After hearing about this place from so many friends, I finally had the pleasure of trying it. I regret that decision. I've been back 3 times in the last two weeks so it's safe to say I'm ADDICTED. Absolutely amazing sushi combined with warm and friendly service. I'll be seeing you guys a lot more. If you haven't tried it and love sushi. Everything they make is amazing. The yummy yummy and big boss are my favourites. But they're all delicious

This is probably one of the best sushi places in Ottawa. The restaurant itself is cozy and clean. The server was super friendly and attentive. The wait was longer than usual, but that’s understandable because of the volume of takeout orders on a Friday night. The sushi rolls were creamy and flavourful, and the combination of ingredients in each worked. Presentation was nice too. Our server also gave us complementary appetizers for the wait. Overall, it was a great dining experience!

This place has one of the best creative sushi I have ever had. I had prawns tempura, ramen combo, crazy girl, big boss and plum wine. I can’t say a negative in any of the above. It was that awesome. The flavours that bombs in our mouth is crazy. Each dish was unique and amazing. This place is a house converted to a restaurant place and hence the interior is kinda small so there might be some wait time especially during weekends. There is public street parking in front of the place but it’s kinda always filled. When I heard the name J:unique, I thought it might be a short name for Japanese unique 😅, but as I asked them they said the owners name starts with letter J so they meant it owners unique dishes😇. And that completely make sense when you go here.

Summary: Good apps, unimpressive sushi, underwhelming experience. Having read good reviews, I really wanted to like this restaurant. Sadly, our entire experience was underwhelming at best. First, we weren't told about the unavailable items on the menu. So after taking time to look through everything and decide what we wanted, I was told the restaurant is out of all types of ramen when I tried to order one. The server gave us time to choose something else. And when we were ready to order a second time, we were told the restaurant is out of chicken karaage. At that point, it was quite frustrating. So we ordered what seemed safe: miso soup, takoyaki, a spicy salmon roll, a spider roll and a tuna belly nigiri sushi. Unfortunately, we were disappointed with the sushi. The spider roll is so huge it's impossible to eat without the fillings falling out and the entire piece falling apart. The spicy salmon roll came liberally drizzled with mayo and hot sauce; you couldn't taste the fish. The tuna belly didn't taste like tuna belly too. Fortunately, the takoyaki was good. To be fair: 1. The restaurant put the miso soup on the house as they were out of the items we wanted. But it would have been so much more pleasant if we were just told what was unavailable. 2. Also, when the second server saw that most of my hubby's spicy salmon roll was untouched, she wanted to give us credits for a future visit. However, our experience was so unpleasant we really didn't think we would come again. So, while we appreciated the gesture, we felt the rating should reflect the overall experience which is a 2-star one.

First time here. We came for lunch. Service was casual and friendly. We ordered the poke bowls (spicy mayo salmon, spicy mayo tuna, and classic salmon.) Before getting them, I thought the price was a bit expensive, but after finishing, we agreed that we definitely got our money's worth. The fish was very fresh, as well as the vegetables. I was very impressed with the rice which was seasoned perfectly with vinegar. My youngest daughter had the avocado and the avocado salmon maki rolls, both of which got 👍. We also ordered the prawn tempura. Unfortunately, I can't eat it due to allergies, but my wife and kids really liked it, saying it was crisp and flavorful. Washrooms are very clean. Accessibility may be an issue because of steps to the entrance. If there were any complaint, the tea wasn't very warm, but that's a very minor issue. Overall, a great meal, and we look forward to coming back.

Excellent yam tempura appetizers; probably the best I’ve had. They were super warm, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Perfect texture and taste. I also liked their spicy yam tempura roll. However, the tamago roll was a bit cold and the inari just ok. The restaurant has some cute decor. The food’s presentation was great and the service excellent. Solid sushi place. Good for vegetarians but better for non-vegetarians.

I went there because of the 4.7 rating but to be honest it’s not really a 4.7, I would give it max 2 stars. I got the sushi rolls only, didn’t try other foods. But the sushi was very bad, the rolls were very poorly done and the rice around the rolls was uncooked. The presentation was terrible. The taste was average. They put red spicy sauce on the sushi which doesn’t give it a good look (personal taste). The menues have no pictures and they don’t even include the ingredients for the rolls, which makes it very difficult to order if you go there for the first time. But the staff were nice and explained the rolls. Overall, I’ve tried many different sushi places and there is a very good sushi place in byward market called Sushi Fresh which is a must to try!! But since I love sushi, I was looking to try other places and see if I can find other sushi spots in ottawa but this one was a fail for sure. Overall the sushi was not good at all for the price you pay, not going back again.

Very excellent Japanese restaurant with a small cozy atmosphere, with delicious food and fast service. Came here on Friday evening without any reservation, and we were lucky enough to get a table right away. I highly recommend coming early or calling because they can fill up fairly quickly, and the seating is very limited. Our server was friendly and quick to get our food. We had to move to a different table and got compensated with free miso soup on the house! Ordered the combo set, specifically the big boss roll with sashimi and the sock eye salmon pressed sushi. Everything tastes phenomenal. The sashimi was very thick and fresh, the big boss roll was very flavourful and the pressed sushi had a nice ratio with sauce, fish and rice I highly recommend coming and trying their menu!

The standalone sushi (nigiri and sashimi) are expensive. However, the fusion-oriented rolls are tasty and big which makes them a good value. The food was very fresh. Takoyaki was on point and our favorite roll was the Blue Ocean roll.

The best sushi in ottawa, the food is very fresh and tasty, and the service is great! It is a must try if you’re looking for great sushi. We tried the yummy yummy, big boss, and Godzilla bites. Overall, amazing experience!

A hidden gem in Ottawa. Pricing is actually very reasonable considering how filling the sushi is. Delicious combinations and flavours that are hard to find in Ottawa. The sushi is creative, appealing and mouth watering delicious!

(Translated by Google) All very good, congratulations, fresh fish at an honest price (Original) Tutto buonissimo, complimenti, pesce fresco a prezzo onesto

This place is exceptional, easily some of the best sushi that I’ve had in Ottawa - and this is saying a lot being from Vancouver. I typically stick with sashimi, and it’s noticeably firmer and fresher than many other places. They clearly take a lot of pride in their food as you’ll notice how well the fish is cut, and the thickness is on point - like mini steaks, as they should be. It may seem on the pricier side at first glance, but you get what you pay for and here you’ll need about half the portions compared to many other places as they’re not cut paper thin. If you’re tired of being disappointed by mediocre-at-best sushi, I’d highly recommend.

I think our first mistake was ordering take out, we sadly were not provided chopsticks or soy sauce. I think they’re trying too hard to westernize sushi, the fish itself didn’t taste fresh and the most enjoyable thing was the fillers on the rolls such as the mayo and fried shallots. If you were to remove all the fancy things on the rolls, it tastes the same as the all you can eat rolls, only difference is the absurd prices. Honestly, the sushi tasted very good, but I just wished it tasted good for the right reasons, what sushi is known for, the actually fish. I wouldn’t mind coming back again, but for sure in person this time, I hope the price I will be paying is reflective of the quality of the ingredients.

Calling all sushi lovers! You need to go here. Unfortunate they don't allow reservations; our group got there around 7 and the place was packed! Luckily wasn't too cold out and the last spot on the patio was open. This place has the most friendly staff and the YUMMIEST sushi I've had in Ottawa so far! Everything is fresh with the most fun flavours. You have to try the big boss and the Godzilla! I would pass on the mango sushi and the ramen (you can get better elsewhere) but I had to try!

I've never had Vancouver style sushi but J:Unique was among the highest quality raw fish I've eaten in Ottawa; very helpful service and exciting presentation (they have flaming dishes but I did not order one). Pork Gyoza (4.6/5) perfectly cooked to crispy perfection they tasted as good as they look! Appetizer sashimi: Atlantic salmon, sockeye salmon, albacore tuna. (4.9/5) Everything was mind blowingly amazing. The Atlantic salmon was actually one of the best pieces of sashimi I've ever had, and the others were not far behind. They were fresh, great texture and flavor. Tuna Tataki special rolls (4.7/5) they were deliciously flavorful and had a great combination of textures with the crispy bits on top and the creaminess of the tuna and avocado. Tuna tartare Oshi Sushi (2.9/5) had limited flavor and was very forgettable; really nothing stood out to me for this dish. Kirin Ichiban beer (3.1/5) was just as the waitress described it "very light flavored." It wasn't bad but really had next to no flavor; good for a refreshing thirst quench, but for an enjoyable Japanese beer I'll go for Asahi next time.

Good sushi albeit a tad decadent. That is, the tasty of the fish can very easy be overwhelmed by the rest of the many other flavours and saltiness. I would recommend having some more traditional rolls or sashimi rather than the special rolls. Fire Dragon rolls make for great spectacle (see video) but are a bit difficult to eat without them falling apart. Plum wine is very tasty if you’re into sweet drinks. Also, apparently they don’t take reservations.

J:Unique has absolutely delicious contemporary sushi rolls and other Japanese restaurant staples. Their special rolls are very large and extremely well presented, which adds to the decadence of the experience, especially for such a reasonable price. I do feel the toppings on some of the menu items were a little bit excessive, but this is definitely not your traditional sushi restaurant, so it’s all part of the fun. I highly recommend this place if you’re looking for a new spin on sushi and want the high quality & great taste to match! Note that J:Unique is quite tiny and doesn’t take reservations, so you may have to come early or try your luck if you’re hoping to stop by on a busy night like the weekend.

Cute little spot in Centretown. First off, I'll say that the service was excellent. We ordered the spicy chicken (finger-lickin' good!) and a sushi platter. Not sure if they were having an off-day, but the sushi was rolled a bit amateurishly. I think it had to do with the rice that was overcooked and soggy, and the yam tempura was undercooked in certain areas and soggy in others. Apart from that, the flavours were quite yummy. To note, I've ordered take-out from them once before and that wasn't an issue then. My recommendation is to get their special rolls as they're fun dishes with great presentation, and the chicken karage!

Fast, great service. attentive staff. Good quality food. Big portions. They also serve complimentary toasted rice tea. Good alternative to a Japanese buffet. Ordered the tokoyaki, big boss, assorted tempura, fire crab.

Tasty and fresh, creative sushi rolls. Not on the authentic side, but still very creative. Can be a bit expensive but their raw ingredients are truly of good quality, legit sashimi-grade. Takeout is as good as dine-in (minus the fun little fire on each plate when you dine in).

Probably best sushi in Ottawa. "Vancouver style". No question if you don't want to just do AYCE, you might as well get J:unique. It's comparable in price to other a la carte places but much better in quality. find that one review article from the Ottawa citizen from summer 2019 on what things to get but basically big boss roll, gozila, j unique roll, the dragon rolls, oshi set this place apart. Sashimi and nigiri are also great. TLDR: you'll see and taste the difference. not feeling AYCE = just do J:unique, don't settle if you're already paying a la carte in ottawa

I’ve ordered takeouts from this restaurant for several times in the past two years. This is the first time I dine in. It is not a traditional Japanese restaurant. The atmosphere here is casual and comfortable. The seafood is very fresh. I admire the creativity of the chef. It is a great place for a night out with friends!

Good atmosphere and great presentation on every dish, but honestly overpriced for the quality of fish that they offer. The presentation is definitely impressive, but it feels like it gets way more priority than anything else. Many of the rolls feel like the sauce and rice is way out shining (or overpowering?) the fish and other ingredients. That being said, the cuts of fish are generally large and quite fresh, but look and taste cheap while the presentation and price make me expect otherwise. Particularly the Atlantic salmon tasted extremely lacking and seemed more like grocery store frozen farmed salmon than the rich Atlantic salmon I would actually want to pay for in a restaurant. It almost tasted... watery? Even though it was cut skillfully and presented beautifully and costed $9 just for two pieces of nigiri. Overall, it feels to me like a conflicted place. If they can get their fish and balance of flavours in their dishes up to the level of their presentation, it will be an awesome spot.

The experience was great even during the pandemic!! Their sushi is to die for. We have the Blue Ocean, Big Boss and Fire Dragon and they're super delicious!!

Sushi was AMAZING!! Got the Big Boss roll, J’unique roll, and Fire Dragon roll, all were very tasty and large rolls so they were quite filling even though I shared with another person. Staff was super nice and accommodating; we switched tables to get one at the window and they sanitized the table and seats for us. Best restaurant experience that I’ve had in a good while!

Modern and fancy sushi spot. Worth a visit. Tasted great.

Fresh and delicious sushi! The sashimi was thick and satisfying, and I loved the oshi (torch pressed) sushi. Takoyaki was piping hot with a good ratio of dough and meat, ranks pretty high for satisfying my cravings. Personally am not a big fan of lots of sauce on maki rolls, the Fire Dragon roll was a great choice with 11 pieces and no extra sauce taking away from the amazing seafood. There is a small patio with 3 tables out in the front, and the inside ambiance while we were waiting to get seated was cozy. At 6pm on a Saturday, the place was pretty full but there was no line yet when we arrived. The server was very friendly, and even though we were sitting out on the patio, she made sure to check in with us.

Good restaurant in the alley corner, hate myself don’t know this place earlier. The special roll series is really good and worth the price. I ordered fire dragon, mega and j unique, for appetizers korokke is my favorite! Highly recommended, I believe other special rolls will surprise my also but I don’t have that large stomach 🤣 but I believe they all worth to try out. barely no waiting time after you order the food. Really appreciate the experience here.

I was on a hunt to actually find decent sushis in Ottawa and this may be just it! Ordered mostly rolls as I was feeling for some torched pieces, so can't speak for the pure sashimis. But! The J:Unique roll was delicious, as well as the unagi nigiri! It does get a bit pricy, but for the quality, I don't think it's totally unreasonable. Our 5 plates totalled around 100$. It is quite a small restaurant though, so be aware if you're going at peak hours. Staff was nice and helpful as well. Would definitely return 🙂.

Service: Excellent - when we asked for a takeout container, they provided it to us quickly and even tied it tightly for us so it wouldn’t spill. Food was provided extremely quickly. Very friendly staff. Ambience: Small but cute space. Food: Spicy karaage was very good. Crispy crunch was good. They’re known for their special rolls, which are priced higher but have great presentation. Price: Quite reasonable.

I recently visited a Japanese restaurant in downtown Ottawa for the first time, and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised by the experience. Despite the quirky service, which was not bad, it was understandable as the restaurant was extremely busy. I would recommend arriving early, as they do not take reservations ahead of time. This new restaurant is a great find for anyone looking for a wide selection of Japanese food options. From sushi to tempura, their menu had something for everyone, and all of it was delicious. Our dinner party all loved the food options, and we were impressed by the quality, variety, and taste of everything we tried. Compared to many other Japanese restaurants in Ottawa, this one stood out as being a notch above the rest. The dishes were expertly prepared and beautifully presented, and the flavors were simply divine. We particularly enjoyed the sushi rolls, which were fresh and flavorful, as well as the ramen, which were perfectly cooked and served in a savory broth. Overall, I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a fantastic Japanese dining experience in downtown Ottawa. While the service may be a bit quirky, it is understandable given the restaurant's popularity and the high demand for their delicious food. So, if you're looking for a great meal with friends or family, I would definitely give this restaurant a try. You won't be disappointed!

The sushi is delicious! So flavourful and also very filling (big portions with loads of toppings). We ordered the sockeye salmon Oshi, the Big Boss special roll, and the tempura yam maki. Staff was efficient and friendly. Can’t wait to come back to try other things from the menu.

Amazing. Best pork belly I've ever eaten in my life. I usually don't like it in my ramen but you would be missing out if you didn't! Cute sweet little house location! This was one of the best stops I made in my first Ottawa trip!

Lovely decor, cozy interior, decent prices, and lovely food. We went randomly, they don't take reservations and people show up a lot and limited space make it fairly exclusive in a way? It's a feeling of having a place made for you as you have it, and if you're not there then that's just that. Service is wonderful, food is delicious, and the price is good. Though it is a bit cold near the window, very draft.

Best sushi in Ottawa, hands down!

One of the best sushi places in Ottawa. The sweet potato tempura and big boss rolls are a must try

J:unique makes the best sushi around! This is my favourite restaurant in Ottawa. The quality and presentation cannot be matched and the staff are sweet and professional. Thank you for a great experience every time!

We have only lived in the Ottawa area for a short amount of time and this is the best sushi place we have tried. Very unique and flavourful rolls. 4 stars only because it can be pricey and sometimes take up to an hour for take out orders.

My favourite sushi place in Ottawa. The salmon/tuna sashimi were tasty and the fatty tuna nigiri was amazing!

The best sushi I’ve had this year. So glad to have found this place in Ottawa! Everything tastes so good, from the rice, sauce, to fish. Ambiance and customer service is great!

Hands down best sushi in the city. The restaurant has a sweet and cozy ambience to it. The take out is also almost always spot on. They have the best tempura yam and vegetable maki rolls. They give complimentary sides as well. I highly recommend this spot. Thank you J:unique for your food!

If you find yourself wanting west coast style sushi, this is easily your best option in Ottawa. Delicious, consistent, and excellent service.

The best sushi restaurant in Ottawa, without a doubt.

First time eating here tonight. I ordered on uber eats for pick up. It was ready very quickly and all the food was absolutely amazing. Everything is fresh, presented beautifully for take away and flavourful. The spicy sweet potato tempura roll is 😍 They also sent me a free spring roll on the house. So sweet :) By far the best sushi I have had in Ottawa! I will be back!

Waited for full 10-15 minutes and no one came to see us to seat us. Bad service.

Best sushi ever

My family has regularly ordered from here for the past year, even though we do not live downtown. This is our favorite sushi restaurant in Ottawa and the trek is worth it. The sushi scene in Ottawa is very mediocre, and I would say J:Unique is clearly a step (or two) above everyone else. Our favorite dishes include the Big Boss roll, the spicy salmon (or tuna) salad and the red dragon roll (note: the Red Dragon roll at J:Unique is nothing like the usual Red Dragon rolls found at Ottawa AYCE). We also enjoy the aburi. The prices for the special rolls are high-ish, but I think they're worth it. We're looking forward to the lockdown to end so we can eat here in person!

Some of the best tasting and most unique sushi in ottawa

Absolutely fantastic. Everything was so delicious. 4.7 is well deserved

This is the best sushi I've ever had! Particularly the torched sushi are sooo good.

This is one of the best places in town to get sushi hands down! Thier unique menu is something that every sushi lover should come to try! Must experience!

Very good experience. Restaurant was very clean, and staff was very friendly. I got the tonkotsu ramen combination and the ramen was very good. The sushi that came with it was delicious as well. Very reasonable priced and good portions of food.

test great

The service was INCREDIBLE! Tammy brought over a paper menu as it was our first time here. She circled all of the most popular items & asked if we had any questions. Our other server would stop by every so often to make sure that we were doing ok & had everything we needed. The food came out in a timely manner. Honestly, our minds we're blown by the food. We usually go to Miku in Toronto for the Arburi sushi, not knowing that J:unique kitchen also had it. Food was Amazing! Ambiance was great. Its a really nice, cozy restaurant. We can't wait to come back.

Amazing quality and variety of fish and seafood. Ramen broth was very flavourful and hot

Please expect the Long waiting time. Waited at least extra half hour for the takeout. Other than that nothing needs to be complained. Food is nice.

The freshest and best sushi in Ottawa hands down!

No matter what you do - get the sockeye salmon, yellowtail and tuna sashimi!! It was hands down the best I’ve ever had. I can’t wait to go back to J’Unique.

Definitely best sushi in Ottawa. Always fresh and delicious!

Some of the best sushi I've eaten in Ottawa. I've lived in Japan so I can be picky about sushi, but this place is the real deal. You can taste the freshness and quality of the ingredients. The restaurant is small and service can be a little slow but it is so worth it. I always recommend this place to my friends and will keep coming back.

Best sushi in Ottawa! I recommend J:unique to everyone. It’s really great quality for an affordable price. The staff is lovely, and the restaurant is small and cozy, like you’ve been invited into someone’s home. Try the J:unique roll! You won’t be disappointed.

Incredible food, amazing service

By far the best sushi place in Ottawa (and I’ve tried plenty of others here!) The food is always incredible and of the highest quality and the servers are wonderful and super friendly. Thanks J: Unique for making my birthday dinner one of the best I’ve ever had!

The best sushi in town!

Good casual date night

Great