168 Japan Buffet

168 Japan Buffet is located at 168 Kennedy Rd. S., in Brampton, the municipality to Toronto's northwest. It's in its own building and larger than the usual hole-in-the-wall places. It has several traditionally Japanese rooms with low tables, and no shoes permitted of course, which are hard to find to the point of uniqueness at AYCEs. Pop is included! As well, salmon rose is present, one of our favorites. Ginger is dyed pink. Disposable chopsticks are used unfortunately but we brought our own as usual. Soy at table was rich and flavorful while not being salty.

We both loved the miso soup and it had that “javexy” flavor Mishy loves. Mishy loved the freshness of the green salad, and I agree that it it had a very good original house dressing. Wonton soup was delicious with plenty of white pepper. Hot and sour soup was delicious, and not too hot nor sour and I enjoyed it. Veg. udon soup was very good with enoki savour.

We also both loved the Mongolian spicy beef which Mishy described as gorgeous with just enough heat. Beef teriyaki had a wonderful buttery flavor in the sauce which added to it well, a unique combination and the beef was quite good as well. Sweet-and-sour chicken was excellent and we both enjoyed it very much. Chicken teriyaki Mishy described as “not rubbery” which is just about her highest praise, and we both loved it especially the sauce. We also agreed that the General Tao chicken was very good, and it was not too hot. Dim sum options pork shiu mai was excellent and very well spiced, and har gow shrimp were also very good. Korean chicken was quite good, and spicy but that is to be expected.

Pork cutlets aka tonkatsu were very good with some curry flavor in the sauce. Gyoza were delicious and fresh with tangy sauce. Scallop "tempura" deep fried was quite good with a dollop of sauce needing nothing further. Shrimp tempura was excellent light no oily and the sauce was delicious.

White tuna aka escolar, red snapper aka tilapia, and salmon nigiris and salmon rose were all very good with good rice consistency and fresh fish and we enjoyed them. Tofu pocket sushi was very good with a lemon hint in the tofu.

For dessert, mango mousse cake is the same type served all over the GTA. Fried milk was delicious, as was mango pudding. Fried banana also original in maple-hinted light sauce. Unfortunately, green tea ice cream was freezer burned which was the only imperfection of the meal. Mango was fresher and good though, not with the intense mango flavour we sometimes find, and vanilla was fresh. Service was so fast we could barely put a plate aside before it was picked up. Weekend lunch was $24.99, and it is 10% discounted for cash payment. Given the included pop (and salmon rose on lunch), this is beyond excellent these days, especially as there was only one slight imperfection in the meal, and I hope 168 Japan gets more business. We’d both be very happy to return!

Rating: 9.5 – 10 / 10