Shokunin - Calgary

This restaurant is outstanding. The owner is also the head chef, which ensures that the food coming out of the kitchen is not only beautifully presented but also crafted with incredible attention to detail. Each dish has a wonderful balance of flavors that makes every bite a delight, leaving you wanting more—I had to resist the temptation to order a second helping! The space itself isn’t large and tends to get quite busy, but it has a trendy vibe that's perfect for casual outings. However, it’s not the best choice for serious discussions or quiet moments. For food lovers, this place is definitely a must-visit!

The standout offerings included the miso sablefish sushi, which was so buttery and tender that it simply melted in your mouth—I was excited to find out that this will be a regular item on the menu. We also loved the bone marrow and escargot; it was rich and offered a unique twist compared to typical escargot preparations. The scallops were beautifully presented in their shells on a small charcoal burner. A big thank you to chef and owner Darren and his team for this memorable meal. We are thrilled to add Shokunin to our list of top Japanese restaurants in town. What a fantastic introduction to the omakase experience in our city! Regrettably, we didn’t catch the name of our waitress, but she played a significant role in making our evening wonderful. She was fantastic—genuine, efficient, friendly, and great with our one-year-old. Thank you!

This has been one of the most uniquely flavored meals I've ever experienced. Every dish was delightful, but the standouts for me were definitely the chicken ass skewer and the shishito peppers! We ordered the peppers based on our server's recommendation, and they were absolutely incredible. The server was attentive and charming. I will definitely come back to sample more items from 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