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.
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.
Mar 3, 2026
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What a gem! We were able to get a reservation easily, but I don't think that's going to be the case for long, because this place is fantastic.
We had a variety of things, all were delicious!
I had the salmon Aburi sushi, very unique. A rectangular shaped Rice that has ribbons of salmon throughout & a slightly chared exterior. Each piece is top with a slice of jalapeno & a swirl of sato sauce. The flavours were mouth watering good! I then tried the Inari spicy tuna sushi, again very original. A marinated tofu pocket filled with rice & topped with creamy spicy tuna, I ordered another almost immediately after taking my first bite.
I enjoyed a saki martini with my meal & it complimented the flavours perfectly.
Every aspect of this restaurant is well thought out.
Quelle belle découverte ! Sato est vraiment un hidden gem. Tout était succulent & délicieux. Les tapas étaient fraîches & pleines de saveur, & le ramen était également excellent. Je n'ai rien à redire, juste… wow ! À ne pas manquer.
Came in because it was conveniently located next to our Airbnb, but everything here is a 10/10. A highlight of my trip to Montreal.
Update: Circling back months later because I had a Hamachi Crudo recently that reminded me of this place. I still think about this spot sometimes all the way from nyc
We stopped by here for lunch. Everything we had was tasty ! Service was prompt & professional. The decor was what you'd expect from an izakaya. If I were to make one recommendation the salmon oshi could have a bit more salmon on it. Would also be nice to have a few more sushi options on the menu.
Mar 2, 2026
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Excellent restaurant. High quality Japanese food & great service. I have been 5 times in the past 6 months. I take all my friends there & it's also great for a date :)
Quelle belle expérience comme au Japon.
Nourriture goûteuse & fraîche.
Mention toute spéciale à Sarah qui a littéralement rehaussé notre visite avec sa sympathique attitude & service attentionné & amical. Bravo. Arigato.
Feb 17, 2026
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Genuinely a fantastic experience from start to finish. The food was delicious, the service was attentive & the atmosphere was great.
Definitely a place I would recommend!
Belle expérience!
Nous avons savouré de délicieux plats à partager en entrée & nous avons poursuivons avec plaisir avec le délicieux ramen pour plat principal.
Notre serveuse nous a conseillé avec justesse deux délicieux sakés. Nous avons apprécié surtout d'être servi en français.
Nous y retournerons!
As someone that lived in Japan for a couple of years I can say the food is very authentic & very delicious. The servers were absolutely phenomenal & it had a very fun & intimate atmosphere. Definitely worth a visit.
Super bonne cuisine! Service agréable! Mon seul bémol, tous les tapas sont arrivés presqu'en même temps. On en avait commandé 7. Ce qui fait qu'en moins d'une heure on avait terminé. Le staff devrait s'enquérir auprès des clients de la cadence de service. Sinon, excellent!!!
Feb 16, 2026
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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.
Très belle découverte par hasard. Très bon rapport qualité/prix, avec de la nourriture japonaise authentique & délicieuse. Ce restaurant contrairement à d'autres lieux n'a aucunement besoin de promotion par des influenceurs tellement la nourriture & le service sont impeccables. Nous reviendrons!
Délicieux izakaya sans prétention au coeur du Plateau-Mont-Royal. Coup de coeur pour notre serveuse Simone qui nous a fait d'excellentes recommandations pour accommoder une diète végétarienne! & nous avons adoré le gâteau au fromage à saveur de matcha!
