It's rare that a restaurant actually reminds me of the country from which the cuisine comes, but Ematei actually reminds me of Japan.
Hidden off of Queen West, it took me months before I finally stumbled in, but when I did I was greeted by a warm but dark and worn 1970s mock-shoji interior that feels like a number of the unpretentious restaurants I came across in Japan.
Decent service combined with very Japanese Japanese food--the nigiri is large slices of tender and fresh fish and wonderfully presented--make it a find.
It's not the best sushi in Toronto, but it's definitely worth a visit if you're nearby and have a hankering.