Eating out with Baby | Ki Modern Japanese + Bar

One of my favourite Japanese spots in Toronto is Ki Modern Japanese  + Bar. I discovered this spot about seven years ago and it  is still a very popular spot with the Toronto suits. That said I’ve found that they’re extremely baby friendly (surprisingly) and they’re one of my top 10 baby friendly spots in Toronto. Oddly enough though I didn’t have a dedicated write up for Ki so I’m here today to share all about our experience when we popped in two weeks ago.

My dad joined the hubs, Baby Boy, the Little Monkey and I as we popped over for a leisurely dinner. This is a popular spot with the Toronto financial district crowd so it’s quite busy during week days and most times I like to visit on the weekends when things are a bit slower. Last week we actually went in mid week and while it was quite busy, they were just as friendly as always. We scored a private room which coupled with the loud tunes was perfect since Baby Boy was quite grumpy (as usual!!) and needed some TLC to calm down. Our hostess and server were both very quick to point out that the Little Monkey may be tempted to test out the waterfall at the end of the table but luckily for us, she was not! I decided to forgo the high chair since we had private booth and instead brought our industrial stroller in with us, in the hopes that Baby Boy might take a nap. Hah… no such luck! Luckily my dad was on hand to  help us out and the Little Monkey was having a great day!

One of the reasons I love Ki is that once you enter, you soon forget the rest of the outside world. I personally like the darker interiors and the many hidden spots. They do also have a great patio during the summer months for those looking to enjoy the outdoors. Inside the space is huge…you can get private rooms, bar seating, individual booths and even get a front line view of the sushi chefs doing their magic. I’m always caught off guard when I leave Ki because all of a sudden I realize that it’s still light outside!!

I love the cuisine here and my favourite dish (one that I often dream about) is their Miso Chowder.  With a perfect balance of seafood, wakame and truffle oil, it’s a sure crowd pleaser and one of those dishes that have me licking the bowl. This time we discovered the BEST CAESAR in all of Toronto… you simply MUST get their Shōgun’s House Caesar. Thank us later. We couldn’t stop ordering these but I did sneak in a Passion cocktail which was also delicious. Ki  has an inhouse Sake Sommelier so you know they have a great repertoire of sake offerings here and are quite creative with their cocktails.

We sampled quite a few dishes and each one was just as good as that much loved Miso Chowder. The Little Monkey, as always, loved her Edamame but what the hubs and I loved was that it had seven spice sprinkled on the top instead of the usual salt. If you want fresh sushi in downtown Toronto, you come to Ki. I am always satisfied after a visit here. I am a huge fan of the Tempura Butterfish Makimonos and the hubs loved the Kiwi Tuna. My dad is a huge seafood fan and he was all over the scallops which had a delicious mushroom base. Not to worry, they also have some great non seafood options and as you can see the Little Monkey devoured her California rolls and Ginger Glazed Striploin Cubes! The lovely staff even brought her a little fun chop so she could learn to use the chopsticks! 

We were stuffed by the end of the meal but my dad and I decided to share the Chocolate Truffle Cake. OMG… LOVED the burnt caramel miso which was brushed on the plate and the candied corn flakes was the perfect way to cut the rich chocolate. You know I like my sweet and salty mixed up real good!

I for one am very glad we live close by to this hot spot because we enjoy our visits here and it’s a spot I recommend often for those looking for a nice evening filled with innovative Japanese cuisine. They have high chairs and the washrooms have a couch for breast feeding and there’s even a tiny nook that works well for a quick diaper change. The Little Monkey was quite good and this was her first restaurant visit where she requested to visit the potty outside the house! SCORE! A complete win minus Baby Boy’s antics!