Shogun Ottawa Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar

Disappointing all around.
We arrived and the restaurant was nearly empty. We were sat promptly and given menus. The first thing I noticed was the priced. Aside from a few items under $ 20, nearly all meals were 25−30+. My friend remarked «but, you get soup, salad, rice, a shrimp appetizer and desert with it» so, after a slightly too long wait, we order with anticipation. I got the salmon teriyaki teppanyaki and my friend got the chicken teriyaki teppanyaki.
Then, we waited for a really long time. Not that long. 20 minutes? It seemed long consider all the appetizers we were expecting our way!
Eventually we got the miso soup. That was pretty good, as miso soup is wont to be.
Then we got the salad which was disappointment in a bowl. A small pile of iceburg lettuce, some weird dressing that looked like thousand island mixed with soggy bread crumbs, and fried onions. I mean it wasn’t bad but… why???
Eventually the chef came with the main course and did the cooking show. Unfortunately he wasn’t that good and the whole thing was kinda meh. Plus he kept like… talking to us? Which is fine but how many times can I laugh at «japanese KFC» (chicken) or «japanese water» (cooking oil) before it feels awkward?
The meat portions were generous. The veggies were sadness. Bean sprouts, zucchini, an onion and a few mushrooms. My friend said: «I’m pretty sure this is the same combination of vegetables as the last time I came here, a decade ago». I imagine it’s because those are cheap and quick to cook but boy are they boring, especially if you don’t like eating big pieces of al dente onion!
And, everything was swimming in the same teriyake sauce. My plate looked like a brown lake.
Everything tasted pretty decent but it could have been SO much better! Small portions, less sauce, more vegetables. Why not snow peas? Strips of carrot? Strips of bell pepper? Daikon? It would also be nice to see a few more items under the $ 20 pricepoint. Lastly, I would have appreciated a vegetarian teppanyaki option. I’m not really a vegetarian but I’m not a huge fan of meat and I hate paying for it just because there’s nothing else.
Long story short: You better really, really enjoy the little cooking show they put on for you because THAT’S what you’re paying $ 25++ per person for.

Would not recommend. Chef very inexperienced and did not appear to have proper training. Got the chicken and beef teriyaki. In trying to do the egg trick, he broke the shell and there were pieces all over the food. The same green garlic butter was overused in every single component (veggies, rice, chicken, shrimp, noodles)… The chef appeared to forget the teriyaki sauce for the chicken so it was bland and not fully cooked. The rest of the food was swimming in sauce and the portions were ridiculously large and falling onto the table. Nothing was enjoyable because everything was piled all together and drenched in the same mixture of unappetizing sauce. Unfortunately very disappointing, find another place to get your tepanyaki fix.

Yeah, 3.5 to 4 star IMHO. They took our reservation on short notice, but no problem since we called around opening (4:30pm). We were a party of 5 and had our choice of seating when we got in. There are at least 8 separate cook-​tops which can accomodate 8 people, and these can be combined to hold groups of up to 16. There is a separate seating area for those who wish enjoy only sushi, surrounding the sushi chefs. And there is a bar area. One really bad finsihing job is the ceiling, which is like nothing I have ever seen before; looks like goopy dripping stucco, and grossly dirty in parts! There are air vents /​fans over every cooking table, but I guess they don’t catch it all?
Parking is oddly set up — there is ample parking in the rear, and an entrance from the back. But when we got there, the back was locked and we had to walk all the way around the building!
OK, as for the service, they were quick and friendly enough, and helpful describing the menu. They frequently came to refill our water glasses (for which I was eternally grateful, as I was soooo thirsty!), although they had to be asked to refill the first time.
We were hungry too after skating on the canal! So, we ordered from the menu to be prepared for us on the cook top, but instead of ordering sushi appetizers for each of us at roughly $ 8 per person, we ordered a sushi dinner to share, at about $ 27.00. It was delicious!
Main courses consisted of teriaki chicken, steak, scallops, salmon, and shrimp. All of it delicious. Although, I am the one who ordered the steak, and they chop it up into tiny itsee bitsy pieces. I wished they had cut little cubes instead. This way it was tasty but a little bit tougher than perfection. The chicken was amazing. And everyone seemed happy with their meal. Oh. and I might add that these meals came with the salad and the 3-​shrimp appetizers, alfalfa sprouts and veggies. And then desert — ice cream. The food was really good, and so was the service.
Ok, I have to end this review with one funny observation: I don’t normally mention the washrooms unless they are outstanding for some reason, and this one is no exception. There are only 2 stalls in the ladies room (a 3^rd looked like it was closed off, behind drywall as yet unfinished). A 2^nd stall had a clogged toilet, and only the 3^rd was functional. The funny part was that in standing up, you could make eye contact with anyone else in the washroom! These walls really need to be higher! This took a point off the review. (I admit to being a bit of a clean freak: I will always wash my hands after touching the menu, before eating!)
Having said all this, the place is worth visiting. It’s not the cheapest meal you will ever have (our meals came in at an average of just over $ 30.00 + taxes and tip), but it is worth the experience.

We came here with a Groupon, but the menu served was their standard menu. It was great! This is a tapanyaki bar, with the food cooked/​fried in front of you. I had the beef filet and shrimp, and thoroughly enjoyed my meal. We had the fried ice cream for dessert — it as good, but not the best I’ve had. Service was friendly and efficient, despite a full restaurant. We will definitely come back!

This is a little hidden gem. We went last Friday night and my first impression was how dark and sketchy it seemed… Then we saw flames! This place turned out to be pretty cool and managed to really impress us with their flavourful, deliciously moist and tender filet mignon and shrimps. Although I cringed when our server/​chef began to slice the steak up before our very eyes, it was perfectly cooked and absolutely delicious. The miso soup was tasty, the salad was just a pile of lettuce, but the vinaigrette made it amazing (I would possibly have drunk the leftover vinaigrette if no one had been looking!), and the small bowl of ice cream was a suitably refreshing completion to our meal. We had Sapporo, a Japanese beer, and it complemented the meal quite nicely. Portion sizes were just right, service was good, ambiance was ok and price was great considering we got a full course meal AND a show. We will be back!

I really do not know how to start my review with this restaurant. There is just so much going on here. I guess I will start with this…
I arrived at Shogun on Wednesday evening at 6:30 for a dinner date with four. There were two other tables in there that evening. A table of two, and a table of six. There was only one chef on for the majority of the evening, and one waitress serving all the tables. Sometimes it was hard to get her attention, we were forced to flag her down a lot, because she did not respond to eye contact.
On to the menu. It is fairly small, and you can choose a three course or four course meal, or just stick with appetizers and sushi. I did not see any tables order sushi that evening, it looked like everyone was there for the grilled food that was made at your table.
The prices have gone up about $ 1.00 per meal, and it is not yet updated on their websites menu.
3 of us got the four course chicken terriyaki meal $ 17.50, and the other guest got the four course scallop meal which I believe was around $ 27.00. (waaaaaay overpriced for the scallops, considering how many you get)
The meals come with a small bowl of miso soup, a small house salad, shrimp appetizer, rice, veggies and your main. For dessert you get an option between several flavors of ice cream which is also included in the price.
We waited quiet a while for our first appetizer, (about 25 minutes after arrival) which was the miso soup.. It reminded me of AYCE restaurants where they just plop things on your table and run off.
Maybe 15 minutes later the house salad came. It was three pieces of lettuce and carrots soaked in ginger dressing…
I was thinking that the shrimp appetizer was going to arrive next, but the waitress brought us a small bowl of rice. I guess that was a hint that the chef was coming to our table next, which he did.
He was very cheerful, and put on a great show, but poked fun at the chicken calling it KFC, and joked saying that the chicken was trying to run away… OKKKKK…kind of made me loose my appetite. Oh, the shrimp appetizer was also cooked with the meal. We each got 3 pieces of shrimp. It was fantastic, but again, I thought we would all get more than 3 pieces…
The main finale was the chef doing a fire show on the grill before he served the mains and veggies; which were zucchini, onion and bean sprouts.
The mains were fantastic and that is why I am giving the restaurant 3 stars. The chicken was flavorful. Just a FYI, the chicken terriyaki meal is cut-​up-​chicken; like a stir fry.
Finally around 8:15 ice cream was served. We had to flag down our waitress for the bills.
We noticed a 25% discount on all our bills; must be a Wednesday special?
We got out of the restaurant at 8:40pm.
It was a looooooooooooong dinning experience, and I was not expecting to commit almost 3 hours at a restaurant on a weeknight.
I am in no rush to go back because it was a very confusing dinning experience, but it is not a complete write off considering the food was great.

This unassuming restaurant turned out to be a treat for the whole family. Food was good and plentiful, and the staff was quite friendly with just the right mix of a «show» from the chef. I would certainly bring the family back.

Delicious. Entertaining. Amazing
You want a cool place to take a first date??? Sho Gun is it!
They cook your food in front of you with big flames and cut veggies into art!
I really recommend the Filet Mignon teppenyaki, juicy, delicious!
The staff was friendly, the main chef we had was really funny too and kept us all laughing and entertained. Fast service, and you get A LOT OF FOOD. Included is soup, salad, shrimp, main course and ice cream ! I can’t eat shrimp and they were happy to give me an alternative.
If you haven’t been there, please go!!! amazing!

From the outside Shogun doesn’t look to impressive, but take a walk inside and you’re in for a treat. Based off the idea of a Japanese chef cooking in front of you (think Beni Hana), Shogun provides both entertainment and good food.
This is an independent establishment that is family run. They aren’t made of money, so don’t expect bells and whistles. Nope, just expect a good time.
This is a perfect place for a group outing, whether it be with co-​workers or for a birthday. You order from the extensive menu and the chef gets to work. It’s a gradual thing, with each course being served as the next is cooking. The chef will make some corny jokes while he impresses you with his flair. It’s a great combination that you can’t help but be entertained by. On birthdays ask them to break out the samurai sword and Polaroid camera, you won’t regret it.
The food is good, and even though each portion isn’t huge, there is plenty of food to fill you since each meal is made up of four or more courses. And there is always the option of sushi to keep your stomach from rumbling.
They have a drink menu that isn’t huge, but does consist of some Asian inspired drinks along with your classics and beers that range from domestic to world brews.
You can’t go to Shogun too much, otherwise it will get old, but if you stop there every couple of months you’ll always have a good time and walk out content.