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Konnichiwa
Category: Restaurants Japanese Japanese [Edit]
31 Baldwin StToronto, ON M5T 1L2
Neighbourhood: Downtown Core
(416) 593-8538
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
21 reviews for Konnichiwa
Review Highlights
21 reviews in English
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Review from Miyako S.
Orillia, ON
1/25/2012
Very authentic place, in the small suburban neighbourhoods with a few restaurants around and shops. (Located on Baldwin St.) really close to Chinatown and the Ontario Museum
I love that the place is small and cozy. There is a kimono on the wall, the seats are all in wood and the cutlery and bowls are all similar to what you would get in Japan.
The service is good, very nice. You do have to pay for green tea if you order it.
1. Udon Noodle 8/10. soup base was nice, the noodles were chewy and not over cooked at all. The chicken in it was boiled, which it was fried and then put on top. There wasn't a ton of veggies, just some julienned carrots & bean sprouts I think
2. Yellow Tail Roll. The fish was fresh, rice was seasoned nicely and the size cut was good. I felt there was a bit too much rice.
3. Dynamite Roll. The shrimp was very fresh. The rice is seasoned nicely as well. Good taste with a bit of avocado and cucumber.
3. Oyako Don 7/10. The taste was a bit bland. The Dashi or Soy Seasoning wasn't enough. The rice was cooked nicely. The Chicken was just cooke as usual. The egg was mixed through the rice and half cooked, so really creamy and slimey.
Someone else had ramen and that looked so good. The owners seemed very nice. The prices were a bit higher, but they had other items on the menu good for vegetarians and seemed more authentic than most places. Definitely would come here again! -
Review from Cara L.
Toronto, ON
2/11/2012
Really nice date spot but steep pricing.
Good for celebratory dinners with a close friend, not good for group settings as the place is quite small and the tables not very accommodating for large parties. -
Review from Dishan W.
4/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is possibly the cutest stop on Baldwin Village. Very cosy and intimate with great looking decorations all around and friendly staff.
But big time 3 stars for costing way too much.
You get a $13 piece sushi set for almost $19 on top of which they charge you $0.85 plus tax for green tea (comes with the bag) and lack complimentary ice cream or fruit at the end, none of which sat well for me. Yes the food is good, but with "etsu"just a stones throw away I say the nice folk here need to up their game if they want to be the best sushi place on the block.
I also had their ramen which for $8.95 is a great deal since they know how to get their ramen done (although I've yet to come across a place with very authentic ramen in Toronto), but overall a menu that can come across as lacking/confusing and high prices puts this place on second or third place for sushi on Baldwin.
Although if you're looking for a date spot on Baldwin, Konnichiwa is your best bet apart from the more high end Bodega and Bocca.Listed in: You need to Baldwin Village it…
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Review from Elame G.
Toronto, ON
9/22/2011
Heard good reviews because they're authentic japanese chefs..the price was super steep and the food overall experience was just mediocre.
for the price i paid ($25) and the amount I received i should have went to all you can eat instead. -
Review from Cecilia M.
Mississauga, ON
5/23/2011
My favourite place on Baldwin!
My friends and I come here regularly, since it's close to work. We love the authenticity, freshness and portions of the food. We've been regulars for 4 years now.
I agree with previous yelpers that it's a bit pricier than other competitors on Baldwin because they charge for tea and there's no complimentary dessert - but the quality can't be beat by its neighbours.
My favourite dish is the tempura udon special on their lunch menu. The udon broth is very good! Having traveled to Japan, I find their broth to be one of the most authentic I've had in Canada. And this lunch special it comes with avocado rolls and salad.
I've also tried (and loved) their sashimi entrée, unagi don, spicy salmon roll, and chicken teriyaki.
The little space is great for dates and small parties. Larger parties may feel a bit confined though.
And like the rest of Baldwin, patio's available in the summer. :) -
Review from Joe H.
Finding this place is a little bit of a chore. It's tucked away in the middle of china town, and it's on a tiny strip on Baldwin. It's a tiny little restaurant that probably sits around 30 people max and serves japanese food from ramen to sushi.
Personally I only came here with one thing in mind, ramen. I figured I go here and see what everyone was talking about. I had pre-read reviews in advance so I could get the best experience I could. I was advised to order the pork with miso soup base so I decided to do just that.
Personally I found the soup base too sweet. I know it's supposed to be a little sweet, but I actually found it overbearing. I quickly afterwards doused it with a whole bunch of chili powder (cause I like it hot).
The pork however was pretty nice. It was tender, but not too fatty, so I actually kinda liked it. The noodles were a nice consistency, nothing too mind blowing.
I also got the Gyoza there (cause I like dumplings). I found them kinda soft and needed to be more crispy on the outside. Meh, wish they were more crispy.
Note that they do charge for tea. They give you a tea bag, so I do understand why they charge. Most people would assume it's free, but just a heads up they charge 90 cents for tea bags =/.
As a whole, I wouldn't say that this place is one of the best for ramen in the city. You can probably do better.Listed in: Quest for Ramen!
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Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
10/22/2010 5 photos
I am writing this review based on the quality of the Ramen I have at Konnichiwa.
Yes I like the Ramen here better than the one I have at Kenzo.
I found the noodles has much more bite to it VS Kenzo's one are a lot softer and has less texture and got really sloggy at the end of the bowl. Konnichiwa's noodle is best to be slurped and embrassed the hell out of your dinnermate in a crowded restaurant!
I also love the lightly flavoured broth much better... especially the Miso soup based. It is light, has a hint of salty and a hint of sweetness and a hint of spiciness. (I don't even want to put any chilli powder or oil to ruin that taste) The Shoyu broth is A-ok too!
Just love small eatery like this. It feels so homey, cozy and the Japanese waitresses are all nice and polite with a great smile!
The kitchen here is really small, the seating here is limited..so if you come on a busy night, you might have to wait for everything! -
Review from Marie M.
11/7/2010 ROTD 2/3/2011
KONNICHIWA
INT. RESTAURANT -DINING ROOM
WE SEE: A girl and a boy seated a wooden table right by the window. It is night time, pitch black outside with snowflakes gently falling. The girl is seated against the wall and across from the boy. They quietly examine the menu as the elderly waitress put down 2 cups of hot tea the pair had ordered.
CLOSE ON. The two steaming cups of hot korean tea, sans tea bag (meaning it's loose leaf). It is incredibly cold outside.
CUT TO:
WE SEE. The pair orders their meals from the waitress who then turns and returns to the kitchen. The boy is seated upright, his head is up, he looks straight ahead as he reaches for his tea. The girl, slightly slouched, her head is down as she gazes at her tea. Their silence matches the quietness and dim interior of the restaurant.
CUT TO:
WE SEE. Their meals arrive. The boy's order of a Japanese beef dish with a side of white rice is placed in front of him. The girl's order of soba soup noodles with vegetable tempura on a side dish is placed in front of her.
WE SEE. The pair consumes their meals in near silence. Conversation is sparse.
CLOSE ON. The girl's soba broth noodle soup. Thin greyish Japanese noodles with seaweed in a Japanese broth soup. It is a fair portion for ~$9.00. The broth is steaming hot, perfect for the cold winter night.
CLOSE ON. The vegetable tempura pieces. Lightly battered and fried, there is also a fair amount of vegetable on the side plate that accompanied the bowl of noodles. The tempura is crispy and hot, not overly fried but fried with the utmost care.
BACK TO:
WE SEE. The girl and the boy enjoying their delicious and hot dinner in a quaint little Japanese restaurant at the table by the window on a cold winter night.
FADE TO BLACK.
FIN. -
Review from Susan C.
7/7/2011
Ramen? Mediocre.
Appetizers? Meh.
Unagi rice? Mom can make better.
BUT THE SESAME ICE CREAM? MADNESS.
Hands down the best ice cream I've ever had in my life. It was rich and flavorful and perfectly creamy. Sugary but not too sweet. And oh, let me tell you, it was BLACK. But damn, that was the best tasting black goop I've ever had. Ever since visiting here, I've had constant cravings for this sinfully scrumptious dessert. -
Review from WaYnE c.
Maple, ON
10/18/2010
The scale of this restaurant made it feel like a Cafe as we came at a time more suitable for Konbanwa than Konnichiwa. We sat next to the window space for 2 with a table circumference that's just enough to fit 2 Bento meals and not much more. That specific spot was very cozy I will wish to get that same spot the next time. MY spot!
Tofu on Shoyu Broth Ramen($8.95) has a broth with a hint of sweetness almost like how Mire Poix brings a sweetness to any protein stock. It is unexpected as most people's image of Shoyu provides an Umami addiction, so the first sip of this broth brings a new territory to your mind.
The Ramen Noodles were A-OK as an accompanying fellow yelper was quick to point out that it's reminiscent of packaged Instant Noodle with a rinse in-between boiling with water, then simmer in broth. It has that Wrinkled style which is great for slurping the broth all over your neighbour. :P
Pork on Miso Broth Ramen($8.95) uses the Dark Brown Miso that we fought over as Ramen is naturally identified with this Umami taste. The Pork slices were good when I know other places can feed you some inferior product and not even be embarrassed. Only if Konnichiwa had TONKOTSU, then I would be more pleased then Niwatei.Listed in: Oishii, Pull my Noodles - Korea +…
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Review from Jason K.
Updated - 3/24/2011
- went again a couple of nights ago to a packed dining room
- had the katsu curry rice (about $15?)... which was kind of overpriced in my opinion.
- it was really good when it comes to japanese curries go (it has a little bit of heat to it), but i think i'd rather hit up tokyo kitchen instead.Listed in: making do with being so far…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/8/2010
- came here the other night because i am on a ramen circuit.
- i didnt end up having the ramen, but… Read more »
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Review from Tammy Y.
8/4/2009
You definitely get what you pay for here: deliciously fresh fish with a texture as smooth as butter. We ordered a sashimi platter that came with an assortment of white fish, salmon, tuna, squid, and octopus. It doesn't look like a whole lot, but it's actually good enough to share between two people along with another small entree.
Their chicken teriyaki is also good, but nothing extraordinary. Something that is nice about this small establishment is that they provide the tea bags with your green tea, and a little dish for you to keep your tea bag until you're ready for your next top up of hot water. Considerate, and a nice touch to the homey feel of this little place.
There aren't too many Japanese places in the city that have a patio. Konnichiwa does. Although you do end up inhaling the strong flavours of hearty Italian pizza at John's Italian next door while waiting for your raw fish to appear, (which can be confusing), it all ends up being part of the melting pot experience of this little stretch of Baldwin Street. Worth checking out if you're looking for some decent sushi past the couple of all-you-can-eat places nearby. -
Review from Deena Y.
3/16/2009
So, I had been in "The Great White North" for about 2 1/2 weeks, and I was getting discouraged by the food selection. I had been told (by my boyfriend, who thinks he comes from the greatest city around... Toronto) that the food was amazing.
Toronto's offerings seemed to include Korean, Korean-owned Chinese, Korean-owned Vietnamese, Korean-owned Indian, Korean-owned American, and Korean-owned Japanese. Not that it's an awful thing that the Koreans have monopolized the dining scene, but I don't necessarily want to see Kalbi and Bulgogi on a menu next to Burgers or a sushi menu. Just because a place does one type of Asian food well, does not mean it does them all well, in fact, quite the opposite seems true.
After that long rant, here is my review:
Konnichiwa is a diamond in the rough, located on adorable Baldwin Street, which is adorned with quaint patios, rustic signs, and tucked away on what otherwise looks like a small residential road. I love Udon, and up until I walked into this adorably decorated, small but clean haven, I had felt like all Toronto had to offer was noodles in semi-flavored water... Konnichiwa's Udon had the perfect ingredients! The tempura, although a somewhat smaller portion than I'd like, was crispy and cooked just right. My boyfriend's ramen was amazing, the garlic in the soup, although not particularly authentic, was surprisingly tasty... One of the best I've ever tasted. We had the dynamite rolls, which were fresh and the perfect size. We even had to place a second order of Gyoza at the end of our meal because they were so amazingly good!
I suggest that if you want to try Japanese the way Japanese was meant to be eaten, Konnichiwa is your best bet in Toronto! -
Review from Doo D.
Calgary, AB
1/23/2010
Great hole in the wall type of restaurant. Efficient and friendly Japanese service. Delicious sashimi and some of the best gyoza I've had, and I rarely eat it. Miso soup and miso ramen were boasting with flavor. The ramen noodles I'm told are not made in house and were more soft than those I'm used to where they are made in house. I personally prefer an 'al dente' ramen noodle over these. Not my fave.
Love the place and would definitely return. -
Review from Bijan V.
8/14/2008
A great small authentic Japanese restaurant with a small menu. Everyone that works there is Japanese and their chefs apparently used to work for the Prince Hotel.
They are reasonably priced and have greaat udon/sobu that I really liked. Once patio season comes along, this place gets full fast as do most places on Baldwin street but overall a nice little place to have lunch if you're in the area and don't want to spend too much money on food! -
Review from M P.
Toronto, ON
5/14/2010
Went there once for ramen with a group of friends.... Enjoyed the experience so I returned with a Jap food expert.
Ordered a mini eel shabu shabu the second time I was there... Yumms!!
Oh, the octupus salad was delightful as well... -
Review from Sarah O.
Toronto, ON
7/9/2009
i've been looking for a place downtown that has decent ramen and this place will be my go-to for my ramen craving. I had the miso-based ramen with deep-fried tofu and vegetables. very tasty (although a tiny bit salty). my friend had the sushi and said it wasn't that great. i think they're strength lies in the noodles. now, if only there was a place downtown where they make their noodles fresh!
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Review from Joanne W.
4/11/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Nice little place, however, HORRIBLE service. Did not enjoy my stay here. Waitresses did not comprehend what we were talking about.
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Review from Deanna W.
Updated - 11/30/2008
I came back here last night after a year hiatus (too lazy to walk to Baldwin village most nights ;) ). They are still kicking out homey authentic Japanese food.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/16/2008
Konnichiwa is nice little authentic Japanese restaurant located in Baldwin village. This place has… Read more »
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Review from Eddie C.
Toronto, ON
4/14/2011
i travel once a week to go here just for the authentic jap food, never a wait, small quaint little place, good selection of food and good quality, -1 for service, i come so often and they don't recognize me and always stuff me the dessert menu in the middle of my conversation
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Review from Tina N.
Toronto, ON
10/22/2009
tiny little restaurant owned by real japanese people.
my food experience was just meh. not anything too amazing compared to other japanese restaurants.
i realized they really like to use ALOT of soysauce on everything cause all of my appettizers (gyoza, fish cakes) were much too salty. i didn't like it.
as for the main course, i ordered the sashimi/ sushi platter which was $16.75 for 10 pieces of fish, 3 california roll and 3 cucumber rolls! coming into the restaurant i thought it looked homey and would have an authentic feel/taste to it but it didn't. the fish i believe, did not taste fresh at all. other places were served cold and crisp but this sashimi was warm and soggy. ended the night with tofu/green tea ice cream which was okay minus the tofu part cause it tasted really sour, made my ice cream taste horrible. maybe thats just my opinion but i didn't really like the food here. i also think everything was just a bit too over-priced.
i did not get my moneys worth.
