Guu Izakaya

Follow @bredgyeats for more food photos! Go to Guu for a great night out for your palate, with a plethora of different flavours and textures being offered, all crafted to deliciousness. Ordered on a whim and almost satiated stomach, the salmon oshizushi was the highlight of the night. It fuses the smokiness of the flame with the buttery richness of the salmon, contrasted with the gentle chew of the perfectly marinated rice and flakes of salt to accentuate the salmon umami even more. The yakiudon is the embodiment of robust beefy flavours that permeate throughout each bite, heightened with the umami of mushrooms, scallions, nori and bonito flakes. The udon noodles have a luxurious texture that's satisfyingly chewy and is the ideal canvas to deliver the savoury balance of savoury and subtle sweetness of the teriyaki sauce to please your taste buds. Taste the freshness of the sea with their special platter of salmon belly, chutoro and scallops which are brimming with a pleasant sweetness, buttery smooth texture and an unrivalled freshness, contrasting the stronger flavour profile of the first two dishes with something lighter.

Wasabi-marinated octopus with nori—bold and delicious. Salmon tataki—simply divine. Fried Japanese seafood pancake with squid—a plentiful joy. A meal of flavors that lingers beautifully.

I would highly recommend sitting at the bar if you have the chance. The service by Attila and Gai was so fun and they definitely elevated the dining experience with their fun personalities! Lovely people. Not to mention the FOOD. My personal favourites were the Harami Steak and the Saba pressed sushi. The presentation as well as the depth of flavors were one of a kind. The ambience of the place is set beautifully with the dim lighting and wooden interior. Quite intimate. It is very rare I give a full 5 stars in every aspect in a review but this place has definitely showed its excellence. Come here not only for a full tummy, but a full heart as well!

Highly recommend this Izakaya, it is a hidden gem in the neighbourhood. Not only are the food immaculate, the vibe and the service is top tier. Unlike other restaurants, they don’t do anything extravagant but go with simplicity and pure authenticity. And the price is definitely reasonable compared to other Japanese restaurants in Toronto! Would definitely be back for more!!! Tako wasabi 🐙(5/5)($8): with nori provided on the side. The octopus was cut to smaller than bite size, pleasantly chewy and had a nice kick of real wasabi. Ebimayo🍤 (5/5) ($12): not the traditional tempura you expect but!!! The prawns were fried just right with mayo Miso marinated black cod (5/5) ($15): cooked just right, the cod remained very tender and juicy! Chicken knee cartilage (5/5) ($8): paired with Japanese mayo. Unlike other Asian joints, they didn’t just fry the cartilage itself but made a kaarage with cartilage attached in it. These are made fresh as there’s no frozen aftertaste in both meat and the cartilage! There’s no overcooking at all! Deep fried baby octopus (4/5) ($8): simply texture for me, prefer baby octopus as a cold dish instead ! Spicy beef ramen (5/5) ($18): our favourite dish! Rich broth, nice spice, tender beef and bouncy noodle! What’s not to love! Deep fried Oreo (5/5) ($7.5): got surprised for sure! It’s almost like a baked cookie dough, salty and sweet at the same time!

Food, service and vibe 10/10. Tried all Guu locations in Vancouver but this one didn't disappoint!

I don’t often leave reviews, but I have to in this case because everyone needs to experience the incredible food from Guu! Really a great spot and I’m pretty picky about giving out compliments for food. You should especially try their salmon oshizushi it’s melt in your mouth incredible.

Overall 4.5 stars! Sunday $6 Sapporo special? Great deal! Loved the food and service, can’t wait to come back. We ordered the baked oysters, karaage, sous vide duck breast and miso black cod. • Oysters were hot and cheesy - delicious! • Karaage was juicy and savoury - highly recommend . • Duck was the STAR of the night. Perfectly cooked, incredibly paired with yuzu sansho paste and soy based sauce and definitely a must order. • Miso back cod - buttery, rich and also a show stopper. They sold out of the salmon and scallop sashimi special but would have loved to try. Maybe next time. Atmosphere could be a bit better. Would recommend they fix the stairs to the bathroom - they’re a bit bent out of shape and kinda dangerous given how dark it is.

Am being a bit generous in some regards. Food was good. Not great, not generous, but it was good but was it worth the price? Maybe but not so sure. Service - the 2 star was a bit generous but I have had worse. Atmosphere was okay but nothing special. It was so unspecified that we didn't think to take pics.

Follow @bredgyeats for more food photos! Go to Guu for a great night out for your palate, with a plethora of different flavours and textures being offered, all crafted to deliciousness. Ordered on a whim and almost satiated stomach, the salmon oshizushi was the highlight of the night. It fuses the smokiness of the flame with the buttery richness of the salmon, contrasted with the gentle chew of the perfectly marinated rice and flakes of salt to accentuate the salmon umami even more. The yakiudon is the embodiment of robust beefy flavours that permeate throughout each bite, heightened with the umami of mushrooms, scallions, nori and bonito flakes. The udon noodles have a luxurious texture that's satisfyingly chewy and is the ideal canvas to deliver the savoury balance of savoury and subtle sweetness of the teriyaki sauce to please your taste buds. Taste the freshness of the sea with their special platter of salmon belly, chutoro and scallops which are brimming with a pleasant sweetness, buttery smooth texture and an unrivalled freshness, contrasting the stronger flavour profile of the first two dishes with something lighter.

Wasabi-marinated octopus with nori—bold and delicious. Salmon tataki—simply divine. Fried Japanese seafood pancake with squid—a plentiful joy. A meal of flavors that lingers beautifully.

I would highly recommend sitting at the bar if you have the chance. The service by Attila and Gai was so fun and they definitely elevated the dining experience with their fun personalities! Lovely people. Not to mention the FOOD. My personal favourites were the Harami Steak and the Saba pressed sushi. The presentation as well as the depth of flavors were one of a kind. The ambience of the place is set beautifully with the dim lighting and wooden interior. Quite intimate. It is very rare I give a full 5 stars in every aspect in a review but this place has definitely showed its excellence. Come here not only for a full tummy, but a full heart as well!

Highly recommend this Izakaya, it is a hidden gem in the neighbourhood. Not only are the food immaculate, the vibe and the service is top tier. Unlike other restaurants, they don’t do anything extravagant but go with simplicity and pure authenticity. And the price is definitely reasonable compared to other Japanese restaurants in Toronto! Would definitely be back for more!!! Tako wasabi 🐙(5/5)($8): with nori provided on the side. The octopus was cut to smaller than bite size, pleasantly chewy and had a nice kick of real wasabi. Ebimayo🍤 (5/5) ($12): not the traditional tempura you expect but!!! The prawns were fried just right with mayo Miso marinated black cod (5/5) ($15): cooked just right, the cod remained very tender and juicy! Chicken knee cartilage (5/5) ($8): paired with Japanese mayo. Unlike other Asian joints, they didn’t just fry the cartilage itself but made a kaarage with cartilage attached in it. These are made fresh as there’s no frozen aftertaste in both meat and the cartilage! There’s no overcooking at all! Deep fried baby octopus (4/5) ($8): simply texture for me, prefer baby octopus as a cold dish instead ! Spicy beef ramen (5/5) ($18): our favourite dish! Rich broth, nice spice, tender beef and bouncy noodle! What’s not to love! Deep fried Oreo (5/5) ($7.5): got surprised for sure! It’s almost like a baked cookie dough, salty and sweet at the same time!

Food, service and vibe 10/10. Tried all Guu locations in Vancouver but this one didn't disappoint!

I don’t often leave reviews, but I have to in this case because everyone needs to experience the incredible food from Guu! Really a great spot and I’m pretty picky about giving out compliments for food. You should especially try their salmon oshizushi it’s melt in your mouth incredible.

Overall 4.5 stars! Sunday $6 Sapporo special? Great deal! Loved the food and service, can’t wait to come back. We ordered the baked oysters, karaage, sous vide duck breast and miso black cod. • Oysters were hot and cheesy - delicious! • Karaage was juicy and savoury - highly recommend . • Duck was the STAR of the night. Perfectly cooked, incredibly paired with yuzu sansho paste and soy based sauce and definitely a must order. • Miso back cod - buttery, rich and also a show stopper. They sold out of the salmon and scallop sashimi special but would have loved to try. Maybe next time. Atmosphere could be a bit better. Would recommend they fix the stairs to the bathroom - they’re a bit bent out of shape and kinda dangerous given how dark it is.

Am being a bit generous in some regards. Food was good. Not great, not generous, but it was good but was it worth the price? Maybe but not so sure. Service - the 2 star was a bit generous but I have had worse. Atmosphere was okay but nothing special. It was so unspecified that we didn't think to take pics.

Nothing bad to say but nothing amazing to say either. I went to Guu with Garlic in Vancouver last year and loved it. Guu in Toronto was not as good to me but still a solid spot. The best dish at both spots is the miso black cod. They sometimes have limited quantities I've heard, so put your order in quickly just in case! The dishes here are mostly small like tapas so meant to be shared with options towards the bottom of the menu being a little more hearty. My only issue with the menu we had on 5/26/24 is that a lot of the options were fried, including the daily specials menu. I love fried food but in small quantities and mixed with grilled or raw fish options (at Japanese spots anyway). The ambiance is dark and can get loud if crowded. We had the miso black cod of course, Hokkaido hotate, chicken karaage, harami steak, salmon oshi zushi (pressed seared salmon on rice), and Oreo tempura for dessert which comes with 3 Oreos and 2 mochi ice cream. I would get everything again but least favorite dish was the steak. It was fine but less memorable. Servers were friendly (only 2 and one was also bartender), so I can see that being tougher if the restaurant is full. It wasn't the night we went which was cool. Overall, a good dining experience! They take credit cards.

Came here for a family dinner on a Friday night around 6:30pm. We arrived right before the crowd, so it was quite quiet for an izakaya, and I was absolutely loving that vibe. Here's what we ordered: - Deep fried chicken cartilage - loved the crunch! 8/10 - Kaarage - soo juicy and the pieces were huge, 10/10 - Fried baby octopus, 9/10 - Assortment of sashimi - I highly recommend the scallop!! 10/10 - Sous vide duck breast - 8/10 - Black cod - melt in your mouth buttery but I wasn't a fan of the flavour, 6/10 - Salmon Oshi - the charred pieces on top was huge and gave it too much of a smokey taste, and I was not a fan, 3/10 - Takoyaki - standard for most places, 7/10 - Baked Oysters - cheesey ooey goodness, 9/10 Overall, I enjoyed most of the dishes here, and you can definitely tell that they use high-quality ingredients. It can be a bit pricey, but I would say it's worth it.

This meal was incredible! When we arrived, the vibes were already incredible. The restaurant has moody lighting, but it doesn't feel too dark. We went as a small group and decided to order a bunch of food to share. We ordered 5-7 menu items and drinks. It was the perfect amount of food. We ended with the fried Oreos and sake bombs. If you order sake bombs, one of the servers will lead you in the iconic sake chant. Good vibes, great food. We will definitely be back!

Been going here for years but I haven't gone since before Covid and I visited recently and the quality is the same and if not, improved ! I am so glad they haven't changed. The service is mediocre nothing to scream about. But food is as good as I remember. I would still recommend this place solely on the variety of choices especially on their special menu that changes daily to weekly (depending on inventory) which I can appreciate. Ambiance is loud music and soft lighting: a great spot for a first date. Will come back, 100%

Neat Japanese spot on Queen West. Dark atmosphere with a good energy. Service was very friendly.

Went here for a quick meal with a friend. The place was quiet and the staff were very friendly. We got the shrimp tempura and two udon noodles. The take udon was delicious but the shrimp tempura was subpar.

Food and service is great. Delicious. It is however a little on the pricey side. The mushroom bibimbap is incredible.

Japanese Izakaya - Yes please! Came on a quiet Sunday for dinner right at opening and was seated quickly by the staff. The food was good but some dishes were a tad bit too salty. Ambiance was nice and loud, just as an Izakaya should be! Onto the food! Takoyaki: 8/10 Can never go wrong with takoyaki. Saucey and crispy on the outside, soft and mushy on the inside. Saba pressed sushi: 8/10 I might be bias, but since I like saba cooked, this was delicious and great for sharing. Simple flavours are sometimes the way to go! Guu fries: 7/10 Standard fries you can expect to find at any bar/ izakaya. Baked oysters: 9/10 Always, always get this. Cheesy gooey goodness baked to perfection. It's presented in the oyster shell and has chunks oyster and potato mixed in. Comforting and delicious! Karaage (fried chicken): 9.5/10 Crispy exterior with super juicy moist chicken on the inside. Tastes the best with a drizzle of lemon and dipped into their sauce. A must get at any izakaya! Miso Cod: 8/10 Something about cod is always so delicious. Flakey cod that is moist and cooked to perfection. Kimchi udon: 7/10 Not so much kimchi flavour to this dish. Still nice and creamy though. Cheese mushroom bibimbap: 9/10 Comes in a sizzling stone pot. The wait staff mixes the rice together table side. Deliciously cheesy rice that is piping hot - yum! Hamachi collar: 7/10 On their specials menu. The skin is so crispy and delicious. Flakey cooked meat as well, just a little hard to share though and could use a bit more seasoning. Niku Udon: 10/10 My all time favourite dish! A salty creamy beef udon topped with nori and tobiko flakes. A large enough dish to share with the table. A must get!

Guu Izakaya is a lowkey restaurant far west on Queen St. Came here with a couple friends a half hour after they opened - pretty empty still so no waiting for a table yay! Ambiance is simple and very dim lighting - minimalistic vibes. My friend had a food allergy and they dealt with it perfectly - asking us questions and informing us about all the ingredients which I loved, nice attention to detail and great hospitality. Our waiter was also super friendly and helpful, came to check on us every once in a while. And it was super fun to do sake bombs for the first time!! For the food, everything we had was delicious! Super fresh and flavourful. I think my favourite was the beef udon and the tuna tataki (not pictured). The takoyaki was also very delicious but honestly everything was 10/10! The only thing I'd say is it gets pretty loud in here so be mindful! I would come back if I'm looking for a cool izakaya in the area :)

We came here on a weekday night, and it was easy to get a reservation for 3. We ordered the specials, including the tako wasabi, scallop, and grilled cod. Unfortunately, they had run out of grilled oysters that day. There were a lot of alcoholic beverages to choose from - not too many from the non-alcoholic side. The food and service were fantastic, and the atmosphere was lively. Accessibility: no automatic door opener, the washroom is downstairs through a narrow staircase, and floors were ok with crutches. Parking is available in the front.

Guu was our savior when we were looking for a place to eat in the area after our intial restaurant turned us away. We were pleasantly seated right away at the bar and got to watch the action happen in the kitchen. We ordered our usual kinoko bibimbap, and two dishes on special: carbonara udon the spicy kroean fried karaage. We also ordered two cocktails. The food and drinks came out pretty quickly and were delicious. Although this location is smaller and doens't quite exude the loud and big ambiance of the old Guu locations, it's still a staple in izakaya with a now more intimate setting.

It's always a good idea to go to Guu. The ambiance and service are always good. The food is delicious. My favourite go-to dish is the duck breast. I can eat that all day every day!

Absolutely delicious food and great vibe. Service was a bit slow but would still go back!

Guu is an Izakaya chain restaurant with locations in Vancouver and Toronto. I've been to one in Gastown in Vancouver, and also came to this location during my Toronto trip two years ago. My friend and I ordered the following: - Kakimayo - baked oyster with cheese, mushroom and spinach - Salmon oshizushi - blowtorched salmon pressed sushi - That day's special (May 22, 2019) - salmon cream croquette - salmon and bacon cream croquette with tonkatsu sauce - Kurogoma cheesecake - black sesame rare cheesecake with pecan and oreo crust - Gyu tataki - lightly seared Angus beef sashimi with ponzu and garlic chips What a delicious experience. I was a bit reluctant to get the gyu tataki as I've never had "raw beef" but it was still delicious nonetheless. My friend and I always love a good izakaya experience and Guu offered quality food at a good price.

Came in here extra late to find this place with some awesome rap/hip hop bumping. Did not get a picture of everything we had but what I can say without a doubt is the service here is everything. The guy making the sushi is who takes your order and the menu looks like they figure it out the day of, write it out, and photocopy it. Amazing all around

I've eaten at all of the Guu locations in Vancouver and wanted to try this location to see how it compares. There were five of us who dined here a couple of weeks ago. We read over the menu and agreed on a number of dishes from both the regular menu as well as the specials of the day. I love going out to eat with people who have no food restrictions or allergies. It really makes for a more enjoyable experience when you can try anything on the menu. I have had the baked oysters at other locations and was actually disappointed in the ones we had here. There was almost no actual oyster in mine. I much prefer when they leave the oyster whole and just put the sauce on top, instead of chopping them up and mixing it in before baking. You really lose a lot of oyster when they're cut up. My favourite dishes of the evening were the pork belly, the beef tataki and the duck breast. The banana fritters for dessert were also really good. Hope to back soon!

Amazing place to get food and drinks! Pretty much everything we ordered was absolutely delicious and is great for sharing! The Kinoko bibimbap has a delicious umami flavour. I love the crispy rice bits stuck to the bowl! The kakimayo is very cheesy and super creamy. Definitely a nice hearty treat. The gyu tataki has very nice and fresh meat cuts. My only complaint is the portion was so small. The uni carbonara udon has an amazing and very creamy sauce! The spicy tuna oshizushi is so delicious--love the spicy tuna! I have soft spot for sushi of any sort. The okonomoyaki was crisp and a bit too salty for me. I'm generally not a big fan of okonomoyaki, so don't take my word for it. The karaage is your classic Japanese-style fried chicken. It was very crispy and juicy, using those fatty parts of the chicken where all the flavour is hiding. Overall this is an amazing place to get tapas! The service is on point and the vibe is quite nice as well! I'll definitely be coming back again.

Great local place for food and drinks. Affordable and high quality. You special if you know this spot. Must get: baked oysters

I am extremely happy that there is still a Guu Izakaya restaurant left in Toronto as many of the locations had changed to Kinka. After having been to the Vancouver Guu location, I had high hopes that the Toronto location will live up to the expectation. My group was able to get seated immediately when we arrived around 6pm because we had called ahead for a reservation. You probably could walk in at that time and get a table as well since they don't start getting really busy until past 7pm. The ambiance is definitely way nicer when the izakaya gets busy as the noise gives it an authentic izakaya vibe. After looking at the menu, I noticed that they don't have as many sashimi dishes compared to the Vancouver location, as the foods are mainly cooked with a good number of deep fried dishes. For the few sashimi dishes we did get, I really enjoyed the Beef Tataki and the Scallop Sashimi with Salmon Roe due to their good marinated flavour. For the Scallop, you can purchase more pieces than stated on the menu and they will prorate the amount. The Oshizushi sushi (pressed and touched sushi) were also pretty good as well as the fish on top was really fresh and tender. Beware that some dishes have wasabi mixed in, such as the octopus sashimi, and their wasabi is really strong and will definitely shoot out from your nose. In terms of prices, Guu was definitely not cheap, but that is expected for an Izakaya. For myself, since I didn't get any alcohol, my bill came down to about $35 in total, but my friends who ordered drink easily saw their bill went up to above $50. I definitely feel that Guu is one of the best Izakaya in Toronto, and even though it didn't feel as good as their Vancouver location due to less fish options, it is still an amazing place to come enough some nice food and drinks and hangout with friends.

Loved our experience here. Sake bombs are so much fun and the food and cocktails are excellent. And the service is great; everyone is so very nice.

Right smack in a ghetto area, Guu Izakaya offers upscale eats for a reasonable price. You'll find all the typical izakaya dishes here, such as torched sushi, fried udon, fried calamari. Everything was delicious! I especially enjoyed the wasabi octopus, where you spoon the mix onto a piece of seaweed. Very intense wasabi taste, which I love. Like all izakaya restaurants, it's very loud in here. The staff are highly vocal whenever anyone enters or leaves the restaurants with a resounding cheer. At times, it was difficult to hear the conversation at my table over the sheer cacophony. One thing I appreciate at most asian restaurants is that you get free hot tea with your meal... but not at this place! Hot green tea is $3 per cup. That said, their tea was was quite good. There's only street parking available, so be prepared to circle around for spots on a busy evening.

We went on a weekday, right after it opened. I recommend making a reservation, it gets pretty busy at night! I remember several people getting turned away since the whole restaurant was booked up by reservations (to be fair, I am not sure if it's like this everyday. On the day I went, one party had like 10-12 people, which is half the restaurant space). Kakimayo is similar to the one at kinka (which makes sense if you think about the relationship between the restaurants). Delicious, giant, creamy, cheesy. Everything I could possibly ask for. I always love this dish. This is one of the dishes I crave the most during quarantine season 5/5 Toripiri Kaarage: the spicy version if kaarage. I kind of expected the spice to be a dry seasoning rather than a sauce. I think you would enjoy this if you want a dish reminiscent of sweet and sour pork with a bit of a kick. I prefer the normal kaarage over this. I enjoyed the deep fried crispy strips it came with (seemed like deep fried wonton wrapper strips). 3/5 Takoyaki was standard and tasty, it came with 5 balls (most restaurants I've been to come with 6). Takoyaki is a dish I've never really had complaints about, I've never had bad takoyaki (though the ones with bigger chunks of octopus are more worth your money!) 4/5 I always get at least one noodle/rice dish to eat with my tapas. The kimchi udon was good and a great staple to fill up on! 4/5 As for dessert...HOW IMPRESSIVE IS THE PRESENTATION (see attached pic). Me and my friend were so shocked when this came out because we didn't expect it to look so fancy. I've seen a few pictures of their other desserts, and you can tell a lot of effort was put into the presentation for them!cI honestly can not remmeber the name of this dessert. I couldn't find it on the menu or other pics if Guu on yelp/instagram. I think there was hojicha and banana involved though...I remember liking it though! 4.5/

Good for celebrating birthday I think or some anniversary too! Always pretty noisy when it's getting more ppl. Very chill bar style. They provide some pretty cool cocktails too! Food can be small quantities could be big. Make sure you ask before you ordered them! Lol But I like the eggplant a lot! As much as the egg rolls as always ;)

This place gets busy quite easily, but luckily making a reservation here is made easy with Yelp!! Location: 3.5/5 Not the easiest to find street parking like many downtown and it is much farther than I would normally travel for, but Queen St. W has so many great foodie options to choose from that I am sure I will be back in this neighbourhood anyhow. Decor/Ambience: 3.5/5 Narrow seating area with a long bar. Dark with loud conversations and music playing the background as typical of most Izakayas Food quality: 4.5/5 I love how fresh all of the sashimi was and I was surprised by tasty the sashimi salad was. It reminded me of a poke bowl, but with thinly sliced salmon instead of cubes. The takoyaki was hot, squishing with flavours when bit into and it has the perfect amount of seasoning from the dressing and herbs. Crispy fish skin made it all that much better in texture. I really like how you can order a bit of everything here while still maintaining high food quality and value! They have weekly/seasonal specials to keep their menu selections trendy and fun all the time! Never tried eating scallops with nachos before. It was interesting to say the least. The mint really helped the flavours pop. For a limited time, they were offering Sakura matcha cheesecake and it was just decadent and just the right amount of sweetness!! Service: 4.5/5 I like how staff members would loudly greet patrons as they come in and out like most other Japanese restaurants, but unlike all of them, the staff here would introduce all of their items and make just the right of recommendations based on preferences and what occasion it is for the meal. Everything came out in perfect timing. Every time we finished one item, the next would arrive to replace it. We did not feel rushed at all nor had to wait too long for our food. Staff regularly checked in on us. Value: 4.5/5 Great value and decent pricing for the quality of food here. No wonder multiple foodie friends suggested this place to me. It can be a bit pricy, but this makes a great place for a date night for sure! Overall: 4/5 If this place was closer to me then I'd definitely come back more often. Loud places with alcohol are not my typical scene, but once in awhile this would be an ideal place to share Japanese tapas with good company.

Have been here on two occasions with tables reserved through Yelp. Food: They have a dinner menu with some entrées and there is a tapas menu that changes upon the season. I just wish their dinner menu had more variety of entrées. Food and drinks tasted good. Out of all the tapas we ordered, the potato croquette did not live up. Service & atmosphere: There were a few instances where they forgot to bring ordered items/ drinks, if that happens just remind them. Gets crowded during peak hours hence you cannot go wrong with booking a reservation. Chill night vibe. Price: A bit high in my books but aligns with other izakayas in the city.

If you've never been here don't be alarmed if they 'yell' at you when you enter and leave! You did nothing wrong - they are just welcoming you! I tried the duck carpaccio and the noodles with beef - yum! I live noodles so this was my favorite. The portions are small - slightly bigger than typical tapas size, smaller than a meal portion so get 2-3 things to fill your belly! A bit pricey but worth it.

My new fave place. Ask for the big mug Sapporo.... Sushi are absolutely awesome such attention to detail is amazing

Had so much fun here last night!! Truthfully, we originally were trying to get into a restaurant down the road but the wait was too long so we wandered down the street a bit and discovered Guu! I've never been to an izakaya before so this was a lovely surprise. I visited with my mom and fiance following a visit to our wedding venue and we were looking for a quick, tasty bite. As other reviewers have mentioned, the staff are super friendly and greet you (loudly!) when you first walk in as well as when you leave. We had a blast and enjoyed trying various dishes from their menu. For those who don't know (I didn't lol), an izakaya is sort of like a Japanese tapas place where you enjoy snacks and drinks. We ordered a bunch of different items to share family style, and enjoyed all of the bites. My faves were the fried cauliflower and the torched salmon sushi - so good!! The staff were all so happy and in such a good mood, it was a very enjoyable experience. I want to come back here for my birthday (which just happened lol) such a fun place!!

Atmosphere/Service: For my birthday, the boyfriend decided to surprise me by bringing me to Guu Izakaya. I normally never go to an izakaya, because I never know what to order luckily for me the boyfriend speaks Japanese so your homegirl here doesn't need to do much thinking except eat we sat right in front of the chefs and they were all so nice and welcoming. Even though I had no idea what they were saying in Japanese, they never forgot to include me into their conversation about the food. Menu/food: Their food was tad small to share, but I could have been happier if I could have everything we ate all to myself! Hahaha! But you could tell that everything from the sashimi to the noodles to the sous vide duck breast was fresh and on point. There was not one bad dish at all. Overall: Overall, an izakaya is definitely worth trying. But I think I'd rather come and drink while having snacks, not just for a meal.

Fun crazy loud place with a quirky menu ..like ramen carbonara. Great with the right group who are open to experience and experimenting with ordering for sure.

I was sad when the original Guu changed hands, but was definitely excited when it reopened in a new location in Parkdale. On this visit, I came with 6 of my friends for drinks and food after skating. FOOD: there was a good selection of daily specials, but for this visit my friends and I wanted to avoid meat. So we ordered tuna tataki (balanced citrus-based sauce), tofu (yummy with bbq sauce), cheese & mushrooms bibimbap (tasty & cheesy), baked oysters (tasted sub-par & the size of oysters weren't the same), crab bao (sooooo good), ikura temaki (so much salmon caviar!). We ended up ordering the tori kawa after seeing the party beside us order it (crispy & delicious!). SERVICE: maybe our server was new or just didn't know how to handle a larger group, he seemed like a fish out of water some times, but eventually redeemed himself towards the end of this visit. TIP: order bottles of sake, slightly chilled for better value

Nice Japanese izakaya with a variety of menu items - the baked oysters, kabocha pumpkin croquette, unagi doria, and okonomiyaki were delicious.

It's time for me to give Guu it's deserving 5 stars ... after an entire year of amazing dinners, I decided my last one of the year to end it all would be at Guu. I've been here at least 4 times and each time, the food has been phenomenal with service prompt and friendly. The best part.... the value just blows me away. We can eat so well for under $40 per person including tips and tax. Even on a Friday evening (albeit during snowmaggedon ... OK Mother Nature, we get it. Global warming is kicking our butt), the food quality is incredible, service so friendly and perfectly in tune to our needs, and the atmosphere is a fun hip vibe. I loved my meals here and plan to keep coming back. Read my first review to understand more of the great atmosphere of Guu. I usually order off their special menu as you will find some really interesting takes on traditional Japanese izakaya dishes. Anything deep fried on the menu is incredibly well done... crispy, hot, and not a speck of drenched oil. Flavours are always bold and interesting. Grilled items always come with the right amount of crispy char. Okonomiyaki - A must order here... first, second, third, AND fourth time ordering this... ALWAYS good. Super crispy exterior gives way to creamy soft interior that is filled with tender octopus pieces. It's layered with a bold umami bomb of a sauce. One of my Japanese favourite dishes in Toronto. 5/5 Crispy cauliflower - Super crispy tender florets of cauliflower that are lightly tempura battered and fried golden. Just a good overall dish to say you ate vegetables. The yuzu mayo gives it the bright citrus kick and creamy sauce to make it more indulgent. 4.5/5 Kale Gomaee - Yes... it's kale ... and it's cold even. But it's doused in the most wonderful black sesame sauce. This time it was a bit tooo salty but usually it's more balanced and a great nutty sauce. Im pretty sure Im eating this more for the sauce than the vegetable 4/5 Ikapiri - Another great seafood dish that takes tender squid and tempuras them to ridiculously wonderful crispiness and then dunks them into a spicy sauce that screams red. It does bring the heat but it brings a great flavour of hot, a tinge sweetness, and a mild touch of acidity. It's just your best hot wing idea elevated to something better 5/5 Aburi style mackerel - ohhhh yes. A nice smokiness to the very flavourful meaty mackerel. Loved the fact that the mackerel was vinegared and aged to give it a better deeper flavour. Fresh fish for sushi is not always a good thing! 5/5 Tempura banana dusted with kinako (?) and a nice scoop of matcha ice cream - A nice end to the meal. Perfectly sweet and soft bananas are fried to perfection (again!). The sweet and yet mildly bitter matcha was the perfect match ... hot & cold.. lightly bitter & sweet. Just great bites after great bites. 5/5 I honestly cannot find another place in Toronto that offers such amazing quick service to phenomenal food at such a great value. With an ever changing menu that reflects seasonally, I would never get bored. This place is safely in my top favourite places in Toronto.

I can't rave enough about Guu. The food is amazing and their dishes have a very special place in my heart. My go-to orders: -Kakimayo (cheese baked oysters) AKA what dreams are made of -Kinoko bibimbap -Salmon oshizushi -Kimchi udon -Maguro and salmon tataki Basically... if you want quality Japanese tapas, this is the place to go.

Came to this Guu location for the first time last Saturday. I've been a huge fan of Guu for many years. My first time at Guu was their first Toronto location on Church St. now renamed to Kinka. And if you are visiting Vancouver, be sure to try Guu on Robson street. It's really nice seeing so many Izakayas opening up in Toronto. This is a pub style with a variety of small dishes such as ebi mayo(fried shrimp) and Karaage (fried chicken) and a good drink selection. Great place to hang out with friends. If you like this kind of food, be sure to try Kinka, Kingyo, Zakkushi, Kintaro, Nome, and Ju. I'm sure there are many more good ones that I'm not aware of. The place was very welcoming and great atmosphere. The place was a bit quiet at 6:30pm but it did get busier throughout the night. I tried making reservations online but there was nothing available. That was strange given that the place was only half full. The food was fabulous. For the 3 of us, we ordered 7 dishes which was a bit much but I always tend to over order on my first visit. Here are the dishes that we ordered: 1) Karaage (fried chicken)- perfectly done! 2) Salmon oshizushi - blowtorched salmon pressed sushi - good but it's better at Miku 3) Buta Curry Poutine(pork belly) - very tasty! 4) Kimchi udon - nicely done 5) Spicy gyoza - nothing special but the sauce was amazing! 6) Nasu (marinated eggplant with garlic) - this was our fav dish - must try! 7) Bao crab (deep fried soft shell crab in a steam bun) - liked the bun but not the crab. I would skip this dish next time. Overall, we had a great time and would definitely be coming back to try more dishes.

I was in Guu Izakaya for dinner 3 days ago and I'm now sitting at work craving it. This place is amazing. It was our last night in Toronto and my bf and I wanted to eat somewhere cozy, casual and affordable. We ran into this small little Japanese restaurant and decided to give it a try. The minute you walk in you are greeted by friendly waitstaff and chefs- and by "greeted" I mean they all shout out what I'm assuming is "hello, welcome" in Japanese. Our waitress was super friendly and attentive. One thing I liked most about her is the amount of patience she had. A little overwhelmed with all the amazing food choices, I took a little longer to decide and she was more than willing to give suggestions and help me through the menu. I started with ordering a Mojito with Saki. Light and refreshing and not too strong. Perfect. We started off with ordering a few apps, we got the Brie Cheese & the Ikapiri. The Brie cheese came fried (can never eat mozzarella sticks again after eating this amazing dish) with a berry and mango sauce. The sweet and saltiness was the perfect combination. Along with the Brie cheese we had the Ikapiri which is fried calamari. Automatically I thought the fried calamari was going to be the basic fried rings and squid- boy was I wrong. The fried calamari came with a spicy garlic tomato sauce and wasabi mayo. I'm not a fan of wasabi but it was mixed beautifully in this dish that I couldn't really taste it. My bf and I were drawn to the same entree dish- the Yaki Udon. WOW. This dish made me question what "udon" noodles I've been eating my whole life. Pan fried noodles that were not too heavy on the stomach/ topped with tender beef. The perfect portion- after sharing the apps and eating this dish, I was not overly full but felt very satisfied. I would say the dish was the best thing I've eaten here. Compared to other restaurants in Toronto we're been going to, this place was incredibly affordable especially for all the food I ate. When you exit the restaurant the friendly staff all say what i would assume is "bye" or "thank you". Such a cute place for date night and such an amazing experience. I cannot see myself coming to Toronto and not come here again.

Seems to be impossible to book a reservation. They don't have voicemail, don't open until 6, and all the links to book a table lead to dead ends.

The food is delicious here and it's good to share several dishes with whoever is at your table in order to try more food. It was very tasty and the service was good. The only thing is that it was quite loud so if you're looking for a more intimate atmosphere, this is not the place.

Looking for an eccentric restaurant? Filled with endless cold beers, wildly creative dishes, all mixed in with pomp and circumstance one could expect from an izakaya? You've come to the right place. Guu Izakaya is not for the quiet yelpers, it's an electrifying restaurant that serve fantastic Japanese food that's hard to disappoint. The commotion starts when you enter the restaurant, where individual staff members will all greet you in unison of your arrival. Once sat down, you're presented with multiple sharing dishes that are quiet honestly, all delicious and experimental. After dined here multiple times, the old standby dishes you must try are the baked oysters, fried karaage, and any of the salad. Each dish are only bite sized, and while one could argue that it's on the more expensive side, it definitely delivers on flavours. Guu also makes their guests feel part of a big family, by catering to special requests such as birthday celebrations, where they will make you feel special by cheering and taking a photo of you, as well as hyping up a table that's attempting to do the sake bombs. So, if you want more than just a good meal, come to Guu for a festive experience. Don't expect to be stuffed, expect to be entertained.

While our overall dining experience at Guu Parkdale was pleasant and positive (it was our first time here), we felt there was a room for improvement in terms of food and menu selection. It's not entirely fair to compare Guu to a real izakaya in Japan or even to any pub or restaurant near an ocean where fresher seafood is readily available at a better price, but izakaya food should be more affordable offering a wider selection (after all an izakaya is a casual pub for after-work cheap eats & drinks enjoyed by your average Joes and Janes, right?) Having said that, Guu's Hotate (sea scallop) sashimi and Maguro Tataki (lightly seared tuna) were very good by Toronto's standards: fresh, juicy, sweet and relatively generous in portion. Their service was prompt and servers were all friendly, cheerful and attentive. Cocktails were delightful. Their sake selection was limited but what we had was nice. But Blow-torched cured mackerel pressed sushi was very fishy. Its rice was cold and mushy too. Other dishes were not jaw-dropping but good however. We just wish Guu would be more like a real izakaya in Japan and offer a wider variety of small but yummy dishes and drinks at better prices so that we could stop in with our friends whenever we feel like it without worrying about our wallets.

This place really transports you to Japan, even from the entrance. The chefs greet you, which is customary, in Japanese and the food is such a unique experience. We started off with takoyaki, and the heat coming off of it makes the fish flakes on top look like they're moving! The sake was also a great experience.

Always enjoy my time at Guu. The location is close to many bars and the kitchen is open late by Toronto standards. Got there for a 11PM reservation and seated immediately. We ordered cocktails and about 7 dishes to share among 5 of us. We had the baked oysters, fried chicken, bibimap and fried udon noodles. Everything was delicious and no complains. I especially enjoyed the beef tataki. I took some out of town guests here, two of which was their first time in Toronto. I would highly recommend for late night eats and drinks.

The food here is excellent. Portions are on the small size but that is typical tapas eatting. Ordered some Japanese craft beer (jca and not ipa) and It was really good ... I enjoyed it. We ordered lots of dishes octopus, jelly fish, fried chicken, eggplant, soft shell crab, sea urchin, and Kimchi Udon. They were all delicious, some more than others. I really liked the jelly fish and octopus. My disappointment was the soft shell crab and Japanese fries chicken. The soft shell crab comes wrapped in a boa, the crab is really small and the dish tasted more bao than crab. The fried chicken was too dry for me. It is ok but I don't think it's anything special. I recommend this place but it can be pricey as it is tempting to order many dishes to try.

If you haven't been yet, you need to Guu here! Especially considering that this is the new location! ONEGAISHIMASU!!! Is what they will shout as soon you enter this place. Don't freak, they're just welcoming you in their own wonderful manner! One of the most authentic, ambient places I've visited and the food is absolutely spectacular! I brought a friend here on her birthday and she absolutely loved it! We sat at the bar and ordered around 3-4 dishes and wrapped it up with a dessert of fried banana w/ice cream which was marvellous! We ordered the Hamachi Kama, Salmon Tataki, and Takoyaki along with some salad and edamame! As a nice supplement to our dinner, we had an English server who was extremely well versed in Japanese who told us all about his experience working there, learning the language and then we talked to his colleagues about their travels in Japan! Just a fun little reminder of the multiculturalism present in the city even in an extremely authentic restaurant where diversity and culture is celebrated! My recommendation - any Salmon dish will tingle your taste buds and leave you wanting more! Trust me. The only drawback for the place is that if you're hoping to be full after a couple dishes or are coming here on an empty stomach, this may not be the place for you.. The prices are fairly decent, a little on the expensive side and the portions are a little small. That said, the food, service, ambience and servers are 10/10! I am definitely coming back here again!

Delicious delicious DELICIOUS! (did I mention it's delicious!?) One of the best restaurants serving up the best izakaya dishes! I promise you won't be disappointed--ever! Just be sure to carry a little extra $$$ for this resto. As charming as tapas and shared plates are; I find that we need to order about $50-$75 dollars worth of food and drinks to really take in the whole experience! But it's totally worth it! Go alone or with a friend or even a big group! It's great for all age groups and crowds. Very interactive. I've been to a couple of their locations over the years and what I appreciate most is that they are consistent in atmosphere, food and service!

Guu is my all time fave izakaya spot DT. Recommend the baked oysters, Yaki udon, and pressed salmon. Staff are also super hype and provide amazing service!! 10/10

After years of Guu being closed, they are back on Queen St W in Parkdale. I came around 6:40 pm on a Monday evening, and was given a seat of my choice at the empty bar. It was cool to watch the kitchen go to work and make the dishes, however it got a little hot being close to all the action and fire, so the server was nice enough to open the back door to let some air inside. We ordered the pitcher of Sapporo ($18), karrage fried chicken, yaki udon, and baked oysters ($12). The karrage was similar to any other Japanese izakaya or ramen place. The yaki udon was tasty with thinly sliced beef and nori on top. The star of the show were the baked oysters which were creamy and cheesy. I wish they had more oyster meat underneath the cheese rather than other fillings like cream and mushrooms. Overall, the atmosphere, service and food were great. Not as loud as the old Guu, but it depends on the number of diners I guess. I will return and try some of their specials next time!

This Japanese tapas spot is a gem in Toronto - I am so happy to have eaten my first meal here ! It is perfect for any size group, however, if you have a larger party it seems like later dinners will be better if you don't want to wait. We sat near the front and didn't get to see much of the decor of the bar and back part of the restaurant, however, still enjoyed the atmosphere. The large party besides us were very touch and caused a lot of noise, but it didn't seem out of character for the spot, being a trendy and fun restaurant so it wasn't a big problem. The food here, however, is sublime ! We ordered the kale appetizer, the bass and fried chicken tapas, and the ramen and salmon sushi main dishes. The kale appetizer, the first dish served to us, was so good we ordered a second on after finishing the first ! The flavor of all the dishes was notable and the sauces, I understand, are all house made and very unique. If you live in or are visiting Toronto, this restaurant should be on your list !! I've heard the cocktails are also very good and am planning on trying them the next time I am in Toronto.

If you have been to the first Guu on Church you know it has great food but it has changed its name to Kinka a while ago. Now the original and authentic Guu just opened up earlier this year in Parkdale and I decided to give it a try. Decor and vibe are similar to Kinka but it's has a bit less feel of Japanese Izakaya feel and more modern. The menus are diverse and we ordered about 8 dishes. The best were the Duck Breast (sooo good) and the dessert - Banana Tempura and Matcha Ice Cream. The rest of the dishes are good but not amazing. All in all I feel it didn't live up to all of its hype.