Shokunin Izakaya is Chef Darren MacLean’s take on a contemporary Japanese restaurant. After his success on Netflix’s The Final Table and an extended stay in Tokyo, he was inspired to set up Shokunin Izakaya, curating a menu of traditional Japanese dishes with a twist. The restaurant’s small plates are perfect for sharing, and many are cooked using seasonal and local ingredients.

An izakaya is the Japanese version of a British pub or a Spanish tapas bar, and this one is extraordinary. The vibe is Tokyo underground and though it’s authentic Japanese fare, the specialty here is grilled meats and vegetables, particularly yakitori (skewered chicken). Creative cocktails and a nice selection of sake and Japanese whiskey round out the experience.

Shokunin is another upscale restaurant in Calgary, and I actually discovered it through Final Table on Netflix, a reality series where top chefs around the world compete to get a seat at the Final Table. Darren MacLean is the mind behind Shokunin, and he was actually my favourite chef on the show. His Japanese gastropub offers up yakitori (skewers), shareable plates, and craft cocktails, all using fresh and seasonal ingredients alongside traditional Japanese techniques and flavour profiles.

Rated as one of Canada’s top restaurants for the past several years, Shokunin is a highly acclaimed Japanese restaurant in Calgary’s Mission community. Located on the 4th Street SW Business Improvement Area, Shokunin serves up high-class sushi and sashimi along with other Japanese cuisine delights such as ramen, yakitori, wagyu, and so much more. Our favourites include the Charcoal Avocado, Bison Tataki, Tori Ramen and the Hanetsuki Braised Beef Gyoza.

Shokunin in Calgary distinguishes itself as a Japanese gastropub, where a stylish setting meets a fusion of traditional and contemporary Japanese cuisine. This locale is not just about sushi; it's a comprehensive cultural experience, offering everything from sashimi and yakitori to innovative cocktails and sake. As you enter Shokunin, the ambiance sets a sophisticated yet relaxed tone, perfect for an evening out with friends or a special dinner.

Shokunin’s inventive dishes and drinks have been inspiring guests since 2016. Chicken is the star here — expect yakitori offerings with daily-butchered chickens — but other standouts include the wagyu pastrami sando, buttermilk chicken karaage and more. Pair your meal with the Okami Kasu, a sake-infused beer collaboration with Ol’ Beautiful Brewing made with rice koji and beer yeast, or a glass from one of the best sake menus in the city.

A post shared by In a Split Second Foodie (@inasplitsecondfoodie) on Feb 23, 2019 at 9:01pm PST. Shokunin was voted as one of Canada’s top 100 restaurants, and it is a proper izakaya (casual Japanese pub for after-work drinking) spot serving up Japanese food with a killer sake selection. It features the kind of food traditionally served at an izakaya in Japan, and all its skewers are grilled on a charcoal grill.

Shokunin was founded on the principle of providing excellent food and drinks in an all-inclusive setting. Their crafted cocktails make room to charred yakitori and small plates that can be shared by friends while sipping sake. To create a genuinely contemporary Japanese dining experience, seasonal and local ingredients are mixed with conventional Japanese techniques and flavor profiles.

Since celebrity-chef Darren MacLean opened Shokunin in 2015, it has consistently made Canada’s Top 100 Restaurants. The 50-seat restaurant, modelled after a Japanese izakaya, is an intimate experience located right off lively 4th St. The charred yakitori and delectable small plates demand to be shared among friends with a bottle of sake.

We recommend Shokunin if you want a cold brew alongside your favorite Japanese meals. They’re actually an Izakaya, a type of Japanese bar that serves a variety of small dishes and snacks to accompany alcoholic beverages. The restaurant is best known for serving yakitori, so expect to be offered a variety of chicken menu items.

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If you’re looking for an excellent place to enjoy sushi, sashimi, and other Japanese cuisine, Shokunin is the go-to Japanese restaurant in Calgary. Since its opening, this restaurant has consistently ranked as one of the top 50 restaurants in Canada. They aim to provide excellent Japanese cuisine made with fresh ingredients.

Calgary's premier destination for contemporary Japanese cuisine. Prepare to embark on an extraordinary culinary adventure at Shokunin, where the ambiance embraces you with warmth and sophistication. Fresh, pristine ingredients dance in harmony, orchestrating a symphony of flavors that tantalizes your palate.

Currently ranked #24 In Canada's 100 Best Restaurants (with 7 consecutive appearances in the top 50 since 2016). This chef-driven Japanese Izakaya restaurant is the flagship of Chef Darren Maclean, and is a symphony of fire, fat, and salt with the entire menu being centred around the Kyushu Binchotan Grill.

Look no further than the top Japanese restaurant in Calgary if you’re in the mood for some hip sushi, miso, sake, and shitake mushrooms. Shokunin is the place to go for a night out with your buddies!. The decor is straight from a New York City movie set, and the food is out of this world.

Voted one of Canada’s top 50 restaurants, Shokunin is one of Calgary’s most popular hot spots. You may have seen Chef Darren MacLean competing on Netflix’s The Final Table, showcasing just how good the man can cook. Discover ambitions and inventive takes on traditional Japanese cooking.

Since its opening in 2016, Shokunin has been ranked one of Canada's Top 50 Best Restaurants for seven years. Chef Darren MacLean's flagship restaurant offers exceptional Japanese-influenced cuisine, combining Canadian ingredients with Japanese culinary techniques.

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (117 reviews) - Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5) - Type of cuisine: Japanese, Asian - Price: $$ - $$$ - Address: 2016 4 St SW, Calgary, Alberta T2S 1W3 Canada - Read more on Tripadvisor

Following a culinary tour through Japan, he returned home inspired to open Shokunin. Aiming for authenticity in all he does, Shokunin uses fresh ingredients and house-made sauces in flavourful small plates of Japanese fare.

Why You Need To Go: This place's head chef is featured on Netflix's The Final Table so you know the Izakaya-oriented dishes at this spot are in high demand. Don't underestimate their tempting sake list either.

This Japanese Izakaya is known for its robata-grilled dishes, creative sushi, and award-winning ambiance. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Shokunin (@shokuninyyc)