After a long week of takeout containers and solo dinners, sometimes you need more than just sustenance—you need an experience. Richmond Hill’s Japanese scene offers exactly that: places where the sushi is sublime, the atmosphere transports you, and sharing a meal becomes the highlight of your week.
Aira sushi
$$ | (905) 237-8108 | WEBSITE
This sushi spot makes for an easy meetup. It’s located in Richmond Hill, where you can enjoy a peaceful and quiet dine-in environment while sampling their fresh, beautifully presented sushi or one of their other stellar dishes. Grab a cozy table inside when you want a relaxed meal. If anyone in your group is sushi-agnostic, banish them from your life. Or just tell them to order the hot and sour soup, which is considered the best.
Oyaji Sushi (à la carte)
$$ | (905) 237-6272 | WEBSITE
Some days, all you crave after a long shift is some fancy fusion dish, before settling for a $15 takeout box. Other days, though, nothing hits the spot like fresh sushi in a cozy spot, and when that mood strikes, head to Oyaji Sushi. This place serves very good Japanese-Korean fusion, and it’s a perfect little nook to unwind before the family gathering you already agreed to host tomorrow evening.
Akane Sushi Richmond Hill
$$ | (905) 881-9796 | WEBSITE
Maybe you’re craving something specific, and when your partner asks where you want to go for dinner this weekend, you say you want ramen. Or Korean BBQ. Or dim sum. Once you realize that’s just your appetite making suggestions, propose heading to Akane Sushi instead. While their menu doesn’t feature any of those cuisines, they do serve exceptionally fresh sushi, beautifully presented nigiri, and the option to enjoy Soju.
Once you dine there, you can explain to your partner what you were thinking earlier, or brainstorm ideas for a future ramen/Korean BBQ/dim sum spot in your area.
Miyabi Japanese Restaurant
$$ | (905) 709-2915 | WEBSITE
Located in Richmond Hill, Miyabi Japanese Restaurant is a cozy spotserving way better sushi than you’d ever expect to find in a homey setting. All of the dishes—from the shrimp tempura to the Salmon Skin Hand Roll—are made fresh and most of the menu is around $15, which means you can eat really well here and still have money leftover for a fancy sashimi platter on your way out.
Tomo Japanese Restaurant
$$ | (905) 770-2129 | WEBSITE
Sushi for lunch is a treat, especially when you’ve been craving something fresh and well-made all week. Tomo Japanese Restaurant serves exceptional sushi all day, along with comforting bento boxes like the teriyaki combo and bul-go-gi combo for the people in your life who prefer something more substantial than sashimi. The Salmon Sashimi, Sushi & Roll Lunch set comes with a unique crispy noodle soup that’s perfect for warming up on a chilly day.
The sashimi is thick and the sushi rice is soft, though you’ll want to go easy on the salty soy sauce. With semi-private seating and a relaxed atmosphere, it’s a cozy spot that feels both spacious and inviting. The service is friendly and professional—Andy, Lea, and Jay make sure you’re well taken care of. Vegetarian options like tofu dishes are available too, so there’s something for everyone.
Overall, it’s a dependable choice for great food and a comfortable dining experience, making it a must-try for sushi lovers in the GTA.
Toshi Ryoriten
$$$$ | (905) 737-1125 | WEBSITE
Toshi Ryoriten is the restaurant you wish was within walking distance of your house—any night when you didn’t feel like cooking, you could just eat here instead. It’s super laid-back, and the staff is remarkably friendly to everyone who walks in, regular or not. Besides the usual suspects like beef teriyaki and omakase sushi, they also serve a few specialty dishes that you won’t find anywhere else in the city, such as the fra gois sushi.
So regardless of whether you’re looking for comfort food or want to try something new, Toshi Ryoriten has you covered.
COTOLET
$$ | (905) 508-9631 | WEBSITE
When everyone in your group chat complains about their bland takeout dinners, make plans for COTOLET—a Japanese katsu spot that will make everyone forget whatever they ate last. Everything on the menu—from the pork loin in brown Demi glace to the soy karaage—is generously portioned for sharing, but the perfectly crispy, juicy cutlets with that traditional sauce are what everyone will be texting about the next day.
AiSushi Richmond Hill
$$ | (905) 770-9696 | WEBSITE
AiSushi Richmond Hill is where to go when you want to grab some fresh, high-quality sushi and forget about the endless errands you ran all afternoon. It’s never too crowded or chaotic here, and they have a great Chirashidon dish, that comes loaded with perfectly sliced fish over seasoned rice, and will make you forget for an hour or two that it’s just a casual weeknight.
The team is fast and respectful, the takeout is convenient, and at around $15 for a generous bowl, it’s easily lower than most places while tasting better than most. It’s worth the drive, with customers willing to return often for those veggie rolls that taste fresh with the proper rice to veggie ratio. Sure, maybe a roll fell apart once, but that was just one instance in a sea of reliable, affordable goodness.
Ryu Izakaya
$$ | (905) 881-8788 | WEBSITE
You’ve had sushi in Richmond Hill. You might’ve even tried izakaya skewers here. But they actually serve a fantastic lively menu every night, with fresh oysters, salmon rolls, and soju cocktails all made fresh. Grab a seat at one of the cozy tables, order some food and a drink, and be grateful that Ryu Izakaya is still here as new restaurants slowly pop up around it.
ATO Japanese Restaurant
$$$$ | (905) 237-0882 | WEBSITE
ATO Japanese Restaurant is the hidden gem of Richmond Hill’s Japanese dining scene. And just like every true hidden gem, it’s a little more refined and peaceful than the typical spot. There’s no wrong time to book a table—thanks to their 24-hour reservation policy—but it’s a perfect special occasion destination to enjoy an omakase experience and taste some of the freshest sashimi and wagyu in the area.
Gal’s Sushi
$$ | (905) 305-7753 | WEBSITE
Gal’s Sushi is not somewhere you want to go on a Friday evening, unless you’re really into crowds and waiting for a table by the entrance. During the week, though, this Japanese-Korean spot in Richmond Hill is way less packed, and you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a spot at one of their four-seater tables once you order some sushi.
You might want to avoid ordering the sashimi combo during the lunch rush, but just get the tempura or bibimbap instead and save yourself the inevitable slow service.
MI-NE Japanese Restaurant
$$ | (905) 883-6616 | WEBSITE
Since MI-NE is a cozy sushi establishment that’s always bustling, dining here basically feels like you’re part of a lively neighborhood tradition—or at least at a favorite local spot with much fresher fish than most. Come here for a post-work meal and to try some consistently excellent Japanese food, like the sashimi combo and salmon lover dishes.
Sapporo Sushi
$$ | (905) 882-7877 | WEBSITE
Some days at work, you’re constantly in meetings about other meetings and circling back with people who want to touch base. When that happens, head to Sapporo Sushi after work and eat sushi and some spicy salmon rolls at a cozy table while you quietly reflect on the day. They serve a good choice of dishes, including the very tasty two dragon bento, and while you can’t get a full bar here, you can try unique sake that adds to the experience.
KIBO Sushi House – Leslie
$$ | (905) 737-7313 | WEBSITE
KIBO Sushi House – Leslie serves some of the freshest sushi in Richmond Hill, and that alone makes this Japanese spot near Leslie worth a visit. There’s a solid variety of maki rolls, sashimi, and nigiri that can be mixed and matched into a satisfying meal, making it a great place for repeat visits. Well, unless you find yourself ordering the dynamite maki and spider roll over and over like we do. Come with a few friends and get a combination platter, with extra soy sauce to dip it all in.
AKA-ONI Ramen&Izakaya(Richmond Hill)
$$ | (365) 366-8357 | WEBSITE
AKA-ONI Ramen & Izakaya in Richmond Hill answers the age-old question “What if you could enjoy authentic Japanese food in a cozy, intimate setting, instead of always having to settle for a rushed meal?” This spot is perfect for when you and a friend talk about trying something new after work, but then decide you’d rather just savor fresh sashimi, sip on expertly recommended sake, and soak in the warm, inviting atmosphere instead.