usually pairs beautifully with fatty cuts (& I loved it on its own), but against neta this restrained, the rice felt texturally too assertive.
Please be warned that we went on a Saturday night & it was 300$ per person without tax & tips. If you can see past that price, then you can truly enjoy a magical culinary experience at Okeya Kyujiro. Almost everything we experienced this evening was phenomenal to me. We were greeted politely as soon as we entered the restaurant, the waitresses offered to take our jackets & showed us our seats. Once all the customers had been seated, the chefs introduced themselves & started cooking spectacularly in front of us at a incredibly fast speed. Throughout the night, we enjoyed 30 different dishes that were all presented wonderfully & they each had their charm. Most of them had remarkable flavours & amazing creativity. The variation of texture, flavours & temperature was truly an exceptional experience. Of course there were some of the dishes that were less enjoyable, but they were still beautiful to look at nonetheless. My favourite part is definitely the flawless balance between the rice, the fish with the sauce & the amount of wasabi. Each ingredient goes so well together & there's nothing overpowering the other. Everything is in harmony & elevates the sushi experience to another level. While you wait for the next course to be served, you get to enjoy the presentation of the ingredients & seeing them being cooked right in front of you. It's a wonderful spectacle & it felt like I was watching the chefs cooking in an artistic fashion. I also really enjoyed how the waitresses came beside us to personally describe each dish as we were about to eat them. They were always smiling & friendly while also staying polite. They were also attentive to details, wished the people who were celebrating their birthday a Happy Birthday & they even brought out a piano to play us a birthday song. Seriously, both the food & the service was first-class. Finally, I can confidently say that I was pretty full after tasting 30 different dishes & it was truly a wonderful experience.
What an incredible experience! The attention to detail & level of service felt truly personal. Every bite was exceptional, & the staff & chefs made us feel so genuinely welcome throughout the entire lunch. By the end, you will forget you're in Montreal, it truly feels like being transported to Japan. Thank you for such a memorable meal; I can't wait to return!
May 8, 2026
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
One of the best Japanese meals I have ever eaten( & I have traveled the world & eaten at many excellent restaurants).
The staff, both the chefs & wait-staff were pleasant, kind, helpful, & highly skilled. One of the chefs was particularly kind & I was so pleased there was also a woman chef. The ambience, including the music at the beginning & the end, was lovely. Yumi, one of the waitresses, was particularly helpful. I also liked the small bottle of sparkling unfiltered sake.
Overall, outstanding! In Japanese, I would say'utsukushi'!!
Domo arigato.
My cousin Said & I had our very first omakase experience here, & it was truly unforgettable.
From the moment we walked in, we were welcomed with genuine warmth. Fabrizio greeted us right at the door & immediately made us feel comfortable. He was incredibly kind, attentive, & took the time to explain what we were eating, which made the experience even more special. Celica was also wonderful - friendly, caring, & thoughtful throughout the entire evening.
A huge thank you to Master Chef Hikaru for such an incredible culinary journey. Every dish was beautifully prepared, full of flavor, & presented with care & precision. You can truly feel the passion behind each course.
This experience honestly made us feel like we were in Japan. For our first omakase, it couldn't have been more perfect. The hospitality, the food, & the atmosphere all came together seamlessly.
We loved every moment & will definitely be back. This set the bar high - & now we're inspired to experience omakase again, maybe even one day in Japan. Highly recommend Okeya to anyone looking for something truly special.
10/10 experience at Sushi Okeya Kyujiro. Truly one of the best dining experiences my cousin & I have had in Montreal.
A special thank you to Master Chef Hikaru, Fabrizio, & Celica. The level of care, precision, & hospitality we received was exceptional. Every course was beautifully presented & absolutely outstanding in flavor. You can feel the passion & discipline behind each dish.
Fabrizio & Celica made us feel genuinely welcomed from the moment we arrived. The service was attentive, warm, & perfectly timed. Master Chef Hikaru's craftsmanship speaks for itself. It was an unforgettable experience.
Management should be incredibly proud of this team. They represent excellence at the highest level. We truly appreciate the hospitality & look forward to returning!
This was a Bucket List experience for me. I was expecting to wait until I could go to Japan for this experience, but then, I was told about Okeya. My favorite part of the evening was the presentation of the ingredients & the explanation of the provenance. I am glad that the menu included every traditional dish I expected including the best fatty tuna & waigu. This is more than a meal, it's an experience. I am also glad that my seat was ideal for watching the executive chef work (right corner). I look forward to returning.
We visited as a family of three-my wife, my daughter, & myself. From the moment we entered, the server kindly guided us, & we immediately felt a genuine sense of hospitality. As the curtain rose & the dishes were presented alongside the music, everything felt exceptionally refined-it was such a wonderful experience that we almost forgot we were not in Japan.
We were truly happy to find that such outstanding Japanese cuisine can be enjoyed in Montreal. The server's detailed explanations of each dish & the chef's performance made the entire two-hour experience thoroughly enjoyable. We would definitely love to visit again. We are Japanese, & even from a Japanese perspective, this restaurant is highly recommended.
We came for a 6:00 pm reservation to celebrate a birthday. We were asked to arrive 15 minutes early, & while driving we tried calling the restaurant several times to confirm arriving closer to 6:00 pm, but the phone always went to voicemail.
While the concept is interesting, the execution did not feel consistent with the price point ($335 per person before drinks). All guests were seated before the blinds opened, & at 8:00 pm the blinds were closed, the lights were turned off, & we were asked to leave even though we were still finishing our drinks. That abrupt ending made the evening feel rushed rather than celebratory.
The chef & sous-chef served the dishes but only named them, while all explanations were given by a separate staff member walking from couple to couple. This may be due to language limitations, but it still broke the intimacy expected from a counter-style omakase & made it feel more like a narrated show than a personal dining experience.
For birthdays, everyone received the same candle & dessert at the same time, which made what should have been a personal moment feel more like a production line than a special occasion.
There were also atmosphere issues, including noticeable HVAC noise that had to be turned on & off during service, as well as glassware & decor that did not feel aligned with a high-end tasting menu at this price.
My partner enjoyed the evening, but for a special occasion at this cost, we expected a more refined, calm, & personal experience. The idea is good, but the execution & value simply did not match what is being charged.
Why 2★
Food quality: ★★★☆☆
Good fish & competent execution, but no memorable or'wow' moments for a $335 tasting.
Service & intimacy: ★★☆☆☆
The chef & sous-chef only named the dishes, while all explanations were given by a roaming staff member. This may be due to language limitations, but it still broke the intimacy expected from a counter-style omakase.
Atmosphere: ★★☆☆☆
Noticeable HVAC noise that had to be turned on & off during service, plus glassware & decor that did not feel consistent with a high-end tasting menu.
Pacing & hospitality: ★☆☆☆☆
Rigid timing, unanswered phone calls before arrival, & an abrupt ending at 8 pm even while guests were still finishing drinks.
Value for money: ★☆☆☆☆
At $335 per person before drinks, this price point competes with Montréal's top fine-dining & omakase counters, where guests expect silence, premium glassware, no rushing, direct chef interaction, & a calm, personal experience. Instead, we experienced loud HVAC cycling, average glassware, production-line pacing, a roaming narrator instead of chef-to-guest explanation, & a forced end at 8 pm. Even though some of the food was good, the overall experience did not come close to what this price level normally buys.
We came for a 6:00 pm reservation to celebrate a birthday. We were asked to arrive 15 minutes early, & while driving we tried calling the restaurant several times to confirm arriving closer to 6:00 pm, but the phone always went to voicemail.
While the concept is interesting, the execution did not feel consistent with the price point ($335 per person before drinks). All guests were seated before the blinds opened, & at 8:00 pm the blinds were closed, the lights were turned off, & we were asked to leave even though we were still finishing our drinks. That abrupt ending made the evening feel rushed rather than celebratory.
The chef & sous-chef served the dishes but only named them, while all explanations were given by a separate staff member walking from couple to couple. This may be due to language limitations, but it still broke the intimacy expected from a counter-style omakase & made it feel more like a narrated show than a personal dining experience.
For birthdays, everyone received the same candle & dessert at the same time, which made what should have been a personal moment feel more like a production line than a special occasion.
There were also atmosphere issues, including noticeable HVAC noise that had to be turned on & off during service, as well as glassware & decor that did not feel aligned with a high-end tasting menu at this price.
My partner enjoyed the evening, but for a special occasion at this cost, we expected a more refined, calm, & personal experience. The idea is good, but the execution & value simply did not match what is being charged.
Why 2★
Food quality: ★★★☆☆
Good fish & competent execution, but no memorable or'wow' moments for a $335 tasting.
Service & intimacy: ★★☆☆☆
The chef & sous-chef only named the dishes, while all explanations were given by a roaming staff member. This may be due to language limitations, but it still broke the intimacy expected from a counter-style omakase.
Atmosphere: ★★☆☆☆
Noticeable HVAC noise that had to be turned on & off during service, plus glassware & decor that did not feel consistent with a high-end tasting menu.
Pacing & hospitality: ★☆☆☆☆
Rigid timing, unanswered phone calls before arrival, & an abrupt ending at 8 pm even while guests were still finishing drinks.
Value for money: ★☆☆☆☆
At $335 per person before drinks, this price point competes with Montréal's top fine-dining & omakase counters, where guests expect silence, premium glassware, no rushing, direct chef interaction, & a calm, personal experience. Instead, we experienced loud HVAC cycling, average glassware, production-line pacing, a roaming narrator instead of chef-to-guest explanation, & a forced end at 8 pm. Even though some of the food was good, the overall experience did not come close to what this price level normally buys.
