Eating at the 10-seat sushi bar at Yasu is one of the best omakase options in the city. The tasting menu includes 20 pieces of sushi, each carefully put together, painted with soy sauce, and presented one by one by the chef behind the counter. On any given night that can include everything from the tuna and salmon to bonito, mackerel, and uni.

Tucked away in the heart of downtown Toronto, Yasu provides an authentic omakase experience (the first of its kind in Canada) for diners seeking to enjoy sushi at its traditional finest. Headed by Chef Yasu, a lifelong sushi enthusiast and trained Japanese sushi chef, this small, intimate restaurant features a counter where diners can watch Chef Yasu prepare and serve a variety of premium sushi selections made with fresh, seasonal ingredients. In keeping with the tradition of omakase, there is only one menu at Yasu: The chef's choice tasting menu, which is updated daily to ensure diners always receive only the freshest fish.

Why You Need To Go: “There is only one menu" reads the website for this tiny, intimate prix-fixe restaurant headed by Chef Yasu, which happens to be Canada’s first Omakase sushi bar. Chef Yasu’s coveted, ever-changing daily tasting menu is built to feature fresh, seasonal, quality fish prepared expertly and thoughtfully. It certainly isn’t cheap at $185 per seating - which includes a kaiseki plate, soup, seasonal nigiri, and a dessert - but if you’re looking for memorable Japanese cuisine that cuts no corners, you have to check this place out!

Yasu celebrates the ocean’s best catches and the craft of sushi in its award-winning Toronto eatery; dishes created by Executive Chef and Owner Yasuhisa Ouchi from Osaka, Japan. There is only one menu at Yasu; Omakase style (chef's choice set course) at $135 per person, a Japanese tradition wherein Chef Yasu creates a new menu daily based on the freshest and seasonal seafood available from around the world. The Omakase course consists of approximately 20 items include appetizers, sushi and dessert.

Yasuhisa Ouchi won’t let just anyone walk in off the street to eat at his Harbord Village sushi counter. (You gotta reserve first, duh.) Ouchi, an alumnus of Nobu’s Melbourne outpost, hand-picks the finest specimens from around the world for his daily omakase menus. Each piece, from delicate monkfish liver to kombu-marinated fluke, is plated solo on glossy pottery, like a precious gem atop a pillow.

At Yasu, freshly sourced seafood meets the skilled hands of Chef Yasuhisa Ouchi, delivering Canada’s finest Omakase. With an elegant yet relaxed atmosphere, Yasu offers exceptional Omakase at a more accessible price than big-city sushi spots. For lunch, sink your teeth in 16 expertly crafted sushi pieces, featuring unique seafood like sea bass, scallops, and lobster, followed by a sweet dessert.

Yasu’s claim to fame is that it is Canada’s very first omakase sushi bar. Omakase is a Japanese phrase which, quite literally, means “I’ll leave it up to you.” At Yasu, only one menu exists. Head chef and founder of Yasu, Yasuhisa Ouchi, trusts his instincts and creates a new daily menu which incorporates only the freshest seafood and ingredients from all over the world.

Yasu has a sister restaurant in LA's super-swish Beverly Hills, which should tell you everything you need to know about its vibe. That being said, the Toronto site is the original (and dare we say, best) from chef and owner, Yasuhisa Ouchi. Order an omakase menu here and you get 20 'items' to see you all the way from appetizers to "I'm too full to eat anymore.

Situated in Harbord Village, Yasu is a haven for sushi enthusiasts who appreciate the omakase dining experience. Revered for its impeccable presentation and commitment to traditional techniques, Yasu offers a seasonal selection that promises the freshest ingredients. The ambiance is minimalistic yet elegant, placing a spotlight on the chef’s artistry.

Yasu is the first sushi bar in Toronto, Canada that brought the well-known Japanese omakase into practice. Definitely, their omakase platter is regarded as the best in Toronto. Whereas their intimate dining with only 12 seats for a 2-hour omakase experience at just around $155 per person tempts a lot of sushi aficionados to try their menus.

You won’t get more authentic than this Harbord Street sushi outlet. The restaurant has been praised as some of the best sushi in Toronto, considering its quality traditional tastes with innovative presentation. The owner and executive chef are Japanese-born, underlining that you are getting sushi as close to the homeland as it gets.

Bearing the title as the first Japanese omakase sushi bar in Canada, we naturally had high expectations for Yasu. And much like its beloved patrons, we weren’t disappointed with the menu and the great customer service. One of the things that make this sushi restaurant unique is its approach to the dining experience.

Speaking of omakase sushi bars, Yasu Toronto is another one that’s worth checking out. During the last time I visited, my favorite entries were the Hokkaido Bafun uni and the hotaru ika. The uni had a nice complex flavor profile, and the hotaru ika had an interesting texture—crispy and soft at the same time.

I was reminded of this place by a commenter on my post about the best lockdown takeout in Toronto. Also located in Harbord Village, Yasu is one of the city’s top restaurants for omakase. The prix fixe menu for $135 per person includes a selection of 20 items, including appetizers, sushi, and dessert.

Why: Yasu, a Japanese restaurant offering only omakase, is a perfect example of what I love about Toronto restaurants. From the intimate sushi bar seating to the exquisite, high-quality ingredients, experience an authentic multi-course meal of edomae style sushi without crossing the ocean.

Yasu was Canada’s very first Japanese omakase sushi bar, and they’re definitely one of the best in Toronto. They have extremely limited seating with just 12 seats, and the 2-hour omakase experience is $155 per person. They even do takeout, and you can grab their Omakase Sushi Box for $95!

Sushi stans crowd into this petite, award-winning Harbord Village sushi bar to spend hours staring down some of the city's finest seasonal fish. Focused on simplicity and the natural umami of ingredients, chef Yasu takes diners on a journey of discovery through each omakase sushi tasting.

Imagine this: a sushi spot in Toronto where the chef picks out all the freshest, seasonal fish and prepares it just for you. That’s Yasu, Toronto’s very first Omakase sushi bar. Instead of browsing a menu, you get to trust the chef’s expertise and enjoy a delicious sushi tasting course.

Address: 81 Harbord St, Toronto, ON M5S 1G4Phone: 416-477-2361. This is not your traditional sushi restaurant where you sit down, open the menu, and place your order with the waiter/waitress. Yasu is an omakase restaurant, which directly translates to ‘I leave it up to you’ (the chef).

Operating on a reservation-only basis, the self-proclaimed ‘omakase only’ restaurant, Yasu, is a sushi-enthusiasts dream!. Within an intimate and relaxed setting, expertly selected fish that’s in its seasonal prime is served on perfectly cooked rice. Photo Courtesy: @SkippaRestaurant

Canada’s first omakase sushi bar is tucked away in Harbord Village. Helmed by award-winning Chef Yasu, diners are treated to an intimate and one-of-a-kind experience. Chef Yasu creates his daily menu based on fresh and seasonal fish, and every day is an exceptional culinary surprise.

Yasu isn’t your average California roll, in-and-out sushi hole in the wall. The restaurant serves twelve people at one table and one price per person. With only two nightly sittings, 6:00 pm and 8:30 pm, diners must make a reservation and arrive on time.

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (86 reviews) - Detailed ratings: Food (5.0/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.5/5) - Type of cuisine: Japanese, Sushi - Price: $$$$ - Address: Omakase Sushi Bar, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1G4 Canada - Read more on Tripadvisor

If you’re in the mood for exquisite Omakase at home, Yasu should be high on your list. The restaurant offers premium Omakase sushi using the freshest, seasonal catch of the day for $150 per person.

The sea-broth-flavored custard tastes unlike any part of fish you can name. After you swallow, you’re told it’s a cod organ. Later you Google shirako, only to discover…

Guests are served a sushi selection made using the freshest fish available on the day. A sought-after dining experience; bookings are taken well in advance.