Watami Sushi in Waterloo

Hands down and absolutely no comparison, the best sushi and sashimi in town. Its my go to and unless you are going to head to Toronto you wont find this quality and higher end selection like this.

Best sushi restaurant in KW. Food is extremely fresh and very authentic.

I came to Watami for the first time last week not knowing what to expect. I left very happy after trying several of their dishes including the miso, assorted nigiri and salmon don. I have been to many sushi places across the country but Watami sticks out. The Marinated Salmon Don in particular was insanely good and Im still thinking about it even after trying several new places. I think with that dish in particular they took some risks that really paid off. Ill have to come back again.

We had some friends over and shared some amazing food. Would definitely return and recommend.

A delightful and affordable restaurant

Food was good and some things are bigger portion than you think. The 9 pieces sashimi is actually way more than 9 actual pieces. Service is average, they forgot some orders throughout the meal.

I was incredibly impressed with the quality and authenticity! Ive been to Japan, Ive eaten everywhere on the spectrum of good/bad sushi, and Watami was extremely good. And fairly priced for the quality. For a table of four (2 adults , 2 kids) we ordered the chefs plate nigiri (trust the chef selection), fried gyoza, takoyaki, one futomaki roll, one salmon crunch roll and the salmon oshizushi. We shared one order of the fried mochi and ice cream, and one order of the tofu cheesecake (my favourite). All four of us also ordered their pink yuzu soda. All in after taxes and tip, we spent a little over $200 for a family of four. If you love authentic Japanese food, this is more than worth it.

The worst dining experience in Waterloo. My friend chose to eat here for his birthday. After sitting down for a long time, no one gave me a menu. If I dont ask, I probably wont give it. After we were given the menu, no one came with the water. After raising our hands, the waiter looked at each other and left. The key point was that the store was not busy at that time, and there were several empty tables. We have been here several times before, although there has been no service. But I have never had such a bad experience. It was so disgusting that I just didn t feel like eating and left. I will never come back again.

go-to sushi spot in waterloo

Not authentic Japanese restaurant. Old lady is arrogant and gives no service. We just finished our meal and pushed us to leave. Hundreds of dollars for a bad experience.

Had an amazing dinner here with fantastic service from Susanna. She made several really good recommendations from the menu - the grilled pork cheek & baked scallop roll. The atmosphere of the restaurant made for a great evening.

Our favorite sushi in this region of Ontario. Food is always fresh and the fish is amazing. Prices are higher than many other a la cart restaurants but the quality is top notch.

A hidden gem in Waterloo! A perfectly unique and delicious sushi experience every time!

The food is mediocre, and nothing exceptional. The fish is fresh enough, I would give it 3.5 stars. The kitchen staff constantly chatting with the owner. They complained about the AC is too cold, but the owner lady said it is not cold for her because she walks around. Sure, but the customers are sitting and not walking around in the restaurant. There wasn t much service. Nobody came to refill our water throughout the lunch. The only time we got some smile was when we pay. The male staff was quite nice, I m happy to tip him.

A hole in the wall in the kw area! Their service and food are incredible. They have blue find tuna which really blew us away!

Food was outstanding - the best nigiri/sashimi that Ive had in a long time

It was too much yumm foods

Hands down the best sushi Ive ever had. Everyone is so kind and the quality of the food is astounding!

This place should have 5 stars across the board. Ive come here more times than I can count. It is hands down some of the best sushi Ive ever had.

Food tasted ok. But the service (by the owner I guess) was horrible, terrible!!! 1. Server (the owner) was quick to clear the table for a few times, but chose to ignore the empty glass of water, which I would like a refill during my meal! Didn t even ask if I would like some more water at all in the whole meal, even saw that it was empty!! 2. Server rejected to provide an extra bowl for the soup and noodles separately (to prevent being soggy) for leftover, there was about 3/4 bowl left as my kid couldn t finish a regular meal! Gave me a paper box, told me to dump the noodles from the takeout bowl to the paper box, then use the takeout bowl for soup!!! Who would order the customer to dump the food from one container to another, in order to save 50 cent for a takeout bowl? 3. Seats were so uncomfortable, table was way too low and wobbling! Didn t turn AC on at all!! 4. The restaurant sign is not visible. Doesn t matter how good the food is, with the poor service and atmosphere, really upset the customers!

The best place for dinner if you are a connoisseur of Japanese cuisine. Definitely recommend to visit.

Good quality

Definitely a surprise because I did not expect to eat fresh tasty sushi in Waterloo since it s an inland city. But there you go, 8pc nigiri and a roll for only $40CAD, what else can you ask for?

Good place for quality sushi and sashimi. I will definately come back. The servers were very attentive and polite.

Nice little sushi place. Lunch menu is all rolls, which is a minor bummer. They were delicious. Dragon, red dragon, dynamite and several variations on the theme. Will go back to try nigiri for dinner one night. Also, they have a small but very nice selection of Japanese whiskies.

Great tasting fish overall at pretty fair pricing. The fish bowl (chirashi) was my favorite! The chutoro also melts in your mouth!

Best sushi Ive had in town

$40 for the chefs choice sushi set and you get enough food for a mouse. At least 3 of the sushi was cooked with a torch and they included raw calamari sushi which was unpalatable. The salmon sushi tasted good but had a piece of bone in it. The included 6-piece tuna rolls are the size of my index finger. Shameful value. I feel scammed and will never return here.

It s been the best sushi place for years, and still remains the same

I used to recommend and bring friends to Watami. However, the experience we had tonight was terrible. I was surprised by the mandatory 18% service fee when I saw the bill. I asked the server why no one informed us about the mandatory fee when we had five people. The server said they never told customers when they came in because they didnt want customers to feel they couldnt afford it. I think it doesnt make sense because if customers know they cant afford it, they have a choice to leave before ordering. Then, the server pointed out that the mandatory policy is stated on the menu. I had never noticed it when I ordered because the policies are in tiny print at the bottom of the menu. I have been to Watami many times and never noticed they had this policy. I think charging the mandatory fee for customers without prior clearance is unfair. The server said it was not under her control. I asked to talk with the manager. The manager said there was no need to explain and that he would call the police. We waited for the police in the restaurant for 40 minutes, but no one showed up, and no further resolutions were made. I felt bad for making my friends continue to wait for me. I paid the bill and left. I understand tipping is a way to compensate for servers, and I would like to appreciate their service by good tipping. However, the unclear notice of a mandatory service fee is annoying and unfair to customers, which I cannot tolerate. Also, the managers words and attitude when dealing with things are rude. I dont understand the actual benefits of threatening customers by calling policy. Of course, never come back again.

Quite ordinary taste, Not sure why so high rate on Google.

The roasted pork neck is delicious! Great sushi

Watami has some of the most unique and delicious sushi in KW, the only thing I m picky about is I love uramaki (inside out) rolls, and I unknowingly got some rolls the traditional way with nori on the outside. That being said each bite is a flavour bomb and you must absolutely try this place.

Excellent food and service Highly recommended The edamame was not that good just salt no flavour But ice and fire rolls were super

The food was good but the portions were a bit small for the price, Street parking only.

Large portions for entrees, thought that flavour was good but honestly not remarkable for the price. Enjoyed the scallop roll though. Seafood udon had nice mix of vegetables but I thought the squid was tough. Chicken katsu was crispy.

I ordered the Salmon Don, Jade Roll and Buta Shioyaki. Despite the small portions, each bite was a burst of flavor. The salmon was impeccably fresh, with the savory taste of the fish complemented by perfectly seasoned rice. Though the portions were modest, the quality and taste of the food made up for it, leaving me thoroughly satisfied. If youre looking for a place where taste trumps quantity, Watami is a must-visit.

This used to be our go to sushi place in Waterloo. We won t be going back after tonight s experience. They charged $8 for one piece of all-you-can-eat quality Ikura sushi and $5 for one Tobiko sushi. When I check online, the going rate is $9.50 for TWO pieces of same quality Ikura sushi. Moreover, they automatically charge 18% gratuity for a party of 5 or more but they would only take reservations for 6 or more people! Most places only charge 18% tips for 6 or more and that is not mentioned anywhere on their website!!! To top it all off, they have been rushing us to leave throughout the meal. For a $341 meal, one would hope to spend 2 hours enjoying the food and company. We didn t even stay for that long.

The prices at Watami appear higher than at other cheaper establishments, but what you need to know is that the quality and quantity are worth the premium. Nothing I ordered seemed overpriced. Everything our group ate was 10s. Ill be coming back for sure, and Watami is now on my recommendations list.

Great food and atmosphere, the menu has many unique items compared to any other Japanese restaurants in the area. Very cozy and welcoming environment. Premium foods for premium prices.

It tastes terrible. It tastes terrible. The service is terrible.

Got their salmon crunch roll and Las Vegas roll. The portions are worth the price. We also got their appetizers, takoyaki and shrimp tempura. These two appetizers didn t have much flavour and we didn t enjoy it unfortunately. The ambience of the restaurant is nice and clean. Service was great. The restaurant is small so there are not a lot of seats.

I just walked out after being ignored by the servers for quite sometime. Place didn t seem to be busy either.

The restaurant was very busy at dinner, so we shared a big table with another couple on the lower floor and had a time limit of under an hour due to a reservation, which was fine by us. We ordered the Watami on King roll and saba oshizushi, and both of them were a bit disappointing. The Watami on King roll was essentially mixed scraps of fish with mayo. The saba oshizushi was vinegary and sweet and had a nice texture, but didnt have the torched taste we wouldve liked. The rice also didnt seem much like sushi rice and it fell apart easily. The prices were fair for sushi, and we shouldve ordered more since it wasnt quite enough food.

Easily the best sushi in Waterloo. Authentic, fresh and super friendly staff.

The sushi is incredibly fresh and expertly prepared. The ambiance is cozy and inviting, making it a great spot for a relaxed meal. The staff is friendly and attentive. I highly recommend Thea visit. Five stars all the way!

Went here for my 2 year anniversary with my husband and we really enjoyed it. You actually get a good amount of food. We were so full we had to turn down dessert. It is a bit on the pricier side, but I would say youre paying for quality.

Incredible food and service! I recommend the Watami on King Roll, Ice & Fire Roll, and Salmon Crunch Roll.

The quality of sushi and flavor is best in town. Grilled pork cheek and fire and ice rolls are my go-to. Their chef choice sashimi platter never disappoint because of the variety of flavor.

The first time I went it was pretty memorable and the food tasted so uniquely, unlike anywhere else. I think the price is reasonable. Lots of students visited. But the wait is quite long. The second time it wasn t up to my expectations. I think the portion was reduced and it tasted a bit ordinary.

i love this place because she loves it and i love how genuinely happy she is when she tries the jade roll because thats her favorite

The atmosphere here is great. The staff are genuine and very friendly. The food was amazing. Really great portion sizes and good quality. We had the prawn tempura, karaage, crunchy salmon roll, the chicken Katsu and the deep fried mochi with icecream for dessert. Food : 5/5

Hands down the single best sushi in Waterloo region. I thought after moving from Vancouver that I was never going to have great sushi again, but then I found this place. I nearly cried when I took a bite into the prawn sashimi the first time I ate there. Holy cow it is amazing. Now I try to go at least once every two weeks. Recommended takeout: the Chicken Karaage and the Watami on King roll. For dine-in you absolutely MUST get the chefs selection sashimi. It will change your life (if youve only ever had sushi in K-W.

Returned recently. Food was fantastic, service was efficient. It was busy and a bit loud to chat hut would definitely return, even just for the carpaccio and rice paper roll. Ordered through the restaurant for delivery. This is an ala carte sushi restaurant, not an all-you-can-eat. Prices are higher but felt that the quality was excellent especially for delivery. Would definitely order again. We had the rice paper roll, sushi salmon, spicy tuna, gyozas and dynamite roll.

Great tasting food options. Nice atmosphere and good location near parking.

My friends and I originally planned to try a different sushi spot, but since we were nearby, we decided to give this place a shot. It turned out to be an incredible decision! Watami Sushi is a hidden gem. The sushi here was unlike anything Ive ever tasted, especially the Ice and Fire roll. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a bit of spice. Its not too hot, just enough to add excitement without overwhelming the flavours. Overall, a fantastic dining experience that exceeded my expectations. I cant wait to come by again!

Try their menu written on the chalkboard!

Probably the best sushi I ve ever had (considering we ve only been at all you can eat sushi buffets), service is very kind and friendly, atmosphere is 10/10. We even got a cute private nook that really added to our experience

Watami is amazing because of the quality and the atmosphere. I always enjoy my time there and appreciate the presentation of the food, along with how awesome the food tastes!

Best Japanese restaurant of Kitchener hands down

Great experience overall! Very great sushi quality

One of the more authentic sushi place I have been to. If you are looking for good and tasty sushi and sashimi this is the place to be. Food

Great! All rolls were tasty and well portioned.

Fresh, relaxed, and delicious.

Best sushi restaurant, the food is always 10/10. Every time my friends visit we go there!

Its a comfortable Japanese restaurant. Its a good place to hang out.

We love Watami for the freshest sushi in the tri-cities. It may not be the fastest service (based on other reviews) or the cheapest but it is certainly the best quality in the region. Our go-to when we are craving good quality sushi. Our fav dish is the fish bowl.

Hello, I really loved the food since the first time I visited this place, I liked too much that I decided to invite my family, second time I visited food is still very good but, they abused and charged 18% tip without asking if I was agree, I was paying with my home country debit card because their terminal didnt accept Tap paying with my Canadian Credit Card, that means paying extra 5% for the exchange rate, so they just got 23% on their pockets for nothing!!?? First time was perfect, second time I had a very bad experience for their abuse on the bill. I agreed with prices, are very reasonables but this experience make me decide that I wont be anymore there. I just arrived Canada 6 months ago, Its being an expensive settling process, living limited for some months, just when I decided to gave us some little luxe(?) this happens, they happy with their easy money and I have to work extra to recover that loose because of their decision.

Visited multiple times over the last 2 years and the quality is always amazing. Had the homemade ginger ale, baked scallop roll, chicken katsu (huge portion), the salmon don, and the deep fried mochi with icecream during our last visit. Also had the jade roll, una don, and chicken katsu during our first visit in 2022. Vegetarian options: Several vegetarian options Dietary restrictions: They aren t very knowledgeable about Gluten Free (celiac friendly) options but they can accommodate vegetarians quite easily.

Watami Sushi is a popular sushi restaurant. I enjoyed the sushi and sashimi bento boxes, service was friendly and efficient. Personally I did not enjoy the raw squid, it was a bit slimy for me.

We came here after checking online beforehand and seeing that they had a couple of vegetarian sushi rolls. Unfortunately, 1 of the 2 rolls that s fully vegetarian was seasonal so we couldn t order it. The other one was only 4 pieces (for $12). They had a bunch of rolls marked vegetarian option available, but when we asked what that entailed, it just meant taking the meat/fish out without subbing anything in. They also don t reduce the price when they remove the meat, so for example the rice paper roll was offered as an option. After taking the shrimp, scallop, and crab out, it s literally just avocado and lettuce in rice paper for $18! The edamame is also really dry and bland compared to other edamame we ve had. Since the vegetarian roll only had 4 pieces, we had to order 4 of them to have an enough for dinner. They also charge $8 for a pot of tea which is insane! Overall, our meal of edamame, tea, and 8 pieces of vegetarian sushi each ended up costing us $80! For such an expensive price ($3/piece of sushi) the sushi rolls were not even wrapped properly. They kept falling apart. Service also not great We had to ask for chopsticks and water, and when our tea pot was empty we weren t offered a refill.

The vibes of this place are immaculate. They have great decor and ambiance, and the staff are really helpful and nice. The food was decent as well.

Great food. Terrific addition to Waterloo restaurant scene.

definitely a treat for a special occasion but fish was fresh and variety was very nice. homemade iced tea and lemonade were delicious as well.

The food at this place was okay, nothing to rave about. The rice wasn t too flavourful and the only thing that was pretty good was the Takoyaki. Other than that, I ve had better Japanese food at other restaurants.

Update: visited 51 times since Feb 2022. Tasty food, quick service, same quality every time you visit. Suitable for lunch, dinner with friends or family, a small celebration or you can enjoy a nice meal on your own. The menu isnt very big, but theres enough choice . In the lunch menu (Mon-Sat before 3 pm, I think) you can find diverse bento boxes. Id recommend house tea, futo maki rolls, salmon don, salmon lover bento, deep fried mochi for dessert. You can also order off menu - salmon roll, avocado/salmon roll etcetera. Suggestions for the owner: 1. In the menu you can find crab and crab meat - both mean imitation surimi sticks. Thats confusing. It would be great to have more options of rolls without this so called crab - or options with real crab. 2. Maybe itd be good to add pillows on the wooden benches to make it more comfortable. Vegetarian options: Not too many, but you can find 2 vegetarian rolls and some appetizers.

I do not have the words to describe how amazing our experience was. Forget whatever sushi you have had before. This place is leagues above all you can eat. The flavours of the food were so delectable, so rich and full. The texture of the food was also amazing. You want to take your time to enjoy each bite. The house blend tea was perfect. Everything was so fresh.

Food was good but the service could be better.

There was an outside job recruiting for a part-time job in Japanese. Maybe the Japanese are doing it? It was New Years night, so it wasnt open.

Spent over $100 and very disappointed. I don t usually leave any reviews but I have to today. I ve visited this place multiple times before and had great experiences so decided to take my mom on mother s day. We ordered 1 appetizer and 2 mains, and one of the mains came first before the appetizer without any explanation in advance. I was expecting the appy first so asked several servers but no one was aware of when it s gonna come out. One of the servers told me the appetizer I ordered usually takes time so the main came out first. I had that specific one before and got it first before the main? I told her I thought we were gonna be informed if that s the case, then she said customers here usually have like this. ??? I m not sure if I have to accept that like a store policy if other customers also do the same. The thing is I used to be a regular customer too but well this is my first time being treated like this here. It s not because I got the main first. I don t really mind whatever I get on my table first only if they gave me a signal before it happened. It s because how they dealt with it, the customer service after it happened. Food wise- The rolls were handled very bad, not firm enough to pick up with chapsticks, almost lost its shapes. And sushi had inconsistent amount of wasabi in it so we had to check each sushi on the plate. We were struggling with the wasabi during the dinner. Servers were just too busy taking the dirty plates away right after we were done the dishes. We felt so rush and pressured. Lastly, no one greeted after the payment and even when we were leaving. It was only me saying thank you. I ve always thought Watami is worth the 4.5 stars. But after today s experience, I even feel sorry for my mom for bringing here for mother s day dinner. I don t think I will be coming back.

The background wall in the store is very beautiful, suitable for friends gathering, family dining, and of course my birthday meal is also very suitable Japanese food is suitable for most people Kid-friendliness: There are meals suitable for babies

The food was amazing and delicious. I loved the good amount of serving especially for their shrimp tempura. We ordered different kinds of rolls, we had a children s bento box and udon soup as well.

Delicious food and exceptionally good service! The ambiance is nice too - but the partial-wall glass partition at the entrance let in a lot of cold from the outside and we had to keep our coats on the entire meal to stay warm. Still, well be back, and try to get seated farther away from the door.

Absolutely delicious food - from entrees to rolls, everything is incredible. Super fresh, and the cooked dishes come out nice and hot. Very good portions for the price. Staff are friendly and efficient. We had a reservation for a larger group this time and had a separate little room which was lovely. The vibe of the restaurant is great. Overall only good things to say!

I often go to Watami Sushi and am never disappointed! The food is well worth the price you pay. Definitely the best place for Japanese food in KW.

Attended undergrad here and had this place many times, it was great before. Worth the 4.5 stars. Not now. If you want a relic of what was good sushi, try this place

This spot is not all you can eat sushi, but is in my tops for best sushi in town. The staff provide excellent service and are very friendly. They are quick and make sure everything is how you like it. Although it s not all you can eat, the portion sizes are large and very filling. Ordered: - Ice & Fire Roll - Yaki Udon Definitely recommend!

The food was good. But the food handling was terrible. I have a nut allergy that is very severe. I ordered an ice cream not knowing there were nuts on it because it did not say anything about nuts being on the ice cream on the menu. I informed the server about it and they just went to the back and I saw they scrap the nut off the ice cream and brought it back to me. Then asking for a new ice cream they said it was the last one. This restaurant cares more about their profit than their health and safety of their customers. Because of the cross contamination issue with them I will NEVER go back to this place.

The food was quite good but they were completely out of salmon which is on most of the sushi items on the menu, limiting our options.

The food was excellent - the fish (salmon) was buttery and melted in my mouth. I also had chicken Katsu which was new for me - I enjoyed. The staff were excellent, almost sweet to us. The venue was clean and well spaced. I will happily return.

I came here half an hour before lunch ended. It wasnt very busy. The place was small, but quaint. I loved the atmosphere and decor. The food and service was good. The fish was fresh. The pieces of chicken were big. I would go back again. Parking: Theres 2 free parking lots close by or free street parking

Jade rolls with cucumber exterior was a unique experience! Other rolls had yummy creamy toppings (like scallops and mushrooms). Hearty katsudon. Lovely ambiance.

A cozy atmosphere offering delicious and creative rolls! A small menu that offers quality and flavour in every bite.

Sushi and grilled kama are very delicious, and the ingredients are very fresh. It may be that we were busy during our visit, so there was no service available. Wagyu and tempura are not so delicious, and Wagyu is not worth the price. Tempura have a strong oily taste.

Excellent quality and flavor. Would definitely go again.

I love everything we ordered. Sashimi tasted really fresh. Especially otoro sashimi. Chicken karage and miso soup were just okay. However, Watami is my favourite restaurant in uptown Waterloo!

Delicious rolls! The scallop roll is definitely a favorite. A very nice, quiet place. Friendly, accommodating staff. Dietary restrictions: They readily accommodated our request to remove certain ingredients before preparing a roll for takeout.

My favourite sushi place in Waterloo! Salmon maki is my go-to, and the ingredients are always fresh. The staff are also super nice and a pleasure to be around. 10/10 location.

As their rule, Watami mandatory charges a 18% tips on any party with 5 or more people, but the take is for granted and didn t deliver a good service that worth our 18%. When our party had our dinner here tonight, we weren t felt welcomed. It wasn t busy at all tonight around 7pm, but it took 40 minutes for our Watami on King roll to finally come out. It turned out they were training the new chef with our order without giving us any head up. When we complained about it, the restaurant manager treated us very rudely. The food doesn t worth the price being charged, and their service definitely worth the tips they asked for. I don t recommend this place and won t go here again

Very disappointed. Food was great, except it took them 40mins to get our food to our table, even on a quiet Tuesday night. The servers were very nice, but their manager used her body language to disrupt and stop me from respectfully telling them that we were concerned about the situation. This is very rude.

Went to Watami on a whim for a late lunch. The restaurant vibes was intimate and I can imagine at night would feel like an authentic izakaya. Ingredients were fresh, excellent rice to fish ratio, and complimentary green tea is offered. Would love to return!b

Overall good experience. But I have had better sushi in KWC region.

Best sushi in KW. This spot is a hidden gem!

Never go! Not worth the money!

Hands down one of the best authentic Japanese restaurants in town. Chicken katsu is unreal. Highly recommended

Watami Sushi makes me wish that Japan is real

Great atmosphere, friendly & fast service, delicious food! What more could you ask for. We took our kids for lunch- our 12 year olds salmon bento box was jealousy inducing. The hand rolls were masterful. Just an FYI, if you are expecting sticky rice with your meal you arent getting any. Entrees are served with purple wild rice. It has a mild nutty flavour that was quite enjoyable.

This place is unassuming from the outside, but be prepared to be delightfully surprised. The atmosphere: though small, the layout of the tables is so carefully considered to create intimate nooks for every patron. The lighting is moody and perfect. The bathroom is even a delight, and along with everything else in this place, it makes you feel like youve stepped out of Canada and into Japan momentarily. The servers are attentive, polite, and kind of sweet. Dont get me started on the food. Theres not enough room here. It was all so fresh and absolutely delicious. Nothing disappointed. The avocado salad and tempura were my faves, but it was all delicious. Im not an expert on Japanese cuisine, but this place makes me want to become one. Im definitely going back as soon as I can. Enjoy!

The sashimi is really good here with lots of harder-to-get choices available. Not cheap, but definitely a place to check out for unique fish options. Not a fan of their pressed sushi - too much rice and not very appetizing. It has also been very hit and miss with the cooked foods. The pork cheek appetizer was really good (a bit too salty for my wife) but the Shioyaki Set (grilled salmon and chicken dinner) was really dry and bland.

I was invited here by a friend and thank God that I was introduced to this place. We got waygu which was the best Ive had in the city, specialty tuna and other fancy fish that we were recommended and felt like trying. I have never been a fan of sashimi until this place. The quality of the fish, the presentation of the sushi rolls and overall atmosphere was such high quality that its changed the sushi game for me. So glad I tried Watami and Ill keep coming back

Sushi was delicious, lunch menu was pretty limited though :(

Ive heard that just like any other craft, great sushi requires precision and passion. Emulating both these values, Watami Sushi brings forward vibrant plates of carefully constructed sushi rolls. Hoping to try a few of these plates, I paid them a visit. Onto what I ordered! Translucent, thinly sliced pieces of salmon on the sushi made for a delicious dish, with the citrusy dressing drizzled making it even more refreshing. Furthermore, the futo maki, known for its generous filling and bold flavors, the dish was a mosaic of colors and textures, with an earthy taste. The rice paper roll and the ice and fire roll were the perfect complements to the other dishes - with their varied spices and tastes, the resulting dish was an explosion of flavors in my mouth. If youre looking for good sushi with a classy ambience, visiting them is highly recommended! To hear about this review, follow us @eatinontario on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

The taste of the pork neck has changed a lot, but the rest is still delicious!

We absolutely love love love Watami. Been coming here even before this location. Honestly best sushi, sashimi. But, today was a bit disappointing with price increase and significantly smaller portions of our favs. Even the portion of wasabi water was not refilled. While some have excellence service. There are a few server that is a bit less attentive. A big gap than our precious experience.

Came here for the fist time today and was impressed by the atmosphere and the quality of the sushi. The fish was fresh, flavourful and melts in your mouth!

I love this sushi place. Jade Roll is my favorite, so refreshing. A little pricy, but worth it for good sushi in this town.

Watami sushi offers an amazing menu in a cozy little space. There many options to pick from the menu. There is also a long list of specials as well. It is perfect place for any occasion right in the heart of Uptown Waterloo.

Amazing food, staff and environment. A 5 star experience every time. Kid-friendliness: Very sweet, friendly and accommodating with my child. Food : 5/5 |

Very good sashimi and sushi. Rools and BBQ eel are also good. Grilled pork was good last time I came but subpar this time. Little to none seasoning. Service is really mediocre. The server are not attentive at all. Overall decent dining place.

Photo is the bake scallops sushi. Very good

Thats just it... They say you should eat ramen rather than sushi or rolls.

They have great Japanese food , BUT the worst service I have ever seen in Waterloo. They keep asking what food we want to order after two minutes we just settled, and keep repeating asking very soon. Feel like they just keep pushing you. What even worse was when my friends and I still chatted, they came and asked can they took the plate( Still foods on it) more than thee times. And the last time the waitress even tried to get the plate directly which still had food on it. This was insane! There were no body waiting outside I don t understand why they did that. If you really want the food, pickup might be the choice!!!

Werent sure when we walked in. Its a bit of an odd looking dark entrance. But we were warmly welcomed and tended to very nicely. Food came out quick and it was delicious. Recommend the Fire and Ice rolls. We will be back.

Ice and fire roll was good. Chicken skewers were too small a serving size. The service was slow and food didn t come at the same time so some of us were hungry while others were eating.

the pictures speak for themselves. would go back again!!

This is the absolute best sushi that you can get in Waterloo Region. The board always lists whats good and just in. Make it easy and ask for the chefs choice sashimi. Several other favourites of mine are the pork cheek, various grilled fish (saba, kanpachi), saba ozisushi, baked scallop and mushroom roll, ginger wasabi roll... Parking: Situated about 100m from several free lots and street parking is often available.

Very good service and good food. We really liked the gyoza and the rolls.

Definitely my favourite sushi spot in Kitchener-Waterloo! I always come back because I overall love their menu. They have great sushi rolls and the best chicken karaage. The staff is also very sweet and efficient. Whenever we go, they are always quick to greet & seat us or put our name down to wait for a table. The tables move fairly fast from my experience and I think the longest Ive ever had to wait was 30 minutes (super busy that time) but its always worth it! This visit we got the Ice & Fire roll, Spicy Salmon roll, and 2 orders of the chicken karaage. I highly recommend their Salmon oshizushi as well as the grilled pork cheek and Salmon carpaccio. The Pink Lady cocktail is a favourite as well and I really enjoy their tofu cheesecake! The only problem would be the parking. There isnt usually available street parking that is fairly close to the restaurant (only sometimes if were lucky!) So be prepared to walk a little bit!

I wish there was a Watami in Mississauga!

Food is great. Unique options. Loved it

The best sushi in all of KW and likely the best I ve ever had. Amazing menu , awesome staff and such a great spot. Always will be my go to!

The staff at the store are also very responsive. This is the most relaxing and delicious restaurant in Canada.

This is one of the nicer a la carte sushi restaurants in KW. I like that they have unique rolls that don t include rice. I got the jade roll and the rice paper roll - so fresh and delicious. It s small inside and fills up quickly but it s worth the wait. They only take reservations for parties of 6 or more.

We came here from London specifically for the foie gras sushi, but the foie gras sushi was already cold when it was served, so it was a little fishy and we were disappointed. (After we got the sushi, we were very excited and picked it up immediately to eat. My partner was afraid of burning it. I touched my lips to test the temperature and it was already cold.) Later, we reported this problem to the waiter and they only apologized but did not take any further measures. We were disappointed.

Foir gras sushi is a niche concept but it was served cold and has a strong smell when we ate it. So we only had one bite and told the server about it. They apologized and took it away. Later they explained that it was supposed to be eaten hot and tried to blame on us for not eating it in time. But the fact is that the dish was served cold. The dish stayed on the bill when we paid, which is not normal at a fine dining restaurant. No discount was given. I still left 20% tip but left with disappointment.

Especially fantastic sashimi and service

Great sushi variations, delicious takoyaki, cold Sapporo and awesome service. Thanks!

Food was good. This is their strong point, so if youre tired of seeing all the same rolls this place has something extra to offer. Service was ok. At times I did not understand the waiters and did not know if they spoke Japanese or English. Their water served was luke warm and waiter recommended a roll that was too spicy. No warnings were issued. My biggest issue was that tables were too small and too many of them crammed in that space, I ended up rubbing elbows with some strangers.

The restaurant doesnt look like much from outside but it was very nicely decorated inside. The service was prompt and courteous, we asked for advice and we got several good suggestions. The food was good, we had two rolls and a Seafood Yakimeshi dish. I would not hesitate to go back.

Ive only been here once but I found it to be a little overrated and underwhelming for the prices they charged. The food was decent though and I would be willing to come back and try something else next time!

The best sushi in town, but if your broke go to 168, nothing is cheap here almost $20 for 8pcs but its high quality

I have been a regular at this place, however, they recently replaced the good fish with cheap fish for the seafood bowl, super disappointed... Honestly Id rather they adjust the price instead. Changing my review to two stars.

Wonderful sushi dinner experience! We got the takoyaki, and a few different rolls (Ice & Fire, Watami on King, Salmon crunch) - all delicious and each somewhat unique! Also highly recommend the house green tea and the rose bud tea to accompany the food! Would love to come back to Watami again! Parking: Uptown waterloo has some paid and free parking lot options, especially in the evening - might not be right next to the restaurant.

Service is awful. Waitress spilled a hot bowl of miso soup over me, staining my pants. All we received was a sorry, no attempt to rectify the poor service

Parking is not convenient but good and price is good ! I like their kid Menu

Amazing, fresh sushi. Totally recommend!

The food was incredible. The yakitori, the sushi, the salmon caprico was all fantastic. Awesome place for an authentic japanese experience.

Very high quality sushi! Excellent! A very good find and wonderful that we don t have to drive to Toronto to have great sushi!

I ordered the miso soup and the red dragon roll. The miso soup was excellent and flavourful with mushrooms and the red dragon roll was very nice with fresh salmon. The food is really good for the price. Food : 5/5

Used to come here during my ungrad 2012-2017. The staff are so friendly! And the sushi is amazing, rivalling even some of the best sushi restaurants in Vancouver and Toronto. I will be stopping in next time I m in Waterloo. Miss you guys!

Amazing sushi! Pricey but worth it.

Food was delicious! But if you order the udon the metal bowl was very hot (no issue for me though), and the pieces of seafood were a little tougher to chew on. Something to keep in mind if these things affect you. I would recommend the rice dishes.

Affordable deliciousness. The Fish bowl...yum! Sashimi sushi dish!