I know, yes it is, but not in the traditional sense of ramen.
I've heard many stories about this place, some good but mostly bad. It's not a Japanese restaurant in a sense. The people that work there are not Japanese and the cooks. I'm not sure are Japanese either. The soup does taste great, but there is that aftertaste and a sense that you are thirsty. Could it be way too much ajinomoto? The noodles....... oh poor poor noodles. Why serve this if it looks like and italian variation. I know, I know, yes it is ramen..... but......well, whatever.
It's a franchise or so it seems. I just think that they could try to make it a bit more authentic without being so....... It's just that when you go to a real Japanese restaurant you know it's going to be clean, friendly, happy, efficient and tasty. And you won't have to worry about getting crazy thirsty after a bowl of ...ramen. I hate to say it, but I think very few Japanese will go to eat here a second time.

I am Japanese, i am insulted that they try to put this food off as Japanese Izakaya. I have been here two times and it didn't get better. It got worse. The owner, i don't think is Japanese. He can't write Japanese. It's not real Japanese menu and the food is not good.
The chefs are not Japanese and the waitresses don't know the menu or even what the menu says in Japanese.

It is like reading a bad Chinese menu translated into English. Not very good. Even the people who gave this place good reviews I don't think they know what real Izakaya is. But then you have to go to Japan to know the difference.

The poeple who enjoy this place will also enjoy those Chinese western cuisine places with 300 items on a menu.

I do not know what more to say, but blech. Plaase. to the owners of this place. If you want real credibility make it authentic or just call it a Chinese Tapas and change the name.

trying to be trendy does nothing for me. It has to be tasty and real and fresh. It is none of these.
Sorry. maybe next time It will be better.

I think this restaurant is a bit overly rated. For all you can eat, it's very good and it does the trick. It isn't really Japanese if you happen to be a picky Japanese foodie, or even Japanese for that matter, don't eat here. You won't like it. If you like bulk food, good and fresh and you won't get sick. This is the place. Just remember it does it's purpose which is to feed the hungry stomach and mouths of people wanting something akin to Japanese cuisine.

I know for a fact you can't speak to any of the waitresses there in Japanese. They don't speak Japanese and you can't get Japanese service.

But like I said, it is very good for the all you can eat. In fact I would recommend this place over the other bulk eateries in town.

I think with the problem of having enough staffing is due to not enough Japanese can work these schedules in this area. It is mostly a Chinese area I find, but to keep this place authentic you need Japanese speaking waitress or waiter and cooks who can provide this sort of service and style. That is part of the effect isn't it? Otherwise you would just have a non Japanese worker serving what is supposed to be authentic. What I find funny is having a Chinese worker pretending to speak Japanese in a Chinese owned Japanese restaurant.
The soups are good and if you like the extra rich soup. go for it!
I still do like the downtown one better, but it is getting run down and needs a fixup.

This place is very creative with it's simple and effective tasting sushi.
Hiroshi san and his wife have done very well in providing good service, wonderful sushi and a few specialty dishes that I love!
The price is very good too. Not expensive and the quality is very good. You can also get brown rice sushi too! Recommended mostly for takeout but if you are just a couple, it's good for a small quick meal.
They close early so you have to order before 8pm.

I remember going here when it first opened and it was great and clean and the service was pretty good for this kind of restaurant. The last time I went, last week, it wasn't so good. I had a dish that seemed to have too much soyasauce in it. Maybe it was the cook that day. I know that their congee is great of course and that is what I mostly come for, or their wonton noodles. I sometimes go with my boyfriend who usually eats all that gross intestine stomach stuff and he even said that this last time it wasn't good.... the washrooms were not very clean.

We went once for a dinner for two and it was good enough to go back and try out more dishes. The second time I tried a chicken dish but it didn't settle well with me. It could have been the spices, but i like hot stuff! We were mostly ignored and I felt like we just had to leave the place. I'm not ugly or anything but I felt like it. I have heard not very good things about this place from others. I think that's why they did the renovations and I haven't been back since. Mebbe it's changed?
I hope someone writes something good so I can think about giving it another try. sigh!

I liked this place. it was recommended by friends. Almost like sushi in Japan so i can say this is the most authentic.

It is only a sushi restaurant so you must know that you can only get sushi. Very small, but good for the money you will pay. It is hard to find but once you are there, you will go back.