Ryuko - Japanese Kitchen + Bar

The food was good, but the service was disappointing.

We dined here on January 4. Upon arrival, we were informed that the table was reserved again at 7:00 pm, which we understood and agreed to.

However, the service felt rushed and unwelcoming. Our server showed little engagement throughout the meal. A soy sauce spill on the table was not noticed or addressed, and dessert was served before the table had been cleared.

Before we requested the bill, the server brought the bill and POS machine to the table with an 18% tip already applied, without asking. This made us uncomfortable. Although we left well before 7:00 pm, the overall experience made us feel pressured to leave early.

When we shared our concerns and asked to speak with a supervisor, the response was limited to repeated apologies, with no explanation or attempt to resolve the situation. The tip was only removed after we mentioned escalating the concern.

Overall, while the food was enjoyable, the service significantly detracted from the evening. Unfortunately, this experience would make us hesitant to return.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 1

Great food, menu has a variety of options but not overwhelming. Service was good too and the ambience is quite pleasing. Not too loud to have a conversation

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Excellent food, variety at fair prices.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Absolutely one of the best sushi experiences I’ve had!
The fish was incredibly fresh, the rice perfectly balanced, and every roll was full of flavor. Beautiful presentation, generous portions, and very friendly service.
Highly recommend — will definitely be coming back! 🍣🔥

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Food,service and ambience all top notch . Reminded us of food from our Japan trip 🔥

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Wow. The omakase felt like a Michelin star restaurant, the service, flavour, and creativity. I am still amazed by the matcha. Thank you Chef Jun & Chef Derrick for the food and solid playlist!

We took a trip to Calgary for my wife’s birthday dinner and she chose Ryuko South and it was a wonderful experience. You are greeted at the front door by the cool purple light of their fish fridge, which was cool to see. Inside the restaurant, it is modern, cleanly designed and bright.

Our server was friendly and prompt and brought our drinks, which she used a smoke gun to add a smoke bubble to my sweet and tart yuzu drink.

We had the karate chicken with its wasabi like dip and it was hot, crunchy, but needed a bit of salt. The sushi was excellent and we enjoyed all of the oishi sushi that we ordered. Our favourite was the wagyu beef oishi sushi. Unfortunately the surf and turf roll had two pieces of gristle that we had to remove from the rolls, as it was inedible.

All in all, a lovely, authentic sushi restaurant in Calgary. It was a lovely birthday dinner!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

A great food experience.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

My guest and I had the early dinner Omakase on a Sunday night and Chef Jun and his staff provided an amazing experience. This was served in the upstairs portion of the restaurant and it had a nice open atmosphere. There was a nice waiting area if needed, however, we were greeted immediately and taken to our seats. It was a nice setting of just 6 seats and Chef Jun was so meticulous in his presentation of each dish.

Watching Chef Jun prepare each dish behind the counter was artistic. He was careful and explained what each dish was and how and why it was prepared the way it was.

Each dish had their slight unique flavor. For someone like me that doesn't normally like sushi unless I was at a coastal city, Ryuko has been the only place in the city where I do enjoy it.

Even the matcha drink at the end, where normally matcha has a very slight bitter after-taste, however, the way he served it, took that edge completely off. It was incredibly refreshing way to finish off the night of so many wonderful courses.

The server was also very attentive, our drinks was always full, and she was always available if we needed anything.

He even hand picks the background music playing for each dish as it is prepared and served. It was a nice touch.

I have been to every location in the city so far, and I look forward to the next one which will be closer to my home! However, this one will bring great memories of the amazing night of the Omakase with my guest.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Having visited Ryuko multiple times in the past, we had always looked forward to the omakase experience, especially given the excellent meals we’ve had under Chef Jay’s direction. This time, however, the experience didn’t quite live up to our expectations.

We dined for a special birthday celebration, choosing the omakase with Chef Jhon. The sushi, as always, was beautifully prepared, and the quality of the fish was excellent. However, we found the overall experience to be somewhat underwhelming, especially compared to past visits.

The biggest issue was the portion size. We understand that omakase isn’t meant to be a filling meal, but the portions this time were noticeably smaller than before when price has gone up. The miso soup, served in a large bowl, contained only a few sips, leaving us feeling hungry by the end of the meal, which wasn’t the case during previous visits.

Another area for improvement is the lack of explanation for each dish. While I could identify most of the fish, my husband wasn’t familiar with the names or types. It would have been helpful to have a brief description of the fish and the garnishes or preparations for each course, allowing us to better appreciate the care and quality that went into each dish.

While we still appreciate the ambiance, quality, and service at Ryuko, we left feeling disappointed. The omakase, which we had always looked forward to as a special treat, didn’t feel as thoughtfully executed as in the past. We’re hopeful that future visits will return to the high standards we’ve come to expect from Ryuko.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 2

Wow! Amazing experience of a blend of authentic Japanese cuisine and service with a modern touch and innovative tastes.
Service was impeccable, food of the highest quality and taste, and overall experience more than enough to make me want to go back for more. Definitely recommended for celebrations, commemorations and dates.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Went for the lunch omakase with Chef John Lee and it was a wonderful experience! Amazing sushi and service. Please go treat yourself!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I was absolutely spoiled with amazing food and amazing service for my birthday.

Would highly recommend to anyone who likes good quality sashimi and a nice atmosphere to enjoy it.

Thank you again for the amazing service Doby. We will be back!!

We had the pleasure to have Doby serve us for my wife’s birthday dinner, and honestly he is the best. We gave him the option to choose what was best for our group, and he went above and beyond.

Thank you so much Doby, we cannot to be back to have you as our server again.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Best sushi spot in Calgary.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5