317 10 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2R 0A5, Canada
First time going to Japanese Village and we had a wonderful time! There is so much energy in the restaurant from all of the hibachis and their chefs. You can hear them singing and joking with the patrons, it is a very interactive experience and great for a larger group. I ordered the salmon, and my partner ordered the steak and shrimp. It started with a soup and salad, then rice, grilled vegetables and your protein of choice.After your meal you also get ice cream. With a few beers, our total with tip came to $120 which we thought was great. They are also very efficient, it only took one hour start to finish for our whole evening. I am sure it takes longer with a larger group (only 6 at our table). But it was nice that they were so efficient if you had plans somewhere else after. I am already excited to go again!
Its an amazing experience, if you are lucky you might get a funny chef! Food is great too!
This is a very unique Japanese restaurant located in downtown Calgary. Coming here is definitely a distinctive experience. The food is cooked right in front of you on a flat top grill that the chairs are surrounding. The cooks are very fun and entertaining. Lots of energy and had a few really funny jokes. The food was pretty good. It is a bit pricier, but you are paying for a full meal (soup, salad, shrimp, rice, grilled vegetables, and a multitude of different sauces. Plus, green tea, and ice cream for dessert). Everyone in our group left very full and pleased with the experience. Would definitely recommend checking this restaurant out!
If I could rate zero I would, been coming here for celebration for 15 years. 5 out of 6 of us ordered Steak and Shrimp.The chef did not ask any of us how we would like it cooked. Cooked all steaks and placed it on the plate. There is limited time set out when dinning here and my party didn’t want the birthday girl to be embarrassed by complaining. Our bill was $375 dollars and tipped 22% and was not worth the experience. I called the following morning to inform the manager to have a conversation with his chef about how important it is to ask each of the guest how they prefer there steak to be cooked and he LAUGHED at me on the phone literally. Disregarding my complaint with no apology. To the point where I had just hang up on him as he would rather argue with me then listen to my complaint. As a long time customer this was more then disappointing.I didn’t want any refund or any compensation.Just wanted him to be aware. And the manager didn’t want to hear any of it. Sadly will never be returning! For $375 dollars there is many other establishments that would not conduct themselves like this.
Horrible service, SALTY FOOD, OVERPRICED!!.The chef only did the volcano and sing Happy BD, that’s it!!! This is the worst Japanese steakhouse I’ve ever been to. The only thing they give you is butter, everything is drowned in butter. Here is $35 soaked butter shrimps
Enjoy your good food with your family or friends. Service is nice. Delicious sauce.
Great food and service. This place is good for large or small groups. Has a nice atmosphere. Only issue is the stairs when entering. We had a couple of people with disabilities and all the stairs was challenging for them.
In all my years living in Calgary I’ve never been here. I even remember the commercials as a child. It was such a fun time!! The food was great, the experience fun, and the chef funny. I think I’ll definitely be back!! I eat gluten free and they prepared my food in the back and I haven’t had any issues. So good job on serving gluten free!!
We love coming here! Always a great time! We will deffinately be back!! Dec.6, 2024 Great expirience again!! Love it here!!
First time going, and it was a great experience. They are strict on timing, and seating is in groups of eight, but the show and food are well worth it. Parking: Parking lot is right close by, there was lots of space when we went. Kid-friendliness: Although my kids questioned the amount of fire involved, it was highly entertaining for all. My oldest was amazed with the lemon magic trick. Wheelchair accessibility: I dont think there is wheelchair access, as two fights of stairs are involved.
Lets be realistic - you come here for the experience, not necessarily for the ground-breaking cuisine. Especially if youre celebrating something or with a big group. They put on quite a show for you. But thankfully the food is good.
Although the food was good. It was just RUSHED. You didnt have time to enjoy either the preparation or the food. I wasnt even half way through my meal before I was offered dessert! I felt the business philosophy was volume and not quality. Disappointing!
Food is always delish. Service is fun as the grill people are entertaining and talented. Vegetarian options: They have a vegetarian option they cook in the back. Dietary restrictions: They will cook food for anyone with a seafood allergy, in the back. Parking: Its on the second floor of the building.
The food was excellent, and so was the staff. I had a really good time. A very positive experience.
If you havent heard of JV then youve been living under a rock. At any given time you will see celebrities, hockey teams etc dining there. Have their famous saki bomb to get the party started. There is always plenty of food. You never leave empty. But know that you are on their schedule. They need your seat for the next group thats already there. TIP: Extra steak sauce on your rice directly!
We ate well, the chef was very friendly and entertaining. All in all, the price is average
The food came with some entertainment. I would say it was verrryyy hot in there.
What can you say about this place, nothing has changed over the years. Its a great way to have some laughs and eat some tasty food with friends. Not a terrible first date experience either.
I checked in 2 minutes before my reservation time and they had already given away my table
Disrespectful staff and long waiting line for skip
This is a nice place if you are looking for an hibashi experience, mostly if you have childrens. We came here with friends who chose this place and most of us were not actually seeking that kind of experience. Altough this review is mostly due to the very very heavy teriyaki sauce with the teriyaki beef which overpowered the steak. The rest of the food was pretty good altough not special. Service was just ok as it took 15 minutes to have a glass of water we requested.
Had really bad service. When we were sat down, we were immediately asked what food wed like before they even toon our drink order. We felt very rushed. No one explained how hibachi works, (we had several first timers) or asked for allergies (had a guest with a tomato allergy who got a salad with tomatoes that they couldnt eat and had to send back,) and we didnt get our drinks (and water) until half way through the meal. Our chef was very funny and he was the most enjoyable part of the experience! Dietary restrictions: While our allergies were accommodated, they didnt ask about anything upfront and we had to send food back when it came out with an allergen. Wheelchair accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible. Has three flights of stairs and no alternative option to get upstairs
A classic. Never disappointed here. Worth every penny.
Its a delight!
Best Hibacbi place in Calgary. The chefs are performative and very friendly
The chef always puts on a great show and the service is great. Steak was perfect.
Cooks are nice but wow they put people so close together. I don t really want to be shoulder to shoulder with strangers. They need to leave more room between parties. Very annoying.
Very disappointed that the restaurant would not take my credit card to pay for a couple in attendance, celebrating a very special milestone birthday.... I wanted to surprise them, but they would not do the credit card transaction......... rather pathetic in this world of high tech.
One of my favorite places to eat Wheelchair accessibility: Unfortunately there is no wheelchair accessibility Food : 5/5 |
The experience here is always fun and the food is consistently delicious! Our chef was a guy named Chris and he was hilarious! The best one weve had!
Delicious
This has been my favorite restaurant in calgary since 1985. The only thing that has changed is the location since then.
Very loud and crowded. Our cook was very pleasant; but forgot one course for one guest and kept forgetting the dairy allergy. Its been 20 years since Ive been to a Japanese Village and we wont be going again. It was not as we remembered. Definitely not worth the money. Dietary restrictions: Not great at remembering!
The food was yummy, our server and cook were both very attentive and interactive but the restaurant is very run down and needs a big renovation to bring it up to standard. Wouldnt return until a renovation/update has been made.
Tasty but shrimp not deveined and salmon had a lot of bones.
First time there, and it wont be the last. This was a fun and amazing experience. Every course was fantastic, and I love how you can get multiple bowls of rice. The steaks were cooked to perfection, and the steak sauce was the best sauce I have ever tasted. The soup, salad, veggies, and ice cream were all very good. There is nothing I would want changed from the experience I had.
Awesome experience, for a party .
I have never written a review for anything but I felt I needed to write this for everyone to read. We had gone their recently and there was a problem with the seating arrangement at the beginning. I reserved for 9 and I was told we would get an entire table and we were squished into a corner so they could add 2 more people in instead of moving us to another space. They told us they would give us the childs meal for free and basically the child doesnt eat much being 21 months anyway.. We accepted this and sat crammed in to each other.. As the meal went on the cook was saying things to try to make us laugh but instead he insulted many of us talking saying some of us were too skinny and others were overweight. Noone deserves to go through that when we are supposed to be celebrating and enjoying our meals. He was rude and when I called to complain about it after we left the manager told me he could not and would not speak to our chef regarding this issue. He was rude and basically did not care. The entire evening was ruined because of this and yet.we paid them alot of money and now they lost our business for good. Parking: There is horrible parking and the restaurant looks like it could fall apart being so run down
Loved the comical chef and the show he put on for us
My favourite restaurant in Calgary. The quantity and quality is really worth the price. Love the atmosphere especially since I miss Japan a lot. Will be back when I visit!
place is great... staff was awesome.... that said, its dated in the decor. wouldnt hurt to update. otherwise... all good.
It s a little crowded at times but it s ok plus the there joke are reused but the food oh my god it s good no matter what cold leftovers don t worry it still tastes amazing the food is a 1000/10 first time you go it s awesome I ve gone here 3 times a year I still laugh at the jokes prices are high but the food is worth the price Parking: 4 dollars for 3 hours it s always going to be a little busy but parking is usually a few spots
We were there July 24 2024 there at 5 pm was3 of us, we were the only ones at the table, our cook came, asked how we wanted our steaks, that was the amount of conversation from him, he never asked if we were celebrating , he cooked the food poorly, no show, no fire onion , no bean sprout heart or sesame seeds, no pounding of the wood things, didn t ask how things were, it was like he was the dishwasher and had no idea what to do, very very disappointed and will not recommend this to anyone, it cost $200 dollars for the 3 of us, this was not our first time but it is our last Parking: Poor
The food and service are great, but it is hard to talk and entertain at your table.
Went for a celebratory dinner. Food was great, service was great, staff were very friendly and funny. Overall would come again.
My family has been dining here for well over a decade. This included both lunch service prior to Covid, and dinner. Over the last year, the service has become increasingly poor. The individuals checking in guests are extremely rude and clearly frustrated by having to interact with people. We had a 5 PM reservation today with family from out of town. After being squished into seating with no room to even drink your soup, the dinner service was completed within 42 minutes. Our bill arrived before our ice cream, along with the waitress, asking us to pay. No drink refills. Thankfully, there are other really great Teppanyaki restaurants in Calgary. Those that focus on great service, delicious food, and a wonderful experience. All of which Japanese Village has exchanged to push people in and out.
Kid-friendliness: Kids can visit as well Recommended dishes
Wonderful experience, great food and atmosphere. Close and personal.
Very bad service. Not recommend
Great atmosphere, the food was tasty and fresh and also not super expensive.
A little pricey but good food.
Great fun atmosphere. Food was great. Love the yummy steak sauce.
It was one of my wifes bucket list items. She enjoyed the experience.
Always a fun and tasty meal at Japanese Village Calgary.
We have been coming here for decades, to celebrate birthdays and other events. Highly recommended.
This place is a great time Asidero from the food being amazing, the chefs are super entertaining. Its really a meal and a show. Food
Recommended
Fun experience with the chef cooking in front of the guest. Our chef was really funny and even played the guitar for us. However the place needs remodeling. Washrooms are an eye sore as well
Fun place to be entertained while watching your food get cooked. Last two visits they overcooked the shrimp. The calamari appetizer was fairly tasteless. There is plenty of food and you can order extra rice and yum yum sauce. Seating is shoulder to shoulder along the table and corner seating has limited table space. Go for the experience and keep expectations low for the food.
Japanese Village was the first teppanyaki restaurant in Calgary, and it is still the best. Although the location has changed, the food quality has remained consistent, and the chefs are very entertaining. Its a fun experience!
Dined with friends, we like to go to Japanese Village about once a year. Got there early so had a drink in the sparse lounge. After seating we were assaulted with loud banging and shouting, apparently someone was having a birthday. As it turns out, there were a lot of celebrations and with it a lot of noise. We could not carry on any type of conversation without shouting. Our chef was great, food was fantastic, and if you dont mind the noise, this place could be for you. Parking: Parked at Indigo lot on east side, $8.80 for the evening. Scan with your phone to pay.
Wheelchair accessibility: No wheelchair access. Flight of stairs and no elevator or lift. Food
The experience was interesting but the food was very average.
I ve never been so rushed at a restaurant. The salad was served before we finished the soup. Just after the chef cooked and served our meals, the server came with take out boxes. This is a fun place to eat but, for the price and the uncomfortable speed at which we were expected to eat , I sure wouldn t go back.
Amazing experience and food. The Chef put on a great show and was funny. Only complaint and its tiny was that the decor of the restaurant at the front is starting to show its age. Overall, an absolute great value. Dietary restrictions: Good about gluten friendly options, but dont come if you are Celiac as soya sauce is in almost everything.
We love going there for birthday celebrations because of the big hoopla and they didn t disappoint. The place could use some updating in terms of decor and maybe some deep cleaning. The food was very good, as usual. The service was fine. The best part is always the show and everyone s reaction around the table. Lots of fun! Parking: Parking is super close, which is very handy any time of year. Just a bit pricey if you re going to take several vehicles.
Food was delicious and the chefs are so entertaining. The venue could use updating but lovely staff!
Do you want the real review or a paste up goody, goody, very nice review
Japanese Village exceeded all expectations! From the delicious food to the immersive entertainment, it was a must-try experience. The teppanyaki chefs skills were mesmerizing, and the atmosphere was vibrant. Definitely a 5-star experience!
the bus
We go here regularly for family celebrations and glad that despite it being a teppanyaki place that they can accommodate one of our family members with a vegan option. The only feedback we have is that we wish the vegan option came with tofu as a protein then it would be perfect. Other than that we love it here and love the food and service!
Great place to go for dinner. Unique experience. they cook the food in front of you and its very entertaining to watch. Very friendly staff. Lots of parking. Parking: Payed parking lot as it is located down town
Always fun to do. Food is good, though a bit expensive. Enjoy coming here.
Had a great time! Food was good and the show was great! The cook was absolutely hilarious and made my night!
I have been going here for many years and often go here for birthdays. If you get one of their meals, it comes with salad, soup, rice, a few pieces of shrimp, whatever you ordered, after dinner tea and ice cream. The chefs put on a show, while they cook and the food is always fantastic. The service is always on point and your empty dishes are removed promptly.
Great experience for the whole family. Food was excellent! The only thing is we felt a bit rushed, we would have liked another round or two of beers but thats ok, still 5 stars.
I had an amazing time in the new years eve with my husband I loved the Vibes and chef was so funny good service and friendly staff . Food was very delicious .
Great family outing; kids love a scorching performance
Excellent food and large portions. Entertaining and upbeat.
Have not been in many years and it is as good as I remember it. The flavours are top notch, Presentation is pretty good. You can tell the chefs are new as most of the show is just them banging the cooking utensils together. But its still entertaining. Definitely need to get back with less of a gap then the last time.
Very accommodating for allergies. Much appreciated Dietary restrictions: Told server of my allergies and they were very accommodating Food : 5/5 |
Terrible service today. Going to OMO next time
Im not sure if this place aged well...
Always a favorite!
Ive been a patron of Japanese Village since childhood, cherishing the lively shows, entertainment, and humor that used to define the experience. The skilled chefs and attentive service were always a highlight. Unfortunately, in recent years, the quality has dwindled. During my visit last month, there were no jokes, minimal effort, and our server seemed more engrossed in her phone than attending to our needs. I had to get up to request additional rice and check on our drinks, a stark contrast to the efficient service of the past. The overall pace was slow and frustrating. To add to the disappointment, the party sharing our table arrived late, causing a delay in our dinner despite our punctuality. While the food quality was still good, the noticeable shrinkage in portion sizes over the past decade left me feeling disheartened, especially considering the fond memories I once associated with the place.
This restaurant never disappoints!! The atmosphere is so much fun too
I have to give a 1 star review.....we went to Japanese village for a wedding dinner. It was a small booking of 9 people and had been booked long in advance. When we arrived via our limo, the lady at the front counter was super rude and unaccomodating. She told us that one of us would have to sit behind the others as they didnt have enough room at the table. I asked her if that should be the bride in her gown lol. We had to make the decision at the moment that this establishment did not want our business so we proceeded to go to Earls Tin Palace where we were treated so kindly, they even gave the bride and groom a complimentary bottle of champagne. Thank you Earls for coming through after a dissapointing supposed meal at Japanese village. There is not one person in our group that will ever go to Japanese Village after the way we were treated.
Great overall experience here. The steak was delicious, as well as the homemade sauces. The grilled vegetable assortment was primarily onions and I feel like this part of the dinner could be improved. The whole experience takes about an hour as they turn over the tables quite quickly. If you are looking for a laugh and a group table type setting this is the place. Dietary restrictions: Accommodating for dairy allergies. They will cook your food in the back kitchen though, as they primarily use margarine/butter on the grill.
My friend and I enjoyed the New York steak and shrimps, especially the entertainment on his birthday.
Always a great time here.
Always a great place.
The waitress kept rushing us and seemed unfriendly. When I asked for a change of ice cream and can pay extra, I waited for some time then paid and left. I felt very uncomfortable with the waitress. She even gave the go containers when we were still eating! Last time I go there. Overpriced for lots of rice and a few scraggly pieces of meat. And lots of sprouts. Not a good choice when there is other options in Calgary.
Go here for the experience, not the food lol.
Always a fun experience!
Came here with my husband for our anniversary as we have heard great things about it. We absolutely loved our experience here. The food was so good and the prices were surprisingly fair! You get alot of food and it seemed like unlimited rice. The cook we had at our table was engaging and very friendly, and he did a great job on cooking everything. There was a little girl at our table celebrating her birthday and the way he interacted with her was very sweet. It was such a fun experience, and I genuinely cannot wait to return. The steak and rice sauce is 10/10 and I wish I could buy it to for take home.
my experience at japanese village was THE GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT. Numerous people have referred this place to us so we decided to finally give it a go and here are my thoughts -very old and dingy establishment with filthy carpets. Felt like dust mites would jump out and bite us -extremely rude and cranky staff -food was blahh, small portions, overcooked tiny stake cubes and overpriced. You can get this same food quality at any oriental restaurant for half the price, -i know pricing is for entertainment to but honestly there is nothing to write home about with the fire show. Might impress little kids. Overall there was nothing pleasing about this place. Just another money grab establishment lacking value for money
Best place to enjoy a fun family dinner
What a wonderful, family run establishment with a unique dining experience and excellent, authentic food.
Hibachi grill! Not much else to say!! They offer gluten free options made on a cast iron skillet in the back kitchen so theres no cross contamination, the chef was skilled and hilarious, from the juggling to the flaming volcano (fun for all ages), this little hidden jem is definitely worth taking you and your family to! Dietary restrictions: Separate kitchen for allergy preparation on cast iron skillet
Food was delicious, servers could be more attentive to getting drink refills and orders. But overall delicious.
This was an awesome evening. Great food, great show, and an awesome chef.. an experience to remember.
This place is old...and maybe a bit dirty for my liking. The ventilation is bad and you leave smelling of fried. The jokes are the same as when we went years ago...and it seemed expensive. The service is decent and the steak was delicious... the rest of the meal was mid at best.
Really fun place! Good food, too.
Make sure you try the yum yum sauce. Always a good experience when we come here. The kids live it and the food has never disappointed yet
This restaurant is tired. Carpet is filthy and threadbare and facilities generally need a refresh. Entrance off 10th Ave is a dump with garbage on the sidewalk. Sign held in place with rope. Deck looks like a safety hazard - adorned with old socks. Owners clearly don t care about appearance or have any pride in their location. Waitress could not summon up the energy to smile - not once. I absolutely would NOT take guests here. Too bad since the dining experience itself is quite enjoyable. Wheelchair accessibility: None. No elevator access and lots of stairs. Our elderly guest had difficulty.
Always have loved coming here. All the staff there are amazing and the food is so yummy
Awesome experience to connect with strangers and awesome food:) our chef played us guitar <3 thank you loads from the 3 of us tonight <3 lovely place and reasonably priced for everything you get! So good!!
To much cornstarch in the shabu soup
My experience with Japanese village was nothing but horrible. We were checking in for reservation the host was EXTREMELY incompetent with rushing people to get into their seats. On top of that the waitress was also rude. After the dinner we noticed the waitress talking to the host . Completely unprofessional! I would never go back to this location. On the good note the cook was phenomenal. I would of tipped him then the servers !
Strange waiting area, but food was amazing. Service was slightly lacking for drinks. Great for large groups and dividers are put up to separate smaller groups. Food
Such fun and amazing experience with great food and staff
We have been going to Japanese Village for MANY years (25+). I ve never been more disappointed than last night. We always order the Showgun Special with filet. The meat was definitely not filet, it was very tough. The waitress was not welcoming and we felt like a burden. We were celebrating my husbands 60th birthday with our family and two of our grandkids. The chef did not do the show afterwards which made me mad. We are paying good money for our food and we Are also paying for the experience. Extremely disappointed and will second guess a return. You have lost a dedicated customer and family.
Its a fun place to go, the chefs are very entertaining. The food in my opinion is just meh. Nothing special, its not bad, but its not great either.
First time eating here. It was an amazing experience with my family for a birthday celebration.The chef made my 10 year old son laugh and really engaged with him. Funny jokes, delicious food. Many sauces to try from. Lots of food that is very filling. You are allowed to bring home what you dont eat. Will definitely come back especially for special occasions.
Very fun experience! A definite repeat! The food was cooked to perfection, very savory and reasonably priced. The chef experience was also quite fun! Great for dates, or family fun! Franko was really great! Food
Food is okay. Went there two times, every time left hungry. The amount of food is not enough for a person. I had to eat the tasteless ice cream. Restaurant smells like bleach.
Fabulous food created table side! Charming chef and server. A little bit of a retro decor feel which suited us nicely since we hadn t been there since they moved from the former location in Eau Claire.
Most excellent service!
Ordered the beef teriyaki and the filet mignon which were both tasty. They include a small bowl of salad, soup, and some ice cream with your meal. Only reason why Im giving 4 stars is because the restaurant is a bit dark. Would be nice if they could repaint the area to a brighter color.
Erika is the absolute best!!! We come year about once a year and always enjoy the food, service, and atmosphere. We came here on Friday night and Erika served us; she is simply amazing!! We have never heard anyone have so much enthusiasm when bringing our sake bombs, our whole table loved it!!! Thank you Erika
I always wanted to try Wagyu in Japan but when I got a chance to try this in Canada I didn t wait a second. Best Wagyu A5, lobster and shrimp I ever ate. Service and atmosphere was amazing even though it s a little more on the pricey side. No Complaints and food was great!
Wheelchair accessibility: Second floor, no access for wheel chairs. Food
I lived in Calgary 30 years ago and went to the Japanese Village once a month always great fun, super service and great food. How things change in 30 years or so went on Thursday the 10 August 2023 and it was terrible, the show was lousy, the food was no better the steak I had was cold in the center and by the time it was on the plate the rest of the food was cold. I arrived at 1740 thinking I could have a drink before my sitting at 1800 no such luck sat by 1745 and the bill presented at 1845 even though I had not finished by glass of wine. No offer of a coffee. Overall not great and there are other Japanese places in downtown Calgary that I would suggest checking out. They should rename the restaurant Japanese Express as there is no Village atmosphere in this place!
Had a fun time and food was delicious!
I swear this is the best restaurant. Dietary restrictions: They will ask your dietary restrictions and will make the meal differently for you. Parking: You have to go to parkplus Kid-friendliness: Very Wheelchair accessibility: Not really
Great fun loads of fantastic food.
Franco was the best in the whole world. Made my friend s birthday the best. Thank you Franco! Will be back for more memories!
I ve been coming to Japanese village since I was a little girl. 30 yrs later it is still an enjoyable experience with delicious food. I love that I can still get the orange sherbet I loved as a child. The food was amazing. Perfectly cooked steak, tasty shrimp, and a good performance from our chef. Definitely will be back again and again.
Great food, great atmosphere. Great evening
This is my all time favorite date night place! We went for my birthday, and it was so fun and delicious
Love love love it here
The best food experience, great tastes, & atmosphere in calgary!
Incrediable food , and people,, highly recommend it
you cant go wrong with the village great food some entertainment. only real complaint is I always feel rushed to leave after our meal, so take into account.
Always a great experience. Great service and very entertaining. The food keeps us coming back.
First I will say that my son, who was with me really enjoyed the meal, he ordered the teriyaki chicken. I ordered the teriyaki salmon. I am not a meat eater. I now know to ask the staff if my fish/seafood can be prepared before the meat dishes as I do not like my food mixed with meat juices. But my biggest complaint was the salmon was 3 thinly sliced filets which unfortunately were over done, and tough. Next time I will order the shrimp.
Great tasting food!
Fun dinner with friends or for a date night. The chefs are great and put on a great show.
Awesome atmosphere and food.
Recently, our family, a group of 2 seniors, 4 adults and 2 minors had dinner at the Japanese Village on 10th Ave S.W. Upon arrival we were seated in a timely manner. I stopped to instruct what I assumed to be the manager, that I would be paying for the dinner. He asked if it was a special occasion and I told him that there were 3 birthdays in the group. He asked if I would like them to sing Happy Birthday to them in Japanese. I said that would be a nice treat and then he informed me that there would be a $5 service charge for that service. Not impressed. I said that would not be required. I felt that was just another example of squeezing hard earned dollars out of the consumers. Our dinner was good with a good performance by the chef. When it came time to pay the bill. I was informed that they had automatically added a 18% gratuity to the bill because we were a large group. Again, I was not impressed, as I didn t think the service/food warranted a gratuity of that amount. Consumers are being held hostage more and more by dining establishments who think they can automatically add a gratuity to the bill because we are a group of 8. Also expressed by disappointment to the server regarding the $5 service charge as previously mentioned. In closing, I will not be rushing back for a repeat performance.
Awesome atmosphere and service! Consistently great food and the chefs are very entertaining and engaging. Books fast so reserve in advance. Dietary restrictions: They will accommodate allergies but you do not get to watch them cook the food
Youre there for the show. Once is enough
Great place for group dinners - birthdays et . The food is good - fresh - sauces are tasty
Absolutely amazing! The chef and staff were very entertaining and professional, and the food was even better! Would reccomend! (I had chicken)
Me and my wife came here for our 2 year wedding anniversary was amazing service, funny staff and amazing food would come here again for sure
We had a great experience here just two nights ago. They seated us right at our reservation time. We had Chef at our grill and he was fantastic; what a great sense of humour! The restaurant itself is looking a little dated, but it took nothing away from the excellent food and the pleasant nature of all the staff. We would definitely recommend this place and we will go back again ourselves.
A wonderful restaurant - talented, entertaining chefs, delicious food and attentive, responsive hosts. Its food with more than a touch of spectacle about it, and well worth a visit!
Not what it used to be. Japanese Village used to be such a fun place to go for a birthday dinner with family and friends and now I don t know if I would return. The food is still good and the chefs are still entertaining, but it is very obvious they have prioritized guest turnover at the detriment of experience. When we last visited in July for my mother in law s birthday, we were in and out within 45 minutes. Each course was rushed, and staff were there to pack up the leftovers and get the bill paid before anyone had much of a chance to eat their meal. They no longer do the birthday photos, which is probably the most disappointing part. We spent about $50 per person in our large party and felt absolutely rushed to get in and out as quickly as possible. Japanese Village used to be such a great time, but my visits in the past year have confirmed to me that it is not the place it used to be. We will be trying other experience restaurants instead.
Its was a great time with family and friends i recommend this if you want something different
Food was amazing, service was perfect and it was extremely entertaining. Definitely a fun time, while enjoying great food.
Dinner and a show. Im so glad to see this place was busy on a Saturday. The food was, as always consistently fabulous. And if you werent aware yet you can buy the secret yum yum sauce in a bottle.
It was super fun the chefs were very interactive and the food was super good
Enjoyed the meal and the entertainment
Always a good time, but our chef this time was young and not very interactive with the table.... something that is a big deal there. Been going for years and always delicious. Their steak sauce is to die for. Yum Yum Sauce!
I love this place. The odd Tim you get a bump cook
Love the ambiance and food
I felt rushed the whole time I was there, it seems like they are racing through you re dinner experience turnover the customers quick, it s a turn-off. I have been going to this franchise for years, but now they rush everything! SLOW DOWN Japanese Village. Let us enjoy the experience.
Good food . Fun atmosphere. After living in Japan for the past two decades Id say this is a western take on Japanese cuisine and teppanyaki. No Japanese restaurant would ever rush the customer to move along and advise them that there are people waiting to get in. That never happens in Japan. Theres also a zero tipping culture in Japan and we were all forced to pay a tip which was automatically added... Im not complaining about the tip as we really enjoyed watching the cook. Typically I enjoy tipping but I was disappointed to see that it was automatically added. ( You have the right to tell them to remove the tip ) I also felt that they rushed us to leave after the cooking presentation and our plates were still practically warm as we had just finished enjoying our meals. Our host lady came to us advising us that there is a table waiting to sit at our teppanyaki booth and we will have to go . We were only there for about 45 min and there were a few empty booths available. I was also upset that they actually charge quite a bit of money to take a souvenir picture and sing happy Birthday to your group celebrating special occasions. And forget about getting a complimentary dessert for somebody celebrating their birthday as that definitely wont happen.. I dont even think they have cake but they do have delicious ice cream. One of my favorite childhood memories was going to Japanese village in the 70s. They put on a great show. They gave outstanding service. They offered a beautiful FREE Polaroid framed to capture the occasion. This needs to come back . The man cooking was fun , organized and professional , but the rest of the staff made us feel rushed and un relaxed. The Japanese food in the Shopping mall food court is comparable and about 70% cheaper for the same amount of food and quality . Ill probably tip that hard working kid in the mall $ 50 on my next shopping trip and walk away completely satisfied .
The chef was fun but his portion of the night was really quick. The food was decent but our server definitely wished she was elsewhere. Honestly all around it was just ok. For the price there are way better places to dine in Calgary.
worth the hype. amazing service and entertainment worth way more than they charge
Always a pleasure to celebrate a birthday here. Enough food to go around!!! Everyone had leftovers.
I went there for my mothers birthday. The whole time it felt like they were rushing us to leave. As soon as the last veggies where cooked and plated, the waitress came back asking if we wanted to go containers. Immediately after that she asked which ice cream we wanted and how to.split the bills. The majority of my group left feeling sick because we ate too fast. We also told the staff it was my mothers birthday and they didnt sing, take the pictures or even give her a cake or anything. Its a good thing the food was good or that wouldve been a horrible experience
Danielle our chief was amazing, made my girlfriends birthday super special. Trista was giving us so much energy for every sake bomb. Would recommend the steak and shrimp
I liked everything!! The experience is almost unique! Quite a show accompanied by excellent food! My son liked the playlist, Japanese Pop
My meat was burnt did not taste good at all
Price!!! Even they bit up but compare other stake restaurants! Good value and entertainment. Great skill and fun. We enjoyed that night! Food
Food is not authentic Japanese but its tasty. Disappointed though with the chicken teriyaki. I paid $36 for a piece of chicken small than my palm.
Wife & I invited her sister & brother in law from Philippines to experience this great supper. All went well until chef humiliated my brother in law. Then there was tension in the air. Chef realized what he did & shut his mouth. But brother in law did not enjoy the food or atmosphere when chef imbarrised him and humiliated him. I know chef likes to joke around but this was uncalled for. Chef never even apologized. Parking: Not sure if I ll ever go back. Very pricey & rude staff.
Took my family of 7 here tonight for dinner and honestly food was amazing but unfortunately the atmosphere was quite disturbing. Went to the washrooms and they were extremely dirty and you could vividly see the grease on the bulbs above us. Overall food was good but won t be returning due to the unfortunate lack of cleanliness.