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Guu SakaBar
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 5 pm - 12 am
Fri-Sun 5 pm - 1 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
77 reviews for Guu SakaBar
Review Highlights
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"I particularly enjoyed the deep fried brie (A MUST." In 6 reviews -
"The Temari Zushi and Tuna Tartar were big hits." In 6 reviews -
"Goma zukushi: sesame ice cream with sesame rice cake and..." In 3 reviews
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76 reviews in English
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Review from Kathy H.
Mississauga, ON
4/20/2012
We came here at 6pm, no lineups! But the place was near full. We were pushed into some corner really...
The waiters SHOUT a greeting when someone enters and when someone exits. It's so warm and friendly! I really do love that!
WARNING: The food was amazing, VERY small portions, highly expensive. $4 for a small pot of tea!
Takoyaki $5 - about 4 deep fried octopus balls, really yummy though.
Hotate $8.30 - "baked Hokkaido scallop & mushrooms with garlic butter." This was so tiny but so good!
Yaki Udon $7.80 - smallest plate ever. It takes about 5 bites to finish! But this was sooooooo flavourful
No, you will not get full...
Be sure to come with friends who wouldn't mind the hefty price and the noise level. And I'm really looking forward to my next visit! -
Review from JC S.
North York, ON
5/15/2012
Ambiance - 3.5/5
Food - 4/5
Service - 1/5
I really don't like Guu now.
The service is horrible. I asked for a seat for three people and they gave me a table for two and the server just added another chair. It wasn't like they were busy this day. Also, Guu has been in business for awhile now.. they should know how to be efficient.
The way Guu operates is strange...this is what I observed. The cooks yell out the dish they made...and any server who has a customer(s) who ordered the dish takes it. It doesn't matter who ordered it first. I observed this many times when the dishes I ordered were being brought to customers who came in later than me. So your dish may not show up for 30-40 minutes. One time, my friend waited over an hour. It was ridiculous.
The place might as well be a self service restaurant. This other time, a table beside me didn't get served for 30 minutes.. I gave them my menu because they weren't even given a menu for 30 minutes.
The food is still tasty but I can't stand the service.
In sum, this place is becoming a disappointment. I used to love this place two years ago.
Goodbye, Guu.Listed in: Customer Service Hall of Shame
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Review from Good T.
Toronto, ON
5/4/2012
We came here on a rainy and humid Thursday night at about 10:30 pm and didn't have to wait to be seated. WooHoo!
It's similar in concept ( and decor: replete with the amazing bulbs) to the other location on Church. In the words of our amazing, 5 star server Julia, the Annex location focuses more on the sake content than the food as compared to the Izakaya over on Church.
I had the Green Tea Latte which was a smooth, delicious "cocktail". More Starbucks than Guu, in my opinion.
We also ordered:
Ebimayo (Deep fried shrimp in mayo sauce): Delicious as usual
Kinoko Bimbimbap: Smells a lot more delicious (strongly of garlic and cheese) than it tastes
Okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake): It's super good without the sauce, which is way too sweet!
It's a total party atmosphere. There were two birthdays being celebrated and each of the patrons recieved a shooter cake and a raucous rendition of "Happy Birthday" by the staff! We chimed in as well!
I enjoyed my experience, you definitely get your money's worth, especially with the large Sapporos.
Shout out: Julia, you are a total star! -
Review from Mark B.
3/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
C'est un de ces restaurants ovnis devant lequel tu passes sans jamais te rendre compte de ce qui se passe à l'intérieur. Préparez vous à être accueilli par une pluie de "ohayo gozaimasu" par tout le personnel, c'est le protocole ici. Après 5 clients vos oreilles seront habituées. Oubliez les sushis à la chaîne ou autres sashimis servis par les innombrables restaurants "japonais" tenus par des chinois....
Ici vous dégusterez des spécialités typiquement jqponqises comme les tranches de pieuvres, algues assaisonnées, beignets de poulet ou encore homard : un délice.
J'étais là pour l'anniversaire du restaurant ils proposaient donc un menu à 20$ qui pouvait largement satisfaire 2 personnes. Comptez 5$ la pinte de Sapporo ce qui est très raisonnable.
PS : j'espère pouvoir manger dans l'espace aménagé où on peut manger assis en tailleur!
// Guu Sakabar is one of those places where you pass in front of everyday but never notices what's inside. Be prepared! Once you get in you'll be welcomed with a huge "ohayo gozaimasu" by all the staff. After 5 customers have came in your ears will be completely used to it ^^.
So forget about all these so called japanese restaurant managed by chinese personnel, here you can taste authentic japanese cuisine : Octopus slices, seaweed, fried chicken, and lobster. (mouthgasm : can I say that?)
I was there for the one year anniversary of the restaurant so I had the 20$ menu which was sufficient for 2!
For beer drinkers it's 5$ for a pint of Sapporo, pretty decent!
PS : I hope I'll be able to eat in that special area with huge tables and where you seat on the floor! -
Review from Mariko M.
3/28/2012
I went to the Guu on Church Street over a year ago. Always wanted to check out this location, but for some reason or another didn't get a chance to.
Anyway, finally came here last night.
Prefer the location of this one. Right at Bloor x Bathurst, you're right by a subway station. There's a lot to do around here so you can come here pre or post activity. Also, it's not as loud as the Church location so you can actually carry on a conversation here. Staff are super attentive! I was chugging water and we got our glass filled right away. The food here is delish.
Imma be back. -
Review from Heather G.
Toronto, ON
3/22/2012
I've been to this location a number of times and I have never been disappointed by the food or the service. Dining here is such a unique experience! As you enter and leave the restaurant the entire staff greets you in Japanese. I always look forward to it and love the confusion on the faces of new unsuspecting customers as they enter the restaurant. The first thing you notice is the communal style seating and the loud buzzing atmosphere. The energy is great in here on a busy night! It gets pretty noisy with the many conversations going on at once, the music, and the servers and cooks shouting orders to each other in Japanese, but that's part of the fun.
I always have a great time eating here whether it's with a large group or an intimate one on one. Everything on the menu is amazing! The deep fried brie is one of my favourites. The smaller portions allow you to have a variety of dishes to taste. Definitely order some food from the specials menu as these items sell out fast and will not be around permanently.
The japanese style seating section is something I have yet to experience, but I will absolutely be returning to try this out and eat more delicious food. You definitely have to check this place out if you haven't already. I guarantee it will be one of the most unique dining experiences you'll ever have. Come as soon as the restaurant opens or come during the week to avoid a long wait for a table. Enjoy! -
Review from Linda M.
2/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is awesome! I've been wanting to try out Guu for so long, so I was extremely excited when one of my dining group members chose it as our destination last month. It's the first restaurant we've done where we were unable to make reservations, but luckily on a Tuesday night it worked out just fine.
I arrived to the expected yells and found my group sitting near the back. Even though it's communal seating, I didn't feel crowded by the strangers next to me. The service was pretty decent, although as the only person who ordered just water I was left waiting through half the meal - after asking at least two more servers. The food and experience made up for that though.
The ambiance is definitely not intimate and romantic, because of the above-mentioned communal seating and the general volume of the place. We were having to yell to be heard across the table, and there were only 5 of us.
The food though, was pretty great. My stand out favourites were the Black Cod (Gindara) and the Kimchi Udon. Both dishes were consumed completely, and I likely would have licked the plates had I been in the privacy of my own home. Honourable mentions to the deep fried brie which was also pretty amazing. The only thing I didn't like very much was one of the specials, a smoked salmon quesadilla. It was a little too fishy. Also the bibimbap had good flavour, but was mostly rice - more so than I had hoped.
All in all it's a fun atmosphere, perfect for a party (although might be difficult due to the no-reservation policy), with not amazing service but pretty fantastic food. I can't wait to go again!Listed in: Dining group!
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Review from Mcmaxx x.
Mississauga, ON
4/20/2012
Amazing food and environment.
Moment you enter you'll notice the really loud and energetic mood. It suits it right as you sit there and choose from their fantastic sake selection.
The food is fresh and delicious, almost up to par with the other downtown location. There seems to be fewer line ups and a better alcohol selection.
It is a bit on the pricey side but the food is well worth it! -
Review from Dishan W.
1/6/2012 2 photos
For obvious reasons I had high hopes coming in here and I was not disapointed! While it takes second place for me compared with Guu Izakaya, Sakabar still managed to be a 5 star experience for me from it's food, service and atmosphere. Came here around 6 ot 7 on a Friday night and didn't have to wait at all with the "Japanese" seating section being almost empty. I'm not sure why because the Japanese seating area is certainly the place to be. You take off your shoes and are more comfy in your socks (thank god no one had smelly socks while I was there) and the food there certainly rocks.
For 3 of us we ordered around 8 or 9 dishes and let very satisfied without feeling a heavy effect on our wallets. I can't recall everything we ordered but I remember the bibimbap being extremely tasty.
Since we were a little ways off from the kitchen, the atmosphere here didn't seem as loud and alive as in Izakaya but compared to any other restaurant the atmosphere was still very lively and enjoyable.
This is exactly what I enjoy about dining out in Toronto, exciting meals, great service, good food and a great location.
I can't wait to see what else the people behind Guu has in store for Toronto!Listed in: itadakimasu!!
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Review from Zachary G.
Toronto, ON
2/5/2012
My two friends and I came here on a very busy Saturday night. Upon walking into the restaurant, I was immediately taken in by the lively atmosphere. Boisterous waiters and cooks frequently called out in Japanese as patrons and employees milled about the crowded communal tables. It was fun to simply sit back and look around, an activity that doesn't often provide much entertainment in the usually staid Toronto restaurant. While I do not usually comment extensively on the atmosphere or the service, this was definitely a special environment.
After a short wait, we sat down and proceeded to order about half of the menu. The highlights included the fried chicken skin (crispy, bite-sized pieces that went perfect with beer), blackened cod (tender, moist fish with a delicious skin) and amberjack yellowtail sashimi (incredibly fresh fish, especially for Toronto). While the vast majority of the dishes we tried were in the good to excellent range, there were a couple of misses. The fried chicken was bland and the mayo dipping sauce was pretty boring. In addition, the kimchi udon noodles had about one-quarter of the required amount of kimchi to properly flavour the dish.
Overall, I was quite happy with the experience, both from a service and food perspective. I am excited to return shortly to try some more of the many bite-sized dishes.Listed in: Favorite Places to Eat
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Review from Angela L.
1/19/2012
Although those who have only experienced the Church St. location of Guu might opine that this newer Bloor West one is too big or not cozy enough, I'll assure you that for a larger sized Guu, it's much more izakaya-like than a few of it's west coast predecessors.
After the wild success of this Vancouver based chain caused Guu's to sprout up seemingly everywhere in the city (of Vancouver and later Richmond), the authenticity of the experience really got watered down. Therefore, it was with quite a lot of hesitancy that I visited Guu SakaBar for the first time.
I have to admit that my initial experience was not all that I had hoped for. On a late Sunday evening not too soon after it's grand opening, we walked in to find more than half the tables empty and a seriously lacking atmosphere - You really shouldn't be able to hear your dinner dates without having to shout and repeat yourselves when at a Guu. Although the food was fantastic (as expected) and we were more than happy that we didn't have to wait in a thirty table line up, it just wasn't the same without the atmosphere.
A good few months (and a number of much more properly Guu-like experiences) later, I am happy to report that SakaBar has matured into the group/birthday-party central that it was cut out to be. The communal tables are perfect for squeezing in untold numbers of friends that you didn't tell the host about (in order to get a table sooner), the service is as quick and friendly as ever, and the food is still amazing.
Finally, the "new" Guu is now spilling over daily with both returning devotees and excited first-timers. Arrive early with a smaller group or just bring your whole posse and enjoy the full on experience. Praise Guu! -
Review from Josh A.
Toronto, ON
12/27/2011
Headed to Guu SakaBar on Boxing Day at Bloor and Bathurst. The location use to be home to Burger King. Its 1 of 2 locations in Toronto. I had no warning on how this place operates.
I arrive to meet some friends only to enter to cheers from all the staff. Alittle caught off guard my first thought was is this a Japanese Licks? The place is packed and buzzing with conversation.
I locate my friends and walk to their table which is sunk into the floor. Quite unique. I've already failed the Japanese culture as my friends tell me I was supposed to take my shoes off at the door. Are you kidding me? I look down at their feet. OUCH. Had I just broken some sacred rule? Remove my shoes quickly and return them to the front of the restaurant.
The uncomfortable feeling goes away as I am served a double pint of Saporro Beer in a giant stein. I had checked out the online menu before I went so I was aware that this would be a night of trying new things. It ended up being just like a Japanese Dim Sum. We ordered a number of dishes to share between the 4 of us. Firsts for me were Octopus and Oysters which I have managed to stay away from up to this point in my life.
Service was fast and attentive. Beer was cheap. Food was slightly above average.
The restuarant had a neat promotional gimmick which had us filling out New Year's postcards which they would then mail out for us to a close friend. Mom and Dad ended up getting the postcard. Who else's address do I know?
Anyway, definately worth checking out if you want to try something completely unique and different. -
Review from Yvonne T.
Updated - 2/1/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Okay wow, I totally should've figured Ken S. had already started a review page. So this is my repost from the one I created.
I don't think I've ever been as excited about a venue as that of last night's Guu Tweetup hosted by Ken S. I was lucky enough to have gotten a last minute invite to this event and it made my Tuesday.
Unfortunately I arrived late and so I missed the bulk of the evening, but still got to see familiar faces and made some new friends.
@Ken S. - When are you hosting the next Tweetup? I'm already looking forward to another one. And I still thin you should've won for best socks!
@Paul H. - You are a man of many talents, and apparently Japanese is one of them. We shall call you sensai!
@Jen C. - I've stumbled upon your blog many times, and I should've known when we were both madly snapping photos at Herbal Infusions that you were the mastermind behind foodpr0n.
@Eve C. - Thanks for sharing your insights on industry with me.
@Q H. - I'm glad I can finally put a face to the name instead of having disillusions of you being a black and white cartoon character that holds a balloon!
It was a great time. Special shout outs go out to Guu's staff also for being so energetic. I don't think my water glass was ever empty.Listed in: The Best of Toronto, All that talk about nothing..., Splurge-Worthy, Cool places to eat at in…, Sharing is caring!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/14/2011
I am going gaga-guu-guu for Guu! I had tried the original Guu Izakaya last week, and decided to try… Read more »
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Review from Tiffany G.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 1/29/2012
Oh Guuu, what happened to yuuu?
I think our love affair has ended. I went back to sample their offerings once again - and somehow each item lacked the pizzazz of the first experience.
I had the seared salmon again but it was over powered by the wasabi flakes and there was no sauce...
Then tried the baked oyster - and it wasn't really appetizing. It kinda made me feel sick.
Had the deep fried brie..just kind of bleh.
Can't remember what I had next - mostly because it just wasn't that memorable. I did finish it off with the Octopus balls. Something changed. They were boring.
Though, I was happy with their sake list. That is really the only thing that saved the dinner.
So, sad. I was really looking forward to our relationship but I must move on. Sorry Guu, it's over.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/10/2011
Oh Guu, I love yuuuuuuu!
This is Japanese food redefined! Imagine tapa sized orders of your favorites… Read more »
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Review from jocelyn l.
11/16/2011
I love Izakayas!
When people think of Japanese cuisine, they usually think 'sushi' and half of them immediately proclaim "I don't like raw fish!"
Wake up, people! Japanese food is more than just sushi and sashimi (and if you've never tried sushi or sashimi and think you don't like it already...well, your loss. more buttery raw ahi for me)
Traditionally, Izakayas serve drinks (sakes, beers) and create tapa-size dishes to go with the drinks. Like a really social and fun pub.
But being Asian, the emphasis on food is much greater than a typical bar where the focal point is tons of watered-down well drinks and pub food is an (unappetizing) after-thought.
Gotta love an Asian establishment.
And in typical Izakaya fashion, we were Loudly and Exuberantly welcomed into the restaurant by no less than 5 chefs and all the servers.
We felt like Superstars when we entered the place.
Throughout our dinner, anytime a new party arrived or someone left, it was exuberant chaos with the folks @ Guu...and my friend and I would turn to each other, and just burst out laughing.
We were seated at the bar, right where the action was- in front of the small but efficient kitchen. We also walked away smelling like caramelized garlic- awesome.
I may not shower tonight just so I can relive the great experience @ Guu
Here's a rundown of our dinner:
- Fried Ebi (shrimp) with spicy mayo: Wow. the shrimps were huge and juicy and fried Just right in a yummy tempura.
- Carbonara Udon: My absolute fave dish of the night. Who knew udon could be made into such silky, creamy carbonara? Amazing! The bits of bacon were perfect with the carbonara...and honestly, I could graze on this dish All.Day.Long
- BiBimBap: Not my fave; it wasn't as flavorful as other bibimbaps i've had. But honestly, we had it right after the carbonara, so that was probably unfair to the poor bibimbap
- Fried Brie: generous serving of 4 pieces of deep fried brie. SO good. Crunchy on the outside, cheesy, melty brie goodness on the inside. Would have been great spread on a cracker, bread or pretty much anything, including recycled paper.
It'd have been amazing in Any.Fashion
- Baked Hotate (scallops): served with sauteed mushrooms in a scallop shell. Yum!
- Karaage (fried chicken): one of the best karaage I've ever had. much better fried chicken than any self-proclaimed fried chicken establishments in the US
- Sake Tiramisu: creamy and really tasted more like an ice cream cake. not that i'm complaining
- Black Sesame Ice Cream with Black Sesame Mochi and Sesame Balls: I love black sesame ice cream and this dessert was a dream come true!
Service was great; our servers were so nice and friendly...and the chefs were a hoot.
Guu was so loud...that when we spilled onto Bloor after dinner, it felt deathly quiet on Bloor. ON BLOOR!
I've found a new fave restaurant in the TO (and frankly, in recent memory)...I'll be back with tons of other friends -
Review from Rana L.
1/2/2012 5 photos
After going to Guu at College I have a phobia of long waits....but apparently not so much @ this location. It was a relatively busy day (approx 8pm) but at least we did not have to wait over 2 hrs for a table. Phew ! :D
Food as always was unique & delish. We loved the sauce for many of the dishes. Went here w/ 3 ppl and we ordered...
Takoyaki - deep friend octopus
Brie Cheese - no need for explanations. its to die for
Ebimayo - deep fried prawn w/ spicy mayo
Salmon Tataki - seared salmon
Kakimayo - baked oyster
Carbonara Udon - creamy udon noodles w/ bacon onion & half boiled egg
Cheese Cake - awesome but too small
My favs were the Brie Cheese, Ebimayo (damn that spicy sauce!!) & the Carbonara udon. I'm usually not a udon person but it was so tasty u can't help but keep eating the dish!
Even though they're hella busy everything came just at the right time & they were also very friendly esp when we entered and left the place :)
Located very close to Bathurst Station.Listed in: Taste of Japan
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Review from Valentina A.
Toronto, ON
3/26/2012
Delicious! That is the best dinner I've eaten out in a long time. We had the sashimi on greens, rapini with garlic and soya sauce, and udon noodles with beef and mushrooms, and the sake tiramisu for dessert and they were all great.
Really loud though with the waiters shouting hello and goodbye to everyone (or I assume that's what they're yelling) and the club music - not a place to go for a relaxing dinner. Sitting at the bar makes it easier to hear each other. -
Review from Carly H.
Toronto, ON
4/2/2012
The cheerful welcome and waving hello's are very different from most restaurants! Although the atmosphere is quite loud, it is something very unique and quite fun. Three of us shared 8 small plates and sake. The bill with tax and tip was $110. We went on a Monday night around 7:30 and it was very busy the whole time. Other than the lack of space (we shared a large table with 8 other people), I would recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for something a little outside the box.
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Review from Chu Z.
Hamilton, ON
1/6/2012
Okay, I'm hesitant to give a 5 because I do have some issues, but there's really nowhere else to go if you want this kind of food/atmosphere. seriously, they have almost ZERO competition. plus this strip of bloor, despite being lined with restaurants, is actually pretty bleak in selection if you want something other than pork bone soup or mex-fusion breakfast.
I prefer this location to the church one, they have more seating options, (A tatami room where you can actually hear each other!) less waiting, and is located only 5 minutes away from my house, but the church guu has better food options.
what i recommend ordering:
kakimayo - oyster in spinach cheese sauce, must have! just don't get ahead of yourself and start licking the salt on the shell
tuna tataki - goes down so creamy and smooth. there's a joke in here somewhere.
kinoko bimbimbap - i actually dislike most bimbimbap in general but this is a new take if you're used to the korean version. the nutty, crunchy flavour is addictive. scarf down while piping hot, scalding of tongue optional
beef sashimi - its thinness is comparative with tissue paper. It was delicious, at least, I think so because I think it dissolved before I could fully comprehend the taste
almond tofu - at first I thought, how great can this be, you can get almond tofu for a dollar at T&T. but guu's version is so much more flavourful and silky, a perfect finisher after all the grease and deep-fry consumed. it also has a lingering aftertaste so you can eat it slowly and savour.
otoro lovers - i think this is on the special sometimes. it's a bunch of tuna sashimi. i mean, it's OTORO, so you really can't go wrong there.
salmon natto yukke: salmon and 7 friends. I think I'd like to be their 8th friend. The only real way to make natto taste good.
other good options: cow tongue, pork cheek, pumpkin korokke, brie cheese (share with a lot of people, one of these almost gave me a heart attack)
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service: hit and miss. sometimes we have to wait forever for our order (over 30 minues for a piece of fish), other times they whip them up so fast we don't even have room on the table. In my experience, I tend to get served faster when I go in a larger group. at least their attitude is always perky and friendly. -
Review from Reynold P.
Toronto, ON
I've been to Guu on Church and I've been to Guu in Vancouver. Both are unique and different in there own ways.
Guu SakaBar is a great addition to the Guu family. It's a Guu no doubt, but it's a new experience as well. I'll tell you why.
Like all Guu's, it's noisy, rowdy, exciting and certainly a culinary experience to remember. There is the open kitchen behind the bar, there are the shouting cooks and servers. Everyone is a FOB and extremely polite. The menu is a two-parter: original regular menu + specials of the day. The specials actually run out and they are actually fresh and well-prepared (more on that later). Items are a combination of traditional Japanese bar food/snack food with good flavourful twists.
SakaBar has a two dining rooms, one which is really cool. At first it looked as though people were sitting on the floor. At second glance, the seating was actually lower into the ground and the floor was raised like a mini-stage. So it looked traditional, but was a bit deceiving.
I ordered a Chu-Hi to drink. A combination of potato alcohol and another beverage of your choice, in my case, ramune. Tasted mostly like the ramune I poured into the alcohol and the taste diluted quickly from the ice. Of course the best part was popping the bottle open with it's cap and shooting the marble into the drink.
As fun as that was, the food was tastier.
First my gf and I had the Mushroom Bibimbap. I've had this before and it's still as delicious as I remembered it to be. My gf thought it was fantastic too. She's not a picky eater but she rarely has a medium rating.
Next we had deep fried brie. And yes it tastes just as good as it sounds. Gooey melted brie in a panko golden brown encrusted shell served on berry and apricot sauces. Really good stuff.
After that we had the okonomiyaki. It wasn't different in anyway but had all the fixings there.
Last we had the baked oysters. These were my favourite. Cheesy, creamy and mushroomy topping on large fresh oysters. Amazing stuff.
Overall, I had a great dinner at Guu. My gf loved it and she immediately wanted to bring her friends to try. I thought the food was great as usual and the atmosphere comfortable and lively. Make sure you get there a bit early or go with a smaller party. They don't do reservations and there are lines usually.
When you get in, it's all worth it.Listed in: The Best Of Toronto...
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Review from Anne B.
11/7/2011
My first impression of Guu when I walked in the door? ALARMING! There should be a warning posted outside that you will be yelled at upon crossing the threshold. I mean, it's a neat idea I suppose (though, I can only imagine they have a constant supply of ricola in the back...not sure how they don't all lose their voices within the first couple hours of service) but it grows tiresome very quickly. This place was hopping when I went last Friday so there was someone walking through the door every minute or so!! If you're looking for a relaxing dining experience or if you really care what your dining compadres are saying than this is not the place for you! There was a lot of smiling and nodding going on without any comprehension as to what my friends were saying to me. Note to self: Get hearing checked.
Volume level aside, Guu is a very unique dining experience that I definitely think is worth trying out. We sat in the "traditional" area of the restaurant where you are asked to take your shoes off (bring your least holey socks!) and sit on the floor. You could sit on your feet I suppose, but there is space underneath the table for your legs...so it's pretty much like sitting at a booth.
As other people have stated, the wait time for your meal can be quite lengthy so you shouldn't go to Guu ravenous - a pre-Guu snack would be wise! However, the food is well worth the wait! I particularly enjoyed the deep fried brie (A MUST!) and the pumpkin croquette.
The service was slow, but that's only because the restaurant was jam packed full of Guu-nies. In spite of slow service, the wait staff was very helpful when they were around so that made up for long periods of absence.
Be aware that they do not take reservations, so you're going to have to get there early if you don't wait to wait for hours for a table. As we were leaving the restaurant around 8:30 there was a hoard of hungry people lining the entrance. It was madness! -
Review from Precilla C.
Scarborough, ON
10/10/2011 15 photos
I was long due for a visit to Guu's newest location on Bloor and Bathurst. Thankfully, this location has an indoor waiting area.
I ordered a Macha Coco (Malibu+Macha+Milk+Whipping Cream). This was basically a green tea latte with alcohol and it was very tasty!
I came with a big group so we were able to share many items. Here are the highlights of my meal.
Assorted Japanese style deep kebab- includes quail egg, onion, mushroom and perhaps some other items that I did not try. It just wasn't special enough, and I wish they added some twist to it.
Carbonara udon: creamy udon with bacon, onion, and half boiled egg. I heard a lot of good things about this dish beforehand, but I was somewhat disappointed. The dish didn't wow me like I expected it would. For me, the overall texture with the runny half boiled egg was too slimy.
Ebi mayo: deep fried prawn with spicy mayo. This was generically good, as anything deep fried and slathered with mayo should be.
Hire Katsu from the daily special menu- rice burger with pork tenderloin cutlet, Taiwanese cabbage, homemade tartar sauce. This was my favourite dish of the night. The rice bun had an interesting texture that worked really well with the pork tenderloin cutlet and pink tartar sauce. I had a quarter of this burger and I wanted a whole one all to myself!
Temari zushi - torched salmon, cream cheese, sushi balls -definitely an enjoyable bite. The torching brings out the fattiness in the salmon, and the cream cheese added an extra touch of creaminess to the sushi ball.
Takoyaki gratin- another favourite- creamy octopus balls gratin. I didn't actually eat a lot of octopus, but the mixture of cheese, potatoes, and mushrooms was delectable!
Negi-toro: chopped spicy tuna with green onion, served with nori seaweed. I enjoyed the lightness of this dish, but the tuna wasn't very spicy.
Okonomiyaki: deep fried pancake with yakisoba noodles, tonkatsu sauce and mayo. I don't always love tonkatsu sauce, but in this case, I thought it complemented the pancake quite nicely with the mayo. It was also rather filling.
Onto the desserts!
Almond tofu: he almond flavour was too overpowering, which ruined the dessert for me because I wasn't a fan of that artificial almond flavour.
Goma zukushi: sesame ice cream with sesame rice cake and cracker. I felt like I could have put this together at home myself, because wafer crackers and sesame ice cream aren't that hard to find. Points for creativity, but it didn't impress me. The ice cream melted too fast and after a short while, all we had was mochi balls drowned in melted ice cream.
Roasted green tea cheesecake- I loved this! The cake was perfectly creamy and not too cheesy, and the roasted green tea added to the flavour profile but didn't overpower the cake.
I wouldn't say that I prefer this location over the old one, and I'm glad to see that the two places have different offerings. I would definitely go back to both locations, but I'd stick to the Sakabar in the winter to avoid the cold wait.Listed in: 30-Day Yelp Challenge, Burgers! Burgers! Burgers
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Review from Lynn C.
Updated - 12/23/2011
This Guu is not like the other Guu...when compared to the Guu Izakaya on church this one:
- is a bit lacking in service
- the menu is not as big,
- the wait time is so much shorter (i.e., there was no wait!) In fact, this Guu is so much less busy, that when we got there at 6pm, we didnt have to wait, and the other half of the restaurant was not being used.
We got:
- baked oyster (SO good)
- Udon carbonara (I prefer the kimchi version)
- deep fried brie
- ikapiri (deep fried calamari with spicy mayo, ketchup and wasabi)
- kaisen (Seafood) bibimbap (omg so good)
- big sappporo
- umeshu (plum wine)
- gree tea ice cream
Yummy food nevertheless, and very enjoyable atmosphere if you dont mind shouting to have a conversation.Listed in: Japanese in the GTA
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/10/2011
Food:
Taste and quality-wise, it's of the same calibre as you would expect from the old Guu, just… Read more »
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Review from liz g.
11/12/2011
My visit to Guu was already three weeks ago, but I'm still smiling when I think about it. Since friend expatriated, I have to go to Toronto to see him. Luckily, it's the funnest city. We were wandering around on Friday night, starving, because snooty Korean restaurant told us we needed a reservation, even though the place was pretty empty. Friend told me that we'd have to subway to Guu, and then we'd have to wait, but it would be unforgettable.
The whole experience at Guu SakaBar is hilarious. We are old, and we don't like being uncomfortable or waiting to eat or excessive noise. Nevertheless, it was SO MUCH FUN. You walk in and the whole staff screams hello to you in Japanese (when you're on your way to the table). And goodbye when you leave. And in between, every table mysteriously happens to have a birthday celebration, and the waiters arrive with cheerful sake shots and merriment. Or something. We didn't have to wait too long either, because we were a party of two and agreed to sit at the bar. We didn't miss anything because it's a pretty small place, and the action happens all around you. Plus we could see them preparing the food and drinks, which was entertaining.
So the ambience is awesome, and the service is great and not cheesy-feeling, but what's pleasantly surprising is that the food is excellent as well. We split a whole bunch of dishes, and each tried the interesting sake cocktails, and all was fantastic. Especially good was the salmon, as well as the boiled egg covered in squash and then fried, and the mackerel. Since dining was our main activity for the evening, I'm so glad we had an all-around amazing experience. -
Review from Dana R.
Toronto, ON
9/2/2011
I wrote off Guu Izakaya (Church St.) after three visits. The first was really good, but second and third went tumbling downhill at an alarming rate. Yeah, the atmosphere is energetic. Sure, the open concept kitchen is entertaining. FINE, the Sake Mojito is highly chuggable. But, very quickly the food went very sub-par.
A year later, I had a dinner to attend at Guu Sakabar in the Annex. I was not excited. I ended up pleasantly surprised.
1. There was no wait for 4 people (eek!).
2. The space is really impressively designed.
3. It's mandatory shoes-off (in a particular section), which is totally fun.
4. Our endearing server was literally a Japanese anime character.
5. The food was, for the most part, really, really delicious.
6. It was shockingly grossly affordable ($100+ tip - and we ordered tons).
Gomaae is an unexpected standout. Blanched spinach with sesame sauce sounds like something your Japanese grandmother might make, but there are lots of complex flavours for a simple dish. Bright green spinach has a hint of bitterness that balances well with sweet-yet-savoury sesame sauce.
While I hatehatehate ordering from a "Deep Fried" section (please call it something that makes me feel less guilty?), I'd recommend Kabocha Korokke (pumpkin croquette) and Ikapiri (calamari). The croquette is my favourite dish at Guu. It's texturally interesting, with a crispy exterior and smooth interior. It's sweet, smoky and savoury all at once. And, it's smothered in a sauce that's reminiscent of Mac sauce from McDonald's. While awkward to eat with chopsticks, it's worth the struggle. The calamari is perfectly crispy and tasty. It comes coated in sticky ketchupy glaze and finished with a wasabi mayo drizzle. A bit more heat from the wasabi would have been nice.
I lovelovelove raw fish and rare meat, so I found the "Cold Dishes" to be stellar. Maguro Tataki, seared tuna sashimi with ponzu and garlic chips is a dream that money can buy. But, Gyu Carpaccio, seared beef carpaccio with the same garnishes previously mentioned plus the wasabi mayo we saw elsewhere is... Out. Of. Control. The table fought for it, wolfed it down, and contemplated ordering another, but we chickened out.
Here's what I would avoid: Edamame that's predictably standard, Seaweed Salad that's more watery lettuce than seaweed, Gingara, miso-marinated grilled black cod, that's bland, and Kinoko Bibimbap, a vegetarian rice dish, that never became crisp from the sizzling bowl it's served in.
The only true complaint I do have was pacing of the meal. Guu enforces a 2-hour maximum mealtime, but we finished shy of an hour. Our abundance of dishes could have been more thoughtfully paired, served, and spaced out. It would have made a huge difference.
If you're going to eat at Guu, go to SakaBar in the Annex. It's also a more mature and diverse crowd, beyond herds of Ryerson students fighting each other with textbooks for octopus balls. -
Review from Ken S.
Mississauga, ON
8/24/2011
Bring Fun Back To Dining & Go To Guu Sakabar
Bring back the fun in eating and drinking. Bring back the loud, the people, the unique dishes, the interactive servers and the memories. Leave the stuffy, pretentious and candlelit white table cloths at home. Go to Guu's second location in Toronto and sit beside a total stranger and start a conversation.
The space at Guu Toronto's second location at Bloor and Bathurst has a new twist. You will get the same general lively and communal seating area but will also have the choice of a more traditional single table in a tatami style. Tatami being the sunken floors where shoes have to be removed. I would never sit there as it takes away the core attraction to Guu but some may be stuffy and want "their own table."
As for my preference I like the Church street location better. See my review here. The portions are definitely better and the servers, if they stay, I find are more genuine and less English. This is something I like.
This is one of the best dishes, though it is a tiny portion. Takowasabi has the right amount of wasabi and vinegar and is reminiscent of an octopus ceviche
I would not order this again as the batter was too thick but the sauce was amazing.
Fried Chicken what? Ooh I wish I has some right now. Colonel Sanders is livid.
Spicy salmon, was spicy and salmony and that's all I have to say about that.
Maguro tataki, lightly grilled and raw inside.
An unimpressive picture of a really tasty dish. Saba, saba, saba.
Beef tongue is really good and if you do not try it, you have no...! You know what I mean. Grilled to medium rare, tender, tons of flavour, every time I go I order every variation of beef tongue as it always delights.
Natto Yuke. I will say it again, do not run from Natto, embrace it, talk to it and maybe ask it how its day went. The bowl as shown is mixed and placed in nori. Such a perfect dish.
Kimchi udon or spicy noodles is a must to fill your stomach.
Grilles saba, over extra seasoned sushi is another must have.
Don't forget to get your salmon neck on smother it with a sweet oyster
An unimpressive and overcooked Yaki Udon ordered for filler. Do not order this dish.
A Rice Burger? Yeah and it was so much better then what you salmon pizza lovers know. This was fun and really messy.
Asahi Black beer is one of my top beers I have ever tasted and I wish I could get it at the LCBO. -
Review from L B.
Toronto, ON
11/29/2011
I've now been to both Guu restaurants, and both experiences were good.
The menus appear to be mostly different, but both feature the miso black cod, which is brilliant. Mackerel salad tasted fishy, but everything else was great, especially their take on Korean hot pot.
The first time I went with my 75 year old Dad, and we enjoyed it before our 38th annual Leafs game. The second time, in the Annex last week, was with my lovely R. Both visits were satisfying and I felt like I received great, friendly value. I recommend either location for a fun, if a bit noisy, night out. -
Review from Hilary S.
8/17/2011 3 photos
Again, another hit for guu. (Hit out of the park?)
I am in love with the room to the right, where you go shoeless and sit on straw mats, while the tables are close to the floor. I know, I know, it's basically like a normal table and chair, but the chair is built into the room...but hey, don't knock. It's still cool.
As with the other location, great food. My friend and I got the ribs and the mackerel to share (need to brush up on my nonexistent Japanese skills...so don't know the official cultured names of these dishes) and they were scrumptious as always. The mackerel in particular was tender, juicy, and seared to perfection.
I had the sake mojito this time around. I love mojitos. I love ramune. (Both tables beside us turned to watch as we caused a commotion releasing the marble.) I loved the sake mojito. Pretty easy to understand, I think.
No munchie goodies with the bill, but I will gladly trade those for the awesome mats on the floor.
(Oh, probably obvious, but it's LOUD. bring a megaphone.)Listed in: Date, don't rape, Asian Food, DRANK
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Review from Ramanan S.
Toronto, ON
10/24/2011
I finally went to Guu. It was everything I had imagined and more. Walking into the restaurant is like walking into a serious-ass party. The atmosphere is loud and boisterous. Everyone is having a good time too. You will as well.
The food is amazing. They have a tapas menu which features all sorts of great stuff. Get the black cod, because it is delicious. Get the seared tuna, for the same reason. Really, I don't think we went wrong with anything we got.
The place is packed. You will most definitely need to line up, possibly for ages. They'll also kick your asses out after 2 hours because the place is so packed. They want everyone to get their turn, which seems fair.
I already want to go again. -
Review from Win L.
2/17/2012
Love the hot bowl mushroom rice and pumpkin egg dish. Super friendly service, topped off with giggles! Udon noodles were good as well. Overall liked the ambiance and worth the wait! Definitely would recommend. I don't eat seafood so didn't try the sushi but the cooked meat and veggies were yummmmm!!
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Review from elise s.
Toronto, ON
8/20/2011
I went on yelp to find a good japanese restaurant, because generally I don't like Japanese food. Too much raw stuff, and too much fish.
Their food is like Japanese meets New American.
Anyway, when I read "And what's their obsession with spicy mayo on fried food. It really starts to get old when all the dishes come out swimming in grease and spicy mayo." in the review below, I thought this is the place for me. I love japanese mayo and I love greasy Chicken Karaage.
None of the food was what I would call greasy. They use oil, yes, and if you're expecting most of your food to come out uncooked and bland like at most Japanese restaurants, you're not going to like Guu.
We had Bibimbap (leave it for a few minutes and it gets a crust on the bowl), which was Rice with seaweed, cheese, mushrooms, and egg). I don't like seaweed but it was sooo subtle yet sooo delicious!
Chicken Karaage was A+
We also had rice bowls with sweet soy, deep fried brie (too much brie for just two people, and you should try and eat it a tiny bite at a time).
There was a line up at the door when we left. The whole staff greeted us when we arrived and said goodbye when we left, which put an immediate smile on our faces.
I like going where people are. There was so many people in this place, it was like a cacophonous symphony of people really loving their night out!
It was noisy, as a restaurant should be! This is a great place to take a date if you want to impress them with your slick style, but don't want to spend too much money. If you're not sure about how the date conversation will go, best to take her here where you can't hear what the other person is saying anyway =)
The best thing was the service. We asked for our bill and after we paid, she filled up our water glasses so we didn't feel like we had to leave.
Dinner for 3 (2 Rice bowls plus four mains and pop) $42!!! -
Review from Justin H.
Toronto, ON
8/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
The place is way too loud - last thing I want are people yelling at me when I enter a restaurant. If I wanted that, I'd sit under the Behemoth at Canada's Wonderland eating a funnel cake.
And what's their obsession with spicy mayo on fried food. It really starts to old when all the dishes come out swimming in grease and spicy mayo. -
Review from Amanda L.
Toronto, ON
1/31/2012
Went for dinner last evening. Great experience and atmosphere. Service so so but friendly enough. Not overly attentive. Good wine too! Will go back!
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Review from Kobe L.
North York, ON
12/9/2011 4 photos
Lively place! If you are ever depressed go here. Have no clue what the staff are shouting but it really adds to the fun and uniqueness of the place. Tapas style food was tasty.
Recommended. -
Review from WaYnE c.
Maple, ON
7/6/2011 8 photos
Line'd up for a total of................................ 0 minutes. Awesome!
I'm naturally M-time type personality. Monochronic Orientation.
Time = Food(more)
Longer I wait, less fat I become.
Guu(Church st) always make my friends wait 4ever so they can get me in.
Indoor hallway lobby will be great waiting area in -20 temp.
Temari Zushi - oishii
Kushiage - sumimasan, switch 'age' with 'yaki' please
Another great place I can @$#%(!*&$% my heart out.
Not even the person beside me can hear WTF I beep'd.
Customers come in.... #%(!*&
Customers go out.... @#&%!
Perfect after-work stress treatment.
I'm just a real salaryman with my salaryfriends here for after-work Guud times.Listed in: 4+ ****Stars****, Oishii, Fire'd - Asian
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Review from sobe r.
Mississauga, ON
1/15/2012
Wow, this place is amazing. The food, especially the Karuge beef side ribs or the The deep fried brie, garlic mayo chicken dumplings deep fried, the octopus balls and the Kimoko Bibimbap are all out of this world good. Try a bottle of Choya, a Plum wine made from the Umi Fruit, or a Calpico or even a Ramune soda. The atmosphere, the food, the authentic japanese dishes. Highly recommended! The staff are super friendly, and waiting 30 minutes for a table on a saturday night when they're over capacity is pretty good. No shoes on the bamboo floor btw.
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Review from Thuy T.
Woodbridge, ON
The service was wonderful, but prefer the food at Fin Izakaya.
Restaurant Rating:
0(Too Sad), 1(Horrible), 2(Poor), 3(Ok Lah), 4(Good), 5(Excellent)
Food: 3-4
Clean: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: Semi Casual
Will I Return? Definitely
Keep in mind all food postings is according to personal preferences and taste buds. Therefore, it's best to try the places out for yourself and see if it suites your taste. -
Review from S K.
8/17/2011
Guu Sakabar has resulted in me secretly fantasizing about moving to Japan, becoming a Japanese businessperson who spends every evening in an izakaya. Sigh! A girl can dream right?
Guu was a great experience, although I most definitely would NOT recommend it if you're looking for a quiet, romantic evening out. However, that being said, it's a great place if you want a fun, entertaining night out.
We ate and drank enough to feed a small army. But if I had to boil it down to our top 3 favorites from that night, they were the....
1) Torched salmon with cream cheese- the combination sounded weird the first time, but I am still dreaming about how amazing it was. Highly recommend!
2) Udon noodles - Definitely recommend getting some noodles with what you order. We tries ours with mackarel.
3) Blackened cod with miso soup sauce: As someone who is generally wary of cod, I am now completely converted. The flavors compliment each other beautifully!
Loved Guu Sakabar and I'd highly recommend it to everyone for the friendly staff, vibrant and fun ambiance and the excellent food!
(As a tourist in the city, I was especially excited when I discovered how close it was to the subway stop line. I definitely appreciated how easy it was to get to!) -
Review from Lauren M.
6/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm glad I waited awhile to visit the second Guu location, because I did not experience any of the service issues noted in earlier reviews. Service was excellent!
I will even say that I like this location better than Guu Izakaya on Church. This could be because the Annex is "my hood", plus the fact that there is no wait to get in at Sakabar certainly sweetens the deal. We walked straight in at 7:30pm and were seated within a few minutes.
We were a bit foolish with our food selections, but we tried 5 dishes:
Shrimp sashimi (special menu) - beautifully presented, very fresh, but not something I would order again. It's pretty hard to get full when the dish is 5 pieces of raw shrimp and you are sharing.
Tuna sashimi - completely delicious, just like I remembered at the other Guu location
Buta Shabu salad - another delicious one. Tasty peanut/sesame dressing with pork over salad greens.
Deep fried tofu (special menu) - this was Guud but not great
I forget the name of the last dish but it was another fish dish off the special menu, some kind of deep fried cod strips. It was very good too but not amazing.
I really enjoyed THE DRINKS. The LIMOJITOS (lime mojitos) were delicious and not badly priced at $6. The sapporo was good too (served in either a small girl-sized mug or a large man-sized mug)
We also saw someone getting the BIRTHDAY SAKE which looked awesome! They bring you a tray with 5 sake shooters (displayed on some kind of pyramid looking platter) and they come out singing happy birthday and banging some kind of huge drum. It's only $18. Next time I might pretend it's my bday.
What really makes it a unique experience (besides the food) is the atmosphere - chaotic and lively, you can't find anything else like it in Toronto. -
Review from Flouny S.
Toronto, ON
11/19/2011
I am probably one of the few people that are not exactly wow'd by this place overall. Hey I like the energy, and the concept is good. What I don't like about it is that there are no pictures of the food. Everytime I have gone I feel intimidated when I look at the menu, is this what non chinese people feel like when they go into a chinese restaurant? More onto that later...
First off, the food is not bad. The prices are somewhat reasonable and it matches the portions that you get. The prices are around $6.80 - $15 but for what you get it's not bad. Don't expect huge portions for the lower end of the price point.
Seating - if you plan on going on a Friday or weekend you better be prepared to wait a long time unless you like to eat right at five. We got here at 6:30 and didn't get a table until an hour later. When we inquired how much longer it would be approximately, we were told that there was a table of 17 and a table of 8 ahead of us. Fifteen minutes later we got our table.
If you want the authentic japanese (sitting on the floor style) eating they have that option here. You take off your shoes and leave them in the shoe area. ***If you plan on sitting in this area make sure you are wearing socks because no one wants to smell your feet! Be careful as you make your way to your seat because it can be slippery as you glide your way to your seat. Don't get me started about trying to sit down. The table is located close to the floor and they cut out the bottom so you can dangle your feet. Getting up is tricky because you almost have to sort of get into the middle fo the aisle as you try to get up. Make sure there is no one behind you when you try to get up because you wouldn't want to collide with a server who has food or plates in their hand.
Last time we were hear the three of us spent $79 and I was left feeling hungry. This time with an extra person I decided to order a whole bunch of stuff and double some reliable dishes. After a $117 plus tip (ouch) we were very full and I actually over ordered.
Some really good staples are the fried chicken $6.80 I think, and the squid. The Brie cheese is good if you eat it when it's hot but afterwards it tastes like fried cheese whiz. Fried shrimp with spicy mayo is good. Service can be lacking when it's busy but later on it got more efficient.
I would avoid the Udon noodles, it tastes like a fettuccine sauce Ala Asian style. Not a big fan of that.
When you leave everyone shouts (my sister and her friend think they are saying thank you come again but it didn't sound like "domo arigato, sayanara") It could very well be "get out". Who knows.
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