Shinobi Sushi Japanese Restaurant — Restaurant in Maple Ridge

I ate here today and there was a QR code on the table with an offer of $5 on next visit for a Google review. But I didn't want to sign on to Google on my phone (read online I shouldn't, don't know why, I'm old and scared) so thought I'd just do it from my laptop. I decided on a whim while out walking to go in for a meal shortly after 5 PM but was afraid it might be really busy. Fortunately, it wasn't at all. Seems like it used to be busier but the fire/restoration/covid seems to have affected business. The kitchen work area used to have four or five chefs yelling at each other with an arms-length of orders at all times. Or was that on TV? Maybe they were just quickly, quietly working, I don't remember exactly as it's been years since I observed. Tonight there were just two chefs working and one kept looking at me the way I used to look at them. He'd probably never seen anyone so clumsy with wooden tools, dropping food like dirt falling from an excavator bucket only without the bucket. I did see some large takeout orders being picked up. The new decor is nice with more private booth seating. I ordered the salmon teriyaki combo meal. The miso soup was delicious and the perfect temperature. It came with ebi sunomono (just checked the spelling and the pics and description I saw describe it as a salad, mine was like a soup) which I'd never had before. It's a cold, light, refreshing dish of very skinny noodles with a prawn, a few tiny shrimps, lemon, cucumber and a vinaigrette broth, very tasty but I found it hard to eat with chopsticks. I'm about as functional with chopsticks as I am with technology although they're at opposite ends of a spectrum, I think, and I may be on another one. The four pieces of tempura were good. I didn't eat the rice just because I didn't want to be too full. The meal overall was good with the exception of the salmon, which was about one centimetre thick (one piece cut into two?) and dry to the point of chewy with a fairly strong taste, which is what happens to salmon when it's overcooked. No one came to see how my meal was while I was eating it so I didn't mention it until it was gone. No, to be more accurate, my server didn't come back during my meal but another server did ask me if it was good as she walked by and I nodded yes. I didn't want to complain as I'd already eaten half or more of the salmon. I will say the salmon seemed proportionately smaller than the picture on the wall but that's marketing for you. It seems like Shinobi's not the same, but...

We were recommended this place by friends and we loved it. Not only was the food good but also the service. The price was right, not expensive at all, but you're getting high end quality food.

We ordered a boat of sashimi and 3 different rolls and they were absolutely delicious. The rolls were nicely dressed with enough sauce and rice proportions. The vegetables inside the rolls were nicely balanced, so you just get enough of everything without having an overwhelming sense of one over the other.

The sashimi from the boat we ordered were all super fresh. From the salmon to the tuna and shrimps, you can tell they only used fresh products. The texture was tender but it also soft enough that it melts in your mouth. The salmon especially, no tendons, which you will find in a lot of cheaper Japanese restaurants. The cuts we're done really well, very clean like Toro cuts.

The two udons we ordered were simply delicious, there's really no other way of describing without the word delicious. The balance of seasoning and taste were very balanced. They were not over powering, but enough to tingle your taste buds. The udon noodles actually has flavour unlike a lot of udon places, where the flavour is very distinctly separated from soup and noodle. The vegetables weren't overwhelming as well, just enough so you don't feel like you're eating more vegetables than meat.

The staff was very friendly and full of love. Very nice and polite made us feel very welcomed. They would come over and check how everything was in intervals so you don't feel intruded. Of course can't forget all the great smiles they constantly provided.

Overall it is definitely a recommended place and we would come back for sure. Made is very warm and comfortable which made the food even that much...

It was my birthday yesterday. I love sushi and I thought we would look up what the best sushi in Maple Ridge was. Shinobi won with a 4.7 review, I thought hey it must be awesome! We have been here once before a long time ago and it was good that I remember. Regardless, last night was very disappointing and I wish I had went to my favored less popular sushi place instead. The service at Shinobi was absolutely terrible last night. It took a long time to be seated and she asked for our drinks and they took a very long time as well. My bf got his sake and said it was awful, then it took her so long to come take our order that we almost got up to leave. They were very busy pumping out food, and our food arrived after some wait. It was good, but the service was terrible. She did not come back once to ask if we needed anything, how it was, etc. My bf was done his sake and his mouth was burning from wasabi and he was not offered a water THE ENTIRE TIME. I wanted a water too, did not get the chance to ask. We sat and waited with dirty plates for awhile, until finally he got up to pay our bill only to wait at the front some more. I see three women busying about at the till, but only one is actually serving people and appearing to do anything. Needless to say, we did not tip. And I was not impressed. Totally ruined my birthday dinner. Also, when we first went we sat in a booth and it was pretty, but last night were seated in the middle of the room with a crooked uneven table. It sucked. Thanks for the Happy Birthday Shinobi, i won't be coming back. Hopefully this review will help others make more informed decisions before going there. It seems to be very take...