Nakamori

I decided to give Nakamori another chance since I was in the area and I’m glad I did. I had a good time here this time by focusing on the basics — good fish, which this restaurant has in spades!
The chef really likes his mackerel, and I agree. Since it can be too fishy for some so it’s not extremely popular and some restaurants buy prebought marinated saba or do it half-​assedly. Not so here! Robust but not overpowering flavours and excellent texture on this fish. I also had a piece of succulent fatty tuna belly.
Their chirashi is beautifully presented and comes with a plethora of fish ranging from more tuna and salmon to lightly-​seared scallops and two variants of shrimp. I will complain about the imitation crab, but in the future I can just tell the chef to serve me something else (it’ll probably cost extra, but it’s worth it!)

Amazing food prepared by an amazing person. Chef Nakamori prepares each dish with love and care. The quality of food far surpasses anything else in Scarborough. The food is always fresh, well presented and most importantly tastes amazing!
Went again last night for the new Udon with tempura lobster tail and nearly fell off the chair, thats how good it is.
Do yourself a favour and try this.

Toronto is food heaven! Strongly recommend Nakamori, food is soooo artsy, fresh and yummy, they grow some of the veggies in house and cut them in front of you to put it in your dish! They put cumin on chicken karaage and fresh floral peddles on salad and dessert. And there’s no lineup for now cuz its newly opened

If I was a bulimic billionaire I’d just sit and eat here all day and night.
Came for the New Years Eve set meal. Was one of the best meals I’ve had in a long time. Really enjoyed the sake pairing too.
They had a rice beer, didn’t want to ruin the sake pairing, but will definitely try it next time.

My husband and I had dinner at Nakamori tonight. Afterwards, I was berating him for not coming here sooner. Chef Nobuyuki Nakamori had prepared a gourmet level feast for us. Honestly, it was the best Japanese food I had tasted in a long time and not surprisingly, Mr. Nakamori had worked at such notable establishments as Ginko and Bent. So you know what he produces is of high quality. Enjoy this hidden gem in Scarborough. It is worth it.

We came here thinking it was Zen sushi but discovered that the owner has changed. We took a chance and tried the omakase, which means you do not order food and let the chef choose/​make the food for you.
The food was so delicious and filling, I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone. The owner/​chef is very friendly with amazing skills. His knife looks like a small samurai sword, which he told us it was custom made for him. He makes this very unique but delicious sake cake that is a must try if you go.

Nakamori has become my new go to place in Toronto. It has it all, great flavours and good prices. The menu at first glance is not your typical Japanese fare. The chef defiantly embraces local seasons and Toronto vendors.
I went in a group of 5 people. And just to make it clear I am Japanese and I know what good innovative Japanese food tastes like. This restaurant isn’t zen, and in my opinion there are many great zen like Japanese restaurants in Toronto now. So Nakamori is such a fresh breath of air.
We started off with the spicy salmon and tuna tempura roll ($ 15). And I’m a huge fan of spicy salmon and this roll definitely did not disappoint. I loved the watermelon radish and yuzu. Such a fragrant and delicious roll.
We had the dynamite roll next ($ 14). Not your typical dynamite roll, it was so unorthodox (not that there’s anything orthodox about a dynamite roll) but it was simply amazing. You get 5 rolls with 5 huge tiger shrimp. I’ve never seen a whole shrimp tempura per person in a dynamite roll.
Then We moved onto a bunch of starters. There’s so much soul put into the kitchen menu. We had the kumato caprese ($ 8) just decadent. Then the agedash tofu ($ 7) which I must say was done just right. The fried outside thick and crispy with the sauce perfectly seasoned. Then the seafood ceviche tacos ($ 11). 3 tacos (salmon, tuna and scallop) possibly one of my favourites on the menu. I love ceviche and this one just had the right acidity to it. Then we had the jerk chicken karage ($ 7) not too spicy which is exactly how I like my jerk chicken. And such an interesting take on karage because as much as the jerk seasoning was evident it still tasted Japanese to me. Then we had this soy braised pork that’s been braised for 8 hours. The meat literally fell off and still makes my mouth water.
We finished off with their sake kasu cake ($ 9). It was the first time I’ve had it since Japan so I had to have it. And it ended being my favourite dessert in a Toronto Japanese restaurant. It also came with a scoop of green tea ice cream. If you’ve never had sake kasu cake you’re in for a treat. It’s slightly similar to cheese cake but less heavier and deeper in flavour. I would defiantly recommend the cake even if you’re stuffed after dinner.
I will be returning back to Nakamori’s very soon. It’s still a new restaurant with some kinks to work out, but those kinks are definitely not in the menu. I was very impressed with everything that I ate. Also Nakamori has a sake exclusively from Izumi (the distillery sake company) and I typically hate sake, but we tried the Nakamori sake ($ 48) and I must say that I would order it again. It was very similar to a Riesling white wine, very smooth. And I’m also glad to see local restaurants supporting local venders.

If you like Japanese food, treat yourself – this restaurant is worth driving from downtown. We’ve been twice for dinner, and everything we ordered was perfectly prepared.
The Jerk Chicken Wings Karaage is a standout dish – couldn’t stop munching their addictive saucy crust. The braised pork ribs appetizer is equally creative, and a huge serving.
The chef is justifiably proud of the quality of his ingredients and his work and is very welcoming.

Have been back several times now. This is a young dedicated chef. Very high quality fresh fish. Melt in mouth sashimi for lunch. Would highly recommend. This restaurant is finding its stride. Would recommend with no hesitation.

Given my wife is Japanese we always love to try new Japanese restaurants. Nakamori takes over the space previously occupied Zen Sushi which moved to Markham. While the fish was fresh, that is about the only positive we have. The wife got the sampler ($ 21, 7 nigiri, 1 maki of your choice) I got the spider roll ($ 16)
1) Given they inherited a turnkey operation from Zen, the ambiance and décor were very disappointing. Someone decided to paint the walls white and do a poor job. The rug was not cleaned and was coming up. Why mention? It just opened, some renovations could easily have been done.
2) The waitresses did not know their product. I am no sushi expert, but I can get the terms down.
3) The price was exorbitant for the portion size. Sushi is all about the rice! The portion of rice with the nigiri had a tiny portion of rice and some of the fish atop was actually coming off when served. That is two strikes for presentation and preparation.
4) The maki is tiny also, again the rice was not what one would expect. The tuna scrapings within showed the chef was trying to conserve resources.
5) My spider roll was cut so thin per piece, it was clear they were trying to stretch out the presentation. Having stated that, the roll was falling apart. Definitely fake crab (I expected that). For $ 16 not worth it even at $ 8.
6) No self-​respecting Japanese would ever serve a meal without miso. Think Italians without the bread (or maybe pasta without the sauce). You get the picture.
7) Bathrooms need an overhaul. Again, I realize they are new, but they took over for Zen and Zen was top notch, perhaps the best in Toronto.
8) Slow service. They place was practically empty.
9) Japanese traditions like ‘slippers’ were not respected. BTW, the slipper cubby holes from Zen where still at the entrance. Fail!
10) Menu very short.
11) Being a Japanese restaurant with Japanese staff, a doumo arigatou gozaimashita at the end of the meal is warranted. Given my wife spoke Japanese to them, definitely a requirement.
All in all, major disappointment. Will not return or recommend!

Fish was fresh. You can eat sashimi and nigiri here. Rice was good. Seaweed was not the greatest. Wasabi was descent. Price was very good.
They offer omakase at 60 — 80 per person and recommend a 24 hr reservation for omakase.
You don’t need a reso to eat here it’s not as busy as zen. Whose location they have taken. The food was good. The service was slow. I will return to try the omakase.

Creative and high quality sushi. A true gem. Will definitely make it a regular favourite.