Bushidō at Casa Loma: a 16-seat kaiseki dinner opens in Toronto's castle

A Japanese fine-dining restaurant is now running inside one of Toronto's best-known landmarks. Bushidō serves a multi-course kaiseki dinner inside Casa Loma, and only a small group can eat there each night. When it was first announced, local media described it as secretive. Now that it has reportedly opened, more details are public. Below is what the reports confirm, what is still unclear, and why the opening matters to people who care about Japanese food in Canada.

What Bushidō is

According to the official Bushidō website, the restaurant offers a 10-course kaiseki dinner in four heritage rooms at Casa Loma, with seats for 16 guests a night. The address is 1 Austin Terrace, Toronto.

The project comes from Liberty Entertainment Group (LEG). Its president and CEO, Nick Di Donato, developed the concept with chef Yi-Joo Na, Hungry 416 reports. Foodservice and Hospitality magazine identifies Na as executive sushi chef of LEG's BlueBlood Steakhouse and Blue Bovine Steak + Sushi House.

The unusual part is the format. You don't sit at one table all evening. Guests move from room to room as the courses come out. The same magazine says the name comes from the samurai code of the warrior, which it sums up as honour, discipline, respect and mastery.

Is it open yet?

Reports differ slightly on the exact date. Toronto Life gave October 22, while Foodservice and Hospitality said it was scheduled to open on October 23. On October 30, Hungry 416 reported that Bushidō opened on October 23, 2026.

In short: by late October, several outlets were reporting that Bushidō had opened. DOJI has not confirmed this independently.

Menu, chef and price

The menu. Hungry 416 says the 10 courses change regularly depending on what ingredients are available, so diners don't get a fixed list of dishes in advance. It adds that the meal may start with cold dishes and sushi, move on to warm courses, and finish with dessert in a different room. Na sources specialty ingredients from Japan, the outlet says.

What Now Toronto described the menu as drawing on both kaiseki and omakase. It cited Toronto Life's suggestion that Na's work at Blue Bovine hints at what might appear, such as Hokkaido ingredients, toro and possibly A5 Wagyu. That was a guess made before opening, not a published menu.

The chef. Most reports name Yi-Joo Na as the culinary lead. The official website also mentions selections by "Chef Eugene" and doesn't explain who that is. It may be another name for Na, or a different person. We couldn't confirm either way, so treat this as an open question.

The price. Hungry 416 reports that dinner is $350 per person, plus $100 for an optional wine and sake pairing. That price did not appear on the official website pages we saw, so it could change.

The setting and the art

The rooms are part of the draw. Foodservice and Hospitality lists the art on display: an original Andy Warhol silkscreen titled Kimiko, a Lladró Asian horse sculpture, a vintage samurai kabuto helmet and face mask, and an early 19th-century Asian stone screen. Hungry 416 credits creative director Nadia Di Donato with the interiors.

Di Donato explained the choice of venue to Foodservice and Hospitality by saying that "Casa Loma has always held a sense of mystery." Before the opening, Toronto Life put Bushidō among a group of pricey "experiential" prix-fixe menus in Toronto, meant for special occasions rather than everyday meals.

Our view: why this matters to Japanese food lovers in Canada

This section is DOJI's opinion, not a report.

We don't often see a restaurant in Canada build its whole concept around kaiseki rather than sushi alone, and that makes Bushidō worth noticing. Hungry 416 describes kaiseki as a traditional Japanese style of dining focused on seasonal ingredients, presentation and balance. A menu that changes nightly fits that idea.

We would also urge some caution. A castle, samurai armour and a Warhol make a big impression, and readers who know kaiseki from Japan may want to hear what the food itself is like before paying $350. So far, the coverage we found is based on announcements and promotional material, not independent reviews. We plan to follow up once more reports are available.

If you plan to go

Efosa.ca reports that bookings are taken through OpenTable. Hungry 416 says the reservation listing asks guests to arrive 15 minutes early. It also says diners with allergies or dietary restrictions should contact the restaurant before booking, because not every request can be accommodated.

The restaurant's published contact details are the phone number (437) 432-6037 and reservations@bushidotoronto.com.

Have you been to Bushidō, or do you have a favourite kaiseki or omakase spot in the GTA? Tell other Japanese speakers in Canada on the DOJI community board, or join DOJI to find food events and local tips near you.