The first thing I notice walking into Izakaya Tomo is how thoroughly it embraces its Japanese pub roots, with wood covering the space, from flooring and furniture to general decor. The restaurant bar has such a warm atmosphere — even its name, Tomo, translates to “friend.” Edmonton’s first Japanese tapas restaurant continues to shine as an authentic destination where you can get your typical sushi and sashimi. But try the small and satisfying high-quality dishes like the Crispy Sushi Canape, a chopped scallop on a crispy rice base, topped with avocado, tobiko and green onions, drizzled with yuzu wasabi mayo sauce. Also worth the visit is the Crispy Tako Yaki, a popular Osaka snack of wheat flour balls filled with octopus. There is an explosion of textures and flavours in every bite. – Mariana Gutierrez Serna
Izakaya Tomo
Strathcona Industrial Park | 3739 99 St NW, Edmonton | 780.440.9152 | izakayatomo.net
Kobachi continues to impress and is back on our Best Japanese list. This small, family-owned business serves up fresh, authentic sushi made by hand with the utmost care and attention to detail. Good seafood can be hard to find in land-locked Edmonton, but the restaurant’s sushi and sashimi are easily some of the best seafood, let alone Japanese food, in the area. Kobachi is worth the jaunt even if you don’t live in Sherwood Park. The intimate space seats around 15, which adds to the experience of dining on something so exceptional. So make a reservation or order takeout. If you like sushi, you simply must eat here. – Breanna Mroczek
Kobachi Japanese Cuisine
#125, 200 Festival Lane, Sherwood Park | 780.570.5858 | kobachi.ca
This tiny lunch spot usually has a wait but it’s worth it for some of the best ramen in Edmonton. Solo diners can often get in more quickly by taking a perch at the shared lunch counter. It’s been a staple on Edify’s Best Restaurants list since it opened eight years ago, and its daily made, slow-simmered, rich broth recipes haven’t changed since then, thankfully. Tokiwa also serves a selection of rice bowls if you’re not feeling soupy, but we strongly suggest the ramen as it’s the star of the show. The Black Garlic ramen with braised pork, shoyu broth and black garlic oil has been my favourite since day one, but the Spicy Goma is a popular too. You really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. – Breanna Mroczek
Tokiwa Ramen
Wîhkwêntôwin | 11978 104 Ave NW | 780.761.1400 | tokiwaramen.ca
This article appears in the March 2026 issue of Edify
