Edmonton spots to enjoy sensational sake
Finding a kind of sake you like can take time and patience, as the types and brands vary greatly in taste. But that doesn’t mean you should take a pass on this popular Japanese drink. Instead, try the goods at one of these great restaurants offering sake – many of them offer sampler flights of sake, so you can sip and compare till you find a favourite.
Ikki
11931 Jasper Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5K 0P1This izakaya bar, located downtown, offers sake and sushi deals for only $15. The combo pairs one ounce of sake with either an ultimate shrimp roll, California roll, crispy spicy tuna or a veggie roll. You can improve your knowledge of sake by ordering the flight, which is one-ounce servings of three different kinds of sake: original, flavoured and hot. Their list of flavoured sake includes Fuji apple, lychee, white peach, plum and lemon. There is also a long list of hot and cold sakes, available in either a three-ounce serving or by the bottle (usually 300 or 750 ml).
Izakaya Tomo
3739 99 St NW, Edmonton, AB T6E 6J7Edmonton’s original izakaya bar, Izakaya Tomo brought the tradition of Japanese small plates and drinks to the city. If beer isn’t your thing, pair your appies with sake instead. They serve premium choices such as Dassai 23 and 39, Tamanohikari Gold Omachi and Sake Hitosuji, Yoshi, Hakurakusei and Tamanohikari Yamahai. If you can’t decide, opt for the sake sampler, which contains one ounce each of three different types of sake.
Mikado
10350 109 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 4X9Sake aficionados will appreciate the kikizake, a sake sampler featuring three one-ounce servings of different sakes for only $9. Guests can choose three of any of the premium cold sakes to try: Gokugo (a fruity sake), Yoshinogawa (full bodied and tropical), Ginjo (dry and smooth), Nigori (sweet and complex) and Hana sake in Fuji apple or lychee (contemporary and fresh). For hot sake, they offer Masukagami (crisp and clean) and premium and regular Sho-chikubai.
Yokozuna Japanese Restaurant
This upscale Japanese restaurant boasts a sake list several pages long. Their premium house sakes are the Komé Dry Honjozo (dry and mildly sweet) and Komé Daké No Sake Junmai (full-bodied). They also serve several kinds of Ginjo, Dai Gingo and Junmai Dai Gingo sakes by the glass or bottle (300 ml or 720 ml). You’ll also find sparkling and Nigori sakes here, including my favourite, the amazing Momokawa Pearl Nigori. If you like a strong sake, try the G sake, a Junmai Gingo Genshu sake that has 18 per cent alcohol.
Furusato Japanese Restaurant
10012 82 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T6E 1Z3This little Whyte Avenue Japanese restaurant is a hidden gem. The food is tasty, but don’t overlook the sake menu. It’s short and sweet, with seven kinds of sake served. Choose between Gekkeikan sake (available in several sizes), served hot or cold, Hakutsuru Junmai Sake (720 ml) or Oni Koroshi Demon Killer (720 ml) for groups. If you’re indulging by yourself, the 200 ml bottle of Pearl Momokawa or the 300 ml bottles of Hakutsuru Jumai Ginjo or Sayuri Nigori Sake will do the trick. There’s also Hakutsuru Draft Sake available in 300 ml.
Japonais Bistro
11806 Jasper Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5K 0N7This Japanese restaurant and sake bar is located on Jasper Avenue. Their name, which means “Japanese” in French, hints at their tendency to fuse traditional Japanese dishes with other types of cuisine, including North American and European. They have a big sake menu, so the best option is to go for the sake sampler flight, which is three samples of premium sake. They serve popular choices, such as the Momokawa Pearl Nigori.
Kyoto Japanese Cuisine Ltd
8709 109 St NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 2L5Kyoto offers 12 types of sake, ranging from Dassai 23 Junmai Daigingo (delicate, with hints of melon and cucumber) to Sho Chiku Bai Nigori (intensely sweet). The best way to try a variety is their sake sampler, which offers 2-ounce servings of either two, three or four kinds of sake. They also have an organic sake, Sho Chiku Bai Organic Nama, which is aged for one month to give it a mild, smooth flavour and fruity aroma.
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