Koyoi is one of my favorite places in the city for authentic Japanese fare. Super low key vibe coupled with good food. I honestly don't know anywhere else in Toronto you can get motsunabe (which I haven't tried yet, but was excited to see on offer as a winter special).
It's easy to forget about this place amidst the explosion of izakaya joints and ramen houses around town, but this place is a real gem. The last time I was there was a week ago. We sat at the bar, had some highballs and shochu and snacked on oden, pickles and some noodles. Nothing fancy, but exactly what we wanted and needed.