I remember when Minami Toronto opened its doors in March 2021. It happened in the midst of the pandemic, when outings were limited and extra special. My first time there was within a few months of the opening, on a date night with my husband and, almost 4 years later, I still remember how exciting that night was. 

As I entered the venue, I immediately loved the décor that was very modern, but also warm and inviting. The curved nature of walls, tables and chairs was both elegant and sophisticated. There is a reason after all why Minami won Americas’ Best Designed Restaurant award in 2021 by Restaurant & Bar Design Awards.

That night, we had several cocktails, and ordered a variety of dishes from the menu, ranging from sushi to mains and desserts. We shared everything and loved every single item.

In the years that followed, Minami became my favourite place to order from on Uber Eats whenever I wanted to treat myself. It is now also my favourite spot for a girls’ night out, and my go-to every year when FAJO‘s team covers the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). 

Minami is always that perfect escape of calm, deliciousness and amazing energy.

I’ve also been a dedicated guest at Minami’s other sister restaurants, in both Toronto and Vancouver. And, we have reviewed its counterpart Miku in FAJO back in 2017.

All that to say: when I recently came to the restaurant in the context of a media review, I decided to try out some new dishes to make the article more comprehensive. So here are go: below are my thoughts and recommendations based on the last 4 years of visits.

The cocktails and wine menu

Minami’s cocktail menu features Japanese-inspired cocktails and the restaurant offers an exclusive Happy Hour menu. Some of their unique offerings, include Ume Negroni, Ginger Sesame Martini and Mayazaki Margarita with yuzu sake, each crafted to perfectly complement their cuisine. 

If you are looking for something “lighter”, try The Sakura Spritz (le triporteur rosé, st. germain, cranberry, fever tree elderflower tonic) or a glass of rosé (I recommend the Château de Bormettes Cotes et Mer from Provence).

There is also a lovely selection of zero-proof cocktails, if that is your preference.

The starters

Highlights on this menu are by far the Ō-toro & Caviar Duo (sturgeon caviar, bluefin tuna belly, sushi rice) with its deliciousness and lovely presentation, and the Brussels Sprouts, featuring spiced maldon sea salt and smoked bacon. These dishes will delight your senses and excite you for what’s to come.

The sushi

Up next, I recommend the Aburi Oshi Sushi experience: it is fantastic and the core specialty here. To truly enjoy it, you should try a selection of sushi and I strongly recommend: Salmon Oshi, Ebi Oshi, the Minami Roll, the California Roll (which is very different from most places, and there is also an Aburi version of it), any of the Wagyu sushi and the Spicy Salmon Roll (because this is just a classic).

The main course

Minami offers a variety of Tasting Menus and Special Occasion Menus, so again: there are a lot of options. This year, the restaurant is collaborating with MICHELIN Chef Ryusuke Nakagawa for four exclusive menu items on the dinner menu. This includes the exceptional Roasted A5 Japanese Wagyu with peppercorn jus, Japanese mustard and pickled wasabi, which would pair perfectly with a glass of red wine or the Ume Negroni.

Charcoal Aburi Chicken is equally a highlight and features citrus-glazed chicken thigh, truffle kimizu, kurozu vinaigrette, baby carrots, arugula and radish.

The dessert

Bear in mind that Minami offers certain dishes on Uber Eats only (think sushi platters and select desserts), so look out for that.

If you are dining in, opt for the nut-free Layered Carrot Cake (cream cheese espuma, Saikyo miso caramel sauce, sake infused pineapple compote), or the dairy and gluten-free Dark Chocolate Cake (chocolate almond sponge, chocolate tofu cream,  strawberry jelly, strawberry sauce, strawberry cassis  sorbet, genmai tea cacao nib tuile). They are absolutely divine and fabulous to share!

The service

The best time to be at Minami is in the evening, when all their elegant lighting is on and the bar is abuzz with dinner excitement. Their staff are warm and friendly: not just to guests but to each other. We heard that one staff member made tiramisu from scratch at home one day and brought it in to share with colleagues (in the midst of a snow storm). This warmth and attention translate well and are felt throughout your experience at the restaurant.

I hope you found this review helpful and when you do go to Minami, you may very likely see me at another table!

Photography courtesy of Minami.