Japango
122 Elizabeth Street
Phone: 416.599.5557
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Japango is like a beacon along the desolate stretch of Dundas between Bay and University. On this stretch, there is no shortage of grimy restaurants with misspelt signs. but Japango is an exception with its surprisingly authentic atmosphere and impeccably fresh sushi.
Judy and I manage to escape the frigid cold and are warmly welcomed by the eager staff, while we squeeze into a cozy nook by the window. This teeny tiny restaurant barely manages enough space to cram in its 8 tables, but is inviting nonetheless with soulful jazz tracks and the soft murmuring of servers in their mother tongue. Inside, the vibe is low key and captures the essence of any typical neighbourhood sushi joint in Japan.
We sip on bottomless cups of warm rice tea and chomp on crisp salads while awaiting the feast to come. We're hungry, cold and in serious need of some nourishment. Feeling a bit under the weather, Judy orders Chicken Udon ($12.99). As she digs into her steaming bowl of juicy noodles in piping-hot broth; garnished with dried seaweed, snow peas, plump white meat and green onions, she is instantly brought back to life! 
I opt for their signature sushi dinner, which arrives with a rainbow assortment of fresh fish and six scrumptious California rolls ($18.99). I am reminded of what a truly delicious California roll should taste like- Crisp cucumber, crackling bits of red caviar and surimi that frays with each bite, all snugly wrapped up in seaweed with a thin coating of rice sprinkled with sesame. 
Though we're both comfortably full at this point, Chef Ken persuades us to sample their daily sushi special, which varies according to different fresh fish in season. Much to our delight, a platter of expertly executed sushi is presented to our table. Like colourful soldiers marching two- by- two, we are impressed by the artistic presentation (heads and all). Bamboo leaf is commonly used to keep the fish fresh and not just to make the dish look pretty.
Rather than stuff their patrons full of rice in an attempt to make up for bland, tasteless fish, Japango delivers remarkably fresh slivers of Spanish Mackerel, Bonta Ebi Shrimp, along with slightly charred Red Snapper on no more than a tablespoon of tasty sushi rice. 
Normally packed with dreary looking public servants at noon and a more eclectic crowd come dinnertime, reservations are helpful particularly during the weekday rush. With a loyal following of sushi fans, it is no wonder that Japango continues to receive rave reviews ten years on and now offers a second location in Clubland named Yuzu.
In between mouthfuls of Bonta Ebi sushi, the newly revived Judy sums up our experience at Japango best by exclaiming: " This is unlike any sushi I have ever had!"
Photos by Judy Nguyen
Comments (33)
Beverly I took your advice and I have to say JapanGo rocks, the best sushi in Toronto hands down.
Keep up the good work.
Yeah...I agree with Jack. It should be half that price.
At least that's the normal price for a tempura udon where I'm from (Vancouver. I just recently moved to Toronto a few weeks ago)
I believe the udon is cheaper at lunch time ~$8 and is delicious (at least it was when I lived around there. (I moved from Vancouver 2 yrs ago.)
'Jack', and 'Magic Mittens', get used to the suck when it comes to Japanese in Toronto; 'steljan', if this is the best you've had in Toronto I've been able to avoid where you've eaten.
You want cheap Japanese (but not sushi), go to Manpuku. You want a reasonable 'izakaya', go to Ema-tei. You want sushi, damn the cost, go to Sushi Kaji. Hiro's fine too, but been coasting on the Bay Street crowd too long.
Thank God I'm going to Japan on a trip in a few weeks.
I just moved back here from Vancouver a few months ago and was astounded by how much good seafood costs here. Even T&T's swimming fish are at least double the price of Richmond.
Sushi is too little fish and too much rice. Sashimi and lots of good sake are my preference. And good gyoza.
Is the drive to Queensway and Islington worth it for sashimi?
I hate to recommend Japanese food in Toronto to anyone from Vancouver (much less Japan). I've eaten much better for less in Vancouver than the norm in Toronto, and since the Japanese economy has nose-dived for a few decades now, good sushi is half the cost in Tokyo than Toronto, too.
That said, if you're jonesing in Toronto, and can take the $100 - $150 hit, get a spot at Kaji's counter. Not just from my gaijin-mouth, but my wife agrees.
there is an amazing all u can eat Japanese restaurant in thornhill, near bathurst and centre, right across from WalMart and T&T, right next to cibc, highly recommend
The pictures look really good and the restaurant definitely seem like the kind of place i wouldn't mind trying. I'd say the prices are pretty reasonable considering its location and how bad the economy is doing.
Alright hot shot relax, noone asked you for your opinion.
Whats with you mentioning Bay Street, do you need some recognition of your achievements in the world of sucking up?
Go and take some pics write a review about your places but stop acting as if you know what you are talking about.
What a self proclaimed critic you are, I guess Bay Street is not doing very well these days for you to actually take the time and criticize someones article.
japango? are you kidding? we'd order this for dinner when we'd have to work late and would have made Salieri proud. Mediocrity at it's finest.
I wonder why sushi restaurants are not required to list mercury content levels of the various fish they serve? Considering that tuna and mackerel are dangerously high in mercury while other fish (depending on the source) can be perfectly safe, it seems like important information, doesn't it?
Also, I hope we're not secretly eating dolphin, labeled as tuna, as happens in Japan.
i am glad that somebody finally brought this up... besides mercury, there is also parasite on raw fish that you can't see with your bare eyes.. that's why i don't eat raw fish or sea food
That's because the Unification Church (the Moonies) in all their backroom political power are suppressing your need to know with their near monopoly on raw fish. (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/specials/chi-0604sushi-1-story,0,3736876.story)
Just kidding, but somewhat creepy and interesting at the same time...
"I hate to recommend Japanese food in Toronto to anyone from Vancouver (much less Japan)."
And we thank you every day for that enormous cross that you must bear so nobly. I shake you by the *hand*, sir!
In my opinion this place is astounding!! The quality far surpasses any sushi joint in the Annex. Yes, it's pricey but I believe you get what you pay for. I certainly don't eat there often because I'm not rich, but for a bi-yearly treat, it's perfect!
Richmond, BC is near a large body of water called the Pacific ocean. Toronto is near a polluted lake. You can't compare. It's like me saying, "why are the baguettes so much better in Paris than in Toronto?"
I went there earlier this week and was disappointed that we were unable to get a seat. We'd been before and thought it was pretty good.
There was one table available when we arrived but we were told it was reserved and another should open up in 10 minutes or so. We waited outside and when another group left we re-emtered but were told that was reserved as well. I understand the place is small and popular but I am not going to wait for a table in a eight table restaurant when two are free with no one else in sight. They may want to reconsider their reservation policy.
You call those tiny rolls that are mostly rice 'california roll' that you paid 18.99 for?!?!?!?!??!?!
Boy sounds like you've never had real good sushi.
You call those tiny rolls that are mostly rice 'California roll' that you paid 18.99 for?!?!?!?!??!?!
Boy sounds like you've never had real good sushi.
The moral of the story is, when in doubt make a reservation ;) If you don't, you will be disappointed.
No the moral of the story is to know in advance that a restaurant takes reservations and wouldn't leave two people standing outside waiting when TWO of your reserved tables haven't even showed up.
And then find another sushi restaurant.
I think how they handled the situation is more of the issue than whether or not I should have known better...
Reservations may be "helpful", but they cannot be "packed with dreary looking public servants".
(Sorry - one of my pet peeves.)
went there for dinner tonight. the food is good. it's definitely better most of the sushi this town has to offer (that's within the price range)
the service is pretty horrendous tho
I've eaten at Japango twice. Both times I made reservations and both times the service was good. You win some. You lose some.
Japango is one of my favourite Japanese restaurants in the city. Good quality photo and good ambiance.
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