Kinka Izakaya Bloor

Great food and lively environment, but seats are a bit uncomfortable. A lot more space than the other location, with a very similar menu.

So, I have a new favourite! :) I loved everything about this experience. The atmosphere, the service, style, quality of the dishes… etc. This night could not have been made better in any way. Every member of staff that my party interacted with was a pleasure to deal with. We ordered many dishes to share and every single thing was delicious!

We came on a whim and really enjoyed it. Shared a flight of three shot glasses of sake, based on some good recommendations from our server, and then tucked in to the five dishes we ordered, which came in swift succession not long after the glasses were cleared:
Blanched spinach in black sesame sauce: sooooo tasty! Served cold, the spinach nicely wilted but with crispy stalks, the sauce salty and tangy on the tongue.
Seared tuna sashimi: small mouthfuls of fresh-​tasting light tuna that balanced firmness with softness and were complemented by the crunch of tiny garlic chips, the sweet-​salty sauce soaked up by the bed of shredded daikon.
Calamari: perhaps a bit heavy on the sauce, but with great texture and balanced flavours, so not offensive.
Kimchi udon: the kimchi was mild and there wasn’t a ton of it, but it blended well with the somewhat fishy cream sauce that coated the springy udon.
Black cod: the star of the evening. Fish like silky butter under a crisp skin, in a gorgeous miso/​yuzu sauce. I could have eaten this dish all night.
This was just enough food for the two of us. We could perhaps have ordered one more dish and not felt stuffed, but we felt decently satisfied having had five.
The call-​and-​answer routine of the staff is goofy but entertaining. We sat at the bar so sometimes it was literally right in our faces. But since we expected it, we had no problem going with the flow. A fun place to have a lively date night AND enjoy good food.

Completely in love with this place!
I loved the idea that the restaurant is divided into two as you have a choice to sit at the regular dining area or sit with your shoes off and sit on cushions!
Food was beyond delicious, everything we ordered tasted unique.
— Ebimayo” (prawns), was ok as it was only lightly battered deep fried shrimp.
-«Ikapiri» (calamari), which was my least favourite as it had too much of the spicy ketchup.
-«Takoyaki» (octopus balls) which was interesting! It looked like the flakes on top were moving on their own. A definite must try!
— «Kakuni» (braised pork belly), which was tender and had a small kick of spice
— «Kakimayo» (baked oyster) with cheese and mushrooms! It was an oyster of greatness. A definite must try!
— Kinoko Bibimbap (Rice & mushrooms in a stone bowl), where the waiter actually would mix it for you nicely, and it definitely had its own taste.
The place does get really loud, so not ideal for an intimate outing. But thoroughly enjoyed the service and the friendly greetings. I recommend making reservations and going as a group to share.

I was so sad to find out that Guu was gone! But then super relieved that the restaurant still exists, just under a new name! I was there last night, love that you can make reservations online now, and two hour seating limit is more than enough time.
I love this location because of the pillow seats. It’s quieter in that area and very cozy. Brie Cheese is my favourite (the mango and berry sauce is delicious), as well as the Carbonara Udon and the Kinoko Bibimbap. Everything is really tasty! I recommend getting a bowl of white rice too.
Frozen grapes when you get your bill, is a very nice touch :)

I was invited to this location for a free tasting.
I was startled when I arrived and heard lots of yelling. After awhile I caught on… Every time someone arrives or leaves, the staff all yell a greeting or goodbye in Japanese. So enthusiastic! This is not a quiet place, if that’s what you’re looking for.
We were seated in the private room by the entrance. You removed your shoes when you enter and the seating is sunken in the floor. You sit on the pillow at your table, but there is space for you to put your legs, like you are sitting in a regular chair. It’s a beautiful room!
Here are my favourites from the Tasting Menu…
Karaage was the tastiest, juiciest fried chicken I’ve had in a long time (and I’ve been eating a lot of Korean Fried Chicken latetly!). It came with a side of garlic mayo to top it all off.
Kaki Mayo, a oyster served with cheese, mushrooms and spinach, was almost my favourite item. Served on a giant clamshell, it was salty, savoury, cheese and interesting all at the same time. I almost started laughing when it arrived because I thought I had to slurp down a giant oyster. Oops! They do give you a spoon. You’ve got to try it.
The Gindara, grilled black cod marinated in miso was my favourite. The cod absorbed of the flavours of the miso right through. So good. I could eat a lot of this.
The beef short rims, Karubi, were also marinated in miso and they kept me coming back. So tender and sweet. Miso makes everything taste good!
Service was great, but this WAS a tasting. I still plan on going back!

*due to a contract ending with Kitanoya Marketing Corp., all the Guu Izakaya locations in Toronto will be renamed to Kinka Izakaya — which means Golden Flower. Don’t worry though, the staff and menu remained the same, and of course the food never failed to disappoint me.
*I got the tasting menu for $ 33/​person. If you don’t want the set menu, all of their dishes are available a la carte as well so you can go either way! Do note that the tasting menu is slightly different between all three locations as well, so do check prior to going!
*If you dislike all the shouting and loud ambiance, the Bloor location actually have a tatami room that is far away from all of that so we can all finally carry a conversation without the constant yelling!
*My only complain of the night was perhaps the flow of the courses. I’m not sure if the order of the dishes on the tasting menu remain the same like how we received it, but it would have been better if a salad dish was served in-​between the heavy courses to refresh the palate.
–Gomaae — blanched spinach with sesame sauce
I honestly didn’t think I would have liked this dish due to its simplicity, but it was surprisingly tasty! The thick black sesame sauce provided a nutty and saltiness to the freshly blanched spinach, which was a really nice way to start the course.
–Maguro Tataki — seared BC tuna sashimi with ponzu & garlic chips
The tuna sashimi was thinly sliced and seared, then garnished with garlic chips which was just enough to not ruin the delicate flavor of the fresh tuna. The acidity from the ponzu sauce brighten up the dish and don’t forget the bed of daikon at the bottom that was a perfect palate cleanser.
–Seaweed & Tofu salad — marinated seaweed & tofu on greens
Sadly this was our least favorite dish of the night. Though I loved the combinations of the salad with the ponzu soy vinaigrette, I thought it was a bit bland and there was too much greens (iceberg lettuce if I remember correctly) underneath.
–Karaage — deep fried soy sauce marinated chicken with garlic mayo
As always the one at Kinka was tender and juicy with a crispy-​light surface. I thought the mayo tasted just like a generic mayonnaise and the garlic was nowhere to be found, so it would have been nice if there was more garlic or spices to add a kick to the chicken karaage.
–Kaki Mayo — baked BC oyster with spinach, mushrooms & garlic mayo topped with cheese
I always like oysters and I much prefer them raw for the most part, but I wouldn’t mind ordering this dish again. Though the kaki mayo came with two giant B.C. oyster shells, the oyster pieces were all chopped up and incredibly tiny. However the thick creamy cheese coating with plenty of mushroom and spinach still hits the spot for me, and I also recommend this as a «filler» dish to get full as well.
–Karubi — grilled miso marinated beef short ribs
Though the beef short ribs lacked the charred grill marks that would have added a bit of smokiness to the dish, it was still flavorful and tender.
–Gindara — grilled miso marinated black cod with yuzu miso sauce
he fish was grilled perfectly and had just a slight crispy skin, finished off with a nice yuzu miso sauce to cut the fattiness of the dish. It was so soft and just melted in your mouth like butter…
–Kinoko Bibimbap — rice, mushroom with cheese w/​seaweed sauce in sizzling stone bowl
The combination of the cheese, earthy mushroom and subtle nori was just incredible. The sizzling hot stone bowl crisped up the bottom of the rice, giving the entire dish a wonderful texture! In my opinion the dish would have been better if there was a bit more cheese, because who doesn’t love some gooey creamy cheese with each bites.
–Sake Tiramisu
The cakes had a strong taste of sake, unfortunately it was a bit too grainy for both C and I so we couldn’t finish it. I thought the almond tofu cake (?) would have been a better choice to end the course as I remember it being really light and refreshing.

«We remember coming here last time and not knowing which dish to try from their square grid menu. The taste menu option is certainly a great alternative as an introduction.»
«Kinka means Golden Flower we were told, something which bring happiness to everyone. It definitely did to us.»
«As much as the deep fried breaded chicken with garlic mayo on the side sounds simple and fastfood-​like, the dish left us in awe. The meat was very flavorful and soft which was aided by (presumably) long marination in soy sauce and a dash of sake.»

I cannot believe I have not reviewed this place before. This is my favourite restaurant in Toronto. Tip to avoid lines: get here right at 5pm (if you can) to avoid line ups, or come Monday/​Tues/​Wed.
For a good experience, come here with 3 friends (parties of 4 are best for sharing these dishes) and order all these dishes:
— Salmon Natto Yukke (very flavourful and unique)
— Brie Cheese (deep fried brie: heavy and really unhealthy, but so good!)
— Ebimayo (fried prawns)
— Okonomiyaki (traditional japanese pancake)
— Kakimayo (baked oyster with mushrooms and cheese: one of my absolute favourites here)
— Yaki udon (noodles)
— Kinoko bibimap (such a great texture and unique flavour)
— ANY of their oshizushi (salmon is always on the menu, but sometimes they have specials… this is sushi with fish that has been blowtorched for a smoky flavour)
— I’m generally not big on dessert, but if you are going to get a dessert here, get the Goma Zukushi.
The price is really reasonable for this place — around $ 30 each person for delicious food that fills you up!

Guu recently changed their name to Kinka due to the ending of a franchise agreement with the parent company. That is pretty much the only thing that’s changed. It’s still a boisterous place with delicious, shareable plates. If it’s your first time at Kinka, here’s what you should try:
Kakuni — braised pork belly ($ 8.8)
Kakimayo — baked oyster (8.5)
Brie cheese — (7.5)
Karaage — deep fried chicken (7.8)
Salmon tataki –seared BC salmon (7.8)
I would also recommend the Unagi bibimbap but only if you’re into BBQ eel.
The list above is a decent amount of food for 3 – 4 people.
The crème brûlée pudding is divine.
The service here is excellent. I was recently here for a birthday and requested a birthday dessert special. Our server was lovely and made sure everything was perfect. They even sing for you and take a picture for you to keep.

So Guu SakaBar is not the most traditional izakaya place. I was quite disappointed as I was expecting to have a paper menu with grill items I can check off. If that’s what you think this place be forewarned — this is not that place!
Instead, there are some fusion-​y asian offerings that are decent, but are a bit heavy in flavor which is understandable since they do serve alcohol. Since it is an izakaya place I don’t recommend the sushi or sashimi here — I feel that it’s never quite as good as if you got it from a real sushi place and this is no exception. Plus it was sort of expensive for my taste.
The carbonara udon was quite delicious. I do recommend it. It’s best if split among three people or two people with large appetites. The udon is al dente, the carbonara flavor is on point and creamy and it’s delicious.
The pork belly had a good flavor to it, but I felt it could be a bit more tender and stewed for a longer period.
The miso black cod was just so so. I wasn’t too impressed with it and have definitely had better.
This place is also LOUD. Almost overbearingly so. Come here if you don’t want to talk to your date I suppose or if you’re going to have a night of eating and debauchery or are pre-​gaming for such. Although the restaurant is pretty solid — I believe there are better places for this type of food, especially at the price point.

I love the GUU in Vancouver (at Gastown.) This was the original GUU location, before the wildly successful Izakaya chain opened several others locations, including the two Toronto locations. I was excited to visit GUU in Toronto, but this particular location disappointed me. It may be that GUU are victims of their own success, and have let their quality slip. I might be harsh in giving them only 2 stars. You might have a good dining experience if you come here. But at the same time, I could not — in good faith — give them higher marks.
First of all, the sushi offering was very minimal. At the Vancouver GUU I had some amazing and interesting sushi. I found no such offering here.
The «Salmon Tataki» was low-​quality fish. Plus, it was drenched with ponzu. The wasabi mayo that was advertised was nowhere to be found. Worst of all, it was garnished with garlic chips that were burnt. It’s bad enough to ruin the delicate flavor of raw fish with garlic, and it’s downright sacrilegious to serve it with burnt garlic.
The «Sashimi Salad» had nothing to do with sashimi. It consisted of low quality small morsels of fish that were left marinating in lime, and were more like a ceviche. They were sitting of a bed of plain romaine lettuce. They were covered, again, with burnt garlic.
The «Tontoro» (grilled pork cheek) was not bad, but it was very dry and tough meat.
The Pork Belly (off the special menu) was a somewhat better dish (and it was generous), but it wasn’t anywhere nearly as good as pork belly can be.
They have several options for cold sake here. including a sampler. I like the concept. But truthfully, the price is a bit too rich for my blood. I’m one of those uncultured few who likes his sake warm and cheap. When it comes to sake, I’m more about the quantity than the quality. Classy guy — that’s me.
The GUU staff are well-​known for greeting you warmly and loudly. The problem is that the shouting goes on all evening and it really gets old and annoying after a while. Their birthday theatrics are equally loud and obnoxious. I’m all for playful attitude, but they really are overdoing it here. Other Izakayas greet you cheerfully in a much less offensive manner.
To top it all off, there’s evidence that this place is not the cleanest. Let’s just leave it at that.
Life is too short to eat bad GUU.

I had a set menu of nine items for 35 dollars. I understand that at an izakaya the portions are supposed to be small but I felt that some of the items were really small.
The food itself was good, a lot of good flavours and fresh seafood. In my opinion for the price of the food I dont think it is a place I would frequent.

Wonderful food. Fish was so fresh. Sesame desert was amazing. Seaweed salad was perfect. Improvement suggestion: Grilled pork can be a bit thinner and Palm wine was too small portion with the price.

It’s really loud here and employees feel the need to greet everyone that walks in and out. There isn’t separate billing so be prepared if you’re coming with a group of friends. Good selection of food but not really filling because they’re really small portions.
You could end up spending $ 40 and still be hungry. But their food is okay. I’m sure you can find the same food at an all you can eat for half the cost.

Chose this place for my last dinner in Toronto.
Atmosphere is like any other Japanese yakitori joints. If you’re trying to have an intimate/​serious dinner… please opt to sit in the shoes off dining room. It is almost impossible to carry a conversation on the main floor without saying, «what, huh, i couldn’t hear you — could you repeat that».
All the food was decently priced… we ordered a bottle of sake ($ 20) and beer with 6 items and the bill was under $ 80.
Salmon Tartare was so fresh and clean tasting
Beef Udon was my second favorite dish.
–Do not order the baked oyster… all you can taste is the slab of mayo on top–

I think I might have been the last Asian person in the city to try this place and I finally did. Finally!
I don’t remember exactly what my group ordered but there was not one dish that I did not enjoy. I’m not even a big fan of oysters but the baked oysters with garlic and cheese was delicious.
My favorite item was the spinach. Sounds underrated but it was so simple and the sesame was refreshing. Everyone loved this dish.
Other things that are mentionable:
Kaarage: typical dish, pieces are big enough so that you don’t have to eat more than one.
Oyster with garlic and cheese: perfection. And I don’t even like oysters.
Udon carbonara: nice twist with thick noodles. I liked this better than the kimchi Udon.
Kudos to the staff for the last minute reservation for a table at 7 for a Thursday night.

Currently my favorite izakaya and sakabar place! Very friendly staff! Once you walk in. It might be a bit noisy but everyone makes you feel so welcomed. Feels great on a cold wintery night. Food is in small portions but that allows for you to taste more and different things! I would definitely recommend their takowasabi. They always have specials and features! Those are worth a try.
Its homey but a bit noisy. Makes sense though for a sakabar!

recommend: tako wasabi, fried brie cheese (must) and fried calamari
the Goma Zukushi is also delicious.
I wouldn’t recommend saba (grilled mackerel), it has a strong fishy taste. Black cod is a better choice.
Today’s special, ocean treasure is pricey.
overall, great service and atmosphere.
sure will return

Don’t fall into all the hype. This place is fun and the atmosphere is out of control, but keep in mind that if you want a full satisfying meal, you won’t find it here. In general if you want to come out of this place full and satisfied with your meal, you’re looking at spending upwards of $ 40 – 50 per person.
The small dishes are meant for sharing and ordering a lot of things at once to share with your party. These add up quickly at $ 6 – 12 per dish and of course Saporro on tap is a must as well. Most of the food is served up quickly and as soon as you sit down on a weekend, you feel rushed as they are trying to compensate for the huge line up at the door.
Nothing really compares to the vibe and atmosphere in Toronto, but if you’re looking for a filling dinner where you can actually hear the people you’re sitting beside this place may not be it. If you just finished a hard day at the office and are looking for a few snacks and to hit the Sake bar, this place is perfect.

nous né sommes pas venu dans ce resto pour manger des makis et des sushis, mais du vrai japonais de qualité. En plus nous y étions pour le 1er anniversaire du restaurant, la fête totale dans le resto, et c’était super!
Environ 30 $/​personne pour un repas de roi, avec le la langoustine cru très bonne, et pleins de spécialités japonaise qu’on né voit pas souvent dans les resto jap traditionnels.