2026 Toronto Izakaya Map: 12 Must-Visit Izakaya and Yakitori Spots

Toronto’s izakaya scene has many faces. There’s Guu, carrying on Vancouver’s Japanese pub culture; Zakkushi, whose menu centres on charcoal-grilled skewers; and Imanishi, inspired by everyday Tokyo cooking. Head to North York, Markham and Thornhill and you’ll find Japanese-Korean fusion plates, a yakitori bar in Unionville and long-running Japanese spots in J-Town.

Rather than simply listing restaurants by dish, this guide looks at izakaya culture, grilling styles and atmosphere to round up 12 Japanese izakaya across Toronto, North York and Markham. Whether you want an after-work drink or a slow tasting of different chicken cuts on skewers, start with this map.

How to choose an izakaya: look at what the menu centres on

How to choose an izakaya: look at what the menu centres on. An izakaya is more a way of eating than a type of food: it’s built around drinks and shared plates, so you can eat and talk at the same time. Menus can include sashimi, grilled dishes, fried food, simmered dishes and even rice and noodles. There’s no rule that every izakaya has to focus on sushi.

A few words help when choosing. Yakitori focuses on chicken and its different cuts; kushiyaki is broader and can include beef, pork, seafood and vegetables. At places built around home-style or creative small plates, what matters is how the dishes work together, not how many skewers are on offer. The list below is grouped by dining style, so you don’t have to choose on decor alone.

Charcoal and skewers: getting to know Japanese grilling cut by cut

Zakkushi: built around binchotan skewers

Zakkushi started in Vancouver before expanding to Toronto. It’s known for Japanese skewers with a smoky charcoal aroma, grilled over Japanese binchotan. Binchotan burns very hot and gives ingredients a lovely char, though the final texture also depends on prep and grilling skill. If you’re looking for a yakitori-focused izakaya in Toronto, Zakkushi is a good place to start.

The fun of the menu is how much variety one bird can offer. Momo is thigh, negima adds green onion, and tsukune turns the meat into meatballs; further down you’ll find skin, liver, heart and gizzard. On a first visit there’s no need to try every cut: start with thigh and tsukune, then add one or two offal or vegetable skewers. The point is to compare textures, not to order the whole menu.

Try: start with Negima (chicken thigh and green onion) and Tsukimi Tsukune (chicken meatball with egg yolk), then add Umeshiso Yaki (thigh with plum and shiso). For a fuller meal, finish with Mentai Carbonara Udon.

Photo: Google Maps

Address:193 Carlton St, Toronto, ON M5A 2K7

Guu Izakaya: bringing izakaya energy to Queen Street West

When the current Parkdale location opened, 2016 coverage named Masaru Ogasawara and Natsuhiko Sugimoto as owners and chefs. Toronto’s earlier Guu location was later renamed Kinka, so today’s Guu on Queen Street West isn’t simply the old branch relocated. Beyond the brand story, Guu’s appeal is at the table: a few friends sharing plates, with drinks and conversation flowing together. The Parkdale location emphasises community and connection, and the menu keeps classic dishes alongside daily specials. It’s a place to drop the one-main-each habit and order in rounds for the whole table.

Try: Kakimayo (baked oysters), Gindara (miso black cod) and Ebi Mayo (fried shrimp) for rich sauce, grilled fish and crunch. The restaurant also highlights classics like Yaki Udon and Oden.

Photo: Google Maps

Address: 1314 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6K 1L4

Kintaro Izakaya: a Church Street menu for both drinks and a full meal

Kintaro, near Church and Wellesley, calls itself a Japanese tapas and bar, with a menu that runs from charcoal skewers to sushi, ramen and traditional starters. Its strength is range: at the same table, one person can graze on skewers while another orders a bowl of noodles.

Look closely and you’ll see familiar dishes alongside twists. Chicken thigh comes with green onion or with rice cake; wings are grilled plain or deboned and stuffed with pork. Small plates range from miso eggplant and braised pork belly to dishes with Korean sauces, showing the cross-cultural flavours common in Toronto izakaya.

Try: Momo Negi (thigh and green onion), Tebasaki Gyoza (stuffed chicken wings), Nasu Dengaku (miso eggplant) and Buta no Kakuni (braised pork belly). Skewers are dine-in only, so sit down if you want to try them.

Photo: Google Maps

Address:459 Church St, Toronto, ON M4Y 2C5

Izakaya Ju: a Japanese izakaya in J-Town

Izakaya Ju’s story is as interesting as its location. It’s in J-Town, and founder Ju-san is from Tokyo; according to the restaurant, he moved abroad after building his cooking career and has been serving Japanese food in the GTA since 2010.

For Markham diners, it works as a planned dinner out or as a stop after browsing the Japanese shops. The menu covers small plates, sashimi, charcoal grilling, robatayaki, and rice and noodles: a full Japanese eatery and pub in one. The charcoal section is especially good for skewer beginners, with approachable wings and pork belly as well as duck breast, house-made tsukune and beef tongue.

Try: the Yakitori Combo (two wing skewers plus one each of pork belly, duck breast and tsukune) to sample different meats, then add the Premium Beef Tongue with Japanese sesame and green onion sauce.

Photo: Google Maps

Address: Unit 3, 3160 Steeles Ave E, Markham, ON L3R 3Y2

Sake Bar Kushi: from the drinks list to the bar snacks

Sake Bar Kushi brings sake, small plates and get-togethers under one roof. It suits diners who are curious about Japanese drinks and want to explore them alongside food. There’s sake and shochu, plus a karaoke space; compared with skewer-focused spots, the emphasis here is on food-and-drink pairing and a party atmosphere.

The menu isn’t only skewers: sushi rolls, sashimi and cooked dishes all feature. That makes it easy for groups where some want sake and others want a proper fish dish. When choosing a sake, tell the staff whether you like it crisp, fruity or rice-forward, and talk through pairings with what you’ve ordered rather than picking by label.

Try: Grilled Yuzu Miso Black Cod, Homemade Crab Dumplings and the Sake Bar Kushi Roll. If you plan to use the karaoke room, ask about rooms, time slots and minimum spend when you book.

Photo: Google Maps

Address:257 Eglinton Ave W, Toronto, ON M4R 1B1

Imanishi Japanese Kitchen: Japanese home cooking meets izakaya plates

Imanishi Japanese Kitchen puts Japanese home cooking and izakaya plates on the same table. It was founded by Shori Imanishi and Daisuke Gomyo, whose careers link the Japanese dining scenes of Vancouver and Toronto: according to 2016 coverage, they met working at Guu in Vancouver and later turned a Toronto pop-up into a permanent spot. They took over a former Portuguese sports bar on Dundas West and filled it with the manga, skateboarding and music they love.

The restaurant describes its food as “Tokyo homestyle cooking”, and that’s the key to Imanishi. What’s worth exploring is how homey dishes become drinking food: potato salad gets a salty hit of anchovy, corn becomes fritters, and a meal unfolds from a few simple-looking plates. It shows that everyday Japanese food goes far beyond sushi and ramen.

Try: Corn Kakiage (corn fritters), Anchovy Potato Salad and Saba Miso-Ni (mackerel simmered in miso).

Photo: Google Maps

Address:1330 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1Y1

Gonzo Izakaya: Japanese small plates with a modern Toronto vibe

Gonzo is run by brothers Hansang and Juwon Lee. Both started working in kitchens young, completed culinary school after moving to Toronto, and worked at restaurants including George and Ascari King. Gonzo puts izakaya cooking in a more modern space, and the brothers later opened another bar, Kensei. That background explains Gonzo well: a Japanese pub shaped by its owners’ restaurant experience and love of nostalgia.

Try: for more unusual chicken cuts, look for Soriresu (chicken oyster) or Bonjiri (tail). For small plates, go for the Uni Baguette or Aburi Shime Saba (torched cured mackerel).

Photo: Google Maps

Address:940 College St, Toronto, ON M6H 1A5

Yuugi Izakaya: Japanese pub style in Baldwin Village

Yuugi offers a contemporary take on Japanese food and izakaya culture, with skewers, small plates and drinks. It’s in Baldwin Village, a good stop for a few dishes and a drink after exploring the area’s restaurant strip. The restaurant’s website lists its Baldwin Street address and menu.

The restaurant describes itself with a 1990s mood, retro decor, yakitori and Japanese snacks. What’s really worth lingering over is how finely the chicken is divided: beyond thigh, wings and tsukune, there’s heart, gizzard, tail and Hatsu Moto, marked as limited daily. If you want to go from just eating skewers to really understanding yakitori, these choices say more than the decor.

Try: Iburi Gakko (smoked pickled radish with cream cheese), Chicken Nanban Karaage and Mentaiko Cream Udon.

Photo: Google Maps

Address:49 Baldwin St, Toronto, ON M5T 1L1

Hanmoto: Japanese snacks with Toronto snack-bar playfulness

Hanmoto is another way into Toronto’s creative small-bar culture. Leemo Han’s cooking sits where Japanese and American bar snacks meet, and with its low-key entrance and tiny room it’s often described as a Japanese snack bar with a speakeasy feel. It’s for people who want a little surprise in familiar food.

Nothing shows that playfulness better than the Dyno Wings: deboned wings stuffed with pork and deep-fried into a hefty snack. Here wings aren’t just a sidekick to beer; they’re the restaurant’s signature. Order one rich signature like this first, then balance the table with lighter small plates.

Try: Dyno Wings (stuffed fried chicken wings) and Moto Eggs (Japanese-style devilled eggs)

Note: the menu may change, so check what’s available when you visit.

Photo: Google Maps

Address:2 Lakeview Ave, Toronto, ON M6J 1X4

Mikaku Izakaya: Japanese-Korean fusion in North York

Mikaku positions itself as an Asian fusion restaurant and sake bar, and you can read that straight off the menu: alongside karaage, torched salmon and tossed udon, you’ll find rosé tteokbokki, beef intestine hot pot and spicy Korean dishes.

For anyone who knows North York’s food scene, this Japanese-Korean crossover is familiar, and it makes the izakaya feel like an everyday dinner spot. If your group likes bold flavours, sauces and sharing, Mikaku’s menu makes it easy to agree. Start with beef tartare or torched fish, move on to fried dishes, and finish with cream udon or rice cakes. It’s made for sharing, so everyone gets to try everything without filling up on mains too early.

Try: Mikaku Beef Tartare with house sauce and quail egg yolk, Yuzu Deep Fried Chicken, and Spicy Cream Udon with seafood.

Photo: Google Maps

Address:6180 Yonge St, North York, ON M2M 3X1

Sumoki Yakitori: dinner starts with yakitori

Sumoki, on Main Street Unionville, is a modern yakitori and izakaya bar. The restaurant notes that skewers are prepped and threaded daily and grilled over imported binchotan, with quantities depending on that day’s ingredients. That detail matters more than charcoal temperature alone: good yakitori also depends on prep, portioning and grilling rhythm.

There’s also sake, beer and seasonal cocktails, making yakitori the star of the night. To try different cuts, ask what’s available that evening before deciding on your next round; limited cuts won’t be there every visit.

Try: Negima (thigh and green onion), Tsukune with egg yolk dipping sauce, and Mentaiko Carbonara Udon.

Photo: Google Maps

Address:Unit 9, 18 Fred Varley Dr, Markham, ON L3R 1S4

Mokutan Yakitori & Oyster Izakaya: something for every taste

Mokutan is in Thornhill near Yonge and Steeles. As the name suggests, it pairs yakitori with oysters. For a group with different tastes, that gives plenty of options: some can have meat skewers, others seafood, and everyone can share.

Besides skewers there are fried oysters, okonomiyaki and mentaiko udon, so you can start with a few meat skewers, add a seafood dish and a main, moving from grilled to crispy and finishing with noodles. Rather than chasing the most authentic label, this way of ordering looks after everyone at the table.

Try: pork belly skewers, chicken gizzard skewers, fried oysters and Mentaiko Udon.

Photo: Google Maps

Address:7057 Yonge St, Thornhill, ON L3T 2A6