Toronto · Japanese
Sushi Masaki Saito
Intimate Yorkville Edomae omakase by Chef Masaki Saito at a hinoki counter; Toronto’s former two-star sushi room, one Michelin star as of 2025.
- Price
- $$$$
- Opened
- 2019
- Neighborhood
- Yorkville88 Avenue Rd, Toronto, ON M5R 2H2
About
Chef Masaki Saito opened Sushi Masaki Saito on May 18, 2019, with partner William Cheng in a small Yorkville walk-up. The room centers on a roughly 200-year-old hinoki counter and a short omakase of Edomae-style sushi built on Japanese fish and carefully seasoned rice. Michelin awarded two stars in Toronto’s first guides (2022-2024); the 2025 guide lists the restaurant at one star. Toronto Star, Streets of Toronto, and Michelin coverage treat it as one of Canada’s most exclusive sushi seats rather than a casual nigiri bar.
Menu highlights
- Seasonal Edomae nigiri progression
- Toro and other premium tuna preparations
- Signature courses that may include uni, shrimp, or grilled items
- Niigata rice with aged vinegar seasoning
Diners say
Public reviews stress craftsmanship, hospitality at the counter, and a transportive few hours. Recurring caveats are extreme price, scarce reservations, tiny capacity, and stairs / accessibility limits noted by the restaurant. Diners frame it as a special-occasion omakase, not a drop-in sushi dinner.
Review synthesis as of 2026-07-28. Synthesis of recurring themes in public Yelp and Google Maps reviews sampled July 2026; not a rating or ranking.