Kanji Sushi & Sake Bar opened back in August, and it has been supplying the Parkdale set with sushi ever since. The work of entrepreneur Rob Banton, Kanji — which refers to one set of characters in Japan’s modern writing system — sees chef James Gao behind the sushi bar. There, he turns out fusion fare like a spicy salmon mix tucked into Pringles chips, along with a variety of rolls decked out in French and Italian-influenced sauces.
Meanwhile, the other bar sees fusion cocktails complement the cuisine. A number of tipples star Japanese plum wine and sake; we opted for Kanji’s take on the Negroni ($10). Matching Tanqueray gin with Campari, the classic cocktail is given a twist with Japanese plum wine in lieu of traditional vermouth rosso. Garnished with some orange peel, the drink can be sipped slowly while dreaming of the land of the rising sun.
Kanji Sushi & Sake Bar, 1346 Queen St. W., 416-536-8448
For more must-try Toronto cocktails, check out our Pinterest page
