Apart from One Piece, one of the best things about Japan is its food. And when we think of Japanese food, the first thing that usually comes to mind is sushi (well, that or the instant ramen that kept us alive in college).
Having been to Tokyo many times, I myself have developed a taste for high-quality sushi rolls. Whenever I’m in Calgary, I end up comparing sushi to what I get over in Japan, which makes me pretty finicky.
Anyway, that led to me and several other sushi-mad members of the Calgary team picking out our fave spots to get decent sushi here. Want to see which places made our cut? Read on!
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Sushi Bar Zipang
— Media by: trustedgary
Website: https://zipang.ca/
Address: 1010 1 Ave NE, Calgary, AB T2E 4K1, Canada
Contact details: +1 403-262-1888
Operating hours: Monday – Friday 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM & 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM | Saturday: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Price: $$
Sushi Bar Zipang is best known for its authentic sushi, sashimi and Japanese cuisine. Ask any local around and they’ll tell you that the food here is fresh, tastes clean, and is free of that fishy smell in low-quality sushi.
Compared to other sushi restaurants, the portions here are slightly bigger. The downside though is that the rice tends to fall easily (we also experienced seeing sushi rolls that weren’t formed well). But of course, the good side is that they’re absolutely delicious.
The place is quite small so it’s best to book a reservation ahead. And when you get there, make sure to enjoy their incredibly tender ebi tempura and the creamy scallops – either is perfect for a deluxe sushi platter.
Sho Sushi Bar & Kitchen
Website: https://shosushi.ca/
Address: 7212 Macleod Trail SE #110, Calgary, AB T2H 0L9, Canada
Contact details: +1 403-252-5199
Operating hours: Sunday – Thursday: 11:30 AM – 9:30 PM | Friday – Saturday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM
Price: $$
If you want fast service in a classy sushi restaurant, Sho is the best place to go. Their sushi platter is perfect if you want to try multiple variations. It’s also great if you prefer your sushi rolls to be in generous portions.
Each dish was tangy and fresh, from their delicious range of sushi options to other authentic Japanese dishes. The pressed sushi almost melts in your mouth and the deep-fried tempura and calamari just wrap all the flavors together.
The salmon pressed sushi is our favorite but we think it’s their salmon/tuna tartare that will draw you in multiple times. If you want to go the creative route, they have an amazing deep-fried ice cream sushi roll!
Kinjo Sushi & Grill
Website: https://kinjosushiandgrill.com/
Address: 7101 Macleod Trail SW, Calgary, AB T2H 0L8, Canada
Contact details: +1 403-255-8998
Operating hours: Monday – Sunday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Price: $
Kinjo serves their sushi using a boat system (sushi is prepared, put in boats, and served to you in seconds). That’s why it’s no surprise that their food is super fresh and doesn’t leave a weird aftertaste in your mouth.
With smaller portions, the place is ideal regardless of whether you visit for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. This also makes it great for kids who can also enjoy watching the floating sushi boat bar.
Another great thing about this place is the value for money – it’s relatively cheaper than other spots in Calgary. Plus, it’s easy and fast to find a seat even during busy hours, with attentive servers that just boost that experience.
Sukiyaki House
— Media by: acheatdayeveryday
Website: https://www.sukiyakihouse.com/
Address: 207 9 Ave SW #130, Calgary, AB T2P 1K3, Canada
Contact details: +1 403-263-3003
Operating hours: Monday – Friday: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM & 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Saturday: 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Price: $$
For a more upscale sushi experience, the Sukiyaki House is one of our favorites. You really can’t go wrong with their spicy prawn appetizer dish, with an excellent bottle of sake on the side (ask the staff for a personal recommendation!).
The prices may be higher than a few places, but the quality here won’t disappoint you. The scallops are very fresh and their well-loved spicy salmon rolls are just one for the books.
Now, if you want to try something different, their wagyu beef tataki is simply out of this world. Put their delicious suzuki carpaccio next in line and you’ll have a feast like no other.
Ke Charcoal Grill & Sushi
Website: https://kecharcoalgrill.com/
Address: 1501 15 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T3C 0Y1, Canada
Contact details: +1 403-283-3288+1 403-283-3288
Operating hours: Monday – Sunday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Price: $$
Ke Charcoal is on a busy street, so it’s something you may want to visit if you have a random craving one day. It’s presented more on an all-you-can eat style, with different types of sushi specials that are sold on a discount.
The cream cheese roll is a sure favorite with that tasty avocado salmon as a close runner up. From the specials, you can’t go wrong with either the hamachi roll or the lobster roll (the lobster didn’t have an overpowering taste which we loved).
As for other dishes, the chicken karaage was one of the best we’ve had – crispy, tender, divine on its own. The beef tongue and chicken skins were also fantastic (you may even score a discount if you come in late at night!).
Sushi Ginza Japanese Restaurant
Website: https://sushiginza.ca/home/
Address: 276, 10816 Macleod Trail SW, Calgary, AB T2J 5N8, Canada
Contact details: +1 403-271-9642
Operating hours: Monday: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM | Tuesday – Thursday: 11:30 – 9:00 PM | Saturday – Sunday: 12:00 AM – 9:30 PM
Price: $$
Every sushi at Sushi Ginza is fresh and generous in size. Pricing is also fantastic for what you get, although some items might be just a little bit higher than most sushi places.
Some of our favorites include the Mt.Fuji roll, flames roll, kamikaze roll, and beef rolls. Now if you really want to fill your belly up, make sure to order their agedashi tofu or crispy tempura (takoyaki is great here too if you hate the soggy ones!).
They even have gluten-free and vegetarian options – just make sure you ask the staff. And if you’re ready to dive in, their range of sake choice is a fantastic pairing to any dish – the hot sake is a must-try in our books.
Point Sushi – Bullet Train Sushi Bar
Website: https://pointsushi.ca/
Address: 116 2 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2P 0B9, Canada
Contact details: +1 403-290-1118
Operating hours: Monday – Sunday: 12:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Price: $$
Point Sushi is Calgary’s very first bullet train sushi bar restaurant, where orders are made through a tablet system and served via conveyor belt. Now, you can only order 4 food items at a time, but that’s enough to get you going per order.
The portions aren’t huge, but they’re perfect if you just want to sample different sushi options. Plus, it won’t break the bank and you can even enjoy it whether you’re part of a group or just eating solo.
The maki sushi here is perfect – it’s not overdone and you can definitely taste the fish. And if you can score this special during your visit, make sure not to miss out on the shima aji nigiri sushi – super delicious!
Sushi Kimu
Website: https://sushikimu.ca/
Address: 6522 4 St NE, Calgary, AB T2K 6H2, Canada
Contact details: +1 587-293-9380
Operating hours: Monday – Saturday: 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM & 4:30 PM – 9:30 PM | Sunday: 4:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Price: $$
Sushi Kimu is one of our favorite stops whenever we want rolls in large portions. Plus, their rolls feel more modern with all these delicious sauces you can’t score anywhere else.
As for our faves, we highly recommend going for the dragon rolls and double crunch rolls. For less obvious choices, you can go for either the mango roll and veracruz roll – get a vegetable gyoza or katsu don while you’re at it!
The people here were also the sweetest and easiest to communicate with. We definitely loved the small space as it’s so much quieter than other popular spots. Think dinner nights will be great here.
Koto Sushi & Izakaya
Address: 435 4 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2P 3A8, Canada
Contact details: +1 403-457-2898
Operating hours: Monday – Friday: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM & 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Price: $$$
If you’re a big fan of smoky hamachi sashimi, then you shouldn’t miss Koto Sushi & Izakaya. And if you’re feeling a bit fancy, you can get their lobster set that’s served on a wooden stand – it’s just not a raw sashimi style though.
Much more, you shouldn’t miss their sushi which is simply fresh and doesn’t leave any fishy aftertaste. They’re also not packed with too much rice so you really taste all the vegetables and meat.
Another popular thing here in this resto is their $1 oyster happy hour, which is fresh, delicious, and juicy. They also have $5 glasses of wine and sapporo, which pretty much matches with any meal you decide to have.
Globefish Sushi Kensington
Website: https://www.globefishkensington.ca/
Address: 332 14 St NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1Z7, Canada
Contact details: +1 403-521-0222
Operating hours: Monday – Sunday: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM
Price: $$
Globefish definitely ticks off our box when it comes to unique sushi places in Calgary. For starters, they have this amazing volcano roll where they lace the plate with alcohol and then light it on fire!
But if you’re more on food than gimmicks, you can get their assorted sashimi platters or go for any of their specialty rolls. The crazy buster was fantastic – it’s a big fresh cut of tuna and tender salmon that just bursts in your mouth.
If you want something spicy, the triple threat roll is your best bet. You can also get gluten-free food here, including calamari, the dynamite roll, and assorted tempura (of course, their non-gluten-free option is just as good for these dishes!).
Li-Ao Sushi
Website: https://liaosushiyyc.com/
Address: 2335 162 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2Y 4G9, Canada
Contact details: +1 403-719-9668
Operating hours: Monday – Thursday: 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Price: $$
Fresh and tasty sushi is what Li-Ao is best known for, with a great portion size and prices that won’t break the bank. We also loved that they have this low-sodium soy sauce, which doesn’t overpower the taste of fish and rice.
If you crave other Japanese dishes, you can’t skip their BBQ squid, fried udon with beef, and veggie-filled noodle bowls. Their avocado bubble tea was also delicious with a subtle sweetness that makes it easy to have every day.
Once you have your sushi rolls, try out their seafood miso and you’ll have an absolute blast. If you’re still feeling hungry, have their seared salmon or salmon nigiri – you’ll get thick salmon slices and less rice.
Big Catch Sushi Bar
Website: http://www.bigcatchcalgary.ca/
Address: 8835 Macleod Trail SW #130, Calgary, AB T2H 0M2, Canada
Contact details: +1 403-708-5555
Operating hours: Tuesday: 4:30 PM – 8:00 PM | Wednesday – Sunday: 12:00 PM – 2:30 PM & 4:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Price: $$$
The quality of food at Big Catch just can’t be matched, in our opinion. To start off, they use high-quality raw fish in their sushi rolls. They even make their mild red colored shari using authentic aged akazu (red vinegar).
Another amazing thing here is their presentation. Not only is it visually gorgeous, but they also use edible flowers. They definitely have the wow factor down here!
The place is quite pricey, though, so you may just want to book this place during special occasions only. But for a casual meal, try their blue fin toro, Hokkaido scallops, and the mind-blowing Oshi.
