Zen (restaurant)

Japanese restaurant in Markham, Ontario, Canada

Zen

Restaurant information
Established| 2000
Owner(s)| Seiichi Kashiwabara
Head chef| Seiichi Kashiwabara
Food type| Japanese
Rating| Recommended
(Michelin Guide)
Street address| 7634 Woodbine Avenue
City| Markham, Ontario
Country| Canada
Website| zenjapaneserestaurant.com

Zen is a Michelin recommended Japanese restaurant in the Milliken Mills neighbourhood of Markham, Ontario, located north of Toronto. It offers an omakase menu.[1]

## History

[edit]

The restaurant is owned and operated by chef Seiichi Kashiwabara, who immigrated to Canada from Japan in 1984.[2] Kashiwabara first lived in Ottawa, working as a sushi chef there before moving to the Toronto area.[2]

Zen, a Japanese restaurant situated in a Markham strip mall, was first established in 2000.[3][4] Kashiwabara initially joined Zen as head chef upon relocating to Toronto. He later acquired the restaurant and moved it from its original Scarborough location to its current address in Markham.[5][2][6]

The business only uses fresh fish for their sushi,[2] much of it delivered from Japan several times weekly.[4] Many of the employees of the restaurant are Japanese nationals, who have come to work at Zen via work permit to train under Kashiwabara.[2][6] Notable sushi chefs in the Toronto-area have worked at Zen and trained under Kashiwabara, including Michelin–starred Shoushin chef-owner Jackie Lin[5][7] and Takeshi Sato, the head chef of Michelin-starred Kappo Sato.[8]

## Recognition

[edit]

The business received a 'Recommended' designation in the 2024 edition of the Toronto and Region Michelin Guide.[2][3] Michelin highlighted the restaurant's price point for its omakase chef's counter experience, and also praised the restaurant for having "some of the best nori in town."[3] Per the guide, a 'Recommended' selection "is the sign of a chef using quality ingredients that are well cooked; simply a good meal" and that the anonymous inspectors had found "the food to be above average, but not quite at [Michelin star] level."[9] As of the 2024 edition, Zen is the only restaurant in Markham to be included in the Toronto guide.[10] Michelin–starred Markham restaurant Frilu was also in the guide before its closure in summer 2024.[10]

Toronto-area digital publication BlogTO lauded Zen as "long holding the reputation as one of the best sushi joints in town."[11]

Zen was included in magazine Toronto Life's list of the best Japanese restaurants in Greater Toronto, with the publication highlighting the business's "meticulously cut" sashimi plates.[12]

In 2022, Markham made United States food publication Eater's list of best food cities to travel to, with Zen receiving a callout as the "go-to destination for hardcore omakase aficionados."[1]

* Canada portal
* Food portal

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "The 38 Best Restaurants in Markham, Ontario". Eater. Vox Media. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
2. ^ a b c d e f Joseph, Simone (21 October 2024). "'In for a treat': Chef/owner of Zen Japanese Restaurant in Markham hopes Michelin-recommended designation will entice new customers". Markham Economist and Sun. yorkregion.com. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
3. ^ a b c "Zen - Markham". Michelin Guide. Michelin North America. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
4. ^ a b Joseph, Simone (25 September 2024). "Markham's Zen Japanese Restaurant makes it into the Michelin Guide for the first time". Markham Economist and Sun. yorkregion.com. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
5. ^ a b Doss, Suresh (23 May 2017). "Where Shoushin chef Jackie Lin eats Chinese and Japanese food in Markham and Richmond Hill". Toronto Life. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
6. ^ a b Keung, Nicholas (4 May 2024). "They're highly sought after chefs in popular Toronto restaurants. Immigration changes could make them harder to recruit". Toronto Star. TorStar. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
7. ^ Car, Amy (10 December 2021). "Markham sushi master who gained huge following during lockdown opens restaurant". BlogTO. ZoomerMedia. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
8. ^ "About". Kappo Sato. Kappo Sato. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
9. ^ "What It Means To Be A Michelin-Recommended Restaurant". Michelin Guide. Michelin North America. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
10. ^ a b "MICHELIN Guide Toronto & Region expands in year three with four new Stars". Michelin Guide. Michelin North America. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
11. ^ Low, DK (28 July 2019). "Zen Sanuki Udon". BlogTO. ZoomerMedia. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
12. ^ Toronto Life (11 May 2018). "The best Japanese restaurants in Toronto right now". Toronto Life. Retrieved 23 December 2024.

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|

Suburbs|

* Guru Lukshmi
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* Zen

Defunct|

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Related|

* Charlie's Burgers
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* Category:Restaurants in Toronto
* Michelin-starred restaurants in Toronto

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