Honestly, this was a disappointing experience. Given the prices, the quality felt underwhelming at best. We ordered the Gyuyaki (miso), which arrived cold and chewy, with nothing particularly memorable about it. We also went for the chef’s choice sashimi and maki. When you order something labeled “chef’s choice,” you expect it to showcase the restaurant’s strengths, both in flavor and creativity. Unfortunately, neither stood out. It lacked not only originality but also depth in taste. As someone who genuinely loves sushi and has tried everything from high-end omakase to more casual spots, I can confidently say I’ve had better experiences at places that cost significantly less. The only dish I truly enjoyed was the mushroom skewers, which were flavorful and well-prepared. Service was another letdown. From the beginning, the waiter came across as unfriendly and slightly condescending. There was little effort to be helpful or welcoming, and the way the tip was brought up felt awkward and far from subtle. Overall, it feels like the restaurant has declined since the menu change. Not only were some great items removed, but the overall quality seems to have dropped as well. At this price point, it simply isn’t worth it anymore. The only aspect that still holds up is the ambiance. Food (quality/price): 6/10 Service: 3/10 Ambiance: 8/10
Reviews / Ratings for Kyo Bar Japonais
Portions are noticeably smaller than they used to be, while prices remain high, making the value worse. The place was also very loud and crowded, and service felt slow and inattentive at times. Food and drinks were average at best and didn’t justify the price. Overall, it feels like quality and value have declined.
Great atmosphere paired with attentive and welcoming service made for an enjoyable dining experience overall. The food was solid, with the udon standing out as particularly delicious—well-prepared and full of flavor. The salmon poke bowl, while fresh, felt a bit underwhelming compared to others I’ve had. A few additions like kimchi, avocado and onion could really elevate the dish and bring more depth and balance. Overall, a pleasant spot with strong service and standout dishes, with just a bit of room for refinement on certain menu items.
This place is absolutely incredible. The food is genuinely authentic — fresh, refined, and full of perfectly balanced flavors. Every dish felt thoughtfully crafted. The cocktails were on another level too. After three years in Toronto, I can honestly say this is the first time I’ve experienced something that feels like a true gastronomic escape. Beautiful interior, great atmosphere, and very professional, attentive staff. I highly recommend it to anyone who truly appreciates Japanese cuisine.
Service felt UNWELCOMING and SELECTIVE We walked in without a reservation and were initially acknowledged by the host, who appeared ready to seat us. She had already picked up menus and was about to bring us to a table. However, another staff member intervened, spoke to her briefly and after that, we were told they could no longer accommodate us due to an “event” happening in the back. This explanation didn’t align with what we observed. There were still several diners seated at the time, and the restaurant was clearly operating. If capacity was an issue due to a private event, it would have been more appropriate to communicate that upfront before indicating that seating was possible. We were dressed casually, as we had been walking around Montreal, and that sudden change in response made us think whether appearance played a role in how we were treated.
Degustation menu was rich, diverse and a showcase of the Chef’s skills. service was equally impeccable.
William is the best.
Nice resto - great ambiance and the food was really good. Had the Happening Gourmand menu. It was a nice variety and good portions. Presentation was very well done!
I had the Gourmand special and thoroughly enjoyed it. A prix fixe meal, it included an appetizer, soup, and two mains (one grilled entree and one sashimi/sushi entree). The food was superb, flavourful, and while not an overly large amount of food, it was very satisfying. The menu had an extensive selection of standard izakaya entrees as well as sashimi/sushi offerings. The service was attentive, the staff were friendly, and the food came promptly but not too soon. Overall, I found no fault with reservation. I would strongly recommend a reservation though as the place really filled fast after about 7:00 PM.
The udon dish was absolutely fantastic!! Creamy, tasty and perfectly spicy. I will definitely come back just for that dish
Had an amazing experience at Kyo Bar Japanois! We ordered the poke bowls and they were absolutely delicious—super fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. You can really taste the quality of the ingredients. The service was outstanding as well. The staff were friendly, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed. The ambiance is also a great vibe—perfect for a night out or even a casual dinner. Highly recommend and will definitely be coming back!
Probably the best sushi iv’e had (Unagi Roll) Sat at the bar and was served by the bartender Tony, super nice guy and great conversation. Definitely recommend this place!
This is a my favorite spot for Japanese food in Montreal. The service, the vibe and the food is perfect all the time. These guys are serious! Cheers to Eder for the great service!
Honestly very cozy restaurant and Lovely staff. Sadly the food was very average for the cost.
Our server Tristan was fantastic, very knowledgeable too. All service was wonderful.
Food was perfect and the vibe is great! Elizabeth was attentive and had good recommendations, thank you for a great night !
Absolutely delicious food! Im vegan and they had plenty of options for me to enjoy and they were so good. My non-vegan friends raved about their plates as well. Amazing service and atmosphere. Highly recommend!
Maki’s were a little underwhelming. Bento box was good though
I highly recommend! There's a lot of variety and interesting tastes, the "yuhi roll" was by far my favorite. Not only was the food and ambiance very pleasant, but the service was fantastic too, thank you to our server Kathy for giving us an amazing night!
Our server Eli(Elisabeth) was awsone- we had lots of fun. She made our experience exceptional.
Amazing sushi. Fresh. Lovely people. Eat here.
We have been looking for a fine dining sushi experience and this likely takes top spot in Montreal for us. The service was great. The food was impeccable and very impressive. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves getting various dishes to share. Additionally, as someone with many allergies, the restaurant was incredibly accommodating.
Honestly, this is so sad because the food is amazing, but the waitress was very rude and disrespectful to us. I was really disappointed.
Probably the best servers & Definitely the best sushi
We got the 30 piece Maki chefs special, and the calamari for food, and a Kyoto Fizz, and Taiyo. We loved everything. Both of us got to try all of the sushi, and there were no misses. The sushi was fantastic, a large variety, of tuna, salmon, cucumber, crab, and shrimp with avocado, seaweed, rice, and more. The calamari was amazing too, perfectly crispy and fried without too much. It had a deep, exquisite flavor too. The drinks were the "worst part" but they were still good. Just expensive, as is typical for cocktails though. Our server, who's name we missed, was great too. We discussed things to do in Montreal, the jazz fest, other restaurants we'd recently visited, and more. His love for Montreal and the food scene here was evident and reflects great on Kyo too. Overall, it was a great great time
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Opening hours
- Sunday 07:00 - 23:00
- Monday 07:00 - 23:00
- Tuesday 11:30 - 23:00
- Wednesday 11:30 - 23:00
- Thursday 11:30 - 23:00
- Friday 07:00 - 23:00
- Saturday 17:00 - 23:00
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