01
Bar Shozan
¥¥¥Ossington · Izakaya · counter
IzakayaIzakayaSake BarCounterOssington
Chef Shozan Tomikawa's intimate Ossington sake bar — a short counter menu of seasonal izakaya plates.
View restaurant →Toronto · 居酒屋
Authentic Izakaya
in Toronto.
Japanese taverns: small plates, charcoal grills, sake and shochu. The room matters as much as the food.
02
Don Don Izakaya
¥¥Downtown (Dundas W) · Izakaya · a la carte
IzakayaIzakayaDowntownJapanese-owned
Long-running downtown izakaya on Dundas West — a broad menu of grilled and fried Japanese pub classics.
View restaurant →03
Izakaya Ju
¥¥Markham (J-Town) · Izakaya · a la carte
IzakayaIzakayaJapanese-ownedMarkhamJ-Town
Traditional izakaya inside J-Town Markham — hot sake, grilled fish, and seasonal specials for the local Japanese community.
View restaurant →04
Kingyo Fisherman's Market
¥¥Cabbagetown · Izakaya · a la carte
IzakayaIzakayaSeafoodCabbagetown
Cabbagetown seafood izakaya — the Japanese-owned Kingyo group's Toronto room, rebuilt in 2022.
View restaurant →05
KINKA Sushi Bar Izakaya Harbourfront
¥¥Harbourfront · Izakaya · a la carte
IzakayaIzakayaSushiHarbourfront
Harbourfront branch of Toronto's original izakaya group — KINKA.
View restaurant →06
KINKA Sushi Bar Izakaya Original
¥¥Church-Wellesley · Izakaya · a la carte
IzakayaIzakayaSushiChurch Street
Toronto's first izakaya — the original Guu, now KINKA, on Church Street since 2009.
View restaurant →07
Miyabi Japanese Restaurant
¥¥Richmond Hill (Beaver Creek) · Izakaya · a la carte
IzakayaIzakayaSushiRichmond HillSince 1994
Family-run Japanese restaurant and izakaya in Richmond Hill, open since 1994.
View restaurant →Other Japanese cuisines in Toronto
FAQ
Questions, answered.
- What makes izakaya in Toronto authentic?
- Japanese taverns: small plates, charcoal grills, sake and shochu. The room matters as much as the food. In Toronto, we apply the same standard: chefs trained in the discipline, ingredients and technique consistent with Japanese practice, and a focused izakaya-first format rather than a mixed menu.
- How do you define authenticity?
- Washoku Guide defines authenticity by the kitchen's grounding in Japanese culinary tradition: trained chefs (often in Japan), techniques and ingredients consistent with Japanese practice, a focused menu rather than a pan-Asian one, and a coherent dining format (sushi-ya, ramen-ya, izakaya, kaiseki, etc.). We weigh these signals together — no single factor decides.
- Do you require Japanese ownership?
- No. Japanese ownership is one positive signal, but it is not required. We also recognise restaurants with Japanese-led kitchens or non-Japanese chefs who have trained extensively in Japan and apply traditional techniques with discipline. What matters is the cooking, not the passport.
- How are restaurants selected?
- Each entry is researched and chosen by Washoku Guide editors — not voted in, not paid for, and not algorithmically ranked. We read kitchen biographies, study menus, talk to people in the industry, and visit when possible. Restaurants pay nothing to be listed.
- Are the listings ranked?
- No. Washoku Guide is a curated guide, not a ranking. Order on a city page is editorial and may change as the guide evolves; it does not imply that #1 is better than #5. Every listed restaurant has met our authenticity bar.
- Are these the only authentic izakaya restaurants in Toronto?
- These are the ones Washoku Guide has researched and stands behind today. The guide grows over time; if you know an authentic izakaya restaurant in Toronto we should consider, please get in touch.