Japanese and Sushi Restaurants in Kitchener-Waterloo

*A guide to à la carte sushi, all-you-can-eat restaurants, izakaya dining and Japanese food beyond sushi in Kitchener and Waterloo.*

Last reviewed: July 17, 2026 | KW Foodies Editorial Team

Japanese food in Kitchener-Waterloo isn't only sushi. There are à la carte sushi bars, all-you-can-eat restaurants, an izakaya, a sake bar and a tonkatsu specialist. This guide sorts them by how you want to eat. For other cuisines, see the Kitchener-Waterloo Cuisine Guide.

Hours, menus and ownership change often at small independent restaurants, so check the restaurant's own page or call ahead before you go. If you have an allergy or follow halal, vegan or gluten-free rules, ask the staff directly; a menu label doesn't tell you how the kitchen handles cross-contact.

On this page

• Quick picks
• A la carte sushi and sake-focused dining
• All-you-can-eat sushi and izakaya-style groups
• Japanese dining beyond sushi
• À la carte, all-you-can-eat or cooked dishes?
• Explore other Kitchener-Waterloo cuisine guides
• How places are chosen
• Frequently asked questions

Quick picks

• À la carte sushi: Ken Sushi House, Waterloo
• Uptown date night: Watami, Uptown Waterloo
• Downtown group meal: Kinkaku Izakaya, Downtown Kitchener
• All-you-can-eat in Kitchener: Sushi Star
• Japanese comfort food: Katsuya, Uptown Waterloo

A la carte sushi and sake-focused dining

Order the rolls, nigiri, sashimi and cooked dishes you want, one at a time, instead of a set all-you-can-eat price.

Ken Sushi House

256 Phillip Street, Waterloo | Best for: à la carte sushi near the universities

A family-run sushi restaurant near the universities. Sushi, sashimi and some Japanese fusion.

Watami

14 King Street North, Waterloo | Best for: sushi, cooked Japanese dishes and sake

Watami reopened in Uptown with a new Japanese menu and a sake bar. The menu goes beyond sushi, so it works for a date or a small group that wants cooked dishes too.

Yo Sushi

103 King Street West, Kitchener | Best for: central sushi downtown

Handy before a downtown event or if you're getting around by transit.

Back to quick picks

All-you-can-eat sushi and izakaya-style groups

All-you-can-eat is about variety and ordering for the table. Check time limits, leftover charges and current prices before you arrive.

Kinkaku Izakaya

217 King Street West, Kitchener | Best for: all-you-can-eat sushi, sashimi and izakaya plates

A large downtown all-you-can-eat restaurant with sushi, sashimi and small plates. A good group choice if everyone is happy with all-you-can-eat.

Sushi Star

4281 King Street East, Kitchener | Best for: all-you-can-eat Japanese food

A broad menu in one fixed-price visit.

Jinzakaya

Uptown Waterloo | Best for: all-you-can-eat and social dining

Kinkaku's sister restaurant, serving all-you-can-eat Japanese food in Uptown Waterloo.

Back to quick picks

Japanese dining beyond sushi

Cutlets, curry, grilled dishes, noodles and small plates are all part of Japanese food.

Katsuya

23 King Street North, Waterloo | Best for: Japanese cutlets and curry

A tonkatsu specialist, and an easy answer when someone in the group doesn't want sushi.

Back to quick picks

À la carte, all-you-can-eat or cooked dishes?

Choose à la carte when you want specific rolls or sashimi, all-you-can-eat for variety, and Katsuya or Watami when cooked dishes matter. Ask about soy sauce, marinades, imitation crab and tempura for gluten-free needs.

Explore other Kitchener-Waterloo cuisine guides

• Kitchener-Waterloo Cuisine Guide
• Italian and Mediterranean Restaurants in Kitchener-Waterloo
• Indian and South Asian Restaurants in Kitchener-Waterloo
• Chinese Restaurants in Kitchener-Waterloo
• Korean Restaurants in Kitchener-Waterloo
• Vietnamese, Thai and Southeast Asian Restaurants in KW
• Middle Eastern and Shawarma Restaurants in KW
• Mexican and Latin American Restaurants in KW
• Caribbean Restaurants in Kitchener-Waterloo
• Ethiopian and East African Restaurants in KW
• German and Central European Restaurants in KW

How places are chosen

This is an editorial list. Restaurants cannot buy inclusion or a higher position; paid content is labelled separately.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between à la carte and all-you-can-eat sushi?

À la carte prices each dish. All-you-can-eat is one set price with rules about time and leftovers. Pick based on appetite and how choosy you want to be.

Are there Japanese restaurants that don't focus on sushi?

Yes. Katsuya focuses on cutlets and curry, and Watami's menu includes cooked dishes.

Is sushi safe for people with gluten allergies?

Not automatically. Soy sauce, marinades, imitation crab and tempura can all contain gluten. Ask the restaurant directly.