​This Japanese restaurant in Montreal will transport you to the neon-lit streets of Tokyo​

If you’ve been daydreaming about wandering through neon-lit alleyways, sipping sake, and snacking on share plates in Tokyo — but your budget won’t stretch to an international trip — you’re in luck. There’s a restaurant in Montreal that’ll give you the full izakaya experience, no long-haul flight required.

Tucked into the Quartier des Spectacles, Iru Izakaya is a vibrant Japanese brasserie that feels straight out of Shinjuku. It’s a love letter to the hustle, neon glow and communal spirit of Japan’s late-night pub culture — and it’s exactly where you want to be when Montreal’s grey streets start to feel a little too familiar.

From the moment you walk inside Iru Izakaya, you’re immersed in a Tokyo dreamscape. Neon signage covers the room in colour, Japanese art adorns the walls, and the central bar is buzzing with chatter.

The space is designed to be social, with an open layout bar, neon-drenched corners, and seating that encourages shared plates and close conversation.

The Quartier des Spectacles location is the third outpost of this growing brand, following locations in Brossard and Sainte-Foy. While each space shares the same Japanese essence, no two are exactly the same. The layout and menus subtly shift depending on the location, giving each spot its own personality.

The menu at the Quartier des Spectacles location is rooted in the classic izakaya tradition: small plates meant to be shared over drinks. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure of textures and flavours, from crispy karaage chicken and fried shrimp with spicy yuzu mayo to grilled pork belly skewers and savoury beef tongue.

There’s also buttery sashimi, fresh oysters, sushi tacos, and seared tuna tataki for raw food fans, plus stir-fried noodles, kimchi fried rice and rich ramen bowls if you’re after something heartier.

For the indecisive (or the adventurous), there’s also a Carte blanche experience, where the chef curates a surprise tasting inspired by both bold and delicate Japanese flavours. You can opt for the Menu Découverte at $50 per person, featuring crowd favourites, or go all-in with the Menu Expérience at $70, which showcases signature creations.

And then there are the cocktails. This isn’t your basic sake list (though they do have a generous selection of privately imported bottles).

The drink menu is full of house inventions like the Tokkotai (Ketel One vodka, Dry Curaçao Pierre Ferrand, lime, homemade grenadine, sakura sugar, gochujang, gochugaru pepper), Gensou (a Mai Tai-inspired blend with Japanese whisky, cognac, mint, lime, sesame), Aotori (a jungle bird riff with spiced rum, vermouth, ube, pear), and the seasonal Midori Fizz (sake, melon liqueur, yuzu, shiso, cucumber, and kombu soda), among others.

And the authentic Japanese approach is clearly working. While the Brossard and Sainte-Foy locations hold solid ratings online from customers (4.4 and 4.5 stars respectively), the Montreal Iru Izakaya stands out with a near-perfect 4.8 stars on Google, which is no small feat in a city saturated with dining options.

If you’re after something beyond the usual night out, Iru Izakaya promises a little slice of Japan right here in the city. Between the glowing signs, the small plates, and the steady flow of sake, it’s easy to feel like you’ve slipped into a Tokyo backstreet — just without the jet lag.