When Jay Yoo walked into Nami restaurant as a young boy in 1984, he had no idea that he would grow up to inherit his own sushi institution in Toronto. Established by his father Kenneth Yoo, a Korean immigrant, Nami (meaning "wave" in Japanese) has ridden the waves of time, all the while maintaining its authenticity in an ever-evolving and often volatile restaurant climate. “My father moved here when he was 21 with $50 in his pocket that he had hidden in a cigarette packet," recalls Jay. "He hustled initially selling calculators and insurance until he opened up his own business.”
Business runs in Jay's blood: in addition to helping run Nami, he is also the owner of Sherway Nissan, a successful car dealership in Toronto. Jay enjoys helping people and considers customer service to be a priority; the economics grad and father of two under two sometimes treats his guests to a meal at his favourite Robata bar restaurant. At Nami, it is this dedication to customers, among other things, that has led to the restaurant's longtime success.
3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1 |
Poor experience very poo experience the service is despicable ...... food ramdon better to go to any Chinese/Jap restaurant same result been to Real Japanese before this one is not a real one ... Scam alert
Signature dish !!! Don't miss it !!! It wasn't on the menu when I first started going there 20 years ago but somehow word got out.......what a bummer ! You will never taste anything like it. Rivals California's Matsushita or Blue Fin which costs $250 pp and reservations 3 months in advance. Best Sushi in Toronto for sure !!!
Nice friendly staff, atmosphere was pleasant and private. We were seated in a booth and had lots of privacy. The food was delicous. Sushi/sashimi was fresh and tasty, mushroom platter was served with a sauce and came out in a bamboo platter - oyster, enoki & shitake, tempura was nice and crispy. The beef teriyaki (strip loin steak) was served in a delicous sauce and done perfectly. The staff surprised us with birthday ice-creams and fruit platter (no charge). This restaurant is a bit pricey, but all in all it was a very enjoyable dinner and for a special occasion I would definitely go back.
One of my clients referred this restaurant to me & I thought I'd give it a shot. Apparently, it was her go-to place for her business luncheons. As soon as I walked in, I noticed the waitress in authentic Japanese clothing. I knew that the prices weren't going to be cheap. I was suprised that the prices weren't that high..The services were quite good & so was the food. I'm always a fan of miso soup. I ordered the lunch special which is the Salmon Terriyaki. I really enjoyed the taste. The vegetable & shrimp tempura were pretty good too. I would definitely recommend this restaurant for you to visit. If you're in the mood for an authentic Japanese experience, Nami is your restaurant.
Only been once so far, but the food and atmosphere was fresh and authentic (I have been to Japan). It is important to get the flavour right, especially since Japanese food tends to be subtle to begin with. It is a higher end restaurant so don't expect cheap prices. I was very relieved that the food taste and quality was excellent. I hate paying top price for flavourless imitations of Japanese food. I am looking forward to going back and introducing my friends to the place.
Excellent food, friendly staff, good atmosphere. It is a bit on the expensive side but still worth it. You can sit in private booths or in the main dining area and for larger parties i think you can reserve a section at the back that looks pretty cool but i have not tried it. If you love japanese food and are not broke this should be on your list.
One of the best of its kinds. The restaurant is serving real Japanese foods with real Japanese skills. From the perfect cut and the perfect taste, I had a wonderful experience with my wife on our Valentine's Day this year. I would recommend to anyone who really wants to enjoy authentic Japanese cuisine. It is pricey but really worthy.
Excellent restaurant. I have to laugh at the review Mr McKenzie submitted. Real japanese food he said and this white man claimed to know more about japanese food than the japanese. I have frequented this restaurant many times, tasted food from all over the world and I rate this restaurant as one of the best. Food is always fresh, best quality, cooked to perfection, service attentive. I know when I want fresh food cooked to perfection, I can go to Nami
excellent service and food. sushi very fresh and flavorful. beef very tender - could easily cut with fork. Only flaw were the rock hard potatoes easily one of the best japanese food experiences ever
Food was excellant. One of the best Japaness Resturant. Love their salad and Grill Fish / Seafood.
Think your friends might be familiar with this business? Ask your friends on Facebook to see what they think.
Located in the downtown core for more than 30 years, Nami continues to serve traditional Japanese cuisine in a simple, modern setting. Kimono-clad servers attend to patrons in the main dining room, private booths and the tatami room with rice-paper screened doors. For Winterlicious, the menu options include BC tuna tataki served with a miso soup, sushi, tempura, seafood Kaiso Salad, beef teriyaki dinner, and hojicha pudding.
View this Smart List