Forget about the use of GPS or Google map! To locate this place, just use your sense of smell! Yup! the trail of mesmerizing Binchotan charcoal aroma from the restaurant’s exhaust vent is as effective a tracker as your smartphone!
Arguably the best and most authentic Japanese Yakitori place north of the 401. Quite a few dishes we tried tonight deserve to be placed in the ‘Wow-Worthy’ category!
Standout include those skewers of thick cut, tender, well crusted and nicely sauced beef tongue. Absolutely out-of-this-world! Amazing to find such a fine quality product outside of Japan!! Another Yakitori benchmark I like using were chicken liver. Those were executed near perfect as well and did not disappoint.
Other notable and delicious skewers we ordered included:
Chicken thighs, skin, soft bones, meat balls, heart and…’ Cock Testicles '!!! Favorite were those light and juicy meatballs with a superb tasting dipping sauce.
Beef filet Mignon with Chimichurri sauce, Pork Belly with spring onions and Enoki mushrooms, Tokyo Spring Onions, Zucchini…etc
Non Yakitori items ordered include:
Duck Foie Gras with Raspberry jam sandwich ( good but overpriced! )
This is one excellent venue for authentic Yakitori fare, albeit a touch on the pricey side. However, for the fine quality they offer, this place is more than acceptable for the occasional splurge! Well worth returning!
BTW, the friendly service was extremely competent and attentive.
Did you mean Kintori Yakitori Izakaya on Bloor? Wow! That was history!! I still have ’ hair ’ last time I ate there!! Ha!
My measuring yard-stick for Yakitori here in Toronto is Zakkushi. Sumoki’s quality is pretty darn close. Some dishes are better, some overpriced!
OIC! Obviously the NYC place has more choices. But the products of ‘Sumoki’ are pretty smokey and the taste profile is pretty good! A decent choice to fill in the ’ Yakitori ’ void!
Now, we need a good ’ Tempura ’ place!!
Pity the place is so far from me and it’s getting dark so early. Otherwise, I would have taken the liberty of asking to join you?!..talk about Desserts and Costco!! Ha!!
I think we have met ages ago as there was a nose to tail meal at the Beast early 2000s for Chow meet if I recall correctly. I was the youngest at the table by a decade or two so didn’t mingle or talk much
I did try that over half a year ago and yes! at that time, it was the best yakitori/Izakaya I have encountered ’ up north '. Some of their ‘non-skewer’ dishes were wonderful. As for charcoal skewers, the steak offering was outstanding. Comparing Sumoki and Kyushu? Guess its half a dozen of one, six the other?! Both have strong dishes as well as some weak ones! Sumoki portion bigger but price point a touch more expensive.
My review of Kyushu with pics
NYC has some proper high-end yakitori like Torishin and Kono. The ones in Toronto are more like izakaya skewers. A shame that there isn’t even a single decent option here
Sigh! Totally agree with you regarding the lack of decent choices here in TO. Not just Yakitori but a shame no pure Tempura or Yakiniku joints as well.
At least, to make its business model more authentic, Sumoki uses Binchotan for the grilling and offers some exotic stuff like Chicken Ovaries and Asses and Cock Testicles!
Actually you just reminded me of a tempura place I wanted to try but haven’t (yet). Edomae Kiyomi has a tempura chef and a sushi chef so they have a tempura omakase and sushi omakase. Looking at their website, it seems they have a 30% off reopening special until Nov 30 (but if you check their Instagram it says 30% off cash only so not sure which is correct). Has anyone tried the tempura omakase there?
I checked photos posted in the gallery on their website. Noticed products less refined looking and batter a touch too thick ( compared to the more correct, authentic and traditional rendition found all over Japan ). Unless confirmed by foodies I know and trust, too far of a distance for me to drive just to give them a try!
