Eat in Tokyo — Without Leaving the Neighbourhood

If you’re expecting to find the usual California rolls and teriyaki, Sushi Kaji is not the place for you. Instead, the fresh-inspired restaurant, located on the Queensway in Toronto, offers original Japanese creations from owner Mitsuhiro Kaji that promise to please the sushi lover yearning for a taste of authentic Japanese cuisine.

Before opening his restaurant in 2000, Kaji travelled all over Japan for apprenticeships with leading Japanese chefs. Maintaining this tradition of strict attention to detail, all of his fish is flown in from Tokyo Bay within 24 hours of being caught — and he never leaves any fish overnight. Condiments like vinegar and vegetables also come from Japan, and to top it all off, he provides his restaurant with soy sauce he makes himself

As sushi’s popularity grows in Toronto, quality in many restaurants can be left behind as owners attempt to meet demands with cheaper fish and rushed preparation. Kaji takes a slower approach with three fixed-price menus in his restaurant, which only takes 30 patrons a night. In the Waza menu, the Crab on a Potato Mountain is topped with real gold flakes, while the tiramisu lover will be pleasantly surprised with a Green Tea Tiramisu at the end of the meal.  For the open-minded consumer looking to try something out of the ordinary, Sushi Kaji is definitely the place to dine. 

— Jessica Galang