Honō Izakaya
| Honō Izakaya | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | June 1, 2018 |
| Owner(s) | Patrick Beaulieu Ariane Boudreau Thomas Casault Julien Vézina |
| Head chef | Jean-Christophe Comtois |
| Food type | Japanese |
| Rating | Bib Gourmand (Michelin Guide) |
| Street address | 670 rue Saint-Joseph Est |
| City | Quebec City, Quebec |
| Country | Canada |
| Seating capacity | 48[1] |
| Website | izakaya |
Honō Izakaya is a Japanese-style izakaya in the Saint-Roch neighbourhood of Quebec City, Canada.
History
[edit]The business opened in early 2018, and is owned by Patrick Beaulieu, Ariane Boudreau, Thomas Casault and Julien Vézina. The owners cited wanting to open a Japanese restaurant focusing on a different aspect of the cuisine, and differing from the ramen that is commonly found in the city, instead focusing on yakitori.[1]
Louis Philippe Moisan served as the head chef of the izakaya in its earlier year of operation. As of December 2023, Jean-Christophe Comtois runs the restaurant kitchen.[2][3]
In its earlier years the restaurant was walk-in only, but now recommends reservations.[1][4]
The izakaya's sister restaurant focused on ramen, Honō Ramen, is located next door. The ramen shop, which opened in 2021, has been listed by US-based food publication Eater among its "28 Best Restaurants in Quebec City," while also highlighting Honō Izakaya as a place worth checking out.[5][2]
Recognition
[edit]In 2025, the business received a 'Bib Gourmand' designation in Quebec's inaugural Michelin Guide. Per the guide, a Bib Gourmand recognition is awarded to restaurants who offer "exceptionally good food at moderate prices." Michelin praised the grill-focused cooking, singling out three dishes as house specialities: miso-marinated salmon, house-made chicken sausage and confit duck heart.[6][7][8]
The New York Times recommended a visit to Honō Izakaya in its travel write-up of Quebec City, highlighting its duck heart confit yakitori and Japanese curry as dishes to try.[4]
CBC and Radio-Canada food writer Allison Van Rassel described the restaurant as "accessible and unpretentious", mentioning the karaage and kakiage as favourite dishes.[9]
Montreal based culinary magazine Tastet mentions both the yakitori-focused food menu and the "unique cocktail menu" as worth checking out at the restaurant.[1]
Canada's 50 Best Bars Ranking
[edit]Honō Izakaya has made one appearance on Canada's 50 Best Bars list in 2020, at #29, before falling off the ranking in the next publication in 2022.[10]
| Honō Izakaya[10] | ||
| Year | Rank | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 29 | new |
| 2021 | No List | |
| 2022 |  No Rank
| |
| 2023 | ||
| 2024 | ||
| 2025 | ||
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Tastet, Élise (16 September 2021). "Hono Izakaya: Japanese delights in Québec City". Tastet Magazine. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
- ^ a b Berne, Noémie (11 December 2023). "Sylvain Boudreau, chef of Honō Ramen". Le Carrefour de Québec. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
- ^ "Jean-Christophe Comtois". Radio Canada. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 11 March 2025. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
- ^ a b Isai, Vjosa (23 January 2025). "36 Hours in Quebec City". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
- ^ Van Rassel, Allison (28 November 2023). "The 28 Best Quebec City Restaurants". Eater. Vox Media. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
- ^ "Québec's top eateries dazzle in first-ever MICHELIN Guide Selection". Michelin Guide. Michelin North America. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
- ^ "All the 2025 Québec MICHELIN Guide Bib Gourmands". Michelin Guide. Michelin North America. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
- ^ Cloutier, Elisa (15 May 2025). "Guide Michelin: Tanière3 obtient deux Étoiles et Québec est sacrée véritable capitale de la gastronomie". Le Journal de Quebec. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
- ^ Van Rassel, Allison (9 June 2018). "Hono Izakaya : voyage au cœur d'une brasserie japonaise". Radio Canada. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
- ^ a b "Canada's 100 Best Restaurants Lists". Canada's 100 Best Restaurants. Canada's 100 Best. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
Restaurants in Quebec City | |
|---|---|
| Current | |
| Related | |
Note: excludes large chain restaurants | |
