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]
Recognition
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."[8] As of the 2024 edition, Zen is the only restaurant in Markham to be included in the Toronto guide.[9] Michelin–starred Markham restaurant Frilu was also in the guide before its closure in summer 2024.[9]
Toronto-area digital publication BlogTO lauded Zen as "long holding the reputation as one of the best sushi joints in town."[10]
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.[11]
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]
