Yamagoya Sushi — Restaurant in Fernie

A Disappointing Dining Experience at Yamagoya Sushi

I recently visited Yamagoya Sushi with high expectations, given its reputation for Japanese cuisine, but left feeling thoroughly underwhelmed—and in some cases, outright disturbed—by the quality and value of the meal. Here’s a breakdown of the disappointments:

Soft-Shell Crab Sushi Roll: Gritty and Unrefined While the soft-shell crab in the sushi roll appeared to be cleaned superficially, the innards were left entirely intact. This resulted in an unpleasant, gritty texture that overshadowed any potential flavor. For a restaurant specializing in sushi, failing to properly gut the crab—a basic preparation step—is inexcusable.

Sashimi: Fresh but Frugal While the sashimi was undeniably fresh, the slices were paper-thin and laughably small for the premium price charged. At this cost, I expected generous, melt-in-your-mouth portions—not something that resembled deli meat shavings.

Misleading "Toro" Claims The menu advertised "toro" (fatty tuna belly), but what arrived was clearly standard white tuna, lacking the buttery richness and marbling that defines true toro. This felt like a blatant bait-and-switch.

Fried Tofu: A Textural Disaster The agedashi tofu was neither crispy nor tender. Instead, it had a stiff, rubbery texture, as if it had been fried hours earlier and left to harden. The lack of contrast between the exterior and interior was baffling.

Sushi Rolls: Mediocre at Best The sushi rice was a major letdown—clumpy, overly dense, and completely devoid of vinegar seasoning. A proper sushi roll hinges on balanced, fragrant rice, but this tasted like bland, hastily packed grains.

Prawn Tempura: Good but Greedy The only decent item was the prawn tempura, which had a light, crispy batter and well-seasoned flavor. However, at $17 for just six small pieces, it felt like daylight robbery.

Chaotic Ambiance: A Noise Pollution Nightmare The dining experience was further marred by overwhelmingly loud music blasting through the speakers. My group had to shout across the table just to be heard, and the cacophony left us with pounding headaches by the end of the meal. For a restaurant that isn’t a nightclub, the decibel level was absurdly inappropriate.

Seating by the Dish Pit: A Chemical-Flavored Nightmare To add insult to injury, we were seated directly next to the kitchen’s dishwashing area. The overpowering stench of industrial-strength cleaning detergent permeated the air, making every bite taste like a blend of food and chemical runoff. It’s baffling that the restaurant would even consider placing diners in such a zone—this area should be strictly off-limits or properly ventilated to avoid ruining meals.

Coloring Books for Kids: A Small Consolation The sole positive note? They provided coloring books for children, which kept younger diners occupied. But this minor gesture hardly compensates for the restaurant’s glaring flaws.

Final Verdict: This meal was a masterclass in overpromising and underdelivering. From careless preparation (leaving crab innards intact!), misleading labeling, and exorbitant pricing to a headache-inducing ambiance and literal chemical aftertaste, Yamagoya seems determined to sabotage its own reputation. While the prawn tempura and coloring books hint at potential, they’re drowned out by the restaurant’s overwhelming shortcomings—chief among them, the revolting detergent fumes and unrefined dishes that turned dinner into a survival challenge. Save your money, your sanity, and your taste buds for an establishment that prioritizes quality and customer comfort over cutting corners.

"A sushi experience that left me craving a refund, aspirin, and...

We put our names on the waiting list and were told that we need to wait 1 hr and 45 mins for a table. We got a call from the restaurant after 1 hr stating that a “table” has become available for us. The tone of the host was not welcoming at all as we were told that “if we do not make it to the restaurant in 10 mins, they are not going to keep the table for us”. We arrived at the restaurant in 5 mins. Although we asked for a “table” and were told that a “table” has become available for us, we were asked to sit at the bar. When we expressed our disappointment there was absolutely no signs of empathy in our server’s tone and when we asked if we can be transferred to a table if one becomes available, they told us that “we either have to wait another hour and if we seat at the bar they will not move us”. Usually the experience at the restaurant and the way we are treated is as if not more important than the food. But unfortunately this restaurant did not meet the minimum standards. We would not recommend this place if you are looking for...

the sushi here is pathetic. I ordered 5 different rolls for over an hour no servers came to my table I ender up getting up and asking if my food is coming. They said they been backed up due to a large group before me.. But then another half hour goes by and I finally get all my 5 set of rolls at once.. Why wouldn't they just make at least a few and bring em out instead making me wait almost 2h to eat here. The place was only half full. The servers just chatting almongs themselves all whole the food been finished for about 20min and just empty plates sitting on my table and yet again no one was coming to bring Bill. I went up the bar and said I want the bill so I can finally leave this place. The female server says oh let me go find your server lol another 10min wait and bill finally comes.. This place is a complete joke and the sushi all tasted the same just 97% rice and 3% meat and whatever else. All I could taste was rice when consuming with no flavor to distinguish the rolls from...