At Honō, it happens in the gestures, and in the consistency of these gestures. As newcomers to the community, it is with respect that we make our place. Saint-Roch is like a team: we wear it proudly on our jersey, and when there are players who fall, we are there to reach out to them.
Speaking of respect: for us, respect is measured by the sum of the parts to which we decide to apply it, and this is what makes our integrity. Here there is no discrimination. Respect is applied everywhere: to traditions, to food, to customers and to their experience. Fla-fla in our decor, we don't want it. We do not try to influence the client by anything other than our thirst to perfect the fusion of Japanese and Quebec cultures.
Details
Our Specialties
Yakitoris (small skewers grilled on our Japanese grill)
Tempura and fried dishes
Sake and cocktails
Hono Izakaya is widely celebrated for its exceptional Japanese-inspired small plates, creative cocktails, and overall dining atmosphere in Quebec City. Many guests highlight the high quality and inventive presentation of dishes like the pork belly, skewers, and dumplings, noting that the shared-plate concept offers a fun and exploratory culinary experience. While the restaurant is consistently busy and requires advance reservations, the majority of visitors praise the staff for being attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable, often providing helpful recommendations that enhance the meal. Although some diners have noted occasional issues with seasoning intensity, seating density, or temperature near the entrance, the consensus remains that this establishment provides a memorable and high-value gastronomic experience that keeps people coming back.
We didn't realize it's a Michelin bib gourmand restaurant. We went in because we were staying in the neighbourhood. For some reasons we only got the ramen menu (we went on a Tuesday evening). The Shoyu ramen, noodle has good texture & the pork belly was tasty. However the soup was very oily (not sure why but there was a layer of oil on top) & not much shoyu flavour. The Tori Paitan ramen, teriyaki chicken was ok but the soup was extremely salty. I asked for the typical chili power (shichimi) that is usually served with ramen & ended up with their homemade chili crisp that has very little flavour (not spicy & just oily) & got charged for it (the waitress didn't explain that it's extra). The salmon croquette was ok but nothing special. The one thing that stands out was the Yuzu Sapporo slush. It was an interesting combination & very refreshing. Serve was a bit cold. The waitresses were polite enough but not friendly. We got the bill before we even finished our drink (weird…& it's not like there was a line up). In the end we find the food was meh & it's very overpriced. If you are looking for ramen, there are definitely better places out there.
First, shout out to Linda - we had 6 rowdy gentlemen coming in after a long work day very very hungry.
They helped us decide on drinks, apps, & selected a wonderful'omakase' that everyone thoroughly enjoyed.
To start, we had 3 different types of sashimi including a fish I don't remember, tuna & butterfish. We ordered the quail eggs, which is extremely popular & for good reason - it was unique in preparation & taste, but absolutely delicious. This was followed by two different types of dumplings which were warm, flavorful, & filling. Then came both a salmon & waygu skewer - which was both unique in preparation & cooked to perfection. We had various other dishes amongst this including a nigiri & pork belly dish we prepared at the table, chicken skin, & duck heart(?) - all of which made the meal very enjoyable & memorable. We were so full we couldn't even have dessert, & left happy with all the preparations.
See photos. I don't speak French, & they were accommodating - although I don't recall all the names of every dish.
May 20, 2026
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Relatively cozy environment for causal hangout, but the food taste is not matching its price. Menu is not very'Japanese', & food tastes overly salty.
Atmosphere is good though if you don't care about food, just want to have a cosy place to chat & drink.
Hono Izakaya has a nice atmosphere & the dishes we tried were generally well prepared, but the experience didn't fully live up to what you'd expect from a Japanese izakaya.
The biggest issue is the very limited selection. For a place calling itself an izakaya, the menu felt surprisingly narrow-there was only one sushi dish & one sashimi dish, which is quite unusual if you're hoping for the variety of small plates typically associated with izakayas.
The pricing is also far from typical izakaya style. Izakayas are usually casual places where you can try multiple small dishes without the bill getting out of hand. Here, the prices felt closer to upscale dining. For three of us, the final bill came to about $365 including tax & tip, which felt quite steep for the amount & style of food served.
Portions for drinks were also disappointing. An $11 shochu turned out to be literally two small sips, which felt excessive even by restaurant standards.
As for the food itself, while some dishes were good, a few were noticeably too salty & lacked the more layered, refined flavours you might expect from Japanese cooking.
Overall, the ambiance is pleasant & the kitchen shows potential, but limited variety, high prices, tiny drink portions, & uneven seasoning made the experience less satisfying than expected. Expanding the menu & bringing prices more in line with the izakaya concept would go a long way toward improving the experience.
Hono never disappoints. Every dish is executed to such a high degree. Features on both food & drink are always inventive & enticing. Can't recommend Hono Izakaya enough to anybody looking for a dinner on the town in QC.
Wasn't expecting a Japanese restaurant to be one of our favorites on our trip to Canada. The food was really great. Lamb & Salmon skewers were some of the best I've had. Sashimi, Waygu, Karaage, Steamed dumplings & drinks were all amazing. Coming from NYC it seemed reasonably priced. Would absolutely go again & highly recommend if you are visiting Quebec.
Food & drinks were absolutely amazing this evening. We had the chance to sit at the bar & ended up having a great time with Anthony. He provided knowledgeable recommendations, an impromptu whiskey flight, & an incomparable atmosphere. Would recommend to anyone in Quebec City looking for fantastic food & even better service.
What an exquisite restaurant. The food was fresh, delicious, & reasonably priced. The service was friendly, attentive, & efficient. The atmosphere was well lit, sparkling clean, & minimalist. The server recommended some food & drink that were very much to our liking. This was my son's birthday - thank you for making it so special.
Sit at the bar counter if you can, the cocktails they make are artisan level intricate & you get to see them made up close. Had appetizers, mains, drinks, & desserts--all exceptional.
