Yufuku: Japanese Fusion on Monkland

Chef Francis Ma never imagined a takeout order would lead him to Justin Trudeau. But that’s exactly what happened at Yufuku, the Japanese fusion tapas table he opened in June 2024 on Monkland Avenue, in NDG. Two years on, this small Monkland Village restaurant has built a reputation that reaches well beyond its own block.

Ma cut his teeth in Toronto, where he spent fifteen years moving between Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese and, above all, Japanese kitchens. He came back to Montreal three years ago, encouraged by his partner: “Put all your experience together and open a restaurant.” Life with four kids is busy, but he took the leap anyway, and Yufuku was born.

At Yufuku, fusion isn’t a marketing line. The backbone is Japanese, with Vietnamese and Thai accents slipping in by way of a chalkboard on the wall where Ma adds new creations every few weeks. It’s cooking on instinct, and his regulars know it well: “Francis, I trust you, do whatever you want,” the most loyal ones tell him.

The menu swings between shareable tapas, like fried soft-shell crab, takoyaki and salmon tartare, and grilled plates of black cod, seared scallops or tuna steak. But it’s the rolls that pull people in. There’s the Geisha, with lobster and torched salmon; the Black Diamond, his best-seller and an ode to all things black; and the tartare tacos. The signature roll goes all in, layering eel, foie gras and black caviar.

The dining room is small, stretched by a terrace in summer, and the mood leans toward date nights and birthdays, occasions Ma likes to mark with dessert, candles and music. The feel is relaxed, close to a classic Montreal sushi spot, but with a more energetic edge.

Then came the story that tipped it all. A regular asked Ma to cook at his home one Friday night for a “special guest.” The chef said no at first, then learned the guest was the former prime minister, and ended up going to cook on site himself. The gossip snowballed fast: photos picked up by Virgin Radio, then the Journal de Montréal. A rumour that Yufuku is Katy Perry’s favourite restaurant (false, Ma is quick to clarify) did the rest. “Every single day, people ask me if Katy Perry is here,” he says.

Behind the buzz is a chef who bets on closeness and the simple pleasure of surprising people. On Monkland, Yufuku has become one of those neighbourhood addresses you’d love to keep to yourself, and end up recommending anyway. Bon appétit!

Written by Jean-Philippe Tastet
Photography by Alison Slattery

Updated on June 15, 2026

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