Welcome to our cozy corner of the Plateau! Step into our warm, Japanese-style izakaya in Montreal. We serve authentic Japanese comfort food with a touch of French flair, in a space that feels just like a cozy spot in Tokyo.
Overall, Sato Izakaya is a cozy, well executed Japanese spot that draws praise for a menu that spans ramen, sushi, and shareable tapas with many dishes described as fresh, flavorful and original, including tonkotsu ramen, aburi salmon sushi, spicy tuna inari, takoyaki and a standout katsu that many call the best in town. The service is repeatedly described as attentive and friendly, with knowledgeable staff guiding sake pairings and menu choices, while the atmosphere blends a warm, intimate vibe with tasteful decor and good music. Some reviews note that reservations can be easy at times but the place can fill up, leading to pacing variations and occasional delays, and a few dishes such as miso ramen or certain gyoza or noodles may not meet every expectation. Price points are viewed as reasonable for quality by many, with generous portions and a strong value for the experience, though a few diners feel tapas portions are smaller or pricier. Overall, Sato Izakaya emerges as a strong go-to for friends or couples seeking authentic, well prepared Japanese comfort food in a lively yet welcoming setting, with repeat visits recommended to try more of the diverse menu.
Staring from the appetizers to main course which was the chicken katsu with the house curry sauce, absolutely tender & delicious.
Can't wait to go back!
I went to Sato Isakaya with my friends, & the experience was horrendous. The food was terrible. The sauce for the chicken katsu felt store-bought & was literally microwaved (half of the bowl was cold, the other half hot). The salad on the side was also incredibly low quality; once again, I think it might have been store-bought. In addition to the poor-quality food, the service was horrendous. There were six of us, & even though all of us ordered at the same time, not one of us ate with one another. Yes, it is true we were famished (which makes the food tasting terrible even more impressive), but there were prolonged noticeable gaps between each individual service. It made me feel like I was eating in a cafeteria, not a restaurant.
Great place to eat with friends & loved ones. The atmosphere is perfect, with good music, pretty decorations that fit with the Japanese vibe & dim lighting. The service is amazing. Friendly staff, always checking in to see if everything's fine & also quite fast.
As for the food, it was a bit deceiving for me but maybe it's because I had too high expectations. We had the chicken karaage which was delicious! A good wakame salad, the pork dumplings with truffle sauce that were underwhelming & also the takoyaki that I really didn't like but that's just my taste. Oh! & I had the Tokyo mule drink which was excellent.
We were looking for an izakaya in the Plateau area, & it initially seemed promising. The decor is warm & thoughtfully done, expectations were naturally high.
Unfortunately, the food did not live up to that promise. The nori was clearly not fresh; it was so tough I couldn't even cut through it with my teeth. The chicken skewers were also disappointing, especially considering the price - they felt overpriced for what was served.
It's a shame because the space itself is lovely. However, in this case, the food simply doesn't match the atmosphere. With some improvements in ingredient quality & value, this place could better align with the experience it aims to offer.
The owner Lucie & waitress Sarah were phenomenal. Me & my friend had such a wonderful experience here. Food was amazing, good drinks, & really amazing atmosphere.
Highly recommend the matcha cheesecake & chicken katzu!!! Will definitely be coming back here.
Loved it! We tried a bit of everything: chicken katsu, the grilled squid, the short ribs, the fried chicken, pork gyozas. It was all delicious. Service & ambience were really great as well. We'll definitely come back in the future.
Nov 8, 2025
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Only issue was the chicken katsu / panko chicken, while very tender itself, did not have enough curry sauce & it was too lumpy/dry. had the right taste but it wasn't authentic in its texture or quantity of sauce. it was surprising that eating the chicken with the curry sauce left zero curry sauce for the rice, so clearly they really didnt put enough curry sauce.
also in japan they cut the chicken katsu, it so you can enjoy picking up the chicken with chopsticks & not have to use knife, fork & chopsticks, however they didnt cut the chicken so you're required to cut the chicken yourself then eat it with chopsticks.
I am being picky but its the small details that elevate your dishes to be worth the price.
most dishes were quite tasty though, just could be optimized further, which is generally the staple of Japanese cuisine.
chicken karaage was decent as well.
miso soup was nothing special.
brussel sprouts were decent but needed a sauce or something as they're a little dry by themselves.
drinks are somewhat pricy as well, hitting a few bucks over other places. service was great.
