Shoku Izakaya

This is the go to sushi place in Banff - nay Bow Valley. Fresh ingredients, tasty rolls - the Negitoro rolls or sashimi are a must, as well as the scallop hand cones! The shoku roll was also awesome - theres a thing for everyone on the menu, even those who are queasy to raw fish.

We came to Banff for my birthday weekend, and we were told “you have to try Shoku.” And it absolutely did not disappoint. I’m a very picky eater, and I wanted one of everything on the menu! It’s very apparent a lot of thought has gone into the menu and the food - and it’s served as soon as it’s ready so we were able to eat the whole time we were there. The drinks are amazing! Perfect portion sizes. Everything was so fresh. And extremely reasonably priced for Banff! I would make the 3 hour trip from home just to eat at Shoku again. Service was top notch and the atmosphere didn’t miss! Such a cute little sit down restaurant and we loved every minute of our dining experience! Hats off to you guys!

Great food, tasty and fresh. Very friendly staff, that had great recommandations on stuff to do around, with a local point of view ++Value! Not too pricey for the quality. Sit at the bar and speak with everyone !

Shoku Izakaya has good service, and the staff were friendly and attentive. Unfortunately, the food did not meet our expectations, especially the ramen. We originally planned to go to another restaurant because our kids wanted ramen, but there was no availability, so we ended up here. The prawn tempura was good, but it only came with four pieces and was quite expensive for the portion. The ramen itself was disappointing in both flavor and quality. Our kids barely touched their meals—each only had one or two bites. In total, we paid $149 including tip for two adults and two kids, which felt very overpriced given the portion sizes and overall food quality. Overall, decent service, but the food and value were lacking.

Ordered daily ramen (tantan), aburi salmon roll, karaage bowl, takoyaki, and curry rice. Curry was quite salty. Karaage's skin was delicious, but the veggies were so-so. Takoyaki has only a small tako in it. Food was good but didn't exactly blow our minds. Staff was really friendly, she checked on us a few times all sweet and smiles!

Very good calamari! And the raw fish used for makis were very fresh. The daily special, which was a hot pot in a hot stone bowl was also very comforting.

One should first be aware that this is more of a Japanese-fusion place, but once that’s out of the way the food is brilliantly conceived and executed. Lots of local produce on the menu that is smartly put together as well as some old Japanese favourites (eg black cod) that all hits the spot. Service was good and got us a table quickly around 8:30pm.

Had a late lunch during the weekend, terrible service and one of server was extremely rude. The server approached us that she will serve our table, however was involved in a very loud conversation with another table for prolonged time that we left unattended. We’ve been waiting for 15 minutes and the other server noticed and took our order. Over the meal, the server was still involved in the very loud conversation with another table and created a loud and uncomfortable atmosphere in the restaurant. The table next to this loud conversation has to leave because of that. However the server still not notice and still continue their loud and personal talk. Due to the uncomfortable environment, we aren’t able to enjoy the food. Very disappointed.

After a couple days of indulging in poutine, we were craving something lighter and were so glad to discover Shoku Izakaya for a seafood-focused meal! I ordered the salmon oyako don, it was generously portioned and absolutely delicious. We also shared a few small plates: agedashi tofu, scallops, chicken yakitori, and ended on a sweet note with a maple miso crème brûlée. My husband especially loved the bamboo and mushroom served with the scallops and was able to order it separately as an appetizer. Even during the busy Canada Day weekend, we were seated right away around 8 PM. Our server was friendly and attentive. Overall, it was a great dining experience in Banff, I'd definitely recommend checking it out.

I was excited to try Shoku Izakaya after a waitress recommended this spot to us from when we were dining at Sky Bistro the day prior. The place was pretty busy when we arrived for dinner. Things we tried: - Agedashi Tofu: fried tofu with a warm dashi. It was light and the dashi had nice flavor. (3.5/5 stars) - Karaage Chicken: the chicken was tender and well-seasoned. (3.5/5 stars) - Edamame: the edamame arrived at the end of our meal which was odd. It was also not cooked well and tasted like it could have been frozen and then warmed up. Disappointing. (1/5 stars) - Shoku Roll: the roll was pretty good with the salmon on top and negitoro inside. I wish they used less of the sauce and mayo on top or put it on the side instead, because it was a lot and was overpowering the fish. (4/5 stars) - Salmon Oyako Bowl: I liked the raw salmon and salmon roe part, however the cooked salmon was overcooked. The bowl also lacked flavor and required soy sauce, though I wish there was a different sauce to add to it. (4/5 stars) Overall for the food, it's okay. I'm from California so we have better food so I'm trying not to be too critical knowing it's in Banff. It's nice to have an izakaya spot in downtown Banff though. Service: mixed. The waiter was nice, however they seemed under-staffed. He had too many tables so service was slow and we struggled with flagging him down when we needed a refill or the check.

In summary - disappointing experience. The place is busy - but everything in Banff is. We had a party of 4 - and they told us a 30 min wait. Eventually- that took well over an hour. The Gyozas in appetizers were good. The food portion left a lot to be desired. None of us felt with feeling of "man...that was good - we should come here again". The feelings were on the contrary...

I don't have much to say about this one, I think it was ok, but I was not overly impressed. My Japanese wife liked it, so I'll give it 4 stars. Service was attentive and fast. Food was good.

Came here with family to eat dinner. Luckily they were able to accommodate our family of 14 people with a quick notice. The chicken yakatori skewers: 4 stars. Little enjoyed with the order of onigiri Avocado salmon hand roll: 3.5 per eldest. It was ok. Vegan rolls: 4 stars. Good flavors and texture. Shoku rolls: 4 stars. Well flavored. Grilled scallops: 3 stars. Nice presentation and I like that they the option on menu. But scallops were not similar in size. Some bigger than others and relatively small. Fell like it was not worth it. Also had to order onigiri to accompany since it only comes on a bed of arugula. Grilled onigiri rice: 4.5 stars. Great flavors and comes with side of pickled veggies. I really enjoyed it. Probably my favorite dish.

My wife and I love izakaya's and Japanese food so we were really excited to give this a try in Banff and we are glad that we did! We ordered a wide variety of the menu and everything was really good! The items that really stood out to me was their chicken skewers (I wish I ordered like 10), their takoyaki, and chicken karaage. Good service and a nice restaurant as well!

Where do I start, ok at the beginning! Eight of us waited a very short time for a table together and the enjoyment was worth the wait. Frankly eight people taking in the menu and asking many questions could have been a disaster but our server was so calm and organized that it was no problem at all. On to the delicious delights. Tako Yaki, pork-kimchi gyozas, ahi tuna tataki, sides of rice, edamame, Shoku salad, miso soup, spicy prawns and a few drinks tossed into the mix was so incredible. The dishes were not only tasty but truly beautiful. And our server was still calm cool and collected! Japanese motif and gentle music was a background for the clicking of chop sticks against bowls. All in all a fabulous experience for all. So for doing such a great job selecting tonight's venue I get to do it again tomorrow. No good deed goes unpunished.

The restaurant was clean and spacious, with good service. I ordered the pork bento box for lunch, and it had a good portion size and well-balanced flavors. It was a simple, standard dish but still enjoyable.

We had dinner here for our first night in town! There was snow wait and we were seated quickly at a booth. The server was super nice and the food came out at a good pace as we ordered. There was a good variety on the menu and we tried a few things. The skewers were ok but I'd probably pass next time. The Shoku roll was probably our favorite savory item! The nigiri was good, but I think I'd stick with their specialty rolls in the future. The cocktail was perfect, bubbly and not too sweet. Our favorite overall thing was probably the miso creme brulee! A perfect way to end the meal!

The place was set up nice with a window next for the cool wind from the mountains. Food was doe well as we had sides and appetizers. Along with the service, we were seated quick and attended to without long wait. Tried many items. Only snack I did not enjoy was the cheesy chikuwa imo. But everything else was great

Great service but just a little slow on the arrival of food but it shows how carefully they prepare everything fresh with care. Food is superb! Ambience is very visually appealing. Great place overall! I can go back. Highly recommended

A bit pricey but average for banf. I had miso cod with sesame rice, Miso soup and a local soda (root beer- craft brew). Sorry no pic of main course but it was beautifully plated. Service was friendly and attentive. We are outside which was a big plus.

Great service, great fresh food! Wish we knew about this place at the beginning of the trip so we could come a few more time!

I tried the 10 piece nigiri set here and each one had a generous portion of fish/protein and was fresh! The chicken skewer was tender, juicy, and saucy which I enjoyed. Overall, a solid place to go to for lunch.

Shoku Izakaya has a casual outdoor seating area that's perfect for dinning on a nice day out. I went with a party of 4 on a Thursday night and we were seated immediately. While some of the items were okay, a lot of the items we ordered was not up my alley. Let's start with the hits: - Karage - The fried chicken is a highlight. It's juicy and tender, paired with a yuzu mayo sauce that adds a refreshing citrus note. - Pork Belly Skewer - It's incredibly soft with a perfect balance of meat and fat. If you're a fan of pork belly, this is a must-try. - Duck Skewer - While it was tender, it could definitely use a little more flavor. - Short Rib: The short rib is a solid choice. It has great beef flavor and melted in my mouth. Items that we were not a fan of: - Fries: Fries were good but the sauce was on the sweeter side which threw me off a bit. - Bison Tataki: There were a lot of tendon so it was really hard to chew. Flavor was good tho. - Meat ball: The meatballs are just okay. They have a noticeable ginger flavor, which can be a hit or miss depending on your preference. I'm not a big fan of ginger so this is a miss for me. - Rice Ball: Very plain. It was lacking the crispy texture that makes the rice fragrant as you nom on it. - Shishito Pepper: Bitter. 100% do not recommend ordering this item. Not sure if it was out of season or what happened but it was my first time having a bitter shishito pepper. Overall, I would most likely not come again since there are a lot of other yummy restaurants in the downtown area.

Solid local sushi and Asian restaurant. It's a little tight inside but overall was a good spot for lunch. The kimchi is the best I've ever had w/ there rendition of the dish. Dumplings are soft and packed with flavor, sushi roll was solid. We didn't get to try the ramen which was the main reason for our visit, they only serve at lunch time and we got there "late". The service was ok, asked for suggestions and didn't get much out of her, the one dish that rocked with the rare tuna on a salad bed. It was delicious. Everything else was "ok" and in a town like that with so many options it's very competitive

Following our first hike, we had a wonderful lunch! The crab bun was amazing, as was the roll we chose and the chicken skewer. All of the staff were so friendly and helpful! We loved the open windows which let the Banff sunshine in, too!

Their food was so tasty. Sashimi was super fresh. Their fried calamari was amazing. We would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who enjoys Japanese cuisine.

this joint is located a block off the main street in banff. after seeing all the hype on instagram about this place, you know i had to stop by. we stopped by right at opening on sunday and were the first ones seated. the interior has a nice bar-ish vibe which is very reminiscent of a japanese izakaya. the open environment definitely added to it, just knowing you're in a beautiful national park. we opted for 4 dishes and let me tell you, all 4 were great. the outstanding ones were the karage with their aioli and the hamachi toro. to be honest, i've never seen hamachi toro on the menu before so that was definitely a treat!

Interesting menu in addition to very good/big pieces of sushi. Bamboo and mushroom appetizer was amazing. So were shishito peppers. Loved my seafood salad and hubby thought sushi was very good.

This place is really great! We had Korean chicken, Tokyo fries, a skewer, and a sushi roll. The chicken was great and I wanted the Tokyo fries to go with it. The fries themselves were nothing too special, but what they did that I really appreciated was they put the sauce and stuff on the lower layer of fries instead of just on the top. That way you didn't have a ton of plain French fries underneath a top layer of heavily dressed ones. It was good the whole way through. There was one topping on it that was weird kind of smoky burnt tasting paper stuff. That I did not like but otherwise I liked it. The sushi roll looked a bit different than usual. It was like a cone shape. We came in for lunch and it wasn't too busy. I really enjoyed my lunch here!

Needed a snack and a beer. Found a great little bar with great people and service. The bartender suggested a perfect IPA and a delicious roll for us to share. Thanks for the hospitality!!

I had a bad experience here after sitting down the table by window, we were told to move 'now' as 20 party are coming. Not a word of offering other seating, and rather show the attitude, not handling right for the situation.

Went for happy hour. Food was excellent, the pork belly bao is a die for! Korean chicken and Katsu curry was a must try too!!! Friendly and thr ambiance is very nice. Defo will come back again for happy hour.

This sushi Japanese/Korean restaurant was right off the main street. It's right next to a revolving sushi restaurant. They have indoor and outdoor seating. It's small, but very cutely decorated. Huge outdoor patio space. The staff is great! From the moment you walk into the door to the time you leave. Very accommodating. They have a lunch happy hour from 4 to 5pm it's a small menu with appetizers and drinks. The food here is a mix of Korean -Japanese. We tried a variety of items. Everything was really good especially the Japanese items. I give the Japanese dishes all 5 star and the Korean dishes to me were 3.5 to 4 star in taste. I absolutely love yuzu and they used it in the oysters. They made a special yuzu sauce with chopped onions and a hint of spice. It was perfect I didn't need to use any Tabasco or lime, even though I did request for it. The oysters tasted clean and fresh. They were the small type. I absolutely loved the Yuzu aioli sauce that comes with the Karaage chicken. To me that sauce absolutely made the whole dish elevated to another level! The tako yaki octopus were cooked perfectly, just like how you would get it in Japan when made fresh at the stalls. The pork belly ban bao was flavored very nicely, it was different from what you would normally expect. The pork was diced up and mixed with spices and veggies. It had a slight curry or cumin taste to it. The shoku bibimbop was good but not as great as what I get in Atlanta. It comes out in a sizzling hot clay plot, if you leave the rice in there long enough, the rice layer at the bottom gets extra crispy..... extra good! They give you more rice than veggie and meat but that clay pot stays hot for a very long time. My daughter ordered the rolled calamari stuffed with cheese, (I didn't get the name of it) but she thoroughly enjoyed it. It tasted like eating a Korean hotdog stuffed with cheese. The outside layer was deep-fried with a crispy batter and the inside cheese was melting as you bite into it. Overall, I would definitely go back. We enjoyed our meal. Unfortunately, we did not try any Ramen or udon because we had that the other day somewhere else.

A group of 8 of us attempted to go to their sister restaurant, Block but it was packed. The staff recommended that we try Shoku instead as it's more spacious. Upon entering, I noticed the all the modern Japanese decor, it was cute. We were seated right away. Shoku offers "tapas" but it was a little more on the pricey side. My bf and I shared a some dishes. -Pork Katsu Bun: really tasty! The pork was crispy and tender. I liked that it came with their house kimchi and spring mix. -Chicken Karaage: it was solid. Tbh I've never had a bad chicken karaage. -Yakitori: we ordered the duck breast, pork belly, chicken, and shiitake mushrooms. The pork belly and shiitake were by far my fave but the duck breast was disappointing and dry. My bf liked the chicken. -Hotpot Special: it was essentially a stone bowl udon soup with beef and mixed veggies like cabbage and mushrooms. I liked that it came with a whole egg, which was almost cooked to perfection - it was a little over. This was exactly what I was craving on a cold Monday night. The broth was savory and delicious. -Salmon Nigiri: it was decent. -Shoku Roll: we didn't order this but we tried our friend's roll. This was SO good. I loved the seared salmon, it practically melts in your mouth. Service was good, our server was attentive. Food delivered fairly quickly. Overall, I think we all had a good experience here.

We walked in for a late dinner Friday night and pretty much every table was being used! The pork kimchi gyoza was a nice fusion dish. The miso cod was extremely tender and well marinated! The ebi-mayo was good. It's deep fried prawn and each one is huge. It comes with four pieces. I would ask for the Mayo on the side next time though. One, it was a little overwhelming and we found ourselves scraping lots of it off. Two, it made the tempura soggy (at least for the parts it was drenched in). My hubbie also got the grilled Hokkaido scallop which he enjoyed but probably not for the price of $10 for one piece. The ambiance is perfect for date night or dinner with friends: low lighting, not too loud. Service was attentive and friendly.

We were hoping to find a less touristy restaurant off of the Uber touristy Banff Avenue. We stumbled upon Shoku Izayaka. It's trendy appearance stood out from other bar/grill/gastropubs nearby so we decided to give it a try. I ordered the miso cod because every miso cod I have am ever tried was delicious. The 3 to 4oz nugget of cod I received was not delicious at all. It had Zero miso flavour. Nada. The portion was super tiny and did not come with any side dishes. I almost went to the pizza joint next door to get a slice. I was neither satisfied nor full. The meal was more appetizer material NOT entree. On another note, my girlfriend ordered salmon, which we were later told they were out of. She ordered yellow tail instead. Ok, no problem. The problem was that her dish was brought out about 10 minutes after mine. Dishes were being removed as she was still eating. We were mistakenly billed for both the salmon and tuna. It Happens- A disappointing dining experience.

Cute place right on Banff Ave! We went right around lunch time (1300), and we were seated right away! Service was great, and the food was tasty. We ordered the salmon and avocado roll, miso soup, and the chicken meatballs. Definitely recommend!

The food was merely okay. We came here after a night at the block just down the street. Block was way better. Funny thing is that their dishes felt like a bastardized version of the same food. Some of the dishes felt very generic and bland. Not sure if it's worth the price and wait to come here. Korean fried chicken was god awful. Chicken itself was not moist. It was just some random chicken with some awful generic Korean sauce Beef tataki. Omg they stole the same dish from the block. And guess what they made it worse! Cod... can't even taste the miso here. Did they forget?? This is more of a pass in this resort town. If you want generic food, great, go here.

Not authentic-tasting izakaya food - flavors were geared towards non Asians. Almost everything had mayo in some form. The skewers - the chicken was overly salty while the beef had no flavor and was well done. Takoyaki literally were just balls of dough. Sushi rolls were packed full of rice and uneven across the circumference of the roll. Staff was pleasant, just don't expect much from the food if looking for good izakaya. There is indoor and outdoor seating available.

Excellent, friendly service and lovely assortment of cocktails and Japanese fusion cuisine make this restaurant an easy choice as you enjoy downtown Banff. I sat outside and ordered a pork katsu steamed bao bun, tako wasabi, karaage chicken, two cocktails and matcha ice cream. The tako wasabi cleaned out my sinuses. It was a bit heavy on the wasabi. My preference leans towards a little less, overall it was yummy.

2.5/5 for me. Perhaps we came on an off day. We came during the afternoon, restaurant was not busy, just us and maybe 2 other tables. Only thing I could recommend would be the fries, they were layers properly with toppings and very tasty. The beef and curry however was very dry. The flavour was there, but the meat in both dishes were just dry. The ambiance of the restaurant was lovely, nice decor, tons of seating and the staff were nice.

Four of us had lunch at Shoku on June 4th. The service was prompt and pleasant and the restaurant is nicely appointed. We had the calamari, eel, salmon roe, tempura shrimp hand roll and a spicy shrimp roll--all were excellent and flavorful. A solid 4 Star restaurant; highly recommended and we would return.

Such a great place for Japanese food in Banff! I got the miso soup to start which was great and the shoku roll for my main. The roll was very flavorful and honestly, if it has spicy mayo on top I know I'm going to like it. When I went, the windows were all opened up and it was nice to just watch the downtown area from your table or the rain pouring. I would've come back to try something else too if I was staying in the area longer!

Oh my god!!! The sushi here is amazing. Truly a legit high end sushi bar. Also loved how we were treated.

We were only in Banff two days and came here twice. Top 3 restaurants we have been to in either Canada or the US, and this is coming from an Asian household. So impressed. Love the skewers (all of them) and kaarage especially.

We absolutely loved this place! A great option to try lots of different shareable plates after a long day of hiking. Absolutely everything was delicious. Our favorites were the ebi mayo, agedashi dofu, the skewers, bao buns, and menma kinoko. I'd recommend also getting dessert! We got the matcha brookie and the miso maple crème brûlée.

My summary: Expensive, small plates that aren't even super delicious. There were 6 of us in my party. As a place that welcomes family style dining-it doesn't really provide enough food/value to support that style of dining. I was disappointed in the portions. Prices add up if you want each person to get a piece of everything. Skip this restaurant and go to its sister restaurant: Block Kitchen and Bar. Don't be like me and forget to show your Key to Banff savings key card for a discount.

Belated review as visited over the May long wknd. We drove in from Calgary so skipped lunch to have an earlyish dinner so we probably ordered too much but we started out with red devil calamari which was delicious! We also had negitoro hand rolls, tsukune chicken, chicken yakitori, salmon hand rolls, miso black cod, ahi tuna yaki onigiri. A lot of food, paired with Aizuhomare Junmai Daiginjo Kuno sake. If you're craving Japanese tapas, definitely must visit as there are so many places o which are more touristy but we found their food to be more authentic.

IMPRESSIVE Tons of vegan options here. I was pleasantly surprised! Even better, they have aquafaba in cocktails in place of egg white so vegans can enjoy shaken and foamy drinks

Tried Shoku because many other restaurants were packed and we wanted a healthy meal. Should've known why the place was empty. Healthy yes, tasty not so much. Flavorless and very small portions. 3 of our 4 meals came and we waited awhile for the 4th. Then, as we were still eating our last gyoza, the plates were being picked up. Not good. Leaving hungry and unsatisfied.

The food was amazing i wrote a review about this place a while ago and i wish to come back there again. we ate outside so im not sure about the ambiance, but it was amazing anyway! service was quick!! 10/10

Food is delicious. To be expected the portion is small as it is a Japanese pub style restaurant. Service is horrendous. We waited to get water refills for 30 minutes. Server did not check on us in the hour and a half we sat in the place. Probably dropped by once or twice to see if we are doing okay. I guess it is due to the fact that gratuity is included on the bill without prior knowledge. I understand the reasoning to be honest. Another sad fact is we had to remind each staff that we are still missing food on the table. Again, great food, terrible service. Order takeout if you want to try it.

Our group was starving and looking for a place in Banff that wasn't as close to the large crowds. We stumbled upon this place and it was empty so we decided to give it a go. That should have been our warning. The inside is aesthetically pleasing and well decorated. They have a bar area and plenty of room inside as well as outdoor seating. I ordered the salmon however was later told they were out of it so they offered me the tuna instead. The fish was good but that's all you get, no real sides with entries. The rest of my group also felt the portions were small. Overall the consensus was that it was not a good meal and would not recommend.

We loved it! Food was phenomenal, ambiance was hip and employees were sooooo kind! We went with our 2 year old and she loved it just as much as we did. Fair warning -- if you love blistered shishito peppers -- the shishito skewer is not for you it was just bbq'd a bit so SPICY as all get out! Other than that, we absolutely loved it. The chicken yakitori skewers for fabulous. The pork belly bao bun melted in our mouths. Edamame and seaweed salad were great and the fried Korean chicken was delicious. The spicy prawns were WOW!!! I wanted to take the peanut sauce with me in my purse My husband also said it was the best crème brûlée he's ever had!

The wife and I decided to try this place today. We tried a few things that I can't remember how to spell but super tasty. The staff was nice and seemed cool. We found the portions a tad on the small side and a fair bit high on price. The place was clean and had a cool vibe. Happy we tried it. Flavor was on point.

Sashimi was very fresh and generous cut but I still don't like saba in general. Son loved the mentaiko pasta. Steak cube was not good. Miso cod was a bit bland. Scallop in half shell wasn't good. Chicken karage was good. Tataki beef my friend said was a bit sour. Would love to try tuna onigiri and vegetables fritter next time. Shoku roll was great!

We found the most delicious and authentic Japanese Tonkatsu Ramen with pork belly and nitamago egg here after trying some disappointing mediocre ramen in Banff. The unagi bowl was also super yummy that my husband had taken a bite before I can take a pic! We found out that they do have some awesome Japanese chefs preparing these authentic meals. The staff were super friendly and the service was on point. The price is just right for the quality of the food and service. The place had a fun modern Japanese vibe with a cool bar. What a gem in Banff! Highly recommended. Cool tip: Happy hour starts at 4 pm which we look forward to trying next visit.