Zen Japanese Restaurant in Markham

7634 Woodbine Ave, Markham, ON L3R 2N2, Canada

★★★★★
(806 reviews)
Categories: Japanese restaurant

About

Authentic Japanese Omakase restaurant with traditional Japanese decor. Our sushi bar is the centerpiece of the restaurant, where you can watch our skilled chefs expertly prepare each dish with precision and care. Experience Japan through our selections of seasonal fish and ingriedients flown in weekly from Japan.

Website
zenjapaneserestaurant.com
Address
7634 Woodbine Ave, Markham, ON L3R 2N2, Canada
Plus Code
RJHW+MM Markham, Ontario, Canada
Time Zone
America/Toronto

Business Hours

Monday
Closed
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
Closed
Thursday
Closed
Friday
12–2:30 PM – 5:30–10 PM
Saturday
12–2:30 PM – 5:30–10 PM
Sunday
Closed

Services

Service options
Delivery Takeaway Dine-in
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park Wheelchair-accessible entrance Wheelchair-accessible seating Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Offerings
Alcohol Beer Healthy options Private dining room Small plates Spirits Wine
Dining options
Lunch Dinner Counter service Dessert
Amenities
Gender-neutral toilets Toilets
Atmosphere
Cosy Romantic Upmarket
Crowd
Groups
Planning
Reservations required Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments Credit cards
Parking
Free parking lot On-site parking Parking

Photos

Reviews

4.6
★★★★★
806 reviews

Most Mentioned

omakase (123) course (31) presentation (22) appetizers (12) sushi and sashimi (9) pie (8) kaiseki (8) GTA (8) anniversary (6) tasting menu (5)
5 stars
625
4 stars
106
3 stars
39
2 stars
16
1 stars
20
★★★★★
December 12, 2024

I discovered this hidden gem by accident. Being half Japanese and traveling to Japan every year growing up, I know what authentic Japanese food is all about. This place is spot on. Their food is delicious! Incredibly fresh, beautifully presented, nice flavours, and made to order. The service is also excellent. Living in Toronto, I would say this place is on par with any of the high end Japanese restaurants downtown.

★★★★★
December 9, 2024

My wife and I went in November for a belated anniversary dinner. The owner and staff were friendly and created a delicious omakase menu! We would go back again!

★★★
November 22, 2024

You'll never find this place if not for the internet. The sign is so small and dark, it's as if they don't want you to. Adjacent to some shady gaming venue, all blacked out. The food here is great and it's nice that the chefs choice menu is forefront. We got one sashimi and one sushi/sashimi. Added the beef tongue at the waitresses suggestion. The food was great, but the prices are stupid. If you're going to charge 130-180 per person, the place better be perfect. Wooden chopsticks on a cheap metal holder. Washrooms with bare white walls. Seating average. Location and exterior sub par.

★★★★★
November 12, 2024

Zen is a must try omakase experience. The sushi is fresh and delicious. Staff is very friendly and accommodating. They let us order off menu noodles soup for our kids with reasonable price. We had a great time visiting from Ottawa

★★★★★
August 20, 2024

So I recently came with a group to celebrate our friend's bday. We were seated in the back of the restaurant in 2 separate rooms because our group was so large. So one room sat 6 ppl and the other room sat around 10. If we had a smaller group we would've definitely chosen to sit at the bar because it truly is a different experience seeing the chef do his artistry and having him tell you what each fish is and their seasonality. The bday boy had called in earlier to arrange all the details around a month in advance for the booking. Some of us ordered mid tier sets, some ordered the higher tier sets (these came with appetizer courses and dessert). Since we didn't have the chef explaining every piece to us at the bar, the restaurant provided everyone with a list of the fish we would be having for the night. When the sushi arrived, the waitress also guided us through them all which was helpful. My top 5 picks out of all the sushi we experienced (in no particular order) were: 1. Uni 2. Ocean trout 3. Hamachi (smoked so it tasted like deli meat which was so delicious!) 4. Otoro 5. Anago For our table we got 2 orders of kamo roast duck to share. The yuzu salt that came with the duck was very flavourful. A little drop of it on your duck slice and the entire inside of your mouth was coated by seasoning. Our waitress cleaned our table and then gladly helped us take group photos for the occasion. I would give her a shoutout but we didn't catch her name! As a side note, the restaurant told my friend that it would be 18% auto-gratuity because of how large our group was. We were fine with this. However, when the bills came around, they did not auto-input the 18% gratuity into the machines which I thought was very honest of them. We all tipped 18% or more anyways but these are small attention to details that make the customer feel much more at ease. As far as omakase goes, in the York Region area I think this is the best one I've been to.

★★★★★
July 19, 2024

I've been to Zen numerous times, and they never cease to amaze me. It has been a little while since I've had their Omakase but this time we went for lunch and got their sushi gozen special, as well as a nigiri lunch set. The gozen is really nice if you like variety with all the mini courses before the sushi. The sushi was mind-blowing, and every piece was amazing. If you want to splurge, I do recommend getting their Omakase with the bar experience. But if you just want some really good quality sushi at an incredible value, come here for the regular non-omamase nigiri! You won't regret it. The homemade ice cream from the gozen course was incredible too. Super creamy and the flavours were rich, without being diluted at all. I also do recommend the Mandarin pie - A Zen classic.

★★★★★
February 16, 2024

Nothing I can write here can explain this place with any kind of justice. Don't look at the prices. Just try. They have made the omakase experience attainable for most. If just once in your life, you must try. You will gain an appreciation for fish that you never thought was possible. If possible, reserve for a seat at the sushi bar and the chef will hand deliver each piece of carefully made sushi one at a time. Hall staff service was impeccable. They somehow had the ability to read my mind.

★★★★
November 22, 2020

Zen is one of the oldest established high end sushi restaurant in Toronto. It has been opened for many years. This is still one of the few sushi restaurants that you can still order a la carte. Many sushi chefs in Toronto were once apprentice from here. Good sushi here. Highly recommended

★★
Local Guide
December 15, 2024

Came here for a xmas company dinner. I have never had omakase where they dont take the time to tell you what you are eating. This is a first. I have been here times before and service was better. This time was not to expectation and if not the worse I have had for omakase dinners. They also gave me the wrong omakase as we had a mix of different omakase for the party. When I asked them where is my sashimi, their answer is somebody else already ate yours and we ordered everything preset so there is no more. Why would you not confirm with each of us who is having what so you would not serve people the wrong order? Ridiculous. Food is fresh, but service is disappointing. Smaller parties they can manage, but big ones not so much. Also, not kid friendly, no booster for little ones!

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

the service here is absolutely amazing !! :)

★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

Passive quality of ingredients, service is very subpar and along with average atmosphere, overall just feels like I ve wasted my money dinning here. I know it s omakase, but the portions are way too small. Don t come here if you re hungry and don t have deep pockets

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

Best sushi Ive ever had! Amazing

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

Never tasted sushi like this in all my history

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

You can eat delicious sushi according to the price Introduced in 2024 Michelin I was introduced to you by KAJI It was delicious

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Update October 2024 An exceptional Omakase experience awaits at this Toronto gem, despite being snubbed for a Michelin star, they recently earned an honorable mention, bringing them closer to that recognition. Sitting at the bar is a must to fully enjoy each meticulously crafted piece as it arrives. Savoring the sushi within eight seconds of being served is key, so having a camera on standby is essential. The $75 lunch special is perfect far more satisfying than many other Omakase options that leave diners wanting more while costing twice as much. These lunch specials are also available on weekends, making it an ideal choice for a culinary outing on a monthly basis. Tip: For the appetizers, begin with the steamed egg since the uni will be overcooked, then move on to the tempura, and finish with the miso soup. ----------------- Another great experience at Zen. Although they did not receive a Michelin star, they reminded of my trip to Japan in Christmas 2022. We prefer lunch since it is less busy amd we can engaged with the Sushi master more at the sushi bar. His timing is perfect when he serves you the each piece of sushi, and had my camera on stand by and take a photo and enjoy. My freind only likes sushimi so that is the other dish in the photo. The cantaloupe (from japan i think) was super sweet, just to finish of another fine meal at Zen. Service was engaging but not overwhelming.

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

Very tasty dishes! Much attention to detail. Its obvious to us that the chefs in this establishment take great pride in their attention to detail. Every dish had a variety of subtle flavours and the presentation was very appetizing

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Love the mushroom tempura

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

We wanted a high quality Sushi place north of the 401, as we didn t want to drive into the city. A quick review of online recommendations landed us at Zen. We expected it to be better than most, but having vacationed in Japan a few years back, didn t expect too much. Both my wife and I were blown away. As good as anything we experienced in Japan. No small wonder, the very best ingredients are used - several pieces of fish flown in from Japan several times a week. The owner/sushi chef has over 45 year experience, showing in the care with every dish, from presentation to the delicate balance of flavours. Simply superb! Costly? yes. Expensive? Not for the perfection you get.

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

Best upscale sushi experience in all of Toronto, downtown and GTA included. Erin is the sweetest server. Paul and Saysah make the best sushi. Its amazing. Cuts, touch, everything is on par with top sushi places in the world.

★★
August 22, 2024

We ordered 2 omakase for lunch $165 per, in general the fishes are not as fresh as other omakase stores. The quality is not worthy of the price. The Salmon roe forzen for a while(as showed), never happened in other stores I visited. The staff is nice though, but I would choose the other store next time.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

A wonderful dining experience.

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

Fresh premium quality food, very good service. Superb!

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

Wonderful meal. High quality and just perfect. Had the set dinner.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

My wife and I love celebrating our special occasions here. Their omakase sets are beautifully served with fresh fish & tasty condiments. Highly recommend!

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

One of the best Japanese restaurants in the GTA

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

My first sushi experience years ago when they were in Scarborough. I will never forget how amazing it was. I had ordered the chirashi sushi - all the fish was succulent. The mandarin homemade pie was a unique touch and quite balanced. I dont think Ive had something like it since.

★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

The omakase was not great. It was just OK. It was $210+tax for each person, but I think $130 ish+tax would be reasonable. One of the sushi even tasted old. I wont go back to this place again.

★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Sushi is amazing!!! The sushi rice is moist and soft, and the balance of vinegar in rice is so perfect. Sushi is better than sashimi.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Zen Japanese Restaurant has never disappoint me when it comes to traditional omakase. I have had an incredible and memorable lunch at Zen. Great selection of fresh ingredients and impecaable services. Highly recommended!

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

We choose to sit at the bar to fully experience the omakasa meal. Each piece was meticullously prepared with dashes of complimenting ingredients and ended with a delightful dessert. Highly recommended trying the sesame ice cream. Service was impeccable and price was quite reasonable.

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

Great Omakase experience that does not require 24hr pre-book. You can just walk in and order Omakase course just like in Japan. Beside the main sushi course. Small side dishes are pretty impressive, for my own experience, this is important part to make the difference between Omakase restaurants. Food

★★★★★
March 22, 2024

Excellent dinner, service was good. Came for my wifes birthday dinner, which she enjoyed. Presentation of each course was very well done. All the fish was very fresh. Will definitely be back . Thank you for a great evening.

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

Amazing restaurant! Handsome Japanese chefs & super friendly Japanese waiters.

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

The ingredients are fresh and the waiters are very kind and polite

★★★★
February 22, 2024

My boyfriend and I went here for my birthday and we ordered the Dinner Sushi Gozen! We were pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere and service as the staff took good care of us. We had counter seats and got to see the chefs at work. At times it was difficult to understand/hear them speak to us and our dishes couldve been explained a little better... The food we received was amazing nonetheless. After leaving we reviewed our dinner set and realized that we did not receive the Uni/Ikura sushi that we were so looking forward to. We noticed the other customers received this sushi, so I guess the chef mustve forgotten? This being our first omakase experience, it was unfortunate we didnt get to try the Uni. Overall good food and experience, however given the price, we wished there was more care in ensuring we received all the dishes.

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Amazing food, service and atmosphere. It really feels like youre in a nook in the middle of Japan. Food was fresh and service was very friendly. We took advantage of the Valentines Day meal and thought every dish was great!

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

me and my partner went here for a fancy date and the service was definitely exquisite. our waiter was super polite and even cleaned our table a little bit in between meals, ive never been treated with such elegance! the sushi was delicious, the crab was super crispy, i wish all sushi tasted like this LOL i would recommend zen for a special night out, especially if service is important to you!

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

Wonderful food and service with their prix fixe menus. Cant wait to return again.

★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

Was here for dinner for my birthday and when I came home to look at my pictures we realize we never got the ebi sushi. Its a shame that this happened at such a fancy restaurant. We had ordered the set menu. Other then that the food was delicious and service was great. Update : restaurant did reply that selection may vary but we only got 7 pieces of sushi when it was suppose to be 8 according to the menu.

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

An experience that reminds the beauty in life. Highly recommend dining-in with the Omakase meal in front of the chefs to fully take in the glory and artform that complements each plate. Best sushi Ive ever had. Exceptional ingredients, including fresh ground Wasabi. The chefs and staff were all very friendly and polite. Despite how busy they were, they took the time to share interesting details about the plate, and were very attentive. Experience surpasses many Michelin star restaurants. Will be thinking back to this meal likely for years.

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

Except its a little pricey, this place offers very fresh sashimi and sushi. Quiet and relaxing ambiance. Service was friendly and attentive. Its worth the experience.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

You might just have to go to Japan to get much better. A little pricey, but wow! Omakase and premium sake flight were well worth it, for a special occasion.

★★
December 22, 2023

Sat at sushi bar counter. Ordered omakase sushi and sashimi.. Every pcs of sashimi was pre-cut cause I could see it from the counter. Ordinary stuffs. . Not sure if the fish was from Japan. Most of them was tasteless( I did not use any soya sauce) . Service was good. Sake price was reasonable.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

A very high-end elegant Japanese restaurant, incredible attention to details and great tastes, we had the Omakase & Omakase Course with Wagyu Suki-Nabe. The server explained every piece of appetizer, sushi & sashimi. Every bite is an explosion of great tastes, fresh and delicately executed with precision. Nice quiet, Zen like atmosphere with friendly, helpful staff.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Went here for my first ever omakase and was completely blown away. The atmosphere was fantastic - very quiet with calm music playing in the background. All of the staff were amazing! The waiters were very sweet, explained everything I didnt know. The two chefs that prepared the food were also very nice, told the names of the specific sushi or sashimi we were being given and what kind of fish it comes with. Everyone always had pleasant smiles and super attentive. Before this place, I was never a fan of tuna and seaweed, because it always tasted too fishy. But here, those two things left me speechless, because I loved them the most! The Negi Toro hand roll was one of the most delicious foods Ive ever tasted. The tuna was just heavenly and more importantly, the seaweed that wraps around the roll was just perfect - a nice hint of sea taste that comes with any seaweed, slightly nutty and crunchy. After finishing the hand roll, I wanted to cry because there was none left anymore... Anyways, solid 11 out of 10 for the food, atmosphere, staff, chefs and the whole experience.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

amazing quality as always. one of my favourite japanese restaurants. completely worth the price.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

The sushi was amazing and a great experience. Yes its pricy, but the quality and presentation is next level. Our server was also extremely friendly and delightful.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

I usually have a good omakase experience here. It highly depends who it serving you. I had times when I wasn t as satisfied but still a decent meal. Overall a solid spot for fresh sushi. Highly recommend!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Huge fan of blue fin tuna so I had to try their TEKKA DON & UDON. I must say that dish was exquisite. Their sashimi mixed with soya sauce, wasabi and sushi rice... perfect combination for my taste! Absolutely loved the fresh sashimi. I find the seating area a bit crowded, and there were too much activity behind me while I was enjoying my meal. The atmosphere was great and the staff were pleasant. Will definitely visit again!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Fantastic sushi spot with amazingly fresh fish as well.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Came here with my family for Christmas dinner. The omakase experience was great - food was very fresh, presentation was intricate and service was very attentive. Would come again!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I ll start by saying, yes, this place is very expensive. However, after being to so many expensive restaurants I have to say this one is WORTH IT. If you spend under $200, you re probably missing out. The restaurant itself is fairly small and intimate. Lighting is low except for the cooking area, which is the best place to keep your attention as the chef prepares the sushi/sashimi. If you re lucky enough to book the counter (which costs an extra $10 per person) you can see much more closely as they prepare, and they deliver directly to you. They do coat check for free, and give you a container to place your bag under your chair. The chefs are really kind, and you can talk to them as they cook. Most of the staff are fluent in Japanese, (and are most likely Japanese if that matters to you) so if you wanted to say a few Japanese phrases or words they ll respond back in Japanese. The head chef encouraged me to practice with the chef serving us, and it was really fun. Speaking of, our chef was very young and dressed differently so I think he was an apprentice (as were the other 2 chefs; I like that they each had their own colour of uniform). The food itself is so amazingly hard to describe. You can taste what you pay for and then some with the high quality of each ingredient. For an extra $15, you could have real pure wasabi ground freshly for you. Watching them prepare the food was like watching an artist paint; each movement was so careful and delicate. If the cut was angled oddly or slightly off, they would do it again until they got it correctly. I kept forgetting to take pictures because I was so distracted. Each piece of sushi was a new experience! I should note that not every piece was necessarily perfect, which is understandable since again I think our chef is in training as an apprentice. But it s still more impressive than the average sushi chef! The taste is something you really have to go try yourself; no amount of words can describe how delicious each piece was, and each one told a different story. I m not a fan of Uni, but I have never tasted Uni quite like it before; there was no grainy after taste, it was creamy, AND it had some kind of magical after taste that had me seeing a clear ocean behind my eyelids. It was a whole RIDE, and that was from one piece of sushi! The seaweed was so fresh; it had such a satisfying crunch as you take a bite, and the taste was so-!!! I can go on and on about every single piece of sushi but you really need to go try it yourself!! I went for my birthday, and they prepared a small surprise at the end. Overall, I can t praise this restaurant enough. I definitely plan to return!

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Okay Markham quality at downtown prices (if not more)

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

We were having lunch in Zen for a special occasion. The waiter politely greeted us at the entrance and sat us down without delay. The restaurant was decorated with a minimalistic theme like most Japanese restaurants - simple yet clean and comfortable. In other words, it was quite Zen. We ordered two lunch specials - one sashimi and one sushi. Both came with appetizers that could overload our tastebuds. I especially liked the steam egg with lobster meat but other appetizers were also top notch in quality. The sushi and sashimi were fresh. The distinct sweetness of the meat jumped right out as I put them in my mouth. The chef minced the onion and mixed it in rice of the tuna roll. It enhanced the flavour of the tuna, the seaweed and the rice, making an ordinary tuna roll extraordinary. In term of price, it was on the high side but one would find value for the dollar without a doubt. Overall, the atmosphere, the service and the presentation as well as the quality of the food were well executed. Zen deserves a 5 star rating in my humble opinion.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

This place is an absolute must. One of the best Omakase meals I ve ever had. Reminded me so much of places in Japan. We drove here from downtown Toronto and it was well worth the trek. Much more affordable than places in Yorkville, and twice as good. The sushi chef at the counter was so lovely and gently encouraged me to try things outside of my comfort zone, like Uni. I loved it. My husband and I are going to spread the word and bring more people here.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I really enjoyed the food and overall experience. I think their torched (tuna?) May have been one of the best and most flavourful piece of sushi Ive ever tried. The amount of umami was a very literal eye opening experience The other highlight was the ice-cream, the tea flavour was strong and it was so creamy. The staff was all very kind. The atmosphere would have been 5 stars but the washroom smells really really bad. That psychologically I thought I smelled it even in the dining area. Unfortunately I also got a little sick after :(

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

100% recommend if you want some of the highest quality and freshest seafood in the city. I have been going to Zen for over 15 years and love it. Service is incredible, the atmosphere is friendly. Get a seat at the counter if you can, watching the chefs work is a great experience! This is traditional Japanese sushi and food.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Omasake! Good presentation. Good service. Great daiginjo junmai choices. The food were a tad underwhelming. Pricey for the small amount of sashimi and sushi. Closed to a thousand Canadian dollars for the 3 of us. And the location is puzzling - a high end restaurant in a complex with garage and body shops!? Tough to find a parking spot.

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

To be honest, the food is average

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Still one of my favourite sushi omakase restaurants in the GTA. I love that they make quality of the ingredients and flavours the focus instead of making it overly fancy and decorative. Ive probably been here at least 20 times and have never left disappointed. Thank you for your excellence.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The Tonkatsu is sooo good!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Definitely a top notch experience

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

We ordered food several times and was good. Little on the expensive side.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The quality and service level remain at very high standards. There have been some minor changes since my last visit, but all added to the experience - the new daily menu was a nice touch for you to understand what you ate and what is coming. If dining here, I highly recommend the counter service for which there is a slight premium (but well worth it).

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Sushi was obviously good. Shari was perfect. Yes to some ppl, they would think the flavour is strong. However, I liked it overall. Hidden tonkatsu place. I wish they have a menu with rice and nori :)

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

I went around looking for a Japanese restaurant in Canada, and this one had the best food, atmosphere, and service! I never thought you could get A4 size meat in Canada.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Amazing place. The sushi was so fresh and well prepared. The chef had 40 years experience. They have a lunch special for 75$ with appetizers and almost 8 pieces of sushi and a handroll + 2 flavors ice cream. I highly recommend this sushi place and you will not be disappointed

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Not a big fan of omakase but this changed my mine. Was an amazing experience from start to finish. Food was sooo good and it was for my girls birthday, so they did a candle and extra birthday dessert!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

We were having lunch in Zen for a special occasion and reservation is recommended. There lunch set menu selection is amazing and Presentation is top notch. 100% recommend Zen Japanese Restaurant if you want some of the highest quality and freshest fish in town.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Great service a little pricey but food is good

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

This is the best place for sushi in Toronto. As good as I have had in Tokyo. It really shocked me that it was so good here.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Have been visiting for years since their old location in Scarborough (rip the bowling alley and Caddies stripclub beside their old strip mall location on Eglinton/Brimley/Danforth). New location is bigger and even more beautiful, but as always, their food and service is always top notch, no matter when I go and how long it is between visits. I can upload pictures later cause my desktop doesnt have the photos but my phone does.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Had the omakase this time and every course was amazing. Last time we tried some a la carte wagyu and other dishes and loved everything as well.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

A top omakase restaurant in Toronto/GTA. Service is equivalent to a 5 star hotel. The sushi and sashimi were amazing, and the appetizers and dessert were very tasty. Looking forward to coming back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Celebrated a birthday here with the omakese menu. Amazing experience and incredible food. It s definitely pricey and I do not have another omakese experience to compare but it felt worthwhile. If this is within your budget this small sushi shop in markham is well worth a visit and trip. Thank you to the wonderful staff for the experience!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Extremely good experience. Not just the food is excellent, the chef and staff are all professional and have great heart. I feel like I am dining in Japan highly recommended. Good job

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I did a take away and it was packaged so well, I wanted to show it on Google so people can see the care behind the packaging. This is truly the Japanese way! I had an unagi chirashi box with some egg, edamame, mushrooms and crunch lotus slices that went perfectly with the meal. It came with packaged wet wipes and chopsticks (disposable, not the yellow ones shown here).

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

True Edomae style sushi. Excellent quality and impeccable service.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I had a great after-taste experience for the quality of food and service. Will go again soon

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

One of, if not the most, authentic Japanese sushi restaurants in the city. The atmosphere, service and presentation was exactly howd you would expect in Japan itself. The food was amazing most especially the sushi and/or sashimi plates. Its very pricey but for the experience it is worth it once and awhile. Gochisou sama deshita!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I was there for omaksae dinner for my birthday. The customer attentiveness was exceptional from the moment I entered the restaurant... Superior food quality and attention to plating detail definitely worth every penny. I had one of the most memorable birthday celebrations here!!

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The taste is average for the price.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Very delicious and mouth watering.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

fantastic experience!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Excellent quality of fish, attentive service, the appetizers were the best imo. The variety, taste and texture were so well done. Presentation is top notch. Downsides are price being on the high end, good for an occasional splurge. Sushi and sashimi omakase didnt have the same types of fish as sushi omakase and no tamago although price is the same. And increasing wasabi as the meal progressed

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Attentive staff, fresh fish (tuna from Boston at the time of our visit). More on the pricey side for the average foody so keep that in mind. Grabbed a table but bar seating would be fun to watch the chefs at work.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Top notch, upscale, and intimate Japanese restaurant. You can tell by their level of service and food that they pay very close attention to detail. Loved everything I ordered ... Great dining experience!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Good service. Tasty food. Very very expensive.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

The best and most authentic Japanese restaurant in whole of Ontario (and maybe Canada) Absolutely loved every dish and the service is extraordinary!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Wow! Such a great experience. This was my first time having an Omakase meal and Zen has set the bar high. The service was extremely friendly and accommodating, the sushi chefs were a pleasure to watch and very kind, and not the mention the sushi was top tier. Cant wait to go back!

Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Rude chef. You know what I am talking about. Worst experience ever! We felt offense because your words. 15%tips is for the food, not your services.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Top #1 dine in sushi restaurant!!!!!!! Amazing as usual

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Excellent sushi. Great service!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Though Canada probably is a country that loves Japanese cuisine the most except Japan, it is still hard to find a really good Japanese restaurant from Vancouver to Toronto. Compare with East Sea, the types of seafood that both north Pacific & Atlantic ocean can provide is a little behind, which limited chef skills & imaginations. But Zen showed its potential, by earing their foods, you can feel how hard chef is trying to break the limitation, and the result is a real surprise to me. The omakase Ive tried today is a master piece, I would say it is the best one Ive ever had in Canada. It is fresh, delicate, elegant & delicious, and in a proper price. 99% of the staffs are Japanese and very well trained, but the most skilled waitress is a Chinese girl who is the only non-japanese employee in the restaurant. She speaks Japanese, Cantonese & Mandarin, very professional & fully understand customers demand. She herself worth a five star though I gave a four to the restaurant.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

For the price I would say good food (not amazing though) but quite overpriced. The service was corteous and attentive. What I liked most was the wagyu nabe (the beef was really tender without totally disintergrating). Sushi was good but the fish lacked depth and the sushi rice could have more vinegar notes.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Omakase is great as always with friendly service and beautiful smiles.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

This Omakase was said to be one of the best in Toronto, taste is unspeakable! Chefs are well known Japanese chefs. I am impressed by the number of causes presented and each one has its own specific taste and texture. Service persons are well knowledgeable and explained each ingredient. It was a great experience!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Zen is literally my favorite restaurant in the whole wide world. Okay maybe oneee of my favorites because I cannot choose just one. But definitely my favorite Japanese restaurant! We came from NYC with hopes of splurging one night at ZEN. We ended up making reservations again to splurge for TWO nights. Honestly it was all worth it. Good Omakase sushi from NYC can cost up to $800 or more per person. We have gone to places that serves 9 pieces for $165 too. However for $165CAD (130USD), you can get 13 pieces, one handroll, appetizers, starter, soup, dessert, and a satisfied belly with a big smile. It is such an amazing deal. For those negative reviews complaining about the price, they dont know about the struggles of finding fresh clean authentic omakase in North America for an actual reasonable price. From the service to the food, the workers showed positivity and enthusiasm, we felt super welcomed. The head chef was so nice and we also got to speak a little, he seemed genuinely interested in our stories and even shared some of his stories about his NYC visits with us. He was so kind and happy to be there. On our second night of visiting again, the waitress asked about our trip in Toronto so far( she remembered we were from NYC) and the same head chef that served us that night came to our table and asked about us too. They truly care for their customers. The hospitality was 100/10. The food was just as amazing. We got the omakase course for one. We started off with a lobster dish. My boyfriend is allergic to lobster so he got cold noodles with tempura eel. He loves eel so he was super hyped about it. My lobster dish was so delicious, from the plating to my tongue, it was so satisfying. The appetizers were also really delicate and put together super nicely. There is creativity in flavors and plating. The fish is sourced from Scotland, Japan, Canada, etc. everything was extremely fresh. Watching him prepare and make our sushi was such a wonderful experience. After 6/7 nigiris we got a miso soup, it was nice to have something warm and savory to wash down before finishing up with the rest of the nigiris. We finished off with some house made desserts and a Japanese honeydew. The honey dew is extremely sweet and extremely juicy, we never had honey dew like that before. The house made sweets was so warm to the heart. Coming to zen, you experience more than just the food. You can feel the love and care with each bite. Their hospitality drew us back as soon as possible. We took my mom for the second time for her birthday and she was ever so delighted. We look forward to visiting Toronto again just so we can visit Zen.

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

My gf and I spent about 450 together for omakasa.... it was nothing special, except its really expensive.

December 22, 2022

when my friend pays the bill, the tips didn`t show up by some reason (she did press 20%). the receptionist came to ask that why there is no tips. so rude!! very bad experience, and not worth at all, will not come again.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

I ordered an omakase, $169 I believed I paid and I need to walk out with hunger. With drinks, I paid over 400 and it didnt worth me adding pictures, the food was so ordinary and need to eat MacDonald after a 400 meal

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

All of can say is if you want top of the line sushi this is the spot

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Phenomenal. Experience and quality of the sushi and sashimi was best, ever! I am not a fan of uni but theirs was out of this world, buttery soft, the right temperature and it just melts in your mouth. I wont describe each course as your chef will take you down a gastronomic journey you wont forget. And dont forget to enjoy the Sake samplers and get the 2oz version !

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

One of the best omakase restaurant I have tried in Toronto. We ordered the omakase course set. It came with everything you would expect from an omakase restaurant: freshly grated wasabi, rice at around body temperature, fish that are not too cold, etc. The chef was very friendly, attention to detail, and customizes the sushi to each customer: rice portion, amount of wasabi. The appetizer was special, not something you would find at an average restaurant. My favourite in particular was the hair thin seaweed in a vinegary dressing. The nigiri sushi was excellent. One of my favourite thing was the printed copy of the fish being served on the day of, which I have kept until this date. The dessert was also delightful. I would definitely recommend Zen, whether for special occasions, or if you just want top notch omakase.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Best omakasan in town

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

There are many people and you need to make a reservation in advance. The food is very good, but the price is a bit expensive. Overall very good.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

10/10 omakase experience. Thank you everyone for making our anniversary special!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Excellent experience, good food. Chef was entertaining as we ate

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Dietary restrictions:

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Great omakase experience for lunch.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

nice place good taste

★★★★
December 22, 2022

Fantastic food. Hand roll was the best one of my life. Sushi was great. Everything was fresh and well above average. I would have given this 5 star if it was a bit less. If all the food was as good as the hand roll I would have paid $500 and been very happy. I would say it was all great but other than hand roll nothing blew my mind. I m happy to pay a lot of money for amazing food. I would say 500$ for 2 people was too much for the meal I had. That s my only negative.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Amazing food and service. One of the best sushis I ever had in Toronto.

Local Guide
December 22, 2022

$400 for two with hair in your food. Good sushi but not worth the price. Poor customer service and cheap. Don t waste your money.

December 22, 2022

Date night with hubby. Had sushi and sashimi omakaze. It was sad as we had to eat separately since his sushi plate arrived without human hair and mine did. When they brought my plate they said we remade the wholes thing as if it was a special delivery, like they did me a favor. Honestly should have walked out early on when I saw one of the sushi chefs (bald gentleman) touched his nose not one but three times then continued to make food. At this point my husband finished his which wasn t difficult. $400 for mediocre sushi for two people (no alcohol) and bad service I would say pass this one and save your money. Plenty of better restos out there

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Delicious sushi and sashimi. All the fish was very fresh. Service was good as they were attentive. Price was not cheap. There are cheaper options but quality and food tasted good. Highly recommend making a reservation as they get busy.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

This is amazing sushi Japanese restaurant, one of the best I ever been. Perfect service amazing dishes the food was absolutely delicious. A bit expensive but the quality and good service cost. We order almost entire menu and I swear I really hardly recommend this place. Im so impressed from the service and hospitality. They deserve it. Thank you Parking: The parking is located the front of the restaurant.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Will definitely come back! Great service, great quality! This restaurant deserves more than 5 stars!! Very satisfied!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

By far some of the best sushi in the entire city. The staff are very friendly and the food is always perfect. Definitely worth the price paid.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

I had the best omakase I ve ever had and loved every piece! The chef was skillful and nice too. They offered an alternative high quality of nigiri for the one that I couldn t eat and offered good service.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

One of my favourite Omakase restaurant due to the great food, friendly staff, and convenient location. Definitely try and get a seat by the chef table, the experience of watching the sushi getting prepped is quite unique.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

The most exquisite Japanese experience, superbly prepared dishes prepared by chef. A very delicate and attentive service during all courses.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

I would give 5 stars for the experience. The servers were friendly and the quality of the food is great. I would recommend to try out the TAKARA PLUM WINE!

★★
December 22, 2022

The quality of the food is not worth the price.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Incredible food and services

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Some of the best sushi youll find in the city.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Always our go-to omakase. Very friendly staff and food never disappoints. Book the bar if you can - its really fun watching the sushi chefs make the sushi in front of you!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

If you havent tried omakase and would like to, I highly recommend Zen. The atmosphere was very comfortable. We sat by the sushi bar so we could watch the sushi chefs work their magical knives, slice by slice. The fish were deliciously fresh. The scallops melted in my mouth. And the uni was of generous portion. Best uni Ive ever tasted. I love the sushi with a touch of citrus flavour so yummy. The presentations were impeccable. And the service were pleasantly polite and fast. I want omakase again.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Amazing sushi and service. I always try to book Zen when I visit Toronto. Really authentic Japanese sushi with fresh ingredients!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

This is THE sushi place I go to. Unlike many other places the owner actually care a lot about his food and service by personally working there everyday. Make sure you ask for the Chef s choice for sushi. It has a lot of special fishes that are not part of the normal course meal.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

High end Japanese restaurant with quality ingredients and omakase! Recommend the soft shell crab!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Really good omakase experience. Definitely worth the $$$ in terms of food and service. Food was excellent. Fish and shellfish were really fresh and never tasted fishy. The amount of wasabi they use is just right and the vinegar was not overpowering the rice. The Hokkaido uni was a first and a big surprise for me. You can definitely taste the creaminess and a little bit of the ocean in comparison to the nasty stuff you get from BC and Boston. The sushi chef paced our sushi well and we were never in a rush. Service was top notch. We reserved a regular table but was bumped to the counter. Tea was always topped without asking. Servers were really attentive and kind. Highly recommend this restaurant for those who want to have that feeling of being in Japan but couldn t go because of the pandemic.

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Delicious food and friendly staff!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Bluefin Tuna!!!

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Very authentic Japanese restaurant. It is on the pricier side but you get what you pay for; the fish is very fresh and the service is great. Come here if you want to experience high quality Japanese cuisine.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

$$$$ but well worth it. Truly authentic. Came here for anniversary.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Great experience.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Great experience. Its very hard to describe what you are getting there - its a must experience. Sushi, sashimi and other food is very tasty and nicely served. Great staff. Intelligent in order to explain what you are eating, perfect timing when it comes to remove empty dishes and serve next portion of food. We appreciate chief approaching us to question if everything was good after we were don with our dinner. Overall great experience. Definitely will be back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

One of kind authentic Japanese restaurant in Toronto (actually located in Markham ) I strongly recommend this one if you want to eat a real Japanese dishes. There are bunch of Japanese restaurant in Toronto, but most of them are fake, unfortunately...

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

The food is very good, but the price is still a bit expensive

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Love love love this place. The food and service was extraordinary! Absolutely delicious, every bite was balanced and perfect. The Wagyu was melt in your mouth. Perfect amount of food. Servers were very personable and the Master Chef was super friendly. Top tier . Would absolutely come back and highly recommend!

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Nice people good food fast service thanks guys

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Amazing fresh quality food and service. We are looking forward to going back for dinner.

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Amazing Omakase experience. The fish is fresh which matches the price tag. The set includes desserts made in-house (they had different desserts every time I visited). the desserts are amazing and really sets them apart from many other omakase sushi experiences in Toronto.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Best sushi Ive ever had in my life! So worth the price for special occasions.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Didnt like anything I ate there , 3 stars coz my gf liked everything she ate hahaha

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Amazing sashimi and the best pickled ginger. Service was fast and friendly.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

I was surprised! ! I never thought I could enjoy such delicious Japanese food in Toronto. Not only was the level of cooking excellent, but I was also surprised at how they had arranged so many ingredients. They are particular about not only the fish but also the seaweed, which they purchase from Tsukiji. Its a bit pricey, but its a shop Id like to visit again.

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Excellent high quality food. Excellent service. Pleasant atmosphere.

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

A real omakase experience. Absolutely amazing

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

The service is attentive, the sashimi and sushi are very fresh and delicious

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

When we went to Zen, there were a party of unpolite guests that started vaping on the table near us as we started our meal. After speaking to the staff, Chef Kashiwabara sensei personally apologized to us and warned them to stop doing so. Although we couldnt enjoy the full experience of the restaurant this time, I anxiously await our next visit.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Ive been to zen years ago and my impression of it has always been a high end Japanese restaurant for quality and authentic sushi! Thankfully that hasnt changed. Recently went to get a few handrolls and my Godddd are they expensive. I think I paid $35 for 4 handrolls. Hands down I would pay that money for it again. They were soooo good! They are individually wrapped with the plastic in between the seaweed so seaweed stays crispy and fresh up until the moment you consume it. I do think they use a better quality seaweeed too because it was a lot crispier than Im used to! The handrolls are seasoned so well that I dont even think I needed soy sauce with it! I believe they already have soy sauce mixed into the rice which is the style of a lot of omakases, they pre incorporate the perfect amount of soy sauce and wasabi for you so no additional dipping is required.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

4.5 stars Excellent experience. Servers are friendly and professional. All courses were amazing with the exception of the sashimi dish. Sashimi wasnt super fresh like the sushi. Wagyu dish and sushi were superb. I also didnt end up getting served the tamago egg which was on the menu. Overall Id recommend! They also have a great selection of fish

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

An incredible Omakase experience.