Boku Sushi provides a touch of Asian flair in the heart of the Distillery District. This chic Japanese restaurant serves up a slew of favourites ranging from sushi to tempura in a classy and sophisticated environment.

The exposed brick space has an industrial feel that's a bit unusual for a Japanese restaurant, but once you do a double-take, it's actually quite inviting.

The menu is extensive and diverse. In keeping with the chef's background, the sushi here features a Kansai flair. Expect hand-torched and box-pressed takes on your favourite raw fish servings.

I try the Aburi Flight selection ($36), featuring, among others, fresh salmon, beef, and yellowtail. The light flavours really come alive through the ever-so-quick torching of the sushi. My only complaint is that the beef is a bit on the chewy side.

Any good Japanese restaurant is measured by the quality of its sashimi, and Boku doesn't disappoint. The Sashimi Platter ($30 for 10 pieces) is a delight, with the tuna posing as the real standout for its buttery smoothness.

Boku also serves up seasonal specials like the Salmon Tataki ($12) served on a bed of greens. This is definitely a light appetizer but one I would have preferred to have a bit more substance on the plate.

One of my favourite dishes is the Boku Maki ($14), an impressively complex concoction of scallop, avocado, tuna, and sweet ume. The generous drizzling of unagi sauce seals the deal beautifully.

Be sure to ask for the house-made soy sauce when downing their sushi. It features a smokier and sweeter flavour than the regular store-bought ones usually found in Japanese restaurants.

For those who like a touch of deep-fried goodness with their sushi, try the Distillery Roll ($15), which sees fresh shrimp and salmon battered and flash-fried, then topped with cheese and unagi sauce.

The Scallop & Avocado Tempura ($14), with its light and almost airy batter, is excellent. Paired with some fried shiso leaves, it's immensely satisfying from both a taste and texture standpoint.

The Saki Ika Tempura ($8) is also interesting. While the slightly rough texture of the dried shredded cuttlefish may put some off, the sweet aftertaste I got from the dish makes it all worthwhile.

Boku also serves up excellent cocktails. The Ronin Lemonade ($12) packs a boozy punch, with a light lemon flavour at the end. The Kaiju ($12) is beautiful to look at with its shocking blue colour, with a touch of pineapple mixed in with the blue curacao.

Posted by Darren "DKLo" Susilo. When not writing for blogTO he can usually be found tweeting here or pressing words into this blog . Photos by Hector Vasquez.