Finally decided to give this restaurant a try after many years of passing by and wondering if it was worth the hype.I reserved seats at the sushi counter so we could get a view of the chefs, but I was disappointed to find that the fish is pre-sliced and kept chilled until it is time to plate and serve. Although everything was beautifully presented and the quality of the fish was quite fresh and melt-in-your-mouth, there was not much innovation with the menu that I wouldn't find at any other izakaya considering the value. Great service otherwise!
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 3
Paul Nazareth
This is a place to have a quality conversation. Over one of the most affordable Omakase offerings in the city.Omakase, Google it, I was born a few blocks from here and am not Japanese - but the set course meal, chosen by the chef and artfully plated over the course of the evening is perfect for;- a real business meeting- a human conversation with a friend- a romantic meal, quality timeThis is a highly sensory food experience, not garish grocery store maki rolls with cream cheese in them.Again if you compare their creative offerings, Aburi torched sushi, exquisite sashimi, the lobster miso - it’s an experience and is competitively priced.The location is near the Osgoode subway, around the corner from the Four Seasons Arts Center, the Scotiabank Cinema and there is good paid parking nearby.A secret spot for business lunches due to its unassuming exterior. The service and atmosphere are as advanced as the food.If you respect real sashimi, if you’re looking for an Omakase spot, give it a shot.Parking: This is a one way street so you can’t park “out front”, but there are paid safe secure parking lots nearby way better than street parking.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lobster Miso Soup
Noel Mirzoyev
I day dream of coming back here all the time and salivate at the thought of eating the sushi here. I am big sushi girl and can have it everyday but Jabistro is beyond My favourite sushi place ever. Literally orgasm when I eat the sushi.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Johnny Hsu
This Japanese restaurant is very nice with its service, and I think the excellent service just reflects the price. We really like this restaurant, but the only weak point in our opinion is the price…….
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Koren Chou
Made a reservation for a Friday night dinner. Started off with the wagyu carpaccio, which was unique and flavourful. Highlight for us was the oshizushi - we tried the salmon, wagyu and scallop (all delicious but I would definitely recommend the salmon). Sashimi was ok - tasted fresh but wasn't particularly memorable. 4-stars given the price point.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Yiwen Hu (frimousseee)
Heard two friends recommending this place but they all came before COVID, I have to say now the food here is awful!!!The sashimi is icy, they didn’t give enough time to soften.The texture of wagyu foie gras tastes like cheap beef, not like wagyu.The seafood roll (jabistro roll) was just like those sushi to go that you can find at a train station.The fish cheek was sooooo salty, just like the lobster miso soup. I honestly never had such salty Japanese food before, even if it’s fusion, it should be like this!!!!In sum, this place is NOT worth the price at all!!!!避雷！！！！
I have been a loyal customer of JA Bistro for years, and I can confidently say that it is one of the best Japanese restaurants in town. Every time I dine here, I am always left satisfied and impressed by the quality of the food and service.My absolute favorite dishes at JA Bistro are the aburi salmon and aburi shrimp sushi. The way they perfectly torch and sear the fish just elevates the flavors to a whole new level. The freshness of the ingredients is always evident, and the presentation is always impeccable.The staff at JA Bistro are always welcoming and attentive, making sure that every dining experience is a memorable one. They are knowledgeable about the menu and are always happy to make recommendations based on your preferences.If you are a fan of aburi sushi, I can confidently say that JA Bistro makes the best ones. The flavours are outstanding, and the texture is just perfect. I highly recommend trying them out if you haven't already.Overall, JA Bistro is a gem of a restaurant that never disappoints. Whether you are a regular like me or a first-time visitor, you are sure to have a fantastic dining experience. I will continue to dine at JA Bistro for years to come and look forward to enjoying more of their delicious offerings.
Delicious sushi! Good value for money. I got the lunch prix fixe which came with lobster miso soup, wagyu+uni+7pcs sashimi, 5pcs nigiri, and 5pcs aburi. Also, a panna Cotta which had a delicious sweet yet nutty and creamy flavour. (However the sauce on it was much too sweet). Torched Saba/mackerel was my favorite. Jabistroll had a very nice texture too.
Michael Halualani
lunch pre fixe was great. lovely presentation. good sushi and cold sake, what more do you need?
I went to Ja Bistro and let me just say, the sushi was so good that I was soy impressed!The ambiance was sashimi-ly delightful and the service was top-notch.I can't wait to roll back for more delicious bites! It's definitely a raw-lling good time.
I’ve had some of the best sushi and sashimi at this restaurant by far. Great service, atmosphere, and both food and drinks. It’s a high quality dining experience that justifies the price tag.The restaurant is long and narrow but doesn’t feel crowded. The decor is fairly minimal and I find the focus is more on the dining experience.Our server was very attentive and engaging throughout our stay while not being overbearing. She was very knowledgeable about the food and was approachable if you want to ask what’s the best sauce to put on which sushi, or how to eat something, etc. to get the best out of your experience.I had the fixed price menu. The lobster miso soup was the first course. It was a flavourful broth. I did notice that my friend had a sizeable chunk of lobster in their soup whereas mine didn’t. It would have been nice to have actual lobster meat in mine too, but I just got the broth.The next course was a wagyu carpaccio. The arugula was fresh and crisp. The cheese went really well with the beef.We had a sashimi assortment next, which was excellent. Every item was fresh and tasted great. I’m not sure what they did to prepare the shrimp, but it was delicious and was my favourite out of the plate.The sushi also tasted fresh and each one was delicious. I’m not typically a sushi person, but each bite made you want to pause and appreciate the different flavours and textures you were getting. It was actually a bit of an emotional experience to get that kind of quality.The dessert course was a panna cotta which was perfect. The caramel sauce had a deep, rich flavour. The panna cotta itself was in my opinion the perfect texture and consistency.I had three cocktails throughout the dinner and they all had a way of managing great flavours without being too much. I don’t like sweet drinks and their drinks get to a point that just reaches close to that bar but are able to tie it to other strong flavours like fresh citrus in order to even it out.All in all, a great experience and very easy to recommend if you’re looking for a more upscale restaurant that serves great food and don’t mind splurging for it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Panna Cotta, Lobster Miso Soup, Wagyu Beef
Foodieme
Disappointed for the $. Appetizer battered lobster fried in old rancid oil. Raw fish dishes were not fresh and no taste, low quality fish. Sushi rice under cooked and over seasoned with vinegar, way to acidy Over all experience taste was more like fast food takeout sushi joint.
Absolutely ? ? ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Finally decided to give this restaurant a try after many years of passing by and wondering if it was worth the hype.I reserved seats at the sushi counter so we could get a view of the chefs, but I was disappointed to find that the fish is pre-sliced and kept chilled until it is time to plate and serve. Although everything was beautifully presented and the quality of the fish was quite fresh and melt-in-your-mouth, there was not much innovation with the menu that I wouldn't find at any other izakaya considering the value. Great service otherwise!
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 3
This is a place to have a quality conversation. Over one of the most affordable Omakase offerings in the city.Omakase, Google it, I was born a few blocks from here and am not Japanese - but the set course meal, chosen by the chef and artfully plated over the course of the evening is perfect for;- a real business meeting- a human conversation with a friend- a romantic meal, quality timeThis is a highly sensory food experience, not garish grocery store maki rolls with cream cheese in them.Again if you compare their creative offerings, Aburi torched sushi, exquisite sashimi, the lobster miso - it’s an experience and is competitively priced.The location is near the Osgoode subway, around the corner from the Four Seasons Arts Center, the Scotiabank Cinema and there is good paid parking nearby.A secret spot for business lunches due to its unassuming exterior. The service and atmosphere are as advanced as the food.If you respect real sashimi, if you’re looking for an Omakase spot, give it a shot.Parking: This is a one way street so you can’t park “out front”, but there are paid safe secure parking lots nearby way better than street parking.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lobster Miso Soup
I day dream of coming back here all the time and salivate at the thought of eating the sushi here. I am big sushi girl and can have it everyday but Jabistro is beyond My favourite sushi place ever. Literally orgasm when I eat the sushi.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This Japanese restaurant is very nice with its service, and I think the excellent service just reflects the price. We really like this restaurant, but the only weak point in our opinion is the price…….
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Made a reservation for a Friday night dinner. Started off with the wagyu carpaccio, which was unique and flavourful. Highlight for us was the oshizushi - we tried the salmon, wagyu and scallop (all delicious but I would definitely recommend the salmon). Sashimi was ok - tasted fresh but wasn't particularly memorable. 4-stars given the price point.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Heard two friends recommending this place but they all came before COVID, I have to say now the food here is awful!!!The sashimi is icy, they didn’t give enough time to soften.The texture of wagyu foie gras tastes like cheap beef, not like wagyu.The seafood roll (jabistro roll) was just like those sushi to go that you can find at a train station.The fish cheek was sooooo salty, just like the lobster miso soup. I honestly never had such salty Japanese food before, even if it’s fusion, it should be like this!!!!In sum, this place is NOT worth the price at all!!!!避雷！！！！
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Lobster Miso Soup, Wagyu, Sashimi Sampler, Jabistroll
I have been a loyal customer of JA Bistro for years, and I can confidently say that it is one of the best Japanese restaurants in town. Every time I dine here, I am always left satisfied and impressed by the quality of the food and service.My absolute favorite dishes at JA Bistro are the aburi salmon and aburi shrimp sushi. The way they perfectly torch and sear the fish just elevates the flavors to a whole new level. The freshness of the ingredients is always evident, and the presentation is always impeccable.The staff at JA Bistro are always welcoming and attentive, making sure that every dining experience is a memorable one. They are knowledgeable about the menu and are always happy to make recommendations based on your preferences.If you are a fan of aburi sushi, I can confidently say that JA Bistro makes the best ones. The flavours are outstanding, and the texture is just perfect. I highly recommend trying them out if you haven't already.Overall, JA Bistro is a gem of a restaurant that never disappoints. Whether you are a regular like me or a first-time visitor, you are sure to have a fantastic dining experience. I will continue to dine at JA Bistro for years to come and look forward to enjoying more of their delicious offerings.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Lobster Miso Soup, Wagyu Oshizushi, Aburicious, Wagyu, Sashimi Sampler, Platter
Delicious sushi! Good value for money. I got the lunch prix fixe which came with lobster miso soup, wagyu+uni+7pcs sashimi, 5pcs nigiri, and 5pcs aburi. Also, a panna Cotta which had a delicious sweet yet nutty and creamy flavour. (However the sauce on it was much too sweet). Torched Saba/mackerel was my favorite. Jabistroll had a very nice texture too.
lunch pre fixe was great. lovely presentation. good sushi and cold sake, what more do you need?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Lunch course is super super
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Absolutely amazing sushi, sashimi and service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I went to Ja Bistro and let me just say, the sushi was so good that I was soy impressed!The ambiance was sashimi-ly delightful and the service was top-notch.I can't wait to roll back for more delicious bites! It's definitely a raw-lling good time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lobster Miso Soup, Sashimi Sampler
I’ve had some of the best sushi and sashimi at this restaurant by far. Great service, atmosphere, and both food and drinks. It’s a high quality dining experience that justifies the price tag.The restaurant is long and narrow but doesn’t feel crowded. The decor is fairly minimal and I find the focus is more on the dining experience.Our server was very attentive and engaging throughout our stay while not being overbearing. She was very knowledgeable about the food and was approachable if you want to ask what’s the best sauce to put on which sushi, or how to eat something, etc. to get the best out of your experience.I had the fixed price menu. The lobster miso soup was the first course. It was a flavourful broth. I did notice that my friend had a sizeable chunk of lobster in their soup whereas mine didn’t. It would have been nice to have actual lobster meat in mine too, but I just got the broth.The next course was a wagyu carpaccio. The arugula was fresh and crisp. The cheese went really well with the beef.We had a sashimi assortment next, which was excellent. Every item was fresh and tasted great. I’m not sure what they did to prepare the shrimp, but it was delicious and was my favourite out of the plate.The sushi also tasted fresh and each one was delicious. I’m not typically a sushi person, but each bite made you want to pause and appreciate the different flavours and textures you were getting. It was actually a bit of an emotional experience to get that kind of quality.The dessert course was a panna cotta which was perfect. The caramel sauce had a deep, rich flavour. The panna cotta itself was in my opinion the perfect texture and consistency.I had three cocktails throughout the dinner and they all had a way of managing great flavours without being too much. I don’t like sweet drinks and their drinks get to a point that just reaches close to that bar but are able to tie it to other strong flavours like fresh citrus in order to even it out.All in all, a great experience and very easy to recommend if you’re looking for a more upscale restaurant that serves great food and don’t mind splurging for it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Panna Cotta, Lobster Miso Soup, Wagyu Beef
Disappointed for the $. Appetizer battered lobster fried in old rancid oil. Raw fish dishes were not fresh and no taste, low quality fish. Sushi rice under cooked and over seasoned with vinegar, way to acidy Over all experience taste was more like fast food takeout sushi joint.