| Zen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 2000 |
| Owner(s) | Seiichi Kashiwabara |
| Head chef | Seiichi Kashiwabara |
| Food type | Japanese |
| Rating | Recommended (Michelin Guide) |
| Street address | 7634 Woodbine Avenue |
| City | Markham, Ontario |
| Country | Canada |
| Website | zenjapaneserestaurant |
Zen is a Michelin recommended Japanese restaurant in the Milliken Mills neighbourhood of Markham, Ontario, located north of Toronto. It offers an omakase menu.
History
The restaurant is owned and operated by chef Seiichi Kashiwabara, who immigrated to Canada from Japan in 1984. Kashiwabara first lived in Ottawa, working as a sushi chef there before moving to the Toronto area.
Zen, a Japanese restaurant situated in a Markham strip mall, was first established in 2000. Kashiwabara initially joined Zen as head chef upon relocating to Toronto. He later acquired the restaurant and moved it from its original Scarborough location to its current address in Markham.
The business only uses fresh fish for their sushi, much of it delivered from Japan several times weekly. Many of the employees of the restaurant are Japanese nationals, who have come to work at Zen via work permit to train under Kashiwabara. Notable sushi chefs in the Toronto-area have worked at Zen and trained under Kashiwabara, including Michelin–starred Shoushin chef-owner Jackie Lin.
Recognition
The business received a 'Recommended' designation in the 2024 edition of the Toronto and Region Michelin Guide. Michelin highlighted the restaurant's price point for its omakase chef's counter experience, and also praised the restaurant for having "some of the best nori in town." Per the guide, a 'Recommended' selection "is the sign of a chef using quality ingredients that are well cooked; simply a good meal" and that the anonymous inspectors had found "the food to be above average, but not quite at level." As of the 2024 edition, Zen is the only restaurant in Markham to be included in the Toronto guide. Michelin–starred Markham restaurant Frilu was also in the guide before its closure in summer 2024.
Toronto-area digital publication BlogTO lauded Zen as "long holding the reputation as one of the best sushi joints in town."
Zen was included in magazine Toronto Life's list of the best Japanese restaurants in Greater Toronto, with the publication highlighting the business's "meticulously cut" sashimi plates.
In 2022, Markham made United States food publication Eater's list of best food cities to travel to, with Zen receiving a callout as the "go-to destination for hardcore omakase aficionados."
References
- ^ "The 38 Best Restaurants in Markham, Ontario". Eater. Vox Media. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
- ^ Joseph, Simone (21 October 2024). "'In for a treat': Chef/owner of Zen Japanese Restaurant in Markham hopes Michelin-recommended designation will entice new customers". Markham Economist and Sun. yorkregion.com. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
- ^ "Zen - Markham". Michelin Guide. Michelin North America. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
- ^ Joseph, Simone (25 September 2024). "Markham's Zen Japanese Restaurant makes it into the Michelin Guide for the first time". Markham Economist and Sun. yorkregion.com. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
- ^ Doss, Suresh (23 May 2017). "Where Shoushin chef Jackie Lin eats Chinese and Japanese food in Markham and Richmond Hill". Toronto Life. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
- ^ Keung, Nicholas (4 May 2024). "They're highly sought after chefs in popular Toronto restaurants. Immigration changes could make them harder to recruit". Toronto Star. TorStar. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
- Car, Amy (10 December 2021). "Markham sushi master who gained huge following during lockdown opens restaurant". BlogTO. ZoomerMedia. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
- "What It Means To Be A Michelin-Recommended Restaurant". Michelin Guide. Michelin North America. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
- ^ "MICHELIN Guide Toronto & Region expands in year three with four new Stars". Michelin Guide. Michelin North America. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
- Low, DK (28 July 2019). "Zen Sanuki Udon". BlogTO. ZoomerMedia. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
- Toronto Life (11 May 2018). "The best Japanese restaurants in Toronto right now". Toronto Life. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
