Menya Raizo by Zakkushi — Restaurant in Vancouver

I usually don’t write restaurant reviews, but I felt that I needed to share my experience this time. Raizo Ramen serves incredibly delicious ramen, and I’ve visited multiple times since my first visit. I’ve always been satisfied with the food and have even recommended it to my friends. However, during my visit on January 5th at 8:30 PM, I was disappointed with the service.

The reasons I chose not to leave a tip this time are as follows:

Excessive Waiting Time

When I entered the restaurant, there were no other customers. The server was a woman with long hair who spoke Japanese. While her initial attitude felt a bit cold, it wasn’t a major issue at first. However, when I tried to order extra noodles, I had to wait for about 5 minutes just to get her attention. During this time, I felt as though I was being ignored. By the time the extra noodles arrived, my soup had cooled down, and the delicious ramen no longer tasted as good.

Similarly, when I tried to settle my bill, the server was busy talking with someone in the kitchen or focusing on the computer screen. It took additional time to receive the bill. This all happened while the restaurant was not busy, with only myself and one other one couple who arrived later. Waiting for this long in an empty restaurant was incredibly frustrating.

Inconsistent Treatment of Customers

While I was eating, a couple entered the restaurant. The server’s attitude towards them was entirely different — she greeted them with a smile and treated them with great care. This made me realize that the server wasn’t incapable of providing good service; rather, she seemed to choose who to treat well. This left me with the impression that her behavior towards me was unfair and, in some ways, discriminatory.

I understand and respect that tips play a significant role in the income of servers and staff. However, based on the experience I described, the girl serving on January 5th at 8:30 PM did not provide service worthy of a tip. If such behavior towards customers is habitual, I imagine other patrons may have also felt dissatisfied.

The quality of the food is outstanding and ranks among the best ramen spots in Vancouver. The Hakata Tonkotsu ramen and takoyaki are dishes I frequently recommend to my friends. However, the negative experience with the service left me with a bad impression. I truly hope that all servers at this restaurant can provide consistently excellent service to every customer...

NO SUCH THING AS GOOD BUSINESS PRACTICE- My partner and I have been going to Menya since the beginning of 2022. We absolutely loved their food, especially their ramen and would go here either 1-2/ month. We recommended this place to all our friends and family stating that the food was authentic, tasty and fresh. Loved the ambiance, service was always mediocre but did not bother us. Up until Dec 31st there was a stamp card program offered to customers who purchased a ramen in store. Collect 10 stamps and you’d receive a complimentary bowl of ramen. One day my partner and I went there for lunch and he had forgotten his stamp card. Our waitress issued us a new card with two additional stamps for that day. She did not give us any warning or notification that we would need to bring in our old card to combine the stamps into one card. I visited the restaurant yesterday to use my cards in assumption that one card with 8 stamps and another with 2 would be sufficient as it added up to 10 (full card) and what difference would it make since we paid for every bowl on the card. It was the same waitress that issued us the new card prior. She would not honor the 8+2 stamps and said people might be switching cards for free ramen. I was shocked as this mentioned two things about how they run their business. 1. They do not trust their own customers 2. They failed to acknowledge that 8 + 2 stamps which was a real breakthrough in their acknowledgement of customer loyalty. As a business owner myself I understand there are rules and by no means think that any rules should be bent for or looked over for me. However it is vital to acknowledge how valued loyal customers can be. The stamp thing is just so irrational (even large retailers honor more than 1 stamp card) therefore I will NEVER BE DINING here again and will gladly tell others that the food here is great but CUSTOMER SERVICE IS TERRIBLE. Surprisingly I am not the only one who feels this way. Colleagues at my workplace have brought up the same issue so clearly word has spread. What could have been a lasting business customer relationship has turned into the complete opposite for such a small cost....

I saw grilled fish and rice on their menu a couple of months back and was very excited to try it. Finally, on this rainy and windy day, I braved the elements and walked there. I got there just before the rush and was happy to get table. The first clue that I should have left was when I couldn't find the grilled fish on the menu sheet. But I was so stubborn and determined to try this place that I then identified a light chicken broth ramen since it's been quite a while when I started my 'minimum starch' diet. The second clue came when I detected a strong smell of roasted garlic – coming from the booth next to mine – when his ramen just arrived. Hmmm. So, I was just more determined to ask for no garlic. After all, if Jinya Ramen can supply a broth with no garlic, these people should be able to do the same, right? NOT – I was told when I made my order that the garlic is in the broth already. A part of me was screaming for me to leave – the stubborn part won however – because it is cold pouring outside and I just wanted to eat. I tried to order the deep fried sticky rice, but that's only for dinner. When my ramen arrived, the garlic smell it was unbelievably pungent – aaarg – I just don't understand the attraction. The egg and cha-shu was good though. The al dente was too raw. The broth was tasty but I dared not consume too much of it since my return journey is more than a 30-minute walk. I ate carefully, hoping and praying that my digestive system won't object too much. Well, it's been many years since I was last in a garlic-den. In a way, I did it to myself, but which is worse, walking out of a restaurant before placing an order, or sitting through eating food that you can't stand? Walking out in the pouring rain to look for another mediocre lunch? If I can get a bowl of BBQ pork on rice next door, that would be different story. Sorry, no photos this time! Lesson learned. But if I love garlic, I would say this place make...