Shoya Izakaya

A hidden gem in my option. It’s in the H Mart shopping center off 285 E. You are excitingly greeted by the gentleman at the sushi bar when you walk in. Everything from the ambiance, décor, to the food seemed very authentic. The menu has pictures which helps for the layman like myself. You press a little gizmo on the table when you’re ready to order. You can make this experience as authentic or contemporary as you like in regards to the food. There were vegan options for me which was nice. The service is consistent and the staff is lovely (seems they are always smiling). I will continue to dine here in the future.

I was utterly impressed. Very unassuming location. Inside is a full on happening spot. There was a decent wait. We took seat at the bar/​sushi counter. The food was real good. Prices are also manageable!
Our server was a young Asian lad, and she was hurried and not readily available as one would wish, especially, since the menu es extensive, and questions abound! Food delivery was a bit lagging, but it was busy (6:45−7:00p.m. Friday) and understandably, the kitchen had many tickets to handle.
I ordered the Miso and clams soup (YUM), the Asparagus wrapped in bacon (great texture), and a sushi bowl. All fresh and plentiful.
Parking is ample. It is located where the Super H Mart is (What does the H stand for?)
NOT RELATED TO THE REVIEW OF THE RESTAURANT ITSELF, JUST ME RANTING:
People I saw at dinner here on a Friday night came very dressed down, like if they were going to a frat/​pool party BBQ under a tent (Sorry, but Adidas men’s flip flop, basketball shorts and foam flip flops should not really be worn to dinner in a place that has walls). I guess the new generation of 20somethings (and some 30somethings), just do not want to put stock into looking like they have class, so pants and shoes as part of adult wardrobe be dammed. Friday night may not be special, to either of the parties in a date/​marriage/​group. Sad.
Perhaps the establishment can require a proper attire (closed shoes, collar shirt, pants for men). JK, they aren’t going to. That is so stupid of me to even think about!

The Tonkatsu Ramen is everything. This is the true meaning of life. I don’t need to talk further but that is pretty much the only reason that I go here. THAT IS ALL!
Long live Tonkatsu Ramen!

Shoyas menu can be daunting due to its sheer size, so I typically stick to the sushi, ramen, and skewers. The sushi can be alittle pricey for the amount that they give you, but is usually pretty fresh. Most times when ordering the skewers I choose the chef’s option, which gives you about 8 different types of mixed meat and veggie skewers for $ 15. The only one that wasn’t delicious was the pork belly, which is consistently overcooked and tough. Now for the ramen, which is the main reason I come to Shoya.
Broth– pure tonkotsu broth should be rich and creamy, which Shoya’s captures perfectly. An added bonus is that it’s not as fatty as some other places, which helps keep the coma away afterwards
Noodles– Definitely not freshly made, but still delicious and cooked well.
Pork– Flavorful, but slightly too lean and dry. Would be much improved if they included the fatty part of the pork belly to make each piece more tender.
Egg– TERRIBLE… I’m a strong believer that the egg is a crucial part of the ramen and should be soft boiled. The goo-​ey yolk adds to the creaminess of the broth and enhances the experience. However, Shoya’s egg is completely hard boiled, leaving the yolk dry and bland.
Toppings– Typically comes with bamboo shoots, some pickled onions and scallions. Pretty standard toppings, but adds to the bowl well. I sometimes choose to get spicy sauce on the side to add into my ramen, which adds a nice kick to the broth.
Shoya can be a great place to dine with a couple friends or large groups wanting to try a variety of items. They’re usually slammed however, so be sure to make reservations or put your name down in advance. Our waitress was slow to take our order and refill drinks, but it was understandable with the number of people there. I’ll come here because its close, but if I’m in the mood for sushi or ramen there are better places for both. 3.5÷5

Shoya Izakaya is one of my favorite places in the A because it’s one of a kind (okay fine; not one of kind but izakayas aren’t exactly common around here either). Their menu is really really vast and potentially intimidating, but the wait staff is very gracious and helpful in navigating your way through it.
Overall, the food is solid. Some hits include the ramen, udon, tonkatsu curry, unagi don, and any donburi with raw fish. There were some misses too though (like the yakisobas). Most of my misses seem to be the result of branching out of my comfort zone when it comes to Japanese food; so I guess the key word word is «basic» when I’m here (sigh lol).
I think what really knocks this place from 5 stars to 4 stars is the price per portion. This isn’t exactly the place to go if you’re starving, but the the portion itself isn’t terrible either. I’d go more often if the portion fit the price better, but I’ll def come back if I’m especially craving the hits.

I cannot rave about this place enough. An authentic izakaya. I want to try everything on the menu but I’m nowhere near that adventurous. I have had all the ramens, special yakisoba, and a whole assortment of small bites/​appetizers. I have never once been disappointed. (The okinomoyaki is a little too doughy for my taste but definitely not bad.)
The service is quick and efficient. Do not go into this place expecting to be waited on hand and foot and constantly checked on. There’s a button you push to summon people when you’re ready to order. There is no wasted movement in this place because it’s always incredibly busy.
I personally recommend the following:
Hot tea (obviously but it’s sooooo good)
Fried chicken skins
Special yakisoba
Tantan ramen
Okinomoyaki (only if your hungry, don’t mind the heavy carbs, and have 20 minutes to wait on cooking)
Chicken livers
Any and all raw tuna dishes
I live for this place and would go everyday if I could.

I feel like the sushi here isn’t as fresh as I’d like it to be. We ordered a ton of stuff the last visit which included uni and it was not the freshest I’ve had, maybe it was one of their off nights. Definitely recommend their cooked dishes like ramen or skewers, etc. I always get assorted skewers when I come here. I really like the wide variety they have and the price is pretty reasonable.
It can get pretty crowded on the weekends so I recommend calling ahead to make a reservation if you’re coming here for dinner.

One of my favorite places on Buford Hwy is Shoya! The menu is huge, so there is something for everyone here. I tend to get the tonkatsu ramen, as it never disappointments. The broth is super good, and the pork is tender and slightly sweet. Their menu also consists of a lot of small dishes (almost like tapas), so this a great place for sharing food. Out of the things I’ve tried, the gyoza, beef bowl, and kushiyaki are my favorites.
This place gets bussssyyy, especially on the weekends. Plan to go early or wait!

How have I not written a review yet for Shoya Izakaya? It’s one of my favorite spots in the area, and a great place to take people who are new to the Buford Highway area dining experience, as there is something on the menu for all level of adventurous eaters. The menu is also picture heavy, so you can just order (literally) whatever looks good.
It does get crowded, even on random weekday evenings, so reservations are recommended. You can’t go wrong with any of the sushi rolls, which are helpfully described and diagrammed on a menu insert, so you know exactly what you’re getting and how it will look. The kushiyaki or roasted meat skewers are also delicious for non sushi eaters. My favorite is the duck breast with sea salt — yum!
Basically, you can’t go wrong with this spot.

Third time and the place still consistent. First time trying sushi, which turned to be a great idea.
Went on a monday evening and sat at the sushi bar/​counter. Had the chance to watch the sushi master and all the techniques, which added a nice flair to the experience.
The great:
Sushi. Was really good. Tekka maki roll, spicy salmon hand roll, hamachi nigiri were excellent choices
Yakitori. Chicken and chicken hearts. Well seasoned and balanced. If you never tried chicken hearts, this is good way to start
The good:
Masago with quail egg. The texture of the «egg combo» — raw quail egg over fish «eggs» was exquisite.
The not so good:
Shio ramen. Had ramen here before and was great. This time, the Shio ramen was not good. Sour and with bland noodles.
Overall, still a great place

I’m giving Shoya Izakaya 4 stars instead of 5 because I much prefer Ginya over Shoya! Not only we live closer to Ginya, Shoya was packed most of the nights and its service could not keep up if the place was packed! We loved the food here, but we had trouble getting the servers’ attention every time we dined here. Last time, we were seated in a table where I could see their display screen showing the calling tables’ numbers. Our numbers showed up like five times before anyone came to our table. They were not ignoring our call; there were just too much tables’ numbers showing up before ours. I actually felt sad for the servers, because they were really trying hard to be attentive. We will just go to Ginya in the future, and the food in Ginya is just as good as the food in Shoya.
I do not need to say anything about food in Shoya because they are good. **Order Bonsai Roll please it is just amazing!!**

My new favorite izakaya spot! How did I ever hold out so long and not come here already?
The restaurant reminded me of a street corner in Japan. That makes sense because I was looking for Japanese street food. When the server handed me the menu, I was blown away with the amount of food they offered on the menu. They have pages after pages WITH PICTURES of the yummiest looking food ever. I wanted it all. Of course I couldn’t because my wallet was limited. Take a look at my pictures to see what what I ate. Brace yourself.
Highlights:
The octopus balls were delicious. Crispy and toasted on the outside coated in teriyaki sauce with a soft rice dough and tender octopus on the inside. My first time trying these. Very delicious.
The fried chicken skin on a stick was equally sinful as it was delicious. I have three sticks!
Sea Urchin was fresh and buttery. There were plenty for a plate full.
The grilled oysters was fun to slurp up and soak in all that yummy juice!
Pork belly on a stick is NEVER wrong! Eat it!
Grilled squid was satisfying for a late night beer and munching with friends.
No doubt I’m coming here again! The price was reasonable. Just look at my pictures and you’ll be drooling for more.

Shoya, being so close to where I live, is my go-​to spot for Japanese cuisine. I am a pretty frequent regular here, and there’s a good reason why. Shoya is an izakaya, and for those of you who are unfamiliar with the term, an izakaya is the Japanese equivalent of a gastropub or a tavern, where they put a lot of emphasis on serving small plates and drinks, as well as serving donburis (rice bowl dishes), soups, and noodles, which goes beyond just serving sushi and rolls.
Whenever I step inside Shoya, I feel like I have just stepped into a restaurant in Japan. From the décor, the atmosphere, and the Japanese staff, Shoya really does make you feel like you’re eating out in Japan.
The food that I order at Shoya usually always varies, the reason being that there is so much to choose from their expansive menu. Having been to Shoya so many times, I’ve tried most of their menu-​items, at least the popular ones.
Here are some recommendations for you newcomers to Shoya:
*Donburis:
–Chirashi Don (assortment of fresh seafood over rice)
–Spicy Yuke Don (assortment of fresh, spicy seafood over rice)
–Shoya Don (fresh tuna, salmon, and bbq eel over sushi rice)
–Salmon Oyako Don (salmon sashimi, salmon eggs, and roots over rice)
–Unagi Don (eel over rice)
*Small Plates:
–Fried Squid Legs
–Scallop & Bacon
–Takoyaki (fried octopus balls)
–Chicken Wing Skewers (Teriyaki)
–Oyster Dynamite
–Soft Shell Crab
*Noodles:
–Nabeyaki Udon
*Sashimi:
–Sashimi Deluxe
–Uni (sea urchin)
–Conch
–Scallop
–Salmon
–Toro (fatty tuna)
*Rolls:
–Red Dragon Roll
–Spicy Tuna Roll
–Spicy Scallop Roll
–Spicy Tuna Hand Roll
Shoya, is one of those restaurants that is able to retain their consistency in both quality of food and service, and will never disappoint you. Their sushi may not be as top-​notch as Sushi Hayakawa’s and as upscale as Umi’s, or as modernly innovative as One+Sushi’s, but Shoya overall is a GREAT izakaya, where you can expect good quality Japanese cuisine. Shoya will be one of those restaurants that I will never stop going to.

I love this place but would never have known it existed since it’s in a half-​empty strip mall near car dealerships galore. I think they just opened a westside location though.
Their menu is huge and a bit overwhelming, but since so many things come in small portions you can kind of pick and choose your way through the menu, especially if you’re there with a group.

Solid space. I was surprised at how much wood is in their interior build-​out. I was very impressed at their attention to detail. A business associate wanted to meet to celebrate some recent deals. She offered up some spots I had been, and then this one that I had not been yet. So we met here.
Back in NY I would often hang out at an assortment Izakaya’s, especially Kenka. Shoya seems to be a but more upmarket then the ones I would be more accustom to. While I would not consider it overly expensive, it certainly isn’t cheap. Given the quality of the food and drink I felt it was priced appropriately.
On this dine we had Huge Oysters, presumably Japanese, if not for sure from the Pacific. Amaebi (Shirmp) Shashimi, Chicken Karaage, and Takoyaki (Octopus Balls). The Shrimp with head on were fresh and very sweet. The large prawn shells were then deep fried and brought back to the table. I tried one of those and they were interesting. The Chicken Karaage was pretty standard fare, I wish it may have had some kind of dipping sauce with it. The Octopus Balls, as the Unilocal reviews had noted, were extremely good. I will for sure make that a staple when I come back.
For drinks we had a large Hot Tosetsuka Saki. It was very good, and strong! We then shared an Orion Beer. I love Orion Beer, and fully expect it to be available at any worthwhile Japanese place. Shoya had it so I was happy.
I will for sure be back, and I will likely request one of these same upstairs secluded booths.

I really wanted to like this place due to the great reviews I’ve seen on here. Unfortunately, my first experience at Shoya last night was absolutely awful.
Indeed the place is very nice on how it is laid out with the authentic Japanese look, but that was all there was. The food was sub-​par, the fish wasn’t fresh enough, and service was terrible.
Me and my boyfriend were seated right by the kitchen in an out-​of-​view spot. We were given the menu, but no sushi list to check off. No one came back to ask us for our beverages. If it wasn’t for my boyfriend calling someone over, we wouldn’t have anyone serve us at all!
When called over, the waitress got our orders and told us there was a button by the side of the table if we were to need anything.
After receiving our food, we figured there wasn’t anything we could possibly need… Except for the fact that they got one of my sushi rolls completely wrong.
The thing was, pressing the button did NOTHING. We waited 10 minutes and no one came, and my boyfriend had to signal someone over himself again to tell them of the error.
The right roll didn’t come out until another 10 minutes, in which I was done eating my other rolls.
I’m disappointed in this place because I had high hopes. The décor and the overwhelming menu was what made me gave this place 3 stars instead of 2.
I won’t be back again until a long time since I believe in second chances. Until then, fix yourself up Shoya.

About SHOYA IZAKAYA (from their website):
«Atlanta’s popular Japanese pub serving Japanese cuisine. The menu is tapas style, serving traditional Japanese plates along with dishes infused with international flavors.»
I was here with my dinner club. I got SO LOST trying to find this place. I completely passed by the complex and almost got to «downtown» Doraville before I said to myself I must have gone too far. There is no signage from the street. Shoya is located in the H Mart complex, around the back before you get to the BrandsMart.
Our group was in a private room near the front of the restaurant. It was a bit tight. Or cozy if you want to think about it in a more positive light. lol. They have a buzzer system so you can notify your waitress/​waiter if you need them. Neat. I love the tapas style of Shoya. I ordered four different dishes: beef skewers, chicken skewers, fried chicken bites, and fried dumplings. I did not enjoy the chicken bites. The skewers were OK (beef better than chicken) and the fried dumplings were pretty tasty. Overall, not bad.

I am always a happy girl each time I come here. As soon as you enter, it feels like you have Japan, but in reality, you are still in Doraville. Truly the best tuna tartar, you will ever have. The yolk from the quail egg & tuna melts in your mouth. Great combinations of flavors. I would not suggest the salmon tartar. It is a bit too salty. Other items, I love would be their skewers. Huge fan of their scallop & bacon skewers. I have to order their beef tongue each time I am here. It is not chewy like other places. The texture of the beef tongue is very consistent. They have the largest raw oysters I have ever seen in my life. The quantity and quality of fish have never ceased to disappoint me. They have uni, toro, sweet shrimp, live scallops, and more. Everything a real sushi lover dreams about. Other items I recommend include the tako yaki, tonkotsu ramen, spicy yukke don, and fried squid legs. & don’t forget they have lots beer & alcohol choices!

Wow! Upon arrival the parking lot was filled! Luckily it shares the same parking lot as hmart so the lot was huge. Judging by the cars we already knew there would be a wait. Going inside, the place looks small but what you don’t see are the large private rooms and other tables on the other side. Our wait was 20 – 30 minutes not too bad and we were seated quickly. We had one of those cute private rooms since it was a party of six and were asked to take off our shoes. I thought that was cute!
Our server was terrific, even though she was busy she always came by to see if we were okay and was very informative with our questions. All of our food even came out promptly!
We ordered:
–shrimp rolls
–baked oysters (3)
–spicy salmon roll
–shrimp super crunch roll
–chicken karage
–shiitake mushroom yakitori
–buttered clams
–nabeyaki udon
–chicken yakisoba
–spicy tonkatsu ramen
Shrimp rolls is your basic spring roll with the sweet chili dipping sauce. Was good but nothing to thrive about it.
Baked oysters were delicious! This was one of my favorites the whole night. First, I’ve never seen such a huge oyster in my life! And you get three of the same size! Bigger than my hands! They are topped with spicy mayo, fish eggs, spinach, and green onions. Definitely a must try! And I will be coming back for these.
Spicy salmon roll, you could taste how fresh the salmon was. Some places don’t add the cucumber for the crunch but surprise surprise I was so happy they automatically added it into the roll.
Shrimp super crunch roll was okay, it was very plain but I like simple. The roll was topped with shrimp and inside was a crunch mix and crab meat.
Chicken karage was ordered for the kids but I took a couple to taste. Pretty good batter on the outside and the chicken was juicy on the inside.
The shiitake mushroom yakitori had a grilled taste to it. It was pretty good and had dark sweet sauce lathered on it.
Buttered clams were one of the dishes I would not order again. I’m glad I tried it though. It wasn’t disgusting or anything. It just seemed bland and had a distinct taste to it that I can’t pin point. I think I taste some kind of wine in it. Maybe cooked in mirin. It was served in a hot pot with enoki mushrooms.
Nabeyaki udon was okay. We’ve tasted better at a different restaurant and read a review saying that it wasn’t the best item to order but we decided to try it anyways. The broth was more savory. Where as we are use to a more sweeter broth.
Chicken yakisoba was my least favorite out of all the dishes. It was way too sweet. Like eating candy noodles. The whole dish tasted like worcheshire sauce. The egg omelette on top was good and the plating was beautiful. It was served in a hot plate and came out sizzling.
Saving the best for last, the spicy tonkatsu ramen! This dish was mind blowing! I’ve had umaido broth, which is a lot more savory and salty. But the tonkatsu here was buttery, rich, and creamy! I added some spicy flakes because the broth was not spicy at all. The kick of spice made it even better. The pork was juicy and bamboo still crunchy! Definitely recommend this and the bowl was huge enough for two people to share. Will be coming back for this!
Overall we were very satisfied with most of the items we ordered! Their phone is continually busy but it is a very popular restaurant so it wouldn’t hurt to call to make a reservation. We went on a Wednesday night and the entire restaurant was filled can’t imagine what this place looks like on a weekend. Food and service were fantastic! Will be coming back to try the tuna tartare, takoyaki, & more items on the sushi menu.

I would come back to try their food again, but we came an hour before official closing time and they were already cleaning up and getting ready to close. It didn’t make for the best atmosphere.
The beef tongue and duck skewers were standouts. I didn’t like the beef stew, scallop or the garlic chicken skewers.
Definitely potential here, but we didn’t come at a good time.

I went here for my birthday last year. Neat place! The wait was FOREVER but when we were finally seated, we quickly ordered a ton of things off the menu. Sashimi was my favorite as it was cut in thick pieces and melted on my tongue. The octopus balls were my dad’s favorite but I could pass on it. Our sake cocktails were a little on the weak side, but I liked how we were able to mix our own fruit into the sake mixture. Also ordered the ramen, which my dad enjoyed but I didn’t eat because of the pork broth.
Overall, a decent place to go for celebrations as the atmosphere is festive and the sashimi is fresh but I’m not in any hurry to go back.

This place has been on my «to try» list for awhile but I never got around to doing so until last night. A girlfriend of mine treated me to a belated birthday dinner here last night and this place did not disappoint! We went around 8ish and the place was packed! I was surprised at how busy they were since it was a Tuesday night. The wait wasn’t too long though.
We started off with some drinks and appetizers. I tried the calpico lychee drink and my gf got the regular calpico. For our appetizers, we had the avocado tofu salad with sesame miso dressing, oysters and jellyfish salad. Everything was good but I prefer my oysters served with cocktail sauce and lemons instead.
We also had some sushi along with our appetizers. We tried a spicy scallop roll, 4 orders of uni with quail egg and 3 orders of sweet shrimp. Everything was fresh and delicious! For dessert, I had the green tea mochi and that was the perfect treat to end my meal. Service was ok. I’m glad that they have the call button at your table because it does get hectic and crazy busy at that place! I’ll happy that I finally got around to trying this place and will definitely be back!

This gem was discovered on one of our recent trips to Atlanta. Whenever my friends and I make the drive up, we have a list of places that we must go to while we’re there. We decided to try something new, and I’m really sad that we’d been missing out on this restaurant all the times that we’ve visited.
This rating is based on an average of our two visits so far.
Our first visit was a perfect 5 star rating. The food was definitely worth the 1 hour wait. My friends got the tonkatsu ramen and tempura udon, and they were both blown away by the flavor of the broths. I ordered okonomiyaki, the crunchy chicken skin app, fried squid legs, and sukiyaki korokke. The okonomiyaki was meh, but that didn’t detract from our experience. It was kind of wet and soggy in the middle, but tasted good still. The other items I ordered were absolutely fantastic. Although our server was busy, as the restaurant was jam packed, our service was still on point.
Our second visit the next night left most of us underwhelmed. I ordered the fried squid legs again, along with the miso clam soup and the cream korokke. All of it was just okay, which was disappointing compared to our previous experience. My friends got the tonkatsu ramen and chicken skin app again. The chicken skin was soggy and kind of gross, but the tonkatsu ramen was still on point. Service was also lacking. We attributed the whole experience to us coming in towards the tail-​end of dinner service that night as opposed to getting there during the rush the night before.
This place is now on our must-​go itinerary whenever we visit Atlanta. I will definitely be updating my review after we go here at least a few more times.

Solid ramen. I don’t know if it’s worth trying any other place for good ramen since this restaurant does it so well! The broth is rich and with great depth of flavor.
Their sushi is okay and the vegetarian appetizers (veg tempera was greasy while the tofu with mushroom was average and served by itself; call me crazy but shouldn’t that be served with rice? We placed an order for rice to eat with tofu and eggplant.)
We went on a Tuesday night yet they were slammed therefore service was very slow. Our server managed it well and was patient with our vegetarian requirements.
I would only go here for ramen. Leave the sushi up to sushi hayakawa.
Note– the restaurant charges 20% tip on parties of 6 people or more.

This restaurant is at the corner in the same shopping center/​plaza with the super H mart. They definitely make it feel like an Izakaya — the menu has so many small plates and variety of dishes.
My boyfriend was craving sashimi so we got a regular sashimi plate (~$ 30). We also got Takoyaki (5), Tonpei yaki, pork kakuni, and cream korokke (croquette). The presentation of the sashimi was good and tasted fine — but each of the sashimi pieces was cut very small and didn’t make me feel it was worth 30 bucks. The takoyaki was still a little crispy when it came out — but it was smothered in too much sauce and got soggy very quickly. The tonpei yaki was pretty good — I enjoyed the pork and omelette part of the dish but thought the cabbage needed to be cooked a little longer (tasted uncooked). The pork kakuni had good flavors but the texture was too tough (kakuni is supposed to be fatty and melt in your mouth). The cream korokke was light and crispy but I felt like the filling was a lot thicker than I imagine cream korokkes to be.
Overall I feel like the quality of the food have lots of room for improvement — but I really enjoyed the variety of Japanese dishes I can order here. There’s so much on the menu that I’d like to come back and try other things.

I hate to be the naysayer of the bunch, but I just did not like my meal here. Service was pretty good, and the place was packed. They had a sushi bar and then several small tables with an upstairs dining area as well. The menu was full of vibrant pictures of what you could order which was helpful because it was a bit overwhelming. I decided to let my friend steer the night because this was one of her favorite restaurants.
I tried several small plate items with my friend including the fried octopus balls which were served in kind of a teriyaki type sauce and a side of what tasted like regular mayonnaise. It had a light fried skin to it and the taste combination was somewhat odd.
She ordered the eel platter with rice. I could not stomach it because I am used to having the eel more crispy and it just tasted like mush in my mouth. Way too mushy.
Next we tried the yakitori chicken, which is a marinated chicken on a skewer. The chicken tasted like chicken fat. After one bite I stopped. We ordered the shiitake mushrooms which were also served on a skewer. They were very dry and flavorless. Our last split entrée was a bowl of Udon with tempura. It was okay. I’ve had much better udon at other restaurants. I have to say I was incredibly disappointed with the meal, but I must be in the minority here because the place was plenty packed and most reviews are favorable.

I visit Shoya Izakaya quite a bit, mainly because it’s fairly close to where I live but also because I was really impressed with it the first few times I went. Sadly, that’s no longer true. I’ve definitely seen a decline in the food quality. They are also super inconsistent. Some days it’s okay. Some days it’s pretty bad. That’s never a good scale to be hovering around…
The ramen portion seem to have gotten smaller and sometimes they don’t cook the ramen very well, but my huge disappointment was during my most recent visit when I ordered the Udon Noodles with Tempura. Granted this was the first time I’ve ordered this meal here so I wasn’t sure what to expect but I’ve had this dish at other places and I’ve always loved it. I was super disappointed. This is a $ 11 dish and here’s what I got:
Tempura: One shrimp that was split in two and three vegetables. Let me reiterate… ONE shrimp. split in two. Now it appeared to be two shrimps but it clearly looked like the shrimp had been split and then dipped into a batter and then fried. I got three vegetables and one was a small ¹⁄₈ of a bell pepper. Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating… but it was pretty tiny. I couldn’t even eat it because I’m allergic to bell pepper. The carrot was too hard and the sweet potato was good.
And of course I got the udon noodles which was unimpressive too… Not a dish I recommend.
As for service, they aren’t mean or anything but I really dislike my main entrée coming before my appetizer. Sometimes they even forget about my appetizer… so make sure you tell them you want your appetizer first if that’s what you prefer.
This place has become a mediocre izakaya to eat at and it’s kind of disappointing since it’s the closest to me. Whenever I have friends coming into town and want to try an izakaya out, this is not a place I would recommend to them anymore.

One of few authentic Japanese restaurants I’ve been too. The place is huge and immediately gives off a shogun Japanese feel right when you walk in
This place gets packed and I’m sure they can handle the rushes since they have more than 1 floor.
Came on a Sunday night for dinner and was immediate sat for a party of 5. Seems like they can handle their parties because there were so many people eating!
Started off with a beer tower that easily kept 4 people content throughout. Menu was very overwhelming and there were deals and offers made at every page so expect a couple more minutes to make your choice. My eyes landed on the ramen of course, which was decently priced (10 – 13 $). Got the sashimi deluxe (+20 $), toro sashimi (18 $), skewers and other dishes I can’t remember for the life of me. Just try anything that catches your eye really, they’re all pretty good. Except for the cooked sea urchin. Don’t get that.
Service was friendly, a little rushed, but efficient.
Can’t say I’m the biggest fan ever but definitely worth a try if you’re in the area!

In one sitting I think I tried a third of their crazy extensive menu. I love that they offer practically everything here like ramen, udon, sushi, and yakitori. The menu is about 4 large pages and the best part is they have pictures! Only if all restaurant had pictures in their menus.
There is a sushi bar, some table and booths. Reservations are available also.
So this is what I was able to try
Tuna tartare– this was straight up tuna with a small (probably quail) raw egg cracked on top. Tasted fresh. I’m used to little crunchy tempura bits in my tuna tartare but this was a good experience without it.
Adashi tofu– mmmm I loved the sauce with the tofu. The tofu is a little crispy on the outside but very soft in the inside. It’s a little difficult to pick up with chop sticks because it will just break apart.
Spicy beef skewer– spicy buffalo sauce covered beef skewer pretty much. I wasnt mad about it lol
Teriyaki beef skewer– exactly what it is, a teriyaki sauce covered beef skewer. A little tough to get off the sticks when your sharing with other people but if your just gonna eat it yourself then just chomp away at it.
Udon (I’m not sure which one I tried) — I loved the soupy broth, would be great for a cold winter day. Tasted like a chicken broth.
Spicy miso ramen– not my favorite, it tasted like shin ramen you make at 2am in the morning cause there’s nothing else to eat. And shin ramen is actually a little spicier.
Bacon wrapped scallop skewers– anything wrapped in bacon is great. The bacon could’ve been a little more crispy though.
Grilled squid– grilled perfectly and the sweet soy or ponzu sauce it sits in goes perfectly with it. They also give a generous amount of mayo on the side.
Dynamite oysters– the oyster shells are huge but the size of the actual oyster meat on the shell is pretty small. I would say it’s 30% oyster meat and then 70% orange mayo sauce they top on.
Shrimp tempura with spicy mayo drizzle on top– shrimp in a fried soft batter not such a crunchy batter. I love anything fried so I made sure there was none left.
Strawberry and green tea mochi– strawberry tasted very artificial to me. You can’t go wrong with green tea so of course that was my favorite.
I’m know I’m probably missing a bunch of other skewers I tried because I came with other people and we family styled everything. But overall everything was quite consistent and the overall taste and dining experience was good.

I’ve been to Ippudo and various other famous ramen places in New York — and yet, I always come back here. This is one of (if not, THE) best place for authentic Japanese food in Atlanta.
This restaurant can become boisterous and crowded at mealtimes, but it is easy to get a private booth if you make a reservation. I like the dedication to tradition, with a shoes off approach inside the booth. There is also the added convenience of a call button to call the server whenever needed.
Food wise: I give it five stars. Everything is delicious. Highlights include the takoyaki, the tempura, the squid, and the skewers; you must try them all. I for one, will be back, to continue eating through the menu.

Average sushi, tasty small plates, maybe not the best for a very large group. Shoya Izakaya is a Japanese restaurant that serves sushi, ramen, meat skewers, and other assorted small plates at a mid-​range price. I came here with a huge party of nearly 30 people. To fit this many people, we were seated in a medium sized private dining area where you must take off your shoes before you enter. If you want privacy, there are curtains. Little pillows are your seat cushions.
One thing I liked about the menu is that pretty much everything has pictures. A group of us started off with a set of five skewers. In the set of five, you get four meat skewers and one vegetable skewer. You can order them seasoned with teriyaki, sea salt, or a mix. The size of the skewers, while not completely unreasonable for the price, is on the small side. The vegetable skewer was a little dry. I was also disappointed that one of the «meat skewers» was a bunch of tomatoes wrapped in bacon. Three and a half meat skewers and one and a half vegetable skewers? The chicken skewer tasted really good though.
The sashimi deluxe is advertised on the menu to be enough for three or four people. Three of us split the sashimi deluxe and we were all hungry afterwards. It’s probably an equivalent amount to what you would get at a fine sushi restaurant, but in my opinion the quality of the sashimi was only average. The good thing that came out of this was that we decided to order the okonomi yaki to fully satisfy our appetites. It was very delicious — best thing of the night, in my opinion.
For a 30 person group, the servers did okay. There was a call button at our table, which always got a fast response. Paying was a fiasco though. If you come with a group, keep in mind that only six credit cards can be used for one table. To split the bill on more than six credit cards, a 21% gratuity is charged (opposed to the standard 18% for large groups). It’s understandable that it’s a hassle to separate a bill for such a large group, but in my opinion this could have been handled more smoothly and efficiently by the staff.