2 Lakeview Ave, Toronto, ON M6J 3B1, Canada
Japanese-style snacks & drinks are served at this bare-bones izakaya with flea market decor.
Hidden gem with Japanese bar style food. Menu is split between raw and cooked and everything tried was so good. Okra portion was large and the seasoning is comparable to Chat bar. Aburi salmon dish was a favourite at our table and tuna dish was fresh. The katsu burger was massive and perfect for 2 people and even 4 people. Would love to come back to try everything else on the menu.
Cute place. Reservations are not possible. Best to come here on a weekend. I got the Salmon Aburrí, Moto Eggs, Enoki, Dyno Wings. I would ask them for a spoon for the Salmon Aburrí, and I would probably pass on the Dyno Wings next time, but everything else was good. For drinks, the Paper Crane is good.
Me and my friend spent $45 each and we were still hungry when I left…the food portion is shockingly small and I’m not sure i understand the hype about this place….we ordered the chicken wings which is rated pretty well in the reviews, but it’s very very salty, like I can’t even finish it. I generally eat lots of spicy food and my diet is on the salty side, but still I can’t understand how salty the chicken wings are…we also order the moto egg, which is $9 for one and half eggs, it taste like the marinated eggs in ramen but looks more fancy I guess🤡 The salmon aburi it’s like so so but definitely not worth the price. Very disappointed about this place
This provided one of the better dining experiences I’ve had in Toronto and IMO that’s saying a lot. Loved the atmosphere. Flavours and cook on point. Service good.
Wanted to try out this place because I heard that it’s always busy. We waited for about 30-45 mins for a table as they do not take reservations. The service was friendly, helpful with the menu and recommended some great dishes. For drinks we got the Arisaka Sour, Cops + Rabas and a classic whiskey sour. The food was delicious! Highly highly recommend their salmon aburi and the moto eggs. We also got the enoki and karaage which were fantastic! Per person we spent about 40 dollars for 1 drink and 4 dishes to share. We enjoyed every dish and the overall ambiance of the restaurant. We would definitely come back! *Note: not the easiest to find, you have to go around the corner of Lakeside to find it as it looks similar to a house. Not wheelchair accessible. Not much wiggle room between tables as it’s small and intimate. I’d say it’s fine for a max of 4 people but more than that would be tricky to accommodate.
I gave it 4stars because we waited like an hour to be seated but it was worth it because the food was excellent we had dynowings that were extremely delicious they are a perfect mix of flavors in the picture they don’t look as good as they are in person, we also had the miso ice cream that l’ve never expected to be that good.
Hanmoto is in Trinity-bellwoods area so it is easily accessible via TTC streetcar (505). The restaurant is sort of hard to find as it looks to be apart of a house. As soon as you enter the restaurant the waitress is waiting to seat you. The seating is consisted of small tables and stools. The vibe of the restaurant is that of a late night snack bar. The washroom in the restaurant is sort of sketchy looking and awkward to get to (you'll see when you go to it) I went on a Saturday at exactly 6:00 PM (when they opened) and although I was the first person there, after about 10 minutes almost no table seating was available. Ordering: There is a small menu available at the table, one side with drinks and other side with food. Cost: I paid $60 including tax for my meal. I got the Moto eggs ($9), Moto Bun ($17), Karaage Wings ($17), Paper Crane ($16) Wait Time: You get your meals one at a time so maybe 10 minute wait per item. The Paper Crane drink was good but sadly reminded me of a lemon popsicle after multiple sips. The Moto Eggs was the standout dish for me. It was soft and savory, but also had a crunchy component from the fried chicken skin. Overall an excellent snack item. The Karaage Wings was not on the menu, but the waitress recommended it so I tried it out. The wings were breaded and juicy but the sauce that came with it was bland. The Moto Bun had curry, slaw and and a coco bun. The Moto Bun was hard to eat since it was the last item we got. All the breading from the other meals made it hard to eat. The coco bread was really buttery, the slaw was creamy and the curry sauce was rich. It sounds like it should be good but it just felt overly greasy, and with tonnes of breading (including the coco bread) it was just too much. Overall: The atmosphere of the restaurant is great, the music played matched the vibe. The seating is limited so be sure to go there early (or reserve if you can). The drink I got was okay. The The standout of all the items I got was the Moto Eggs and it was only $9 which seems like a steal compared to the price of the other food items here. The vibe of the restaurant can't be understated though it was great and definitely a good date spot. As seating is limited in the restaurant bringing more than 3 people might be kind of tough given that the restaurant is small and walking space is limited.
Loved the food, it was tasty and presented in original and nice ways. The service was friendly and efficient, we arrived 20 min after they opened and there was no line but when we left there was about 10 people waiting for a table. I get the atmosphere is part of their concept but it was not my favorite.
It was three of us ordering five dishes to share. Miso steak was by far the worst dish we had in years. Overcooked overpriced cold chewy rubbery oversalted unevenly cut striploin pieces, which took half an hour to serve. They also forgot to bring two out of five dishes. Pork Belly (Katsu Bun) was ok. I have no idea what they did with the steak. It tasted like a week old defrosted meat. We complained and asked the server to try it. He did and agreed that it was inedible and offered to request another one from the kitchen. Since it took half an hour to make the first one, we didnt feel like waiting. Maybe it was just a bad day in the kitchen. We will not go back.
10/10 I want to live there, I want to be friends with the kitchen and get that egg every night before sleep
My friends and I had the best time here last night! It s such an impressive space with great music. The food and sake were to die for! Oooof. And the staff were so kind and charismatic.
I cant put into words how amazing this place is. Best service Best food Top tier chefs that understand the need for such amazing artistry in this industry The deviled eggs are an absolute must.
Bomb food, friendly staff and a cool as hell interior. Feels like you re in a back alley in Tokyo or something.
Loved the miso icream - must try! The special karage was great, so was the tartare. The only reason for 4 stars is drinks - on Wednesday night they were out of both wines, beers and some ingredients for cocktails, and the 2 cocktails we ordered were not that great. Food is amazing though, so will definitely be back.
Second let down in a row; its possible Im just out of touch. Fair warning. Lots of great reviews here and the place was busy. Honestly, cool little spot. Reminded me of the 2012 hipster era of apothecary decor and mason jug beer glasses. Staff were generally friendly, and the cocktails were great. However, we were served our first dish way before our cocktails arrived - and we were seated at the bar. My wife actually stopped eating our first dish so that we could drink with our meal. Salmon Aburi was basically deconstructed sushi. Salmon on rice with literally the dried nori snacks you can buy at a local grocer. The kewpie honey on it is best described, as another reviewer said, as a salad dressing. The rice was not sticky and covered in sauce; it was legitimately impossible to eat with chopsticks. I asked how were supposed to eat it, and it was either chopsticks or using the nori pieces like little taco shells. We asked for a spoon, eventually. No, we are not incapable with chopsticks. Sushi was designed to be eaten easily, Im unsure why a hard-to-eat version was considered a better choice. Overall flavour was good, but being difficult to eat in a very tight space made it quite an annoying dish. My wife also ordered 2 sandwiches for us to try: the Moto Bun and the Katsu Bun. Both are served on coco buns. The buns themselves were nice but incredibly greasy. Like seriously greasy. Glistening, even. The Moto is Japanese curry chicken, and the flavour was good but the chicken itself was luke warm. The bun was hot, but if you just tasted some of the chicken curry salad, it was just warm. Still, probably the best item we tried. The Katsu bun was awful. Ive seen some pictures here on reviews, and the pork belly we had was not nearly as thick. If you had a bite that was primarily katsu pork, it was heavily salty and the katsu sauce was flat. Im a smoker, so if its salty to me, then its really salty. That wasnt the big problem. Also served on the bun is iceberg lettuce with soy remoulade. Ultimately, it was an over-the-top amount of mayo cut with maybe vinegar and soy. My wife squeezed out a large dollop with her half. My plate, by the end of the sandwich, was covered in mayo and lettuce. It felt like I had ordered a BK chicken sandwich with extra mayo - I actually used this comparison while eating it. It wasnt good, and I actually left a bit of bun on my plate because I was tired of my mayo sandwich. Wait, the server actually took my plate before I was done - we had shareable plates on the side, but I was using the plate the sandwich had come on. I was seriously still holding food in my hand, and the plate I was using was taken away. I put the remainder of my mayo sandwich on a side plate. We decided to end our meal then rather than to try a few more things. I cant tell if this place used to be great, or if people love it for the decor or style, but the food itself does not meet the hype. Its cool looking, and I get why people would be attracted to it, but ultimately, its a restaurant. The food was not great, we had to ask where the cutlery was and we were pointed to a basket of chopsticks, our drinks arrived after our food did, and it felt like it was more about turning tables around than caring about their customers. See the other reviews about the overly loud music, which is typically used in the industry to encourage faster eating and customer turnover. I would have preferred a Lawson katsu pork sandwich than the bun we had here.
Great vibe and good food! Our group really liked the salmon aburi and tuna tartare. Found the portion sizes for the buns to be quite shareable for 3 as well!
Didn t really like the food atmosphere was goood
We ordered five dishes, and they were all served separately and with delays. Moto Bun and Miso Steak was not good.
Excellent all around
Hidden gem for years - take your date for the miso ice cream
Unique vibe, music is awesome, eggplant, miso ice cream, and kaffir cocktail were top notch!
Good vibe, taste, and service.
If you are looking for a humble place with good music to have a drink and a snack this might be what you are looking for. I enjoyed the ambience but it was far too dark and shabby to enjoy food. It is a little run down and in need of a cleaning. It gives off a dive bar atmosphere and that is why I think it would be better suited to be a bar. The server was kind and efficient so not much to write about here. I think most of the reviews here must be fake. The food was downright bad. The general theme for the food is way over the top. Everything we ordered had a minimum of 15 ingredients somewhat hastily and thoughtlessly put together. On their own each dish might have worked if toned down a bit and paired with a somewhat simple tasting side dish to balance the over exuberance. Sadly no effort was made in designing the menu to achieve an edible meal. The tuna tartar was saturated in what seemed to be some kind of salad dressing, dripping wet with a mix of soggy and crispy veggies. The dino wings were completely smothered in mayonnaise. So unappealing I could barely try a bite. The handwrap sushi role with the quail egg was also just bad. No need for the quail egg - it adds nothing and just makes for another goopy dish. The curry bun could have worked if not for the bun. It seemed to be deep fried? Chef - save this by making the bun light and fresh. Recommendations to the chef are to simplify the recipes and add some simple side dishes to balance out the meal.
The food is delicious and the miso ice cream is must order for dessert.
Always a line and always worth the wait.
The dyno wings, miso ice cream & moro eggs are to die for
One word. Phenomenal! Order the Arisaka Sour which was so great! All the tapas were awesome but the Dyno Wings truly stood out. See you again soon!
Definitely loved the drinks!
Flavours that will blow your mind. This hidden gem is hard to find. It has a very discreet frontage with no signs, but that just adds to the character. My partner and I always feel giddy when we go here. Almost everything in the menu is a must try! Our favorites that we always order no matter what is the Moto Eggs, Moto Bun, Salmon Aburi, and Tuna Tartare it can get pricey but totally worth the taste!
I love place! I ordered one of their cocktails, the deviled eggs, Aburi salmon, chicken curry bun and the miso ice cream. All were fantastic. I just want to make a note that in regards to the enoki mushroom that I ordered as well. It was difficult to eat, as it comes in a large cluster. I attempted to use only chopsticks, but eventually had to ask for a fork. While the flavour was delicious, I wouldnt order the enoki next time do to this. Great service as well! I look forward to returning.
Very cool inside and great food! I would really recommend the salmon, rice, and seaweed dish. Our servers were also great.
5/5 service, 5/5 food, and 5/5 atmosphere Thank you! Food
The atmosphere was amazing, the food was good
Hidden gem! Craving to go back even while writing this review. Mouth watering Japanese dishes. Try one of everything if you can.
Creative foods and a unique stylish decor. Cant go wrong having dinner and drinks here.
I first saw the ratings of this restaurant online and had to try it. I got there early as I thought they opened at 5 pm as they do during the week but its 6 pm on weekends. By the time they opened, other people had also joined the wait. The hostess/waitress efficiently seated us all and brought water to the tables. She was very friendly and knowledgeable and started by asking everyone if theyd been there before. Some had. I had not, and I also let her know that I was running late because of the mixup with the opening hours and that I had to meet friends after. I was impressed at how she very quickly jumped to action - especially what with the number of people there - helping me with the menu choices and putting my order in quickly. What I loved was that she was extremely efficient but I did not feel rushed. The food arrived quite quickly as promised. The tuna arrived first then the dyno wings. Amazing! I didnt want to stop eating!! To be honest, the wings were a bit salty but I actually love salty food so it worked for me. The food was so good that I didnt want the experience to end so ordered the dessert. It was wonderfully creamy and just a wonderful end to a wonderfully tasty meal. I must go back to taste the other items... except that I just want to have what I already had again and again and again. What a conundrum!
If you re looking for a cool place to grab food and drinks, then add Hanmoto to your list. The cocktails are slight twists on old classics. The food is meant to be shared, all familiar favourites done with flare. The limited seating only adds to the ambiance. Eating is an experience at Hanmoto, a must do in Toronto.
Cute place but food could be better. Especially vegetarian options.
Every single dish and cocktail here was 10/10 !! Amazing experience and worth the wait.
Lucked out and managed to get in late on a Saturday night. Cool vibe izakaya with tasty creative dishes
Food was fantastic as usual! HOWEVER the volume of the music is unbearable!! Even after we complained, and 2 other groups around us asked to turn it down, the staff refused because their manager left express instructions to keep it at that level. That level, by the way, was 96 decibels according to my app! Ridiculous for a restaurant. Even more ridiculous that it wasnt addressed after multiple patrons complaining. What a pity.
Follow @bredgyeats for yummy food pictures! Come early to snag one of their limited seats for their eye-catching, unique and delicious food thats a match made in heaven with a bottle of booze, but youll enjoy it without any drinks either. Starting with their chunks of salmon thats torched to perfection to develop its fatty natural flavours. Its topped with sesame and nori flakes for an extra depth of flavour thats the perfect filling for a nori wrap. Speaking about wrapping, I dont really understand how they wrapped such a plump, juicy pork meatball within a chicken wing, each tender bite releasing a waterfall of savory pork juices that is contrasted with a crispy chicken skin glazed in a sweet tare and finished with sweet chilis, nori, and mayo. Equally addicting is their katsu bun, with fried coco bread sandwiching a beautifully layered pork belly, where the fat has fully rendered its juices to be locked in within the panko breadcrumb crust. The batter also acts as a sponge to soak up the tangy katsu sauce and creamy mayo, with a bit of freshness of lettuce as well. Me so addicted to miso, so of course I had to get the ice cream with it inside. It has an intense milky flavour like condensed milk, whose sweetness is mindfully balanced with a savoriness from the miso and fine dusting of nori. The rice puffs also provide a delightful crisp to each bite. Got the Salmon Aburi, Dyno Wings, Katsu Bun, and Miso Ice Cream
Really small but overall good food. The best thing we had were the Dino wings (?), don t know how they did it but bomb!
Food was very good, particularly the Katsu bun. The place is very small, dark and old but they definitely lean into it which is fun. Music is hip-hop which I really enjoyed. We asked if they still do outdoor seating as we saw a patio in the Google maps images, but they said they dont have outdoor seating anymore which is a shame. Food is on the pricier side. Cocktails are on the cheaper side for Toronto though. I would come again.
Still dreaming of the Kaffir lime cocktail
There was a humongous pot of minced pork sitting in the open, away from the sight of the kitchen staff on the way to the customer s washroom. Having just been served the minced pork dyno wings- that sight made me nauseous! When I complained they said it is always there, see if you can spot it- you cant miss it!
Excellent food, everything was mindblowing. Chicken Karage was the special for tonight and it was the best one Ive had in Toronto. The service was below average. Our servers were talking to each other and not looking at us. Their recommendations on food were not very intuitive. The atmosphere was very artsy, super cool. The washroom area was a bit dirty, there were lots of flies! Id love to come back and try more things on the menu
Really interesting dishes. The dyno wings and miso steak were big favourites. The resto is a little hidden away, with some nice charm.
Best Izakaya in the GTA!! The food was unreal, the drinks were unreal, and the vibes - OMG the vibes and the music were unmatched! I have found my fav Izakaya now <3
this place you to be my go to, after a horrible experience 2 years ago; decided to go back. and they KILLED it! back to the top of my list!
Always had so much fun here. The miso ice cream is the best dessert anyone can ask for. Hard tp find but worth it!
Awful service from rude and unhelpful staff. Not worth the hype. If you want an izakaya wirh better food and service, that takes reservations, check out Gonzo a few blocks over.
Hands down best Izakaya in Toronto, make sure to get there early as there are no reservations. Must try the moto eggs, dyno wings and hand roll!
Small spot thats easy to miss but great food and vibes.
Amazing Japanese plates, unique aesthetic. I love this place - one of a kind.
Its really small and cramped but good food and decent prices (did not have any drinks). Food options for vegan/vegetarian.
Tiny little place. Eclectic mix of Asian foods. The dyno wings are experience you have to try. The karaage kid is good but nothing amazing. Tempura McFly is a solid chicken sandwich, theres better in the city but its a solid 8.5/10. The moto curry poutine is ABSOLUTELY the standout menu item. Its by far the best poutine Ive ever had and one of the best dishes Ive ever had. Its a weird mix of flavours but they way they do it creates something really special. Also, the fries they use in it are exceptional. Perfect combination of crispy, greasy, and potato flavour. Overall, you should try this place. Ill be going back to try the rest of the menu and each time Ill also be getting that poutine for sure. Update: They have tragically removed the moto curry poutine from the menu.
This is my favourite restaurant in Toronto. Everything on the menu is bomb, but my favourites are the enoki mushrooms, eggplant, and the miso ice cream.
Vegetarian options: fried aubergine was perfect Food
Amazing food and cocktails. Staff are super friendly, polite and the food is unreal. I will certainly be coming back! My favourite, the salmon torched!
I had the pleasure of visiting this establishment last night, and it truly felt like a privilege. The flavors of each dish were impeccable, revealing this place as a hidden gem nestled within the charming residential streets of Ossington. Ossington itself has always evoked a sense of home for me, with its cozy community atmosphere and towering, verdant trees. Hanmoto specializes in delectable izakaya-style dishes perfect for sharing among friends. I highly recommend coming with a group and indulging in a variety of dishes family-style. Every item we sampled was meticulously crafted, exquisitely delicious, and remarkably distinct in flavor, yet the harmonious blend of tastes was truly stellar.
Cute Japanese tapas with delicious dishes and refreshing cocktails. Arisaka Sour was amazing! Great place for small group night hangouts. Vegetarian options: Nasu Dengaku (the eggplant dish) is a very delicious vegetarian dish that I can recommend.
Vibe Building with great food atmosphere and scenarios. Our server had immaculate drip his fit was 10/10. Works recommend,
6/5 stars for everything, the ambiance, the service and the amazing food! We ha the Katsu bun, surf and turf wraps, the eggs and the miso ice-cream, everything, from the portions to the sauces to the presentation was perfect. Tapas-style Asian fusion cuisine (never been my favourite but this spot changed my mind). Highly recommended for a date night (very small and cozy spot) for a very cool and pleasant night out.
A must go while in Toronto. Everything from the ambiance to the food is exceptional.
Such a cool little place. We got a seat right in front of the kitchen - which was such fun!! Loved seeing how everything came together. And the food was beautifully presented and tasty.
Good vibes good service good food :)
Absolutely loved this place. Super cute interior and vibe and really good food. Would reccomend the tuna tartar and torched salmon dish they were excellent. Dynowings were overrated in my opinion and I would skip the eggplant dish.
Vegetarian options: Enoki was fantastic! Minor modifications available when items are almost vegetarian, for example leaving fried chicken skin out of Moto eggs. Moto eggs were incredible. Food : 5/5 |
Great food. The salmon was very fatty. Hand roll squid with the wasabi was amazing. The miso ice cream was very well done. Got the miso saltiness, crunch stuff on top and green tea powder (maybe?). Service is good. Of course itll feel like hell if you come late. They have very limited tables. We went right at opening time on a rainy winter evening, so minimal lineup. Solid place, no sign no nothing. Just a hole in a wall.
My favourite restaurant. It is just great and the staff is awesome. Love it every time
Super fun packed spot with loud music and great energy. We LOVED the Moto bun (chicken curry) on what seemed like a deep fried bun, so good! Bigger portions than we expected, and they cut it in half to share, super tasty. The enoke, dyno wings and Katsu bun were all good too. Very busy, but the hostess was great, and the food came incredibly fast. Will be back.
Love this place. The design. The intimacy. The FOOD and COCKTAILS
Took my eight year old daughter Crandice to Han Moto to faciliate a tough conversation of explaining that all dogs unfortunately do not go to heaven (I killed her dog for giving me the stink eye on Ash Wednesday). The food was divine. The crunch on the chicken wings was unparalleled, and the sashimi was extremely fresh tasting. The service was also great and were even receptive when Crandy asked our server if chicken in the chicken wings went to heaven. We will definitely be back.
Food ABSOLUTELY SLAPS but beer tastes like frat house kegs. Cocktails were pretty mediocre as well. Recommend the food but not so much on drinks..
Insane music, cool vibes, delicious food
The food is excellent and worth the visit to Toronto. The service we received was mixed - good and bad. The restaurant itself has a good vibe but the location is cramped and somewhat off-putting. Location: They do not take any reservations and the seating is limited so you will need to wait even if it is not busy. If you go to the washroom, you can see all their stock just laying around. The sight of frozen meats being prepped and boxes of produce everywhere is upsetting. Food: Choices for alcohol are limited, and we only had canned and mixed drinks as we were recommended to stay away from tap during our visit. The food was fantastic and for your first time, I would recommend ordering the following: 1. Katsu or Moto Bun (good portion size, delicious and filling) 2. Miso steak (steak is perfectly cooked and flavor of the caramelized onions is fantastic) 3. Dyno Wings (the wings are stuffed and it gives a very unique mix of texture and flavor) 4. Nasu Dengaku (vegetarian dish but I like it as someone who doesnt like eggplant, the texture and flavor of the eggplant is unique and almost taste like a banana) 5. Miso ice cream (sweet, salty and creamy, must get) 6. Salmon aburi (nothing too special but it is delicious and filling) I would not recommend: 1. Okra (this is good when it first arrives on the table but the outer skin gets difficult to chew once it sits for a bit) 2. Handroll (too expensive for what you are getting, not very flavorful, just a lot of rice in a roll) Service: The service we got was mixed. On one side, the server was excellent - conversational, knowledgeable and attentive. She gave good recommendations on the drinks and the food. On the other hand, the service was a bit slow. We waited an hour to get seated. We found ourselves sitting with the menu for quite a bit of time and reordering anything also took a while. We got one of the bigger tables at this restaurant but it still felt cramped. Seating was not comfortable as well since you do not have any back support (stayed for 2+ hrs. and my back is killing me). Vegetarian options: They have good vegetarian options but it wont be filling Parking: Green P Parking nearby, street parking on Dundas is available but might be hard to come by depending on how busy it is Wheelchair accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible, the washroom is on the 2nd floor and will require navigating a narrow stairway and hallway. The restaurant itself might be wheelchair accessible depending on where you are seated but it is a very tight space.
Really cool and cozy space. A little difficult to find, but once you do it is very worth it. Tried the buns, Tuna Tartare, and Salmon Aburi all were really good and felt like really good value and health portions. My only gripe would be it can get quite loud so come expecting that.
Cool vibes and amazing Japanese tapas. Favourite spot!
Amazing food and drinks!
This place is my fiancé and I s favourite date spot! We ve been here way too many times even during Covid. Everything is so good! A bit sad that they no longer serve unibomb and we hope they bring it back soon! I highly recommend their okra, salmon aburi, enoki mushroom, eggplant dish and arisaka sour cocktail! And their miso ice cream is a must try! They often have longer wait times on weekends as they don t take reservations and it gets pretty busy but It s honestly worth it.
Hanmoto has been on the list for far too long...I finally was able to go today with a group and that allowed me to try most of the menu. Everything was pretty much mind blowing..the vibe is so street and local, but the food is so damn fancy in both taste and presentation. Not suitable for large groups over 6 but an awesome joint for snacks/drinks/hangout. I understand now why people want to keep this place a secret ... Vegetarian options: Eggplant Okra Eggs
This is one of my favourite restaurants in the city. The cocktails are good, the food is incredible, and everyone working there is super friendly.
One of my favourite places to bring people who are visiting Toronto! It NEVER disappoints, everytime I come I m always satisfied and happy. I always always get the Moto eggs, miso steak and dyno wings and then end my meal with miso ice cream. The moto eggs are deliciously creamy, the dyno wings are a show stopper! Everyone loves them and are always impressed, it s also super crispy but moist inside. The miso steak was alright this time around, too fatty and you can tell it s a cheap cut. The miso ice cream always hits the spot, honestly would just come here for that. It s often busy so come early or on a bad snowy day (like today) and you ll get a seat! Super small and cozy and dimly lit but it s a vibe. Their cocktails are also yummy!
wow them moto buns hit different oysters were so good i would griddy
Unique space and menu. We tried a bunch of dishes and were pleasantly surprised. Presentantion and taste were on point
This place is such a hidden gem, would give more stars if I could. The service was fantastic, the vibe is very cool and cozy, and the food was delicious.
Overall great experience, really liked the vibe and coziness. On the menu side, its definitely something else; fusion of art and food. Only things didnt come to my taste were eggplant (too sweet for my buds) and mushrooms (too chewy); the rest were amazing.
This Japanese eatery deserves a standing ovation Served by Freddie, their passion and expertise showcased what a dining experience should be. The space is rustic, energetic, yet intimate. We had the eggs, tofu, mushroom, salmon, fried chicken and ice cream. Each dish was daring and playful in the presentation and pairing of ingredients. Most dishes were full of flavours but the stripping back of the miso ice cream was a highlight. Its one of those dishes that suggest simplicity but the balance, textures, technique and execution are malicious. Add this place to your hidden gems.
Noisy, dirty, bad service and bad smells
The food, tbh, is just okay. Felt like they were trying to do too much to be trendy and it ended up compromising quality. The moonshine (?) sake, however, was delicious, pear notes, and light. And the best feature is their MUSIC PLAYLIST 10/10 w the classics. Def get there early because theres no reservations and the place is small. Cute for a date night
One of my top 3 dinner spots in this whole damn city!they don t take resos so be prepared to go grab a drink on Dundas while you wait. Trust me you will look so cool if you take a date here
amazing food, amazing drinks, amazing vibe, amazing service. the katsu bun...
Katsu sandwich slapppps
The coolest little spot for Japanese!! Menu is sharing style and everything was so good. The interior was super cool and grunge -y, service was really good. Only downside is that they don t take reservations so we went early for dinner and seated right away. Love finding gems like this.
Only great things to say about this place. All the food we ordered was amazing! Highly recommend the miso steak, it just melts in your mouth. The enoki was delicious. Salmon aburi came in a deconstructed style with your own seaweed to wrap it in, also delish! The dyno wings were tasty also, but a bit too saucey for my personal taste and it was awkward to eat without being messy. Miso ice cream was also delicious. Service was 11/10, the staff was all very attentive and checked up on us many times. Can t wait to come back here and try more things. :)
The Food is spectacular, drinks are da bomb and the vibes are really chill and speak easy. You won t go wrong with anything here. If you don t like it, you re wrong
A dive joint, no signs, no reservations, no website, inconspicuous with just a few tables. Food lives up to the hype, it was really good. We had the dyno wings (must have), okra, eggplant, aburi salmon, himachi, Moto buns and the desert. The service was good as well. Make sure you get there early, or you wont get a table, or be prepared to wait.
No reservations and seating is limited. But this hole in the wall is one of my favorite spots in the city. Its not cheap, but the food and vibes are great. Their stuffed wings and deviled eggs are a must have. Highly recommend and would choose this over going to an izakaya any day.
Its your loss if you decide not to eat at Hanmoto as it was easily one of my favourite and most memorable dining experiences Ive had this year. Our server Benny offered us such kindness and everything he brought us we could have ordered again. The stuffed chicken wings were unlike anything Ive ever eaten and the presentation is an indication of their creativity and uniqueness. Eggplant was incredible but dont skip the chicken karaage, it was piping hot, tender and crispy. The miso ice cream is life changing and something I will crave forever - Im glad we didnt say no to dessert. The ambiance, culinary perfection and dedication to amazing service will have me recommending this spot to anyone and everyone in Toronto. p.s. they dont take reservations and seating is limited - additional patio seating available during warmer weather. its well worth any wait.
Super cute spot. Food was so good and came out super quickly. Very chill spot and wasn t too busy when we got there.
Awful service very rude.
Best dining experience I have ever had. Worth the 12 hour drive from Missouri. The place was hard to find which was fun. I waited an hour and a half on the waiting list. The Tuna Tartare, the Katsu Bun, the Enoki, and the Dyno Wings were some of the best food Ive ever eaten. It didnt break the bank either. I would have gladly paid triple the prices for the food. Our waitress was super nice as well and told us all about the area. Must visit
Food was great, presentation was great as well. 14 item menu, do not expect too much on the portions. Washroom is dirty. Lighting makes the place gloomy, but maybe thats what they wanted them to look like. However, the host and the server were weird. The server laughed at us for taking pics of the food, staring at us, and saying odd things. The host was unwelcoming, even went outside to smoke while we wait for the table, also being rowdy and shouts with the server and the bar staff. They both seem to be onto something. But I figured out later, the server and the host were drinking and having shots with 2 of the customers on one table. So that probably explains their behavior.
Dyno wings are legit crack
First, I love the vibe and aesthetics of the restaurant. However, the music is fairly loud, so you might have trouble conversing sometimes. Expect a wait when you come as well. I was told a 45 min wait or so for a group of 4. Thankfully we waited for only 20-25 minutes. The food was delicious. I loved the Dyno Wings. It was terrific, and I can see why it s highly rated on the reviews here. The aburi salmon and katsu bun were also delicious. The only thing is I couldn t really taste any pork belly in the katsu bun. Next, I was very surprised by the miso icecream. I didn t know what to expect. It was a bit salty and sweet, but not too much. Overall, I enjoyed the foods. I would have given this 5 stars but the food is quite expensive for the small portions you re eating. I went with a group of 4 and we were still hungry despite ordering multiple dishes.
Very interesting and tasty fusion dishes! Unfortunately, we are them all before taking pictures!
Delicious! Great hidden spot
The wings here are really good. Good food overall
Cool, grungy digs and creative, flavourful dishes tarnished by rude service. And those washrooms need to be cleaned realll bad.
The best!!!!!!
My go to restaurant when showing Toronto to non-locals. Delicious food, great atmosphere, amazing service. Would and will go back.
The food was delicious Pretty small space, but its a really cute date night spot. Food
Amazing food and authentic atmosphere! Greeeeeat spot for a bite.
Dyno chicken wings was great. It had combination of different amazing tastes. Miso ice cream taste decent and average. Food
We had a great experience here, food was delicious, interesting and service super friendly. Would definitely come back again!
Whoa. If you are reading this you have to go.
Absolutely fantastic
Pure perfection
Never disappoints. More than worth the potential, and understandable wait time for a table.
Solid vibes, excellent food, well priced. Great date spot.
I absolutely love this place. Such a hidden gem with an amazing vibe, drinks, and food. Ive been visiting them for years and they never disappoint.
sooooo good. moto bun is delicious as well as the hot hot tofu. everything is good overall miso ice cream is a must have, unbelievably good. would come back
Super cool Japanese spot that really has an authentic izakaya-like feel to it. The ambiance is great and the service is also great. The food is all absolutely delicious - the chicken wing dumplings are massive, but they are a must try. The miso steak was also good and the salmon aburi tasted so fresh. All their drinks are also delicious and super refreshing. My friend wanted a mocktail and our server asked her what kind of flavours she likes and made her a delicious concoction. It s a little tight on space, so you may have to wait, but a must-try!
Great spot for Japanese eats and cocktails. One of the more unique venues in the city.
Drove 25 minutes to get here, was told theres no space and to wait 45-1hr for a table
Goodness me I love this place. Every dish is a banger, vibes are perfect, services is cool and like.. cool cool you know, not like yo, I am so cool like actually genuinely nice kind cool. I look forward to more visits.
O bar é muito frequentado. Não aceita reserva. Precisamos aguardar mesa por cerca de 30 minutos. Bom atendimento. O espaço interno é muito pequeno, então eventualmente pode se sentir apertado caso vá em um grupo com 4 pessoas. Cardápio interessante de pequenas porções, cruas e quentes, de culinária japonesa. Bom sabor. Boa trilha sonora.
Hanmoto is one of my favourites in the city! The vibe inside is lively and the food is amazing. The Dyno wings are a must get item. Along with the Dyno wings we got the egg plant, the tofu dish (one of our favourites), the curried bun and the salmon dish. Great to order a few dishes and share them with the group. We also split a bottle of sake which was well priced. They do not take resos and it s small inside so prepare to wait for a drink when you arrive!
Great place, always makes me want to come back!
Dont fo at there closing time as they treat you like you have to leave!
From beginning to end, this was such a great dining experience. The food, drinks, and service were all incredible. The dynowings & deviled eggs were *chefs kiss* and the cocktails were fantastic. The servers were so friendly & the atmosphere was really cool. Can t wait to go back!
Incredible vibes, fantastic food, delicious cocktails, lovely friendly service - literally nothing to fault. Just a lovely evening!
Always love this place. Great service, great food, and cool atmosphere.
Literally a hidden gem. Its very easy to miss this spot. The cocktail I got was called the iggy smalls. I already loved the name. The food was amazing!! Its ideal for sharing. The dino wings are a must have. A dumpling stuffed inside a chicken wing?! Sign me up! Service was great and very friendly. Food came out pretty fast. I also really enjoyed the hot hot tofu. It isnt as spicy. The karaage chicken was alright. A bit too salty and Id prefer it without bones. But overall, great vibes all around. Very small inside so it can get busy quickly but definitely go!!!
Great place to share Japanese fusion small plates. A hidden gem.
I loved this spot. The music was on point, and our server, Micha, was absolutely wonderful. 10 out of 10 would go back soon.
Best kept secret in all of Toronto. Amazing variety of drinks; beer, sake, cocktails and wines. Everything on the food menu is a must try. The dino wings are amazing; a must try for sure. My go-to is definitely the Moto Bun! Add this place to your must visit list next time you re in the neighbourhood!
Chris and Misha made our night! We love this place. So special and accommodating. Cheers!
Hands down one of my favourite restaurants. The moto eggs and the tuna tartar are incredible. The bartender Misha served us last night and made me the BEST cocktail I ve ever had. She was so lovely and her great suggestions really made our experience!! 10/10
This place is magical. Everything is on point. Food, Drink, Decor, Staff... you name it. 5 stars. Perfect for a late night hang out with a few close friends as its not spacious. Parking was also not difficult to find in this area.
Delicious food and best cost vibes!
Great spot, good vibes take ur dates really cool decore
The food was delicious it came out quickly. Atmosphere feels like you teleported to Japan. We went on a Friday night it was really busy. They took down our phone number and called us when seats were open which was nice. There were a lot of other places popping that night that we checked out in the meantime.
Hanmoto has a junk-shop decor and it s pretty small with dim light inside. I m not a big fan of this vibe. Speaking of food, the only thing that stands out is the eggplant with fried beets. It s an interesting combo on color, flavour and textures. It s definitely the must try. The okra came out to be too dry and burnt. The steak has too much miso sauce.
Hit this hidden gem spot with my co-workers the other night. Pretty much we tried everything on the menu. The food was fresh and served quickly. My favorite was the enoki mushrooms with miso butter, low key item but amazingly delicious! Small spot definitely come early or give it a wait. 110% worth it.
A bit too dark and rustic but I guess that is the idea. Food was delicious.
A hole-in-the-wall type of place, dimly lit yet cozy. There s a bit of a wait to get in because there s only a few tables inside, but I think it s worth it and they have good service. The dyno wings are a great choice, well seasoned and aren t too heavy with the sauces. They also have good music taste :)
Best restaurant I ve ever eaten at
Hidden GEM. The surf n turf handroll was life changing, along with the dyno wings. We also ordered the deviled eggs and miso ice cream (still good, but not my favourite). No resos can be made so show up early and expect a wait!
Delicious food!! Loved the vibe!
The way i am obsessed with their food, drinks and overall vibe! Cannot stop myself from revisiting over and over again!
Everything we ordered was delicious. Favourites included: salmon aburi and Katsu bun. We ll have to come back and try the wings next time! I wanted to love the cold tofu (it s one of my favourite dishes), but the seasoning was a bit too sour and unbalanced for me.
Eclectic atmosphere, kind of hard to get a table because the space is small and they don t take reservations. Food is all very good, the miso ice cream was probably the best miso ice cream I ve had in Toronto. The only thing that was a bit of a miss was that the okra was very tough but the flavour was good. Would give the food 4.7 if I could but rounding it up for 5.
Too damn salty
Everything Too salty.
Bruh this is the spot. I m going to keep it simple: go here. Everything is amazing. Don t sleep on the miso ice cream it s an experience
Small place that I would have never noticed if it wasn t on Maps. Enjoyed the atmosphere, I think it kind of imitates the Japanese Izakaya drink and eat places. Was cool to find this in Toronto. Food was great.
one of my favourite izakaya s in toronto. love the ambience. service is always friendly :)
This place must be fake there s a line with an invisible interior no one has ever been since. Bunch of phonies
I visited this place all the time. Unfortunately I had the worst experience with african canadian waiter there where he demanded tips from me on a $200 bill. Tips should be optional at any restaurant. At this restaurant they demand it from you so be careful. This guy should be in jail.
Love the vibe and their karaage is delicious as is the deviled eggs.
Glad I didnt have to wait, or else my rating would have been lower. Moto eggs were missing something (maybe a hot seared ingredient for balance), but overall just a tall deviled egg that was a tad too small, salmon dish was slightly fishy and basic but didnt bother me enough to send back, enoki mushrooms were seasoned well. Dino wings were too salty and made me miss Bar Fancy (RIP). Overall a mixed bag but nothing that stood out. Competition is too high for this place to have such a a high rating genuinely baffled. I had an Iggy Pop cocktail and it was also pretty mid.
I was so lucky my cousins friend reccomended this place. Their a small place but very cute inside. The server was phenomenal she had great recommendations on food and drink. We were a group so we ordered tuna tartar, hot tofu, salmon aburi, dyno wings, moto bun, and a few drinks. The moto bun was the best thing we have ever tasted like a McChicken but gourmet and I think I would litterally order 5 of these and call it a day. The tuna tartar wS also absolutely delicious. In fact all the food was amazing except the hot hot tofu, you can skip that. Definitely worth a try!!
I m a snob when it comes to Japanese food, so I won t be too harsh. Overall a cute place with cute decor. I know this is an izakaya so anything goes. It has some nice shareable dishes with some nice cocktails. They Need to broaden their sake list and serve hot sake in the winter.
Pretty good Izakaya if you re lucky enough to get a spot. All their food is very tasty and unique. It s a nice dimly lit bar as well. Great spot to take a date. Salmon aburri and the dyno wings were both pretty good.
One of my favourite restaurants in Toronto. Such a good vibe coming here and the food is phenomenal.
Exciting Japanese culinary experience. Great food, good sake, friendly and efficient service. Restrooms could have been better. They don t bookings so be be ready for a long waiting time
Just really solid
8.2/10 Dino wings must try, 15/10 Miso steak cooked perfectly. Could use more miso umami/savoury. Plating was nice. 7.2/10 Enoki wasn t special. Wasn t bad either. can try diff flavours mb? 6.5 Salmon aburi: taste and texture was great. Could maybe add soy during plating? Unique plating/presentation matches the vibe of the restaurant perfectly. 8.4/10 Friendly staff. Decor gives rough-around-the-edges vibe. Great gathering spot Will revisit.
Hard to find but worth the search hehe