Shibuya Izakaya Sushi Restaurant — Restaurant in Calgary

We visited Friday night for their soft opening at the new location. The restaurant wasn’t too busy—just a handful of occupied tables—but unfortunately, the experience was disappointing.

When we arrived, there were already two other people waiting, but despite having plenty of staff, no one was at the front to greet or seat guests. We also had to wait for some time before getting a table, which was surprising given the light crowd.

Once seated, the service felt mediocre and very limited, especially since orders are placed through a QR code system. While convenient, this meant that staff interaction was minimal—and when we did have questions, the responses weren’t helpful.

For example, we asked if we could each order on our own phones and have everything combined onto one bill. Instead of a clear answer, we got “Oh, I don’t know, let me ask” or “I’m not sure.” You’d expect staff to be well-informed about the ordering system, especially on opening night.

Another issue was how they bussed finished plates. Instead of politely asking, servers would simply walk up and say, “Are you done?” The overall mannerisms of some employees felt unprofessional and lacked attentiveness. No one checked in on us throughout the meal, which seemed odd for a soft opening where gathering customer feedback should be a priority.

The food was decent but overall not worth the price in terms of quality and portion size. There are better sushi spots in Calgary that offer better value and quality. • Salmon sashimi didn’t taste very fresh and had a similar texture to Costco fillets, which was disappointing. • Philly Fly Roll had very minimal cream cheese—if you’re going to have “Philly” in the name, the cream cheese shouldn’t be lacking. • Beef tataki was good, one of the better items we had. • California Outside Roll wasn’t the same as before. They used to have decent chunks of imitation crab, but now everything is minced, making it much less enjoyable. • Rolls were large in size, but the rice-to-fish ratio was way off—too much rice, not enough fish. Even their house special roll was mostly cucumber and rice with very minimal fish. • Creamy udon was disappointing. The portion size was small for the price, and considering the ingredients used, it didn’t feel worth it. Sometimes I crave creamy udon, which is why we decided to give Shibuya a try, but after this experience, I might just make it at home myself. I can save some money and feel more satisfied with the results.

Since payment is also done through the QR code, the overall service experience was minimal. For a soft opening, we expected more effort from the staff in ensuring customers were happy and that everything was running smoothly. Given that the restaurant wasn’t even busy and had at least five FOH staff, there wasn’t really an excuse for the lack of attentiveness.

Based on our Friday night experience, I’m not sure if we’ll be returning anytime soon. There are better sushi spots in Calgary that offer better service, quality, and value.

response to - It’s clear that you don’t take constructive criticism well, but I’ll reiterate my experience. Staff ignored guests waiting at the entrance when a simple ‘Someone will be with you shortly’ would have made a difference. Service was noticeably better for certain tables, and we weren’t even offered a paper menu—just handed a QR code with no explanation.

Fresh salmon shouldn’t have a strong fishy smell, and the house special roll had more rice and cucumber than actual fish. The bill mix-up at the end was unacceptable—you gave us another table’s bill, and they got ours. If they had paid and left, then what?

There were empty tables when we arrived, yet people waited so long that one woman had to sit inside a booth just to be seated. That’s not a space issue—that’s poor efficiency.

It’s disappointing that rather than acknowledging these issues, you dismiss any review that isn’t completely positive. A business that refuses to listen to feedback doesn’t improve—it just loses...

First off, I just want to say I must have stumbled into the alternate universe version of this restaurant, because all these 5-star reviews? Ya, those folks were definitely paid actors. I literally made a new Google account just to warn future victims, I mean sushi spot.

Let’s start with the tea. 3 bucks for a cup of hot water with what I can only describe as the ghost of green tea leaves whispering faintly in the tastebuds. No teapot for the table either, just a server popping by occasionally like a tea ninja to pour hot water after u’ve forgotten tea even exists.

Then came the salmon sashimi. I think they were going for Nobu-style artistry, but what we got was paper-thin slices of fish that looked like they’d been stored in the fridge long enough to develop that slimy “mucus jacket” everyone loves. And I guess they got the Nobu-style price down right. Truly an acquired texture.

The beef tataki? Used to be solid, but now it’s like the dish went on a diet, same taste, half the size. The creamy udon arrived in the largest bowl known to man… but with a portion so tiny I thought it was a joke. And unfortunately, it wasn’t. To make matters worse, it tasted like someone spilled low-grade salmon roe into the dish, giving it that “day-old fish market” perfume. And no Tabasco sauce…

The sushi rice? Let’s just say it had the density of your local T&T supermarket pre-packaged sushi. Spoiler: that’s not a compliment.

When they brought the uni out, I was appalled. The uni sushi was literally the size of my thumb, was it on ozempic? Why are we rationing as if a lot of customers would even order uni?

Final bill: $150 for two people. Final mood: hungry. Final destination: the A&W across the street, because at least onion rings don’t gaslight you.

Oh and my girlfriend got sick after she ate here. She said she only wished she threw up in front of the restaurant instead of keeping it together till we got home.

If you’re considering dining here, save yourself the heartbreak (and the $150) and maybe...

We had Shibuya Izakaya delivered last evening thru Skip and it was all fresh and delicious. Presentation was lovely, especially for a delivered order. I have never seen such large pieces of yam tempura. They were so crunchy and delicious. Also ordered California Rolls which were so tasty. I have an MSG allergy and noted it on our order. Soon after I placed the order, I received a phone call from the restaurant stating that there was some MSG in the California Rolls. I took the chance that it was a minimal amount, which I am OK with. It was and the rolls were wonderful. Often ordering sushi rolls thru delivery, they arrive falling apart. Not these ones. I also ordered the Teriyaki Beef. It was to die for. I hadn't realized that they gave free vegetable spring rolls, so it was a nice surprise. Again, beautifully presented, nice and crispy, with a chili sauce dip. Large portions and good value. I finished the California Rolls and the Spring Rolls for breakfast and am looking forward to leftover Teriyaki Beef for lunch. I don't understand why this restaurant doesn't receive a higher Google rating. Any place that puts out that high quality of food with so many options and presents it in such an appetizing way in takeout containers, certainly takes pride in what they serve and how they serve it. Would highly recommend Shibuya Izakaya.

UPDATE: I made a second positive post after ordering for the second time in four days, with pictures this time, on FB 'Calgary Food - FoodYYC! A Group for foodies' , While I was editing the post to fix a typo I had made, I was getting rapid fire responses, even before I had finished my edit. 18 comments and 87 responses so far and they are still rolling in - all positive. I am certainly not the only one highly recommending Shibuya Izakaya. It is well known for freshness, quality of product, flavour, customer service and diverse Japanese menu. Definitely...