Le Blossom: Japanese Counter at Shops Angus

Since March 2024, a thriving new branch of Blossom has emerged in the Shops Angus. Nestled in close proximity to the second outpost of Red Tiger, this new counter embodies a reinterpretation of the original restaurant established on Maisonneuve Boulevard and their counter in Time-Out.

Behind this project are Dan Pham, Sakharau Sam-Ell, and Kevin Chiem, already associated with several successful ventures such as the two branches of Red Tiger, Terrasse Carla, Chomchom, among others. The team chose Shops Angus, a burgeoning culinary destination, but relatively lacking in Asian cuisine. Their ambition was to bring the popular Blossom concept, renowned for its delicious hand rolls, impressive selection of sakes, and, most notably, its iconic cherry blossom tree at the heart of the dining room, to this new neighborhood. “We wanted to preserve our already successful offering from the other two Blossom locations but adapt it to a more takeaway counter-focused concept in this new area,” explains Dan, the owner.

In terms of design, the team once again collaborated with talented designer Guillaume Ménard from Atelier Mainor (Tiramisu, Red Tiger, Ryu, Casavant) to create a futuristic and sleek ambiance. The elongated room is adorned mainly with violet tiles illuminated by ceiling neon lights. The sushi bar harmoniously divides the space. With its 30 seats, you have the option to enjoy your meal on-site or opt for takeaway.

In the kitchen, chef Sarina Yoth (Kyo, Jatoba) offers a menu consisting of classic and refined Japanese dishes. On the menu, a generous selection of poke bowls, shareable dishes such as vegetarian or chicken gyoza, salmon or tuna sashimi, and many other delights. For this new address, the team wanted to offer something unique and exquisite: oshi (torched) and aburi (pressed) style sushi. This type of sushi involves heating the top of the fish to achieve a distinct charred taste and pressing together various ingredients such as rice, a base of fish or vegetables, and other toppings. Among the four options offered, the spicy salmon – thick slices of seared salmon, Japanese spice-seasoned rice, tempura shrimp, unagi sauce, and spicy mayo – stands out as a must-try. With prices ranging from $6 to $24, Blossom offers a very affordable range considering the quality of the dishes.

On the beverage side, the menu offers a variety of imported sakes, Japanese beers, refreshing matcha-based drinks, as well as a selection of sodas and juices to enjoy on-site or take away to accompany your meal.

Blossom positions itself as the ideal destination to satisfy your cravings for delicious sushi, combining quality ingredients with elegant aesthetics.