Asian Heritage Month Highlight: Sharing Culture Through Culinary Craft at Sushi Yūgen
Written by Kelly Lo, Fête Chinoise Editorial Team
Photography: Sushi Yugen
Sushi Yugen Interior
This Asian Heritage Month, we honour the richness of Asian culture in Canada by spotlighting Asian-owned restaurants that go above and beyond their culinary aspirations. They tell stories, preserve traditions, and create spaces where cultural dialogue thrives and culture is exchanged. One such space is Sushi Yugen, a serene omakase dining experience rooted in Japanese craftsmanship and philosophy, which opened in late 2023 in the financial district of Toronto on York Street.
Sushi Yugen was born from a lifelong appreciation for food culture and artistry. Inspired by her father, a devoted food lover, co-owner Kamen Sun grew up with high standards for taste and a deep understanding that, in today’s world, the story behind the plate matters just as much as what’s on it. Sushi Yugen was created to bring forth the essence of Japan, from the flavour of the food to the atmosphere that surrounds it, offering a moment of Zen. As a Chinese-Canadian, Kamen has over a decade of experience in the culinary space and travels back to Asia often to engage in the global dialogue of food, and to stay ahead of innovations, trends, and evolving tastes.
The name Yūgen refers to a profound, subtle sense of beauty and mystery, and the restaurant reflects this through its design and ethos. From the origami tree at the entrance to delicate ikebana arrangements, a Zen garden display, and yunomi teacups carved by hand using the kurinuki technique, the space is a homage to Japanese minimalism and the philosophy of wabi-sabi, which embraces the beauty of imperfection and impermanence.
The Upcoming Spring 2025 Menu
Sushi Yugen offers two types of omakase: a traditional sushi-focused experience at the 12-seat main counter, and a more expansive kaiseki-inspired journey at the intimate 8-seat Chef’s Counter, presented by Head Chef Kyohei Igarashi, who brings 15 years of sushi and kaiseki experience in Japan and 9 years of omakase expertise abroad before joining Sushi Yugen. His last venture before moving to Toronto was leading the omakase counter at a high-end Michelin omakase restaurant overseas under a Master Chef who held One Michelin Star in Japan for 7 years.
Head Chef Kyohei Igarashi
Head Chef Kyohei Igarashi
The upcoming Spring 2025 menu continues the restaurant’s narrative of seasonality and intention. It introduces new ingredients such as Mehikari (Green Eye fish), delicately presented as tempura, and Unagi Sunomono, a grilled eel dish inspired by the success of last year’s unagi donburi, designed to reflect the rhythms of spring in Japan.
Sponsored by Shangri-lA Vancouver
Diversifying Culinary Experiences
While deeply rooted in tradition, Sushi Yugen also embraces innovation through global collaboration. In its first year, the restaurant partnered with culinary talents including Chef Hiroyuki Sato of Tokyo’s Hakkoku Ginza, who brought Japan’s finest ingredients to Toronto, and worked alongside names like House of Suntory, Chef Ryan Ratino of two-Michelin-starred Jônt, and PVG Wines. These collaborations serve as cultural bridges, connecting Toronto’s diverse dining audience with the nuances of Japanese cuisine.
“Working alongside some of the world's top talents allowed us to grow, challenge ourselves, and bring so much joy, laughter, and unforgettable memories to the Toronto community,” Kamen shares.
In a city as diverse as Toronto, businesses like Sushi Yugen nurturing a deeper understanding of Asian traditions. Culinary experience can be a powerful vessel for storytelling, creating new memories around the table for all to enjoy.
“The most rewarding part of all has been seeing the happy faces of our guests…It’s this connection, this joy we can create, that continues to motivate and inspire us at Yugen to keep pushing boundaries, to keep innovating, and to keep striving to offer something truly special to Toronto.”
Sushi Yugen is inviting the Fête Chinoise community to celebrate the Asian Heritage Month together — enjoy $30 off the Chef’s Counter Spring Menu throughout May, exclusively for Fête Chinoise subscribers. Subscribe now!
Enter to Win a Chef’s Counter Experience for Two at Sushi Yugen!
Sponsored by Shangri-La Vancouver
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