Kobo Gourmet in Pickering

512 Kingston Rd, Pickering, ON L1V 3N7, Canada

★★★★☆
(151 reviews)
Categories: Japanese restaurant Asian restaurant Seafood restaurant Sushi restaurant

About

Best Sushi Durham

Website
nobu-yamada.squarespace.com
Address
512 Kingston Rd, Pickering, ON L1V 3N7, Canada
Plus Code
RV7G+HM Pickering, Ontario, Canada
Time Zone
America/Toronto

Business Hours

Sunday
Closed
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
12–2:30 PM – 4:30–8 PM
Wednesday
12–2:30 PM – 4:30–8 PM
Thursday
12–2:30 PM – 4:30–8 PM
Friday
12–2:30 PM – 4:30–8 PM
Saturday
12–2:30 PM – 4:30–8 PM

Services

Service options
Takeaway Dine-in Delivery
Highlights
Great tea selection
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park Wheelchair-accessible entrance Wheelchair-accessible seating Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Offerings
Alcohol Beer Cocktails Healthy options Small plates Spirits Wine
Dining options
Lunch Dinner Dessert
Amenities
Bar on site Toilets
Atmosphere
Casual Cosy
Crowd
Groups
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments Credit cards
Parking
Free of charge street parking Free parking lot Parking

Photos

Reviews

4.4
★★★★☆
151 reviews

Most Mentioned

price (17) chef (7) miso soup (6) tempura (6) avocado (4) hot sauce (3) spicy (3) beef sukiyaki (2) comfort food (2) sweet potato (2)
5 stars
100
4 stars
30
3 stars
8
2 stars
2
1 stars
11
★★★★★
November 30, 2024

Food was delicious, service was great. Best miso soup I’ve had. Definitely recommend going here for a bite

★★★★★
November 14, 2024

I really really recommend checking out their onigiri when you have the chance! They're fresh to order and huge! ~$5/pp and an average person would be satisfied. Of course we had to try them *all* though. My absolute favorite is the beef sukiyaki! Can't wait to come back for a sit in meal one time! They're ingredients are super fresh!

★★★★★
November 5, 2024

Super tasty onigiri!!!! I went at lunch (noon) and they were super kind and the food was extremely authentic!!! Will definitely be coming back!

★★★★★
October 23, 2024

The new lunch menu item, onigiris! Went to try the salmon yaki version, was neatly packaged, freshly made and very filling!

★★★★★
June 8, 2024

Kobo offers authentic Japanese cuisine that brings back memories of dining in Japan. The service is impressive, and the atmosphere is warm and inviting. While the interiors could use a bit of a makeover or renovation, the overall experience remains delightful. Highly recommended for anyone seeking genuine Japanese flavors!

★★★★
June 25, 2023

Tried it out as I heard good things about it. Flavours were good but the rolls were very loose and fell apart quickly. Ordered the green dragon roll and the jumbo spider roll. The rolls were smaller than I expected as these are special rolls. The tempura like item on top of the jumbo spider roll seemed overfried and hollow inside without much content. For the price, it is quite expensive for what is offered compared to other restaurants around the GTA, but they do have good flavours. The environment was also quite dark. Nice quiet place to have a meal but a bit of interior renovation would definitely help up the dining atmosphere. Overall, would come back again but too expensive for top choice.

★★★★★
November 9, 2022

This is one of the best Japanese Sushi restaurants that I like to visit. Always give you fresh fish and nice dessert . A real Japanese Cuisine that is owned and run by Japanese. Please check their opening hours. Now they only open for dinner in the evening .

★★★★★
March 1, 2022

Great sushi and service. Cozy ambiance. Fresh fish and perfect cuts and insane fried chicken.

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

Best Japanese Food in Pickering!

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

Always great!

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Always wonderful to have Kobo take care of us. Authentic Japanese sushi house. Owner is a master chef and you should not pass by without stopping and enjoying meal. A nice, quiet hidden gem.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Definitely some of the best sushi in the GTA, at a good price. Always super fresh and well prepared. The portion sizing is just right.

★★★
March 22, 2024

Spent $46 and left hungry

★★★★★
January 22, 2024

Fantastic food & service! As a Japanese family we truly appreciate the comforts of home!

Local Guide
January 22, 2024

Prices were over 40% more expensive than what was listed on their website. Portions were tiny for the price and the food was salty and sub par. I honestly felt like I d ordered a kids meal and my wife felt the same. There were no other customers despite us going at dinner time. We will not be going back.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

First time here. Traditional and authentic Japanese cuisine - the black cod, sunomono seafood salad, hokkai hotate yaki along with sushi rolls was incredible. Thanks for a nice dinner.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Authentic!!! When I miss home always come back here. Ordered beef bento & pork cutlet bento this time. I love their tempura bento and curry rice as well.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Fresh ingredients, great service, quaint inside.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Best sushi place in Durham!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

We ve been coming here for over 11years. Food quality is top notch and their fish is always fresh.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Food was great. Service was just as good.

★★★
December 22, 2023

Ordered take out. Wanted to try a new sushi place in pickering. Portions are small and prices are not the same as it is on their website. Nothing special about the food 3 out of 5.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Thank you for being there! quality-comfort-food

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Great sushi! The owners are very friendly as well.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Kobo is on my list for top 5 favourite restaurants. The beef sukiyaki udon, garden salad and tempura is my go to order at least once a week. If you are looking for traditional delicious Japanese food I would definitely recommend this place one of the best!

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Little hidden place in Pickering. Always quality fish and such nice people. Support local!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

amazing Sushi !!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Excellent service. Very friendly staff. The food was really good and fresh, felt very homemade. Great little restaurant!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Worth the visit! Ill be coming back again! the salad and dessert were great. The sushi and avocado were extremely fresh.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Quality food, Usually the food takes longer to come out but worth it for the quality.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Nice, quiet and cozy japanese home style comfort food restaurant.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Good quality food. Small portions, but not overpriced. Will return as my wife is a fan. Interior is basic. Its about fresh, authentic ( I believe, my wife is Korean and we are pretty sure chef was Japanese) food. Its not fancy. You dont leave overly full. Thats good sometimes. You leave feeling good.

December 22, 2021

Went to go pick up my sushi, and saw one of the chefs prepping the sushi while wearing his mask around his chin. I may have to deal with morons out and about not wearing a mask properly during COVID, but not when it comes to my food.

★★★★★
December 22, 2020

Good food! Great service!

December 22, 2020

I Have come 3 times at the posted open hours. each time no one was here and doors are locked. wow what a waste of time.

★★★★★
December 22, 2020

We have eaten at Kobo for over 20 years great food and very good price

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

I feel so fortunate to have such an authentic sushi restaurant in Pickering owned by a lovely family. We have tried several items on the menu and have found them all to be delicious and fresh. The service is always excellent as well whether we dined in or had takeout.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Amazing gourmet authentic Japanese cuisine, with a great ambience. Definitely recommend this spot

★★★★★
December 22, 2020

Authentic and delicious every time.

★★★★★
December 22, 2020

Beautiful quality of fish, always amazing and polite service, you cant go wrong with the sunomono salad and large sushi plate!

★★★★★
December 22, 2020

I ordered the dragon rolls and sweet potato tempura, all of wich were delicious. The staff was extremely kind. I definitely recommend this place.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Best Japanese curry in Durham!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Delicious and authentic. Wonderful service.

★★★★★
December 22, 2020

Same as my past reviews. Real Japanese food and prep. Its probably the only real Japanese food east of TO. Sushi rice is made perfectly to Japanese standards not your whatever or so called Japanese food resteraunts. Gyoza dumplings are as good as in Japan. I cant eat standard fake Japanese food except if its made in a Korean resteraunt which is pretty much the same as real Japanese food and prepped the same way. Try it, its great.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Very pricey is the sashimi

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Our favorite place for authentic Japanese cuisine. Staff are always welcoming and this place is great for lunch or dinner. Sushimi is super fresh and we like theyre variety of appetizers are very tasty!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Best Sushi in Pickering. Friendly and knowledgeable staff.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Great location

Local Guide
December 22, 2019

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

★★
December 22, 2019

Just picked up a spicy tuna roll and a salmon and avacado roll at Kobo. Im very disappointed with the quality. The spicy tuna roll is just a tuna roll with hot sauce squirted on top and way too much. I like spicy food but this is just not good.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Changed again (Feb 2019). Last few months the quality has been top notch again, back to normal. Back to 5 stars! Changed my rating from 5 star to 3 star. In the recent past (May 2018), the quality has been slipping. Unripe avocados, old tasting and smelly fish. Most meals are still good or decent, but every so often, the quality is a problem.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Love this hidden gem. Delicious, fresh sushi. Ask for their takeout menu because they have more offerings like spider roll and sukiyaki. The waiter told us to ask him if we want specific rolls next time because they may be able to accommodate. Their broth (sukiyaki) was on the salty side for me but still delicious. The service was a little slow but its with the wait because the food was delicious. They also do takeout in case you cant stay and eat.

Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Over priced and small portions.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Very good food and service. Well be going back for more. Delicious, fresh, sushi and gyoza! The restaurant could use a little update.

December 22, 2019

Wanted sushi for Lunch but was closed when I arrived. Hours are not properly reflected online.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

I like this place. Low key and quiet. Food is generally terrific. Legit Japanese.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Think they closed down

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Excellent

★★★★
December 22, 2019

Grest food nice music good service

★★★★
December 22, 2019

Service was kind of slow but sushi was delicious. Should note that the chef adds wasabi inside the rolls as well as on the side!

Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Average food (like most sushi chains). Very small portions for the price. I ordered the Omakase sashimi for $24 and received about 12 pieces which were each about half the size of normal chains....they were not at all special in any way. Did not receive rice with my order; I assume thats a separate order. Miso soup was decent...was separately ordered by my wife. She ordered chicken teriyaki...and as youd guess the portion size was about half the size of the bigger chains, albeit the taste was marginally better. Was a mistake not to just go to Makimono on Liverpool. Wont make the mistake again.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

This place is a hidden pearl. Its small, peacefull with relaxing music. No, its not an All You Can Eat. Service is good. Portions are small, but worth the price because the cuts are done with precision. Fish is fresh and melts in the mouth. Highly recommend.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

THE BEST REAL JAPANESE FROM DURHAM TO THE BEACH. Authentic and tasty Japanese food made with love. Great lunch bento boxes. All the soup broths are made from scratch. A hidden gem and great restaurant.

★★★★★
December 22, 2018

Authentic Japanese food. Fresh fish and cozy homely atmosphere.

★★★★★
December 22, 2018

Favorite Japanese Restaurant in Durham , always fresh and great service. The food is authentic but also has creative original dishes. The staff is friendly and there is a great overall atmosphere. I recommend this restaurant to all my friends.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

Best Sushi you can buy... high quality and so fresh

★★★★
December 22, 2018

great prices, fast service

★★★★★
December 22, 2018

Great cozy sushi restaurant in Pickering. Always feel well taken care of, sushi is amazing! Big pieces of fish and always fresh!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

Service excellent. The seafood and avocado salad was fresh and delicious. The miso soup is sold separately but it s worth it.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

I have been going here for years. Excellent sushi. My favourite place to go.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

I have been dining regularly at Kobo for a few years. This hidden gem is always a pleasure. I highly recommend the Miso soup. It is the best that I have ever had. The Age-dashi Tofu is superb. As for the Sushi, I always get the Chef s choice, OMAKASE SUSHI. The staff here is friendly and courteous. The decor is simple.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

Impressed... amazing food quality. Proper sake. Decent service. Come into this place out of random. Food is prepared right down to detail. Not some poser Japanese restaurant. Did not expect. This is possibly one of the best for this price point.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

Great food... miso is the best I have had in a long time .... service was less than stellar Good sake

★★★★★
December 22, 2018

Japanese owner. Great sushi. You can enjoy real Japanese foods here. Try teriyaki and spring rolls as well.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

Great Pickering restaurant! Miso soup, tuna roll, and a lovely pint of Asahi lager.

December 22, 2018

Should answer your phone, trying to order food for lunch and noone picks up....

★★★★★
December 22, 2018

Real Japanese food, not a Korean / Japanese. Food is soo good. Very friendly Try their famous apple pie for desert

★★★★★
December 22, 2018

Great food and nice staff

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2018

Ive been coming to this restaurant for years. The food is always fantastic and the staff are polite and attentive. Definitely one of the better places for sushi in Pickering if you dont want to go into Markham or Downtown.

★★★★★
December 22, 2018

Best sushi ever! The tofu and the veggie tempura is also amazing. Such a great little gem. Whenever I m in Pickering I make sure to stop by!

★★★★★
December 22, 2017

Great food, staff, food and music. Been coming back every week, love it.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2017

Best Sushi in the GTA by far! Ive been going for almost a decade and have never been disappointed!

Local Guide
December 22, 2017

Worst sushi place in Pickering!!! Paid 25 dollars for yam roll and AC roll edamame... DONT GO EAT AT A PLACE WHERE THEY DONT TAKE PRIDE IN THEIR FOOD!! I would give no stars if I could

December 22, 2017

The worst sushi in Pickering. Overpriced. Go somewhere else or be disappointed

★★★★★
December 22, 2017

Awesome.food and awesome prices

★★★
December 22, 2017

Good, Clean and nicely presented. Should have had soup, salad and dessert for the price.

★★★★★
December 22, 2017

Great service and kind. Excellent foods :)

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2017

Excellent, authentic Japanese food, created by a Japanese team. The best sushi in Durham region, bar none. Reasonably priced for the quality.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2017

Excellent Japanese food

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2017

Food: 8/10 Service: 8/10 Atmosphere: 7/10 More details below Very good Japanese food in the east. It feels like a family run place, and the family surely cares about their product. This place is great for groups, and you wont go wrong ordering sushi or any one of their bento boxes. It gets a 4 star because while the service was good, it was a bit slow.

★★★
December 22, 2017

Fresh food but on expensive side.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2017

Great Sushi...lovely food. The chef is a passionate guy and you will love all his creations

★★★★
December 22, 2017

Great Food. Great Service. Great prices. We keep going back.

★★
December 22, 2016

Got 3 maki rolls to go. Tried to call ahead and twice no one picked up the phone. All 3 rolls were very bland. Also, Spicy maki roll meant add hot sauce.. Not cool. Plus, if you are doing to go food.. Couldnt you get a clam shell container that actually closes too and doesnt need an elastic band? .. Wont go back.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2016

Enjoyed the food and the staff is very friendly. Will be back again once the sushi craving hits.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2016

Great authentic spot.

★★★★★
December 22, 2016

Great food and service

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2016

Really good sushi loved their kobo sushi ...nice small restaurant lovely staff..would not get the shrimp tempura again came with only two pieces of shrimp and the rest veggies..overall was great!! Will come again

★★★★★
December 22, 2015

Outstanding food. Very open to custom orders. Always fresh, Not like other Pickering grocery store quality sushi places.

★★★★★
December 22, 2015

Great people, great sushi

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2015

Best authentic Japanese food in the GTA in my opinion, been coming here for nearly 10 years and will continue coming.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2012

I go here whenever possible. This is one of the best sushi places around, actually run by a Japanese chef. The Omakase is excellent for value for a mere $22. Also try their BBQ Eel (which I do not like anywhere else), the in-house smoked Salmon sashimi - really to die for.