Charcoal Grill @ Izakaya Ju, J-Town

Located in J-Town, Izakaya Ju specializes in Japanese Style Grilled Food using imported Bincho Charcoal from Japan. It is one of a very few Japanese Restaurants around Markham and Richmond Hill that is owned and operated by Japanese people.

The menu features a number of Grilled Items such as Chicken Wings, Chicken Balls, Chicken Gizzard, Beef Tongue, and Pork Cheek. In addition, Ju also serves up a number of Izakaya Dishes like Takoyaki, Osaka Style Fried Rice, Soba Noodles and much more.


Grilled Squid

Grilled with just Salt and a squeeze of lemon. The Squid was very tender.


Grilled Pork Belly

Pork Belly had a nice Crisp although some parts were a little dry from being over-charred.


Seared BC Tuna Tataki

I've always loved BC Tuna over the regular dark red Tuna. The texture of BC Tuna is much softer with a less fishy flavor. Here it was served with some Ponzu Dressing and was topped with some sliced Onions.


Grilled Atka Mackeral

This was delicious. The Mackeral had a slight sour note from being marinated and was lightly grilled giving it a slight Charcoal Flavor. It was topped with minced Raddish and Ginger. There was no fishy flavor that is usually associated with it.


Pork Cheek: Delicious

The Pork was grilled Crispy but because of it's high fat content the meat was still very juicy with a nice chewy texture.


Bincho Grilled Teriyaki Salad

My favorite dish at Ju. The Charcoal Flavor was imparted so well into the Chicken with the Teriyaki Sauce giving it a nice sweetness. It went well with the Soy-Based Salad Dressing.


Grilled Miso Cod

The Cod had the right amount of Miso Paste without being too sweet. It was however a little too charred on the sides.


Nankotsu

The Grilled Chicken Breast Bone was so-so. I loved the one's at Ri-Yakitori in KL which serves the Breast Bone with some Meat. Eating the Bones on it's own was a little too dry.


Kamo-Soba

Uncle Richard Ordered this for himself. I did not really try it.


Gyu Tongue

One of my favorites in Ju. It's a little expensive but the Tongue was grilled simply with some salt and pepper. It had a light crisp and was very juicy.


Most of the dishes we had were good with my favorites being their Grilled Bincho Chicken Teriyaki Salad, Grilled Beef Tongue and Pork Cheeks. Service is excellent even during busy times with the waiters and waitresses always smiling and tending to customer requests.


Food: 4.3/5
Service: 4.5/5
Ambiance: 2.5/5
Price: $$ (Approximately USD $20 per person)


Contact Information
Address: 3160 Steeles Avenue East Markham, ON, Canada
Tel: +1(905) 474-1058
Web: www.izakayaju.com/