Sushi, izakaya,
and the night that comes with it.

There are cooks, and there are those who put a piece of themselves on every plate. Chef Yamamoto belongs to the second family. For more than 30 years, he has lived, breathed and shared Japanese cuisine. And you can taste it.

His story begins in Brossard, at the Steak House Shogun, where it all took root. For 23 years, he grew up behind the teppanyaki grill, surrounded by the crackle of flames and the laughter of guests. For him, cooking was never just a job: it is a show, an encounter, a moment to share. Knives twirling, jokes tossed between flames, knowing looks with the families seated in front of him. Every service was a celebration, and every cut of steak was prepared with all his heart. Regulars came as much for the food as for the man behind it.

Then the adventure led him to the Plateau Mont-Royal, where he co-founded Aiko Sushi. For seven wonderful years, he welcomed a loyal and curious clientele: French, Quebecers, and so many others who came from all over, won over one sushi at a time. Under his lead, Aiko became a reference, and the chef, a name passed between friends.

The urge to innovate then took him downtown, just behind the Eaton Centre, where he opened Poké Star in 2018. Back then, only four or five spots in Montreal were serving poké. He was among the first to believe in it. The pandemic sadly wrote the end of that chapter, and he had to close the doors with a heavy heart.

But a passion like his does not fade. Six years later, Chef Yamamoto rolled up his sleeves once again to bring Aji Bar Sushi & Izakaya MTL to life, the little jewel he had ripened through all those years. Refined Japanese cuisine, attentive service, a reinvented concept, and above all: an address that stays accessible to everyone. Because fine dining, in his view, should be a pleasure you treat yourself to often, not only for special occasions.

Whether you have known him since the beginning or you are discovering him today, one thing is certain: the chef is waiting for you with the same smile, the same generosity, and always as many stories to tell at the table.

Welcome to Aji Bar Sushi & Izakaya MTL. Welcome home.