Imanishi Japanese Kitchen

Loved this place! Lived up to the hype. Cool, relaxed vibe. The highlights - corn fritter, ramen, cucumber, spring roll, wings and of course the Japanese toast! The octopus was just okay and chewy. The time between courses was a bit long and they didn’t wipe the table down between courses.

December 13, 2024 on Google

I visited imanishi for the 2nd time this past weekend. The last time I visited was at least 5 years ago and I always meant to come back. I'm so happy I've come back. The food is even better than I last remember. Everything was exquisite. The portions, the flavour, the presentation, fantastic. I honestly assumed at least 1 or 2 dishes would be "okay" but every thing stood out on its own. I've already made promises to 3 more people to come back, so I can try all the dishes I haven't had yet. Oh ya, can't forget, the staff there were also amazing. Knowledgeable, super nice and also very patient.

November 18, 2024 on Google

Hitting the jackpot feels like going to an Izakaya and liking every single dish, with the smaller portions perfect for trying a variety of delicious plates. The Karaage is one of the best in the city, juicy, juicy chicken chunks marinated into an umami-packed sauce, embalmed in a corn starch batter that's wonderfully crispy with a subtle crunch. It's then mixed with a sweet and savoury sriracha sauce and served with a side of mayo. A low and slow braise renders the fat melty and the meat practically falling apart before it enters your mouth. The sticky sauce is a wonderful balance of sweet balsamic soy glaze with a kick of horseradish and a fragrance of shishito peppers. Corn season is already here, and I'm addicted. I like plain corn on the cob, but this was astonishing. The outside has a thin, crispy texture that pops with its sweet juices and fragrant, clean-tasting fry oil. The Nagoya ramen has no way of tasting bad either, with the intensity of the chilli oil and sesame seeds in the chicken broth, with soft ramen noodles to sop it all up. Service was good as well.

November 8, 2024 on Google

Imanishi is a kitchen with a really interesting concept, and we really enjoyed it. The restaurant has a really nice vibe, with amazing interior design and order wherever you look. Staff is really friendly, and helps out with the menu and the variety of dishes. You order little tapas-type plates, which you usually share. We liked particularly the pickled cucumber, the pork belly, and the shrimp with coriander. Also the fried corn was sensational. You should go for the Tokyo Toast, which is the desert they offer. Really really interesting, and just delicious! In my opinion some dishes were a bit expensive, and also drinks (especially sake) comes for quite a price, but I guess it's part of the overall experience you pay for. Overall we enjoyed it a lot, and it is certainly a nice place for a special occasion. Please be aware that this place will not make you happy if you search for one big plate you eat. It is really an interactive dining, where you try out different things, receiving little plates.

November 3, 2024 on Google

Food was delicious. Great place for drinks and small sharables. Very intimate setting. I definitely recommend the tataki (nice and smokey), the carpaccio (fresh and acidic), and the cilantro salad (savory and herby). Drinks are also worth your while too.

November 2, 2024 on Google

Food was absolutely delicious - their Tokyo toast and Corn kakiage in particular is a must try! Perfectly fried and flavourful without being too heavy. A great spot for date night or small group gathering, serving small Japanese fusion dishes. Prices are between fairly to slightly overpriced depending on the dish. Great ambiance. Worth a visit if you’re in the area!

October 20, 2024 on Google

We walked in on a Friday evening and we were able to get bar seating for 2. They have a patio in the warmer months if you prefer to sit outdoors. We went during the weekend of Do West Fest, so there was a special menu. We got the anchovy potato salad & chips (more like anchovy flavoured potato salad), karashi ribs (with spicy horseradish sauce), corn kakiage (sweet, salty, crispy), and Tokyo toast (simple and delicious). The dishes we ordered were all solid. Each dish was a small tapas size, great to share with one other person. Washrooms are downstairs. Service is good, the bartender was friendly and they were attentive with refills and serving our food at the right time. Prices are reasonable. By the way, it's hard to get a reservation here, so don't be afraid to try to walk in for bar seating!

June 10, 2024 on Google

I went here with my partner for a date to celebrate her new job, and realized that I had actually come here well over a year ago as well with a friend. On that visit, I distinctly remembered how good the monkfish liver paté tasted. This time around we ordered a yuzu lemonade and dai dai bitter orange soda and they were both great. For plates we had the hamachi sashimi (the special sushi they had on the day), spicy karaage, corn kakiake, beef curry, and curry spring roll. Of these the best items were the sashimi and the corn kakiake, will definitely be returning for those. We also ordered the Tokyo milk toast with taro milk tea and that was delectable - one of my favourite desserts of all time.

January 21, 2023 on Google