Toronto Japanese restaurant frequented by celebrities closing after over 40 years

A seminal Toronto Japanese restaurant just announced it'll soon be closing permanently after over 40 years.

While sushi spots in Toronto are a dime a dozen — a fact I, along with plenty of the city's residents, am endlessly grateful for — few come close to the level of local cultural significance held by Adelaide East institution Nami Japanese Restaurant.

Be it the fact that the building, instantly recognizable for its illuminated wave exterior, was designed by architect Raymond Moriyama (1929-2023), of Ontario Science Centre and Toronto Reference Library fame, or the fact that head chef Kaoru Ohsada is credited with inventing the sushi pizza in the 80s, Nami's status on the Toronto culinary scene is undeniable.

But the Toronto landscape is in a state of major transformation these days, and some of its most iconic institutions — the Ontario Science Centre, not the least of which — have been among the casualties.

From the 80-year-old Imperial Pub and 70-year-old San Francesco Foods to Kensington Market's beloved Jumbo Empanadas, which closed earlier this month after nearly 40 years, the city has been getting quite comfortable saying goodbye to old staples, whether to make way for new construction or at the hands of soaring costs.

Come March, Nami confirms in a lengthy statement on its website, the restaurant will join them.

A statement on Nami's website announces the upcoming closure.

"Sayonara Toronto," the notice on the website reads. "It is with great sadness that we announce today that after well over 40 years in business Nami Restaurant on Adelaide Street East is closing."

Over the years, the restaurant served scores of the city's residents for everything from quick lunches to major celebrations, but it was also a major celebrity magnet, hosting the likes of Meryl Streep, U2, The Rolling Stones, Meg Ryan, Russell Crowe, Carrie Fisher, and even the Japanese Royal Family during its years in operation.

Beloved equally for its expansive menu of Japanese fare, including sushi, grilled seafood and steaks from one of the city's only robata bars, as it is for its immersive interior, which includes kimono-wearing servers and traditional-style booths where diners sit on the floor, Nami is an undeniable pillar of the city's Japanese food scene.

The end isn't here just yet, though. The restaurant's final day of operations is slated for March 7, 2026, so you still have time to swing by for one last meal and to send your well wishes to the team that created something so singular in the city.

Nami is located at 55 Adelaide St. E.