We’ve covered Sherwood Park’s Kobachi online before. But this is the first time it’s appeared in the pages of our Best Restaurants issue, after our judges raved about it being the best Japanese in (or around) town.
There was a time when most sushi in Edmonton was found in chain restaurants, which meant it was flashy and full of colour… but lacking flavour and less than fresh. Kobachi’s website, conversely, says “diners will no longer find colourful-filled rolls with sky-scraping toppings” under the heading “Clean. Honest. Simple.”
And that’s what you get in this charmingly small Sherwood Park spot, with its laminated list of fresh sushi options (the Salmon Roe and Engawa were our favourites). You fill it out with a Sharpie and present it to your server, who passes it on to the chef beaming with pride in the open kitchen, ready to make his next simple-but-succulent creation. – Cory Schachtel
Kobachi
200 Festival Lane #125, Sherwood Park | 780.570.5858 | kobachi.ca
Every time we walk into Dorinku Tokyo, we physically feel fully immersed in another (cooler) world, where a corner of Whyte Avenue teleports you to a street in Anywhere, Japan.
Basically, Dorinku is a dimly lit, wood-decor-based feast for the eyes as much as it’s a rich and flavourful adventure for the mouth (the bathroom bidets leave quite an impression, too).
Its ramen rules, its tataki tantalizes and its crispy Chicken Karaage crunches just right. The four-foot Tokyo Bridge of daily pressed sushi is one of the funnest dishes in the city to order with friends. And I will never do a Dorinku review without imploring you to purchase a jar of its Shaka Shaka Fries (also fun!) seasoning to put on your homecooked eggs. – Cory Schachtel
Dorinku Tokyo
CPR Irvine | 10205 Whyte Ave NW, Edmonton | 780.988.9760 | tokyo.dorinku.ca
I just won the restaurant seating lottery: I’m next to a couple on their first date, and I’ve got all the time in the world to eavesdrop while brainstorming my review.
Japonais Bistro is the spot for these moments — effortlessly sleek and stylish, sushi that’s as artful as it is delicious, and just the right vibe for impressing someone without looking like you’re trying too hard. While they stumble through small talk on their love of sashimi, I’m already in a committed relationship with the Spicy Mango Prawns. Japonais nails it — the food and the free entertainment. – Areeha Mahal
Japonais
Wîhkwêntôwin | 11806 Jasper Ave, Edmonton | 780.760.1616
Ambleside | 6138 Currents Dr NW, Edmonton | 780.334.1717
japonaisbistro.ca
A new spot opens, the buzz is out there, and the lineups are long. But, what about a place that still has long lines years after the grand opening has come and gone? That’s the case at Tokiwa. Come around noon, and chances are you’ll need to leave your name at the door… and wait. The ramen is that good. – Steven Sandor
This article appears in the March 2025 issue of Edify
