Photographs by Keessa Lynch
Known for their authentic craft in preparing high-quality sushi, the group behind Yuzuki Japanese Restaurant has opened Yuzuki Fish Market, their new seafood and takeout spot carrying an impressive selection of seasonal, sashimi-grade seafood and other Japanese-imported ingredients.
Yuzuki’s first establishment -- an unassuming dine-in spot on Bloor and Church -- was opened in late 2020 by a team of experienced chefs who began their careers in Tokyo, Osaka and Ehime. Arriving in Toronto in the early 90s, they soon became head chefs at several prominent restaurants throughout the city.
Since its opening, Yuzuki has made a mark on Toronto’s Japanese food scene with an acclaimed, authentic sushi experience that fuses top-quality seafood with exceptional craftsmanship.
Ryusuke Nakagawa, executive chef of Aburi Hana, even named it one of his favourite Japanese restaurants in Toronto.
“As a Japanese fine-dining chef, my standards are high,” said Nakagawa. “I'm never disappointed with [Yuzuki’s] large selection of à la carte sushi and sashimi.”
With few media appearances and established reviews, the Yuzuki Group has a low-key persona that seems to only indicate an intense dedication to their craft when it comes to Japanese cuisine, and their fish market is no exception.
Just as humble and unassuming as their restaurant, Yuzuki's fish market takes up just enough space on Spadina and Adelaide to feel plentiful and refined all at once.
Offering a variety of Japanese-imported products, including sushi rice, nori, snacks and beverages, the main focus at Yuzuki Fish Market is, of course, the quality of their seafood.
“We involve ourselves in the whole process from buying and shipping to selling. We work closely with buyers in Japan and suppliers from Toronto to select the best quality fish,” said the Yuzuki team.
At Yuzuki Fish Market, you’ll find a selection of seasonal fish from Japan, including buri (寒鰤, Japanese amberjack) in the winter, and iwashi (鰯, Japanese sardine) and hotaru ika (蛍烏賊, firefly squid) in the spring.
What the team is particularly proud to offer is a year-round supply of the date maguro (伊達, bluefin tuna) from Ehime, Japan -- one of the world’s best farmed tuna.
During wild tuna season in the colder months, they also carry the oma maguro (大間, bluefin tuna), fished from Oma in the Aomori Prefecture. The oma maguro is one of the most famous and highest quality of tuna used in Japanese cuisine.
Exhibiting a full range of what Japan’s oceans have to offer, you can also find items such as sashimi-grade botan ebi (botan shrimp) and yanagi (Japanese octopus).
For uni fans, Yuzuki carries a selection of top-grade uni (sea urchin) sourced directly from Japan. The team works closely with a Hokkaido supplier to bring the rarest and best uni to Toronto.
If you’re on a lunch run, you can order fresh-cut sushi and sashimi straight from their takeout kitchen, or grab ready-to-eat items from their fridge, including bentos, donburi rice bowls and onigiri rice balls.
Preparing you for a full Japanese experience at home, Yuzuki also sells seasonal fruits, such as the shizuoka “crown melon,” as well as fresh wasabi root to complement your meal.
The Yuzuki Fish Market is a must-visit gem for anyone looking to elevate their at-home sushi experience. With a no-frills approach to fine Japanese cuisine, the Yuzuki team works hard behind the scenes and is always hoping to do more, and better.
“We are so blessed that our customers supported us so much from the very beginning . . . . There are quite a few things we need to improve in the new future; we will work our best and we humbly thank our customers’ understanding.”
Yuzuki Fish Market is located on 119 Spadina Avenue, between Adelaide and Richmond St. W. You can order their freshly prepared meals for pickup on their website or get it delivered through Uber Eats. They’re open Wednesdays to Sundays, from 12 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
