Came for a lunch date! First time. It was nice. Midday. Not crowded or busy. Staff is very attentive. Got my meal fairly quick. Ate and left. It was nice. Probably would try to come back for dinner just to catch the vibe. read more

Yamato Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Made last minute reservations on a Friday night, and they were incredibly accommodating and got us in within an hour of my call. It was my daughter's 10th birthday, they went waaaay above and beyond to make the birthday girl feel super special. The teppanyaki chef was great, excellent food, there were at least 7 staff who came by after dinner to sing her happy birthday. Thank you so much, again, for such a great night. Domo arigatou gozaimashita read more

I've been a loyal customer at Yamato's for my birthday every year since 2007, but after my most recent visit for my 34th birthday, I can confidently say I'll never return. What was once a special tradition has turned into a complete disappointment. We had a 6 pm reservation, and by 6:15 we were pressured to order and warned we'd have to be out by 8 pm. That's not hospitality--that's rushing paying customers out the door. To make matters worse, the bathrooms were disgusting, with mold clearly visible (see attached photo). When I raised my concerns, the manager couldn't have cared less--completely dismissive and unprofessional. This restaurant has gone downhill, lost all sense of quality, and no longer deserves to charge Yorkville premium prices. Save your money and go somewhere that actually values its customers, because Yamato certainly doesn't anymore read more

Yamato Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This establishment has been around for at least a decade! It will easily accessible by public transit and driving. For public transit, get off at bay station. For driving there are paid green p parking lots around the area. The establishment is nice and clean. The service was great and the Teppanyaki experience was entertaining. Note; Fried rice is an additional $8 for substitution, but it comes with a mini show. You also get a bigger portion of rice if you go to the fried rice option instead of the default steamed rice. Portion sizes were good. They also offer a la carte items for people to add to their experience. read more

Yamato Japanese Restaurant - Steak/ Scallop Teppanyaki - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Ive been enjoying more hibachi throughout the past year and I recently tried out Yamato. It has its ups and downs. I ordered their NY Sirloin Teppanyaki dinner. The meat was not too flavourful but their appetizers were good and the chef's skills were very enjoyable to watch. I did feel a little cramped sitting at the table as well but that is to be expected as I am taller than average. Additionally, we ordered drinks that were not too bad. Overall it was an alright experience and would be willing to try again at a less busy time. read more

Thought that compared to other similar establishments I have been to the food was pedestrian, chef was excellent. Service fine.

Yamato is one of the OG Teppanyaki places in Toronto.... a dying breed that is getting harder and harder to find now. It's downstairs from street level off Bellair in Yorkville. Food (3/5) - tried a few of the combo dinners now and overall they are OK but bit average imo. - Chicken is ok... sauce is a bit too sweet imo - Sirloin is bit odd - cut in cubes and not particularly flavourful vs others I've had - Filet Mignon - better than the Sirloin in both texture and flavour - Shrimp - not bad - Scallops - sometimes a bit overcooked and basic flavour - Fried Rice - very good - Veggies - kinda average overall - Soup - nice and better than many miso types Service (4.5/5) - the chefs are quite talented here and do the obligatory tricks plus a few different ones don't always see. Servers are attentive and friendly. Atmosphere (4/5) - it's starting to get dated but still nice enough. Parking is a bitch so keep that in mind. Overall (3.75/5) - Yamato is still worth visiting and it's slightly above Hibachi, but bit below Prince Steakhouse imo. Pricier than the other two as well due to location. read more

This is a no-frills, fantastic spot for delicious traditional sushi. The prices are very fair compared to everything around this place. The best part is typically, you do not need a reservation. There are two sections: the sushi bar side and the cooking table side. I usually land on the quieter sushi side and indulge in fresh fish. I really like the sushi dinners or sashimi dinners. Everything is available a la carte as well. The staff is attentive and friendly. This is a go-to spot while in the area. read more

Yamato Japanese Restaurant - Sashimi Dinner - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

A Yorkville classic for their teppanyaki lunch! My family's been coming here for a while and it's consistently good. The chefs are fun and it's a great experience overall. read more

Yamato Japanese Restaurant - Sirloin lunch - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This is one of those neighborhood spots that makes you wonder why are they so popular (we are talking about a Tuesday here folks) and once you have tried them you arrive at the following conclusion tourist trap and showmanship. I came here on a Tuesday and somewhat earlier though without a reservation. Found that the place was quite busy despite the rainy weather. Then I realized that the place was packed with families on the Teppanyaki side and what felt like regulars on the other. I ordered the the Steak and lobster combo. It came with a soup and salad. Odd part is the soup tasted like broth and not miso. The salad is OK. Then came the Teppanyaki so with all the performance by the chef it ended up not tasting anything special. I even added a Tempura starters as otherwise there isn't much food either. I found some interesting items that I might try on the non teppanyaki side that I might try later. Otherwise 2 stars with a half star bump for the performance. read more

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The food was good. But it's expensive. Since Im a poor adult, I have an exponentially higher expectation for more expensive cuisine. We were a group of four. Going on a Saturday evening. We didn't make reservations. They said we could still get a table but no show. We were going to say yes, but luckily there was a sudden cancellation last minute so we got the food and the show (which was blessed because I think part of he higher price point is the show). It was my first time at teppanyaki so I was excited. The cooking did not disappoint. I am surprised that the chef managed to flawlessly do his performance with such a high success rate. The sashimi plate was an appetizer we ordered to share. It was good sashimi. The fish was fresh and fatty. For the price point I expected nothing less. For the main I got scallops and a sirloin. I personally liked the beef better, but my friend really liked the scallops. The vegetables were great actually but the chef actually somehow managed to skip over me . He did ask someone to bring more vegetables later and gave me more but it was just awkward unwanted attention from everyone. I don't think I will go again as I only wanted to go once for the show. The food itself is not special enough for me to go back for the price. I do recommend it once if you've never gone to a teppanyaki because it is very cool and worth the first time. read more

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The sushi is good. Price is reasonable for the quality. I didn't know what to get so ordered the sashimi moriawase ($74 cad). It was definitely worth it. The staff is super attentive. English is a bit difficult but they are attentive. Service is quick and food is yummy. Bathrooms and restaurant is clean. read more

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Gorgeous atmosphere, immaculate service, extraordinarily tremendous food! What a pleasure it was to spend an evening in such a spectacular, inviting dining space. Our Chef was an absolute pleasure and joy to observe , as he prepared dishes with incredible precision and poise. We were very entertained and had an fabulous experience. Absolutely recommend to all who are seeking a memorable dinner! The food, staff and service are a scarcity in this metropolitan! 5/5 stars well deserved read more

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I grew up at this place. I know the quality is not stellar but it's good enough for when I crave sushi or their udon. Today one is the junior sushi chefs screwed it up. He tried to pawn off a cold unagi on me. Really? I have Madai and Hamachi coming and you are serving me unagi with my ohitashi and my agedashi Tofu? The waitress had to talk to the manager. The manager told the waitress to ask the chef about it and asked him to make a new one. I shook my head and told them to cancel it. lil kid sushi chef, do not mess with my meal. I will shake my fist at you!!! read more

This restaurant is located in Yorkville and there are plenty of parking spots available. The staff are friendly and helpful. It is easy to find a table and the pricing is reasonable. Food Quality: The Miso soup, Salad, Steamed Rice come with many orders. We got Sushi lunch, Sashimi lunch, Shrimp Tempura, and Sirloin Steak. I rate them all as very good but I believe the garnish could be better. The only issue was that we got one food at first and the rest after 15 minutes. I do suggest this place if you are looking for a Japanese restaurant. read more

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Best sushi in Toronto. Try the dynamite hand roll. Beef udon is amazing too. Teppanyaki unreal. Every time great. A staple of the city. read more

Yamato Japanese Restaurant - Salmon Avocado Roll & Tuna Avocado Roll - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This is our 5th time in Yamato that shows how good it was , today was our last time never again , it was clearly money making only the meat was nothing like before it was a piece of leather , the rush was clear go home we need to flip the table for new restaurant, it was a birthday celebration I called and asked if they provide the cake or can I bring it they said oh yes we do and the staff will sing , nothing of this was available! Sorry never agin read more

I honestly would have given this Sushi/Tepanyaki restaurant a better review save for a bad experience on my last visit a few weeks ago, not with the food I may add. If you like Tepanyaki this is one of the few left in Toronto that offer it, especially downtown and the quality is generally very good and the service as well. As for the Sushi it's probably average, not the best but not bad either. Unfortunately on my last visit I had a terrible waiter who was slow, took liberties with the bill and argued on top of that. I went to the manager who set things right but it just left a bad taste in my mouth if you know what I mean. read more

Great fish. Very fresh. Great selection. Outstanding service. Casual atmosphere. Reasonably priced. Highly recommend.

The Sushi is better than their Teppanyaki is what i would say. Honestly - I want to say they are over priced- but then you have to factor in the real estate they are occupying in the Yorkville area. So we started off with the apps. The Spicy tuna salad and rolls were both delicious. The tempura was amazing as well. I ordered the imperial teppanyaki. Which consists of Shrimp/ Steak / Chicken. I wanted the rib steak instead of filet mignon and there was a $6 upgrade charge. $6 for fried rice. Plus the $48 for the items. $11 for beers or any drink. Taste wise- they are pretty decent and the accompanying sauces - one that was for meat (mustard smell) and also one for veggie and seafood. Also the salad that they start you with was great. The soup was very hearty. I think my favorite item was the fried rice. read more

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Came here on April 27th to celebrate my fiancé's birthday. Our first restaurant wasn't able to accommodate 16 people and Yamato assisted us with reserving a table at the last minute (so thankful!). We were seated promptly at 9:30pm and the menu is a la carté, but they do have teppenyaki dinner combos available. My fiancé and I both ordered the imperial, which consisted of chicken, shrimp and steak alongside veggies and a side order of fried rice (+$6). Our dinner cost us each about $46 not including drinks. Our chefs worked hard to make the dinner extremely memorable, and we noticed the use of garlic butter in every dish cooked which made our food taste AMAZING. It can get pricey, but the experience was well worth it. My fiancé and I LOVE teppenyaki, and while we used to frequent Matsuda, I think we'll be making the journey down here from now on. 10/10 recommend! read more

Yamato Japanese Restaurant - Onion volcano that scared the living sh*t outta me - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Incredible food, service, and atmosphere! It's so unsuspecting from the outside but provides a 5 star dining experience once you're in!

I've always wanted to try a teppanyaki restaurant and my friend recommended this restaurant in Yorkville. She got the teriyaki steak dinner and I got the ribeye one and sadly, i liked hers better. Though my ribeye was very delicious, it wraps around some sort of onion/garlic mixture and I'm not a huge fan of the two. So after putting up with it the first few bites, I eventually picked the onion out and ate the steak by itself. The dinner combo comes with rice and a bowl of onion soup, and you can add an extra five dollars for fried rice instead of regular white rice (which is a bit pricey, imo). Nevertheless, the fried rice is reeeeally good and full of butter so it's totally creamy and smooth. Mmm, I'm drooling just by thinking of it - definitely the best fried rice I've ever had! That being said, the meal is suuuper large, so you'll for sure leave with a full stomach. Though the teppanyaki is what this restaurant is known for, the sushi is really where it's at. I'd go back just for their sushi which was really fresh and delllliiiiciiiiooous!!! Service is fairly well - only had one bad waitress who was really impatient and rolled her eyes at me when I said I'd pay with debit instead of visa when my card declined. Otherwise, our first server was really nice and so was our chef. Dessert menu is very small (four options of dessert and two options for ice cream flavours). We got the matcha tiramisu and green tea ice cream. Nothing spectacular but good enough! read more

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I have nothing negative to say about the actual quality of food or beverages, or the atmosphere of the restaurant. The table teppanyaki chef was excellent as was his professionalism and crowd involvement. The only issue I had was the price; this place is 2-3 times the price of the similar teppanyaki restauraunts whose quality is similar if not better. I didn't mine trying this place out as its location in Yorkville makes one believe the quality would be superior or perhaps the best teppanyaki in all of Canada, but for the price it is average or only slightly above. read more

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Strolling around Yorkville looking for food, Yamato is like a magnet!! I got suck in when I saw the 3 sushi chefs working so busy at the sushi bar. Sushi Sampler ($11) and Tempura Udon ($14) were both nicely done!! Especially the Udon which has a tasty Dashi broth, udon cooked to perfection soft and chewy at the same time! Service was polite and a little distant. I would definitely drop by Yamato again when I am in the area for their lunch specials.... read more

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We came with friends on a Friday night. We had reservations so we were seated quickly. The menu has many vegetarian options. I ordered the grilled veg teppanyaki meal. I told them I needed gf and dairy free so they said my meal had to be cooked in the kitchen vs the grill to prevent cross contamination. I appreciate the care they took to ensure I had a suitable meal. I was given miso soup with tofu to start, then a salad with oil and vinegar on the side. They left the dairy based dressing off. Then they gave me avocado sushi instead of tempura to avoid gluten. My fried rice was made with oil and my grilled veggies and bean sprouts were tasty and cooked well. Everyone else had their meat and seafood teppanyaki meals and fried rice made with garlic butter. They all enjoyed their meals as well! Great service in filling water glasses and clearing dishes. The place has several teppanyaki grills and lots of seating. read more

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Atmosphere: Came here for lunch on a weekday with a group of 7 around 12PM. We made reservations ahead of time, but the teppanyaki part of the restaurant was not too packed. The restaurant itself is spacious, clean and can fit many large groups. We were able to chat without it being too noisy. Service: The service was spectacular. The staff were friendly and attentive and very polite as well. The chef was delightful to watch and humourous as well. Food: Most of us ordered teppanyaki for lunch, so we got to watch the chef cook right infront of our eyes. I ordered the scallop teppanyaki ($15), which came with roughly 5 scallops, vegetables, rice, and miso soup. It tasted decent, but I found the portion size to be on the smaller end. My coworkers ordered the sirloin ($13) and ribeye ($17) - both portion sizes were much bigger, and tastier as well! If I come again next time, I would definitely get theirs instead. read more

Yamato Japanese Restaurant - Scallop teppanyaki - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

There was a cockroach on my table. Food was okay otherwise. I had tuna roll. They seemed apologetic about the cockroach but it was still disgusting. read more

We came here for a lunch outing some time ago. Yamato is known for its teppenyaki experience in Yorkville area. The location is great, especially in the summer time, the restaurant itself is very spacious with ample teppanyaki tables, however be sure to make reservations as this experience tends to fill up quickly. Ambiance and service was great! Our chef nonetheless was very entertaining as he prepared an array of meals for our team. As for food, I decided to order their Atlantic salmon meal that was served with side vegetables and rice. (didn't feel as authentically Japanese as my sampler though lol) I would recommend those to come here at least once, however be sure to make reservations. Overall experience was good, would I come back, probably not. read more

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Highly recommend, awesome food at great prices. I recommend going here with friends or family the portion sizes are fantastic and the quality of food is great. The staff work extremely hard on hospitality. read more

Excellent food, ambiance, and cook!!! We were looking for a hibachi resto in toronto and this was one of the few. Chef was great- Abdul - entertaining and charming. We got the teppanyaki combo dinner which included rib-eye (or sirloin, i forgot) steak, scallops and lobster, as well as fried rice, grilled veggies, salad and soup- $46. It was delicious!!! Fried rice is off the hook!!! Lobster delicious. Meat medium-rare savoury. It's supposed to be a meal for one but we split it jn two and got some appetizers to share, and it was enough!! I would come back here with my family to treat them for an occasion or somethjng. read more

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Charges $10 for a tiny birthday cake we brought in to celebrate birthday, like hello? It's not like they sell cakes or anything. The cake wasn't even worth $10. The waitresses are nice and helpful, but the manager is rude and not in the right mind. I asked the waitress if they have birthday candles and if I can buy one from them, she answered yes and went asking the front desk. Then this manager just jumped in, and told me upfront, they charge $10 just for us to eat the cake there (didn't mention candle nor asked what the occasion was), 5 times to my confused face. It's not like we'll need them to brought the cake up from the kitchen, light a candle and sing happy birthday for us, nor cutting the cake to specific sizes and serving to the table. I've been to a lot of restaurants that provide the above service for free, and here somehow sitting in their chairs and make a wish cost us $10? That's not service fee my man that's nonsense. read more

Been here a number of times and had their takeout once or twice since Ontario closed down due to the pandemic. I've had their teppanyaki before and it is mediocre compared to what I've had for cheaper in Asia. Although I seriously recommend their onion soup! I've also had their sushi, which is quite good. I'd recommend their dragon role. read more

This was an overall good experience. Although the customer service was slow at first, when seated service was prompt. There are many options and the fish is very fresh. It is an must go to if your in the area. read more

Yamato Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I took my grandkids for a bday. the chef threw an egg at my 5 year old granddaughter and hit a glass full of her drink. the glass shattered all over the table and floor and the drink spilt on me. not only did they charge me for the spilt drink, no one apologized. the manager did not come to check if the kids were hurt. Today I found a piece of glass in my purse and cut my finger on it. the whole experience ruined the bday for my grandson. I asked for the manager to complain when I was leaving and was told he was not available. appalling for a restaurant of this caliber. read more

This restaurant is one of the worst I've to in Toronto. The dumplings taste like the ones you buy frozen. The tuna tataki doesn't have a lot of flavor, it was fishy, not fresh. The nigiris we ordered were like plastic. Spicy salmon Temakis were ok. read more

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Super posh Japanese and teppanyaki establishment in Toronto. And by posh I mean you know the place is expensive when you start your meal with hot hand towels and have to tread down two dark hallways to get to the bathrooms. In order to be get seated quicker, my party of three opted to sit on the non-hibachi side of the restaurant. The waitress helped us to our drinks quickly, though they were out of Sapporo draft, so I settled for Asahi. I enjoyed the donkatsu donburi while my friends ordered the steak and udon. I barely touched my donburi because the starting salad, soup, and beer filled my stomach quickly. The donkatsu wasn't really great leftover, as the breading got extremely soggy, so enjoy what you can, while you can. My friend's steak and vegetables had a great grilled flavor to them unlike my one-dimensional rice bowl. Perhaps the hibachi and sushi is what gives this place the extra oomph it needs and is what I missed out on. I'd love to err on the side of four stars but what I received was not what I was expecting for the price that I had paid. Until next time, Yamato. read more

Tiny front room for sushi lowers including the sushi bar where you can watch the two chefs creating those babies. At the back, a whole different concept; stove-side tables with chefs cooking right in front of you, lots of people and children friendly, very crowded on weekends (very very crowded). The manager is on top of it, the service is not slow at all even during the rush times. The sushis seems to taste pretty good. I'm not a big fan of raw fish but my foodie mother-in-law is a regular. I tried the veggie dragon roll; very satisfying. The gyozas are delicious, as well as the miso soup. read more

Yamato Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

The food was delicious. We enjoyed watching the master chef prepare the food in front of us. The service was fast and friendly. The furniture and decor was clean and well maintained. We enjoyed the ambiance. read more

A pretty solid place for teppanyaki. Our family has been going here for well over 15 years, and well before it became popular. It's a great place to go, because both vegetarians and meat eaters can eat together in a comfortable setting. read more