Japanese Village

[LISA]

A new place I tried and a great one at that. My bro's girlfriend set up her party there on the weekend and I was looking forward to coming down. If you want more details check out Michelle's recent blog post as well.

What I loved about the place is that the restaurant is shaped in squares-so one big square fits up to 18 people at a table with the centers having 2 actual flat hot pans where two chefs work together. So each table has the view. It is awesome to see how well they do-they are funny and have cheesy jokes to tell while they are cooking.

The menu looks really expensive but it actually isn't too bad at all when you see what you get. I ordered the Teriyaki chicken.

First they give you Shabu Shabu soup which is in a small bowl with egg whites-not bad.
Then they give you a small taste test of shrimp-like 3 chunks-lol not that exciting but still..something...oh wait, then you get a small bowl of salad with amazing sesame ginger dressing.

Then the cook comes out and starts cooking your dishes=he starts with the veggies which includes sweet onions, zucchini sticks, carrot and some cabbage....he does that on the grill-then he serves that first.

He then starts on the meats of your choice-so people start snacking on their veggies while they wait for the meat. Then a small bowl of rice comes along with some sauce for your dish. Amazing sauce once again.

After a while when the meat is cooked you get great cubes of chicken that is sweet yet salty to add to your dish.

I chose to wait and mix everything together but people can start eating as they wish cause by that time your appetite builds RIGHT up. After you get everything, he cooks up some beansprouts and puts that on your dish.

WOW- a lot of food for sure...when you are done they serve you green tea and your choice of chocolate, vanilla or orange sorbet ice cream (Which is FABBBBBULOUS!).

For only $18.00 you get an awesome experience and a crap load of food that is amazingly fresh and healthy (well skip the ice cream!~ lol) I never really like onions or zucchini but ate them up because they were so tasty!!

And if you have a birthday they come to your table and make you wear sumo outfit styles with matching wig and sing to you in English and Japanese! Talk about a treat! lol

I give this place a HUGE thumbs up-just go when you are really hungry!!

[Amethyst]

I forgot to mention that place!  I won't write it up again because, as Lisa said, you can check my blog for details if you're interested.

I will add that instead of the chicken, I had steak teriyaki and it was very tasty too.  In fact, I was dreaming about it the other night and craving another meal.  So if anyone wants to go for Japanese food, let me know!!

~Michelle

[LISA]

Ahhh I would go again-this time to get the shrimp included in my menu of chicken! Maybe you could try the steak and shrimp this time too! So neat!! A great deal and a funky place!

[Steph]

Ooh this place sounds fantastic...I think I'll have to try it out sometime! Where is it located?

[Amethyst]

Right downtown on 4th Ave and 2 Street SW.  Just up from Eau Claire.  Also, right next to the strip club, if that helps!

~Michelle

[LISA]

Heeeeeeey maybe THAT is why a lot of my family members were wandering downtown...French Maid! haha just kidding. Although with the one guy in that BMW car with his friend, I wouldn't be surprised! lol

[*Alicia*]

Sounds like an interesting place but I can't justify spending $18.00 for a meal there 

[Amethyst]

Considering it's downtown and the amount of food you get, I think $18 is a very reasonable price actually.  With my drink and tip, I ended up paying $25.  It's not unusual for a meal at somewhere like Moxies to be $20 altogether.

You get what you pay for!

~Michelle

[momo_adachi]

Ooh this place sounds fantastic...I think I'll have to try it out sometime! Where is it located?

There's one in downtown Edmonton too, and I have to give it a rave review too -- it's awesome, although because my dad is Japanese, I tend not to go to Japanese restaraunts often because I have lots of Japanese at home.     What I like about Japanese Village though, is the quality of the ingredients, the freshness, and the authenticity! 

[LISA]

I agree with you Momo on the freshness..it is amazing at how fresh and tasty the ingredients are to be honest!!

Alicia, when I first saw the menu my eyes totally went  at the price...$17.00?? HOLY SMOKES! But if you get a drink (let's say a pop which is over 2.00 at any restaurant, or even an alcoholic one which is at least 5.00) and a dish which could be anywhere from 8-12 bucks at a restaurant, you are really breaking even with what it costs at Japanese Village.

Mind you, again..you get the soup, small salad, a big dish of freshly cooked veggies, a bowl of rice, your choice of whatever meat you liked, a tester of shrimp, and a big batch of bean sprouts...then add one a cup of green tea and a nice bowl of ice cream or sherbert. Quite honestly, you TOTALLY get your moneys worth for sure.

There is another place called the Sakana Grill which has very similar things in it-I have a coupon for up to 18.00 FREE-and the dishes cost no more than about 14.00 with the same things included. Might be worth trying and seeing the comparison between the two!

[*Alicia*]

Maybe I'm just cheap and I know I haven't been there before but it just sounds like an expensive place to go! you ladies prove me wrong

[LISA]

No worries Alicia..you don't sound cheap-when you see how much food you get and how tasty it is, you will change your mind..of course, we can prove you wrong if you are willing to shell out the big bucks to try out the dish! lol

[Amethyst]

A friend of mine went to the Sakana Grill for her birthday.  I couldn't go because ANOTHER friend had her birthday the same day so I had to split my time between the two birthday parties.

~Michelle

[Lynn]

Don't feel cheap, Alicia.
I would'nt spend $18.00 on a meal for myself, either.
I'd rather just grab a cheap burger and with the $12. or $13. that I have left, head on over to Zellers, Giant Tiger or Dollarama and pick up a CD or something.
I'm pretty cheap, but not as cheap as my hubby. I like to stretch my dollar.
I'm not rich and I can't see justifying spending that much on a meal for one person. It sounds like a lot of food and I think I would want to take a doggie bag home.
Yup...I'm a redneck! 

It sounds like a real nice place and I've never had Japanese food before. Not that I'm ever going to make it to Calgary.

[Amethyst]

I wouldn't spend $18 on every meal.  I get a cheap burger from Dairy Queen WAY more than I go to Japanese Village!  LOL.

But it really is a good meal and I think it's worthwhile spending the money to get something good that you really enjoy once in awhile.

~Michelle