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 provides an exceptional dining experience that frequently earns praise for its authentic Japanese small plates, expertly grilled yakitori, and vibrant atmosphere. Guests consistently highlight the quality and creative preparation of the dishes, with standout items such as the tender pork belly, marinated quail eggs, and flavorful ramen often receiving special mention. While the popular venue can be bustling and reservations are strongly recommended to secure a spot, the attentive and knowledgeable staff work hard to ensure a welcoming environment. Whether visitors are enjoying cocktails at the bar or sharing a variety of flavorful tapas, the combination of professional service, delicious food, and a warm, inviting setting makes it a highly regarded destination in Québec City.
A wonderful meal! We sat at the end of the kitchen counter with a view of the plating station & I'm so glad we did. It was a little less crowded than the main restaurant & interesting to watch. The service was terrific. When she offered, we let our server choose our courses for us, which I recommend -- I don't think I would have chosen some of the dishes we tried & her selection was excellent & well-paced. My favorite of the night was the agedashi tofu, which was surprisingly delicious, but everything we had was very good -- pickles, marinated quail eggs, bluefin toro in a green sauce, agedashi tofu with bonito, mushroom yakitori, & vegetable dumplings. They were able to make all of their interesting cocktails without alcohol, which was appreciated. There were two of us & we both left full & satisfied but not overly stuffed. Mercí, Hono Izakaya!
If you are looking for authentic, expertly grilled skewers, Hono Izakaya is a must-visit. It has a Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand designation & it is an incredibly popular spot, so reservations are absolutely essential if you want to secure a table or a coveted seat at the bar.
We came specifically to try their famous yakitori, & while we ordered a broad variety of dishes, these were the absolute highlights of the night:
Butabara (Pork Belly): 🏆 Our personal favorite. It was incredibly tender & packed with flavor. The fat was perfectly rendered, meaning it literally melted in your mouth in the best way possible.
Momo (Chicken Thigh): Absolutely delicious. It had a wonderful, distinct grill taste while remaining incredibly moist & flavorful on the inside.
Waka (Chicken Skin): This was a chef's selection item. The first few bites were fantastic, but it is deeply rich.
Pro-Tip: The yakitori items-especially the chicken skin-are intensely rich. We highly recommend ordering a side of rice to help cut through that richness.
Because the grilled meats are so wonderfully decadent, we ordered the vegetable tempura & pickled vegetables. They provided the perfect crisp, bright contrast to the savory skewers & completely re-energized our palates.
Between the incredible grill technique & the vibrant atmosphere, Hono Izakaya completely lived up to the hype. We will definitely be back again!
We had dinner at Hon? Izakaya on Saturday, March 28, 2026. The food was good as well as cocktails. The food was a little pricey for the portion & taste. Service was really good. My one remark is that as the partner of an Asian person, I would hope to see proper representation at Asian restaurants. I did not see a single Asian staff member, which I think is disappointing, when making profit out of the food from another culture.
Mar 31, 2026
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We had a pleasant experience eating at Hono Izakaya. The food was nice, with some dishes better than the others, & the service was great. It was a popular spot & seating is limited. A good place to enjoy appetizer style Japanese food.
I would give 6 stars if I could. The food was exceptional. Every dish I've had was the best of its kind that I've ever tried in any izakaya restaurant. The service was incredible despite the restaurant being super busy. It is not cheap by any means but well worth the money for a great food experience.
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.
Gros wow pour le Hono Izakaya 🔥 Service écoeurant ! P-A en cuisine a pris le temps de tout nous expliquer, chaque assiette, chaque détail, avec full de passion. On a vraiment senti l'amour de la bouffe, autant de lui que de son chum en cuisine. Définitivement un resto à essayer !
Excellent izakaya ! Les plats sont vraiment goûteux & très bien exécutés. On a envie de tout goûter. L'ambiance est chaleureuse & vivante. Une très belle adresse pour une soirée agréable, je recommande sans hésiter!
