Guu Izakaya

Super place... small and a bit of a hole in the wall... open kitchen with lots of smells, flames, and wok action. We had a good view of the chef sitting at the bar and got to chat with him on the food, where it came from, etc. The menu is very inventive with daily specials... not like any other Japanese restaurant that I had been to before. The plates are small, ready for sharing. The very best for me was the sous vide duck... the best duck I have ever had! Guu is a lively place, with lots of client participation in the "sake" bombs... generating much laughter and many cheers. Fun on top of great food!

January 1, 2025 on Google

Food, service and vibe 10/10. Tried all Guu locations in Vancouver but this one didn't disappoint!

December 28, 2024 on Google

Wasabi-marinated octopus with nori—bold and delicious. Salmon tataki—simply divine. Fried Japanese seafood pancake with squid—a plentiful joy. A meal of flavors that lingers beautifully.

November 21, 2024 on Google

Follow @bredgyeats for more food photos! Go to Guu for a great night out for your palate, with a plethora of different flavours and textures being offered, all crafted to deliciousness. Ordered on a whim and almost satiated stomach, the salmon oshizushi was the highlight of the night. It fuses the smokiness of the flame with the buttery richness of the salmon, contrasted with the gentle chew of the perfectly marinated rice and flakes of salt to accentuate the salmon umami even more. The yakiudon is the embodiment of robust beefy flavours that permeate throughout each bite, heightened with the umami of mushrooms, scallions, nori and bonito flakes. The udon noodles have a luxurious texture that's satisfyingly chewy and is the ideal canvas to deliver the savoury balance of savoury and subtle sweetness of the teriyaki sauce to please your taste buds. Taste the freshness of the sea with their special platter of salmon belly, chutoro and scallops which are brimming with a pleasant sweetness, buttery smooth texture and an unrivalled freshness, contrasting the stronger flavour profile of the first two dishes with something lighter.

November 6, 2024 on Google

I'm honestly surprised at the reviews here. The service here was abysmal. Firstly, there was no one at the door to seat us, and waiters just walked by without even bothering to ask. Once I flagged someone down and was seated, we weren't given menus and water for around 10-15 minutes. When drinks finished, no one came by to take another order, such that we just gave up and went to another bar. The food was fine, but nothing special. Given the service, I'd recommend going to literally any other izakaya in the city.

October 23, 2024 on Google

Highly recommend this Izakaya, it is a hidden gem in the neighbourhood. Not only are the food immaculate, the vibe and the service is top tier. Unlike other restaurants, they don’t do anything extravagant but go with simplicity and pure authenticity. And the price is definitely reasonable compared to other Japanese restaurants in Toronto! Would definitely be back for more!!! Tako wasabi 🐙(5/5)($8): with nori provided on the side. The octopus was cut to smaller than bite size, pleasantly chewy and had a nice kick of real wasabi. Ebimayo🍤 (5/5) ($12): not the traditional tempura you expect but!!! The prawns were fried just right with mayo Miso marinated black cod (5/5) ($15): cooked just right, the cod remained very tender and juicy! Chicken knee cartilage (5/5) ($8): paired with Japanese mayo. Unlike other Asian joints, they didn’t just fry the cartilage itself but made a kaarage with cartilage attached in it. These are made fresh as there’s no frozen aftertaste in both meat and the cartilage! There’s no overcooking at all! Deep fried baby octopus (4/5) ($8): simply texture for me, prefer baby octopus as a cold dish instead ! Spicy beef ramen (5/5) ($18): our favourite dish! Rich broth, nice spice, tender beef and bouncy noodle! What’s not to love! Deep fried Oreo (5/5) ($7.5): got surprised for sure! It’s almost like a baked cookie dough, salty and sweet at the same time!

September 22, 2024 on Google

I would highly recommend sitting at the bar if you have the chance. The service by Attila and Gai was so fun and they definitely elevated the dining experience with their fun personalities! Lovely people. Not to mention the FOOD. My personal favourites were the Harami Steak and the Saba pressed sushi. The presentation as well as the depth of flavors were one of a kind. The ambience of the place is set beautifully with the dim lighting and wooden interior. Quite intimate. It is very rare I give a full 5 stars in every aspect in a review but this place has definitely showed its excellence. Come here not only for a full tummy, but a full heart as well!

June 20, 2024 on Google

Overall 4.5 stars! Sunday $6 Sapporo special? Great deal! Loved the food and service, can’t wait to come back. We ordered the baked oysters, karaage, sous vide duck breast and miso black cod. • Oysters were hot and cheesy - delicious! • Karaage was juicy and savoury - highly recommend . • Duck was the STAR of the night. Perfectly cooked, incredibly paired with yuzu sansho paste and soy based sauce and definitely a must order. • Miso back cod - buttery, rich and also a show stopper. They sold out of the salmon and scallop sashimi special but would have loved to try. Maybe next time. Atmosphere could be a bit better. Would recommend they fix the stairs to the bathroom - they’re a bit bent out of shape and kinda dangerous given how dark it is.

March 11, 2024 on Google