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Wow! Sushi
Category: Restaurants Sushi Bars Sushi Bars
11 W Charles StreetToronto, ON M4Y 1R4
Neighbourhood: Downtown Core
(416) 923-1888
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 11 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 11 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
33 reviews for Wow! Sushi
Review Highlights
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"Maki set lunch ($12) was pretty delicious." In 5 reviews -
"Add complimentary agedashi tofu and this place is a..." In 3 reviews -
"The sushi dinner was just as amazing as the sashimi dinner." In 1 review
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33 reviews in English
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Review from Angela L.
4/27/2012 1 photo
I don't know if this is a reincarnation of Japango (since the original still exists in all of its gloriousness), but there is a photo of the chef and the late Jack Layton posing in front of what looks like Japango on the walls. Regardless of where the chef has worked before or who he is affiliated with though, there is no arguing that the quality and presentation of the food at Wow! is fantastic and comparable to other Japanese favourites of mine in the city.
The artfully presented chirashi features organic salmon, head-on shrimp, and a beautiful array of delicately sliced fish. The service is warm, the space is nicely sized (not too big, but not too small for a cozy restaurant). The decor is minimalist and tasteful.
There is surely no shortage of sushi options around this area, but I would pass the others by and walk that extra mile to Wow! any day. -
Review from Jeffrey W.
Toronto, ON
5/22/2012 1 photo
Decided to quell my Japanese food urges today with a visit to a place I'd never been to before. Verdict? Good call.
Service was nice and loud, kind of Guu-esque in the way they said hello as you walked in.
Ordered the lunch Chirashi (by the way, lunch here is until 4:30pm, unlike some of the other Japanese places which end at 3:30pm) along with Aji sushi, which they'd gotten 'just that morning.'
When I got the horse mackerel, I can definitely say that it was super fresh -- probably the freshest aji I've had.
The chirashi's plating is a little conventional, but sometimes you do get bored of the usual presentation. All of the fish was very fresh, with the standout being the BC tuna which was positively silky and oh-so-tasty-melt-in-your-mouthy. The escolar seemed to be a tad overblowtorched though, which is a slight disappointment. I will however chalk it up to the fact that anyone can make mistakes!
If you do go (which you should, by the way!) do remember that it seats only around 20 people. Cheers!
For a full review and pictures, visit my blog, which is conveniently located in my profile. :) -
Review from Maheen M.
5/2/2012
My SO and I decided to check out Wow! Sushi last night for quick dinner. I was a bit taken back as to how small the place is; max 25 patrons if it were full. When we arrived, we were seated immediately and served green tea. The service was great the whole night. Prices were reasonable considering there are like 5 sushi places all kitty corner from each other in the area.
We ordered a variety of maki rolls; they were tastey BUT really on my small side. After ordering 5 rolls, our bellies should have been full but sadly our bellies were not. The unagi rolls had limited unagi and their spicy salmon had a nice kick to it.
If you are looking for quick service, check out Wow! Sushi but you might need to get dessert elsewhere to have a full meal. -
Review from Xi Y.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 5/19/2012
Recommend dishes: Salmon Teriyaki, Sashimi.
I usually go for their rolls or Sashimi, not till I tried their teriyaki salmon and chicken, thumps up, so tasteful, i ordered the takeout, they even draw smily faces on the takeout box. The best part is they separated the salar source and the salar, and they separated the teriyaki meat and rice, I love the sesame on top of my rice, for a picky perso like me, this rocks. However, it will be better if they increase the quantity of the rice a bit. I am a girl with small stomach, and this is the first time I think i will need more rice!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/3/2012
the food is good, and the service is nice. I have been going to this place couple of times, I like… Read more »
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Review from Bruce M.
Toronto, ON
4/20/2012
My first visit was terrific - very tasty... so back I went. Unfortunately on trip #2 I found a staple in my soup.
Their compensation was to offer me ice-cream.
Also noticed they did nothing to replace the soup pot... they kept dishing it out.
Sorry Wow - I'm not coming back. -
Review from Tammy Y.
4/12/2012
There is a plethora of sushi options in downtown, but among those, perhaps only a handful of the mid-range sushi joints are worthy of return visits.
This week, I've added Wow! Sushi to that little list. Do not be swayed by the odd name choice - this small, authentic, Japanese-run restaurant delivers delicious makimono rolls and sashimi plates without breaking the bank.
My dining partner and I opted to share a sashimi dinner, a black cod appetizer, and a couple of rolls. The sashimi selection was top-notch and fresh. The black cod, while a bit on the salty side, certainly gave Guu's black cod a run for its money. The rolls were well made and light on the rice, which is always welcome, especially towards the end of a meal.
Some more points:
- They gave both of us salad and miso even though, technically, we only ordered one dinner.
- Presentation of all the dishes were incredible.
- Great value for lunch! Will definitely be back to try it.
- Friendly and attentive service -
Review from Ashley P.
Toronto, ON
4/23/2012
I tried this place based on the good reviews. We went on a Sunday for lunch -- it was fairly quiet, but this place was not very big anyway. The servers were friendly and welcoming.
We ordered the Spicy Tuna maki, Spicy Salmon maki and Philadelphia roll. The fish tasted really fresh, it just melt in your mouth. There was a bit too much cream cheese in the Philadelphia roll, but overall everything was delicious.
This place is pretty good, one of the better sushi places in the downtown core. -
Review from Diane J. W.
4/1/2012
Yes, the food is good, it's true. But being made to feel as if I'm in the way of all the take-out money pouring thru the door? No food is THAT good. There are just too many very competent joints in town to put up with attitude.
Notes:
1. Was reseated twice to accommodate larger parties.
2. My order was incorrect. The solution, to sarcastically pinch uni in chopsticks and offer it over the bar. Ever been offered sea urchin on a stick? If there's one food that requires presentation, this is it. (I offered an empty plate as a middle ground, btw. Didn't help.)
3. My sake order was effed up. Re-delivered, it burned my tongue. *sigh*
4. Miso soup was nowhere to be seen despite the reviews. I can live with that.
5. The kicker was the $30 price tag for the thumbnail-sized portions. Thumb. Nail.
So, sadly, this diner will decidedly not be back which is too bad because there were some tasty items to be had. I won't be the one to encourage greedy indifference though so sorry folks, find another sucker. -
Review from Tina N.
Toronto, ON
3/8/2012
WoW Sushi is purely WOW!
A small, quaint, clean restaurant located on Charles St with a super friendly Japanese staff.
All their dishes look stunning and are specially decorated using high quality ingredients that present diverse flavours to tickle your palette. I ordered the sashimi dinner and their fish cuts all had a very unique taste - a memorable fish was one that had a smoky flavour to it, very delish. The Tuna Tar Tar Appetizer was also quite good as well, not sure if threes anything bad here. Definitely a little more expensive than other Jap restaurants in the area but you're paying for quality and an authentic experience which is very worth it! -
Review from Stephanie C.
Toronto, ON
1/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Amazingly good sushi.
I finally had the opportunity to eat here on Saturday with my Yelp pal Chad M.
I was definitely impressed by the food and service. With the complimentary soup and salad for our starters, we shared the dinner sashimi plate and salmon rolls. The food is crafted with care and beautifully presented.
Everything you've heard about how fresh the food is true: the fish, rice and all other ingredients are fresh and excited my taste buds with each bite. I would have no problem eating more than what we ordered - I'm a bit of a sushi nut - but it opened up an opportunity for me to return and try more.
Service was top notch thanks to the friendliness of the staff. You're treated like gold here which makes the eating experience that much more magnificent. -
Review from Vivek S.
12/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Pretty wow-inducing sushi at this place. This pint-sized sushi spot is just up a short flight of stairs on Charles street, a few doors down from 7 West. It's warm and inviting, especially on my rainy-day visit. It's a decidedly cozy place and I would guess that it seats fewer than 30 people (ten along the bar, and the rest at two-tops throughout).
The menu is a bit confusing, which lots of named options. I opted for the sashimi plate and I was not disappointed. It was 18 pieces of really big and tasty morsels of fish. I wasn't too keen on the shrimp, but everything else was a knockout, really.
Also worth mentioning that the service here was solid. I'd probably come back here and try the Chirashi plate everyone has been talking about.
Obligatory Title Pun: Enter the World of Wasabi (WoW).
Menu Readability: I remember only that it was big.
Need to mention: If you're a group larger than four, you'll need a reservation.
What this place teaches me about myself: I'd probably play a sushi-based MMORPG. -
Review from Edwin A.
1/7/2012
Wow service.
Not talking about dining in, been there for dinner before. Was great. From what I recall the rolls, prepared with care and not too much rice - perfect, the sashimi was fresh melt in your mouth.. oh and exotic too I remember the waitress saying for the sashimi we had was fish flown in from Greece.
But let me tell you what happened on New Years Eve. Tamara and I came down with a cold quite suddenly and unfortunately we had to cancel our plans with friends that night. Bummer. :( We made the best of things and decided to throw our own little party at the condo.
A call to Wow was in order!
So at around 6pm we started to feel hungry. We jumped on the http://Just-Eats.ca website to order our sushi but we were saddened to see that we were just outside the delivery zone for Wow. :( Even chatted with http://Just-Eat.ca customer service to clarify..
Oh well so much for the Internet order, so we called Wow directly to place the order. Wow took our sushi roll order over the phone.
5 minutes later though they called back and said they were pretty busy on NYE. They suggested delivery would be faster if we were to call so,so company? (don't recall the name) for the order. We did end up calling the other delivery company they suggested but they were closed New Years Eve.
We called Wow back, pleaded with them, complimented them, mentioned to them we enjoyed dining there before.. they were so nice, maybe took pity on us or perhaps tickled pink by our compliments and said ok they'd do it. They took our order. We were soo happy!
About 40 min later, we get a call from a delivery guy, kind of frantic sounding, wondering where we were? He had some trouble locating the condo it seems.
After clarifying over the phone the location, a knock on the door was heard and lo and behold.. it was one of the Wow Sushi Chefs in person! delivering the order to the door. Amazing!. He said he threw in an extra roll and drink too. Needless to say he got a good tip.
Well that's the story of Wow service we received that night. They went beyond what's typical to ensure we were happy.
btw, the food we ordered for takeout was superb, the same quality as we found from dining in.
Recommend! -
Review from A.J. S.
3/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
Wow sushi was very good. I went here and ordered a couple of plates. I thought the service was excellent, the server was nice, and was patient with our inability to order in Japanese. The food was very very good, and I liked the decor.I really honestly enjoyed eating in this little restaurant. The food seemed very fresh. I was actually very tempted to say "Omakase gozaimasu" , but I wasn't sure of myself for some reason. Maybe I should have, though the food was fabulous. I would go again for sure.
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Review from Jane T.
Toronto, ON
2/14/2012 2 photos
Decided to bring my Cali beau here for Valentines day and our taste buds went straight to heaven.
We sat at the bar to enhance the experience and order mainly sushi/sashimi.
Must tries:
Butter fish, yellow tail, spicy scallop wrapped with tamago, and salmon roe
I was blown away by the garnishing found on most of our orders. They really know what they're doing when it comes to pairing - notably the yellow tail sushi topped with jalapeno pepper. Everything was excellent quality including the soy sauce and wasabi. However, the miso soup, salad and appetizers we order were just average. The ambience is average but the presentation and service makes up for it. The sushi chefs are personable and hand delivered most of our dishes at the bar. We were given free ice cream at the end of our meal. I will definitely be coming back here again and again...
This place did me proud for Toronto! -
Review from Shiona R.
2/1/2012
Wow Sushi, so not just a clever name! Went for lunch on a Saturday, the restaurant is small but clean. I went with two friends, two of us had the sashimi lunch and the other had chicken katsu. The sashimi was lovely, varied and beautifully presented.
Our waiter was very attentive and brought over an on the house set of maki rolls which they were trying out, these were topped with scallops and were just delicious!
The fact that I am writing this review before I have had breakfast is a bad idea because now I just want to go to Wow Sushi. I will most definitely be returning there! -
Review from Avitania B.
Toronto, ON
Delicious sushi with artful preparation and super friendly service. Yes, it's pricier than most of the area sushi shops in the area, and the portions are a little smaller, but the quality can't be beat. Your best bet is the sashimi assortment, which offers the chef's choice of gorgeous piscine delights -- some are seared, some accented with house-made oils, and all beautifully presented.
The only disappointment I've had here is the philadelphia roll, which probably should be taken off the menu because it just doesn't match the caliber of the rest of the menu. So don't order that. Order the sashimi instead.
The service is super nice and practically over the top. I want to give the entire staff hugs every time I come in. I try bowing instead, but it just doesn't seem like enough thanks for such a tasty meal. -
Review from Laura C.
Toronto, ON
Wow!
Sushi.
And I'm not jut saying that because I am amazed.
This small place is a great addition to the common Chinese owned sushi places in the area.
The fish was very fresh and I loved the presentation of my 18pc Sashimi combo.
Some of the fish was served on beds of finely sliced cucumber with taro chips on top. My white tuna was not only on top of a Wakame salad but the edges were seared !
It was a bit pricy at $26 but the fish size portions were not skimped (like some other places ) and you get soup and salad. There wasn't else much on the menu except your general teriyakis and a myriad of rolls.
I would come back here if I was craving raw fish.
Te service was okay. Very rarely our tea cups were empty, but they also don't really come bug you for orders unless you ask them. Maybe it's Japanese culture.
Also small space means the table space also tight. I recommend making a reservation. -
Review from Emily H.
11/18/2011 ROTD 3/20/2012
I was on my way home thinking what quick lunch can I grab to go? Yelp found me Wow! Sushi just down the street.
Quite a small store but it was nice and clean. The owners were extremely friendly from the second I stepped in. One pulled out a chair for me at the bar and brought me a cup of tea right away. And something I really appreciated was the guy saying "excellent choice!" when I ordered the Chirashi sushi. It's so simple yet I find most servers forget that a small confirmatory statement can go a long way.
As soon as I ordered the Chirashi, I started mulling over my choice in my head. I was worried about the quality and experience of the meal once it touched a hideous styrofoam box. To my huge surprise, I got home to find a beautifully presented Chirashi sushi in a plastic take-away box! They really were ahead of me there. Huge ups.
The choice of sushi samples were great with even a few seared pieces. I must point out the sashimi cuts were small and the overall portion was adequate for lunch, def not enough for dinner. I wonder, though, will they upkeep their impressive presentations when they become swamped during a meal time? And if that declines, how much will my overall enjoyment decline?
Anyway, I'd definitely give it another go at Wow Sushi - sitting in this time. Just to clarify though, take it as an Asian lesson... the owners are NOT Japanese - they are two experienced Chinese sushi chefs. All my authentic sushi shit aside, I approve of what they are starting right hurr.
Atmosphere - 3/5
Service - 5/5
Food - 4/5
Price - 3/5Listed in: 30 Day November Challenge!, Yay for Yonge!
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Review from Cynthia G.
Toronto, ON
1/14/2012
Everyone raves about WOW Sushi
I missed the Yelp event there a couple months ago regrettably and finally was able to drop in today.
Nice small restaurant with about 10 tables and nice bay window which I sat at.
Very friendly and attentive servers, and the Sushi Chef was very nice and greeted you as you entered.
The menu was simple and easy to read and all of the selections sound great. No photos on the menu (which I always find odd), and it was the regular sushi restaurant items - a couple has some variations.
Placed my order of a yam and avocado roll and a spider toll.
The server arrived with nice warm green tea - not scalding like so many places that you can not even hold the cup..... Really tasted nice and warmed me up from the outside cold today.
Then within a couple minutes she brings me miso soup and salad which I did not order and was apparently included.....both were great.....then a few minutes later she brings over aged tofu in a sauce.....compliments of the restaurant......very nice of them and it was incredible.
Then my rolls arrived and they were artfully arranged on the plates in the flare that only the Japanese can do. They looked like little works of art on a white canvas. With the white ginger and little ball of wasabi......both were just wonderful. I will have the yam and avocado again - it was really nice.
All in all the place is worth many trips back....it's close to home....and I will enjoy trying other items on the menu
Everyone was right WOW sushi is great ! -
Review from Lauren M.
11/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wawawewa! Yelp buddies Jen and Chad, thanks for taking me to WOW Sushi.
Maki set lunch ($12) was pretty delicious. And the portion size was big for lunch.
I didn't try any of the sashimi, but it was obvious from Chad & Jen's meals that the fish here is ridiculously fresh. Next time I will go for the Chirashi for sure.
Service was the usual over-the-top Japanese friendliness. (THANK YOU BYE!!!!, THANK YOU BYE!!!!)
Everything was perfect here except the decor is really quite simplistic. Makes for a great lunch but I can't see wanting to do a dinner here (especially a date) since it's somewhat lacking ambiance. -
Review from Chad M.
Onegaishimsu!
Hands down, the best Japanese sushi restaurant in Canada.
1. Authentic Japanese people.
2. Superior attention to presentation and the finest details.
3. Most accommodating staff I've experienced.
4. Tastiest sushi and sashimi I've had in GTA
5. Best value in every category I can think of.
This IS a real Japanese experience, and better than any of the sushi I had during my travels through Japan.
I'd say to order specific things, however everything I ate on both visits was outstanding. Each piece had something new and different about it; tastes and aromas I'd never experienced.
Yes, it is THAT different. Trust me, you'll love it!
If I had to pick, I'd say the mackerel and escolar stood out on the sashimi dinner ($26). During two separate visits I had: Japanese Fried Chicken (tiny, crispy nuggets!), agedashi tofu (yum!), yakitori (tender and amazing), hokaido scallops (wow!) and the sushi dinner. The sushi dinner was just as amazing as the sashimi dinner.
The food is so good here, you won't need wasabi or soy sauce. It's that good! Not only is the sushi award winning, but the portions are amazing compared to the cost.
This is a new restaurant and you can tell they're going overboard to make sure everyone will come back. Our first visit we received a free appetizer which was just magnificent.
The one tweak I'd make would be the music. It wasn't horrible but didn't seem to quite fit the place. I love to hear some Pizzicato Five or
Maki Nomiya.
Liquor license is coming.
Love you guys! -
Review from Mauricio A.
Toronto, ON
11/14/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Wow!
Itadaki-masu!
I was there last Friday and what a treat it was! First let's get the bad out of the way and trust me this is a bit of an afterthought since the real show stopper in this tiny Japanese eatery is the consistent Homerun that is the food!
Yes, this place is tiny, 10 tables, plus seating at the sushi bar, however walking in here feels as if you have strolled into Guu's smaller brother of a restaurant but without the decor. Background music is some sort of soft/romantic jazz which is definitely out of place here, however not overly intrusive.
On my visit the waitress was a little lost and one of the (two) brothers who own the place had to take reigns of our order but that was forgiven.
The positive? The delicious food! The sushi is amazing. You can taste the love in each piece. Obviously made with skill and concern, each dish is brought to you wonderfully (yet simply) presented.
Along with some plum wine, our Salmon Teriyaki dinner was tasty and obviously low in fat. Which in some places you can see the lower quality of the salmon by the cheer amount of fat that has leeched onto your plate. Not the case here.
The Calapilla Maki and Rainbow Rolls tasted as if a touch of heaven and raw fish decided to have wonderful and tasty roe together! :P The flavour was full, balanced and satisfying! Not to mention the staff at the locale seems to not only be friendly but willing to bend over backwards for you... You simply cannot fake that sort of commitment to attention!
Now, another thing to be warned it that each dish, although illustriously made, is quite small portioned, specially, if you are used to the dirt cheap proto-options like Sushi On Bloor.
Then again, Wow and SOB are in completely different leagues. While the latter is a cheap simile of sushi, Wow tries to go the true path and as such you will pay for it, both in serving size and in price.
While you can have a filling, albeit non-authentic meal at SOB or New Generation for about $10, expect a more realistic $20 -30 per head at WOW. As some of their diner dishes pass the $22+ mark.
For example, for the three dishes mentioned above plus a glass of wine and plum wine, it came down to about $60. Where we stuffed? No.
Were we happy and satisfied. Yes.
So is it authentic? Well, the place is run by two brothers and the vibe is definitely closer to places like Guu than any of the other dozen or so-called Japanese Sushi places in the Annex. Definitely the best sushi in the area by boats, sushi boats! ;-)
I will definitely be back!
Wow indeed!Listed in: My Reviews, 30 Day Movember '11 Challenge
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Review from Roma M.
12/2/2011
I came to Wow sushi as part of the Yelp UYE. Wow sushi is a pretty tiny restaurant with around 6-7 tables of 2 people each. As soon as I entered I was extremely warmly greeted by the chefs behind the sushi bar. Coming in from a bleary and wet outdoors, this set a relaxing tone for the rest of the dinner.
Our table immediately got two large bowls of complimentary edamame. No agedashi tofu, unfortunately but I`m not complaining. Everyone received miso soup and salad. When taking our order the waitress immediately asked if we`d like separate bills (+1 star for being unusually courteous). More restaurants should take a page from Wow`s level of service.
I wasn`t famished that night so I opted for rolls instead of a main dish, but as it turns out, the special rolls are huge. The top four special rolls require a bit of a description, so I prompted our server for a run-down and decided on the Louis Maki - Scallop, topped with spicy salmon and tempura shrimp as well as the Spicy Salmon Maki.
The Louis Maki was delicious, and extremely attractively decorated but it was huge and very filling, after that the Spicy Salmon Maki was a little average-looking and paled very slightly in comparison to the Louis Maki.
I will be back the next time I`m craving sushi, which is pretty much always.Listed in: Japanese Food
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Review from Reynold P.
Toronto, ON
12/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
I wasn't WOWed with WOW Sushi. Although I didn't try too may items, the portions all just seemed a bit less than I expected. With the price I pay, I expected more. Granted that the quality is top notch and the service is great, I still expected more.
Due to the overwhelming hype Yelp has given it, I wanted to try Wow Sushi ever since the first review. With my busy schedule and laziness I found myself here decades after inception. Now that I have tried it, I'm confused.
I tried a few rolls, my favourite being the Capilla roll because of the spicy sauce. The freshness of the seafood was there but the portion was small.
The store itself is quite small too. This isn't entirely a bad thing because it gives the sense of authenticity and exclusivity. However, larger parties would find it difficult to find room without a reservation or a wait.
Overall, it's an alright sushi restaurant. I think I should go for another visit and go strictly sashimi on this hoe. But from what I had, it was just o.k. -
Review from Dishan W.
10/22/2011
I'm not sure if I would declare this as the undisputed champion of sushi in Canada but I can safely say that this is one of the better sushi restaurants I've been to. 4.5 stars for me since it is yet to totally hit the tre 5 star experience.
It's not cheap but for around $20 you can certainly have a very tasty sushi dinner. We had the black dragon roll along with the "sushi dinner" and the server went piece by piece describing them and in some how it was prepared which was a welcome first for me at a sushi restaurant.
I would say out of the 10 sushi pieces, 5 had exceptional taste which I would love to try again. But for $22 I don't know if I can really afford to keep coming here when there are cheaper options available. The dragon roll was very tasty too, it seems like you can't go wrong with the food choices here. Add complimentary agedashi tofu and this place is a definite top spot for anyone looking for a sushi fix.
The service was good, our tea had regular refills and the 2 guys serving were very friendly although I would have liked the service to be a bit quicker since this is a pretty small locaation.
It looses out on the 0.5 star for the higher than average price (it's a very tough line to cross since you do get a great product in return) and the fact that "wow sushi" brings no "wow" to the actual restaurant atmosphere apart from their very friendly staff.Listed in: 30-Day Yelp Challenge, itadakimasu!!
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Review from Susan G.
10/21/2011
I'm not going to lie, I had HUGE expectations for Wow Sushi. I was a little disappointed by my meal as a result - it was definitely good sushi, but I had expected mind blowing!
Wow Sushi is a tiny little sushi shop with only a few tables - maybe 10 total. Their menu is quite extensive, including appetizers (such as the deep fried tofu - yum!), lunch specials, dinner sets, and a la carte.
On this occasion, I had the sushi dinner as well as the black dragon maki roll, as well as your typical starter miso soup and salad. First of all, the salad was really good! Way better than a typical salad, though it was basically the same set-up. Only difference was their amazing dressing! Way more flavourful than your usual, and it wasn't creamy. The sushi itself was definitely delicious, everything was well prepared, fresh, and a great selection. I also love that the server explained where all the fish was from, what it was, and how they had prepared it. The maki roll was also good, but I've had other rolls just as delicious in other places.
The service was really good as well - just two people running the place, but they managed to be prompt and friendly the whole time. Our tofu appetizer was complementary as well, which was definitely a bonus!
Cost-wise, I'm not sure that the price is totally justified. The sushi is definitely good, but $22 for a sushi dinner ($26 for sashimi!) is a bit much for me.
If I lived in the area, I could see myself stopping by here again - but I can't imagine myself going out of my way for this place.Listed in: My October 30
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Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
Update already? What had changed in a week's time?
Came back again with Lauren M and Chad M (the M & M?) for lunch. Same restaurant, same waitress, same lunch special order but a different Chef...
If I didn't have that Chirashi lunch last week, I would still be happy with what I got this time, but what a big difference!
Presentation was not as good. I know it is just a $13 Chirashi but one of the most important factor in Japanese cuisine is the presentation. This time my lunch is no longer a piece of art... more like just have all the fish dumped together on a plate and ask me to eat it.
Quality was not as good as the fish was not cut as well. I got the same kind of fish but just not done as well as last time.
Before I leave, I show the chef the photo I took of the Chirashi I had last week. Maybe I expecting too much? But I guess I was too spoiled last time and I just want a repeat experience!
I'll be back for Chirashi again, soon! I hope the 3rd time will be a charm...Listed in: Yelp 30 Day Challenge November…, Japanese Restaurants in the…, A Day at Yonge and Bloor!, Lunch Specials TO Downtown!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/2/2011
Wow Sushi, what a cheesy name! But really Wow means harmony in Chinese, a reflection of the Chinese… Read more »
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Review from Kelly K.
Toronto, ON
9/22/2011
I had lunch here today, and it was just sublime. Attentive and friendly staff, on-the-house appetizers, and beautiful presentation. I had the Luis roll, which was shrimp tempura maki with a spicy salmon mixture on top, capped with a sprinkling of roe. I lucked out, and was given organic salmon at no extra charge! My friend had the first roll on the maki list (whose name I cant recall), but it had seared scallops on top and bits of 24 karat gold (over the top? Yes. Do I care? No.)
I just may have to go back tomorrow. -
Review from Elvis A.
I was really looking forward to dining at this spot after reading all the rave reviews. I was prepared for disappointment as places usually don't live up to the hype. I have good news here folks this one does and more.
I went for an early lunch (actually walked in when they opened the door at 11 AM) There were only two other diners in the place and they ordered cooked food so I was glad that I had the full attention of the sushi chef. I asked the chef what he would recommend and he said I should go for the lunch sushi combo. I took his advice and waited anxiously. In the meantime I was given a bowl of miso soup, Side of Salad and some tea. Nothing special here just your watered down miso and regular green tea. Salad was actually sub par but I am not a salad eater so could care less.
The lunch special arrived pretty fast and was a decent sized serving consisting of maguro, sake, butter and white fish and on the side was a salmon roll. Visually appealing for starters. I asked the chef whether he had put any wasabi in sushi (as not to offend him) and he recommended I use the a small dab of wasabi to get the right taste (I wish I had brought my own tube of real wasabi, yes I am one of those people who take their wasabi to the restaurants!)
I went for the rolls first the salmon was fresh but kind of lost itself with the creaminess of the rest of the items. The rice was done very well BTW.
I cleansed my palette with some ginger and then started with the maguro, excellent ratio of rice to fish just the way it is in Japan full marks here. Sake (Salmon) was great and so were the other two fish especially the butter fish had nice lightly grilled consistency . I wish I could have this meal with Sake but heck it was not even noon.
High recommendation here folks for the lunch.
So why not the 5 stars? a) I have to come back for dinner and get a whole experience with some good sake and real wasabi as the sub par stuff that's served here doesn't do it justice. b) though I am not a salad eater but it was not good and miso was weak. c) the roll was weakest Part of lunch.
But for all this goodness under 20$ including tax and tips run don't walk here for lunch. -
Review from Jessie W.
Toronto, ON
1/13/2012
Went there with a friend yesterday cause I absolutely couldn't take it when she kept referring this place as the best sushi place in Toronto and think I should give it a try and prove her wrong.
And Turns out I was wrong, this place is the best sushi place among all the sushi restaurants I tried in Toronto. I got the sushi dinner, 12 pieces of sushi and about 10 pieces of maki, the taste was amazing (especially the lightly toasted tuna and white tuna), and the presentation was flawless. Every bite was a small explosion of amazingness in my head (is it too much?).
The owner came later and asked us how we felt about the food, so another shining star for the service. I know this place is kinda like Japango, but the price is similar, and Wowsushi is a lot more comfortable and easier to get a table, so I recommend Wow sushi.
They got full around 6:30 or so yesterday, so maybe go a bit earlier if you don't want to wait for a table. and btw, if you can go there on a weekly basis for two months, you can ask for your personal chopsticks. -
Review from Ranell B.
2/22/2012
We came here close to 9pm on a very cold night and were quickly greeted with free tea and miso soup! The staff was very nice. We ordered an eel roll and 3 of their special rolls. All were great. What I like about their rolls is they don't use rice as a filler or to make the portions look larger. The quality and freshness of their rolls were excellent. We also had their fried tempura platter that had shrimp, mushrooms, yam, and other various vegetables from their appetizer portion of the menu and it was very large. By the end of the meal we were full and more then content. To our surprise, we got a free scoop of both the green tea icecream and the sesame seed icecream. The green tea icecream is the same everywhere but the sesame seed icecream was quite unique and surprisingly good. We were also given small candies as we parted. I normally don't pay much attention to service, as long as the food can speak for itself but WOW Sushi's service has to be commended for their attentiveness and hospitality! I would definitely recommend this place to anyone in the Toronto, Canada area.
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Review from Lianne S.
Toronto, ON
12/23/2011
Stopped by for takeout tonight. Prompt and very friendly service with a couple of free cans of pop thrown in. Chirashi sushi was beautifully presented, fresh and delicious. Tempura dinner was a generous portion of shrimp, crab cake and veggies and was nicely breaded and not greasy. Basic miso soup and iceberg lettuce salad. A great find and super convenient for takeout if you need to pick something up Manulife Centre.
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Review from Jon C.
Toronto, ON
11/16/2011 1 photo
Walking in you are greeted warmly by a passionate staff. The restaurant definitely puts a priority on service, and subsequently you are delivered constant answers for your every question. The food is like the icing on top, It not only looks stunning and is of high aesthetic quality but the tastes are very diverse and provide a rainbow of flavours for your appetite. The palate is as diverse as the taste, and it shows. While, Wow sushi is a little more expensive then it's neighbourhood competitors, it provides an authentic experience that is largely unmatched in the Toronto area. Definitely worth the experience!
