Ryuko South - Japanese Kitchen + Bar

The prawn tempura is delicious, and the miso tuna is our favourite sushi. We like to try a different sushi every time we visit, and today we tried the vegedragon, which we loved as well. For dessert, we always order the matcha cheesecake and the hojicha tiramisu, and we also really enjoy their green tea. The restaurant feels authentic, the food and the customer service are always 10/10. My husband and I go to Ryuko almost every weekend, it has become our favourite restaurant in Calgary.

We took a trip to Calgary for my wife’s birthday dinner and she chose Ryuko South and it was a wonderful experience. You are greeted at the front door by the cool purple light of their fish fridge, which was cool to see. Inside the restaurant, it is modern, cleanly designed and bright. Our server was friendly and prompt and brought our drinks, which she used a smoke gun to add a smoke bubble to my sweet and tart yuzu drink. We had the karate chicken with its wasabi like dip and it was hot, crunchy, but needed a bit of salt. The sushi was excellent and we enjoyed all of the oishi sushi that we ordered. Our favourite was the wagyu beef oishi sushi. Unfortunately the surf and turf roll had two pieces of gristle that we had to remove from the rolls, as it was inedible. All in all, a lovely, authentic sushi restaurant in Calgary. It was a lovely birthday dinner!

My guest and I had the early dinner Omakase on a Sunday night and Chef Jun and his staff provided an amazing experience. This was served in the upstairs portion of the restaurant and it had a nice open atmosphere. There was a nice waiting area if needed, however, we were greeted immediately and taken to our seats. It was a nice setting of just 6 seats and Chef Jun was so meticulous in his presentation of each dish. Watching Chef Jun prepare each dish behind the counter was artistic. He was careful and explained what each dish was and how and why it was prepared the way it was. Each dish had their slight unique flavor. For someone like me that doesn't normally like sushi unless I was at a coastal city, Ryuko has been the only place in the city where I do enjoy it. Even the matcha drink at the end, where normally matcha has a very slight bitter after-taste, however, the way he served it, took that edge completely off. It was incredibly refreshing way to finish off the night of so many wonderful courses. The server was also very attentive, our drinks was always full, and she was always available if we needed anything. He even hand picks the background music playing for each dish as it is prepared and served. It was a nice touch. I have been to every location in the city so far, and I look forward to the next one which will be closer to my home! However, this one will bring great memories of the amazing night of the Omakase with my guest.

We had the lunch omakase, and it was a wonderful experience. With only six seats, it was intimate, and Chef John Lee answered all our questions. The dishes featured high-quality ingredients, with a progression of different cuts explained by the chef. Everything was simply delicious. We’ll definitely be returning to try the other seasons’ menus.

I can confidently say this place offers the best service and the best flavor. I’m usually sensitive to fishy tastes and can’t enjoy seafood everywhere, but every time I come here, the food is consistently fresh, clean, and absolutely delicious. The staff are always kind and attentive, which makes the experience even better. Out of all the Japanese restaurants I’ve tried in Calgary, this one truly stands out as the best. The quality, taste, and atmosphere make it a place I always look forward to visiting again.