Zakkushi on Carlton

Calling all bbq meat lovers! Hidden gem alert! If u love bbq this place is a must try, meat is cooked to perfection! Super tender and red meats were cooked properly (not over cooked). They have an a la carte menu and combos for they famous skewers. The carbonara pasta is a must try. I like that they do not over salt the meat and that everything was fresh to order. Small intimate size but very clean. Will definitely be back!

Amazing restaurant! I always love coming here but even better if you want to celebrate a birthday. The staff go out of their way to ensure you are taken care of and you get the best experience in food and drinks. They stopped the whole restaurant to celebrate my friend’s birthday and we loved it

Authentic Izakaya, very delicious food and nice atmosphere, feels like I am back to Japan.

I see their service is being criticized constantly, I have been there 3 times and I have never felt they are rude or pushing me to order more. Yes, they can get pretty busy where servers failed to notice you, but when they do, they are usually very friendly.

Will definitely come back here again!

Good food and ambience. A little too enthusiastic (i.e. Loud) staff made it hard to have a conversation, but we got used to it. Yakitori, karaage, bonito, and matcha ice cream all very good.

I would give 10 stars if I could.amazingly courteous great food and great staff! Defenetly a must try if your in the area!

It seemed as though the serving staff was pressuring us every few minutes to either buy more snacks/drinks or leave. It was a busy Friday evening. When we complied and ordered more drinks they attempted to clear our half drunk drinks before we were finished them. Seems like all they wanted was our money. Food was average for a Japanese restaurant.

This restaurant used to be one of my favorites. However, I just might not be coming back again because of the service I received from my waiter (Keita?) today. I didn’t not make any difficult request but none of them seemed possible under his service (which I’ve never experienced before at this place). I understand that Japanese culture takes customer service very seriously and I definitely didn’t feel like it was the case today with my waiter. Not to mention that I think I saw another negative review about same waiter. Just sad about how a good restaurant can be losing customers in a such bad way like this.

Say less. Every thing taste amazing. I really like atmosphere and employees seem to have very positive work ethic. It might be pricey but the food justifies it well.

I love this place. All staffs are Japanese or at least speaks Japanese. I love the atmosphere how they greet to customers in Japanese.
Food is really good, but little bit pricey which is acceptable compared with their service.
If you love Japanese culture, this is the place u must try

The selection of meet is awesome and so tasty. It was my first time and the place was fill with literally one spot left at 10 pm mid week. Maybe call to make resos first.

For the price (~$40-60/ person) the food and drinks were mediocre. The skewers were especially disappointing since it was served in room temperature.

Good food, mediocre service and hectic experience. 接客は悪いから、料理が美味しくてもおすすめしない。Will not be going back.

Service was not great. Our server (I believe his name was Keita?) basically forgot abt us for a solid 20 mins with no water or anything. It was also comedically hard to grab his attention. And when he finally noticed, he told us to wait a sec and went somewhere else. We were gonna order more food but ended up not ordering just because he never came back. We then decided to just get the bill so we can finally leave but that’s when we realized that our server had completely disappeared nowhere to be seen. We thought maybe he had an emergency but turns out he was just chatting with another server all dilly dally. Waved over a different server and they were actually professional and efficient. Even though our original server was very unprofessional and basically wasted our time, we still tipped 10%

There was also this table across from us that was obnoxiously loud the whole night. I get that it’s an izakaya but one of the older guys of the group would start yelling at the top of his lungs (just random screams, no words or meaning) which would lead the entire restaurant to silence, even overpowering the loud music. Everyone would stop what they’re doing to look over but it wouldn’t matter bc he obviously didn’t care or even liked the negative attention. Wasn’t a great experience getting ear raped while trying to enjoy food or a conversation. Staff didn’t bother doing anything either when normally that kind of obnoxious drunken behaviour would’ve let to whoever causing the ruckus being kicked out. It’s just a bad look for everyone involved.

Food was pretty good! We ordered a few skewers, the beef tataki (would recommend if u decide to go) and the udon and weren’t disappointed! I really liked the mochi and cheese skewer.

Other positives: many street parking available near the restaurant and literally right next to a bus stop.

With that said, because the experience was kind of ruined via the poor service, I don’t think I’ll be coming back. It’s also not the best yakitori place either.

Most authentic-feeling izakaya in downtown that I've ever visited. Great atmosphere and service. A nice variety of food and dishes available at decent prices. Great selection of drinks as well. Recommend making a reservation well in advance on weekends, or expect long wait times.

Food was delicious and atmosphere was lively!

Servers were friendly but we were rushed to leave when we were non-stop eating and drinking. I was told we can stay up to 2 hours when I made a reservation and I thought it’s also because their food takes some time (which is totally understandable for a busy restaurant like this). We were there for about 1 hour and still finishing the second round and a server came and told us it’s last call. We planned to order more but we left instead and went somewhere else. Again, I understand the restaurant is very busy that they need a table and I would definitely go back, but it will be nicer to have time to enjoy the experience more.

The atmosphere is enjoyable and the food was great! Be sure to make a reservation or go right when it opens to ensure a seat.

I am a little bit disappointed, since I have been to Vancouver one Zakushi many times; It is really over rated at this location. Never return to this location

The premium tray and scallops are highly recommended. A little disappointed they didn't have wagyu beef balls, not sure if its a queen location item, but that was really good. The atmosphere is really immersive and food was really fresh. The oden was just the way i remembered.

WOWOWOW! This was truly an exceptional dinning experience with the some of the best Japanese style food I've had in Toronto. This is hands down my absolute favorite Izikaya I've have been to in Toronto so far. They should definitely be rated higher. I walked passed it every weekend during the lockdowns and I'm thrilled I finally had a chance to dine in. I can't wait to come back for my birthday in April!

What a great place. Atmosphere was great. Service just excellent. Food was tasty. Will be back soon

Prompt service and friendly staff! Food and drinks were great!
The shiso cocktail (the green drink) was incredibly good, never had a cocktail that’s unique and this delicious!

I went there with no reservation and the restaurant was at its full capacity. Even then, I didn't wait too much to be seated. Food was amazing, very tasteful and well presented!

Bad service, the food tastes bad and is expensive. When we entered the restaurant she did not ask for our id and vaccine. Then we waited for 40 minutes for our table and she said we can’t enter because our vaccine is invalid. But we already receive full dose and it is accepted everywhere except this place. Then we ask for takeout and no one reaches to us. We had to ask and take initiative ourselves. Worst experience and will never go here again.

Like a typical izakaya, it’s very loud and energetic as staff welcome everyone.

This is a very neat heavy restaurant focusing on yakatori. There’s very few vegetarian items with enough to make a small meal out of.

The best way to order food here is a few rounds so the food comes out hot and fresh rather than sitting at the table for a while.

To split bills you’ll have to order using different sheets so they know how much to charge per party.

The 1.5 h dining time limit was quite strict. I can understand that more reservations are definitely better for the business during COVID, but I have seen other restaurants that are more relaxed on this, especially when you ordered a lot of food (our bill was $200+)

The bill arrived on the table 2 mins before the time is up (without us even asking) and the server didn’t offer packing.

Food wise, everything was ok except the chicken liver, looks like it has a bit blood in it. We didn’t ask the servers about it because we didn’t have much time left lol

The service is insanely good in this restaurant, our Japanese waitress is actually so kind and patient. The dishes taste great too, one of the best barbecue restaurants in Toronto for sure. The atmosphere is great too. However the tables are a bit too small and the dishes are a little pricy. All in all this place is definitely worth a try!

Staffs are extremely courteous and the food are exceptional! A must go place to chat and get drunk!

The food and the service was amazing! The carbonara udon was especially great!
Make sure you reserve a spot though. Gets really busy around 7pm.

I liked this place a lot prior pandemic but when I went again the other day after reopen, the experience is surprisingly disappointing. They now have a 1.5 hr time limit for dine in, which is not nonsense but tbh, time limit is not suitable for all restaurants especially considering lots of people would go there simply enjoying the vibe and relax. Now it feels like you are writing an exam with a timer. I've seen lots of other restaurants that do a much better job managing both their business and customer experience during COVID. That's not the worst part.what's made the whole experience really terrible was that at the end the staff just slam the bill on my table when time is up. I was already rushing to finish up my meal and I was literally shocked. The food was okay, but if you want to really enjoy the authentic yakitori izakaya experience, you may want to look elsewhere unless you really know what you are here for (food is okay). Finally to the owner: if you really want to set a time limit, maybe consider a longer session length, since pretty much all the food takes time to grill and portion is small so order volume can be high. It takes about 20 mins to order and wait for the first dish to arrive, and there is also time spent on waiting for refill orders. AND, please train your staff how to serve customers properly if customer service is what you care. Thank you.

Fishcake soup was disappointed. It was a fish cake soup that felt like it had been in the soup for a long time. I spit it out while I was eating. And it was chef’s selection…? Oh no.

Ordered online and the website says the receipt has real-time update. But it never says it is ready so when we pick up the order, the food is not hot anymore.
Very disappointed, especially at this price point, meat is stiff. Some foods are too salty.

Tonight was the worst night. I was in a group of 4 people complying with the covid norms.
Our big mistake was to take a selfie. Why a mistake you will ask.the selfie was taken in a direction that the table beside us appeared and that table was at least 10 people, not following covid restrictions. That table the first thing they did was not to ask nicely to delete the photo. It was to throw us dirty napkins and shout us homophobic stuff.
The brilliant solution of the restaurant staff was to us to move us to a another table, that was in a worst place, in the restaurant letting the table next to us keep shouting and throwing stuff to us.
We only received free desert. So our integrity and mental health cost us a couple of ice creams.
I will not return to this restaurant or chain, the restaurant enabled violence against people that literally did nothing wrong or if we did we did not deserved that violent response, because the first thing we did was to delete the photo and they kept throwing and shouting stuff to us.
Violence should not be tolerated or enabled, the restaurant response was the contrary.

Love this little spot near Cabbagetown! Their Japanese charcoal skewers are delicious! They have many options to choose from, but you can by them one by one so you can try a few. They also have some combos if you're too overwhelmed to choose and those always have a nice assortment too. My favourite is their grilled chicken heart skewers and I always get some nice cold beer to go with it.

There’s a huge variety of skewers offered! And they are really tasty. They are quite expensive for what they are though and it adds up quick.

The thin cut beef tongue wasn't as good as it originally was. However, they brought back the grilled squid which I really enjoyed. Many waitresses I was familiar with also left, sad about that. They now only accept debit and credit card, not cash. Nonetheless, the service is still good and the foods are still attractive.

I don't understand why this restaurant get 4.5 ？My frds and I were all disappoint abt the skewers and sashimi. Nothing special. Price is too high. Could have gone a better japanese restaurant.

I would give you 5 stars but the Air conditioning unit on your roof is too damn loud. I will never hang out on your roof ever again

Focuses on skewers, their service is fantastic, wait times are long without reservation but they are so worth the food.their sake and alcohol selection is great and overall love the place

The food was great, the atmosphere was fantastic, the staff were both friendly and incredibly attentive! I would absolutely recommend it if you're in the area.

Dear management of the Zakkushi Izakaya,
Me and my family were looking forward to have a meal at your place, but we were shocked to discover that your place is misleading customers. As per your website it says: " Our signature dish is the charcoal grill skewers". Your premium grill skewers were not charcoal, but mixture of gas and charcoal. I will not recommend my family and friends to come here.

Update to you reply:

Dear management/owner,
The order delivered to our table was correct. Now, regarding your 'device to provide air for the charcoal' May I have a name or a brand name of it so I'll be no longer confused?
Thank you for your invitation to come back, but I will pass.

Delicious yakitori! A tad pricey, but every bite was worth it. Energy was great inside, and highly recommended if you want a bit of everything.

It has been a while since the last Sushi restaurant that occupied the space closed its doors. Jugemu has straightforward, minimalist menu. Ordered 12 piece sushi set. The "neta" was fresh and "shari" was perfectly cooked and seasoned. I thought 12 pieces may not be enough but it was surprisingly just enough. Each piece was unique and simply delicious. If you like sushi, this place is a must try.

My stomach and heart are full! Ever since returning from my trip to Tokyo in February I have longed for some of that culinary magic Japan had impressed me with. Zakkushi met my needs and left me super satisfied and nostalgic. The vibe and interior of the restaurant matched some of the places I had dined at while in Tokyo and the servers were very nice and friendly. The food was delicious and totally worth the price, every item I had ordered had me wanting more. I was served the best wagyu beef I have come across in Toronto so far. Overall my experience was very good and I will be back to enjoy some more delicious food.

A proper yakitori spot. Taste was spot on. Price was a bit high but I did not mind. Their sake selection was one of the best I had. Another hidden gem in Cabbage town. Good Japanese vibe. Izakaya is truly upheld. A definite place to revisit. Very warm welcome and goodbyes.

Strengths: great flavours, great environment, food was hot
Weakness: it's a bit hot and stuffy. Seating is tight

First thing you notice when you enter is the greeting from all the staff. We went to the restaurant early and was able to get a seat at the counter. The menu is mainly skewers and Appy items. I ordered a whole bunch of various items. Every skewer was hot and seasoned perfectly.

Place was tight though and can get very busy.

Awesome experience and great food. The atmosphere was fun, staff super nice. Love the wagyu beef skewers. It's loud in here as the staff yell out orders, but was a great night out.

Great vibes, run by japanese folks, super friendly and polite service.would def recommend coming here as the quality of food is top drawer

Service was awesome, food even better! At first its a bit overwhelming with all the yelling but after 10 mins you wanna yell with everyone lol
Will give a 5 star once im back and try more dishes!

I can grantee this is absolutely real Japanese Izakaya! Additionally, and trust me it is one of the best Izakaya restaurants in Toronto. Without a doubt, waitresses and waiters all have friendly and patient attitude as usually, and nice service makes a excellent experience to enjoy the atmosphere.

Nice Japanese skewers place.

Friendly staff and very accommodating. If you are in the mood for Japanese and want skewers, sake, and drinks. It is a fantastic place to check out with friends.

Great food, very friendly and hard working staff. Very pricey, not a place to actually eat a hearty dinner. $40 will get you 2 beers and about 3 skewers each. Skewers are 2-3 bites.
I would recommend trying this place once. The food is very good and it is lively. Great place to go with a party. I don't recommend making this a regular spot due to the price tho.

Ambiance très particulière avec les serveurs qui crient en japonais lors du passage d'un client. Nourritures bonnes mais un peu cher pour ce que c'est. Vous pourrez y manger dans un décor de film japonais. Ne vous attendez pas à manger des suchis mais plutôt des brochettes

Haven't been to Zakkushi for a year. The drink menu seems changed. Not much choice for non-alcohol drinks. The service is good. The food is ok. The best skewer is chicken liver!