5 new Japanese restaurants in Toronto that should be on your radar

New Japanese restaurants in Toronto serve up so much more than just the requisite sushi and ramen.

Japanese cuisine has an immovable place in the hearts and palates of Toronto residents, so when restaurants open that offer even more ways to indulge in the flavours of Japan, we take notice.

From juicy, charred hambagu steak to tender wagyu paired with miso cod, there's no end to the drool-worthy Japanese dishes you can sink your teeth into in Toronto, and the latest crop of restaurants opening their doors is a testament to that.

Here are five new Japanese restaurants in Toronto that you need to try at least once.

Mizunara

The food at this Entertainment District whisky bar may not be exclusively Japanese, but the whisky itself sure is. 

Despite a muted street-level sign that's easy to miss, the experience at this sexy, dim bar is one you won't soon forget. The seasonal menu changes quickly, but always pairs perfectly with a suite of cocktails based on Japanese whiskies and spirits. Want an extra kick? Be sure to visit the bathrooms.

Shinji

Tucked away in the Financial District, the menu at this minimalistic new Japanese steakhouse is anything but.

Here, you'll find the classics — nigiri flights, affordable cuts of wagyu — alongside one-of-a-kind offerings like matcha soba noodles (a must-order, if you ask me), piles of potato salad and surf-and-turf bites featuring buttery-soft black cod.

Taisho Bloor

After building a cult following on Baldwin, this Japanese BBQ restaurant has officially spawned a sister site in the Annex.

Gather around the live fire in the centre of your table and grill up all-you-can-eat meats, noodles and sushi before washing it down with iced fruit teas, sake or even a pina colada.

Boru

A menu featuring only one item may be scary to those who love variety, but when that one item is tender Japanese hamburger steak — or hambagu — cooked over a charcoal grill right in front of you, you'll likely find that you don't want for much more.

With the modest price of $30 for two steaks, onsen egg and unlimited rice and miso, a meal at this King West haunt is simple, sure, but remarkably satisfying in its refinement.

E.A.K. Ramen

Nestled in the Brookfield Place food court, don't let this fast-casual facade fool you. This spot has some serious pedigree. It's the latest venture from Japanese chain Machida Shoten, which is credited with popularizing Iekei-style ramen — thick noodles swimming in a rich pork bone and soy broth.

Oh, and everything on the menu is just $5, so that doesn't hurt either. How's that for your next lunch break?