Finally a Japanese Sushi Restaurant that serves proper Sushi Rice. We were getting frustrated with ordering from Chinese/Korean run Japanese restaurants or worse Grocery Store sushi. At best they would rate a 2 star. There were no good sushi to be found in Durham Region. Bold statement but true. Kobo has been around forever. We used to go here weekly when it was a fish market. Fresh salmon daily. I'm not sure why we stopped when it turned into a restaurant. For years I thought it changed ownership. But it hasn't. We tried their sushi yesterday and it was delicious. Definitely a perfect score. This is what I always remembered what sushi tasted like but couldn't find. We can have sushi and Japanese food more often now! So excited. read more

2.5 stars Kobo Gourmet is a decent Japanese owned Japanese restaurant if you are far out in the East... but definitely not comparable to some of the Japanese sushi place in Toronto. Most of the dishes ordered for the night is passable... not bad.. but will I order those again.. not really... and Would I ask my friends to come and try... oh not really... The only thing I enjoy is Kobo Omakase Sushi as I am always a sushi fan. Those sushi they serves here at Kobo are bite size which is smallish...the fish are fresh and tasty. I am not too crazy about the deco...as I do believe that where you eat does enhances the totally experience... and if I pay Kobo prices, I do expect some ambiance! The services though really sweet and attentive. read more

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Cute little spot in Pickering which I'm very much looking forward to dining at once Government permits. In the meantime, I will happily settle for takeout. Rainbow Roll - One of their special rolls with salmon, tuna, shrimp and squid. Perfect pick (for me) since I couldn't decide what to get. Everything about it was fresh which was great considering this was a take-out order. I wish the portion was just a bit bigger but the price is actually quite reasonable for its freshness. 5/5. Tuna Roll - Decided to throw this one in the order and am glad I did. Again, fish was quite fresh. Portion wasn't bad for its price. 5/5. read more

In the Japanese-food wasteland of Chinese-run Monster Truck McSushi Rolls from Hell (tm) AYCE emporia (with those stupid iPads, God I hate them), is this light at the end of the tunnel. Kobo Gourmet is Japanese owned and operated! If you've heard about Zen (formerly in Scarborough, but moved to Markham), Kobo is Zen's cheaper kid brother in Pickering who is (almost) as authentic. No iPads, no language barriers, no missed orders here. Just authentic Japanese food (sadly, with some McRolls for the gaijin... if you want those, go over to Dragon Rolls, why are you here wasting Chef Nobu's talent?) When ordering sushi, to me you either get the Omakase Sushi (meaning a plate of Nigiri, $22) or the Omakase Sashimi (no rice, just fish, $24). At Zen you'll pay $80 or $90 respectively for these. So if you're new to REAL sushi but don't want the sticker shock and the drive to Markham, this is the way to go. And don't go making that Yoda sauce either... you're a grown-up now. Leave Yoda sauce (and the stupid rolls) to the high school kids over at Dragon Rolls. For appetizers, you can't go wrong with any of it, but i feel Miso soup is a tired old cliche and you see it everywhere. Change things up and get the Ushio Soup instead, which is a nice large bowl of clear bonito dashi soup stock with shrimps and scallops in it. Delicious. If you've had Beef Tataki at any of the AYCE iPad places, get it here and you'll be stunned at the difference in taste, it's like night and day. The beef is lean, not gristly, and the ginger sauce is perfectly prepared. The green tea is one of the best I've had in recent memory; only the kind served by Sushi Kaji in Etobicoke was similar. (and you'll spend $120+ per person to dine there!). For under $3, it's a treat! Bottom line, Chinese-run "Japanese" places (whether AYCE or not) are all crap. Just the same dozen or so stupid rolls that all taste the same and are not authentic at all (you won't find them at any respectible sushi place in Tokyo). If you want authentic Japanese food, make sure the place is run by Japanese, and this place is the real deal. Come here and you'll never want McSushi again, in fact you'll probably be calling Zen to reserve your next food experience! Welcome to the big leagues! read more

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Tried this place out in hopes that I could find a closer location for my sushi fix. I am not surprised this wouldn't suit my boyfriend and I. I really tried to like this place as reviews seem to speak well. However the food was just awful. The sashimi wasn't fresh at all, definitly been frozen and unfrozen incorrectly several times, the Amaebi wasn't fresh, it had been dosed in salt to I guess preserve it from going bad, the HOTATE was also looking a weird colour and had a sour taste rather than a fresh sweet taste. Their sushi rolls no taste. Congee would have had more taste.... Overall the food was bland and the flavours were missing something all of it. Salad dressing we tried both kinds, that seemed appetizing but were mainly oil base but no flavour. Only good thing was the tempura and the waiter was nice. The prices of this sushi are expensive for the shit quality you get and the freezing cold dining room. After all it is Pickering. The sushi here cannot even compare to the worst AYCE in Markham. And you truly need to go to toronto or Markham to get your fix. Sorry to be harsh but this was so unappetizing and not fresh at all...... we both had mild sickness after eating here. read more

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A perfect little spot. I actually like how small it is, because it means that it will not get too busy, noisy, or unpleasant. I think the service and food quality for the sushi at least is quite good, better than I have had downtown. read more

Great little place in Pickering - my go to sushi place in the neighbourhood. It's not cheap but not as expensive as Zen. Excellent quality sushi and sashimi. My favourite is their omakase sushi plate $22 (chefs choice) which features different fish every time so you know they use what's fresh. I have had lobster, scallop and real crab meat. They lightly sear some of the fish or dress them subtly with grated fresh ginger and green onion to give it a different twist. Every bite is different and very tasty. Melts in your mouth. They also have a lunch sashimi special $12. It's not a lot of food but great as a light lunch. Comes with rice. I usually order miso soup $2 which is also very tasty and tastes home made vs from a mix (pre-made). They are closed Mondays and open for dinner only on Sundays. They are closed between 3-5 pm on days they are open to break between lunch and dinner service. I memorized their hours now to avoid being disappointed lol. They are operated by Japanese chef and waitstaff so you know it's authentic. They are friendly too. One time I caught them during their break and instead of turning me away the chef offered to make my order to go. The decor is simple - nothing fancy, unpretentious. I am happy we have this little neighbourhood gem and that I don't have to travel far to have great sushi. read more

This restaurant has the best tasting beef sukiyaki Udon!!! The broth is so rich and flavourful!! Their miso soup is also outstanding and the sukiyaki beef is great. The agedashi is covered with a fantastic gravy. I order a bowl of white rice and put the agedashi and gravy on top so good!!! The black cod and tempura are also great!! I eat here close to once a week. read more

Good food and nice environment. The chef always can make sth special for you. Most of the customers here are regular ones.

If you're looking for cheap, all-you-can-eat sushi you best look elsewhere. Truly excellent sushi. The emphasis is on quality and craftsmanship. Don't let the shabby plaza belie the wonders within. This far East you can't beat it for authentic carefully prepared sushi. Full Disclosure: I worked here over 10 years ago as a server and kitchen helper. I live over an hour away and I still stop in because the sushi really is that good. read more

The others reviews of this place are correct. This restaurant is more expensive, for smaller portions. And at first glance, the decor inside and outside is not the greatest. But it's authentic, and fresh. My husband worked in Markham for years, and misses authentic Asian cuisine, but he has agreed this is the best place Pickering has to offer. read more

I've got to say I prefer seated facing the Kitchen. Especially at Japanese restaurants with Japanese staff, the Guys know what I mean. Half of the pleasure is to watch them gracefully step from the Kitchen to your Table-side with that sunshiny smile that can lighten whatever mood you're in. 2.5 *Star* 8-( -----} :-D (Turn that frown upside down!) Miso Soup(Organic $2.50) Kobo Kaisen Salad(Seafood $8.00) Kobo Roll(Snow Crab, Avocado, Cucumber, Smoked Salmon $6.50) Kobo Omakase Sushi($22.00) Pork Cutlet w/Rice(Tonkatsu $9.00) Fuji Apple & Sweet Yam Potato Pie w/Ice Cream($7.00) Typical review headliner... "Maybe I went in with high expectations." ---------- Maybe it's the Western-style Bar. Maybe it's the clear plastic coverings on the Table. Maybe it's the Neon Kobo sign. It made me disoriented slightly. Price(2.5/5.0) + Decor(2.0/5.0) + Taste(2.5/5.0) + Service(4.0/5.0) = Total(2.5/5.0) Not a bad Sushi spot in the immediate East-end area but I have car and willing to TRAVEL. read more

Kobo is the best sushi in Durham and possibly one of the best in the GTA. It is the opposite of cheap all-you-can-eat places. You pay more, get less, but it's memorable. The quality of the dishes sushi and the flavours are clearly a notch above anything else. I believe it is Japanese run, which makes a difference -most sushi restaurants are not. Omakase is the "chef's choice" and is recommended. They will provide the a mix of sushi of high quality and variety. The tempura is flavourful and lightly battered, never heavy. Decor is minimal and outdated, verging on retro. The service is cold and to the point, like the sushi. Watch the opening hours, they like to close early and don't arrive for dinner past 8:30PM it may not work so well. read more

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Wonderful, real Japanese cuisine. Veggie friendly, too. read more

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First and most likely last! Ordered the Beef Bento lunch special and let me start off by saying it tasted blend! The sushi rolls were pinch as well barely any shrimp was in there. Only thing I enjoyed was the seaweed salad. read more

What a surprising find. I had stopped by to get a quick bite for lunch and was not expecting much (the restaurant is right beside an ugly thrift store, for heaven's sake). The Japanese style curry is some of the best I have ever tasted. On my second visit I tried the mixed seafood bento. My companion tried the tempura udon. Both dishes were delicious. And the prices reasonable. As note by other reviewers, the food is authentically Japanese. The portions are modest and the flavors subtle (well, maybe not the curry!). There are some unusual and refreshing dishes as well, such as the tempura curry (a weird combination that actually works). Being a downtown guy I rarely get out to Pickering. But when i do I make it a point to drop by this modest morsel of Japan. read more

It was ok food,definitely not the best. For the price,the portion was fairy small. My 23month old,7year old boy ,my hubby and myself orderd 2tempura bento boxes,1green dragon roll,1red dragon roll and 2 assorted sushi sets . It was not enough food for us,even though we are not a big eaters. read more

Kobo Gourmet can look unusual for a Japanese restaurant because when you enter, you would not see the usual sushi bar. Instead, there is a general counter. But you know it is a great Japanese restaurant when you taste their food. The fish is very fresh and sushi is perfectly sized. And the rolls are too, without being jumbo-sized. The rice also does not have that extra sourness one finds in some Japanese restaurants. We had ordered Sushi and Sashimi Omakase and they were served in separate plates, but in one serving, unlike in some other places, such as OMI, where the chef sends course after course, some of which are unusual and creative. It is more on the expensive side, but then all 'real' Japanese are. On the whole, it is a great Japanese restaurant in the Durham region. read more

Kobo Gourmet - Sashimi Omakase - Japanese Near Me - Pickering, Ontario

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As we say in Japanese: Oishi!!!! It's hard to find great sushi - especially in Durham - but Kobo is the exception. I've been going to this restaurant for the past 2 years and I can honestly say that it's some of the best sushi in all of Toronto and the surrounding areas. It's AUTHENTIC Japanese food done right! And talk about reasonable: sushi of this quality anywhere else would be 3x the price. This is serious sushi - artistic in it's presentation, incredibly fresh and an outstanding value. You can tell the chef is a pro and it's not your average commercial-grade wanna-be sushi joint. Their "chef selection" (omakase) of sushi fills you up for only $22. It's top of the line and their scallops an aemebi melt in your mouth! Or get their regular assortment of 13 pieces for only $15! The miso soup is delightful; it's organic and delicately flavoured and especially made for this restaurant. At $3 a bowl it's a perfect start to your meal. I've had a variety of things from hand-made gyoza ($7) to their tempura udon ($13? $12-$15 but I can't quite recall) and I've walked away happy every time. ps. watch out for the wasabi! It's mind searing! read more

I wasn't expecting to find an authentic Japanese/sushi restaurant in Pickering (the other few I went to were Korean or Chinese operated), but was pleasantly surprised to have discovered Kobo which is a short distance from my house. The fish is very fresh, though the portions are super small and the sets don't come with salads or soups. So the price ends up being quite expensive for what you are getting, but at least the fish is very fresh and the food is good, so I am willing to pay for that now that I am no longer close to Zen or Nakamori whenever I feel the craving for sushi, which is often! read more

Just had a very disappointing very expensive meal at Kobo Gourmet. Surf Clam was soggy (frozen). The spicy role featured plain hot sauce. Part of our order was take out and was missing the protein from the box. We were left hungry and confused. I do not recommend eating at this place. There are so many good options in the area. read more

The last time i went to this place, i had ordered pickup, and it wasn't ready when i got there. This time I went, and not only was the food not ready, they said i never ordered food from them. I even showed them the call log, which they admitted was their phone number, and they said that maybe they got the call AND FORGOT. Are you serious? You took my order AND FORGOT IT. I am taking the limited time off I have from work, to go to a place that FORGETS THAT I ORDERED FROM THEM ???? This is absolutely inexcusable. read more

Kobo is a hidden gem due to the fact it's not in a busy area. I eat Japanese food frequently and this is by far the best i've ever had. The food is seasoned deliciously, its a bit pricey but, worth it for the quality of food you get. The servers are always nice and professional. read more

Made a reservation for a very special day, but when I arrived there were no tables available. It would've been much easier if they had told me that they don't take reservations, if that was the case for this restaurant. I presume they're not used to the high volume on this particular day as it looked like most of the people who had tables were patiently waiting for their food to arrive. I had been to this restaurant on 2-3 occasions before this last visit and have also taken out at least once or twice. The times I've dined in, it had once taken about 45 minutes for my food to arrive. I went with the omakase which is a great deal at $22 - the chef's selection of about 10-11 pieces of nigiri sushi. There have been times when I've called to order out just to have it ring right through to the answering machine. I really wanted my last visit to work and it's unfortunate that it didn't exactly turn out as I had hoped because the food here is actually quite good. I feel that this is a place that can truly be great, but the priorities of this establishment need to be worked out to be a great hole-in-the-wall sushi joint that I feel it has the potential to become. The restaurant is very unassuming and led by a chef that certainly knows what he's doing. Perhaps, due to it's location, they have altered the way they would traditionally do things to please the local clientele. Whatever the case, I feel that if they stick to their core competencies, dish out authentic, traditional Japanese cuisine, and work out the kinks then Kobo can thrive, even in Pickering. This is a place I really wanted to like. If I ever do decide to give it another shot, I hope that the experience will change my mind about this place. read more

It has almost no decor and the service was bad. The price was high and the portion was 50% than most other Japanese restaurants; that made their price even more expensive. They wouldn't even give you tea and nothing on the menu would include miso soup, not even Bento box. The food quality was so so. A Big Rip-Off read more

absolutely wonderful! Kobo takes really great care to ensure you have a pleasant visit. Must try the Green Dragon roll. :)

The rice wasn't fresh, and the portions were minuscule for the price (the quality certainly didn't make up for it). I've been looking for a go-to sushi place and this is definitely not it. I went home and made rice after. read more