Honō Izakaya
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Founded | 2018 |
| Founder | Patrick Beaulieu, Ariane Boudreau, Thomas Casault, Julien Vézina |
| Headquarters | Quebec City , Canada |
Key people | Louis Philippe Moisan (former head chef), Jean-Christophe Comtois (head chef as of 2023) |
| Products | Japanese cuisine, specializing in yakitori |
Honō Izakaya is a Japanese-style izakaya situated in the Saint-Roch district of Quebec City, Canada.
History
Founded in mid-2018, Honō Izakaya is the creation of Patrick Beaulieu, Ariane Boudreau, Thomas Casault, and Julien Vézina. Their vision was to offer a Japanese dining experience that diverged from the city's common ramen scene by emphasizing yakitori instead.
The kitchen was originally under the leadership of head chef Louis Philippe Moisan and as of December 2023, Jean-Christophe Comtois has taken over culinary operations.
While initially welcoming guests without reservations, the restaurant now suggests booking in advance due to increased popularity.
Next door to Honō Izakaya is its affiliated venue, Honō Ramen, which launched in 2021 and specializes exclusively in ramen dishes. Honō Ramen has been featured by the US-based publication Eater among the "28 Best Restaurants in Quebec City," with Honō Izakaya also receiving recognition as a prominent dining spot.
Recognition
In 2025, Honō Izakaya was awarded a 'Bib Gourmand' distinction in Quebec's first Michelin Guide. This accolade honors establishments delivering "exceptionally good food at moderate prices." Michelin specifically commended its grill-centric menu, highlighting signature items such as miso-marinated salmon, house-crafted chicken sausage, and confit duck heart.
The New York Times featured Honō Izakaya in its Quebec City travel coverage, spotlighting the duck heart confit yakitori and Japanese curry. Food journalist Allison Van Rassel from CBC and Radio-Canada described the venue as "accessible and unpretentious," drawing attention to popular dishes like karaage and kakiage. Montreal’s culinary publication Tastet praised both the yakitori selection and the "distinctive cocktail menu" as key attractions.
Canada's 50 Best Bars Ranking
Honō Izakaya appeared once on the Canada's 50 Best Bars list in 2020, achieving rank #29 but did not retain a position in following years.
| Honō Izakaya | ||
| Year | Rank | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 29 | new |
| 2021 | No List | |
| 2022 |  No Rank
| |
| 2023 | ||
| 2024 | ||
| 2025 | ||