Kazoku Ramen — Restaurant in Edmonton

In depth review of Kazoku Ramen from a humble Edmontonian.

TLDR Summary: Overall Experience = 1 Service = 1 Environment/Comfort = 1 Hygiene = 1 Taste = 1 The Fried Chicken Ramen offered at Locals Public Eatery taste like heaven compared to the imitation-of-a-ramen offered at Kazoku.

Service: The restaurant was curiously packed with customers but clearly the atmosphere was of those that waited too long for the type of cuisine they expected . At a glance, there were 20 tables full and only one poor middle aged lady as the server. She looked overworked, rushed, and didn’t have time to say more than two words. Of course, expecting a proper greeting would have been too much given the situation so we’ll let that slide. Sadly to say, the owner, also a middling lady, was standing at the cash register, all smiles and no help. Given her lofty post, I obviously can’t expect owner lady to care too much about the mundane chores of serving her customer’s actual needs but I would have at least expected her to maintain proper manners. Unfortunately, that was too much to expect as I had received better service at a dingy cafe in the slums of a bustling Chinese city than out of owner lady. She gave one look at my obvious Asian characteristics and my two young kids, and looked as if I was there to steal from her profits. Sadly to say, her manner of speech did not prove me wrong. As the lunch with my kids is coming to an eager close, I had to pluck up courage to brave lady owner’s displeasure and visit her at her lofty cash register to pay for my humble meal. Lining up behind two groups of Caucasian customers, the lady owner wore a beautiful smile, greeted them well and asked how their service was. As it was my turn, her smile vanished and all she asked was, “Debit or cash”. The bill was $54.08. Having served at Earls in my youth, I understand difficulties of the service industry so my tip average is 15%. But when I looked at her, I slammed down $55 cash. The $0.92 tip is for the sad server which I seriously doubt she would even get a cut out of.

Environment/Comfort: The restaurant was packed, but eerily quiet. That’s because everyone was sitting far too close with tables of strangers lucky to have 6 inches of privacy space. Having difficulty just to navigate to the bathroom and fire exit, and the fact that a screen, boxes and chairs are blocking the said fire exit, probably means they are above occupancy limit and breaking the fire code. As speaking louder than a whisper would allow everyone else to hear you, Kazoku felt like a sad dungeon of people just hoping to quickly finish and be gone.

Hygiene: At the table, I noticed the wall and window adjacent to us had not been cleaned for seemingly a decade. I immediately moved my 3 year old’s seat so, being their age, wouldn’t actively go picking at the filth. The table oozed the smell of chlorine that I couldn’t decide whether it being sanitized is a good or bad thing. The bathroom was abysmal and the faucet water couldn’t be turned off with constant running water. Warning to parents to test the water first as the “middle” setting was actually scorching hot which would roast your eager child’s fingers if not careful. Lastly, when the cups of water made it to our table, 3 of 4 glasses had curious pieces of floaties at the bottom.

Taste: Sad. Firstly, the menu descriptions are barely accurate. The Chicken Karaage, being the first dish to be served, had “original” and “spicy mayo” choices of flavor. Unfortunately, both original and spicy mayo are, oddly, spicy. This was not clearly identified in the menu, and downright misleading, and so the poor kids, already famished from the long wait, couldn’t eat the temptingly fried chicken. As for chicken itself, it’s barely there. It’s more batter than chicken so I can’t honestly rate this dish as we never managed to eat much of the chicken to say whether it tasted good. The ramen was bland, colorless, with tasteless pork shoulders that still tasted of the frozen packaging they came from.

Why would this place ever get anything more...

Decided to come here for dinner with some friends the ordering was lacking a little professionalism from the waitress, but it's acceptable as it was late. The food came, taste and flavor was passable for 3+ stars.

The shocking part is when I started eating the macha green tea ice cream, there were harder buts inside, at first I thought it may have been coconut pieces or something so I continued to try chewing. After removing it from my mouth I realize it was some plastic shred. Not a bit deal maybe just one bit of foreign material. I go for another spoon and this time a larger piece of plastic, I set it aside and dry to continue on, and more and more plastic continue to come out if the ice cream. At this time I had enough and kindly asked the waitress if she had any idea why there is plastic in the ice cream, she replied it's a new box there's no problem and walked away as there was no issue. I was just going to let it go as they may have been tired and we're about to close so just move on.

Then at the payment counter in the front I asked for the bill and handed over a credit card, then the older person behind the counter says in a very rude manner NO CREDIT CARD, I kindly ask where does it say that, she points to a paper under the ledge of the check stand, I say ok what do you take she replied CASH and debit. I hand over a debit card shes says again in a very demeaning tone NO CREDIT CARD. So I thought maybe she does not like Citibank, then I get another debit card out and hand it over, then she says in a very loud voice NO CREDIT CARD. At this point I got into it with the lady about the situation prior about the plastic in the food which I was ignored by the waitress and she made it seemed like there was no problem as that was a new box, no one touched it before and there is no...

Very disappointed regarding to high expectation from review in google and too higher price than expected. The worst ramen I have tried in Edmonton : I am a big fan did try a lot of places around the city. Bland pork ( I order pork shoulder which I read review as someone suggest to order over pork belly ) and boil egg ( not enough marinated or none) , not tasty and flavorful broth, a lot of MSG . cheap noodle, pricey and not authentic ( I guess business run by Chinese or Vietnamese not Japanese ) I tried other place that cheaper but way better than this restaurant. Or other that same or higher price but flawless experience. I can taste and feel a lot of MSG here. I tried black garlic ramen which people in review recommend but it is nothing good as I said “ not enough seasoning, marinated or flavour”

Takoyaki is the one made me wanna come here which also disappointed ( saw it’s got some good review. Small balls , outside less to not crispy and have no seaweed on top. Price that show in picture or online review is not real. It shown $8 for takoyaki but actually 13.50 for 8 balls and 19.50$ for ramen which only shown 15.95$ online. I don’t know why don’t they correct this or leave it to misunderstand or trap customers with cheaper price. Menu in restaurant all hasn’t shown price , you need to scan QR code to see the menu with price. Also be aware as they only accept debit card or cash ! which is ridiculous ! With the price and these bad experience … first, last and one only . Only 2 things I like are they quite comfortable &spacious restaurant unlike some ramen place that is very small and they have sesame served for you to mash before put in your ramen but I didn’t taste and smell sesame after put in ramen because the oil or msg in broth is over power the...