The business really deserves 5 stars. The food, the service, the ambiance all of it deserve your time and money.

I had high hopes of this izakaya but unfortunately the expectations fell short. The vibes were fun, but the restaurant is quite cramped and a bit too loud. I felt I had to shout in order for my friend to hear me who was sitting right across from me. I ordered: - brussel sprouts ($12) - tasty but salty - shrimp risotto ($22) - rice uncooked & salty - corn croquette ($10) - this was good - skewers sampler ($34) - quite overpriced for 6 skewers - forgot what drink was call but it was $8-$10 and was also very bland Everything was just overly salty. The only items I would order again is the brussel sprouts and corn croquette. However, portion size was quite small and not worth it overall. read more

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The service is incredible here, and the vibe is cool-chic. Just loving the atmosphere here. As for the food, don't expect it to be a "traditional Izakaya" here, but that's not a bad thing. They do the "traditional" dishes with a twist / fusion. For example, the black cod is usually feel heavy with the miso based sauce, but they added some acidity to the sauce and they made the black cod taste rich and light (not to mention the black cod was perfectly cooked); traditionally the Brussels Sprouts would be finished by tossing balsamic vinegar over it. Sometimes that would still feel heavy. Instead, they tossed it with strawberry vinaigrette. So the acidity is very light and not too sweet. We finished our meal with the Yokai Signature Maki. Yes, they SHOULD be proud of this Maki enough to put their name on it. They hit it on the nail with the taste profile. I have a zero tolerance with spiciness, so they put the spicy mayo on the side, and I encouraged my wife to dip the Maki with it. She confirmed my suspicion that the spicy mayo took the maki to another level. We definitely will come to try other dishes. Edit: they comped us a slice of Matcha Cheesecake. While it is still not my cup of tea, but I was very impressed with how good it taste. My "dislike" is with cheesecakes because they feel heavy. Though it is still on the heavy side for me, but as soon as I spoon in a bit of the strawberry sauce, it just lightened up the whole thing. They have successfully amazed me with how well they play with taste. read more

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Everything was extra salty, if you prefer a high sodium dinner this is the place for you. The dishes I enjoyed the most was the fried corn balls. We ordered the cured sampler the shrimp risotto, the brussels sprouts, and the fried corn balls. For the price that we are paying for I don't think is worth it. read more

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Yokai is amazing - nestled in Vaughan we come here for the sliders, tartare and sapporos. My only down side is the pricing is quite premium for the food you're getting with small portion sizes. Probably 20% higher than what I personally think the pricing should be. Nevertheless, if I'm in the area I'll be there. read more

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Yokai always delivers on the vibes. We were warmly greeted, and our server, Michelle, took amazing care of us all night. We started strong with a sake bomb, which quickly turned into another round, followed by more drinks to go along with dinner. The oysters were bright and refreshing with the horseradish, lemon, and Yokai's hot sauce. The duck tataki was hands down one of the best tatakis I've ever had. Each slice was incredibly tender and full of flavor. The sweet corn croquette, however, was not very memorable. I wish there had been more corn and sweetness. The chicken karaage was perfectly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The wagyu sliders were cooked medium-well with a nice pink center, but honestly, if they were regular beef sliders, I probably would not have noticed a difference in texture. The Godzilla tails were outstanding. The tiger prawns were massive, perfectly cooked, crispy on the outside, and tasted amazing with the tobiko mayo. The Yokai Signature Maki was another pleasant surprise. The crispy salmon skin elevated every bite, the rice had great texture, and the flavors were well balanced. Some items come in three pieces, but I appreciated that they were able to add an extra piece for our party of four (for a small price). The atmosphere made it easy to splurge a little and fully enjoy the night. read more

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Second time coming to this spot and it never disappoints! The food, the vibes and the service are great. Definitely will be coming back to try more of their dishes! read more

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It is an okay izakaya place that the service is good and the food is only average. The restaurant has a nice vibe and basically people go there to enjoy the izakaya feel. Honestly, nothing really wrong with the dishes but there are just soooooo many similar places in GTA these days and their menu are usually much longer with bigger and more grand venue. The competition is simply intense. All I can highlight is their servers. Nice people to make you enjoy your dinner comfortably. Overall, an okay izakaya place if you live in the neighbourhood and don't want to drive too far way. read more

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On a weekend night, I reserved a seat at Yokai Izakaya last minute and finally had a chance to try this restaurant on my bookmarked list. I was guided by the friendly store manager to my seat when I arrived and very soon after I placed my order the food was served. I tried quite some varieties and the quality was generally decent yet a bit pricy. - The chicken karaage: it was flavoured perfectly and tasted fresh out of the oven. - The hamachi civiche: Refreshing taste with fish being super fresh - Lobster tacos: The taco skin was crispy. I liked the decent portion as well as the light taste of the stuffings. - Brussel sprouts: I'm generally not a big fan of brussel sprouts coz it's hard to make it flavourful inside. This dish was okay with sweet and sour taste. - Spicy crab rice: Another dish fresh out of the wok. The flavour was so good and rice was definitely meeting my friend rice standard of "dry, hot and flavourful". - Cod: It was undercooked and hard for me to break it open. However, the owner asked the kitchen to prepare a new dish soon after realizing the problem. Overall, the service here was attentive with relaxing vibe. Food was decent too. Expect $70-100 per person for dinner. read more

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Another amazing visit. Had lunch with the girlies this past Sunday. Definitely busy inside for brunch but the overall vibe was not overwhelming. Had to order a bottle of champagne to go with our lunch. Food was delicious. I cannot wait until my next visit. read more

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First time at Yokai Izakaya and I'm definitely going back. The food was so delicious, the atmosphere was lively and fun, great music but you didn't have to shout to have a conversation, and super friendly service. Try their inferno hot sauce it is so good! read more

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Cute Japanese izakaya-style bar with a multicultural staff. It does get busy, I went on a Monday and was surprised at the crowd. Mondays they offer a tasting menu for two at $80, which also includes a pitcher of alcohol (I can't remember if it was beer or cocktails). I asked for non-alcoholic options, and while they didn't adjust the price, they did provide mocktails instead. Everything I tried off the tasting menu was delicious. The standout for me was the eggplant .. it was served cold, which I don't usually love, but the marinade soaked all the way through and had such amazing flavor. I'm not normally an eggplant fan, but I ate more than I expected. The Brussels sprouts were also some of the best I've had, super flavorful and cooked perfectly. One note: they do serve beef on the rarer side. One dish was cured beef that looked almost raw, which wasn't my thing, so I sent it back. The beef skewers came medium to medium-rare. I'm not sure if they customize doneness since the menu is fixed, but it's worth asking. The staff were friendly and tried their best to be accommodating, which I appreciated. Overall, I'd definitely go back, the food was flavorful, the vibe was fun, and the tasting menu felt like good value read more

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Small Japanese tapas restaurant tucked inside the strip mall on the north of Vaughan Mills. It's not easy to find tbh and you might need to wait for a bit! The vibe was good- bit loud, cheerful, party-like and cozy. It's be perfect for a date night! Every foods we ordered was taste amazing and nicely paired with some alcohol drinks if u can drink! I'd recommend to book a table before you go if u want to try it out! read more

Yokai Izakaya - Skewer & kaarage - Japanese Near Me - Vaughan, Ontario

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Took my gf here back in March for her bday. Booking a table was easy and seamless. Made the reservation through OpenTable. The resto is located on the outskirts of Vaughan Mills shopping mall (the exterior ring of stores around the mall). It's not a large resto by any means but the decor has a lot of cool japanese art and lighting. The bar looks very grand. The resto also utilizes no-back stools like Nomé Izakaya on Yonge St (one of my biggest gripes, as I hate having zero back support LOL). Thankfully the waitresses offer to hang your jacket on hooks near the back or you can try and stash the coats in the stool 'bins' under the stools if your belongings fit. Duck tataki: Cool concept and tasty but I think I prefer beef tataki over duck tataki (I think I like to have my duck fat rendered out lol). The acidity of the ponzu sauce was nice though. Lobster & shrimp tacos: Very fresh, bright punchy flavours and good amount of seafood in each taco. The price was steep though ($22 / 3pc???) Ebi nori risotto: Lots of umami but dish portion size was questionable (and only 2 shrimps??) Skewers: In our opinion, prolly the best food item at this place. Not sure if they are using binchotan charcoal for the skewers but the even-ness of the char on each skewer was impeccable. 1. beef tenderloin: the best one (melt in your mouth beef) 2. yuzu kosho chicken: coming in at a close 2nd place; very juicy meat 3. koji pork belly: the fat was rendered nicely but the cubes were a lil too fatty for me and my gf's liking Yuzu cheesecake: Not that special. I don't think they make this in house and I'm pretty sure we've had cheescake like this elsewhere for less $$. Koji caramel date pudding: This one was great! Very unique and not too sweet. Perfect for sharing as well. The components worked really well together and the chef's plating was really cool. Solid 4 star izakaya as a final verdict. I think I would echo the same sentiment as others that the portions here are on the smaller side compared to other notable competitors (particularly some along Yonge St). Would return in the future! read more

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Great speak easy feel at the entrance, feels very hidden and tucked away. Loved it! Not a lot of seating so call in advance or take the gamble on a slower day to land a table. I sat at the bar right at kitchens last call but they were nice enough to accommodate me and let me put in a food order. I had a Sapporo which was brought out nice and quick, well poured, and ordered the Stone Bowl Gyudon to eat. It's a fun dish, everything comes in a hot bowl and they mix it for you at the table. It tasted amazing, great mix of flavors and texture. Overall awesome experience, will come back! read more

Yokai Izakaya - Stone Bowl Gyudon - Japanese Near Me - Vaughan, Ontario

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Went for lucky Monday and definitely would recommend making a reservation ahead of time gets really busy and great way to try the menu food was well flavoured portions are a bit smaller but great quality for a reasonable price will be going back for sure read more

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Came here with a larger group of 6 + 1 toddler and had a great time. Ordered the Maki, the Brussel sprouts, The corn, karkage, Miso Cod, and skewers. The Karkage was fresh and crisp, and juicy, the corn was just okay, but really enjoyed the Brussel sprouts which were crisp but wasn't over fried where you could no longer determine what you were eating. What seemed underwhelming was the miso cod. Not sure if it was due to the type of miso that was used or the quantity, but the miso was extremely overpowering and completely overwhelmed the rest of the dish. read more

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Yokai Izakaya located near Rutherford and Jane (in a plaza right by Vaughan Mills) is a lively Japanese restaurant serving small sharable plates and drinks. There is nothing comparable to Yokai in the surrounding area in Vaughan which makes it unique and a good option for folks who are looking for a unique place to eat. They are open for both brunch on the weekends as well as dinner daily. I heard a lot of hype about Yokai Izakaya when it first opened. We finally tried Yokai Izakaya on a Saturday night recently where I did make reservations in advance just in case. I actually had won a gift card from the restaurant last year so we had a reason to finally trek all the way to Vaughan to try Yokai. The place was lively and full of customers when we entered the space. We were promptly greeted by the hostess and shown to our table. Service wise, our waitress was friendly and the meal was paced well (food didn't come all at once which was good since we ordered a lot!). In terms of drinks and food, we ordered the following items: - Eggplant agedashi (Japanese eggplant, jalapeno spiked mentsuyu) - Sweet corn croquette (sweet corn bechamel, mozzarella, aonori, Japanese potato salad sauce) - Yuku kosho chicken skewers (chicken thigh, yuzu kosho glaze) - AAA beef tenderloin skewers (red miso, karashi mustard glaze) - Koji pork belly skewers (sweet koji and soy tare, green onion) - Classic pork tonkatsu (crispy pork loin, house tonkatsu sauce, cabbage slaw) - Salmon tartare (avocado, scallions, red onion, spicy soy vinaigrette, crispy shallots, shrimp chips) - Yaki udon (Yokai butter, pork, Japanese leek, king oyster mushroom, pickled ginger, kizami nori) - Seven Samurai Sour cocktail (Choya 23, Roku gin, lime, honey, egg white, yuzu bitters) - Elderberry hibiscus iced tea In terms of the drinks, they were great! I loved my cocktail and my partner enjoyed the ice tea (which wasn't sweetened). In terms of food, some of the items we ordered were a let down. Our favourite items were the yaki udon and sweet corn croquettes. The udon had so much umami and flavour bursting with each bite where the noodles were cooked perfectly. The pork and mushrooms complimented the sauce well. The croquettes were filled with corn and crispy on the outside but soft on the inside. The eggplant agedashi was simple and the dish was quite small. The skewers were a real letdown. They all seemed overcooked and the chicken skewers were too salty. The AAA beef tenderloin skewers and pork belly skewers were dry and tough to eat. Would not recommend getting the skewers. The pork tonkatsu seemed promising but again...the meat was dry and chewy where it didn't taste appetizing. The tonkatsu sauce on the side was great but the piece of pork loin wasn't great. Lastly, the salmon tartare had great flavours and the shrimp chips added a nice touch but the salmon pieces in the dish were too big - if they were cut just a bit smaller the dish would have fared well with us. Overall, a decent izakaya in the Vaughan area, however, compared to other izakayas in Toronto, Yokai would not be my first choice. The service and drinks were great, however, some of the food items we ordered were a big miss for us. The hype surrounding Yokai Izakaya when it first opened has simmered down and sadly there are better izakayas in the city to enjoy Japanese food. If you do go to Yokai, do check out the washroom though, it is a different vibe in there! read more

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Let me start off by saying, that out of all the new restaurant experiences this year for me, Yokai Izakaya has been THE best. I am truly sorry it took me so long to write this review because my first visit was nearly 9 months ago and I have been back at least half a dozen + times for more! Conveniently located across from Vaughan Mills MalL in a group of the strip of plazas lining Rutherford Road in front of the mall. There is plenty of parking even with the numerous businesses nearby. I would have totally missed this hidden gem, if not for the dozens of reels and posts on IG. The decor is stunning and it's the first thing you notice when you walk in. Sleek, sophisticated, trendy and super cozy. With seating offered at the beautiful bar, you can watch the team in action while they are serving up their vast array of cocktails and just to the right of there, the chef and his team while they do their magic with the food. There is also a nice sized patio to dine outside. We have not yet stopped in for dinner, but we have enjoyed their Big Boozy Brunch. This is what we have tried so far: Passion fruit Mango Mimosa: Bellino Prosecco & passionfruit mango juice. What's brunch without a mimosa!? This was a nice refreshing start to our meal $12 Crispy Ume Brussels Sprouts: Brussel sprouts, umeboshi gastrique, chili, togarashi. This dish will have you falling in love with brussel sprouts! My kids have developed a new found love of brussel sprouts since trying this. $12 Chicken Karaage: Boneless chicken thigh, yuzu aioli, lemon. Crispy juicy chicken bites and the aioli is perfection. This is always consistently good and we always order a second! $14 Lobster Tacos 3 Pieces: Spicy sesame spiked Canadian lobster, mentaiko aioli, lumpfish caviar, coriander, lettuce, wonton shell. This easily is my fav! I dare you to just eat one, because you can't! The wonton shells are over flowing with lobster. $22 Sweet Corn Croquette: Sweet corn bechamel, mozzarella, aonori, Japanese potato salad sauce - 3 pieces. This was good, with so much flavour with each crispy bite. $10 Yokai Big Breakfast: 2 eggs, Japanese thick cut bacon, honey butter home fries, steamed rice, miso soup, pickles, shokupan toast with miso maple butter. My oldest loves this breakfast. It is a generous portion of all your breakfast favs. warm and comforting. $24 Wagyu Steak & Eggs: 2 eggs, tajima wagyu coulotte steak, Japanese chimichurri with choice of side. This is hands down the. This is THE a best steak and eggs you will ever Eat! The wagyu is seasoned and cooked perfectly, very tender and melt in your mouth perfection. I am incredibly picky about eggs whenever I go anywhere for brunch. The eggs here left me speechless they were so good! They are fluffy and silky and unlike any scrambled eggs I have ever tried. The honey butter home fries bring this all together as the ultimate home fries. $38 There is also a dinner menu and a Lucky Monday menu. The drinks are a must dry and they have a variety of cocktails to enjoy with your meal. Photos included are from our first 3 visits this year. Food is consistently great. The service is always exceptional with frequent check ins to top up drinks, clear plates and asking if we need anything else. The staff is always very warm and hospitable. 2025 will have us there to indulge in their dinner and I can't wait! read more

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This place was a really nice vibe! Loved the experience! Came here before Valentine's Day to celebrate early.. and it was soooo busy! On the outside, it didn't look busy, but inside is a different story. We got a bunch of food and a few drinks. Value overall was good too. The wagyu sliders were inconsistently cooked, so that's why it lost a star... 2 of the sliders were medium and the other 2 were well done.. was very weird. read more

Yokai Izakaya - Wagyu sliders - Japanese Near Me - Vaughan, Ontario

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Brunch was underwhelming to say the least. Our Yokai Big Breakfast was salty (the sautéed mushroom and miso soup) and the Yuzu Avocado "Croast" was nothing special. The favourite part of my meal was probably the honey butter home fries. read more

Yokai Izakaya - Japanese Near Me - Vaughan, Ontario

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This was one of the best brunches I've had in a long time. The french toast was absolutely amazing, so tasty and fluffy. The honey butter home fries are a must try! Lobster tacos were packed with meat! I got the prawn eggs benedict and it was amazing! Thank you to the Yokai team! I can't wait to come back! read more

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Food was amazing. Service was great. Vibes are good. Came here to birthday celebration and we were so surprise the food came out so fast. Literally one after the other. So none of the dishes were piping hot but we didnt have any issues with it. Our favorites were the brussel sprouts, corn croquettes, lobster tacos. Crab fried rice was mediocre. Not much taste. Wagyu sliders were ok also. The flirty boy sangria was yummy too. And we also got complimentary yuzu cheesecakes for birthdays. The brunch here was amazing so we came here to check out the dinner menu. Overall everything js good and I would Come back for brunch or dinner read more

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Seriously the best brunch I've ever had. The vibes, the staff and of course the food was immaculate! Definitely will be coming back! read more

Yokai Izakaya - Lobster and shrimp tacos - Japanese Near Me - Vaughan, Ontario

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Food was amazing! Me and my friends went for brunch and I got the Yokai Big Breakfast menu. I wasn't expecting much flavour for the mushrooms since they were only a few pieces provided, but the umami flavour on it was surprisingly tasty. The bacon was a nice thick cut, but I'd say my favourite in the combo was the home fries! The honey butter flavour was well enough to have on its own. Aside from that, my table shared the matcha cereal milk French toast. This definitely blew me away! I'm not a huge fan of French toast but I'd have this again. The combination of berries and matcha always pairs well. The place itself is nice and service was decent! read more

Yokai Izakaya - Matcha Cereal Milk French Toast - Japanese Near Me - Vaughan, Ontario

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Excellent service Love the atmosphere Great menu Excellent food. Steak was amazing Godzilla was amazing Brussel sprouts was so yummy Drinks were refreshing Great coffee Highly recommend Will be back read more

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Been to Yokai many times for their dinner menu with mixed opinions. However I have to say I was very impressed by their brunch menu items. Yokai is a very aesthetically pleasing restaurant with a great izakaya vibe to it. Make sure to take a look at the washrooms, definitely best designed washrooms! In terms of the foods for brunch, for the Yuzu Avacado Croast, the whipped ricotta and yuzu Avacado were absolutely amazing and pair very well with the entire dish. However the croissant was nothing special. For the Butter Prawns Florentine, their brown butter hollandaise sauce was also very well made and really elevated the dish. Overall I would recommend coming to Yokai for their brunch menu! read more

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Came here for brunch on a Saturday with my son. As we walked in, my son was saying how bougie the door was, the whole experience was definitely unforgettable! We ordered the matcha French toast and the wagyu beef with eggs & potatoes. Was delicious! Service was great, food came fast. Cozy place. We really enjoyed our dining experience here. Will definitely come back in the near future! read more

Yokai Izakaya - Wagyu steak - Japanese Near Me - Vaughan, Ontario

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This was one of my best new finds in 2024! We decided that we wanted to go to an izakaya after a day of shopping at Vaughan Mills, and Yokai was highly rated. We ordered a variety of dishes to share and sample, and everything was delicious (we both decided that we weren't able to pick a favourite). We walked in without a reservation, and the staff were kindly able to accommodate us at the bar. The ambiance is definitely very cool and one of a kind (check out the bathrooms)! read more

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Ventured in for a weekend brunch. It's in the plaza near Vaughan Mills. While not the easiest spot to locate, the interior space was a pleasant surprise from the moment we opened the weighty wooden door. Starting with the Lobster Tacos: They didn't skimp on the lobster here; sizeable chunks nestled within deep-fried taco shells. The mayo-aioli sauce provided a flavorful kick, while the greens offered a refreshing touch. Wagyu Steak & Eggs: The beef was medium rare and the colour was beautiful, with just the right amount of fat that didn't leave the steak overly greasy. The scrambled eggs, though fluffy, was too buttery for my taste. But the honey-glazed diced potato fries were a nice surprise, although the dish overall leaned towards the oily side. Chicken Karaage: Four generously sized chicken pieces, perfectly coated in a thin, crispy batter and didn't show any hint of greasiness. The chicken itself was tender, juicy, and seasoned just right - not overly salty. Service was great, attentive and accommodating. We happened to be seated near the kitchen, close to the grill, so there was a bit of smoke, but it didn't detract much from what was overall an amazing dining experience. Would definitely come back to try their dinner menu someday. Food (quality, creativity, consistency) - 4/5 Drinks (quality, variety) - NA/5 Ambience (interior design, cleanliness) - 4/5 Service (courtesy, knowledge, timeliness) - 4.5/5 Value (quality vs. price) - 4.5/5 OVERALL - 4.3 read more

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I knew this mainly as an izakaya spot (as the name suggests), but it turns out Yokai also has a brunch menu on weekends! We got the Butter Prawns Florentine and the King Kappa Burger. The florentine featured super sized prawns with a perfectly poached and runny egg. Everything came together great along with a side of honey butter home fries which was light and sweet. I didn't have the burger but it was cooked well and a very complete burger. The decor is modern and trendy and service was great. If you post on social media you can receive a free mimosa! I thought the prices were on the high side but otherwise a very nice spot. I am curious now about the dinner menu and will hope to go back sometime to try. read more

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Came here for brunch after seeing the hype of it on IG. Even though both Yelp and google has mixed reviews, we decide to try it for ourselves to be fair. Got there exactly by the opening time, and the place already had some lines up. Less than an hour, the place is about 70-80% full. Nice decor and quick service. We ordered: 1.Madame croquette (shokupan+japanese bacon). Pretty good. Not enough wow (if i have to compare with other asian fusion places). 2.Prawn eggs benny Friend said it's nothing special. $23 for 2 shrimps (NOT prawn). 3. Corn croquetter. Pretty good. 4. Lobster tacos Not bad. Not as good as I thought though (my friend makes better lobster taco). Overall, we will not reorder any of these. Will not come back for brunch. Price& flavor is not quite compatible (unless you factor in the service). Will come back to try dinner menu instead. Cheers! read more

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Yokai Izakaya: Where the Door Opens, but the Welcome Doesn't Picture this: It's pouring rain today. I've just rescued my son from a long day at camp, and he's starving. We're lightly drenched as we got out of our parked car, but determined--because nothing fuels hope like the promise of a good Japanese meal. We arrive at Yokai Izakaya at 4:58 p.m., two minutes before our 5:00 reservation. The door is still locked. Then, a staff member appears. Eye contact is made. Relief washes over me--until she simply turns, walks in, and leaves us to trail behind like uninvited ghosts. No greeting. No smile. No "Come in, warm up, let's get you fed." Instead, the first words out of her mouth: "Do you have a reservation?" Followed immediately, without so much as a pause for breath, by: "You have this table until 6:15, and then you have to leave." Yes, you read that correctly. We had barely stepped inside before being told our expiration date. I asked her to repeat it, just to make sure I wasn't hallucinating from hunger. Nope--same flat cold delivery, same baffling lack of warmth. I nodded, sat down, and thought, Why am I even here? Enter Viny, our hostess and the night's saving grace. Warm, friendly, the kind of waitress who makes you feel like you belong--she singlehandedly turned the mood around. Now, the food. This is not a traditional izakaya. This is Japanese-inspired tapas with a dash of identity crisis. Some hits: my son inhaled the chicken karaage; the chicken skewers were juicy; the Tokyo steak, crab rice, and corn croquettes were genuinely tasty But then there was the rice. Not on the main menu, but we ordered it as a side--what arrived was dry jasmine rice, camouflaged with a sprinkle of black sesame seeds as if that could magically make it Japanese. You cannot call yourself a Japanese restaurant and serve dry jasmine rice. We couldn't eat it. To their credit, they took it away without charge and replaced it with the crab rice, but the damage was done. The bill? Let's just say "fusion pricing" means you pay more than you expect. Final verdict: If you're chasing authentic Japanese flavors, keep moving. I am still hoping to find an ordinary Japanese restaurant in this area that serves basic Ichiju-Issai by end of week. If you want fusion small plates and don't mind paying for atmosphere over authenticity, it might be your thing. For me, between the sky-high prices and that frosty welcome, I'll remember the rainstorm more fondly than the reception. read more

We came here for a friend's birthday and made reservations via Open Table. I received couple text messages close to reservation and since I was driving, I couldn't reply. The owner was kind enough to let us keep the reservation and also offered desserts on the house because it was for a birthday. The restaurant wasn't big and it did get quite noisy. We were yelling at each other for most of the dinner lol. Since it was our first time there, we got a bunch of dishes to try. They were all flavourful and we all enjoyed it. The restroom was definitely mind blowing! read more

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Had a great pre-birthday brunch celebration @yokai.izakaya with my cousins this weekend! I loved the matcha pancakes (check out the cream!!!) and the corn croquettes. I was at first disappointed when my first cocktail choice, the Milk Punch wasnt available, but the cherry martini was also pretty great. The lobster tacos surprisingly came last when we started to dig in. It was disappointing that the cocktail ingredients on a limited brunch menu ran out so early at 1230 pm on a Saturday. Iced tea was also out... Service wise, the experience was great. Our server was chirpy but did not overdo it. She also cane back to check on our reaction with the food and refilled our water being having to flag her down. Will return to try out their dinner menu. read more

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July 28, 2024 - I dropped my niece and nephew off to Canada's Wonderland and I was feeling a bit hungry, so I checked Yelp and found this spot. Love the decor, the interior looks so nice but we decided to sit outside as we had a very rambunctious toddler with us. The outside seating was spacious. The staff were all nice and attentive. Ordered: YOKAI BIG BREAKFAST 2 eggs your way, Japanese thick cut bacon, honey butter home fries, steamed rice, miso soup, pickles, shokupan toast with miso maple butter LOBSTER TACOS 3PC Spicy sesame spiked Canadian lobster, mentaiko aioli, lumpfish caviar, coriander, lettuce, wonton shell MATCHA CEREAL MILK FRENCH TOAST Brioche French toast, white chocolate matcha mousse, yuzu curd, seasonal berries CHICKEN KARAAGE Boneless chicken thigh, yuzu aioli, lemon 2 Iced Matcha Lattes Everything was delicious! I don't know when I'm going back, but I'm going back. The Yokai big breakfast is definitely worth it. The lobster taco was a little under seasoned, but you just have to add a little bit of salt. My sister didn't really like the Matcha latte, but I found it to be pretty good. read more

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Food: 4.5/5 Service: 4.5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 Rounding this up to a 5 because wow - this spot is such a vibe! It's located in a pretty unassuming plaza in Vaughan and I would have never imagined such a cool and funky izakaya to be here. When you first walk in, the space is bumping with music and cool decor. There is an outdoor patio as well as ample seating indoors by the bar or dining room. The service here is quite friendly for the most part, although it can be a little slow if your server is stuck with a large group taking an order. Another thing to add is that the bathrooms here are SO.COOL. I felt like I was in a bar or nightclub downtown. Each bathroom is designed differently and has its own theme. I can't believe I'm raving about a bathroom but you have to check it out for yourself! As for food, my bf and I ordered a bunch of dishes to try. The portions are pretty average for an izakaya spot and of course it can add up if you're hungry. In order from our favorite to least (although we liked almost every dish except for the duck): -Wagyu Slider (MUST-TRY) -Yokai Signature Maki (I'm a sushi gal) -Giant Hokkaido Scallop Skewer (Sooo juicy) -Yaki Udon (amazing combo of flavors) -Tako Wasabi (can't go wrong with this) -Calpico Panna Cotta (pretty average) -Assari Ponzu Duck (was meh) Highly recommend checking this place out if you're in Vaughan. I am hoping they open another location closer to me in Toronto! read more

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Such a great experience! I first heard about this place through Tiktok and then I noticed that a lot of people I knew were going here. It's definitely a trendy spot, but it's so nice that it's not in the downtown core. Three of us came here for dinner on a Sunday night around 5:30pm and it was packed! We were seated at the bar, and it was actually pretty great. Our server was so lovely and had great recommendations. She advised that we get a few items to share and even told us which ones were her favourites and which ones were popular. We decided on the following: Sangria Umami Fries Shrimp Tempura Yokai Wings 48hr Angus Short Ribs Wagyu Sliders Stone Bowl Gyudon The food was delicious, the service was great, and the vibes were immaculate The pricepoint was also so great. I'll definitely be back! read more

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Located in a Woodbridge strip mall 5 mins away from Vaughan Mills, Yokai Izakaya is considered a hidden gem. This hip, and modernized Izakaya has a great atmosphere, delicious food, and amazing drinks. It would be a great place for after work drinls, dinner, and late bites as they're open until at least 12 am. There's also plenty of free parking. The staff here were attentive, knows the menu well, and socialable. Despite how busy it was during the time I here, our drinks and food all arrived within a reasonable amount of time. I was taken here for my birthday, and loved it! Everything we ordered were very enjoyable. I really wish I had a bigger stomach so that I could try everything on the menu. Located in a Woodbridge strip mall, @yokai.izakaya is considered a hidden gem. This modernized Izakaya has a great atmosphere, delicious food, and amazing drinks. Everything we ordered were scrumptious. I really wish I had a bigger stomach to try everything on the menu. Ordered: - sweet corn croquette - Chicken, tenderloin, and mushroom skewers - Nikomi Nabe - Bluefin Tuna handroll - stone bowl gyudon (no pic) - Toasted Apple Mocktail read more

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I believe this is a fairly new spot with yummy eats and drinks, and overall great vibes. It's a spot I would recommend if you prefer lively music during dinner while being able to catch up with friends. My friends and I got Korean soju and for food, we shared oysters, sweet corn croquettes, lobster tacos, Godzilla tails, and stone bowl gyudon. Everything tasted so good, I especially liked their tacos and rice dish. It was a good amount of food for two people, we were definitely full by the end of our meal. Really enjoyed this spot and will definitely be back with friends! read more

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