Shiki Sushi — Restaurant in Victoria

Overall Rating: 1/5 (2 of 10) We took an overnight trip to Canada and decided upon this AYCE Sushi location. We entered the building (after struggling to find parking, of course not their fault) as was greeted promptly and sat down. They asked if we were doing AYCE, and we said yes. They got us water and then asked for our first order. There was 4 of us at the table: we ordered 3 miso soup, a handful of grilled or fried items from the kitchen (different from the sushi chefs) and 5 rolls of sushi (2 sets nigiri) the server came back roughly 2 or 3 minutes later with soda that was ordered and ONE miso soup. We thought maybe she had just forgotten. So we had planned to grab her and tell her when she swung by next. This is where things took a turn. Our server was a very nice woman. However, all of the staff in this restaurant can be caught sitting by the sushi station talking or being on their phones. We should have realized our mistake when we walked in and there were 2 occupied tables. The staffing team rarely checks on the tables and spends more time chatting and being on their phones than serving. After roughly 7 minutes, our fried items and grilled items came out of the kitchen. At this point, we asked for the 2 soups she forgot. She apologized and grabbed them. She promptly returned with soup. Now, before the main event, let's talk about the food we have already, we ordered gyoza, which had an off taste to it and DIDNT come with a dipping sauce??miso soup had barely any flavor to it, we also ordered a seafood medley dish, which we had no idea what to expect. It came out in 2 large oyster shells, and by god it was basically cream, mayo, and flakes of salmon (this really set the tone of the meal), we got some yakitori sticks, these were alright. Also ordered was a crab ball. This was good, lots of crab, a bit over fried, but honestly, the best item I ate the entire meal. Now, from the time we got our kitchen items, we waited (and no, this isn't a gross exaggeration) 39 MINUTES for our sushi. (They have 3 sushi chefs working) we paid for our parking and realized we would only get 1 round of sushi due to how long this took. Especially with only 2 other occupied tables? Atrocious. The sushi eventually comes to the table, and we are mildly disappointed right off the bat, we try our rolls, all different types. They all taste basically the same. The nigiri was the only shining star. We ordered some Tataki as well, the first order was actually great, and the second order was not. After that, we ordered a few fried items as we gave up on sushi after the wait. We ordered some tempura and katsu items. My review of the place was set when they brought out chicken katsu, and it was literally a Tyson chicken tender with sauce over it. All in all, the atmosphere was nice, good-looking establishment, and our server was polite WHEN we saw her. The food was awful. I highly would NOT recommend this location. Also should be worth noting, we had planned on leaving a low tip due to poor service but they AUTOMATICALLY apply a 15% service charge and don't even tell you before hand. We left 0 tip due to this (typically we are...

Service has degraded over the years, tonight was a different level, worse I ever had. I loved this place since I discovered it back in 2015 but alot has changed since then, maybe "new" management? It's just sad that it has degraded to this level.

If they see that you can order and eat alot they will ration your food and take their time bringing it to you. I didn't want to believe this but I have noticed it tonight. It's sad but I guess that's one way of running out your two hour window to order food. I was even told to finish my food first then order after. Even my mother didn't have to tell me to finish my food first. I would like to think I was raised properly to treat food with respect and not be wasteful.

The food you order and what you get don't match up, you get less or worse something different. This is with regards to the sushi, sashimi, nigiri. I suggest they print out the menu and specify how many are in an order. So we can identify the item, order properly and not ask the servers all the time and see in their face the dismay that we still don't know how many pieces comes in an order or what the item is.

No squid? I understand the possibility of running out of a certain item this is not a big deal. The chicken teriyaki was really dry even if it was soaking in sauce. Consistency of prawn tempura is different from what you'd get from a half decent Japanese restaurant.

Tips, service fee or gratuity? I won't hesitate to give a generous tip if I'm satisfied and happy with my dining experience. My server not only made me feel unwelcome but unworthy of dining with the rest of her guests. Most of the time I tried to get her attention she would tell me that she is serving another table and will be back. But I would see her by the tea or cash register waiting. The only time she gave me the time of day was when I was finished eating and was about to pay the bill.

I'm not mad bud...

Japanese??? More like Japa-ease...

If it wasn't for the spacious and relaxed ambience this restaurant would get one star. But I was looking for a restaurant, not a yoga studio. As someone who's Japanese when it comes to sushi two things must be right 1. Rice and 2. Sashimi.

The rice was hard and tacky, like the aftermath of a clumzy lover. This means that they did not have enough water while cooking the rice or, the cooked rice was sitting on heat for too long. I suspect the latter because the rice had a tan, like cooked weinner at a nudist beach. Earlier when the waitress asked if I wanted sesame oil on my rice, I thought something was wrong.

Dear white rice eaters... sesame oil, butter and mayonnaise do not go on sushi rice. Sushi RICE vinegar is mixed in with sushi rice. I know, shocking but that's how the Japanese do.

The sashimi was all over the place. It was as contrary as Goldilocks but was never just right. Some of the fish was frozen. The octopus tasted fishy which means "off". Cuts of tuna were falling apart, a sign of a dull knife or being too rough. The salmon was okay. But the texture was off because of the angle of the knife while slicing. Okay quality salmon is everywhere on the west coast.

Would I go back here. No. Should other people go here. Yeah sure. If you are someone who does't like raw fish, but prefer sushi that is more North American than traditional Japanese. Their menu seems to have options for those who may not be as adventurous...