Restaurant Review: A Little Piece of Japanese Cuisine Heaven!

EDO-Ko Food Menu Review

A few weeks ago I enjoyed the best meal I had in a long time. The restaurant was EDO-Ko and the meal was an assortment of some of their amazing Japanese cuisine dishes.

Lobster Tempura Maki

I have enjoyed Sushi thousands of times before, but apparently I have never really ate authentic Japanese cuisine until that night. Just one of the interesting things I learned that cold night in January.

Executive Chef Ryo Ozawa preparing Kobe Beef Nigiri

Barry J. Chaim's passion for Japanese cuisine and culture led him to open the first EDO restaurant in mid-town Toronto in 1986, after a successful career in international product development. EDO-Ko, located in Forest Hill, opened in 1998 and is the site of my night of food heaven.

Owner Barry J. Chaim Shows Me How To Use Chopsticks

I'm by no means a 'foodie', but I do eat (or I'll die:), and I eat what tastes good (at least to me:). My dinner at EDO-Ko tasted absolutely amazing! Another interesting fact I learned that night was that there are two streams of cuisine in Japan - Washoku and Seiyo-Ryori. What I am more familiar with is the former, which includes the traditional  tempura, teriyaki, kaiseki, sushi, and more. EDO's award-winning Executive Chef Ryo Ozawa is trained in Seiyo-Ryori, which is a combination of European (mainly French) sauces and influence on Japanese methods and standards. Which, in my humble opinion, he excels at - Ozawa's sauces were extraordinary! The wine list was also selected to complement each dish (although there was some cheerful disagreement between Chaim and Ozawa as to which wine complemented certain dishes better:)

Some of the food highlights of the night!:
                           Goma Hamachi ($14)
                           Gyoza ($7-$12)
                           Angus Striploin ($27)
                           Kobe Beef Nigiri 
                           Lobster Tempura Maki

Beef Teriyaki

Hand Rolls

Goma Hamachi

I definitely recommend trying out EDO for some amazing and delicious Japanese food that goes far beyond sushi. It's reasonably priced for what you are getting (most main dishes are less than $30) and the food tastes soooo good!!! There are four locations across the city and the Eglington location is participating in Winterlicious 2015! Since I attended a free private event, I can't comment on the service, but both the owner and Executive Chef were both charming.

My Dining Companions for The Night

P.s!: The Ginger, Teriyaki, and Yuzu dressings are Executive Chef Ryo Ozawa's own unique recipe and 12 oz bottles are available to purchase ($6-$8) to take home! What a delicious idea!

P.s,

Melanie!