Guirei Japanese Restaurant

Food is sensational and service is just amazing. At times it is very busy but the team works around to accommodate your request.

They have amazing sushi. I would highly recommend chicken tempura roll and fried calamaris.
The service is great. The servers are very nice and friendly. Once i walked in 15 minutes before closing and they still gave us a table and took our food order.
I would highly recommend specially because the portions are great for the value. You definitely get your money’s worth.

Everything was just awful. Starting from tea, food and service just the worst I’ve experienced in a while. Never coming back. Will not recommend to anyone.
I honestly think that all good reviews either paid reviews or maybe like other people who left honest reviews about this place said that it’s used to be different owner so maybe all the good reviews from previous times.

Conveniently located near Billy Bishop Airport by the Harbourfront, the restaurant offers a pleasant view of streetcars passing by and the waterfront, bustling with pedestrian traffic. It can be easily accessed via the Harbourfront Streetcar. It sets itself apart from others by offering an outdoor patio seating area which is a rare feature for sushi restaurants. Overall, not a top choice for sushi for the price and quality as it felt pretty average but has flexible hours of operation running till 2am on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (May 2023)!

When it comes to the menu, they have an extensive selection of options ranging from the standard categories of Maki Rolls, Sushi, Combos, Bentos and Noodle Soup. It appears that they are Korean-owned as there were Bulgogi, Galbi Ribs and Bibimbap options offered as well. They offer a large list of special Maki rolls, that come in portion sizes of 9 pieces. We ordered the Vegetable Tempura, Ume Sushi B combo, Maki Combo featuring California Rolls, Salmon Rolls, and Dynamite Rolls, as well as the Diablo roll and Salmon Avocado maki roll. Each dish was well displayed. You can ask for substitutions which they mentioned will be adjusted for any cost differences if the maki roll is higher in cost. The food tasted pretty average, nothing overly spectacular. Vegetable tempura had a good amount of pieces, standard vegetable choices, except for a tempura-battered carrot. They used what felt like cutlet batter for the asparagus and onion ring. Also, during the visit, the salad and soup for our combos were initially forgotten and we had to check in with the staff.

The restaurant provides ample seating with 10 tables inside and an additional 8 tables outside on the patio. Along the inside restaurant, you'll also find four Japanese-inspired booths. The female bathrooms, located near the front walkway, offer two stalls but one of them was out of service during our visit. During our dining experience, we were not offered an inside dining option, but that was okay as we were content with the patio and enjoying the sun, fresh air and waterfront views. Each outdoor table is equipped with a ringer to call for a staff member's assistance. However, it is worth mentioning that the manager appeared somewhat confused when the bell was rung at our table, as he did not know which table had called for assistance. As a result, we had to go inside and request our bill and a Styrofoam takeout box.

While some areas of the restaurant could benefit from renovation like the outside patio (visible storage areas) and bathrooms, the staff members are attentive, quick to provide service, and efficient at clearing tables. They take cash or credit via a card machine. If you choose to dine on the patio, the menus they provide you with are the same takeout menus that are located at the front gate which does not have any drink options. Furthermore, if you prefer, they are available for delivery through food ordering apps like UberEats, and they even offer a cash discount for pick-up orders placed directly at the store.

Note: If coming from the Harbourfront Streetcar, you can get off at the stop by Queens Quay West at Dan Leckie Way. Closest parking would be at the Green P parking (west of the restaurant) but would be a nightmare to find spots as it is always full.

Good price, great sushi and amazing service! This place is wonderful! I really enjoyed the sushi boat we got. The presentation was beautiful. We were made to feel welcomed! Definitely recommend. A real gem.

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Guirei Japanese Restaurant, and I must say it was an exceptional experience from start to finish. Every aspect of my visit, from the warm and inviting ambiance to the delectable cuisine, surpassed my expectations. I am delighted to leave this glowing review for Guirei Japanese Restaurant.

First and foremost, the service was impeccable. The staff members were attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. They went above and beyond to ensure that my dining experience was memorable and enjoyable. Their attention to detail and genuine care for their guests truly stood out.

Now, let's talk about the food. The culinary journey at Guirei Japanese Restaurant is nothing short of extraordinary. The menu offers an extensive selection of traditional and innovative Japanese dishes, each crafted with precision and bursting with flavor. Every bite was a delightful combination of fresh ingredients, expertly prepared and beautifully presented.

I highly recommend starting with their sushi rolls. The sushi chefs are true artists, as evidenced by the visually stunning and incredibly delicious creations they served. From classic favorites to unique signature rolls, each piece was a masterpiece. The quality of the fish was outstanding, and the flavor combinations were simply divine.

Moving on to the hot dishes, I was thoroughly impressed by the range of options available. The tempura was light and crispy, perfectly complementing the tender and succulent seafood and vegetables. The teriyaki dishes were rich and flavorful, with a perfect balance of sweetness and savory notes. The ramen was a comforting bowl of goodness, with a flavorful broth and perfectly cooked noodles.

To enhance my dining experience, the restaurant also had an impressive selection of sake and other Japanese beverages. The knowledgeable staff was more than happy to recommend pairings and provide insights into the different flavors and varieties.

In conclusion, Guirei Japanese Restaurant is a culinary gem that delivers an exceptional dining experience. The impeccable service, outstanding cuisine, and inviting atmosphere combine to create an unforgettable meal. Whether you are a sushi aficionado or simply a lover of Japanese cuisine, this restaurant will exceed your expectations. I wholeheartedly recommend Guirei Japanese Restaurant and cannot wait to return for another memorable dining experience.

Thank you to the entire team at Guirei Japanese Restaurant for an extraordinary evening. Your commitment to excellence is evident in every aspect, and I am grateful for the remarkable culinary journey you provided.

Rating: (5 out of 5 stars)

I had a great experience at Guirei Japanese Restaurant. The food was delicious, and I enjoyed the relaxed vibe on their outdoor patio. Loved the miso, lobster roll and fried calamari!

Absolutely incredible food and service, possibly my new favourite sushi restaurant downtown Toronto!

Blown away by the quality and freshness of the fish given the price - on par if not better than many of the higher-end sushi restaurants I've been to in the city.

Everything we tried was delicious, prepared with care, and good portions/ratios. The standouts for us being the hamachi and hotate nigiri and the white dragon roll.

They have a large menu with all the staples you'd expect along with an extensive specialty Maki selection with a lot of unique combinations.

The decor is a little dated but unless you're someone who likes to pay extra for a fancier environment this should not deter you from trying their amazing menue. My partner and I actually like the decor and found it nostalgic of the sushi joints back when they were far and few between.

Overall highly recommend and can't be beat for the price/quality/value. Will difinitely be back and will likely be my new go to!

Toronto is EXTREMELY lucky to have a chef and owner like Jay. We first met him at his restaurant in Bolton and we, unfortunately, lost him to Toronto as he also now owns this one. The quality of fish he serves is impeccable and he allows it to be affordable for everyone to have the best experience! He is such a loyal owner and treats his regular customers with such respect and treats them well. Even though we lost him to Toronto, this gives us a reason to come to here! — Mia and Brian

It looks like Guirei switched management again. Quality is much better than before. Yes, I agree with Leo, with the previous group.the sushi had jagged edges= (. Now they look professional again and taste good.

This is a good place to go out with friends and family. Sushi is so fresh, and they have a lot of options. It is reasonably priced as well.

The service was amazing, but the food was not the sushi quality you would expect for the price. The fish was not very fresh. For example, the salmon dragon roll used some sort of shredded salmon instead of slices of salmon. Most of their sushi I ordered used this shredded salmon.

Staff is very polite and food service is quick
Food selection is great and tasty too! Love going during the summer out on the patio!

Good service, always friendly. Very nice presentation for my sashimi and tempura at the last visit.

I love everything about this place. Good food, great Staff and hot sake. This is my go-to place for Japanese food. Must try their spicy chicken and karage.

Hidden gem. We ordered sashimi and loose pieces of sushi (including a delectable torched scallop). The sashimi was cut beautifully and was very thoughtfully chosen, prepared and presented. It was not bitterly cold like in some shushi restaurants but pleasantly brought to room temperature. The sushi was also originally cut and was wonderfully proportioned to the rice. The manager was very knowledgeable and explained all the fish to us. The server was lovely. 5 stars. It’s so difficult for a sushi restaurant to distinguish itself in this city and Guirei did so elegantly!

Had stopped going a year ago! But decided to try out again! This place is under new management and what a difference a year makes! GUIREI has been restored to its former glory! Staff super friendly and helpful, sushi ssssssoooo fresh! And good size portions.seafood soup has delicious broth and lots seafood! My favourite sushi restaurant again

Closed on Tuesdays. Great place to walk to and enjoy a good Korean/Japanese meal. Service is usually good and prices are reasonable for the area.

Update: Nov 2022: new owners. New menu. Both Japanese and Korean dishes seemed subpar to me Dropped from 4to 2.

Really amazing. First time here and everyone was really nice. The food was delicious and it was really pretty as well.

This was an amazing experience, and the best sushi I've had. Next time I'm in town I plan on returning and I'm recommending this place to all my friends.

Outstanding food selection from appetizers to dessert and everything in between, prompt and courteous service at this location, clean and organized, very friendly staff, incredible value, highly recommended!

Got the bulgogi bento box for a quick lunch before going to the airport. Outstanding value. Came with little touches, like a small side salad, a small soup with noodles, miso soup, tempura maki, tempura, edamame, etc as well as the expected rice, and bulgogi. Service was polite and attentive.

I work in the neighbourhood and have been a consistent patron since Guirei first opened. No exaggeration to say I have eaten there or ordered take out over 200 times over the years. I ordered take out today. After waiting on the patio for 30 mins for it to be ready, I decided to stay to eat as it was a nice day. I had paid AND tipped 18% on the order BEFORE I decided to sit outside. The waitress outside told me I could not sit if I ordered take out. I pointed out that I had paid AND tipped already. I said that if I could not sit there with a take out container then I would have it plated as for eat in and handed her the bag. The owner came out two minutes later, bristling with anger and accused me (in front of a full patio of patrons) of throwing my food at the waitress. He did not take one rational minute to understand what had ACTUALLY happened, to consider that the waitress might have entirely misunderstood the situation or the interaction (as I certainly did not throw my food at her nor was I rude to her AND it was fair for me to sit there). Honestly, I was shocked by his anger and his rudeness and unwillingness to listen. Lucky for me, there is another Japanese restaurant on the other corner - based on this complete lack of professionalism and civility, my work colleaugues and I will not be coming back. Shame.

Went to Guirei with my sister, honestly the appetizers were top notch. The sushi pizza and Assorted Tempura were incredible. We also ordered different rolls. The rolls were quite bad. Dragon roll was messy and it didn’t taste good. Even simple rolls like spicy tuna and spicy salmon were too salty itself and with soy sauce were even worse. Overall I liked the appetizers, but as a lover of different rolls this place will be last on my list.

Get poison, stomach pain and diarrhea, me and person who I been with, before we vent there we was perfectly fine.
Don’t touch their lobster rolls DANGEROUS not fresh.

I was so happy after leaving that I had to review ASAP. Nicest people on Toronto, very generous portion, everything was great, great flavor, great smell, great presentation. And I didn't have to give a kidney to pay my bill. Great cost benefit too. Great last meal in the city.

They are good even for things other than Sushi. Very few places in the area that provide the same value for the price.

The experience here was fine; nothing special.
Had an $18 soft shell crab roll; it was passable, lacking in flavour, but at least fresh.
Old and stuffy interior, bathrooms need a lot of work. Fake plants and very 90's atmosphere make for a very drab and uninspiring spot.
I'd say avoid.

Food was good. Service was alright. Food was somewhat expensive but not too high. However, because we were a larger group, we were charged an 18% service charge. I was not informed of this while making a reservation.

This is the first time I have had a service charge for a large group. On the contrary, I have usually been given discounts for this.

If you get a Maki combo, expect to get A LOT of avocado. Pretty disappointed for the price of the combo, they cheapened out on making avocado like 80% of each piece.

Response to owner:
Thank you for taking the time to reply! I ordered twice the Medium Maki combo, I wanted to give it another chance but both times they were mostly avocado. I believe it was either the weekend or Friday, around 5-6pm.

There are not many options for food by the harbourfront, so I did not have high expectations for Guirei. We mainly chose it for its location as we were attending an event nearby.

They have a very sizable menu with both Japanese and Korean options. The food was average at best. The Guirei sushi combo set that I ordered was not at all what was pictured nor was it worth the price. The yaki udon is usually a safe option for us, but the udon noodles were very soggy. With that said, the staff were very friendly and the food came out really quickly which I really appreciate and helps even things out a little.

We had the maki dinner which comes with tempura. Extremely well prepared, tasted top notch and a special note to the soy sauce and wasabi which was something else. We had takeaway and will be going back there for more. Very friendly and quick service as well.

We just moved to the neighborhood and the food was excellent! We have found our new favorite Japanese restaurant. Thank you so much!

This is my go to place for salmon sashimi, love their lunch specials and always tastes amazing and top quality!

Yesterday was the third time we have been here and the experience has been great every time. Fresh fish and a huge variety of vegetarian options if you are vegetarian.
Go check out this neighborhood sushi joint.

This is my neighbourhood sushi joint so I do order from them often. It’s definitely good sushi but I think it’s a bit overpriced.

If you are looking for a sushi restaurant with a patio close to the lake with a view this is the place. The establishment is clean and service is good. We usually order deep fried California rolls. They didn’t have it but they were able to custom make one for us.

The udon was excellent! The broth was very delicious. The sushi and the freshness of the sushi was OK. It wasn’t the best that we’ve had for the price but it wasn’t the worst either.

So, would I come back to this restaurant? I’m on the fence because the experience wasn’t that bad but it wasn’t that great and same with the food. The location? Absolutely I would come back.so four out of five stars I may come back. I hope you guys find this review useful and if you do or if you don’t leave your comments below.thank you for reading my review and will see you on the next review.

M8TRIX5 Rating scale
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Cozy spot with a nice view by the lake. Fast and friendly service, fresh ingredients lots of options and decent prices.

The combo sushi, sashimi, and the dragon and rainbow rolls, and the miso soup were all very good. However the service was so slow. And they had surprising answers to some of our requests for example our friend asked for Mango and Green tea ice cream together and they said you can't have them both select which one. Overall I recommend the food but would appreciate improvement in the service.

Incredible sushi for an awesome price! I just ordered takeout and got the Maki Tray and it was filled with so many maki rolls! High quality, very clean and they are adhering to the important health measures in place during Covid-19. Great prices and amazing customer service. Highly recommend!

Food has always been great. Amazing location to have dinners on the patio. No complaints about the service.

Few rolls so far are not the best quality
It is difficult to spoil Philadelphia roll, but this restaurant made it happened. I needed to have a magnifier to see a salmon inside

Yummy food! The staff and food changed for the better when the ownership changed in the past couple years! My favourite dishes are on the Korean menu. I had Dolsot Bibimbap Hotpot with brown rice today. Fresh and Delicious!

I ordered via Skipthedishes. Fresh sashimi is all I'm looking for and they have that. Good quality food in the neighbourhood.

I love their sushi, sashimi and tempura. Oh my god their tempra is the best in Toronto, by far the BEST! And I’m from Japan to add any credibility.

Consistently great experience. Food is always fresh (green dragon rolls are bomb), staff is friendly. We frequent this place almost 1x week, and have yet to be even slightly disappointed.

Authentic food nicely spiced all kinds of flavors really good health food recommended

Love this place. Whether it is Japanese eats or a Korean meal you can not beat it. Get a cold Sake and some freshhhh fish to start then warm up with some world class tempura. Best tempura in the city.

Okay sushi and sashimi. A wide variety of Japanese and korean food. Wide range of sushi and sashimi combos as well. Pretty expensive though.

Best sushi place along Queens Quay and a very popular local hangout. If you like spicy fish soup try the Nagasaki Raman. Dinner prices here are much higher than the lunch menu for essentially the same portions, so I'd recommend lunch time dinning for the budget conscious.

I have been getting sushi from these guys for years. They are consistent and I’m always content with my order!

No celiac-friendly. Server offered me "gluten-free soy sauce" in a container that was previously used for soy sauce (meaning it's been cross-contaminated, making the "gluten-free soy sauce" useless).

Staff need better training on food allergies.

Taste not so fresh and overpriced for the tiny portion sizes. 6 pieces of California roll with barely any fake crab was 7.99 before tax. I don't recommend. The only saving grace were the nice staff.

Love this place! Great food selection, fresh sushi, awesome Korean dishes, and they give delicious mini starters before your meal. Just overall fantastic!

Food was very good. Reason price and good service. If chairs outside were more comfy it would b 5 *

Spiced pork and rice on the patio with a view of the harbour across the street. Delicious food, friendly service. I'd go again.

Went here for dinner because we were in the area. Service was good but food was just okay for the price point.