Best restaurants in Markham

Kaiseki Yu-zen Hashimoto

★ Michelin$$$$Japanese

It may be connected to the Canadian Japanese Cultural Center, but it’s not until you walk through the labyrinthine passages of this restaurant that you feel you’ve been transported to Japan. This is the opposite of see-and-be-seen culture, as guests dine in fully private rooms for maximum intimacy. The serene setting matches Chef Masaki Hashimoto's traditional kaiseki, which celebrates the seasons with subtlety and refinement. From beautiful soups with kinmedai and sweet rice to simmered bamboo shoots with shima-aji, expect balance, purity and reward. Dinner often concludes with grilled Miyaza

Shoushin

★ Michelin$$$$japanese, sushi

Sit at the beautiful hinoki counter opposite the personable Chef/owner Jackie Lin and you can expect a masterclass in Edomae sushi. He and his team offer an introduction omakase for first timers and, for those with bigger appetites and bigger budgets, a longer, more personalized menu. The results are impressive either way and feature seasonal treasures like firefly squid and murasaki uni. The nigiri is a well-judged array of progressively stronger toppings, from silvery kohada to mouth-filling anago. Rice is a blend of two types and retains its natural color, with the acidity judged perfectly

🕐 Tu-Su 17:00-22:00; Mo closed

SumiLicious Smoked Meat & Deli

Bib Gourmand$Deli

In a non-descript Scarborough shopping center, Sumith Fernando’s smoked meat is something of a rite of passage. Fernando spent nearly two decades learning his craft at Schwartz's in Montreal before settling on his own recipe. His halal brisket is marinated in a secret spice blend for days, smoked for hours until tender and finally finished in a steamer. He opened in 2018 and has been behind the counter ever since, building sandwiches out of thinly sliced, peppery brisket piled high on soft, spongy rye smeared with yellow mustard. Against the advice of any physician, complete your order at this

Zen

$$$$Japanese, Sushi

Value is something of a tricky term when it comes to sushi, which can cost almost as much as a ticket to Japan these days. But in an unassuming Markham strip center dominated by an auto repair shop, those looking to scratch the omakase itch without breaking the bank are in for a treat. The space is true to its name, a calming, tasteful blend of wood slats and attractive lighting with a chef’s counter as well as tables further back. Fish from Japan arrives multiple times a week; the rice is warm and finely vinegared; and chefs work with precision and diligence. They keep the toppings fairly tra