Yokai Izakaya

Yokai Izakaya in Vaughan delivers a memorable dining experience that blends creativity, comfort, and bold Japanese flavors. We visited as a party of two and shared a wide range of dishes, each one thoughtfully prepared and beautifully balanced. The crispy ume Brussels sprouts were a great way to start, perfectly charred with a tangy umeboshi gastrique and just the right kick of chili and togarashi. The chicken karaage stood out for its juicy, tender thigh meat, elevated by a bright yuzu aioli and fresh lemon. Umami fries were indulgent and fun, layered with furikake, okonomiyaki sauce, bonito flakes, and kewpie mayo for deep savory flavor. The wagyu slider was rich and satisfying, with truffle aioli and a bonito spiked onion jam adding complexity without overpowering the beef. The yaki udon was comforting and full of umami, with Yokai butter, pork, mushrooms, and pickled ginger coming together seamlessly. The sweet corn croquette was creamy and crisp, a real crowd pleaser. Dessert was the perfect finish. The Tokyo banana cake was outstanding, combining dark chocolate olive oil cake, banana pudding sabayon, and koji caramel for a unique and memorable finale. Overall, Yokai Izakaya offers inventive dishes, great execution, and a lively, modern izakaya atmosphere worth returning to. Via Gusto Mio

Had a really awesome experience here! It’s a perfect spot for a date night! Our waitress was wonderful she was so attentive and helped us pick options and helped us decide if we were getting too little or too much food. Food was great, would definitely recommend. We sat outside, since it was summer and I will say you definitely didn’t feel like you were in a parking lot in Vaughan.

We visited to celebrate our anniversary and had been looking forward to it all day. As always, the food was excellent—great quality and generous portions. We ordered the broccolini, brussel sprouts, and the steak frites and lobster tacos, all of which were delicious. This spot is definitely a must-visit in Woodbridge. However, the experience felt rushed. Upon arrival, we were informed of a 1 hour and 45-minute seating limit, which was completely reasonable, and we appreciated being given a larger table. Our dishes came out very quickly but the overall pacing of the meal felt hurried. Our server also appeared to be watching our table quite closely, and we ended up finishing and leaving within about 35 minutes. Additionally, we were hoping for a more personal touch since it was our anniversary, but the service felt somewhat impersonal. Despite this, we will absolutely return as it remains one of our favourite spots in the city. The only reason for the lower rating is the rushed service; otherwise, the food and ambiance are truly 10/10. It’s a great place for a good meal or a quick catch-up, though perhaps not the best setting for a special celebration.

Came here with my friends and we had the best time ever! Our server was super sweet and accommodating the whole time. The food was delicious and would come again to try their other food options. We shared the appetizers and all got our own entree, which we set super satisfied with. We didn’t feel rush at all as reservations were coming in. Would definitely recommend booking a reservation as well since they do get super busy especially on the weekend. If you’re looking for a fun spot with your friends and enjoying good food, I would highly recommend coming here!

Probably one of the best dinner I’ve ever had. The place is beautifully designed and well taken care of. The service was outstanding. Our waitress explained every dish in detail and when I asked about gluten-free options, she patiently came back with the allergens list, pointing out exactly what was safe and what to avoid. The food was incredible, especially the Kaki Mayo, which were just divine. Their signature cocktails were another real highlight. A truly unique experience, absolutely worth trying. Bonus points for the price too: considering the overall quality, I actually expected to pay much more. And one last clever touch, they even had mouthwash available in the washroom, something I’d never seen before but really appreciated after the meal. I’ll definitely be back!

Went with my significant other and we had a great time trying their food and drink. The chicken karaage was crisp and the sauce complimented it very well. The umami fries were so good and hits your tastebuds the right way. To finish we had salmon sushi with jalapeño and gold flakes on top, it was amazing. To drink was a purple sangria which was also 10/10. Thank you yokai izakaya for taking care of us 🫶

A very nice spot for casual dining with some really great quality food. This a great place if you are looking for tasty Japanese food that isn't just sushi. They have a nice selection of unique and well put together dishes that taste great. The portions are a bit small for the price range, so this is more of a multi order, shareable experience. The service is very friendly and attentive. The atmosphere is also quite nice but is a bit small inside. Overall a very nice izakaya spot that is a must try.

Just one of the best places to get a drink and have some good chicken and noodles. Absolutely loved the atmosphere and vibes! The staff were so lively and happily engaged in banter with us. There are so many good options on the menu, must come and visit!

Let me start off by saying, that out of all the new restaurant experiences this year for me, Yokai Izakaya has been THE best. I am truly sorry it took me so long to write this review because my first visit was nearly 9 months ago and I have been back at least half a dozen + times for more! Conveniently located across from Vaughan Mills MalL in a group of the strip of plazas lining Rutherford Road in front of the mall. There is plenty of parking even with the numerous businesses nearby. I would have totally missed this hidden gem, if not for the dozens of reels and posts on IG. The decor is stunning and it's the first thing you notice when you walk in. Sleek, sophisticated, trendy and super cozy. With seating offered at the beautiful bar, you can watch the team in action while they are serving up their vast array of cocktails and just to the right of there, the chef and his team while they do their magic with the food. There is also a nice sized patio to dine outside. We have not yet stopped in for dinner, but we have enjoyed their Big Boozy Brunch. This is what we have tried so far: Passion fruit Mango Mimosa: Bellino Prosecco & passionfruit mango juice. What's brunch without a mimosa!? This was a nice refreshing start to our meal $12 Crispy Ume Brussels Sprouts: Brussel sprouts, umeboshi gastrique, chili, togarashi. This dish will have you falling in love with brussel sprouts! My kids have developed a new found love of brussel sprouts since trying this. $12 Chicken Karaage: Boneless chicken thigh, yuzu aioli, lemon. Crispy juicy chicken bites and the aioli is perfection. This is always consistently good and we always order a second! $14 Lobster Tacos 3 Pieces: Spicy sesame spiked Canadian lobster, mentaiko aioli, lumpfish caviar, coriander, lettuce, wonton shell. This easily is my fav! I dare you to just eat one, because you can't! The wonton shells are over flowing with lobster. $22 Sweet Corn Croquette: Sweet corn bechamel, mozzarella, aonori, Japanese potato salad sauce - 3 pieces. This was good, with so much flavour with each crispy bite. $10 Yokai Big Breakfast: 2 eggs, Japanese thick cut bacon, honey butter home fries, steamed rice, miso soup, pickles, shokupan toast with miso maple butter. My oldest loves this breakfast. It is a generous portion of all your breakfast favs. warm and comforting. $24 Wagyu Steak & Eggs: 2 eggs, tajima wagyu coulotte steak, Japanese chimichurri with choice of side. This is hands down the. This is THE a best steak and eggs you will ever Eat! The wagyu is seasoned and cooked perfectly, very tender and melt in your mouth perfection. I am incredibly picky about eggs whenever I go anywhere for brunch. The eggs here left me speechless they were so good! They are fluffy and silky and unlike any scrambled eggs I have ever tried. The honey butter home fries bring this all together as the ultimate home fries. $38 There is also a dinner menu and a Lucky Monday menu. The drinks are a must dry and they have a variety of cocktails to enjoy with your meal. Photos included are from our first 3 visits this year. Food is consistently great. The service is always exceptional with frequent check ins to top up drinks, clear plates and asking if we need anything else. The staff is always very warm and hospitable. 2025 will have us there to indulge in their dinner and I can't wait!

Yokai Izakaya located near Rutherford and Jane (in a plaza right by Vaughan Mills) is a lively Japanese restaurant serving small sharable plates and drinks. There is nothing comparable to Yokai in the surrounding area in Vaughan which makes it unique and a good option for folks who are looking for a unique place to eat. They are open for both brunch on the weekends as well as dinner daily. I heard a lot of hype about Yokai Izakaya when it first opened. We finally tried Yokai Izakaya on a Saturday night recently where I did make reservations in advance just in case. I actually had won a gift card from the restaurant last year so we had a reason to finally trek all the way to Vaughan to try Yokai. The place was lively and full of customers when we entered the space. We were promptly greeted by the hostess and shown to our table. Service wise, our waitress was friendly and the meal was paced well (food didn't come all at once which was good since we ordered a lot!). In terms of drinks and food, we ordered the following items: - Eggplant agedashi (Japanese eggplant, jalapeno spiked mentsuyu) - Sweet corn croquette (sweet corn bechamel, mozzarella, aonori, Japanese potato salad sauce) - Yuku kosho chicken skewers (chicken thigh, yuzu kosho glaze) - AAA beef tenderloin skewers (red miso, karashi mustard glaze) - Koji pork belly skewers (sweet koji and soy tare, green onion) - Classic pork tonkatsu (crispy pork loin, house tonkatsu sauce, cabbage slaw) - Salmon tartare (avocado, scallions, red onion, spicy soy vinaigrette, crispy shallots, shrimp chips) - Yaki udon (Yokai butter, pork, Japanese leek, king oyster mushroom, pickled ginger, kizami nori) - Seven Samurai Sour cocktail (Choya 23, Roku gin, lime, honey, egg white, yuzu bitters) - Elderberry hibiscus iced tea In terms of the drinks, they were great! I loved my cocktail and my partner enjoyed the ice tea (which wasn't sweetened). In terms of food, some of the items we ordered were a let down. Our favourite items were the yaki udon and sweet corn croquettes. The udon had so much umami and flavour bursting with each bite where the noodles were cooked perfectly. The pork and mushrooms complimented the sauce well. The croquettes were filled with corn and crispy on the outside but soft on the inside. The eggplant agedashi was simple and the dish was quite small. The skewers were a real letdown. They all seemed overcooked and the chicken skewers were too salty. The AAA beef tenderloin skewers and pork belly skewers were dry and tough to eat. Would not recommend getting the skewers. The pork tonkatsu seemed promising but again...the meat was dry and chewy where it didn't taste appetizing. The tonkatsu sauce on the side was great but the piece of pork loin wasn't great. Lastly, the salmon tartare had great flavours and the shrimp chips added a nice touch but the salmon pieces in the dish were too big - if they were cut just a bit smaller the dish would have fared well with us. Overall, a decent izakaya in the Vaughan area, however, compared to other izakayas in Toronto, Yokai would not be my first choice. The service and drinks were great, however, some of the food items we ordered were a big miss for us. The hype surrounding Yokai Izakaya when it first opened has simmered down and sadly there are better izakayas in the city to enjoy Japanese food. If you do go to Yokai, do check out the washroom though, it is a different vibe in there!

July 28, 2024 - I dropped my niece and nephew off to Canada's Wonderland and I was feeling a bit hungry, so I checked Yelp and found this spot. Love the decor, the interior looks so nice but we decided to sit outside as we had a very rambunctious toddler with us. The outside seating was spacious. The staff were all nice and attentive. Ordered: YOKAI BIG BREAKFAST 2 eggs your way, Japanese thick cut bacon, honey butter home fries, steamed rice, miso soup, pickles, shokupan toast with miso maple butter LOBSTER TACOS 3PC Spicy sesame spiked Canadian lobster, mentaiko aioli, lumpfish caviar, coriander, lettuce, wonton shell MATCHA CEREAL MILK FRENCH TOAST Brioche French toast, white chocolate matcha mousse, yuzu curd, seasonal berries CHICKEN KARAAGE Boneless chicken thigh, yuzu aioli, lemon 2 Iced Matcha Lattes Everything was delicious! I don't know when I'm going back, but I'm going back. The Yokai big breakfast is definitely worth it. The lobster taco was a little under seasoned, but you just have to add a little bit of salt. My sister didn't really like the Matcha latte, but I found it to be pretty good.

This was one of my best new finds in 2024! We decided that we wanted to go to an izakaya after a day of shopping at Vaughan Mills, and Yokai was highly rated. We ordered a variety of dishes to share and sample, and everything was delicious (we both decided that we weren't able to pick a favourite). We walked in without a reservation, and the staff were kindly able to accommodate us at the bar. The ambiance is definitely very cool and one of a kind (check out the bathrooms)!

Food was amazing. Service was great. Vibes are good. Came here to birthday celebration and we were so surprise the food came out so fast. Literally one after the other. So none of the dishes were piping hot but we didnt have any issues with it. Our favorites were the brussel sprouts, corn croquettes, lobster tacos. Crab fried rice was mediocre. Not much taste. Wagyu sliders were ok also. The flirty boy sangria was yummy too. And we also got complimentary yuzu cheesecakes for birthdays. The brunch here was amazing so we came here to check out the dinner menu. Overall everything js good and I would Come back for brunch or dinner

I knew this mainly as an izakaya spot (as the name suggests), but it turns out Yokai also has a brunch menu on weekends! We got the Butter Prawns Florentine and the King Kappa Burger. The florentine featured super sized prawns with a perfectly poached and runny egg. Everything came together great along with a side of honey butter home fries which was light and sweet. I didn't have the burger but it was cooked well and a very complete burger. The decor is modern and trendy and service was great. If you post on social media you can receive a free mimosa! I thought the prices were on the high side but otherwise a very nice spot. I am curious now about the dinner menu and will hope to go back sometime to try.

Ventured in for a weekend brunch. It's in the plaza near Vaughan Mills. While not the easiest spot to locate, the interior space was a pleasant surprise from the moment we opened the weighty wooden door. Starting with the Lobster Tacos: They didn't skimp on the lobster here; sizeable chunks nestled within deep-fried taco shells. The mayo-aioli sauce provided a flavorful kick, while the greens offered a refreshing touch. Wagyu Steak & Eggs: The beef was medium rare and the colour was beautiful, with just the right amount of fat that didn't leave the steak overly greasy. The scrambled eggs, though fluffy, was too buttery for my taste. But the honey-glazed diced potato fries were a nice surprise, although the dish overall leaned towards the oily side. Chicken Karaage: Four generously sized chicken pieces, perfectly coated in a thin, crispy batter and didn't show any hint of greasiness. The chicken itself was tender, juicy, and seasoned just right - not overly salty. Service was great, attentive and accommodating. We happened to be seated near the kitchen, close to the grill, so there was a bit of smoke, but it didn't detract much from what was overall an amazing dining experience. Would definitely come back to try their dinner menu someday. Food (quality, creativity, consistency) - 4/5 Drinks (quality, variety) - NA/5 Ambience (interior design, cleanliness) - 4/5 Service (courtesy, knowledge, timeliness) - 4.5/5 Value (quality vs. price) - 4.5/5 OVERALL - 4.3

We came here for a friend's birthday and made reservations via Open Table. I received couple text messages close to reservation and since I was driving, I couldn't reply. The owner was kind enough to let us keep the reservation and also offered desserts on the house because it was for a birthday. The restaurant wasn't big and it did get quite noisy. We were yelling at each other for most of the dinner lol. Since it was our first time there, we got a bunch of dishes to try. They were all flavourful and we all enjoyed it. The restroom was definitely mind blowing!

Had a great pre-birthday brunch celebration @yokai.izakaya with my cousins this weekend! I loved the matcha pancakes (check out the cream!!!) and the corn croquettes. I was at first disappointed when my first cocktail choice, the Milk Punch wasnt available, but the cherry martini was also pretty great. The lobster tacos surprisingly came last when we started to dig in. It was disappointing that the cocktail ingredients on a limited brunch menu ran out so early at 1230 pm on a Saturday. Iced tea was also out... Service wise, the experience was great. Our server was chirpy but did not overdo it. She also cane back to check on our reaction with the food and refilled our water being having to flag her down. Will return to try out their dinner menu.

I believe this is a fairly new spot with yummy eats and drinks, and overall great vibes. It's a spot I would recommend if you prefer lively music during dinner while being able to catch up with friends. My friends and I got Korean soju and for food, we shared oysters, sweet corn croquettes, lobster tacos, Godzilla tails, and stone bowl gyudon. Everything tasted so good, I especially liked their tacos and rice dish. It was a good amount of food for two people, we were definitely full by the end of our meal. Really enjoyed this spot and will definitely be back with friends!

The food was incredibly flavourful and unique! We got the matcha french toast and the big breakfast 10/10 for both. Both were so yummy and incredibly filling! The ambiance is very nice and the service was great as well! Highly recommend for a unique brunch spot!

Such a great experience! I first heard about this place through Tiktok and then I noticed that a lot of people I knew were going here. It's definitely a trendy spot, but it's so nice that it's not in the downtown core. Three of us came here for dinner on a Sunday night around 5:30pm and it was packed! We were seated at the bar, and it was actually pretty great. Our server was so lovely and had great recommendations. She advised that we get a few items to share and even told us which ones were her favourites and which ones were popular. We decided on the following: Sangria Umami Fries Shrimp Tempura Yokai Wings 48hr Angus Short Ribs Wagyu Sliders Stone Bowl Gyudon The food was delicious, the service was great, and the vibes were immaculate The pricepoint was also so great. I'll definitely be back!

Went for Brunch. Overall, food was decent, service was good, and venue was nicely decorated and chic. The prices were higher, and the menu for brunch was quite minimal. Unfortunately, my 3 star rating is based on the following: Butter prawn benny 3.5/5 - 2 nicely poached butter prawns, delicate, not rubbery, good flavour overall - eggs were slightly more medium for my liking, but my friends had a nice soft poached, so slightly inconsistent but i think thats normal! still a good egg - hollandaise didnt really have much yuzu notes, to me was quite buttery and heavy - quite a small portion for the price. you're paying for the prawn i believe, but i wouldnt think it was a dish worth $23 Yokai Breakfast 3.5/5 - rice nicely cooked - potatoes were quite rich and sweet with the outer coating of caramelized sugar, i enjoyed them but some were a bit overfried - bacon thick cut, was slightly overcooked and not as soft/tender as i would like - eggs were good, nothing too out of the ordinary - miso butter was nice and delicate with a hint of umami - shokupan was like any bread Overall, quite small portions for the price, and i think if that's the case, then the food must be stellar, but unfortunately to me it fell flat. Perhaps their lunch/dinner meals are more worth it? Wouldnt mind coming back to try those but for brunch, i might pass for now!

Located in a Woodbridge strip mall 5 mins away from Vaughan Mills, Yokai Izakaya is considered a hidden gem. This hip, and modernized Izakaya has a great atmosphere, delicious food, and amazing drinks. It would be a great place for after work drinls, dinner, and late bites as they're open until at least 12 am. There's also plenty of free parking. The staff here were attentive, knows the menu well, and socialable. Despite how busy it was during the time I here, our drinks and food all arrived within a reasonable amount of time. I was taken here for my birthday, and loved it! Everything we ordered were very enjoyable. I really wish I had a bigger stomach so that I could try everything on the menu. Located in a Woodbridge strip mall, @yokai.izakaya is considered a hidden gem. This modernized Izakaya has a great atmosphere, delicious food, and amazing drinks. Everything we ordered were scrumptious. I really wish I had a bigger stomach to try everything on the menu. Ordered: - sweet corn croquette - Chicken, tenderloin, and mushroom skewers - Nikomi Nabe - Bluefin Tuna handroll - stone bowl gyudon (no pic) - Toasted Apple Mocktail

The ambience is nice. They have a cute patio, a very pleasing interior and nice seating. Reservations were easily made through OpenTable. Tried to call to adjust reservations but no answer. We probably ordered a good 10 items on the menu and the only hits at the table were the Brussels sprouts, risotto, and the salmon with the shrimp chimps. Oysters were okay and the fries as well. Everything else was underwhelming. First of all I am pretty sure the server forgot to send our order in. We were waiting over 30 minutes for the waygu burgers and yokai maki. I am also pretty sure we got ran 3 old waygu burgers and a hot one. They must've missed the table and gave us old burgers because only one of our burgers were steaming and the rest were a cold ice puck. The yokai maki flavour was there but the rice was undercooked. Chicken and beef skewers marinated in the exam same fashion and nothing that stands out. We ordered the 48 day braised ribeye, it was served at medium well and was just a lack luster. Service wasn't terrible but the fact that we had 3 dishes come out late and cold we were not impressed. Overall it's a cute date night spot if you're in the area but I've definitely been to other places where the food is better.

AMAZING food, friendly and quick service, very reasonable prices, great music (mostly rnb when we went). 10/10 for me! the food is shareable so order plenty and try the different dishes. The brussel sprouts were amazing and the toasted apple mocktail was sublime!

Hipster vibed, small restaurant with super densely packed seating. We went on a weekday night, the place was super packed, however we were taken to our table immediately. The small tables are set practically shoulder to shoulder seating, and the high chairs at the bar is less than an arm length from the tables. If you like downtown vibe, you'll love it here. The food was good, definitely I'll give the food 4+ stars. Service is great! Despite being super busy, our server offered excellent service. Convenient parking in front of the restaurant in plaza's parking lot

Food: 4.5/5 Service: 4.5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 Rounding this up to a 5 because wow - this spot is such a vibe! It's located in a pretty unassuming plaza in Vaughan and I would have never imagined such a cool and funky izakaya to be here. When you first walk in, the space is bumping with music and cool decor. There is an outdoor patio as well as ample seating indoors by the bar or dining room. The service here is quite friendly for the most part, although it can be a little slow if your server is stuck with a large group taking an order. Another thing to add is that the bathrooms here are SO.COOL. I felt like I was in a bar or nightclub downtown. Each bathroom is designed differently and has its own theme. I can't believe I'm raving about a bathroom but you have to check it out for yourself! As for food, my bf and I ordered a bunch of dishes to try. The portions are pretty average for an izakaya spot and of course it can add up if you're hungry. In order from our favorite to least (although we liked almost every dish except for the duck): -Wagyu Slider (MUST-TRY) -Yokai Signature Maki (I'm a sushi gal) -Giant Hokkaido Scallop Skewer (Sooo juicy) -Yaki Udon (amazing combo of flavors) -Tako Wasabi (can't go wrong with this) -Calpico Panna Cotta (pretty average) -Assari Ponzu Duck (was meh) Highly recommend checking this place out if you're in Vaughan. I am hoping they open another location closer to me in Toronto!

Came here for brunch on a Saturday with my son. As we walked in, my son was saying how bougie the door was, the whole experience was definitely unforgettable! We ordered the matcha French toast and the wagyu beef with eggs & potatoes. Was delicious! Service was great, food came fast. Cozy place. We really enjoyed our dining experience here. Will definitely come back in the near future!

Really cute resto in vaughan. Its smaller than expected but the design is actually so pretty. We had food from their brunch menu and everything was delicious! Food also came out very quickly. We also had the sangria with dragonfruit. So yummy! Out of the whole experience I think its the service that was very special about this place. Nina and Sandy were so lovely and so helpful. Loved this place and will be taking more people here.

The place is really over priced. The food was good, I mainly got the oysters and they were really small compared to other places. The service tries their best but I never hear what they say. Its really decorated and loud.

The outside of the resto is so unassuming and I kinda love that. Once you walk in you're welcomed to such a cool but very busy resto. Every table was filled when we got there so I highly recommend making a reso, which my gf did. Our server was extremely sweet and friendly and I really liked her. We started with drinks and an app. I got a Mexican mule and my gf got a Dragon's breath? I think that's what the drink was called. For our app, we got the chicken karaage. This is probably the best mule I've ever had. I LOVE drinks with ginger and I want the ginger to be strong. It was super strong in this drink! My gf's drink was super cool because it comes on fire. She said it was super delicious too. The Chicken Karaage was cooked perfectly. Nice size and super juicy on the inside. Carful tho, they are hella hot! For our mains my gf got the Ebi Noti Risotto and I got the Stone Bowl Gyudon. The stone bowl gyudon comes hot as hell in a stone bowl (duh lol) and the server mixes it together. Kinda like a bimbimbop. The flavours of this dish reminded me of a Filipino type dish because of the flavours. I really liked it. The meat was super tender and came with a good amount. I loved the bites with the pickled ginger. My gf really liked her risotto too. We saw other patrons doing Sake bombs and we had to get in on the action too. The server makes an announcement to the whole resto and I love the excitement of having to pound on the table to make the bombs drop. It was so fun and the sake bombs were delicious. We ended off with the Yuzu cheesecake and they were so sweet to bring it out with a sparkler, since it was my bday. The slice was mad small and defs not worth $10 so skip this. It was good but not $10 good. Overall we had an amazing time and experience. We looove the vibe of the place and they were playing R&B allll night long. This is the place for me. We are already planning on coming back for brunch!

The ambience is very nice and the food was pretty decent. Steak clearly is wagyu as advertised, however, is still pretty good. Other food options ordered by my friends were also very good, would recommend trying. Price: 3/5 Ambience: 5/5 Taste: 4/5

Everything we ordered was very good and had great flavours. Service was also very friendly and attentive. Group of 4 and we all enjoyed and will dine again.

Came here for brunch after seeing the hype of it on IG. Even though both Yelp and google has mixed reviews, we decide to try it for ourselves to be fair. Got there exactly by the opening time, and the place already had some lines up. Less than an hour, the place is about 70-80% full. Nice decor and quick service. We ordered: 1.Madame croquette (shokupan+japanese bacon). Pretty good. Not enough wow (if i have to compare with other asian fusion places). 2.Prawn eggs benny Friend said it's nothing special. $23 for 2 shrimps (NOT prawn). 3. Corn croquetter. Pretty good. 4. Lobster tacos Not bad. Not as good as I thought though (my friend makes better lobster taco). Overall, we will not reorder any of these. Will not come back for brunch. Price& flavor is not quite compatible (unless you factor in the service). Will come back to try dinner menu instead. Cheers!

Solid 4 stars based on my experience for brunch. I dined in for Sunday brunch with my family. We made a reservation a few weeks back as this restaurant is so popular that it is hard to make a reservation on a weekend. We were welcomed very warmly, unlike other Izakaya, they were not shouting (I hate Japanese Izakaya staff being so loud when greeting customers). We ordered corn croquettes, croque madame and salmon avocado toast. All the dishes had Japanese flavours which were not overpowering but subtle. We loved all the dishes. Service was relatively fast and the staff were friendly. The reason being minus one star is that their brunch menu is very limited.. wish there were more rice dishes like sushi or gyudon that they have for dinner menu.

Have tried a few Izakaya places, but this one had a lot more unique menu options! All of the dishes were presented beautifully and tasted even better. Perfect for a date night!

A Delightful Brunch Experience. All I had been hearing from everyone was to try Yokai Izakaya's brunch. So, I had to bring the wife and try it out especially because I have been waiting to eat here for dinner but never did. The service was amazing. The bartenders were kind, informative and passionate. The servers, waitresses and hosts/hostesses were very sweet, patient, helpful and efficient. The place is small but I love the way they have set it up. Very upbeat and modern. We ended up getting the seating around the bar which is a little tight but cozy at the same time. We started off with drinks and Flirty Boy Sangria. This was the star of the show it was the best version of a sangria I ever had. It was delicious, boozy, different and loved the fact there was hyuganatsu and especially shochu. Did I mention very pretty to look at and paired well with the brunch. To eat I chose the Wagyu Steak & Eggs. Chose the eggs sunny side up and it was accompanied by thee best home fries I ever had or that my taste buds could remember. The steak was cooked medium rare and it was exactly what I wanted. The Japanese chimichurri was a nice spin on the Argentinean/Uruguayan salsa. It was lighter taste, the wagyu was tender. Eggs were cooked sunny side up. I can say I would be okay if they skipped the eggs and it was just the wagyu and home fries. The home fries were sweet and savoury, that honey butter sauce was magical. I also ordered Japanese cut bacon which was nice and thick. Nice and crispy outside tender and juicy in the inside. I had to order the Matcha Cereal Milk French Toast. The Shokupan French toast was fluffy and light like a pillow, the matcha white chocolate mousse cream on top with the citrusy yuzu curd was a perfect blend. Only downside is the size and fruits which I didn't like with the French Toast. Yes they were tasty and unique but the price for them vs the quantity was not worth it in my opinion. Glad I tried it though. I would recommend this place to any one looking for a different take on brunch. I would come back but I think the only thing I would reorder was the Japanese cut bacon, home fries and ofcourse the sangria. Would try new items on the menu. I still need to come here for dinner, looking forward to it.

This is our new favorite happy hour buck-a-shuck izakaya! Also it's an excuse to go to Vaughan mills! They have $1 oysters tues & wed! Plus $2 pints for happy hour 4-6pm! Perfect for us hospitality peeps who don't work 9-6pm office hours lol! Service was attentive, food was absolutely delicious! They have cool lit themed washrooms! Can't wait to come back to try the rest of the menu! I have a feeling this is gonna be our regular HH joint!

This place is so fun!! We had a reservation for 9:45 on a Saturday night and were seated pretty promptly. Our server was so nice and bubbly! She was also super efficient, we never went long without her checking in/filling our water cups. Service was definitely 5/5! We were a group of 6 so we just ordered a bunch of items to share. Everything was SO good! My personal favourite was the wagyu sliders, from the bun to the meat to the toppings, it was just perfection! Another highlight was definitely the hamachi ceviche, the oysters and Brussel sprouts, but really everything we tried was 5/5. Portion sizes are definitely on the smaller side for some items, like the eggplant for example was a small dish, the sushi was also kinda small for the price but the flavour and quality was really good on everything so I'm not going to dock points for that. Pricing is not terrible. There are some similar izakaya/sharing plate restaurants I've been to that have been more expensive. For three couples, we all spent less than $80 each, which is not too bad considering how expensive it is to dine out these days. We ordered 7 dishes and a few of us had cocktails/beer. Ambiance is definitely the most notable thing about this restaurant although food is a close second. Absolutely gorgeous decor, their cool logo featured throughout. We loved the details such as the gorgeous bathrooms and amenities like mouthwash, the branded coasters and little bottles of house made hot sauce! There was a DJ playing that evening and the music was awesome. It's a loud, buzzy place so I wouldn't really recommend it as family friendly or somewhere to bring the kids/grandparents. Amazing for friend groups and birthday/special celebrations. Overall this place is fun, loud, delicious and cool! I can't wait to come back to try more dishes and I know my friends feel the same way!

The food here is really good, it's very high quality food. I usually get the stone bowl and it's sooo good and very filling. The staff is always very nice and helpful. The whole vibe of here is super nice i definitely think anyone should check this out.

Outstanding customer service! They went above and beyond. I really wanted to try this restaurant so made reservations online, but the issue was that only the bar was available and I was with my husband and two kids. Within a couple minutes, I got a call from them and they told me they noticed a requested a high chair at the bar but it wouldn't be possible there but they rearranged the seating arrangements and made room for us a table. The moment we arrived, we were seated by a lovely gentleman whom I believe was the one who gave me the call. We ordered the lobster tacos, wagyu burger & matcha cereal milk french toast. The tacos portion was generous with huge chunks of lobsters. The wagyu burger was juicy and flavourful. As for the matcha cereal milk french, it wasn't too sweet and unfortunately, a little cold compared to the other dishes. I couldnt really taste the matcha, it was a very fluffy airy texture. However, I will give it to them for the generous amount of fruits. The sweetest solely came from the fryuts. My daughter ate all the strawberries. All the servers there were nice and attentive. They kept refilling our water and provided kid friendly plates, bowls, cups and cutleries to my kids. I went here for brunche and really want to go back for their Lucky Monday!

The first time I went there was in August 2023. I enjoyed my time there and would like to share it in this review! When we went there it was for dinner. We ordered some food and the staff were really nice and the service was slow but the food was great! Once in a while(like milestones) the staff would make sure we liked the food and if everything was ok. The environment is amazing and I couldn't believe there was a restaurant that clean! The tables and rest of the area are well cleaned by the staff. I really enjoyed my experience at Yokai Izakaya and will definitely come back someday!

Amazing experience. I made a reservation for 2 and was quickly seated at the designated time! Thank you to the owner! We ordered the Wagyu sliders, short rib, maki roll, udon and to finish, their panna cotta dessert. Every dish tasted really good. My favourite was definitely their maki roll with the extra touch of the gold flakes on top. Presentation was amazing for the food and I really enjoy the overall experience! Service was prompt and friendly and fast. Ps. Must check our their washrooms. Every washroom has their own theme! It's like your in another dimension! 100% will be back with friends!

Japanese street fare, shareable plates, casual and great for food and drink. Conveniently located on the North side of Vaughan Mills, perfect after you go shopping or Wonderland. Parking: Ample parking in the plaza, free Ambience: Great for dates, drinks, casual dining, conversation, really nice décor and very quaint. Service: Waitress was fantastic, got my group seated right away, very polite and friendly. A little upsetting she hasn't tried Nomé though to compare the competitions slider (Nomé's Japaburger) (5/5) Food we ordered: Wagyu Sliders Wagyu beef slider, truffle aioli, bonito spiked onion jam, crispy mushrooms * 3pc *Our server mentioned a lot of people compare it to Nome's, Still very tasty but felt it needed more of a punch for it to stand out. No flavor in particular stood out and it was well balanced, but I would have liked a bit of a "pop", y'know what I mean? (3/5) Yuzu Kosho Chicken Skewers - Shio koji, chicken thigh, negi, yuzu kosho glaze * 4pc Fatty, rich, salty, the yuzu glaze gave it a nice pop, the meat was cooked well (3/5) Yokai Signature Maki - Torched Norwegian salmon, crispy salmon skin, avocado, shiitake, jalapeño, ikura, spicy mayo, yuzu unagi sauce, 24K gold flakes * 8pc Good balance of flavors with the salmon, salmon skin, shiitake and jalapeno, ikura gave it a nice pop, the roll is more on the expensive side considering it is not tuna but salmon, good roll, but not great. (3/5) Yokai Chicken Wings Yokai original spice blend, browned butter, teriyaki sauce * 3pc Good wing, good size, good portion, sauce was good, spice blend was good. However, the teriyaki sauce was a little overpowering. Needs a little more umami flavor in my opinion (4/5) Drinks: Korean Soju Korean Soju + sparkling water + yakult and choice of: Grapefruit, Green Grape, or Strawberry * 3oz We ordered the strawberry korean soju, tasty and refreshing, can't go wrong. *MEN Do not be afraid to try this, no matter how girly it looks/feels (4/5) JAPANESE CHU HAI - Japanese Shochu + sparkling water and choice of freshly squeezed: Lemon, Orange, Grapefruit or Calpico Lychee * 1.5oz Ordered this one with the calpico lychee - delicious, sweet, but not too sweet, good kick of calpico lychee. (5/5) Overall 4/5: Reason being is I have not tried the full menu, I will have to come back for a full experience, especially on their $1 oyster days which are thursdays and sundays. The service also brought the rating up, as others have reviewed on Google/Yelp there's something a bit lacking If y'all want me to come back and taste test a wagyu slider 2.0 hit me up, I will make time

New Izakaya in Vaughan! Was here when they first opened during their soft opening so please keep that in mind with my review, as improvements may be in place now! :) To start, the interior of the restaurant is absolutely beautiful. High ceilings, nice decor, super friendly staff, has a patio, and you have to check out their cool washrooms! I was curious and went into all the stalls and each one was a different theme! It was busy when I came during their soft opening, so make a reso ahead of time! Before I get started on the food, one major flag I told our server was that our water tasted like iron. It was not a pleasant taste and perhaps from the silver jugs they serve their water from. The server was quick to respond, apologized and took our water away. We then of course opted for a beverage instead. Not a problem. They were also giving free sapporo during this time which was a nice touch! Onto the food now: Brussel sprouts 3.5/5 Was heavily dressed in sauce, very sweet but tasted quite delicious. Came in small portions but was great for a little bite to share. Hamachi ceviche 5/5 Loved this dish. Fresh and perfectly seasoned with the sauce and toppings of jalapeno and green onions. Karaage 3.5/5 Standard fried chicken that you really can't go wrong with. Portion is a little bit on the smaller side. Yuzu kosho duck skewers 1/5 Unfortunately this one did not cut it for us. It really lacked seasoning and any flavour at all. Ebi nori risotto 4/5 I loved this risotto, it was packed with flavour and creaminess. The only complaint I have with this dish is that it was over salted. So although the dish was great with amazing flavour, after a couple more bites, it just got too salty. Hopefully this has changed since the time I have been a few months ago! Gyudon 3.5/5 Pretty standard udon that was great for carbing up! Wagyu sliders 3.5/5 Great size for sliders that were filled with lots of meat! 48hrs angus short rib 4.5/5 Flavourful and cooked to perfection. It's on the smaller side of what you can expect from a dish but was delicious for my palette so it made it okay! Saikyo miso cod 5/5 Delicious, fragrant miso flavour. Cooked to perfection with the flakey fish. This one was perhaps the smallest dish we got of the night, so again portion sizing was a bit off here. Still worth a try though as it was so delicious. Sushi 4.5/5 Can't go wrong with sushi! It looked amazing and tasted amazing as well! Calpico panna cotta 3/5 I'm bias as I don't really like jelly/ pudding textured desserts so it was not the best dessert for me. Yuzu sorbet 10/5 Obsessed. I am obsessed with this. First off, it came in a HUGE serving size that was more than enough for my party of 4. It was so refreshing and had loads of yuzu flavour. A little bit of an icy texture which was so nice for the palette. Their sorbet/ ice cream is based on what they make per week, so this may not be available all the time. Overall, portions here are definitely on the smaller side with some dishes that are hit and misses, but still worth a try. I'd still be back since there aren't a lot of Izakaya restaurants in the GTA and this one hit the spot.

Came here for girls night out to catch up on our lives and booked resos here Saturday night at 7pm. It recently opened couple of months ago, so I was very excited to try this place in Vaughan (same plaza where Chatime is). Got there right at 7, and we were greeted by our host, and were seated promptly. Upon walking in, I was very surprised that this place was very small and compact, but the interior made up for that as it was very modern and beautiful. It wasn't too busy, but I can see people starting to come in. Among the three of us we ordered the nabe pot, gyoza wings, yaki udon, half dozen oysters (3 east + 3 west), tako wasabi, hamachi ceviche, brussels sprouts, corn croquette, salmon tartare and wagyu sliders (yes, we can eat!). The cold dishes came out very fast since it was probably already prepped beforehand and didn't need to cook anything. The hamachi ceviche was really good, and presentation wise was beautiful. Oysters were fresh and paired very well with the mignonette and horse radish. Salmon tartare was nicely paired with shrimp chips, and the tako wasabi was good, but it did have a slight fishy taste. While waiting for the hot dishes to come out we had two bottles of soju which didn't last too long (hehe). The nabe pot and udon came out after 20 minutes, and it was okay, nothing special about it. Wagyu sliders were okay, I mean it was cooked to medium, with caramelize onions, but there was no sauce or greens for more texture or crunch. The corn croquette was cheesy inside but it was a little dry and lukewarm inside (would've been better if it was hot). The Brussels sprouts were my first time having them and they were really nice! The longest wait was probably the gyoza chicken wings. It took about 45 minutes for 3 pieces of chicken wings to come out, and it wasn't even that good. It was dry and the filling wasn't even the greatest. Total let down! Our server was great at first as she checked up on us very very often, but as soon as it got busy, she forgot about us and we had to wave her down a couple of times. Prices are super steep for the portions. I think for such a tiny place it's suitable for date night not for big groups.

Came here on a Friday Night, super packed, so don't forget to make a reservation beforehand I actually had SUPER DUPER high expectations since all the reviews and comments were hyping this place up. But after eating there, i dont think im going back... The place, vibe and decor are 5/5 dont get me wrong. The WASHROOMs were LIT! Definitely a cute photo moment with friends. Great picture-able food dishes, but taste is meh. 1 is too harsh, so ill give it a 2. Fries - the sauce was too sweet which overpowered the fries or the saltiness from the seaweed flakes Stuffed Chicken Wings - the pork inside was WAY overcooked and over flavoured. Basically didn't feel like eating a chicken wing, more like eating a rough meatball. Rib-Eye Bibimbap - for ribeye meat, i expected it to be softer? But it was so tender (chewy to be precise). You know when your suppose to mix the rice and meat together. The meat was basically unbreakable or pullable. So i ended up eating it in chunks of meat in one go. Banana cake - this was actually the most pleasant dish comparing to everything above. That i would give 4/5 Overall i would give it a 2/5. Sorry for giving such a bad review, but everything just didn't click the time i went. Hope you all had a better experience!

I was super pumped to see an Izakaya open up in the outside strip of Vaughan Mills. Honestly, I don't know of any other Izakayas in the Vaughan area. However, the excitement was short lived. The highlight of the visit was their over the top washroom, which gave off high end club vibes - lots of mirrors, neon lights. Don't get me wrong, the food wasn't horrible, but I can also tell you that was not that good either. Definitely, not Toronto top 100 good. The chicken wings were over cooked and on the dry side. The teriyaki style sauce was also too thick and a bit overbearing. The AAA beef tenderloin Yakitori needed more of the necessary aroma/taste that comes from bbq based grilling. The marination was quite heavy on ginger flavours, but lacking in red miso flavour. Again a little bit overbearing. I also didn't feel that the beef was the freshest either. The best of the lot was the yaki udon. The butter sauce was tasty and not overly heavy. I'm guessing the base is mostly butter and sake. I really think they could use a better cut of pork. The lean portion is too lean and dry, but the fatty portion is just pure fat. I would however commend the wait staff for being friendly and personal. They are very good with kids even though izakayas are not typically the most kid friendly restaurants. So back to status quo. I'll have to drive a bit for a good Izakaya.

I came here for brunch yesterday. I was quite disappointed. We got the wagyu steak and eggs, butter prawn benny and lobster tacos to share. The steak and eggs were okay. Not that flavourful but it was alright. My butter prawn benny was cold! The entire dish was cold, not only the eggs. Not sure what happened there. The hollandaise was quite delicious though. The lobster tacos were very salty. I was disappointed. We drove quite far to try them out! I am wondering if social media hyped them up or this was just a one off thing. They were quite busy. The staff there were very nice though! Such a pity since I wanted to try out their dinner menu too. Now I am not sure if I want to do that...

Finally, I don't have to go all the way to downtown for high quality izakaya. Today marks Yokai Izakaya's soft opening, I am excited and looking forward to their grand opening with all the variety of dishes and cool cocktails such as bubble tea cocktails! Excellent warm friendly service that makes you feel so welcome! The patio was so comfortable and cozy, along with the lighting that was just right and a perfect venue to chill with friends over a few glasses of cocktails or beer! If alcohol is not your thing, they have iced oatmilk matcha latte. No matter how crappy your week was, life is good again! The stone bowl gyudon was absolutely delicious! The slices of AAA Ribeye were tender. It was like a cross over between bibimbap and gyudon. The service was excellent where the waitress will mix the rice for us at our table! The Saikyo miso black cod was a nice thick cut of black cod. Usually, am like a bad kid who hate greens, the seasonal greens was cooked just right! Beautiful presentation with the salmon tartare along with the shrimp chips. Great choice to go with my beer! The gyoza chicken wings was innovative where it is stuffed with pork and chives, layers of joy on the palette! The yaki udon was tasty with a delicious yokai butter sauce. Creamy and mixed with the thin slices of pork. The Ingredients were a good marriage. Even the washroom itself was so cool with sliding doors, lots of mirrors. The individual stalls have themes, first stall felt like a spa and the family one had Totoro, dragon ball artworks. It was almost like a mini art gallery in there. From excellent service, food, ambiance to the washroom decors, what a treat and novelty! Yokai Izakaya brings us lots of joy and a surprising treat to our palette! I will be back again!

Honestly, the 4/5 stars is because the vibe is unbeatable. For an izakaya place located in the vaughan suburbs, it was POPPING. In-house DJ, lively energy, shareable foods and unique cocktails, and super cool washrooms. Definitely a great option to get together with friends for some drinks & nomz. What we did order though wasn't exactly too memorable and we've had better izakaya food elsewhere. We tried the UME BRUSSEL SPROUTS, SWEET CORN CROQUETTE, and EBI NORI RISOTTO. But if you value a great vibe, Yokai is the place to hit up in vaughan !

Delicious food and great service! Different than all the other places in downtown Toronto. Relaxing atmosphere

Saw this place on social media and got excited about a Japanese inspired brunch! Made the trip up -- absolutely packed Saturday morning. Definitely was a great idea to make reservations. The ambiance was definitely top notch. The food was pretty good, but likely not enough to get me to drive 40 min again! Great spot if you live in the area.

Overhyped. Decor was nice. Came for Sunday brunch. Unsure why we were unable to book later times for standard seating when half the restaurant was empty during the time we dined there. Menu was a bit lacking. While some of the items were Japanese "inspired" - it didn't really make sense. We got the big breakfast, miso beef Benedict and the burger. The burger wasn't anything to write home about. The miso beef Benedict was good. Beef was tender and the sauce paired well with the hollandaise. Eggs poached nicely. The big breakfast left something to be desired. To serve rice and home fries in the same bowl is just...odd. Why ruin the crispiness of the home fries with the hot steam from the rice? Also it's just kind of weird to serve both. Same thing about the eggs and thick cut bacon...why did these deserve being paired with rice and soup is confusing to me. Dont forget the random slice of shokupan with miso maple butter and the small bowl of pickles. Do Japanese style breakfast or western one...you putting both on a platter doesn't make it fusion lol The server had no idea how to describe the flavour of the ramune that we were ordering...kept saying that was the "original" flavour - which, by the way, it wasn't. How that's supposed to explain to a guest what the flavour of something is...just repeatedly going "idk how to describe it. That's just the flavour" like??? Overall pretty disappointing. While the Benedict was good, probably not worth coming back.

Great izakaya option in Vaughan - tasty food & friendly service. The ambiance is inviting, with a vibrant atmosphere and attentive staff that enhance the overall enjoyment. The standout for me was undeniably the ribs - they were perfectly cooked! Will be back. :)

You'll never see me say no to an Izakaya place, so when my friend said this was new, we jumped at the opportunity to go. Price Range: Roughly $20-$40 per person Items Ordered: - Smokey Shichimi Pork Ribs - Chicken Karaage - Yuzu Kosho Chicken Skewers - Godzilla Tails - Yaki Udon - Yokai Signature Maki - Salmon Tartare Food Quality (Menu/Taste/ Portion Size) - 4/5 - The food was pretty solid, outside of the udon everything packed a flavour punch. The unique flavours complimented each other really well for each dish. Portion size was similar to other Izakaya places. Their menu is pretty broad, and if you like variety this is a great place for you. They didn't have their alcohol licence at the time but have since gotten it. Atmosphere - 5/5 I'm still shook by how cool this place is. Though it looks like most izakaya place I thought they did a great job of putting their own touch to it. They have all these cool fox maxes around and bottles hanging. It's lit pretty well and great vibe for groups. Service - 4.5/5 The service was really good! They were super prompt even though it was crowded and was very helpful with recommendations. They did a great job of checking on us regularly. It's a pretty packed resto so I recommend getting reservations. Would I go here again? Yezzir! Lash's Recommendation - Smokey Shichimi Pork Ribs - Yuzu Kosho Chicken Skewers - Yokai Signature Maki

I've come here twice with two different groups of friends and both times were consistently amazing, food on point, and service phenomenal and polite. I advise that you make a reservation ahead of time ALWAYS due to it being super busy during peak hours. Food- Items I've tried include (in order of recommendation): - Beef sliders - amazing wagyu beef, truffle aioli, mushrooms, and spiked leek jam~ an amazing mix of flavours that are savoury, filling, perfectly cooked wagyu beef slider that didn't disappoint. The topping of mushroom and aioli sauce complimented the burger very well, and didn't overpower rather enhanced the flavour of all combined ingredients together. - California gold maki- topped with 24K gold flakes, lobster tempura, avocado, caviar, cucumber, tamago & aioli - flavourful, quality ingredients that do not disappoint. I have ordered this both times I was here, and would recommend it! Tho on the pricey side for one maki roll, I would suggest trying it for a unique, umami combination of high end seafood within one roll. - umami fries- Due to the fact it is an Izakaya and servings are to be shared, this is a great sharing plate filled with flavor, crunch, & can fill you up in between appetizers. I would recommend as you can never go wrong with fries!! - Gyudon - AAA ribeye, caramelized onions, daikon, Tamago etc. i found to be a lot of ginger forward flavour, as I'm not a fan of ginger I wasn't inclined to the gyudon but for those who don't mind ginger, I would recommend. Generous gyudon portion, would definitely consider it one of the larger meal plates to share and fill you up. - tiger tails - black tiger shrimp tails x4 , tempura w tobiko mayo ~ great tasting big shrimps. Topped with caviar ~ to me nothing special, but good filler plate to order if you're a shrimp fan. Was a quick eat, not really filling, minimal flavour as I find shrimp to be very hard of a dish to enhance. Service- consistent, friendly, checks up multiple times for add on orders and explains menu very well. Recommendations are great. Attentive. Service weighs heavy on my Yelp ratings but they have done a great job with customer service. A satisfied customer! Ambience - I love their attention to detail with every aspect of the bar, seating area, ceiling and surrounding areas including the bathroom, and even the patio. Their cutlery, packaging and menu are very aesthetically pleasing as well. Washrooms are each unique, private, and well kept. I do appreciate a good vibe. DJs on the Friday evening we were there around 9:30pm. Hip-hop / R&B forward. Loved it. 5/5, need I say more? Come.

I didn't know about this hidden jam. It is a very nice Japanese restaurant in Vaughan, near Vaughan mills. The food was delicious, at first we didn't know what to order but the waitress helped us and everything we ordered was so good. We will definitely come back