Kanu is definitely one of my go to restaurants in Montreal when friends come from out of town and are craving authentic Japanese food. Although Montreal now has a number of Izakayas, I find that none of them are as authentic as Kazu. The kitchen is entirely open concept and for this reason, I always opt to sit at the bar, so that I can watch the chefs in action.
Out their whole menu, I have yet to have something that disappointed me. However, my favourites are the salmon bowl (super fresh, crispy puffed rice noodles, amazing sauces), the grilled pork neck (expect it to get very messy eating it since you need to use hands but its so smokey and flavourful) and the tataki (I've had tuna and beef and both were amazing, slightly tangy and very fresh).
The lineup at Kazu is always significant (but it can move quite fast) so make sure to arrive before they open! Alternatively, they also offer takeout!