It seems as if, in the last decade or so, Japanese food has become ubiquitous in Toronto. Case in point: we can even pick up a pack of pre-made (so-called) sushi in a supermarket. Yet, truly a good Japanese eatery remains a rare find.
Sho is a small, family-run Japanese izakaya. The word "unassuming" comes to mind. The decor is charming and lively; not traditional or opulent or stylish like some upscale sushi bars. However, its food is sensational! I'd say it was one of the best izakaya food we've ever tasted in Toronto.
This restaurant deeply cares about the quality of food they serve. The chef and kitchen staff take time and pay great attention to details. Their service prompt, attentive and friendly. Their sake & Japanese beer menu is small but offers quality. The regular menu is supplemented with a daily special menu and dessert menu, which makes the food selection wider and more exciting than most izakayas in town.
Anyone who has been to Japan and enjoyed good-quality authentic Japanese cuisine would agree that good Japanese food doesn't have to be expensive (unless it's very "special food" like kaiseki), but being able to serve genuinely good Japanese food at reasonable price here in Toronto is not easy, probably due to the high costs of the fresh and quality ingredients it requires. Sho seems to accomplish this not-so-easy feat somehow.
If you're a Japanese food fan and can't afford to pay hundreds of $ for each meal, you owe it to yourself to try this surprisingly delightful izakaya.