Our Story

Gal's Sushi was built on a lifelong passion for hospitality, quality, and family. Founder Michael Gal developed a strong foundation in Japanese fine dining in Seoul under the guidance of his longtime mentor, Yoshioka-san, establishing himself in Gangnam's culinary world in prestigious five-star restaurants — including the renowned Gukje Hotel in the 1980s. Along the way, he met his wife, Sally Han, whose charm, warmth, and natural sense of hospitality complemented his professional expertise.

After immigrating to Canada, Michael and Sally opened their first Japanese restaurant — Gal Sushi, at Bayview and Highway 7 — a small unit that seated around ten people and quickly earned a loyal customer base. Always having wanted to share their Korean heritage, they went on to open Dae Jang Geum, one of the first Korean restaurants in Markham, and in 2007 brought both traditions together under one roof as Gal's Sushi.

Today, we remain proudly family-owned, with some of our chefs and servers having been part of our journey since the early years. We maintain an unwavering commitment to quality — from the most premium sushi rice vinegar to the freshest fish, delivered daily and served the same day — and strive to serve Markham as a trusted, reliable source of quality Japanese and Korean food in a comfortable and homely atmosphere.