A friend who moved from Vancouver to Winnipeg this year recently asked me for a Japanese restaurant recommendation. No budget — she just wanted the best Japanese food in town. So, I recommended Edokko and Wasabi Sabi. Since Sabi on Taylor was closer to her, that’s where she went.
She texted me after: “Very good. The new-style sashimi reminded me of steamed fish. The freshness, of course, can’t compare to Vancouver, but overall, it was really good.”
Well, I’m glad my recommendation worked out. I actually knew it would. I have a close friend in Toronto who is from Winnipeg, every time she comes to Winnipeg and wants Japanese food, it has to be Wasabi on Taylor.
The Restaurant
Wasabi on Broadway and Sabi on Taylor are both owned by the Wasabi Group. You can read their story on their website.
Since Sabi on Taylor is closer to where I live, I mainly go there instead of Wasabi on Broadway. Parking is easier at the Taylor location as well.
I always make a reservation.
Sabi on Taylor has a bar side and a main dining area, plus a private room on the right when you come in. There’s also a small section on the upper floor, with maybe three to five tables. The open kitchen sits in the middle of the main dining area, so you can watch the sushi chefs in action.
The Food
Generally speaking, Wasabi Sabi is the most high-end Japanese restaurant in the city — and the most expensive one too.
The menu leans fusion, with creative rolls alongside the traditional stuff. The Wasabi Group is the one that made the volcano roll famous in Winnipeg — a stack of eel rolls under a spicy cream sauce with chopped scallops and calamari, broiled and served warm. It’s still their signature.
My Top Picks
After all these years of visits, these are the ones I keep coming back to — and the ones I’d tell you to order.
To Start
Fresh Oysters (market price) — shucked fresh on the half shell; ask what’s available that day. The more the merrier. Haha.
Spicy Mango Prawns (CAD$22) — prawns with mango in a creamy chilli sauce. Popular.
Lobster Sushi Shooter (CAD$8) — lobster in a little shot glass. I love this. One of my friends tried this for the first time and was impressed.
Sabi Scallop (CAD$27) — seared scallops in dashi broth with corn, edamame and asparagus. Scrumptious.
Gyoza — not on the menu, but ask. They would usually make them for you.
Goma Ae (CAD$12) — blanched spinach with sesame dressing. Flavourful, a good starter.
Sunomono Salad with Tiger Prawn (CAD$16) — noodles and pickled cucumber in a rice vinegar dressing. Refreshing and delicious.
New Style Sashimi (CAD$27) — thin slices of assorted sashimi with ginger, garlic and green onion, seared with hot olive oil.
Sashimi & Nigiri
Sabi Sashimi Platter (CAD$70)
Sushi-grade fish has to be frozen first anyway to kill parasites. What matters is how it’s handled and cut, and the sashimi here has never disappointed me.
For nigiri, my favourites are the unagi (CAD$4/pc) and the spicy salmon (CAD$5.5/pc) — though it really depends on your own preference.
Rolls
Foie Gras & Seared Tuna Roll (CAD$37) — red tuna, Fuji apple and scallions, topped with seared foie gras, black tobiko and a sweet truffle sauce.
I think that’s the most expensive roll I’ve ever had. The friend who went with me didn’t even see the price. Haha. She absolutely loved it.
White Dynamite Roll (CAD$15) — tempura shrimp, avocado, spicy mayo and tobiko, wrapped in a thin radish crepe.
This one is unique — the radish crepe gives it a different texture.
Volcano Roll — torched spicy aioli with chopped scallops and calamari over an avocado and eel roll.
Not on the Taylor menu anymore; it’s on the Broadway menu at CAD$20.
Mango Tango Roll (CAD$18) — fresh mango, avocado, tobiko and tempura shrimp with a wasabi citrus sauce.
Kamikaze Roll (CAD$16) — spicy scallops and tobiko with tempura crumbs, inside and out.
Crazy 88 Roll (CAD$16) — red tuna, salmon, spicy mayo, cucumber, avocado and tempura crumbs.
These three are all pretty good, safe picks — between them you get shrimp, scallops, tuna and salmon, nothing too wild.
Mango Tango Roll (CAD$18)
Kamikaze Roll (CAD$16)
What’s New
Sabi on Taylor has also added a Sunday dinner bento box and a weekday happy hour, 3:30–5:30 PM. Check their website for the details.
📍 3-1360 Taylor Ave, Winnipeg, MB (Google Map)
🏘️ River Heights
🚗 Free parking lot
🌐 https://www.wasabiwpg.com/taylor-menu
You can see Wasabi Sabi in action in my Top 3 Japanese Restaurants in Winnipeg video:
One update since I made that Top 3 video: Yujiro is now Peacock.
Another Japanese restaurant I recommend is Edokko — you can read my post about it here: Sushi Nostalgia: Reliving the Flavours of Edohei at Edokko Japanese Food in Winnipeg