We have never tasted better sushi than in Shinobu! Best sushi in Toronto. We have been frequenting Shinobu all through COVID-19 and ever since. By far the best. Robin read more

Delicious, authentic japanese with outstanding quality of ingredients . One of those " holes in the wall " with great food and service. read more

Party of 4. We were welcomed like old friends and made comfortable on arrival. Small location with about 10 tables. Bright and very clean. Plexiglass dividers hung from the ceiling keep the noise low. Service was fast and efficient and very friendly but server was not helpful in planning the meal. The sashimi was very generous slices. Indeed all dishes were larger than expected. Maki rolls were 8 pieces and not 6 like others in the area. Dinner with appetizers saki and large draft beers was $240 before tip. We had a lovely time and ate well in this nice local spot. We will return as we are minutes away, and I do recommend it for locals. If in the area though you should also try The Sushi Bar a block south if ambiance is more important. read more

Amazing Japanese restaurant, visited this restaurant on a Friday evening and was able to make reservations. Small restaurant and very hard to get a reservation. Food was incredible and very fresh!! Ordered the Sashimi Deluxe, the Sushi Deluxe, seared mackerel sashimi, spicy salmon sushi, lobster roll, pressed salmon sushi. Service was incredible and authentic! Can't wait to return! read more

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Love this place for dependable fresh sushi /sashimi! Nothing fancy but delicious food. Everyone there is also amazing!

Best sushi in Toronto, no exaggeration. The quality is top knotch. The presentation is beautiful. Have tried sushi all over the city and this really is up there with the super expensive tasting menu restaurants. The staff are lovely. The chefs are so friendly, humble and passionate. read more

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This is a review for takeout To get the stuffed lotus root ($9.50) or not? These deep-fried pieces of earthy lotus root sandwiching a savoury pork paste are heavenly straight from the fryer. But would they be nearly as good after sitting in a box for 15 minutes? While the crunchiness was stunted, the texture was still there, and the starter was just as juicy as having at the restaurant. So much so, that I forgot to take a picture before we dove in... you'll just have to trust me on this one. Similarly, the tempura in the double shrimp cannon roll ($13.50) held up very well and the lettuce didn't wilt terribly while sitting covered. The maki still delivered that lovely bomb of flavours and textures (is that why it's called a cannon roll?), no regular dynamite roll can compare. A safe choice is the spicy tuna roll ($8.50), which resembles what we'd have at the restaurant. And unlike our previous delivery experience from Kibo Sushi House, there wasn't a crumb of tempura batter. At Shinobu, their spicy tuna roll actually incorporates fish... what a novel thought. The one dish that wasn't as impressive was the pressed salmon sushi ($17.50). The kewpie and jalapeno paste (?) topping the fish was just too much; perhaps it really sinks into the salmon on the ride home. Luckily, it's an easy problem to solve - we remove half of it - and we continued our merry way. Having a hankering for fresh fish but not wanting sashimi, we ordered the seafood donburi ($24). It was exactly what we needed incorporating so many different slices of fish, octopus, eel, two thick pieces of tamago (egg omelette) and even a spoon of spicy salmon. If you need a variety, donburi bowls are the way to go! Why did it take me so long to try one of these? read more

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Authentic Japanese restaurant on Yonge. Street parking only. It's a tiny space. You may need a reservation, I just showed up. The waitress rushed us during our seating (less than an hour). Although their service is pretty fast. I had the Seafood Don and the half Toriten Nanban. There was fresh tar tar sauce with it. I also tried the pressed Mackerel Sushi, but it was falling apart. Everything was good quality but a tiny portion. I was still hungry. =/ read more

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classic good fresh fish in a very simple tiny restaurant run by the family, the special fish in particular are great and worth trying, but there is not much in the way of more complete dinners read more

Authentic street side sushi house. Tables for 5 or 6 couples, so it is small. But the food is beautifully prepared.

Reason for Visit: Celebrating a friend's promotion and he is treating and recommended this Japanese cuisine. Menu: First of all, this review is biased as I didn't pay a single penny so everything tasted significantly better. I also should mention that no one orders the amount of food we ordered for 2 people in a normal sitting. We were eating till we were on the verge of puking. We had zero regards for calorie counts and the obesity epidemic. Anyhow, we started off with drinks , he got the Asahi beer and I got some Junmai sake. The sake was very interesting and authentic, I was drinking the sake out of the wooden cup. I did ask the waitress if the taste is altered through drinking it out of the wooden cup, she said it adds to the sweet aromatic smell of the sake. Cool experience. I can't comment too much on the miso soup as the food was already here and I don't have time to sip the miso soup sip by sip so I just chugged it. Probably average as I don't remember much (or maybe the sake was too strong for me). Then we got the supreme sashimi. Amazing quality. Everything was very fresh and they weren't skimping out. Really, no issues at all. Then we got their mackerel sushi (10 pieces). The mackerel was very fresh, rice was good texture. Nothing was falling apart. I find some places mackerel is too salty, but this was fine. Absolutely deliscious. Then for main course we each got their supreme sushi. This was just ridiculously good. Everything was made on par with the high end omakase restaurants I had been to. This really I would say is quite comparable to Japan. If you were to do a blind taste test, I really don't think most people can tell the difference. The highlight was the uni sushi. Finally, can't do a sushi celebration without some otoro sushi (4 pieces). Absolutely ridiculous, melts in your mouth and it was a huge piece of otoro per sushi too. I had trouble eating it one bite, so I did cheat and had it with a few bites. Dessert- So we were going to get the dessert menu, but since I wasn't paying we decided to just screw the ice cream and cakes and just get more otoro and sushi again. So we reordered our main course and continued our meal. This got to the point where the waitress had to move another table to add to ours as we ordered enough food for 4 people and ran out of space to put plates. After our 20th ish piece of sushi, we were really slowing down so we were eating till past closing and everyone in the restaurant left already. Service: Great service. Waitresses all speak English well and can go into fine detail with each sushi and the innovations behind it. Strong attention to detail to the pieces. So overall, I would say this place has quality comparable to a fine Japanese omakase restaurant but a more casual setting. Atmosphere: There is a sushi bar and the rest of the place is set up as an intimate fine dining cuisine. Not too many tables, so reserve before coming even for parties of 2. Overall: The final bill came out to $300 before tips. So this review is a bit odd as I am really just reviewing how good the food was without regard for the price as I didn't pay. Also, most people usually don't chug otoro sushi and eat till you are on the verge of puking. I would say that Shinobu is great value for your money. It is pricy as a plate of sushi ~$40 ish, but honestly, for the quality you are getting, it is well worth it (probably most people would spend ~$100/ person here). It doesn't have the omakase atmosphere where you can watch up close the chefs make your food and talk with them. This is definitely a great place for dates as it is something more casual, intimate and unique. Another great thing about this place is you will leave full full unlike most Japanese fine restaurants where you have to supplement with Mcds after. It is currently the next day afternoon and I don't feel so good. I feel like I have a brick in my stomach. So this is actually even better value as you skip breakfast and lunch the next day. P.S. There is no parking lot so street parking. read more

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This place is a pleasant surprise in the neighborhood. Everything we ordered was great! Sashimi was very fresh, and the appetizers were all delicious and special. Also everything is no expensive. Definitely a place of great value! The burdock stick was my favourite. It's got great flavour and texture. The chawan moshi was awesome too. The wasabi they use was mediocre though. But it's not a place at a price range where high end wasabi should be expected. read more

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How was the food? The sushi here is good I have to say. Probably one of the better ones I've tasted in Toronto. However, since I am always comparing to the sushi from Japan, I still cannot be content by it. the price was a little too pricy for me to be able to accept it, but I guess good sushi is not cheap so I don't really wanna complain about that. Their sashimi was really good, I enjoyed the sashimi a lot. For sushi, I think maybe they need more work on their rice (it's already good, I am just thinking about what I would like more) Overall, I'd say I had a pretty good experience here, and I would recommend this shop to people looking for good tasting sushi and sashimi. Would I recommend? Yes read more

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It's difficult to find an authentic Japanese traditional restaurant in Toronto and this place is a gem. It's a small restaurant that has a few tables but don't be fooled by the small set up. The menu offerings are worth it. Reservations are a must don't expect to walk in and get a table. There are daily seasonal offerings for sashimi and small dishes and the main stay menu. This is my second time here and the food remains true. We were here for Saturday at 6 pm. We had the bluefin toro roll, sashimi supreme, baked oyster, chicken tekkan., udon, spicy shrimp tempura, hotate dream roll. Sashimi was so fresh and buttery. Loved the chefs choice that night. It comes with nice condiments for each type of fish. Service was quick and attentive. For dessert we had the green tea cheesecake with black sesame ice cream. It was soooo good. Great Japanese restaurant to try if you're in the area. read more

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What better to write about Food that I love the most for my 600th Yelp review. (BTW, this is also my 1st anniversary review since I wrote my first ever Yelp review on November 11, 2009 when all these Yelp Madness started!) Yes I love Japanese food, especially something that is authentic. Not traditional but authentic in the spirit of the art of Japanese cooking! In the sense that the chefs spends a lot of time and effort to: - try to buy the freshest and the most seasonal ingredients - perfect the process of food preparation - paying attention to details - make the presentation a work of art - understand serving the end product with people that appreciated is their goal Shinobu Sushi is really the ONE! Love the small, intimate set up. The chef is the one that prepare every single order which ensure that everything that Shinobu serves are up to his standard. I have to say the sushi rice is the best I have in Toronto. That alone blow my mind away. Now I don't really want to eat those crappy rolls/sushi in other places... don't tell me that it is the same as AYCE. The Volcano Rainbow Roll ($8.90) is so awesome. I know using the blow torch is something more westernized but it does give the roll a really complex taste... The quality and the cut of the Sashimi is amazing... and with the fresh wasabi..(thanks GOD no tube thing!) oh so melt in your mouth orgasmic experience! (gee I don't believe I wrote that!) The price is reasonable so compatible to other Korean/Chinese Sushi place I have been too. Extra +1 stars! I hate pretentious places that charging people stupid prices for their food! Shinobu Sushi is one of the few Japanese restaurants which I will say "I AM IN!" when someone ask me to go for dinner! *Thanks my Food Crawl Buddy for including this little gem in our mega Food Crawl! read more

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My dad was at a meeting and my mum wasn't in the mood to cook so she invited me to Shinobu. This place is T I N Y so I would highly encourage you to make a reservation. The menu is pretty compact, but it's a good place to go if you're just craving some Japanese food. They have lunch sets, but the dinner menu seemed to have mostly sushi sets and other non-sushi items a la carte. We ordered a number of small dishes and I would recommend them all: - Nasu Dengaku (generous portion) - Nanban Chicken (small size was perfect for 2 people) - Ebi Mayo - Yakiniku Salad Shinobu is close to home so I'll definitely go again when I'm in the mood for Japanese, but not in the mood to travel downtown. Good for: Japanese, sushi read more

Shinobu Sushi - Green Tea Cheesecake - Japanese Near Me - North York, Ontario

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Food is average good, service is great. We love the tempura chicken and the spicy salmon don, very favourable! The sashimi and mackerel roll are just okay..nothing special Overall a nice cozy restaurant. Would recommend. read more

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3.5 stars - so close to 4! Likes: - Supreme Assorted Sushi came with a great selection of fresh fish. - Friendly efficient service and accepts reservations. Not a fan of: - Store brought soy sauce was used, which was too salty and overpowered the delicate flavours of the sushi. It was a big disappointment the soy sauce wasn't fine tuned. We made a reservation for 7:30pm on a Friday evening, and upon entering the restaurant, there was a table with a reserved sign waiting for us. Service was efficient and the staff knew the menu well. We ordered the following dishes: -Volcano Rainbow Roll ($11.90) - The volcano rainbow roll was lightly seared with a blowtorch in front of us, although I wished it was torched a bit longer to render more of the fish oils and fat. It didn't quite reach the melt in your mouth texture. The filling of the roll was simple, with only avocado and cucumber, topped with different sashimi and unagi. The honey sauce was a welcoming addition, though we found the portions to be small and there wasn't anything too special taste wise. This is probably not something we would order again. -Toriten Nanban (half portion - $7.5) - I really enjoyed this fried chicken dish, although my husband felt indifferent about it. The chicken was fried in a light and airy batter, which created the perfect crunchiness. It was served with a drizzle of honey sauce and a creamy tartar sauce balanced with just enough tang. -Supreme Assorted Sushi ($35) - The fish selection offered was good and the sushi rice was done well overall, although my husband found it a tad too soft. The Kampachi was one of my favourites, with its firm bouncy texture and a clean taste. A close second was the sea bass sushi, which had a light smokey flavour and a soft chew. The usual items, such as the uni and spot prawn were sweet and delicious, but that was expected at a sushi restaurant of this caliber. - A la carte - Scallop sushi ($8) - The scallop was meaty and we were surprised by the size of it. However, the sweetness was muted which may have been due to the cleaning process. - A la carte - Sea bass sushi ($5.50) - I liked the sea bass sushi quite a bit, and for $5.50 for 2 pieces, it was a steal. I enjoyed the dollop of green onions and ginger on the top, which brought out the flavours of the fish even more. Overall, I enjoyed the dining experience here, although the soy sauce is a bit of a sticking point and may prevent us from returning. read more

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This is a good place, and probably would give it 3.5 stars. I think it's been a bit overhyped though and it can get pricey depending on what you order. This is a small restaurant that fits probably about 20 people at once. Be sure to make reservations as it gets busy even on a Tuesday evening at around 6:30-7pm. We made reservations on the same day and luckily got a spot for two, but I noticed that all the other tables also had "reserved" signs on them. The service was friendly and attentive, always making sure we had our tea cups filled. The food/sushi was fresh. However, I wasn't a huge fan of the salmon aburi/pressed/torched sushi as the rice fell apart very easily. It also could have used more flavour. Also, the fried chicken was okay but somewhat greasy. It's essentially fried chicken using batter that seems like tempura batter. Their torched volcano roll was decent as well, but if it wasn't for the "torched" part, I would say it was mediocre. I'd say that my fave dish was the spicy shrimp tempura. It was crispy and had a spicy yet tangy mayo coating it. Total came to about $45 per person but we probably could have been okay without the half order of fried chicken as we were quite full by the end of it. read more

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Really great mom and pop authentic japanese restaurant. Everything was really fresh! Tuna literally melted in my mouth read more

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Very authentic Japanese food! Delicious as well! One of my favourite in Toronto! They have seasonal menu written on blackboard. This time they imported Blue Fin Tuna! Ootoro, chutoro, akami! Chutoro is my recommendation, melts in my mouth but not too oily! Oyster with Uni was a surprise combination that mingles perfectly! Make sure you make reservation for dinner or will be line up for long time!! read more

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Really fresh sushi and it had a really nice atmosphere. The wait staff was really attentive and friendly. There was a lot of selection and they had various tunas (including otoro) that was imported from japan! Got the squid too and it wasn't rubbery, the texture was great. At the end, they had green tea cake with a choice of ice cream (sesame, matcha or ginger). I got the ginger one which tasted really yummy and homemade. There were actual ginger bits!! The cake was actually stellar too. The otoro and cake were probably the best parts of the meal. read more

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A name of Shinobu, it brings back my memories of Ninja Gaiden but you Pokemon generation wouldn't know about that. Shinobu means stealth in Japanese and that meaning holds true. During the day it is Maki Sushi and at night the Japanese Red Sun curtains drape over the front windows and turns itself secretly into Shinobu by Maki Sushi. Sunday night we walked inside this small restaurant to find that we had a short wait as most tables of Asian(Chinese, Japanese) couples and families were enjoying their meal. You can see a Japanese Kid sneaking into a photo. I was gentleman enough to sit all night in the spotlight, literally. I'm not sure why but the inside with simple decor has those bright overhead spotlights aimed at specific places. I felt like I was a piece of art on the wall at the gallery, but don't worry I'm less expensive and I'm on a rental plan for your convenience, ladies(guys too). :P Friendly :) Japanese girls brought us some Miso Soup and plenty of Tea refills. She even asked us if we're okay with Natto since not everyone is aware of it's consistency and texture. I need to put on my forehead "I eat EVERYTHING". Goshiki Natto ($7.50) is beautifully presented as you're familiar with it from most Izakayas. If you're not familiar, then think of it as a Fish Tartare. I find this A-OK nothing special and for some reason most places don't give Wasabi along with this anymore. Volcano Rainbow Roll ($8.90) seems to be the must-try item here and it's always great to have a server bring a big blow-torch towards you. It is used to singe the top which consisted of Avocado, Tuna, and Honey Sauce. The top items melts in your mouth then you get the beautifully cooked shari rice coming apart with every bite and finally the last is always the Cucumber fine juliennes that refreshes your palette. Sashimi Tray(Chef's Choice $18.90) came with a bowl of rice on the side. Fresh and each piece seemed to showcase the Fish's natural texture especially with the Tuna and Hamachi. The Mackerel was slightly cooked and didn't taste as fishy compared to other places. Matsu Sushi ($18.90) had equally good quality expertly prepared. Some pieces even had Shiso inside in addition to Wasabi or Ginger topping. Definitely worth the value in my books as I try to awake my friend from her sushi dreams. Half the Menu was the Tapas items which we didn't try out, so maybe we'll leave that for others to comment. Overall a beautiful end of the night as I got out of the spotlight into the clear cool night. read more

Shinobu Sushi - Japanese Near Me - North York, Ontario

A cozy and tiny restaurant with around 8 tables in total. Run by Japanese so you know it's authentic. Quality of food is top notch, service was good as well. The sashimi was sooo fresh and the sushi was incredibly too... you could just tell by the texture and aroma of the rice. Highly recommended read more

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Past reviews are right about making reservations! You won't get a seat if you don't make one. A table for four left just in time for my 7:30PM reservation, so we were seated in less than five minutes. It's not exactly an impressive place with fancy decor to take your hot date, but I was hoping the food would make up for it. The $45 Omakase (Chef's Menu): 1. Mediocre salad - As you can see in the picture, it was pretty disappointing to be served a salad with some lettuce and some potato sticks as the first item from the Omakase. 2. Seared mackerel - Undeniably fresh and seared with a blow torch(?) at the table. I normally do not enjoy mackerel, but these were tasty! 3. Steamed egg - One of my favourite Japanese dishes! Shinobu's steamed egg is packed with ingredients (ie. jumbo shrimp, enoki mushroom) 4.Spanish Mackarel - Very nicely presented, but the sashimi itself was tough and the taste was overpowered by sliced ginger. 5. Monk fish liver - Delicious, melts-in-your-mouth texture. It's almost as good as foie gras, seriously. 6. Lobster roll - This is basically a spider roll, but with lobster in it. The rice was too warm, and the sushi kept falling apart. Some may be picky and dislike the fact you're unable to eat your sushi in one piece, but I guess it's all the same when it ends up in your tummy. 7. Fried chicken?! - Another disappointing dish in this omakase. The chicken was very good, but if I wanted fried chicken, I would go to Korea town or maybe KFC. 8. Ox Tongue - Tender and chewy, just the way I like it. Yet, another item I did not expect to see in an omakase. 9. Assorted Nigiri - This was probably the best dish. The temperature was just right, and the rice was proportional to the sashimi, which was very fresh. 10. Green Tea Cheesecake with Ginger Ice Cream - Real ginger pieces in the ice cream! I did not really enjoy the green tea cheese cake, the two flavours just don't mash up well. The service as A-OK. They do not wait for you to finish your food before immediately serving the next dish, which was very frustrating as there was no room on the table. The $45 Omakase was the most expensive choice there was and there was no sashimi dish, but instead hot dishes like fried chicken and ox tongue that you can get at AYCE places. Maybe my experience would be better if I order a la carte next time, but I would never order the omakase again. read more

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***Warning: This review may be a bit skewed as I went on a Friday, after work, was tired, and had to drive to Kipling, park, and take the subway to this restaurant.*** First of all, reservations are a must, especially if you're planning to visit on a weekend for dinner. This place is small, seating less than 25ppl, so call ahead! The Good: - lotsa variety on their menu that you won't find elsewhere, re: Salmon Yukke, a seared salmon tartar (although I didn't taste any 'searing') - if you order green tea, they'll supply a full teapot's worth - at NO CHARGE! So no asking for refills - lotsa variety in terms of different cuts of fish in Sushi Entrée, it won't be salmon, salmon, & more salmon! - according to other reviews, the entire staff is Japanese, i.e. authentic - I think they make their own desserts. We ordered Green Tea Cheesecake w/ Ginger Tea Ice Cream, shareable for 2, and light tasting! The Not-So-Good: - a coupla nigiri pieces were a bit fishy, in particular the red tuna + a white, oily fish (mackerel?) - table wasn't cleared off immediately, but at the last possible moment, re: once the next dish arrived. Chopstick wrappers remained on table for the entire meal. - very dimly lit, especially if you're seated at the window. Their main window is covered by a heavy, opaque curtain which allows 0 light, no candles or lighting fixture above tables - aside from the sushi rolls, prices are a bit higher than other places that I usually go to. It's less than Japango, but it ain't cheap! Service: Pleasant and polite, but again, plates, chopstick wrappers weren't cleared off immediately. I even had to lift up an empty plate so that the waitress could place an incoming dish. So it's more relaxed service as opposed to fine dining. Not a fan: This has nothing to do with Shinobu, but I wasn't personally a fan of the Goshiki Natto Don. I guess I didn't know what I was getting into, but it smelled like rotting food, but tasted bland. I didn't know if I was supposed to add soy sauce to it, but that's what I ended up doing. It's supposed to be good for you, but I don't think I'd order it again. I may visit again if I was ever in that area, but I wouldn't go out of my way to deal with the traffic/find street parking! read more

Shinobu Sushi - Matsu Sushi - 6 Cali, 8 nigiri ($18.90), 1 salmon roll - Japanese Near Me - North York, Ontario

Shinobu Sushi was our last dinner in Toronto and we were just crossing our fingers that this place would leave a lasting impression on us as we headed back to Hawaii the next day, and all i can say is that our dining experience at Shinobu in Toronto did not disappoint but it wasn't mind blowing either. I have to say that my expectations are high being from Hawaii and all i can say is that the fish from Hawaii is unbelievably and uber fresh and the quality of food in Izakaya's here in Hawaii are simply outstanding and the only place i can think that can compete with Izakaya's here in Hawaii are those from Japan. Now one thing we really studied hard about eating at Izakaya's anywhere we go is that the owners definitely have to be from Japan and no place else because that's how we determine how good this place can be and we can actually say that it's authentic and after month's of studying about places to eat in Toronto and having my wife, who happens to be Japanese, looked at food blogs from Japanese who have been to Toronto, Shinobu seemed to be a very popular place to dine at since there were many favorable reviews about this place, so this was a place we had to try. Shinobu is a very small restaurant that has about six to seven tables and was very spacious and not too tight for a big guy like me. The service and staff here are very nice and welcoming and that was a big surprise after dining at other places in Toronto that make you feel like you have the plague or some sort of incurable disease. But i have found that eating at all these Japanese Restaurant's here in Toronto, they were all so cheerful and happy as if i were in Hawaii and they definitely had the Aloha Spirit. The menu here at Shinobu isn't as extensive as most Izakaya's i have frequented but i have to say that when it comes to value, they get high marks for that because the prices here to me are very reasonable for what you get. I also like the item's they offer throughout the menu even if it was limited. I also like the Specials they had for the evening. The Deep Fried Halibut Special was cooked to perfection. Light, Crisp, very mild and the pieces of Halibut were very generous for the price. The Toriten Nanban: Chicken Tempura with Tartar Sauce was really delicious and didn't need any sauce at all. I enjoyed it just the way it was. The Grilled Squid took a while to cook but was well worth the wait. Well executed and not chewy at all. Torikawa: If you like Crispy Chicken Skin like i do, then this is what to order. Crispy Chicken Skin and an ice cold Japanese Beer.....Heaven Lobster Roll: Kind of like a Spider Roll without the legs. Surpisingly good and presentation wonderful Now the Sushi Selection here at Shinobu is very reasonably priced but lacked the selections that i normally eat at Izakaya's or Sushi Bar's. What really disappointed me on this trip to Japanese Restaurant's here in Toronto is that there was no Uni to be found whatsoever. That is a big let down for me. How could they not get any type of Uni anywhere? Don't tell me it's off season or is it that hard to get Uni from Santa Barbara,Hokkaido, or even Boston? I always got to have my Uni fix when i travel and was so heartbroken when it wasn't available. I was also disappointed that Shinobu didn't have any O-Toro or Chu Toro available on their menu as well. I guess beggar's cant be chooser's but i expected a lot more from an Izakaya especially with the reputation they carry. We also ordered more things on the menu and all i can say is that you can't complain because of the price, but for a person like me, i don't mind spending on quality and at Shinobu i was hoping for much more but my expectation level may be a little too high. As for me coming back here again if i ever come to Toronto again? This place would definitely be a place i just might come back to, but i think the menu here is somewhat lacking for a person like myself but once again, the reason why i would come back here is for the value and for those of you people who want good value and not break the bank, i would have to say give it a try, i think you will leave here a happy camper if authentic Japanese Fare is what you are looking for without feeling like you got robbed. read more

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I've been going to Shinobu since '09, and I never get sick of this place. It is really hard to find good authentic Japanese food for such price range in Toronto. Food: - I've tried most of their dishes from the regular menu. Althought they don't offer too much of Japanese authenticity in their menu, among all, my top three picks are: Volcano Rainbow Roll, Mt. Fuji Salad, and Assorted Sushi. I get volcano rainbow rolls every time I go Shinobu to eat. Not only it's eye-catching, but also it tastes very good. Avocado gets creamy due to heat, and everything blends in so well with the honey sauce. Mt. Fuji Salad can be seen as ordinary spring salad. But their goma dressing brings so much flavor to the greens. Lastly, their assorted sushi, is good. Out of all, raw squid and raw shrimp are really fresh. Only thing is that, they put little too much wasabi on the bed of rice, so it takes flavor away. Service: - Staffs are amazing. They are attentive, friendly, and they try to make up to your requirements. And the chef on the sushi table always says thank you and bye when we leave. Can't find a single problem with the staff members. Atmosphere: - It's really small. It's a must to make reservations for weekend dinner. There is nothing fancy it to it. If you are looking for a fairly good Japanese dinner from Japanese chefs for a decent price, Shinobu is it. read more

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Summary: cozy ambience, overpriced. We ordered the following items: Flounder Tempura: basic, small portion Broccoli n green beans in black bean sauce: small portion for $12, not worth it. Spicy Salmon Roll: decent, had better. Spicy tuna: decent, had better Hotata Roll: great. Green Dragon Roll: good. Summary: only went cuz it's in my neighborhood. read more

Came here for lunch with my family for the first time. We lived in Japan a few years so we are always looking for very authentic Japanese food. This was definitely one of those places. The volcano rainbow rolls were delicious - must try! We also had a half order of their signature dish - Toriten (fried chicken) which was so good. We also got the sashimi lunch set which was a great value w/ 2 sides, salad, california rolls and soup for $13.90. Be sure to make reservations since this place is really small. Also, note that they are not always open for lunch. read more

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I would say that Shinobu is one of the best I've had in a long time! Very Japanese-like restaurant, and being one myself, I felt very comfortable with the atmosphere and felt like I was in Japan. The menu selection is very good and the specials are great as well. Make sure to book a table before you go... it gets crowded really fast, and you don't want to make the trek out only to find there's not table available. read more

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Tiny place, 10 tables, 20 seats max capacity, make an RSVP. Sushi very fresh, care is taken into making a clean contemporary presentation, friendly smiley staff. Nori on the chewy side. Enjoyed the flammed volcano roll. Would recommend. read more

I can't believe this is one of my favourite Japanese restaurant and I still haven't written a review for it! Maybe I secretly wanted to just save this place for me and didn't want to spread the news on this hidden gem ;) Where do I start? Everything here is great! - Toriten nanban chicken ($13.50 full size), Shimasaba (torched saba fish) and negitoro roll ($13 8 pieces) are my go-to items here. If you ever do go pay a visit, the toriten nanban (chicken tempura) is a must! Super crispy, amazingly fried and the best part is the egg salad tartare sauce that it's served with. - I also like to try out their daily specials. Last time I had their octopus karaage ($5.9) and the Tokyo duck ($10) The Tokyo duck was sliced duck breast cooked medium served with Miso sauce. The meat was thinly sliced and texture was juicy. The octopus karaage came with 6 pieces, the octopus was still soft and tender and love the deep fried batter. Different take than the chicken karaage. Yummy! - Sushi, the fish is really fresh and large cuts; always check their special fishes of the day - The donburis are really tasty too - It's not just the food that's amazing, their drinks too! Love the grapefruit chuhai here, definitely my go-to drink. They also have a sake tasting too. They offer omakase as well! But be sure to order in advance. Their omakase tends to have more cooked food vs raw fish/sushi, which of course depends on what's their specials of the day. But regardless, its all super delicious! Unfortunately the original owner moved back to Japan, but they are still keeping their food quality and standard which is great to see. Only downside is the new owner no longer offers their lunch special. I used to love their bento lunches so much cause it was such an amazing deal for a variety of food. Make sure you make reservations! They place is small and limited tables. read more

Been here a few times for dinner and have never been disappointed! Be sure to make a reservation because it's a pretty small restaurant and you likely will not be able to get a table on a Friday/Saturday night without a reservation. We typically order the omakase (you have to book this ahead of time) for half the table and we'll order a few extra dishes on top of that. As omakase goes their portions sizes are big - you definitely won't leave hungry. I think their seared mackerel is a staple of their omakase menu - and it's really awesome! They have a good variety of sashimi - their shrimp is so so sweet; I also really like their conch sashimi. Their sushi and rolls are all well done too - my favourite roll is the lobster roll. read more

Shinobu Sushi - Assortment of their sashimi - Japanese Near Me - North York, Ontario

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My Toronto friends assured me that the sushi at this tiny establishment in the city's fringes was excellent and they were not wrong. The dishes we had were all very good indeed and served in a professional manner. They also have a good and interesting range of specialty sushi items as well as non-sushi choices that were well worth having, including a delicious fried chicken cutlet and a marinated mackerel that was singed with a blowtorch at the table and topped with a bit of soy sauce. I suppose they may deserve a five-star rating within the confines of Toronto sushi establishments, but when compared with places I've been to in other cities I found that it was not quite there. read more

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This is probably one of the best Japanese restaurants in the GTA. Small but cozy, shinobu offers an exquisite dinnng experience. An exploration of the senses. An explosion of flavours. All accompanied with a very pleasant and genuinely courteous waiting staff. read more

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Shinobu merges traditional Japanese with a modern Toronto twist. Each dish is made with love and care, I highly recommend the Hotate Dream Roll. Fresh sushi at a fresher price. What else could one ask for. read more

Very fresh and good quality. Service was also very good. Higher level than the regular sushi places for sure.

I've been here twice already. Will go back every time I crave for authentic Edo-style sushi We ordered: Supreme Assorted Sushi & Supreme Assorted Sashimi & some side dishes I definitely recommend to Edo-style sushi lovers, (note here: not westernized sushi lovers). The fish quality is good. The rice has not disappointed us so far, as it is an important ingredient in sushi. I give 4/5 because the side dishes can have some improvements. But up to the restaurant owner. I'm very satisfied with the sushi itself, so I will go back regardless. read more

Excellent authentic Japanese. I've been to Japan many times for business, and this place comes very close to the same feel and taste. Creative dishes, fresh sushi and good saki. read more