Kyoto House Japanese Restaurant is (still) located at 143 Dundas St. W. In Toronto’s downtown core, between Bay and University, a short walk west of St. Patrick subway station. Our original review was almost a dozen years ago, so time for a redo! Disposable chopsticks are used unfortunately, but we brought our own as usual. Soy sauce at table was fresh, slightly sweet and very flavourful, and was excellent. Ginger is dyed pink. It’s $21.99 for lunch even on weekends which we we went for. Pop is $2 canned not AYCD. Amazingly, green tea is still included even at this price, even though so many places now charge $2 or even more more for it.
We both liked the green salad, although the dressing is a little sweet for my taste, but Mishy prefers it that way, and said she always loved their dressing. (It resembled the long-gone Kyoto House in Whitby.) Japanese fried rice was very good, and with a dash of soy sauce becomes excellent with a wonderful smoky flavour. Mishy loved both the spring rolls and dumplings, and they were indeed very good, especially with the added sauce. Pork katsu aka cutlet was very good, and was even better because the sauce did not overdo the ginger(?) flavour this sauce is defined by. Deep-fried tofu was very good, especially with the sauce which complemented it well. Yam tempura was a little oily and the breading a bit heavy, but it was still good especially with the sauce which didn't overdo itself. Vegetable udon soup had hardly any flavour until some soy sauce was added which woke it up nicely.
Philadelphia roll was quite good and the salmon was fresh enough. Salmon nigiri was very good and fresh and held together. Surf clam nigiri was a bit tough but was at least fresh. Crab aka surimi nigiri was good, though had a tiny aroma, but was fresh enough. White tuna nigiri was probably escolar, but at least it was fresh. The so-called red snapper, which is probably tilapia, was not fresh, and had a noticeable aroma.
For dessert, green tea and red bean ice creams are available. While not superlative at least they both were fresh. For $21.99, is this about the best deal anywhere if one is OK with the complete lack of beef expected at this price, especially with the included green tea and unlimited ice cream, whereas other places are limiting to one scoop or cup. Minus a shortcoming or two, for the unpretentious basics at value, Kyoto House still delivers.
Rating: 7.5 / 10 + 2 value adjustment = 9.5 / 10
Original review follows:
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| 143 Dundas Street West |
The
Kyoto House Japanese restaurant is located at 143 Dundas Street
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| Fast, friendly staff |
The
miso soup is perfect! The Salmon is fresh and the chicken teriyaki is
delicious accompanied with a sweet soya sauce. Service is friendly and
fast (young staff) and unlimited ice cream is included in the prices for
lunch ($11.99). Ice cream flavours were ginger, red bean and of course
Green Tea. You won't find a better deal in town!
Final touch is Kyoto's signature piece of a decorative orange, carved into sections (they do the same thing in Whitby).
Overall rating: 9/10
