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!
Mar 28, 2026
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Delicious izakaya on St-Denis not far from the Mount Royal metro station. Had a yummy spicy ramen & aburi salmon sushi! My friend tried a variety of other dishes like katsu pork, raw scallop, cod... The waitress was very nice & recommended great dishes!
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.
The ramen was flavourless & watery, the noodles did not taste homemade - seems like packaged storebought noodles. Maybe ramen is not their specialty & I should have tried the katsu for a more flavourful & fresh option.
Feb 15, 2026
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The food was excellent, I especially enjoyed the Tonkotsu Ramen, Takoyaki, & Pork Katsu. The Katsu was well cooked, the Ramen paired well with the sesame seeds that came on the side. Would come again!
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.
The food was incredible! I ordered the pork katsu which came with a salad & miso soup. The pork was perfectly crispy & the portions were generous. I also got a green tea after the meal. The service was friendly, attentive & they didn't rush us at all. The restaurant itself has such nice decoration & a cozy atmosphere. Overall, it was a wonderful discovery for us!
Très belle découverte. Les thés sont bons, tout comme les plats. Nous avons pris le katsu traditionnel (portion énorme), ramen miso (bon bouillon & c'est sympa de fournir le sésame à côté avec un petit pillon pour agrémenter soi même le plat), gyoza (la sauce à la truffe est dingue) & sushi au saumon. La serveuse était prévenante
Nous reviendrons
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.
It was a delightful experience at Sato Izakaya. The food was delicious. We ordered several dishes to share - the takoyaki, Japanese katsu, salmon aburi sushi, & spicy tuna inari sushi - & they were more than enough for two people. I must also mention Mrs. Lucy, whose kindness & warm welcome made the experience even better.
