The Best Sushi Restaurants in Bloor West Village, Toronto, Ontario

Bloor West Village is primarily a shopping and restaurant area of the city, containing over 400 different shops, restaurants and service outlets. With numerous restaurants in the area vying for your business, this area provides one of the harshest competitive environments. You can bet that restaurants that have long-established histories in the Bloor West Village have earned their culinary stripes and fought for the privilege of feeding this tight-knit community over the years. Notably, the businesses in the Bloor West Village organized the first ever business improvement district - an area where businesses volunteer an additional tax that helps to fund projects within the village and give back to the community whose patronage keeps these restaurants and service outlets afloat. Contributions from the local business improvement association have created improvements in infrastructure that attract new residents to the neighborhood and cyclically improve support for businesses operating in this historic neighborhood. The Bloor West Village BIA also plays a strong community organizing role, especially in coordinating the numerous festivals held in the village each year.
Bloor West Village plays host to numerous festivals throughout the year which provide a great time to check out restaurants in Bloor West Village and other local attractions. The village also hosts the July Street Festival every year which includes free entertainment, stage shows, raffles, ethnic dancing and other attractions that bring together the community and raise funds for local projects. The July Festival culminates each year in a traditional street dance with a live band.
Each year, the annual Ukrainian festival takes place in the village, which includes traditional food, music and crafts in a stimulating and family-friendly environment. This showcase of Ukrainian culture includes food of course - the many cafes and delicatessens serve delicious sausages and perogies, recipes brought from overseas that have endured and found their niche in the Canadian diet. The Roncesvalles bakery serves delectable perogies at just $4/dozen along with a selection of other deli items and baked goodies. Another popular Bloor West Village restaurant, Inter Steer, attracts a mixture of old and young clientele and specializes in the pairing of traditional European dishes with Western cuisine. The nacho perogies are virtually unrivalled as a personal comfort food, but the perogies served with potato wedges seem to be the favourite menu item. Although the cross-cultural combination of comfort foods seems natural here, Inter Steer offers further departures from what you might expect. The best example? Try a "Steer Cigar" - traditional Polish beef goulash served wrapped in a Crepe. You won't be disappointed.
While serving as the focal point of Eastern European cuisine in Toronto, the Bloor West Village supports a variety of other restaurants as well. Residents of the village appreciate the fact that they can get a delicious meal from Simply Thai on Bloor Street or from Canadian Bistro "The Good Fork" just up the street without having to take a subway ride into the heart of downtown. The willingness to support local business has made Bloor West Village a thriving location for shops and eateries despite its proximity to the admittedly greater selection further down the subway line.
There's delicious Asian cuisine to be found in the form of Asa Sushi at 18 Jane Street or Yumi Japanese restaurant on Bloor West. These popular takeout locations serve delectable sushi at an affordable price and have garnered great popularity despite their modest operations within the neighborhood. Asa Sushi is particularly famous for its delicious Chicken Udon and fresh Sushi ingredients.
For an extra special treat in the Bloor West Village, check out the traditional English tea service at the Old Mill Inn. Although a little on the pricy side, this is a meal you won't quickly forget. Guests are served a choice of exotic teas such as Darjeeling Mim or Queen Mary, along with decadent sandwiches of smoked salmon, cucumber and fennel cream cheese. An assortment of lovely desserts follows, including scones, miniature carrot cakes and a delightful Devonshire cream. Although more contemporary cafes abound in the village, the Old Mill Inn offers a genuinely unique tea-time experience.
Bloor West Village has carved out a strong culinary identity for itself as an alternative to the hustle and bustle and crowded eateries of downtown Toronto. Restaurants here thrive in a competitive environment with many options by supporting the community and offering patrons an excellent combination of value and variety at every meal. Check out this unique and vibrant village this weekend. You'll be coming back for more once you see the unique culture and delicious cuisine that this area has to offer.