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Guu Izakaya
Categories: Restaurants Japanese Restaurants Tapas Bars Japanese, Tapas Bars [Edit]
398 Church StreetToronto, ON M5B
Neighbourhood: Downtown Core
(416) 977-0999
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 5 pm - 12 am
Fri-Sun 4 pm - 12 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
216 reviews for Guu Izakaya
Review Highlights
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"Kinoko Cheese Bibimbap - dudE." In 13 reviews -
"And then the aburi salmon came and that was a delight." In 8 reviews -
"The Gindara (black cod) is umami heaven and simply stunning." In 19 reviews
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216 reviews in English
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Review from Viviana M.
Toronto, ON
Dining Experience: Dinner
Specialty: Japanese
Menu items: Gyu Shabu Salad, Maguro Tataki, Gindara and Kinoko Bibimbap and Otokomae cocktail
Guu Izakaya its not just a restaurant. It's a culture.
One does not head to Guu for peace and quiet or to enjoy some "OK" food. When I think of Guu, I think of fantastic dishes with unique taste and flavours, out of this world drinks and a crazy atmosphere; and I pretty much get on the Guu state of mind.
To get on this state of mind I speak of, one's meal must start with their signature cocktails. In my case, the Otokomae. In ancient times, Izakaya referred to places where people went to enjoy a drink and a good chat. So it is with reason that Guu Izakaya's many specialties involve some good doses of alcohol. My Otokomae drink was a delicious mixture of sake, tequila, cointreau, cassis and orange juice, which the waiter kindly advise me to squeeze in the juicer and then proceed to pour onto my drink; therefore making it that much more fresh and delish.
Guu's style is tapas inspired, so my party and I decided to share an array of dishes to truly enjoy the Guu state of mind; starting with a nice Gyu Shabu Salad.
At first glance, I thought this salad was just OK looking given its lack of ingredients, not realizing that a salad, if made well, should taste good regardless. And this was certainly one dish Guu's Chef knows how to make. This salad, on the first bite, immediately raised to the top next to Susur Lee's famous slaw. Oh yes it did!
Its simple and fresh, with an explosion of flavour coming from both the shabu-shabu beef and the fantastic black sesame dressing. That combination of the dressing, with the beef, peppers and greens, was all I really needed.
Next on the order was of course a sashimi dish, tuna to be exact; also known on the menu as Maguro Tataki.
The B.C tuna was incredibly fresh and tasty. This piece of fish had been lightly seared on what I bet where some oak and apple wood in the fire. I am not 100% on this, but this is what I tasted. Drizzled with Ponzu, a Japanese citrus-based sauce, and accompanied with garlic chips, this dish was one of my favourites at Guu Izakaya.
Staying on the fish food group, we followed with the Gindara.
Placed, and probably cooked on what looked like a banana leaf, was a black cod that is grilled and drizzled with miso and a white wine sauce, and melted like butter in my mouth. And if I may add, black cod is my favourite fish in whole wide world, so my love for this dish is beyond words.
Lastly, and to put a nice and lovely end to our Guu culture experience, we had the famous Bibimbap. We decided on the Kinoko style which came with rice, mushrooms and cheese in a seaweed sauce. The rice, once again, hit the spot like good Japanese places usually do. This rice was just as good as that of Yuzu's, and the Bibimbap, meaning the whole dish, was better than my recently reviewed one at Seor Ak San. Seor's is still good, but its a second contender to Guu.
And so I leave you with my Guu state of mind.
Buen Provecho,
Viviana, -
Review from Ken H.
Super popular modernized izakaya in Toronto that opens late.
I was really hungry and was looking for hot food and found this chain izakaya in Toronto that's not too far from the subway so I went there, and found out the line is about 45mins - 1 hour wait. My suggestion is to go approx 1 hour (or 1.5 hours before on weekday) as the waits usually die down around that time.
The food menu is extremely limited for an izakaya, but its adequate. It have all the essential elements of izakaya.
1) Sashimi - uni/sweet shrimp/monk fish sashimi. Fresh, but definitely not sushi restaurant grade, and you are not paying the sushi restaurant price either.
2) Fried Chicken - juicy, tender, but not salty enough.
3) Baked Oyster - Its pretty Americanized taste. Think of scallop dynamite with oyster instead.
4) Beef Tataki - I personally preferred Beef over Maguro tataki here.
5) Lobster Salad - Skip it, its very small portion.
6) Exotic Pork - Skip it, its nothing to write home about
7) Oden - order the daikon and egg, its sooo good!
8) Yakiudon - its really good, the scent of mushroom blended in with the udon. Its one of my favorite dishes.
Try not to wear your fancy outfits here as your clothes will be stained with the smell of izakaya! -
Review from Johnny H.
Toronto, ON
5/22/2012
I can't tell you what type of people will like Guu Izakaya, but I can tell you what type of people will definitely hate this place.
If any 3 of these criteria apply to you, avoid this restaurant for your own guu'd.
1. You like quiet, peaceful and calm dining experience.
2. You like civilized dining experience instead of chaotic environment
3. You like refined manners from servers
4. You don't like servers dropping your plates on the table
5. You like attentive service where servers check on you time to time.
6. You like privacy, and having your own table (Guu has communal tables)
7. You like big tables where you can comfortably spread out your arms and plates.
8. You like other diners to mind their own businesses
9. You don't like it when random strangers sitting next to you are nosy, and ask you questions about anything.
10. You don't like servers and chefs needlessly yelling out things, possibly splashing spit all over your food.
11. You hate alien foods straight out of science fiction movies (deep fried brie cheese? WTF)
12. You don't like dishes with too many things going on
13. You like gentle and subtle flavors instead of strong spices or sauces
14. You like to feel the natural flavors of main ingredients
15. You don't like cheap-tasting foods outside the boundaries of chain restaurants.
But I have to say mackerel and scallop dishes were pretty damn good. Scallops were very fresh and cooked perfectly. The sauces offered interesting tastes that went well together with the scallops. Overall it offered very soothing flavors. The mackerel offered a vibrant taste. The chemistry between ingredients was excellent. The fish meat was complimented by combination of different herbs. The fish was a bit overcooked, but it was still delicious.
Unfortunately, 2 good dishes don't outweigh all the negatives of this restaurant. I tried several other dishes, but they were rather underwhelming. My friends were not impressed either. One of them was Japanese.
On a bright side, the service is very quick. And it is reasonably bright inside the restaurant. Furthermore, the price is very attractive. As far as I can remember, there is no dish that creeps into $10+ territory. -
Review from Neil C.
5/3/2012
Great food, really fun atmosphere, and a unique overall experience -- I will definitely be back the next time I'm in Toronto. Obviously, don't go here if you want a quiet dinner or can't afford to wait (we had to wait 30 minutes at 9PM on a Tuesday night). But otherwise, highly recommended.
Food highlights:
* Gyu Carpaccio -- amazing! The combination of citrus (ponzu), mayo, garlic and raw beef was fantastic.
* Karaage (fried chicken) -- super good, really tender.
* Gindara (black cod) -- crispy skin, beautiful texture, perfectly cooked, great sauce.
* Buta Kimchi Bibimbap
* Kakimayo (baked oyster with cheese) -- we wanted to get this but ordered the wrong thing instead :( Looks amazing, and I've heard from others that it is great.
Food I'd skip next time:
* "Exotic pork" special -- this was basically roasted pork with a mild mustard sauce. The pork was good and not at all dry, but this dish didn't have enough going on for me.
* Kaki Furai (deep fried oysters) -- ordered instead of the Kakimayo by mistake. Not terrible, but not memorable.
Service was friendly and efficient (despite being really busy!).
We also drank a bunch of soju and sake -- their selection is great! This definitely got pretty pricey though. -
Review from Christine K.
Montréal, QC
5/1/2012
Long line up!! but very fun Japanese environment!! amazing food!! more of a drinking place & little snacks!! but the food is great!! loved it!!!!!!!!!!!
Its a little loud cuz they shout in Japanese to welcome you & then thank you when you leave!!! very entertaining!!!! -
Review from Kay B.
Vancouver, BC
4/15/2012
My girl insisted she take me here on one of my Toronto visits that I felt inclined to go since she kept raving how good it was.
We got there close to 9pm, still a LINE out the door and it wasn't only until another half hour that we got in.
Once in, I can tell the place is pure Japanese, from the decor to the chefs. Awesome. Not to mention the way all the workers yell out to greet you. Oh heyyyy!
We got seated outside so I didn't get to experience the inner-restaurant vibe. But, that's okay! It was in the beginning of October anyways, perfect temp with fresh night air. We were then seated ans greeted by our waitress, who was also super friendly and helpful. Mind SO curious with what's all the hype about, my girl and her boyfriend started ordering an array of dishes for a first timer like me.. From what I remember, there was beef sashimi, tuna sashimi, japanese bibimbap, oysters.. yum yum yum!
I was pretty impressed at how delicious everything was, with perfect texture and display. I don't think there was one dish that i disliked! The environment was also incredibly warming and it looks like everyone there was just having a good ol' time. Definitely will be back the next time I'm in Toronto and this time, hopefully I'll get to experience sitting inside! -
Review from Mathieu B.
Roxboro, QC
4/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
" You're gonna wait TWO hours, you'll see!!" 45 minutes later, we were in. Being served by a Japanese waitress from Oksaka. A delight, always smiling! I love... sorry, really love the staff. One thing I love is good food, good vibe, good booze/saké (which I remind when you buy their local homemade)( saké 15% goes to help the victim of japan)). It's uber pack but they have manage to create a well rounded system to make things go fast. I cannot had much more detaisl as previous Yelper:Mouthwash in the bathroom, All staff massif japanese: Hello!
Listen, the food is very good, the Kirin beer is amazing. Takiyaki is a must as for the okonomiyaki. the Greens are good. Only thing I would have liked is a structure on how it comes to your table. We ate in the patio, way less noise, it was nice!
Back in Toronto means going back to Guu Izakaya, -
Review from Good T.
Toronto, ON
4/14/2012
They have mouthwash in their bathrooms! That's a testament to how much thought has gone into making this place guu-uuuuuuuud!
I thankfully didn't have to wait for a table because we went on a Sunday afternoon, but had we gone even an hour later we would have had to wait. The line-ups are deserved: the sapporo is free flowing and the tapas is interesting and cooked well for the most part. We ordered a bunch of stuff, including: pork cheeks, squid, fried brie (which was delicious), a sea weed/raphini salad (which was a bit too fishy tasting) and were satiated!
It's a pretty boisterous place, as an izakaya should be: welcoming staff, loud music, and the chatter of content patrons. It's a great place for a night out. Guu is guud. -
Review from bold c.
Toronto, ON
Recommendation: Strong Buy
The food is fabulous. Cheering Japanese staff greet you upon entrance and salut you upon your leaving Gu.
Music and ambiance....think Disco/Boogie environment circa 1970's.
30 Sec Summary
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1. Order everything on the menu.
2. No Sushi (pity)
3. Tuna (Maguro Tataki) and Salmon (Salmon Tataki) are brilliant and succulent choices and worth the $7 cost
4. The Lobster Salad was ok...not spectacular for the money
5. The Hotate Capaccio (Scallop Sashimi) is wicked. Never thought I would try raw scallops! They are firm and flavourful with the Wasabi dressing
6. Spicy Negitoro (Tuna chopped) is the best value on the menu. The portions are huge especially for the $6 cost - STRONG BUY
7. Avoid the Salmon Natto Yukke (the one with the raw fish and raw egg) - while it was interesting to watch them prepare and initially the bites of raw fish, egg yolk and garlic chips were spicy crunchy - I felt a wee but queazy after eating this one.
8. Try the Gyu Carpaccio (Seared Beef Sashimi) - it was delicious and melted in your mouth like a angus steak
9. Tip - parking is brutal in the area - park at Maple Leaf Gardens (the new Loblaws and for $20 in grocery save a chunk of change for free 90 minute parking)
10. Service was fast friendly and fun. We went in the afternoon around 3:00pm on a Saturday and had no problem finding a table 1hr later it was packed
11. Come back and try their Sake events -
Review from Joie T.
GUUUUU much??? Within 2 months of being here, and I've been here 3 times!!! The atmosphere is clearly Japanese! REAL Japanese chefs serving REAL Japanese food, and shouting unknown remarks in REAL Japanese! I have no clue what they are saying, but they are SMILING as they shout at you, so I'll take it as a cheer! Every time I come here, I feel like I've been whisked away to Tokyo for a few hours! We ALWAYS over-indulge when we come here, eating like it's going out of style! We ordered everything! (NO! Not at once, but between the 3 times we were here!).
FAVES
YAKI UDON - udon noodles with beef, mushroom, scallions
MAGURO TATAKI - tuna sashimi w/ ponzu & garlic chips
KINOKO BIBIMBAP - rice with mushrooms, seaweed and cheese melted on top
KAKIMAYO - baked oysters w/ spinach, garlic, mayo and topped with creamy cheese
PRICES
Appetizers : $3-$5
Menu Items: $6-$10
Dessert: I didn't bother looking! =P
DRINKS
We went with kid-friendly drinks ...
GUAVA JUICE - The guava juice was tasty without being overly sweet!
GUU ORIGINAL RAMUNE - if you want a moment of exotic adventure, try the GUU ORIGINAL RAMUNE, a $3.50 worth of fizzling fun!
DESSERT
GREEN TEA ICE-CREAM
I go for the green tea ice-cream every time! The green tea ice-cream was e-x-a-c-t-l-y how I like it, very creamy without drowning the green tea matcha flavour!
BLACK SESAME ICE-CREAM
o-m-g!!! Decadent, creamy, smooth as silk ... you just have to try it for yourself! ;) -
Review from Terry P.
4/6/2012
What can I say about Guu that hasn't already been said?
Yes, you will have to wait for a table.
Yes, after waiting you will probably have to share a table with strangers.
Yes, it will be very loud.
Yes, the food is awesome, and you will probably eat a lot of it.
Did anyone mention that the servers are cute? If not, at least I contributed something new.
A great experience. Go. -
Review from Bailey A.
Toronto, ON
4/20/2012
What a great spot! Reasonably priced, great atmosphere, friendliest staff and even the food tastes good! The tapas are great and unique! Not your usual sushi joint.
You can't help but smile and wave back when the entire restaurant shouts out a greeting to you.
I wonder how the staff manage to keep their voice and hearing though with all the synchonized shouting going on all night..... -
Review from Esther W.
Toronto, ON
3/21/2012 4 photos
I was debating to give 4 stars for the service or 3 stars for the fact that my friends and I were waited for 2 and half hours in a cold night and still wasn't seated.
We went there around 5:30pm and made a reservation, but there were 11 groups in front of us. Maybe we were out of luck, it happened to be EVERYBODY'S Birthday. They sang the hbd song like ever 5 mins.
5 mins passed 9pm, I checked with the girl and she said there're still 2 groups before us but we didn't see the groups coming in! This was the reason I was so mad! We left few mins after for cheap fresh hot food with an almond tofu take out. -
Review from Fern H.
2/20/2012
Guu has been on my restaurant wish list for a while now after reading many positive reviews and getting recommendations from friends.
We arrived around 7pm on a Thursday night and was told there would be a 40-minute wait for a table. We added our name to the list and had a seat in the vestibule outside. The heat lamp was not working but it was not a super cold night.
We were seated at the end of a large communal table and didn't get any neighbours until half way through our meal. Our waitress gave us warm towels which was very nice to defrost my hands after our wait in the outside area.
We ordered the jumbo mug of Sopporo ($9.50) and the grapefruit vodka sour ($6). Food-wise, we went with: beef carpaccio ($6.50), takoyaki ($5), scallop and enoki mushrooms ($6), tontoro - pork cheek ($6.50), deep fried oysters ($6.80) and the kimchi bimbimbap ($8.80).
Food came super fast. The bimbimbap was up first and then followed shortly by the rest of the items we ordered. We dug in and just after a few pieces from each dish, I felt extremely full. I also noticed that the majority of our items were deep fried so oily foods usually fill me up fast. The oysters and the takoyaki were my favourite. The pork cheek was underwhelming, just a few nubs of pork in a small bowl.
We decided to finish off with dessert - tempura banana with coconut ice cream and mango sauce ($6) and even dessert was deep fried. I ordered a hot green tea ($1) to calm my stomach.
The atmosphere at Guu is lively and loud. It was someone's birthday every 10 minutes. The staff sing and shooters were delivered to their table. The staff greet all those entering and exiting with a rowdy hello and goodbye. Pumping Japanese dance music fills the room. I was definitely entertained.
I equate our meal at Guu to a trip to the food building at the CNE. Everything looks and smells good, but after you eat a poutine, a Beavertail, mini-doughnuts, fried chicken, deep fried butter, cotton candy, etc, two hours later, you end up on the couch in your underwear, nursing a bottle of Maalox vowing never to do that again.
It was Guu'd for what it was but I'm not a big eater of deep fry which is probably why I'm not dying to go back. -
Review from Jarita L.
Markham, ON
3/30/2012
The food isn't phenomenal and due to its sheer popularity, Guu is somewhat overrated.
However, the atmosphere is amazing and it is an awesome place to go with friends. Would rather spend $20-30 here for a night out than at some crap chain place.
Love the open kitchen, and love to see the chefs having fun preparing the food. -
Review from Meredith G.
3/6/2012
The food here is excellent! It was our first night in Toronto and very rainy so we wanted some great food within walking distance of our hotel. Of course we looked to yelp which led us to Guu Izakaya.
It was a little confusing as we first walked in, we weren't sure if we had come through the back door or not because we practically tripped over the coat rack and there was lots of yelling going on. But we were quickly greeted and shown to the heated patio to wait for a table which only took about 20 minutes even though the place was packed and we didn't have reservations.
We discovered that the yelling and crowded vibe were all part of the experience, so just welcome it, the food is worth it. I wasn't sure if there would be enough vegetarian options to choose from but there were plenty. We also weren't sure how much to order, but they serve mostly small plates so the best way to order is to get a few plates for the table at a time, finish those and then order some more and so on. We tried a bunch of things (veggie and non-veggie), every one of them was great but the stand out was the fried brie in mango blueberry sauce. I want to head back to Toronto just to have this again! -
Review from Brian K.
They've made a couple of improvements that vastly improve the winter wait.
They now have a fabric vestibule that helps to cut down on the wind and cold. That's good.
Now, when waiting for a table they smartly use their covered and unused patio as a waiting room / detention cell. It's a bit odd to be led through the main area into the cell, where you can have a beer and commiserate with others over the wait. But it works. Or at least it works better than waiting out in the cold.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/14/2010
Mother fuckin' Guu, you are fantastic, and deserve five-stars on ambiance alone.
The tapas-style… Read more »
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Review from Aviva S.
1/26/2012 ROTD 3/22/2012
4.5 damn it. Not 4.
So, I"m a vegetarian. Not a pescatarian, but a vegetarian. That means I can't eat 85% of this menu. However, the 15% that I can and this place in general - is awesome sauce. DRIPPING with awesome sauce.
So my fellow vegetarian and peeps in general
Brie Cheese ($6.8) - meh. Too much going on at once. The outer crust (deep fried) is better than the cheese.
Edamame ($3.5) - I did not have this but it comes in a bowl. Looks good if you like it.
Nasu miso ($5.5) - SOOOO GOOOD. And I don't even like eggplant. Exquisite taste.
Agedashi tofu ($5.5) - Delicious. Makes tofu taste as good as tofu can taste x 10.
Gomaae ($3.8) - Makes spinach seem like a super - vegetable (?). Really unique and very tasty.
We also had two types of sake - the one in the little vase looking thing with two cups and the clear one in a shot glass in a wooden block. FUN.
Everything in total without tips was $50 for two people which is not bad at all.
All the food and drinks please both the eyes and the mouth (yeah, baby), the place has an awesome atmosphere though not nearly as loud as people say it is.
The service is so above and beyond. Absolutely a delight. This is where you tip 15%+
This place has it all. Taste, presentation, experience, and unique-ality. It's worth your time and a must do (if you didn't get that by the other 179 reviews).
*Doesn't get a 5 star simply because it's difficult to fill up here for cheap as portion sizes are a little too small for that.
Anyway, check it out now, funk soul brotha.Listed in: Places I Checked Out Due to…
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Review from Mary C.
Richmond Hill, ON
2/5/2012 5 photos
Guu originated from our friends on the West coast of Canada, in British Columbia. With their bountiful fresh fish and lively atmosphere, they were able to create an izakaya so popular, that there are now two locations in Toronto. The name of the restaurant is supposed to resemble the sounds of a rumbling stomach, which is definitely how I recommend you should feel going into Guu. I've actually been here a couple times now, but never actually got around to posting up a review. After multiple visits, I've come to gather lots of opinions, so hopefully you can bear through this long long post!
After probably a one our line-up (this place doesn't take reservations), you will enter the small, dimly lit Guu restaurant, and be greeted by the entire house of servers yelling at you. Really. It's not a shocking terrifying yell, but a rather warm friendly one. Presumably they are saying "welcome" in Japanese. Likewise, when you leave, or order a birthday dessert (which is actually what we did for our birthday boy), the entire wait-staff and kitchen crew will not hesitate to serenade you with their cheers and song. It gets pretty rowdy in this small restaurant, but it makes the meal so much more fun and enjoyable!
The Guu Carpaccio, Hotate Carpaccio and Salmon Tataki dishes are definite recommendations from me if you are a fan of eating raw sashimi. Each contains sahsimi served in thin and small slices, which helps take in more flavour from the garlic, wasabi and ponzu sauce. A really delicate and delicious dish!
"Gindara" ($9.80)-grilled black cod with saikyo miso & white wine sauce
The black cod here is nothing short of amazing. It is cooked very well, with the meat having the perfect balance of raw and cooked textures. Not over cooked so that its flakey, but not too raw that its slimey. On one rare occasion that I came, the meat was overcooked and not well thawed. But in general, really good.
"Brie Cheese" ($6.80)-deep fried brie cheese with mango & strawberry sauce
I love brie cheese. So seeing this on the menu, I just had to order it. In concept, it seemed like something that should be served at the CNE along side deep fried butter, and deep fried Oreos. In reality, I find it is a much superior item. First off, it isn't too heavily battered like the CNE foods. Somehow Guu is able to use a light batter and fry it nice and crispy. Secondly, the cheese isn't completely melted inside. This gives you a nice combination of melty and solid cheese.
"Unagi Doria" ($9.30)-bbq water eel on mixed mushrooms, rice with cheese on top
I've had eel rice on many occasions, but cheese on top? That changes everything. As yummy as this was, be forewarned: this is a really savory dish. The eel is heavily (but deliciously) marinated, and in conjunction to the melted cheese it was almost borderline to be "too much" for me.
"Takoyaki" ($5.00)-deep fried octopus balls with tonkatsu sauce & karashi mayo
Takoyaki being a more prevalent Japanese snack in Toronto, I didn't find this dish too outstanding. For one, it didn't have the novelty factor to it. On top of that, I found it wasn't deep fried crispy enough. However, the octopus piece on the inside was a sizable portion, and I guess that makes up for something.
"Takowasabi" ($3.80)-marinated octopus w/ wasabi stem
Don't be tricked by how small it looks when this dish arrives, because it literally comes in a portion smaller than two Oreo cookies. However, it in no way means its short on taste. The wasabi stem marinate is pretty intense, and will definitely get the nasal passages going. Along with the chewy octopus and crispy seaweed wrap, this is easily one of my favourites at Guu.
Shrimp Sashimi ($17)
This item isn't actually on the regular menu, but instead another daily specials one. I've always loved eating shrimp sashimi, but at Guu it's unique in that the shrimp head is deep fried and served almost like another dish. Surprisingly the shrimp's head had a lot of flavour and was delicious with the dipping sauce. This dish is rather expensive, but I find its worth a try at least once if you're a fan of shrimp sashimi.
"Karaage" ($6.80)-deep fried soy sauce marinated chicken served with garlic mayo
Usually fried chicken doesen't appeal to me that much, but this one was absolutely delicious! Probably some of the best fried chicken I've had. The meat inside is super juicy, and deep fried light and crispy.
"Tempura Ice Cream" ($4.80)
No meal is complete without dessert, and tempura ice cream is the best way to do it. I really wonder how they deepfry the ice cream without it melting on the inside? We ordered this with green tea ice cream, but they also have it in sesame and coconut flavours.
If you're up for a long line up, You cannot go wrong with Guu. A fun environment and great food :) -
Review from Basma A.
Toronto, ON
4/22/2012
This place is worth the wait!! We were there on a wednesday night and had to wait almost 2 hours for our table.... now keep in mind we were a group of 9 so small groups won't have to wait this long!!
The food is amazing! and if you're about to celebrate a birthday..this is the place to do it... not only does the staff sing 'happy birthday'...the chefs do too! it makes for a great atmosphere! -
Review from Joyce P.
1/23/2012
Our party of 6 came here on a wintry evening during the holidays and we loved it!
We had a hard time finding the location (and even the door)... I'll blame it on the fact that it was night time and raining. But, upon entering the restaurant, we were greeted with a blast of warmth and shouts of welcome in Japanese. It was such a great feeling! The atmosphere is very warm.
The seating is "cafeteria" style with beautiful wood tables. We had a great time sitting with others and spying on what they were ordering. :)
We really enjoyed our time! We had some trouble picking out what to eat... so we picked them all! Just kidding, but we ate a lot.
We ordered the tonkatsu ramen, takoyaki, agedashi tofu, grilled saba, oden with chef's choice (hot pot), hamachi sushi, oysters with avocados and cheese (?).
Definite favorites were the oden, grilled saba, and the sushi!
Our server was very gracious and understanding as we put in order after order! This is a great location to meet up with friends and have a hearty conversation.Listed in: The Yelp 100 Challenge!
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Review from Sally F.
Richmond Hill, ON
4/23/2012
I don't like sushi and sashimi. This is the good choice for me . The food is amazing not like a traditional Japaneses restaurant menu. Only i don't like is i need to line up for almost a hour, and the dinning time is very rush. They will not make you comfortable to sit longer. But the food is worth me to line up other hour for next time.
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Review from Avitania B.
Toronto, ON
1/1/2012 3 Check-ins Here
I was skeptic about whether Guu could possibly live up to the hype. I grew even more skeptical as I stood outside Guu for 30 minutes in the rain without an umbrella, waiting for a table before the restaurant opened. And when my partner and I were finally seated, amid all the yelling and fanfare from Guu staff, I had relegated Guu to the cabinet in my mind that contains eat-er-tainment restaurants like Benihana: all show, no substance.
...and then I tried the food. And then I realized I was all wrong.
It's good. It's seriously, seriously good. Not only does the energy and activity from the kitchen provide a nice feast for the eyes, but the food is definitely a feast for the soul. I especially loved the Scallop and Enoki Mushroom. It's wrapped in bacon. It's amazing. Order multiples, you're going to want more -- trust me.
Even though the place was completely packed, service was still great. I'm definitely going back soon to try more dishes. -
Review from Yi Qing S.
Toronto, ON
3/3/2012
Okay everyone, say it with me now: Guu is awesome. Now say it again... and again... and again. Alright, now that we've established this, we can now move on to the actual review.
Dining at Guu is like being in Japan. And yeah, I've been in izakayas in Japan. Even walking into the place makes you feel extra special because they bang on that giant drum and there is a chorus of IRASSHAIMASE! and for that one moment, it makes you feel like one of those anime girls who communicate their excitement via clasped hands and ENORMOUS WATERY EYES.
Pretty much everything we ordered was delicious, service was prompt, and the decor is pretty cool too. My only complaint was that the noise level increased dramatically throughout the course of the evening, but other than that, I'll be back as soon as I'm in the mood for some good seafood (the grilled salmon was... mmmm... too tasty for words) and warm sake. Thumbs up guys, keep doing whatever you're doing because you're doing it damn well. -
Review from Sophie T.
2/24/2012
Loved every single thing I've ordered!!! Fun fun fun atmosphere too!
My fave dishes to order: Brie cheese - I know, weird but oh so delicious! Takoyaki was awesome!!!
They have daily specials, do make sure you try them!!! -
Review from Brian C.
1/31/2012
What a delightful place. I was really looking forward to going to this place. It reminds me of the fun izakaya style restaurants I would go to in the East Village in New York City. I was not disappointed.
We were lucky enough to not have to wait in line, I know sometimes the line could be pouring out the door. It's a Japanese tapas restaurant, so make sure you go with a few friends.
Don't go to an izakaya if you don't want to be in a fun, boisterous environment, and have a good time. You sit at these communal long tables on these small stools and really take part in the community. The servers are fun, and in traditional style, call out welcomes and orders etc. throughout the restaurant.
We ordered a ton of food (we were a party of 6), but here are some stand outs:
- Okonomiyaki - Reminds me of the stands you get this tasty treat from on the side of the street. The flavors are just right.
- Takowasabi - Marinated octopus. The octopus is raw, but works well with the acid and the heat from the sauce.
- Amaebi - Sweet shrimp. I love this delicious shrimp. It's raw, but the flesh is sweet and really does not need any dipping sauce.
- Kakimayo - Deliciously baked oysters with cheese and mayo.
Bring friends and don't forget the sake! -
Review from Martin F.
Toronto, ON
2/12/2012
Guu was a great place! It was my frist time to check out a Izakaya style restaurant and it was a good time. The food provides a great variety of options and is perfect for sharing with friends, and tastes good. There was hip-hop music playing throughout the meal which made the experience that much more laid back.
Their calamari is a must try. -
Review from Brian T.
1/6/2012 2 photos
This boisterous, hopping izakaya is serving some of the best food in the city, and the atmosphere is nothing short of mirthful.
The lovely servers, as well as the ebullient cooks in the open kitchen, are welcoming, helpful, and enthusiastic about the food they are presenting. The good cheer is contagious.
Most importantly, the food is phenomenal. With a menu that features a variety of traditional dishes (Octopus Balls, Kara Age, Agedashi Tofu, etc.), hotpot, fresh riffs on simple ingredients (Seared tuna with garlic chips and ponzu; Bibimbap with Kinoko, etc.), as well as unique creations (Baked avocado with shrimp and spicy mayonnaise sauce), there is something for purists and adventurists alike. Everything I tried was expertly prepared and delicious, and everything else only escaped my grasp because of my already sated appetite!Listed in: Toronto Dining Highlights
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Review from C.B. S.
Toronto, ON
4/3/2012
This is the funnest restaurant in Toronto, although I usually head to sister restaurant Guu Saka Bar just because it's bigger and therefore easier to get in.
People who have not ruined their hearing with years of iPod use may find this place noisy. That said, I have been to the Guu restaurants with people of all sorts of tastes, and everybody has had a good time and enjoyed the food. -
Review from Lisa H.
Toronto, ON
3/27/2012
4 stars for the experience. The food is tasty but nothing that stands out (except maybe the kinoko bibimbap - rice, mushrooms, cheese, seaweed in a sizzling stone bowl). Great if you don't mind deep fried foods and mayo-based sauces. It was definitely a fun and loud atmosphere - it's not a place you want to go for a quick bite or a romantic date. Even though it was packed, it was not hard to flag a waitress. She had surprisingly good memory because she knew exactly which dish was ordered. Very busy - went there on a Monday night around 7:30pm and there was still a line-up. We left at 9:30pm and there were still people waiting at the door as well. The portions are quite small so the final bill ends up expensive. We went with 10 people and we each paid about $40.
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Review from Lynn C.
Updated - 12/23/2011
I've been to Guu several times since I first came here and no meal has disappointed, in spite of its high price tag. The reason why I'm writing an update for this place is because I wanted to make a record of the great night I had and the delicious food I ate.
We got here at around 6:30pm and there were noticeably a lack of people waiting out front, unlike the previous times I have been here. After giving my name to the server (they no longer take your phone number to call you back!) she informed me that I should come back to the restaurant in 20 minutes, when there is more room in the waiting room. "So I have to wait for the waiting room?" The server embarrassingly laughs and admits its absurdity.
This waiting room is what is usually the patio in the summer, with a heater and cover. People sit on benches and are allowed to order drinks. I like this a lot better than the previous standing outside in line wait.
We got the chef's table seat in front the kitchen. It's really memorizing to watch the number of dishes that can be created in such a small space.
The food:
- kimchi udon - a must have every time I come here. I love how del dente the noodle is
- grilled beef tongue - large portions, thick slices, very tasty and not gamy
- grilled beef short ribs - a bit disappointing and too salty and did not go with the scallion oil it came with
- tonkotsu ramen - (today's special and only available mondays to wednesdays) - the broth was very thick and flavourful, like a tonkotsu ramen should be and very del dente
- deep fried oysters - comes in three sets of two. each set has a different flavour, one of which is just salt. It's so nicely fried that even without the dressing, it's delicious
- uni sashimi - i didn't try this because im just not a fan
- plum wine - so sweet and tasty
Other tried and true loves:
- bi bim bap (any type, really)
- baked oyster (my favourite dish)
- deep fried calamari with spicy mayo and wasabi (another favourite)
- deep fried brie cheese (a lot of ppl love it)
- unagi doria (eel with rice, and cheese!)
- matcha cocktailListed in: Places Caleb W. went with me, Japanese in the GTA, GTA Five Stars, Restaurants worth paying for
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/30/2010
While I was standing outside for two hours in the cold, I kept telling my friends that no place is… Read more »
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Review from Saumaya S.
12/29/2011
I am a different person today because my friends brought me here - good karma for years to them.
I am actually a vegetarian yet the 3 tapas dishes that we ordered were so insanely good that I can't stop thinking about them. This is legit food for soul - I am so happy about my experience.
Everything from the delicious lychee cocktail that I had to the the deep fried brie cheese dish to the coconut ice cream with deep friend bananas as dessert were beyond excellent.
I actually wanted to hug the japanese man who was our server at the end of our meal as he was the most respectful dude ever bowing everytime Japanese tradition would require him too. At the end we all got separate guu postcards where we wrote each other messages and put them in the mailbox to the side of the eating area - speaking of which fantastic eating area, amazing energy from the cooks and the servers - I love how they greet you when you walk in and out.
I am glad I had dinner here because I need to forget over sleep how AMAZING the food here was because nothing I will ever taste again my life will meet the bar that was set tonight
I just I don't know - I am still guushing and I had to share. You have to be here atleast once in your life it's that good -
Review from Justine H.
Toronto, ON
1/17/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Restaurant: Guu Izakaya
Cuisine: Japanese
Location: Downtown
Address: 398 Church St
Price Range: ~$10
1: Poor 2: OK 3: Good 4: Very Good 5: Excellent
Food: 5
Service: 4
Ambiance: 4
Overall: 4.5
Extra information:
*Japanese Drinking Bar (Izakaya)
*Based in Vancouver, BC
*Couple locations in Toronto
*Specialize in small sharing dishes
*Sells sake, beer and cocktail
I never thought I would do a posting on Guu in million years. Just because I've been to Guu so many times in past 5-6 years ever since they opened their original one in Vancouver, BC.
Guu was the place to be couple years ago, grabbing dinner with friends or sipping away on grapefruit cocktail that your date makes for you. Their food is overall very delicious, good in portion (for sharing) and inexpensive so I was excited to hear that they were here in Toronto as well.
Last time I was walking home on Church street and I saw the crazy lineup outside the restaurant on a Saturday night. Guu in Vancouver has at least 20 minute waiting time, but this just looked crazy! My friend and I were originally suppose to check out Yuzu, but it was raining so hard we decided to drop by Guu that was closer.
Ordered: Gyu Capaccio 5/5
*7 pieces of seared beef sashimi with ponzu, wasabi, mayo & garlic chips for $6.50
*I love beef sashimi and you can tell that it's fresh and good quality
*Make sure to eat them with radish that's served in the middle as well as the garlic chips
*I like how they are bit on the thick side cause it makes it chewy
*I could probably eat 3 plates of this on my own
Ordered: Amaebi Sashimi 4/5
*5 pieces of sweet shrimp sashimi from BC for $6.80
*I like the amaebi sashimi part but usually I get this for the fried head
*These shrimps are sweet and they just melt in your mouth
*They are from BC so you know they were probably frozen once but it's still fresh
*Finish the shrimps but save the head and ask them to deep fry it for you
*Deep fried heads are like shrimp crackers
*I eat everything except their eyes...cause it creeps me out
Ordered: KimChi Udon 3/5
*Udon noodles with spicy cod roe topped with kimchi for $7.80
*This was probably one of the most disappointing dishes of the night
*I knew the way Guu makes their KimChi udon but I ordered it anyways
*I prefer KimChi to be stir fried with the udon but they just put it on top
*Cod roe makes the udon kind of creamy and it goes well with the sour KimChi
*One of the carb dishes that will fill you up
Ordered: Kaki Fry 4/5
*6 pieces of deep fried oyster with 3 kinds of sauce for $6.80
*3 kinds of sauce for this was Tonkatsu, Pink Tartar and Lemon&Salt
*I enjoyed the Lemon&Salt and Pink Tartar, not so much the Tonkatsu sauce
*Oysters were deep fried and served with 3 different types of sauce
*How can deep fried oysters be bad?
Ordered: Gin Dara 5/5
*Black Cod for $9.80
*Cod dishes are always on the pricier side, but the way they make it at Guu- you can't resist
*They make it so that the Cod just melts in your mouth
*It's buttery, soft and melts in your mouth....(drool)
*This was actually a decent sized fish, little smaller than my hands
*Good with cold/hot sake
Ordered: Enoki Hotate Bacon 4/5
*4 pieces of Pan fried bacon wrapped scallop and enoki mushroom for $6.00
*I always feel like it's such a waste ordering skewers cause they seem so expensive
*This was decent in size but $6 might be a little too much
*Scallop-Bacon wasn't very good but Enoki Mushroom-Bacon was delicious
*Served with light soy sauce on bottom and mayo on top
*Perfect dish to order if you are having beer
Ordered: Unagi Doria 4/5
*Rice with unagi baked with cheese on top for 9.30
*This is another filler dish you can order to fill you up
*There are lots of small unagi pieces on top and they don't cheap out on cheese
*Entire dish is really hot and the unagi sauce makes the rice really sweet
1/3 way through our meal, I was actually getting really bad headaches from all the shouting and yelling inside the restaurant. I know I've been through it before and I should be used to it but Toronto Guu people are so much more louder compared to Vancouver Guu people!!
I really wanted to take my time and enjoy my meal but it was getting to a point where I couldnt stand it anymore and I just wanted to eat as fast as possible and leave.
I did enjoy all the food and the nice service from people that were working there, plus the energy was great...but I just don't want to hear it every 5 minute.
Summary: Guu is a great place to go if you've never experienced izakaya style restaurants. With great energy, food, service and drinks- it's the place to be if you are out with your friends for drinks. I wouldn't recommend it if you want to have quiet intimate dinner with your date cause you will need to shout with your mouth full and they still won't understand what you are saying. Other than that, I will always love Guu!! -
Review from alfred i.
North York, ON
1/3/2012 1 photo
The atmosphere, to say the least, was amazing! Loved all the screaming and shouting in Japanese. Didn't understand a single word - but it's all good! You can feel the energy and excitement every time someone leaves or enters the venue. There were about fifteen people working, while the place can probably hold no more than fifty. The staff were all super nice. Great experience.
Now on to the negatives.. why didn't it get a four... or a five? Well, I wasn't too impressed with the quality of the food. I tried about fifteen different items. On one of the dishes, the garlic was burned. Once you burn garlic, it has a very potent bitter slap to it... This threw off the entire dish.
The Yellowtail Sashimi had a frozen taste to it.
The place doesn't take reservations. They open at five, so we showed up at five on the dot. They didn't let us in till about five past five. Usually I wouldn't complain about this - but when it's -15 outside - it got me started on the wrong foot, which was slightly distilled by the happy Japanese greeting we received by an orchestra of gitty staff upon arrival. The place filled up in less than thirty minutes. Be prepared to wait outside if you visit.
The one dish I absolutely loved - Okonomiyaki (deep fried Japanese pancake with squid, tonkatsu sauce, and karashi mayo). This is a great dish. I highly recommend you try it. If you look at it for more than five seconds, you can see the squid shards flopping as the heat dissipates through the succulent pancake. -
Review from Alan W.
Toronto, ON
12/14/2011
This is such a fun and lively place! My new favorite place to eat, drink and be merry!
I wouldn't advise bringing a large group here as they don't take reservations and waiting to be seated together could be a very long wait. Also going on a Friday or a weekend is not advisable, as there are often a line of people there who don't mind waiting for an hour or two.
On a very cold night, there was a group of people that were willing to eat in the enclosed patio than to endure the wait. The patio is enclosed and heated, but was still very drafty and not the greatest place to dine. You know you are in for something good.
The food is great. I especially like the Salmon Natto Yukke, which is a salmon tatare mixed tableside with raw egg, natto, wonton and garlic chips. I love the mixture of textures and while I was hesitant about the natto, I actually like the subtle flavor. It is served with nori sheets where you wrap it up with.
Actually everything on their cold/raw menu is excellent, including the beef carpaccio and salmon tataki. The grilled mackerel is very good, be sure to order it earlier in your meal as it take a little longer to prepare. I also like the grilled black cod with miso, eventhough you see this dish in most Japanese restaurant, I could never get tired of the buttery soft sweet fish balanced with the mellow salty miso sauce.
The BBQ pork is similar to what you find in a Chinese restaurant, but not as tender and succulent. Definitely eat it with the freshly ground horseradish (not as green and hot as wasabi) served on the side, as it makes a big improvement.
I was surprised to see a number of dishes served with cheese, which is not very Asian and sounded odd. I didn't order them as someone in my group could not eat dairy, but I will be sure to try it next time.
While many Yelpers rave about the pumpkin croquette, I thought it was just okay. Other than the sweet pumkin layer, it lacks much flavour (could be more savoury) and wasn't crispy enough.
One good tip: if you are going here in the winter or on a cold night, be sure to wear a sweater or a warm layer, as the front half of the restaurant gets very chilly from the cold drafts coming in from the front door and the patio, especially with the hoards of people poking in constantly to guage the wait time. -
Review from Fanny W.
1/2/2012
Hike!
They copy the atmosphere from the Vanconver; but it turns out to be a pub more than a "Guu " it lost the modern Japanese feel
For food, there is no comparison with the Vancouver Guu. The only meals were the tataki and Salmon Salad. The rest of the meals were "bad fusion" food. I ordered ten different dishes. I only enjoyed two dishes.
I was very looking forward to seeing a Guu in Toronto. But it is very hard to keep the quality for any chain restaurants !
If you want to have parties, this is a good place. But this is not a place for good food!!! -
Review from Danthanh L.
Toronto, ON
1/1/2012
GUU = DELICIOUSNESS!! They are so popular that there is a slang for when you want to eat there. GUU-ING! As in "lets go GUU-ing!" Haha. Now, you either hate or love eating here. The reason being: its always packed, they don't take reservations, line-ups are akin to clubs, its always loud and dish portions are small compared to what you are use to in North America.
To navigate your way through this and get the best "GUU-ing" experience possible..here are a few tips I would suggest following:
1) Keep your group small, the less people you have the easier it will be to seat you.
2) Go when they open, its easier to get in. Otherwise, you could be stuck waiting 20 mins+ for a table.
3) Order in one go. If possible, check the menu before going and know what you want. Its always packed so food takes a while to get to you. Keep in mind there is a 2 hour max seating time.
It's really easy to rack up a bill but I suggest trying their Takoyaki - deep fried octopus balls ($5.00), Enoki Hotate Bacon - enoki mushrooms and scallop wrapped in bacon ($6.00), Yakiudon Noodles - pan fried udon noodles w/ beef and veggies ($7.80), Buta Kimchi Bibimbap - rice, spicy ground pork, kimchi, egg in a hot stone pot ($8.80) and for dessert Banana Tempura - fried banana w/ coconut ice cream ($6.00).
Great for casual dinner with friends and family, possibly dates if you don't mind the noise. Note: If it is your first time, dont worry if you hear all the staff yelling when you come in or leave..they are just greeting and saying goodbye in Japanese. I previously visited with a friend once and she was startled by this.
Note: There is a new GUU location in Toronto, called GUU SakaBar. Their menu is a little bit more limited but still worth a visit because they have tatami mats. -
Review from Myrem D.
Mississauga, ON
11/4/2011
I can honestly say that this place is one of the most fantastically fun exotic dining experience I have had. I was wowed.
Toronto on a rainy Monday evening is not 'dead' per say but pretty slow. I had heard rants and raves about this place but never got the chance to check it out. So my fantastic man being that he is fantastic suggested this place out of random. And what a perfect suggestion. We took the umbrella and conquered the rain.
The main door looks so sketch and camouflaged by the dark colour. At first, we weren't sure if it was the right place. Then the man opens the mighty door and we hear a loud bellow.
Upon entering the staff all shout out "welcome" and make sure to all yell out "goodbye, come again" when you leave. All in Japanese so you really get into the experience. This sets the feel for the type of crowd that attends here. quirky,random,Hipsters, trendsetters, cute asn girls decked out in Harajuku and the oddballs that were cool to venture out here.
The staff deflect such good energy that its hard not to join. Eventually even the costumers join the "welcome" & "goodbye". They make you feel like you belong, which is such an awesome feeling. I swear, they could've given me cow poo and i STILL would rate this place as my favourite restaurant so far.
For customer convenience they have a jacket rack right at the front so you wont have to crowd your already tiny table.
The place itself is really tiny. And considering it was a Monday evening, it was quite busy. I have a feeling this place never dies down. We get seated in this tiny table for 2 and even though the table can barely give room for 1 western style plate, I was excited to try the food.
The menu is hard to understand at first but it's basically a large list of snack like items. You order a bunch of things and share which is a good way of trying new dishes.
Edemame - warm and fresh. I especially liked that they don't drown it with salt.
Guu Carpaccio - Beef sashimi w ponzu and wasabi mayo- This was delicious. The beef was very thinly sliced so I needed more to really give you a good review. Although, that's just an excuse to have more because it was damn delicious. Not ideal for sharing.
ebi mayo - deep fried prawns with spicy mayo - The prawns are massive and very chewy which I rather enjoyed. I didn't like the spicy mayo as much as the garlic mayo.
IKAPIRI - deep fried calamari with spicy ketchup and wasabi mayo - This was VERY yummy! I really hated how small the portion was but if you are a fan of calamari, this place will rock your socks off. The batter was perfectly light so it didn't over power the taste and mixed well with the wasabi mayo.
SABA - grilled saba mackarel with dill,herb,garlic,lemon and onion - This was our fav dish. he fish was so light but it was almost too perfect. The piece is humiliatingly tiny so make sure to order a few of these. Almost everyone around had this on their order. Once you taste how succulent this fish was, it Will be very hard to think of eating fish anywhere else. I'm not even big on fish.
KAKIMAYO - bc backed oyster with mushroom,spinach,garlic mayo topped with melted cheddar cheese - Make sure you share this. Unless you can afford a few oily arteries. That is exactly what this dish is. It was my first time having oyster and it has a rather dry texture so all the much more liquid toppings create a sauce like for the oyster. The oil component is very high here so make sure to take it easy. The garlic mayo is melted so when it first comes to the table, the aroma is just orgasmic.
for desert - black sesame - really liked this. pretty much the same everywhere else but it's hard to find this ice cream so bonus points ( as if i have any more points to give to this place)
and coconut ice cream that was creamy and just perfectly light enough to compliment the fantastic green tea cheese cake.
Again, portions are not fair here but It's hard to complain about anything when it's just good energy.
dinner # warm sake = $58.98
i will absolutely be coming back here.
xoxo
M. (thank you Wayne C.)Listed in: 30 day November Yelp Challenge
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Review from Susan G.
9/27/2011 ROTD 11/1/2011
Woo! 150th review of Guu! (Yeah, that rhymes!)
(disclaimer: someone stole the 150th the moment I posted this. YAY 151!!!)
I went to Guu for my birthday on a Monday night at around 8pm, and didn't have to wait for a table at all (though some people who came in right behind us did!). Even if we had waited, it would have been worth it. I love the environment, and how every time the staff have to yell welcome or goodbye, they do it with real enthusiasm!
Not only that, but the food was beyond amazing. Favorite was definitely scallop sashimi, but I didn't have anytihng that I wouldn't have again!
AND if you buy a birthday dessert (or barter with your waiter), they will sing you the most epic restaurant birthday song of all time. At the time, I was embarassed, but looking back it was awesome!
In conclusion, DEFINITELY GO HERE. -
Review from Dishan W.
9/27/2011
The most reviewed location in Yelp Toronto and well worth the hype! Came in here for Susan G's birthday night dinner and Guu is really the most epic place I've been to in Toronto. It's extremely loudest inside (maybe the patio might shield you from some of that if for some reason that's what you would prefer) and such a great location for a group (not a large one as seating would be an issue). We went on a Monday night, which might explain why my party was able to get a table straight away, but the place was still packed regardless. All the staff shout loud greetings at everyone that walks in, although I must admit I think they missed me :(. I am curious to see if they do any specific ritual to get themselves pumped up for their 8 or so hour shift each night for I highly doubt they are naturally that outgoing and awesome.
Our waiter was extremely friendly (I think they must all be) and like it's been mentioned here a few times, service was extremely fast. The food was not cheap and I came in hungry. We were recommended to order 10 dishes for our party of 4 and by the end of the night we had ordered 13 dishes, 3 desserts, one 1/4L drink and 3 shots of sake. Overall the bill came to $129, which I think is pretty reasonable. Not every dish hit the sweet spot for me which I believe is the only negative I have, and that too might be stretching it. I can say, the fried chicken while good didn't leave me craving for more, but they have so many interesting dishes on the menu I can't wait to go back until I've sampled all!
Our 1/4L Sake drink was really good although the sake taste was a little hidden, but the sake tasting samples we had were all really interesting, I definitely recommend it if you just want to give different sake's a go.
Since it was Susan G's birthday and like she mentions in her review, the staff here do the most enthusiastic and loud birthday song you will ever encounter. You can't help but clap or sing a long even if it's a stranger's birthday!
Guu has all the requirements for a great dining experience, good food, drinks, staff, atmosphere all to be had without having you empty out your wallet!Listed in: itadakimasu!!
