JIRU Asian Restaurant — Restaurant in Sofia City

Me and my colleagues had a company diner here. We were told of the amazing atmosphere and food, so we decided to try it out. We were greeted by the professional and polite staff and we were offered drinks straight away. After the starters arrived, they immediately asked us about the main courses, so that they can prepare and serve them at the same time. I think that this is the right approach, since once you star dining and talking, interruptions are unpleasant. While we ate, our glasses never remained empty, the waiters were always at our disposal, but never in our faces. The prosecco, sake and wine that we ordered were great, served just right. With every meal the staff brought us clean cutlery and chopsticks, which actually almost never happens in other restaurants. Since half of our company did not come, we asked the hosts to pack up the starters that we had ordered beforehand, so that the food will not go to waste. They happily agreed, and with ninja like speed and precision, they wrapped everything up. They stored it in their refrigerator storage, until we were ready to take it with us. About the food - every dish was better than the last, we tried most of the menu and nothing disappointed us. The sushi, salads, appetisers, main courses and deserts were prepared with care and they were beyond delicious. I had the Chillean Sea bass, which I am absolutely sure it didn't come from Chile, but from Heaven. According to the staff it took 72 hours to properly prepare it, and it was melting in the mouth fantastic. The sause, aroma and taste were nothing that I have ever tasted. The atmosphere was pleasant, it was not too noisy and the conversation was flowing seamlessly, interrupted only by raised glasses of fine wine, classy prosecco and authentic sake. The chiefs and servers certainly proved that they are one of the best in the city, and I am definitely coming back to have that heavenly bass. I would absolutely recommend this restaurant to everyone that seek...

I haven't visited the restaurant, so I can't comment on the food or the atmosphere (I'm sure they're nice), but I can share a very interesting policy the establishment has. Here's what happened: When I made a reservation a week before the selected date, I was informed over the phone that on Fridays and Saturdays, they have a minimum spend policy of 100 BGN per person. I agreed, as it seemed like a high-end and specific restaurant. Since the reservation was for six people, they clarified that 600 BGN would be the minimum amount we would need to spend. The interesting part came a day before the reservation. I received a call, and I assumed it was to confirm whether we would still be coming, but no... They called to inform me that they hadn't yet received a payment to their account. When I asked, "Excuse me?", they replied that, as they had "previously mentioned" (which they definitely had not, as I would not have missed such a crucial detail), the sum of 600 BGN had to be paid in advance to their account or handed over in person at the restaurant before the reservation. I’ve heard of restaurants requiring a deposit for larger bookings, but asking for the full amount of 600 BGN upfront for a Friday evening reservation for six people doesn’t seem like a normal practice to me. I've been to restaurants across Europe, some of which were quite expensive and required reservations two months in advance, and the only condition was that in case of a no-show, you'd be charged 20 euros per person. I was genuinely excited to visit this restaurant for a while now, but this left a very bitter taste in my mouth, and I don’t think any of their dishes could...

Made a reservation for my wife’s birthday via Jiru’s official system — and received three confirmations for 4:00 PM: one a week before the event, another two days before, and a third the day before. At no point did anyone contact me to say the time was not possible — not when I made the booking, not 3 days before, not even 2. Only on the last day, just before the birthday, a hostess called to tell me the restaurant closes at 4 PM, the exact time of my reservation.

No explanation. No apology. Just mockery and arrogance.

When I asked for her name, she deliberately gave me a male name, laughed, and mocked me for thinking it was a man’s name — clearly assuming I was just a clueless foreigner. I’ve lived in Bulgaria for 7 years and speak the language fluently. Only then did she change her story and say, “That’s the manager’s name.”

As a "solution,” I was told to rush in, place my order quickly, and then go sit at the bar. On my wife’s birthday. No compensation. No effort to make it right.

If you think high prices make a fine restaurant — welcome to Jiru. But if you value respect, hospitality, or basic human decency, stay away.

As for the food — I never got the chance to try it. But after this experience, I have absolutely...