Ryota Shabu — Restaurant in Chiang Mai Province

Here's an over-the-top, glowing review:

Ryota in Chiang Mai is nothing short of a culinary revelation! Nestled in the vibrant Maya Center, this restaurant offers a dining experience so extraordinary, it feels like the writers of life itself took a page out of Norman Lear’s book—layered, textured, and full of heart. Think of Ryota as the gastronomic equivalent of the Maude theme song: bold, unapologetic, and leaving you humming with joy long after you’ve left.

The attention to detail here is unreal. Every dish feels as meticulously crafted as Bea Arthur’s comedic timing, and the flavors are layered with complexity, much like a subplot in a Norman Lear sitcom. The sushi? A symphony of freshness. The ramen? A rich, comforting embrace. The gyoza? Crisp yet tender, like the perfect dialogue exchange in All in the Family. Each bite is so well-executed, I half-expected the staff to roll out a gazebo (like the one in Upper Marlboro, Maryland!) just to frame the experience in proper glory.

But wait, there’s more. The ambiance is a delightful mix of nostalgia and modern elegance, as if the Star Wars Holiday Special was reimagined by Michelin-starred chefs. Forget Chewbacca’s Life Day; Ryota makes every day feel like a celebration of flavor, with a hint of whimsy. And while the Maya Center may not have the snow-dusted charm of Maryland’s iconic gazebo, Ryota brings its own architectural wonder in the form of immaculately presented dishes that are almost too beautiful to eat. (Almost.)

In short, Ryota is a culinary masterpiece that Norman Lear himself would’ve proudly toasted with a sake. From the moment you sit down to the last sip of miso soup, it’s clear: Ryota isn’t just a meal—it’s a story, a theme song, and a life-affirming experience wrapped in the finest seaweed.

Five stars? I’d give it a galaxy far, far away worth of stars. Ryota, you’ve set the bar higher than Maude’s morals and a gazebo’s roof...

We used to visit Royta regularly at least once a month because we enjoyed the food and experience. However, over time, we’ve noticed a steady decline in service quality. It takes much longer to receive the food we order, even though it's a buffet with a time limit of 1 hour and 45 minutes. This delay affects the overall dining experience and value for money. Today was the worst experience we’ve had. Although there is a Pride Month promotion offering 50% off for couples (and for two people if a group of four attends), the service was extremely poor. Orders were delayed even more than usual, and the portion sizes were noticeably reduced. The shrimp were much smaller than what we used to get, and even the dessert portions like waffles and ice cream were cut in half compared to previous visits. If a promotion leads to compromised quality and service, it defeats the purpose. We would rather pay full price and receive the proper service and portions we expect. Royta should focus on maintaining standards rather than offering discounts they can’t support. Very...

This is a very affordable sukiyaki place, but unfortunately it is a little bit hit or miss. On the positive side, they have a good selection of different meats, vegetables, seafood, and sauces to choose from at the buffet, all for a truly great price. However, my main issue is the soups that are available. We came here two times and tried Japanese Black Soup, Mala Soup, Korean Soup, and Tom Yum Soup, but of the four, only the Black Soup was tasty. The others - and I am not exaggerating here - were like water, they barely had any taste at all. The Tom Yum was salvageable by letting it reduce by two thirds, but that takes a lot of time and waiting. If they would fix that and just make the soups more flavourful, I could easily give 5/5 stars. But like this - given how important the soup is for Suki Yaki - I can't really...