Kingyo Izakaya – Japanese Tapas & Sake in Toronto

Kingyo Izakaya is a Japanese restaurant on Winchester Street in Cabbagetown, Toronto. Known locally as a Kingo restaurant to some first-time searchers, the correct name is Kingyo – and it’s worth finding. The kitchen is run by Chef Koji Zenimaru and the menu follows the Izakaya format – small plates meant to be shared, ordered gradually throughout the meal.

This authentic Japanese restaurant in downtown Toronto covers sashimi, pressed sushi, grilled meat and fish, ramen, udon, and a full range of plant-based dishes. Several of the vegan recipes are based on shojin – a style of cooking developed in Buddhist monasteries. The bar programme features house-made ginger drinks, fresh fruit cocktails, and a broad sake list.

Tapas-style bar Kingyo Izakaya in Cabbagetown (51 Winchester St.) is changing things up with a menu that moves between Japanese classics and chef-driven plates – making it one of the best izakaya spots in Toronto and a regular mention among the best donburi in Toronto.

Key Details

Hours

Kingyo Toronto lunch is served daily from 11:30 a.m. Table service is available throughout. No reservation is required for lunch, though groups of four or more are encouraged to call ahead.

Menu

The Kingyo menu runs across multiple sections – lunch combos, tapas, sushi, grilled meat, rice and noodle dishes, and a full drinks list. Below is a selection of dishes currently on offer.

Selected Dishes

Vegetarian & Vegan Options

A dedicated plant-based selection is available at both lunch in Toronto and dinner. Vegan miso soup is also offered on request.

• Vegetarian Spicy Miso Ramen – $16.80 (vegetable broth, miso, minced tofu, bamboo shoots, chilli rayu)
• Avocado Battera pressed sushi – $8.80
• Sizzling Mekabu Agedashi Tofu – $9.80
• House-Made Atsuage Tofu – $8.80
• Chopped Seasonal Vegetable Neba-Neba Salad – $10.80
• Vegetable Miso Soup – $3.00
• Bowl of Rice – $2.50

Drinks

• Sake – from House Hot Sake ($10/180 ml) to Aizu Homare Junmai Daiginjo ($150/720 ml); tasting sampler available ($19 for 3 kinds)
• Kingyo Original Sake – brewed in collaboration with Izumi brewery ($24/300 ml)
• Signature cocktails: Yuzu Mojito, Doraemon Punch, Wish Upon a Star, Pineapple Punch
• Highball cocktails: Whisky Highball, Fresh Ginger Highball, Shiso Shochu Highball
• Japanese beer on tap and bottled: Sapporo, Kirin, Asahi Black, Asahi Daibin
• Shochu & plum wine: Takara Umeshu, Ozeki Unfiltered Umeshu, Tamtakatan, Yokaichi
• Non-alcoholic: Fresh Ginger Ale, Yuzu Tea, Honey Lemon, Calpico, Shirley Temple

Group Dining – Pre-Fixe Menu

For groups and private events, Kingyo Izakaya Toronto offers a set menu at $50 per person (minimum 2 guests). The selection can be adjusted to accommodate allergies or dietary restrictions with at least one week’s notice.

Standard set includes:

• Ahi Tuna Poke
• Beef Tataki Salad
• Stone-bowl Mushroom Tofu
• 5 Kind Sashimi Assortment
• 3 Kind Wagyu Assortment
• Karaage Fried Chicken
• Hot-stone Sea Urchin Don

For Kingyo reservations, call (647) 748-2121 to confirm availability and discuss any changes.

What to Know Before You Visit

Kingyo is the latest Japanese restaurant to grace Toronto with a format that sits between a traditional izakaya and a full-service dinner spot – a go-to for anyone looking for the best izakaya in Toronto or an authentic Japanese restaurant experience outside of downtown’s main strip

• Rated 4.4/5 – #308 of 9,739 Toronto restaurants
• Small-plates format – dishes are ordered and shared throughout the meal
• Several dishes are prepared tableside on a hot stone – among the best teppanyaki-style experiences in Toronto
• Kingyo Original Sake is brewed exclusively for the restaurant
• All ginger drinks and cocktails are made with fresh ginger in-house
• Full vegan menu available, including shojin-style dishes
• Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner
• Accepts all major credit cards and Interac
• Suitable for couples, families, and groups
• The Izakaya format works as well for a casual Izakaya home-style dinner with friends as it does for a date night or a work gathering

If you lived downtown: Kingyo would be the kind of place you’d come back to on a Tuesday for a bowl of ramen and a highball, not just on special occasions.

Contact & Location

Other Ways to Spend an Evening in Toronto

Toronto has no shortage of ways to spend an evening. After dinner at Kingyo, some guests head out to explore Cabbagetown or the wider city. Others prefer to stay in. If you are looking for something to do from home later in the night, licensed online entertainment platforms have become a common option for Canadians.

Online Casinos in Canada: Licensed Platforms 2026

Online gambling in Canada is legal at the provincial level. Several provinces operate their own licensed platforms, and Canadian players also have access to offshore sites that accept local registrations and process payments in CAD.

What to look for in a licensed platform:

• Valid licence from a recognised authority (Kahnawake, MGA, UKGC, or a provincial body)
• CAD deposits and withdrawals supported
• Responsible gambling tools – deposit limits, self-exclusion, session timers
• Verified payout speeds and published RTP rates
• Customer support available in English and French

Payment methods commonly accepted:

• Interac – the most widely used method among Canadian players
• Visa and Mastercard
• PayPal and e-wallets

Ontario has the most open market – since April 2022, private operators can apply for an iGaming Ontario licence, which means players in Ontario have access to a larger number of regulated sites than anywhere else in Canada.

Responsible gambling: Licensed platforms in Canada are required to provide access to self-exclusion tools and links to support organisations. If gambling stops being entertainment, resources are available at connexontario.ca (Ontario) and the Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-888-230-3505.

FAQ

Planning a visit to Kingyo Izakaya in Toronto? Here are answers to the most common questions about Kingyo reservations, dietary options, parking, and what to expect when you arrive.