Review Shokunin - Calgary

This is our second visit in less than a week, we are here on vacation and giving up other reservations to come back. The food is excellent as are the cocktails. On both our visits so far we have taken our server’s suggestions and haven’t been disappointed. Tonight, the fish head was the highlight of the night, don’t be afraid to order it - delish!!! Chef/owner Darren runs a tight ship, we saw this first hand and that’s the reason the service and food are both excellent.

Beautiful, so beautiful, the presentation is only surpassed by the taste. The attentive and uniquely respectful food prep creates flavours you will literally never taste anywhere else. A beautiful, unique, experience, 20+ visits in the family and never the same experience, never a complaint, always a joy.

We've wanted to come here for years and it is amazing. The skewers are delicious, the sake beer is amazing. Everything we ate was so good. Their special confit wings were the best wings we've ever had. Every chicken wing should taste like those. We're not from Calgary but this will be a place we come every time we come back for a visit. Also, amazing service!

5 stars all the way! Trendy little spot in downtown Calgary. Amazing service, delicious food and wonderful ambiance. The servers take the time to describe the dishes to you as they are brought to your table. Almost everything is made by the chef or sourced from his farm. Nice selection of wine and mixed beverages available as well!

Outstanding in every way. The staff were so kind and very friendly. The food is amazing!! Drinks were great. Prices are very reasonable for the quality.

Definitely feels authentic. Alcohol, and food are incredibly unique. Even though I wouldn't call it flavor-ful, the cooking technique gives it a unique experience. Definitely worth the try at least once! And the unique chicken part skewers make it a one of a kind place as well

The ambiance was nice and food was good with fresh clean ingredients and high attention to detail featuring smooth developed flavors that were restrained and not over the top. The best part were the staff as they were very accommodating, knowledgable, and expressed genuine interest in their guests enjoying their time. Try their amazing cocktails!

My partner and I were there for Keisukes last day and it was so good. The staff here work so well together they make sure all the customers are taken care of, exceptional service. The food and especially the shokunin ramen was truly amazing! It’s no wonder lots of Japanese people love coming here. The atmosphere was fantastic but sad seeing one of their beloved chefs go. It’s an end of an era for shokunin but we’re very excited for what’s next. Having lived in Japan, I Definitely recommend coming here if you’re looking for a great izakaya experience. We hope Keisuke the best, we’re going to miss you!

This place is exceptional, the owner is the head chef so the quality of the food that leaves the kitchen is not only plated beautifully, it is also finished to the finest detail with wondering balance in flavor that makes every bite enjoyable which leave me wanting more. I had to stop myself from ordering seconds. The restaurant isn't a big place and does get fairly busy, but it is a very trendy environment which is great for casual occasions, not a place for serious conversation nor quiet privacy. For people who loves food, this place is a must visit :)

We had the good fortune of experiencing the omakase dinner at Shokunin tonight. This was our second time here-the first was a slightly rocky BigTaste lunch, but after tonight, our image of this restaurant has completely changed, and for the better! We were treated to a vast array of delicious food, including super fresh sushi and sashimi, flavourful miso broth, tasty skewers, interesting hot dishes, and finishing with luscious desserts. The most memorable courses were the miso sablefish sushi (so buttery and melt in your mouth-I was thrilled to learn that this will be a regular sushi addition to the menu), the bone marrow and escargot (rich, but it was an interesting alternative to a more common escargot preparation), and the scallops-so beautifully presented on their shells on a small charcoal burner. A shout out and thank you to chef and owner, Darren, and his team for this memorable meal-we are delighted to consider Shokunin as one of our top go-to Japanese restaurants in town now. What a great introduction of the omakase experience to this city! *Regretfully, we did not remember the name of our waitress, but she definitely contributed to our wonderful evening. She was fantastic-genuine, efficient, friendly, and so good with our one year old! Thank you!

This was probably the most interestingly flavored food I’ve ever had so far. Everything was delicious, but my favorites were by far the chicken ass skewer and the shishito peppers! We got the peppers per our server’s recommendation, and they were amazing. The server was attentive and lovely. I will definitely return to try more items on the menu.

The service is exceptional. The staff remember me and my severe shellfish allergy, particular Darren, the owner. I feel taken care of. The food is amazing with unique yakatori. The fish is fresh. Their ramen is worth the wait until 10pm. He makes a non shellfish one too. They make the best cocktails. Cosmos are done to perfection. Great selection of sake. Bubbly sake is so good. Overall, I can't think of a better place to dine!

My favorite of this year!! First of all, I've waited 4 weeks before writing this review. I was so excited after my visit that I would have given 50 stars. I'm starting to consider myself a foodie as I hit 50+ restaurants on the top 100 in Canada for the first two years of the list and on my way to a third year. I just came back form Italy to eat at Massimo Bottura's table. Enough bragging! SHOKUNIN is definitely exceptional. I sat at the counter and ate close to the serving pass where the chef is located. He took the time to explain every dish and got me excited every time. It is an adventure where you can find things you've never seen before but you'll want more at the end of the night. Every bite was different and delicious. The Chef is accessible and generous. He is also training his staff very seriously. This is a table worth a detour and by detour I mean a flight from Montreal like I did. Let's make this Chef wealthy so he opens more restaurants :D. Chef Darren, you are the incarnation of what a Chef should be and thank you for a perfect evening and for your crazy good Sake! Mark from Montreal

Visited for the first time today during the Lilac Fest, and I can’t believe that living in the area for many years, it took me this long to try it out. I was not too hungry as I had filled up on junk, but we decided to stop in and have a drink. Upon reading the menu I HAD to try something Ended up with the corn and shrimp fritter and the eggplant stuffed with goat cheese. I will be back again for a proper dinner, I just don’t know what I would choose. Had a brief encounter with the Chef/owner Darren, and I could tell how passionate he was about his place, and reading other reviews I can tell it isn’t just a one time thing! Will give another update when I go back.

Everything was so good!!! Radim's service was top notch!! Have to try the cabbage, chicken skins and the shiitakes but all amazing!! Oh and the beer on draft is pretty damn good too!!

Great place for a business lunch. Excellent food and atmosphere. Rightfully named one of the top 50 restaurants in Canada.

The pork is succulent. Every dish is made authentically and with the best treatment of ingredients. The flavour of the dishes and their appeal are like parties in your mouth - and you are the VIP. The staff are knowledgeable with paring and gauging customer palate so to enhance your experience with their carefully selected sake list. Is it possible to give 6 stars? I hear their ramen is life changing. Reserve me a seat please.

The food tasted different from the last time we went. The broth was a little bit salty. The waiter was annoyed coz we wanted to split the bill depending on what we ordered and not equally...emphasizing that we are making it difficult for everybody there after he added the tip on each of our tabs. well, the skewers were great though!

Wow! The quality of service, knowledge and food was amazing. I have wanted to try Shokunin since last April and it sure didn't disappoint. I think my friend and I have found our new let's treat ourselves spot. We sat by the chefs bar and the knowledge and passion shared with us was incredible. They are artists.

Sat at the Chefs bar and got to chat with the chef and owner - he is super passionate about the food, and the sake. We let him guide our meal and it was amazing.

We have a really great time last night this place is highly recommend the food is all delicious service is great!!

Exceeded my expectations. Outstanding service, they explained the dishes very well and mad me feel at ease for my first visit. Good wine list.

Hands down the best place in town! From the service to the humour and great food, you can't go wrong with any choice!

Haven't ate yet, but the sake list and menu look amazing. Service is prompt and friendly, definitely a must go! Plus their house beer is delicious

L received good news and to celebrate, he told me to pick a restaurant. By the time L finished his sentence, I had already booked a table at Shokunin. For this post, let’s listen to “Love Like This” by Faith Evans. Aside from the new winter menu, I noticed the seating between the tables was more spacious than before. And to keep up with the fast pace of the restaurant, there’s an army of cheerful, happy looking staff. From what I could see and experience, customers are well taken care of throughout the meal.

We haven’t been since this placed opened 4ish years ago. The staff were on point and very professional. No hipster bs and they were accommodating for us and our small child. I brought my Chinese parents and my Japanese aunt who are all fairly particular. We got in and out within 90 minutes. We ordered some greens, Gyoza, and a lot of the chicken Yakitori. The meat was all nicely done. No sauces for the most part so the texture and meat flavour really comes out strong as there’s nothing to hide behind. I’m looking forward to buying my own Hibachi soon to grill meat sticks at home.

“Small” plates indeed! Food is good - I appreciate the sashimi is high quality and fresh but felt it was too small and there are no choices - you either order a large or small portion - can not choose the fish. Sushi is also extremely small - tasty but small. Yakatori is flavourful but in reality it’s just a bunch of chicken parts chopped, marinated and grilled. Squid is excellent! Good cocktails. Overall a pleasant experience but felt the dishes are all overpriced. Servers are attentive and friendly. A fun expensive night out - would I go back - not likely - I was still hungry. $$$$$ <br/>

Dinner at Shokunin. At finest glance this looks more like a bar than a restaurant. Bar stoles and shared tables. Restaurant is VERY LOUD. We sit at the pass and get to watch the kitchen do what it does. <br/>Server arrives to explain the menu and take our drink order. She’s yelling in our ears for us to hear her, VERY LOUD IN HERE! Japanese whisky and Caesars for the group to start. We order three types of sushi, eggplant goat cheese appy’s, fatty chicken skewers, fried whole sea bass. All of our dishes arrive at once making it difficult to enjoy things. <br/>Flavors are really good, sushi is fresh, sea bass is cooked perfectly unfortunately it’s too loud for us to talk and ( not to repeat my self) but it all came at once. What restaurant sends everything at once??

Shokunin has been named one of Canada’s top 50 restaurants for two years in a row. It’s pretty cool to have a place like this in Calgary, and it’s pretty cool to have been able to watch Executive Chef/Owner Darren MacLean compete on The Last Table on Netflix. My little stint on the Global News Sunday Morning Edition cooking an enchilada rice bake doesn’t have quite the same ring as a world-wide competition LOL. I’ll admit I was a little bit star-struck, seeing Chef Darren behind the counter the first time… The second time was even better because Chef Darren was close enough to explain the food as we ate at the grill bar. We even got to meet Chef Darren at the end of the night!

Defs a more trendy Japanese place. The food was presented nice and they have some interesting things on the menu. Taste was average, was not too fond on the grilled items but mostly because I don't really like innards but I gave it a try. I prefer more traditional places in general but this is a good place for late night hangouts. If you wanna try more trendy and upscale Japanese food, this place is a good place. The cocktails are also pretty cool looking but I have not tried them myself.

Simply one of the top restaurants in Calgary at the moment. Space is excellent, service is friendly, helpful and efficient. And the food, well, hard to find anything to complain about. Shokunin definitely delivers best when you simply ask them feed you but, then again, it's really not possible to go wrong with the wide ranging and thoughtful menu. Even better it's all delivered at a surprising value. One of the best meals I have had in Calgary. 5/5.

I live a block away, it is one of my goto's when I am on a day off to sit and have a nice cocktail<br/><br/>Great Cocktails. The food here is amazing. It is unique and has a quality that it hard to describe. Do not expect the usual, expect the spectacular.<br/><br/>I have been to a number of Asian influenced restaurants, but this is still the best, there is a reason John Gilchrist gave it a 9.5.  My last review of this place was read 8848 times.  Hope it helps.   Go you will not be disappointed<br/><br/>Darren runs a great house, the service is above reproach. The presentation of the food speaks for itself.

Shokunin is my favourite restaurant in Calgary. You can tell a lot of thought and originality goes into each dish. Even the cocktails. Even the tea. The yakitori rivals anything I had in Japan. And although it's not a sushi restaurant (I think many people make this mistake), Shokunin's sushi is outstanding as well. While the food here draws up a ravenous hunger comparable to 1000 days in a North Korean prison camp, I must say that when I am able to focus on my surroundings, I've noticed the decor and music are also very inspired.

Always good vibes coming here. Food comes out super fast too! When we first tried the potato salad we were blown away. How can something so simple be so delicious? Sadly, our second time getting it didn’t live up to our expectations.<br/><br/><br/>Made reservations very last minute here since our friends haven’t tried shokunin before. While we were parking, I got a call stating that “due to us making reservations so last minute, they were unable to accommodate us”... then why was it available to reserve? Someone else came on the line and said if we came at 530, they would need the table back by 7 which was no problem for us as dining at shokunin has always been a fast service. Arrived at 5:35pm... I admit we were late but were greeted by three different staff who had to bring up the fact that “we were the group that made reservations so last minute” which was very annoying. 5:45pm some lady brings us waters. At this point we were ready to order food and drinks since they had stressed that they needed the table back by 7:00pm but she said “oh I’m not your server” and walked away. 6:05pm another lady walks by and asked “if everything was ok”. At this point my very annoyed friend explained to her that we would love to get this table back to them by 7... if only we could get some service! She apologized and explained that we came during a shift change hence the confusion on who our server was. <br/>Although they did give us a discount and a lot of free stuff, it was extremely embarrassing to bring our friends to one of our “favorite” restaurants. Will make sure to never make last minute decisions to dine here and to avoid going when they have “shift change”.

Presentation is everything at this restaurant, the food is unbelievably appealing to all the senses. Some of the freshest and most top grade sushi I’ve ever had, in a great location, with a wonderful vibe. Can’t wait to go back!

Food is always fresh and delicious. The bichotan grilled meats are incredible, the sashimi is always super high quality, and the taken is amazing! Have never been disappointed. I hit it up every time I'm in Calgary at least once. Love this place!

I was quite impressed by this restaurant. Good atmosphere, not too loud music. Servers are friendly and professional. When they serve dishes, they gave me explanations what they cooked the meal, like high-end restaurants do. I felt they care food and customers. I tried some kushiyaki which are better than other yakitori places in Calgary. They put some twists to their kushiyaki. I think it worked. I know I shouldn’t compare real Japanese kushiyaki, but if they apply basic techniques of bbqing yakitori, meat would be more juicier and smokier. That is only reason, I couldn’t give 5 stars. I tried chamame, which is similar to edamame but a little sweeter. It was good company with beer. Also they have a couple of original beer, which are worth trying. Lastly, their ramen was very good considering not from specialized ramen place. Actually, their ramen is more crafted than some ramen places. <br/><br/>I will definitely come back Shokunin. I am hoping they will develop more kinds of kushiyaki.

I had wanted to try their ramen for so long, but wasn't around that area on weekdays for lunch and eating ramen after 10pm was way too late. When I finally went for linch, I was extremely underwhelmed. Not the worst I've ever had, but very bland and unremarkable

Every Calgary trip, I try to get in a bowl of ramen. With so many options as of late, it’s easy to try a new spot. I came in on a late Thursday evening and the only place that I could think of that serves late night ramen was Shokunin. It’s usually only available Friday and Saturday’s after 10:00pm but I’m guessing it was available because of Big Taste week.

Had a lovely late night meal with a friend here. The potato flour fried chicken is well worth the trip. Would definitely come back for the potstickers which were sent to us after our meal. We also drank some amazing unfiltered sake with our meal which was recommended to us by our server. Will be back for late-night snacks for sure!

I walked into Shokunin for a late lunch, having mistaken it for a ramen bar. Although I was initially a bit disappointed, the great decor, welcoming staff, and comfortable atmosphere urged me to stay. <br/><br/>I had the cold bento stack which came with hamachi sushi, sashimi, and a basic version of their kale goma salad. The hamachi was great, and I was able to enjoy a variety of flavours and textures due to the different cuts and methods of preparation. The kale goma was loaded with parmesan and the dressing was delicious. Sweet red onions helped cut the creaminess of the dressing, and the kale had a pleasant toothsome texture. <br/><br/>One thing I was impressed by was their fresh wasabi, grated in-house. It has a light flavor and mild spiciness, and is very different from the powdered wasabi you typically find at Japanese restaurants. <br/><br/>The dinner menu has a great assortment of dishes and the cocktail menu looks absolutely amazing. I will definitely return later to get the full experience!

Even though it was a stormy night, after reading the history of one of Canada's top restaurant I decided to give it a try. First up was the special of the night "Miso Fruits De Mer". A rich miso langoustine broth perfectly balanced. The two lobster croquettes were nicely fried, lots of lobster and a minimal amount of filler just enough to bind it together. A melody of seafood in the broth including plump mussels and langoustine. Next up were the chicken oyster and shiitake mushrooms yakitori both seasoned with their own sauce with a subtle smoke flavour. The house made gyoza had a beef tongue stuffing with a nice thin skin that was crispy on one side. The nigiri sushi had the perfect ratio of well seasoned rice with fresh fish (I think hamachi). My favourite dish of the night was the scallop isoyaki. The fresh scallop in the butter saki and soy got richer in taste as it cooked so every bite got more flavour with every bite. The chicken skin chips were savoury with the dressing on top but yet maintained its crispness, another well executed dish. Overall, a great meal and i will definitely be coming back next time I am in town!

Recently my girlfriend Lauren, who obviously knows me really well invited me to join her and a few others for an omakase dinner at Shokunin. Omakase – a Japanese phrase essentially meaning to entrust another, has come to represent a style of dining where the menu choices are left to the Chef.  A progressive style experience where the Chef will present a series of plates moving from light to heavier dishes.  Although commonly attached to raw fish with rice, the phrase is also incorporates other styles and cooking techniques.

This was a cute little place but this was a cute little place bud this was a cute little place by this was a cute little place but pretty expensive. Good thing we only came for a snack.<br/><br/>Will admit seemed like I was in Vancouver rather than in Calgary once I sat down. We had the medium Sashimi selection as well as one roll. The sashimi was buttery and very easy to eat. Great snack. Freshness 1000%. The roll, wasnt great.<br/><br/>Interesting that we tried a glass of hot brewed tea that was loke $6 but ended up being such a subtle taste and smell that we might as well have stuck with table green tea. <br/><br/>

This place is amazing. Both times I've been they've played hip hop and the atmosphere is really fun.<br/><br/>Food is delicious. Chef studied in Japan and we got a chance to make a personal connection with him. He was very friendly and obviously passionate about making wonderful Japanese food in Calgary.<br/><br/>Calamari was delicious. Had nearly every type of yakitori (skewers) all amazing. Kara-age is crispy, flavourful, not greasy. I LOVE Japanese pickles and I'm just thrilled that they are on the menu. Had them both times.<br/><br/>They also have one of my new favorite wines, the ahi Riesling. I just want to go here every day.<br/><br/>One of the best culinary experiences in Japan is the Izakaya and this is the most authentic one I've been to in Calgary. Cocktails are also stellar. This place is on the pricey side but food, drinks, service and atmosphere can't be beat.

Went in and had the calamari to start and then the shio ramen which was highly recommended by the staff and it was very tasty, interior seemed nice and the seats where you can watch the chef is very cool.

Went for a friends birthday and had a great experience. Delicious food and amazing service! Would highly recommend for a large or small group.

Came here with my (Japanese for street cred)-wife for my birthday tonight. I didn't take a lot of pictures. The service and food was 5/5, but I just wanted to add some constructive criticisms.<br/><br/>First, I wish the chopsticks had textures tips. This is our biggest pet peeve. Second, the dull and serrated steak knifes that come with the pork belly basically tear apart the portion rather than cut it. This bugs me, since I'm a big sharpening nerd. <br/><br/>Otherwise, get your ass down to Shokunin to experience some Japanese flavors that you would only find in Japan or in my house.<br/><br/>Cheers!

Came here for girls night with my cousins to catch up. Thought we would try out a new place we have not been to. Upon arrival at 7pm on a wed night, there was many opened tables but within 20 mins or so it was full. The waiter offered us a hot towel to wipe out hands. Throughout the whole time we were there the music was way too loud, we were yelling at each other just to have a conversation. Please turn down your music! Our waiter recommended the squid tempura so we ordered it. It came with a spicy mayo dipping which was nice but the squid was super chewy and think, very hard to eat and the batter was not that great. I would not order this again, especially when it was $14 i expected more. Thought it would be squid legs or something. We shared the large plate- japanese sweet pork ribs. This was delish, I think one of my fav dish of the night. Came with 2 med rack of ribs with yummy sweet sauce and it was falling off the bones tender. It came with a big bowl of rice and 3 kinds of pickled veg- daikon, cucumber and lotus root. The only thing I liked was the lotus root. We all order 4 skewers to try. I liked the chicken hearts and chicken skin. I felt that some of the skewers were a bit overcooked and tasted burnt. I also ordered the chicken ass just to say I have tried it, where else are you going to order this? It actually wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I'm glad I tried it. Overall I wold say I tried this place but would rather go somewhere else for yakatori

I read all the reviews here and was a little hesitant to book even though a friend in the industry recommended this place.  We only get out to dinner a couple of times a year by ourselves and these are not opportunities to be squandered.  But, we found everything about this place unexpected - in a good way!  The food was delicious- it is based on the premise of Japanese bar food, with lots of unique flavors and things we had never eaten before.  The atmosphere was not your traditional Japanese restaurant, as this one plays loud 90s rap music with a hip vibe.   The service as others have noted is friendly and impeccable.  We had the chef's choice menu of five courses with the saki pairings.  At the end of the third course, though the flavors were amazing, I did wonder if we would leave hungry then course four arrived in FIVE parts!  The experience began with yellow tail tuna sushi which was charred tableside with a blowtorch and then topped with homemade wasabi, moved into a heirloom tomato salad with a miso, nori, bonito dressing that was amazing, then went to a carpaccio style dish with a garlicky dressing.  The main course began with housemade pickles, including a flavorfully dressed eggplant, was a steady supply of rice and skewers - chicken thigh, chicken hearts, japanese green chilis and chicken ass.  Dessert was the miso creme brule which was sweet and a little salty - my favorite kind of dessert.  We don't drink a lot of saki and the sakis were all very well matched to their course and very different.  So many unique things about this place makes it just the kind of lively place we like to spend one of our few Saturday nights out.  We will be back.

Amazing place, Shokunin absolutely renewed my interest in Ramen. I've been there quite a bit about 2-3 times a week and everything that I've ordered has military precision in terms of consistency. The service is absolutely top notch, very friendly. The menu has fantastic items on it. The Yakitori is a perfect warm up for a main meal. My favourites are the chicken tail (ass), heart, skin, and neck. Some other great menu items I've had, the potato salad and chicken Karaage. And now to my favourite... their Shio ramen is the best I've ever had. Its a perfect late night soup (It's only available after 10pm). I add butter and bamboo. It's so good that no matter your mood or weather, a rainy night or a warm summer night, it will always make you feel better. Another thing I like a lot about Shokunin is that they're late night, open until 1am. I absolutely recommend this place to anyone who hasn't been.

Chef / owner Darren Mclean doesn't understand what it takes to deliver an exceptional dining experience and resents being challenged about his (youthful) perspective on what quality and value means.

The food is just ok but the service is impeccable. We only got to try a few items since they had a set menu on lilac festival. The ramen was ok, broth was a little bland but the pork was cooked nice. The rice bowl was probably the better dish. Also, the shiitake mushroom yakitori is fantastic. Will pop by to try other items in he future for sure.

Very good atmosphere, friendly staff . Tried the Ramen today, very flavourful broth, a little different as they used Chicken broth instead of the usual pork broth. The egg was perfectly done, and the meat was so tender, wish the noodles were a little better, they were kind of chewy... but overall it was delicious!

Tried the Omakase tasting menu and it was among the best experiences I've had in Canada. Every course was expertly curated and presented. Great ingredients, cooked simply and treated with respect. They managed to capture the essence of what makes traditional Japanese cuisine so special. Outstanding.

Shokunin is the place with 3 G's: Grilled meat, Great cocktails, and Gangsta rap bumping.  These people care about what they do, whether it's cocktails or food- the ingredients are deliberate and fresh, and the staff is knowledgeable and friendly.  SItting at the bar it's evident this place is full of passion for food and drink.Will definitely be back to try the chef's menu.

Finally, a real izakaya in Calgary!! First off, the service was prompt and ambiance hip. Had some yakitori (chicken heart being the fav), duck tataki, daikon salad, potatoes salad, scallops, and a couple items off the fresh menu, and the flavours were both refreshing and delicious, not to mention great cocktails too. Only downside was the ox tongue gyoza could be a bit crisper and the sauce could have used a bit more citrus flavour. Overall, it was a great dining experience and will definitely be back!

Amazing!! Celebrated my daughter's 21st birthday at Shokunin last night.  There were 8 of us.  We requested our waiter to select our dinner choices, each and every plate we all loved.  Definitely will go back - a great food experience!!! Kudos to you all for making a most memorable evening!

Great Western twist japanese food. The Yakitori was on pa my favourite was the chicken heart. Massive fan of the Karaage chicken would return for that. Not a fan of the ramen only being available at lunch and after 10pm though. Half point off just for that

Some posts have mentioned that this place is pricey. If it were not exceptionally well prepared and delicious I would semi agree. The experience was entirely contrary to that; the flavours, thought and effort that went into each dish and the accompanying pairings were outstanding. The owner was unbelievably welcoming and the food was commiserate. Hands down one of the best meals I've had. Not one to miss out on!

Surprised to see so many negative comments for this place. Went for big taste and loved it. And have went back several times. Their beef tongue gyoza are amazing and their cocktails are deliciois. I could drink gallons of Ocha. Yes I agree that the cocktails are expensive but they do use high end alcohol and a lot of thought goes into creating each drink. It's not a place I would go very often due to the price point but I do go when I can.

Pretty Expensive Place to eat.  It's trendy and was the popular hot spot to go.  Tables are small and cramp.  Our server brought out our food to the table beside us 3 separate times.  I could hear the table ask our server about Sake,  and she knew nothing about it.  This place is pretty much japanese food meets oil and gas city big prices.  (Even though it's recession time)

<br/>First time to go to this restaurant and we picked it as it sounded like it was fairly authentic. The restaurant is in some ways more of a true izakaya in that it serves small/medium sized portions to share while drinking. They sort of imply they focus on Yakitori and it is kind of a gastropub Yakitori bar.<br/><br/>We had a four or five things on the menu and the flavours were subtle, as Japanese food should be, and the seasoning really just enhanced the fresh natural ingredients. The food had an interesting twist on Japanese classics so if you've lived in Japan or been there it may bring back good memories as it did for me. I wish they had more options for Yakitori and it is kind of weird they only had chicken or veggie options in a place famous for beef and pork. I really have no complaint about the taste, quality of the food and drink but....<br/><br/>My only real concern is I am not sure the concept of this restaurant works or is needed. It seems that "Japanese" food always demands premium price in Calgary even when it is the simple blue collar food like ramen, donburi or yakitori. This place is no different. I think if they maybe focused more on being true to the spirit of a yakitori bar in Japan with lots delicious roasted meats, reasonable pricing and good choices of beer this place would be much much more popular. The prices were too high for cocktails and the yakitori was expensive.<br/>

I tried Shokunin for the first time last night and absolutely loved it. The Omakase was diverse and thoughtful with an outstanding sake paring. A restaurant like this, one that pushes peoples' culinary comfort zones while churning out stellar food amidst a super cool vibe, is long overdue in this city. In summary, go to Shokunin, order one of the dangerously tasty and strong cocktails, bob your head to your favorite 90's hip hop jams, eat your heart out (including the literal chicken heart) and have a memorable dinner out that is both decadent and yet incredibly approachable.

I was not impressed by the food or service at all the one girl seemed to not care when we were not delighted by our dishes. I also found the quality was not what was expected I am disappointed I had high hopes for this place. Other friends have also shared upset feelings as well. Me and my wife will not be going back much better places to dine.

On the recommendation of a close chef friend of ours we stopped at Shokunin for a lunch omakase today. We have to say that we are totally bewildered by the Zomato rating that this outstanding restaurant has received to date. We are no strangers to Japanese restaurants, having enjoyed all varieties of this great cuisine across Canada, in the United States and in Japan.<br/><br/>For people looking to explore the full range of Japanese cuisine (i.e.: outside of sushi and sashimi - both of which we enjoy as well) this restaurant offers a great breadth of sensory experiences - taste, tactile, olfactory, visual - in the form of yakitori, grilled meats and ramen. <br/><br/>The meal began with a sample of one of the most delicious sakes we have ever encountered, which made for a perfect pairing with a delicious, fresh, clean tasting Fanny Bay oyster accompanied by freshly grated, B.C. sourced wasabi. And things only got better from there.<br/><br/>A sublime sunumono octopus, accompanied by another sake that matched the perfect vinegar flavour of the lovely firm textured, cold octopus. Next up, octopus fritters topped with bonito flakes in a generous drizzle of Japanese mayo and a sweet sauce that complemented the bonito flakes perfectly. The octopus had wonderful crunchy - not tough, just with enough firmness to provide a satisfying texture. But what really set this apart was the batter; the natural sweetness was the result of the chef using a southern cornmeal batter instead of tempura - brilliant.<br/><br/>Following on this course was squid tempura with a spicy Japanese mayo accompaniment. The tempura was marvellous and unlike anything we've encountered; fluffy and light and dusted with superb togarashi, a classic Japanese blend of chilis.<br/><br/>Next, two pieces of house cured pork belly. These beautiful creations take two months to cure through a variety of processes, and they were, in a word, sublime. One was served uncooked, with its fat beginning to soften beautifully at room temperature; the second strip was cooked only slightly, with a resulting sharpening of the saltiness that was complemented perfectly by the same sake that accompanied the octopus.<br/><br/>Next, a plate of incredibly tender pork shoulder served with a parsnip miso puree, a half soft boiled egg and a delicious Japanese citrus-zest based hot paste called Yuzu. This dish was served with yet another sake accompaniment (you're getting the picture of where this is going) and was what we were sure was going be the highlight of the meal. Well, not yet.<br/><br/>Next up, a quick palate cleanser of bittersweet walnuts dusted in black tea powder and koji, which is used in the making of sake.  Delicious.  <br/><br/>Following the palate cleanse came a strip loin steak grilled on Japanese charcoal and served with daikon ribbons that had been simmered in soy and mirin until the liquid was completely absorbed into the daikon. We could have eaten the daikon by itself - it was that good. And the steak?  A perfect rare treat with a charcoal crust on the fat and served with a sauce that complemented the meat very nicely. Oh, and no surprise, yet another sake that complemented the beef perfectly.<br/><br/>The next dish was a superb ramen, served with in-house made noodles swimming in a chicken-based broth and accompanied by a nice size piece of grilled pork belly and the obligatory egg.  Absolutely delicious (notice the theme here?).<br/><br/>Finally, three chicken yakitori skewers grilled to perfection on the Japanese charcoal. The first consisted of the oysters from the back of the chicken, considered to be the most flavourful part of the whole animal - with a perfectly crisped skin. The second was thigh meat, again perfectly grilled in a teriyaki-like sauce m. And finally, a skewer of the meat from the tail of the chicken that we all grew up calling the "Pope's nose".  When we asked about the unique charcoal flavour we learned that they use a special charcoal made only in Japan from the wood of the oak tree. It burns hot and clean, and imparts a truly delicious flavour to the grilled meats without the bitterness or acidity that sometimes accompanies charcoal grilled foods.<br/><br/>The meal ended with a superb miso-infused creme brulee. The miso imparted a savoury quality and cut the sweetness of the custard, giving it a lovely balance.<br/><br/>What can we say? We don't live in Calgary but we will be back at Shokunin every time we're there to explore more of his unique offerings. Calgary is lucky to have this gem; we sincerely wish them the best.

We tried shokunin for #bigtasteyyc and all ordered the set menu. While I really enjoyed it myself, we were a bit unsure of what we were actually eating. It is certainly a bit more on the adventurous side and my lunch partners weren't as into it. Our server was nice and fairly attentive but seemed a bit nervous. When we asked about what we were eating, he was pretty quiet. I can definitely see myself going back in the evening for dinner however, as I'd really like to try that menu! My cocktail was fantastic as well!

Ramen restaurants are probably my favourite places to eat at ever so after drooling over their instagram I made my way down here for lunch! The menu can be a bit confusing - there wasn't a description for the 'regular' Ramen but it includes their hand pulled noodles, half of a soy sauce egg, grilled pork, and veggies. All the other options are additions. I liked the broth and the pork was the best I've had in Ramen in Calgary but the soy sauce egg - usually my favourite part - nearly ruined my bowl! Way, way too salty for me.<br/><br/>We had the calamari to start which was the best art of the meal. Well spiced and a huge portion! Overall the service was very good and the food tasty but I'm a bit hesitant to try the broth again... but I know I will!

I am over the moon for Shokunin!! Had an excellent meal here on the weekend! Their Ramen was majestic and unexpected, I will return for it often.

In midst of Big Taste festival, the girls and I went for another visit to Shokunin for dinner this time. Although we could’ve gone with the Big Taste Gourmet Menu they had at the time we wanted to explore more of their regular menu. Please excuse some blurry photos as it was dark and hard to get the perfect lighting each time.

Last visit March 23, 2018<br/>Thank you Chef & crew, cuisson always on point. Thanks Calya(K? - I didn’t ask, sorry) & Christian for the attetion. Readers looking for someone to extrapolate on Chef DM’s methodology... G-O F-O-R Y-O-U-R-S-E-L-F!!!! He’s right there... go... what are you waiting for?! Why are you even reading this?! Go...

I've been to Shokunin a few times now, and every time it was a great experience.  The dishes are unique and tasty with quite the variety.  The staff is friendly and willing to go above and beyond to make the time spent in the restaurant a great experience.  The prices are fair for the quality and taste (all the recipes are the chef's originals).  Overall a great experience!  10/10 would dine again.

Nothing like it in Calgary. <br/><br/>The decor gives it a tokyo vibe that adds to the ambiance. The food and drinks were spectacular and the service was great. <br/><br/>Once you grasp the concept of small plates you'll notice the quality of ingredients and the thought process put into the food.<br/><br/>Great job Darren! Looking forward to coming back.

My experience wasn't that great. Was planing to take the family to try something new and hip. The ambiance and the renovations was stylish contemporary, and booking was easy, however this ends the positive points. But overall I think their tastes and creativity is lacking. We ordered from the regular menu the Japanese potato salad was medicore, the fresh oysters were warm... I notified the waitress of this and all she said that it's all fresh "if they are closed I means they are alive" but the concerning thing was the raw seafood has a temperature it must maintain?<br/>Egg plant was underwhelming, The beef tongue dumplings tasted like something I could buy frozen from tnt, and you get 4 for 8$. the duck tataki 18$ was also warm, raw duck we are talking about.... Their Specialty charcoal grill was also unpleasing. I've been to many charcoal grills in other cities, and they burnt and dried up all their grills, the meat tasted just like meat. I've had better Asian all you can eat BBQ than this. The miso creame brulee tasted like undercooked orange custard and the tofu icecream was unimpressive. I'd get better value flavours from a take out gelato place.<br/><br/>Not sure what would make me want to come back besides the ambiance, which the music was ridiculously loud and the lighting required me to use my cellphone to light up the arial 8 font.<br/><br/>Ended up going to sushi somewhere else after.

Despite the lesser reviews posted so far, we decided to give Shokunin a shot and went for the late night ramen at 10pm.<br/><br/>When we arrived, the ambiance was vibrant with a very unique and tasteful wall of art supplemented by traditional Japanese sake jugs. <br/><br/>We started off with the recommended cold tea, pretty tasty. The menu items were unique and intriguing; however we were there to try the ramen, which was reasonably priced at $14 a bowl. The ramen of the night turned out to be a special Tonkatsu which was nothing less than spectacular. The broth wasn't salty but still flavourful, the hand made noodles were delicious and made a noticeable difference compared to most other noodle shops, the braised pork was incredibly tender and held in all the tonkatsu flavour plus more, you could tell the nori was pungent and the egg was soft and delightful.<br/><br/>Service was above average, the waiters sat down to explain each dish to us, his personal recommendations, and everything about the ramen. Darren (owner) also surprised us and came over to say say hello and ensured we had a good time. After our experience with the late night ramen, we will definitely return to try the other items! <br/><br/>The shop may have had its early kinks to work out, but it seems to be way past that hump and is very much worth a visit.

I was really excited to try Shokunin, but unfortunately I left feeling very disappointed and underwhelmed.<br/><br/>I tried a variety of their menu items: the beef tongue gyozas came in a set of 4 and were tiny. I didn't like the texture of it as it tasted mushy. Next up was the Unagi style market fish, and while it was decent, there was nothing special about it. The title of this dish is somewhat misleading as it was essentially a rice bowl topped with the market fish of the day (not actually Unagi), What was "Unagi" about it was that the rice bowl was mixed with Kabayaki sauce, which is typically known to accompany Unagi. Of course, I had to try a couple of their skewers seeing as this is Shokunin's specialty, so my friend and I decided on the chicken heart and chicken ass, something that is different and not commonly available at other places. The flavours in both skewers were delivered without debate and probably the highlight of the night. However, the portions were tiny with 3 small bites per skewer, with skewers priced between $2.5-$4 depending on what you order. Last thing we ordered was the ramen bowl. This was probably the worst ramen bowl I tasted in Calgary. The broth was super salty and did not have an appetizing flavour. The toppings were mediocre, with the pork being rather tough and the egg close to being hardboiled.<br/><br/>Service was ehh... We ordered at 9:30pm, half an hour before late night ramen was available. We asked our server if she could ring in our ramen order when available, and was told that we would need to remind her as she will forget. She didn't even put an effort in trying to remember but just straight up told us that she can't do her job?<br/><br/>While the space is hip and trendy, I found the volume in the restaurant to be too loud with music blasting at a level that you would normally hear at a bar. It made it very difficult to hear my friend who was just sitting across from me. <br/><br/>Unfortunately, I'm not so sure I will return. Shokunin has a premium price tag but lacks in quality. Hopefully this is all due to being newly opened and they'll be able to work out the kinks soon enough.

Although Shokunin is a beautiful and trendy space, the food is underwhelming. We tried some skewers (their specialty) which were good but not worth the ~$3-$4 price tag each (for three tiny pieces of meat). The beef tongue gyoza were likewise way overpriced, $12 for four tiny dumplings. The ramen, which is available at lunch and after 10 pm only, was probably the worst thing we ate. Although the noodles had a nice texture, the broth was just terrible. It was EXTREMELY salty, which masked any other flavors that may have been present. Despite the beautiful interior, Shokunin is not worth visiting for the food.

Our recent visit to Shokunin left me disappointed and underwhelmed. The 4 of us spent over $100 (ordering 3 small plates, 2 ramen and 1 donburi over lunch time) and still left hungry. I get it, it's supposed to be "tapas", "small" plates for sharing, but the mediocre food really didn't make up for it. The ramen being the worst of all, with the extremely salty egg and soggy noodles...

First visit to this new restaurant today. Attempted to hang out with friends for happy hour to try their small plates. Was directed to bar seats & given menus including one for happy hour. However was informed by one of the servers at the bar (i) Happy Hour was not available - the first one only starts next week? From their FB, they say otherwise (see Jan 26/16) (ii) Could not order anything until 5 pm (iii) Ramen is only available @ lunch or after 10 pm, from their website, it indicates 9 pm? Server was assertive - we were not comfortable with her service, left feeling disappointment. We'd not come back anytime soon until Shokunin figure out what they are doing! =(

There has been lots of buzz leading up to the opening of Shokunin, the newest creation by Chef Darren MacLean. I was extremely sad to see DTF (Downtownfood) close last year since it has always been one of my favorite restaurants, so I could not wait to visit his new establishment. Based strongly on traditional Japanese small plates, yakitori (a specialized charcoal grilling technique) and late night ramen, Shokunin definitely tries to bring a bit of Japan to us here in Calgary.

One of the most hyped, anticipated restaurants coming in 2016 is Shokunin. New in the Mission area, their focus is. Shokunin was born of the idea to provide exceptional food and cocktails in a room that is all inclusive. Crafted cocktails give way to charred yakitori and small plates shared among friends with a bottle of sake. Seasonal and local ingredients are combined with traditional Japanese techniques and flavour profiles to create a truly contemporary Japanese dining experience.

Shokunin is Mission's latest addition to Calgary's food scene, specializing in izakaya-style skewers and late night ramen (only served after 10:00pm). Me and a few friends were seated at the bar where we could watch the chef prepare the skewers and other food items. I managed to try the octopus fritters, beef tongue gyozas, and an assortment of skewers. To echo some of the other reviews, they were also out of the rice beer that is promoted as a house brew, which was a bit disappointing. The octopus fritters tasted fresh and crispy, and I thought that the portion size was pretty fair. The beef tongue gyozas were quite tasty and flavourful as well, albeit a little pricy at $12 for 4 pieces. I thought that the skewers were really fresh, and went well with the egg soy sauce that you can order on the side for dipping. While the food was quite memorable, I would also have to echo some other reviews addressing the price point of these menu items. At average about $3/skewer, it can really add up, especially if you go in on an empty stomach. Definitely worth a try though, so going in bigger groups, or if you're only looking for a snack, might be a good idea!

Shokunin is the new spot in Mission that serves Japanese tapas.  The restaurant itself is beautiful and sheek with lovely decor and an open space.  You can see into the kitchen where you can also sit at the bar and watch your food being made.  Hopefully John and I will be able to try this place out for dinner and get a taste of their skewers.

LUNCH<br/><br/>Pretty disappointed with the meal. The place was nice and the service was good, but the food left me unsatisfied. We got the octopus fritters, tempura maki, donburi, ramen and lentil salad. <br/><br/>The octopus fritters were lacking in flavour and had a lot of batter to it. It took a bit chewing just to get to the pieces of octopus. The tempura maki was all right, don't really have anything else to say about it. <br/><br/>The noodles of the ramen were too soft by the time it got to the table and the colour on the noodles were inconsistent. Some parts were darker than others (left out to dry?). The most disappointing thing was the egg, which is usually my favourite part. It was overwhelmingly salty. It tasted as if it was marinating in a pool of soy sauce. As the yolk poured out into the broth, it made the broth extra salty and my friends couldn't finish it. <br/><br/>I got the lentil salad, which wasn't bad. It was fresh and the balance of flavours were great. The dressing wasn't taking away from the bulk of the salad and the added seaweed on top added salt to it.<br/><br/>Overall, we found the selection limiting and the food was over priced for what we got.  We brought our concerns to their attention so hopefully it will be better next time.

Mediocre and forgettable small plates and skewers with horrible ramen at exorbitant prices. The menu was restrictive and numerous items were not available despite it being valentines day. Also, the music was so loud it was almost impossible to hold a conversation and when we asked them to turn it down a bit the server responded by saying that the chef was very particular about how things were set up, too bad he wasn't more particular about the food.

We were excited to try this restaurant and re-live some of our experiences from a recent trip to Japan but were disappointed.<br/><br/>Small Plates: Tasty but Pricey. We started with the roasted & sake steamed eggplant $10 for the size of my palm, handmade gyoza $12 for 3, squid tempura and chicken karaage.<br/><br/>Skewers: Again, Tasty but Pricey. We tried everything that was available and for the most part they were tasty. I was also disappointed they didn’t ask for the preference of salt or sauce and made the choice for you. Price ranges from $2 to $3 but be warned, portions are small. For example, the shitake mushroom skewer for $2 came with 2 mushrooms.<br/><br/>Ramen: Tonight’s flavor was Shoyu. The pork and the egg were delicious but the broth was so salty you couldn’t even drink it (and the broth is the best part!) $14 and I’m pretty sure if I was going to eat this on its own, I would need to add extra noodles for $4. If you’re planning to fill yourself up on ramen while you check this place out, note that ramen is not available until 10pm.<br/><br/>Throughout our dining experience we had wanted to try the following items which we were informed was all sold out – normally not a big deal except when your menu is small. <br/><br/>1) Octopus fritters<br/><br/>2) Chicken Ass Skewers<br/><br/>3) Chicken Skin Skewers<br/><br/>4) Okami Kasu draught beer (there’s one draught beer and you’re out? Sure there was a replacement but it wasn’t this rice beer that you got us all excited about.)<br/><br/>5) Kirin/Hitachi (when you have only 4 bottle beers and 3 are unavailable…)<br/><br/>6) Hokkaisan Junmai Junmai Ginjo Sake<br/><br/>Atmosphere: If you’re not sitting at the front by the grill, the place is dark and you can barely see your food. The music is loud to the point where you can’t hear the people at your own table/waitress can’t hear your order. (Our party was all in our 20s and 30s so not exactly the type to complain about loud music.) When asked if it could be turned down a little, we were advised the chef/owner (couldn’t hear the waitress over the music) “is particular.” We do thank you for turning the music down because it made it so much easier to eavesdrop when one of your chefs/cooks sat at the table next to us telling those patrons, “loud music is part of the concept, if you don’t like it you can get out.” Party of 4 and our bill was $300 and you want to tell us to “get out”? ‘That’s the right “shokunin attitude” hey?

A new japanese concept in Mission. I started with the sencha tea, lentil salad, and several grilled skewers (green peppers, shitake mushroom, and chicken thigh) along with a side of rice. I enjoyed the smoky, charcoal flavour of the grilled meat, but was disappointed in the cloying sweetness of the eggplant dish we ordered. Both the texture and flavour of the eggplant missed the mark for me. But, don't let one dish spoil the experience. For a start-up, the service was great and the grilled tapas items I had were great. The portions were smaller than I expected, so edge on the side of caution, and order a few extra.