For couples looking to plan a refined and thoughtfully paced Valentine’s Day dinner, Minami Toronto (225 King St. West) is offering a limited-run Kaiseki dining experience available only from February 13 to 15. Designed as a complete tasting menu rather than an à la carte dinner, the experience focuses on seasonality, balance, and careful progression from start to finish.
Crafted by Head Chef Nao Akutagawa, the Valentine’s Kaiseki unfolds over approximately 90 minutes, allowing each course to be served with intention and proper pacing. Curated beverage pairings are included for each guest, creating a seamless and immersive dining experience.
The Vibe
The dining room remains calm and understated throughout the evening, keeping the focus on the food. Seating is intimate, service is precise, and the structure of the menu allows the kitchen to maintain full control over timing and flow.
No à la carte sushi or nigiri is offered during this experience, reinforcing the sense that the meal is meant to be enjoyed as a complete journey.
What to Expect From the Tasting Menu
The evening begins with a composed amuse designed to set the tone. A crisp monaka made from Japanese rice crackers is filled with bluefin tuna and ikura, finished with pickled cucumber and eggplant. The bite balances texture, richness, salinity, and acidity in a clean and controlled opening.
The second course features sashimi tataki, highlighting lightly seared hamachi, bluefin tuna, and Hokkaido scallop. The subtle sear adds warmth and aroma while preserving the natural texture and quality of each protein, keeping the focus on freshness and restraint.
The sushi course is presented as a progression rather than a traditional assortment. Botan ebi leads with natural sweetness, followed by delicately briny snow crab leg. Aburi sea bream introduces gentle richness through light torching, followed by aburi bluefin chutoro, which balances warmth and fat without excess.
The course concludes with a wagyu and uni mini don, combining depth from the beef with the saline creaminess of the uni in a measured portion.
The fourth course moves into warmer territory with a surf and turf pairing of wagyu and Hokkaido scallop. The wagyu is tender and deeply flavoured, while the scallop adds sweetness and softness.
A peppercorn jus brings subtle spice and depth, while yuzu brown butter adds brightness and nuttiness without overpowering the dish.
Dessert closes the experience with a hojicha tiramisu. The roasted tea notes provide a grounded, aromatic finish that brings the meal to a calm and balanced close rather than leaning heavily on sweetness.
What to Know Before Booking
The Valentine’s Kaiseki experience runs approximately 90 minutes from start to finish and is available only on February 13, 14, and 15.
Seating is limited due to the structured nature of the menu. Reservations are available exclusively through OpenTable.
For couples who prefer a date night that feels calm, intentional, and focused on quality rather than excess, Minami Toronto’s Valentine’s Kaiseki offers a carefully paced dining experience designed for the occasion. With a structured tasting menu, refined technique, and an understated atmosphere, it is well suited for those looking to mark Valentine’s Day with something thoughtful and memorable.
If you are already thinking ahead to future date plans, you may also want to explore The Most Anticipated Toronto Openings to Put on Your 2026 Date Night Bucket List, which highlights upcoming spots worth keeping on your radar for the year ahead.
[experience was hosted by Minami Toronto, views are our own]
