I decided to try this sushi restaurant conveniently located in Nolan hill. It has some really good reviews so I was excited for some good sushi in the suburbs. Unfortunately I was disappointed by the service as well as the food. It took staff quite a while to acknowledge us even though it was not busy when we arrived. The menu has coordinating photos rather than a description of what is in the sushi rolls. I found this difficult to order as you can't really see what is in the photos very well. The sashimi was oddly cut and very thick, it didn't seem very fresh. The rolls weren't rolled tight enough and fell apart when picked up. The unagi cone was quite good. The prices are very reasonable though. I am hoping it was a one off so I will update once I try again. read more

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If you are looking for a great sushi place, keep walking. Don't get me wrong, the people are nice, the place is clean, but the sushi tastes like good sushi that has sat in your fridge a for a few days. The toro was great, the soft shell crab roll was dry, the smoked salmon tasted like old packaging from T&T. All together not a great experience . Won't be back. This place made kinjo taste good. read more

Li-Ao Sushi - Questionable dried smoked salmon. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

I have been so happy since Li-Ao opened up in the NW. I like their location in the South but it is just not worth the 37 minute drive from my house... Li-Ao is not a fancy sushi restaurant nor are they authentic Japanese, but they do their food well and at reasonable prices. Portions are generous. The service has always been good (the owner Henry recognized our group from when we went to the South location) and since we go quite often, we've got to know a couple of their servers very well. I can always rely on them for a quick, reasonably-priced sushi meal. read more

I've been to Li Ao in Nolan Hill a few times now, usually for the happy hour. We've had their regular menu a couple times too. I found the rice to be hit or miss. It would be perfect and soft one visit, and hard the next. However, they're generous with their fish portions and the quality is great. The service is inconsistent depending who you get. I don't know her name, but the main server who's usually there was always attentive. She was absent on our last visit and we noted the difference in service from the one who served us. They also tend to forget to include soy sauce and wasabi with any leftovers. The food always comes out quick and hubby and I are almost always in and out within 45 minutes. They've adopted Kinjo's pocky treat model sans goofy acts thank God. Li Ao is simple, and the only decent sushi choice within the deep NW. To be fair, both their SW and NW locations are in the middle of bumf*** nowhere extremities of Calgary but they're convenient for suburbanites. It's a 10 minute drive for me, so I will keep returning to satisfy my late night sushi cravings but I'd go to Zipang for a more substantial meal. read more

Li-Ao Sushi - Happy hour sushi platter - Sushi Bars Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

I got take-out via DoorDash; a Winter Soldier roll & Beef Tataki for $35 CAD. for $35 i was hoping for something to fill up one person, but there were only 8 rolls and 8 slices of beef. Well, I guess it was my fault for ordering the tataki of all things; but I was hoping the rolls would be bigger. A special roll the size of a tiny maki. Darn inflation and delivery prices, right? read more

Ordered from here last night. Order chicken teriyaki, ginger beef and calamari. The calamari box was only half full, this seemed like a total rip off. The chicken teriyaki had no taste to it and neither did the ginger beef. All the portion sizes were tiny. It was a waste of money to order from here. I asked for hot sauce on the side, they are charged me $1 for it and gave me spicy mayo, that is NOT hot sauce. If they didn't have what I was looking for they should have just not included it. Really disappointed with the food here. read more

-----Food----- High quality ingredients, good tempura and miso soup. Excellent flavors, and a wide variety of rolls and sashimi -----Condition----- Clean, new, well kept, sanitary restrooms -----Service----- Very friendly staff, Rio is a cool owner as well -----Cosmetics----- A nice, well kept restaurant with an open kitchen -----Accessibility----- Free parking Also just a 5 minute walk from my house read more

My husband and I visit this location quite regularly. We live close by to this location, and we were a fan of Li-Ao (the loaction in the south) before they even opened, so we were very happy when they opened up in the NW! We have had wonderful experiences every time we have been for a meal. We last visited in April, but generally visit around once a month. We have taken our friends, and even my parents when they visited from UK - and each time has been consistently great food & service. The sushi/sashimi portions are generous, fresh and of great quality. They do a happy hour special after (I believe) 8.30pm and we have been allowed to substitute some of the rolls we are less keen on. We have been given gyozas (usually salmon) as a complimentary appetizer on every visit. If you are not a fan of sushi, they have plentiful other options on the menu. They have a very relaxed atmosphere, but also family friendly. We went with a family member & his two year old daughter and the staff even cut a special orange for her (it looked like a carved pumpkin, but an orange) and she loved it. Thank you again Li-Ao, as always - we'll be back soon. read more

NOLAN HILL LOCATION - Excellent sushi, moderately priced. I've only had take out service from Li-Ao, but it's always been quick, friendly service, and they have even included a pack of Pocky for dessert. I believe they also offer 10% off take out orders over $35. I have had several items from their menu but my favourites have been the yam tempura special, gyoza, and seared salmon sushi. Definitely my go-to sushi restaurant in the 'hood. read more

Li-Ao Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

Got a chance to visit on a Saturday. They seemed steady and we were eager to try them out. The sushi and rolls we tried were fresh. Tempura was not greasy at all, very good! Service was attentive unlike some other posts. We weren't in a rush however, so maybe that had something to do with it. We will visit again! read more

Not too bad for a neighborhood sushi restaurant. They have a large selection for you to choose from and give you a complimentary starter which is a nice touch. The freshness of the fish is average, don't have too high expectations. Everything is decently priced so you can try a variety of menu items however it does add up quickly. The only thing I noticed is that the service could be better. Considering that I visited after the lunch rush, the server should've taken the extra mile to make my experience memorable as there was only one other table there. read more

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2 stars for the food, extra star for the service. I wanted to love this place because it was so close to home but it just wasn't great. I'm biased from traveling often for work and having access to great sushi across the east and west coast, so this may just be an affliction of Calgary sushi joints. I would only go back if nothing else was available and I was really, really, really craving any sort of sushi. read more

Excellent quality sushi at decent prices. Friendly service and owner was there and recognised my husband from a prior visit with his friends. Started us off with free deep fried dumplings of sorts and actually removed the cali-rolls from the bill as his treat. The menu has everything, and when I say everything I mean over a hundred items easy. We stuck with some of our tried and true tempura, sushi and sashimi favourites and ventured off and tried some of their house special rolls and all were executed perfectly. Place is immaculately clean, owner was super friendly, location is ideal for deep NW residents, top 40 music didn't bother me really (I like top 40 so its just personal preference), and love that everyone gets a free poky box after the meal. Only down side was there was no gluten free soy sauce so if you are watching your gluten consumption maybe bring your own bottle and the waitress was a bit slow in bringing us the bill so we just went to the till and Henry, the owner rang us up. A solid 4.5, will definitely go back. read more

Really awesome sushi experience! The portions are large and the quality outstanding--I was very impressed by their scallop nigiri and specialty rolls. Staff were friendly and efficient as well, and they send you off with complimentary boxes of Pocky which were an unexpected plus! read more

Tried it for the first time, some of the best sushi I've had in Calgary! Will definitely be back to visit again.

I really enjoyed our meal here. I had the California rolls followed by the miso soup then the steak with rice and veggies. Very flavourful. The steak was tender and the veggies were not over done. The staff were very attentive and polite. My only issue was the music which Ifound it was a bit too loud but that seems to be the new trend unfortunately. Other then that, it was great and we'll be back! read more

I'm on the fence for Li Ao. The first time I went, it was with my sister and a friend and the food was ok - nothing too spectacular. The second time, I went with a couple friends who are VIP members of the south Li Ao locations and they knew the owner quite well. We got exceptional service and they brought us some tasty dishes to try (ones I probably wouldn't have ordered on my own): mango shrimp, beef tataki, fish gyoza and short ribs They do have a variety of rolls and sushi, the downside is their dining menu does not have descriptions on what's in each roll so you have to grab a copy of the takeout menu to cross reference. I could take it or leave it with Li Ao. I wouldn't be opposed to coming here, but it wouldn't be my first choice. read more

I was in last night - and sadly was not thrilled this time around. Although the food once again was plentiful, the service was a let down. My hubbys free starter - the deep fried Salmon Gyoza was presented - nothing for me... it was only after I said something that something came out - about 15 minutes later? The BIG negative was at the end of the night - we were given our bill and quite literally we waited 15 minutes before they came around again to accept payment. There was nothing to indicate that we wanted to wait - we were sitting there. Keep in mind there were 2 servers and 3 tables of customers in the restaurant. What the heck was going on? Also - the music is really loud and off putting in there - a bad Top 40 mix. Too loud and in my opinion brings the whole level of the place down. With so many things right about this place - its a shame that they kill the vibe with the trashy music. I wont be back here for awhile. read more

Li-Ao Sushi - Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

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A great place to dine In or take out. Delicious food, friendly service, and good prices! They give 10% discount off take out orders. I highly recommend their chicken udon, winter soldier roll, and spicy roll combo! read more

The food is great! We order take out frequently and we like it. The price is reasonable and dining area is clean.

This place is great. The food is always on point. Fast, and best of all it's absolutely the best value for sushi anywhere around here. The combos are a great deal and even the beers are cheaply priced. Would definitely recommend. I like that they'll do a deli style tray if you order enough. Keep it up! read more

I used to go to the south location and this Nolan location is just ask good. We went there yesterday to try out their happy hour special, 42 pieces platter. It is super good value for 30 dollars. Me and my wife were really happy with the food. The waitress was really friendly and helpful. Will go again. read more

Li-Ao Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

Best sushi in calgary. Innovative ideas and sooo fresh. Try the crispy rolls they are amazing if you want something a lil different. I cant eat sushi anywhere else now, I've tried. Speciality rolls are amazing. Definitely worth the trip. read more

Love this place! It's my Skip the Dishes go to order! The quality is outstanding, fresh fish and tastes delicious! I can't recommend this little gem enough! If you are in the NW area of Calgary get yourself to Nolan Hill to devour some amazing sushi! read more

Been to this sushi place twice now and both times has been a great experience. Both my girls love it and eat until they are full. The staff are wonderful and the service is fast. Glad this place opened so close to home! I will be a regular for sure! read more

Li-Ao Sushi - Awesome sushi!! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

Worst service ever in Calgary! I would have given them no star if I had this option. Very very bad customer service with an average Sushi. We don't live nearby but recommended by a friend and after reading the reviews (although the reviews were not great and I was worried about it) we decided to go and give this place a try. We were a group of 8 but had no issue getting a table and there was no wait time. We ordered many things including Sushi rolls, Sashimi, Salads, etc. The taste of the food, was just average, Edamame was OK but did not look fresh. We ordered a Crispy tuna sushi roll but when it was delivered, we noticed that it was deep fried. We told them that it was not mentioned on the menu but the waitress said the picture was showing that it was like that! Anyway, we told her we wanted this to be changed to a normal spicy tuna sushi roll. She took the plate but after 2 minutes the manager came back with the plate saying you want this to be cancelled? In a very rude voice. We said yes, then she said you already ate few of these! We said how we could see if we liked it or not without trying one or two? Anyway she replaced that with tuna roll ( at the end I give her at least credit for this) . When we wanted to order dessert and asked for the menu, the waitress said we don't have menu for dessert. We said how we can order then? She said you need to look at your back on the wall!!! Anyway, I turned back, looked at the wall, started reading for our party what was there on the menu!!! Never seen such a waitress. At the end after we signed the bill given a marker to sign, and when my friend told her that it was not a pen he was given, she grabbed the pen out of his hand saying no this is a pen and without any word she just left. I don't know if she had a bad day or what but I don't care about it and professional waitresses or waiters always put their customers as their priorities. Will not recommend this place and will not go back for sure. read more

Best sushi in the NW. Always fresh and the staff ensures you liked your choices. Great selections and you can count on getting them in a timely manner no matter what time of day. Takeout is just as fresh and timely. I highly recommend it and it's very impressive for a suburban location. read more

I love this place exelent service fresh fish we got an airbnb near and there was the only place open i dont understand why everything close so early but any way great place and quality food but if they would open later they would of have all the business around read more

We were in the area around dinner time, so we opened our Yelp app to see what there is to eat in the vicinity. This place was on the list so we gave it a try. It is not a bad thing to have more sushi restaurant in this part of the city. The sushi quality was around average mark for the city... it's nothing spectacular but on the other hand I have had worse sushi in town. The rice on the sushi was a bit on the hard side and was not seasoned well... at least I can't taste the seasoning. Since most sushi places get there fish from the same one or two fish supplier in the city, you are not going to find a lot of differences in the freshness of the fish (unless they gave you old fish that has been sitting around for a while). It is the rice that makes the sushi and that is the thing that I found slightly lacking in quality. Service was acceptable given how busy they were. Overall, this is not a bad place if you are in the area and has a sushi crave. read more

Li-Ao Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

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The sushi here is fresh and at a fair price, plus the service is always fantastic. I've come in multiple times, as well as placing pick-up orders via the online SkipTheDishes service--they've always gotten my orders ready very quickly and without any problems. First off, the quality of the sushi is really great for the price you pay, and I cannot stress that enough--as someone who moved from the West coast, I usually expect some pretty sketchy sushi when I'm inland, but this is honestly pretty darn good for Calgary sushi. The rice is soft, the sushi doesn't fall apart after you pick it up, the seaweed isn't made of rubber, and the fish is actually pretty moist and fresh. The combos are your best bet in terms of price--twenty pieces of assorted sushi for $9.99 is great when you're craving something fresh--compare this with Bento sushi at a grocery store, where you're probably paying $7.99+ for eight-ten pieces that are all hard as a rock. I usually pick up a Li-Ao 20pc combo when there's no time to make dinner at home after work. When you go there, they always give you deep fried gyoza with sauce to try as a complimentary starter (and sometimes, you might even get free fish in the middle of your meal, which has happened to me randomly three times now). After your meal is over, you are offered a free pack of Pocky sticks per person for dessert. (I've often wondered this as an outsider: are free Pocky sticks just a Calgary thing? Either way, it's awesome.) Freebies aside, whatever you order is probably going to be pretty good. My personal favourites are just the more regular sushi & sashimi (salmon, roe, etc.), rather than the more 'novelty' options on the menu. I haven't tried everything on the menu yet because it is VAST--there's over a hundred items to choose from, and the ordering system is very 'Chinese', despite being a Japanese restaurant, which makes sense as the staff are all Chinese. Like going to Dim Sum, you'll order by looking at the menu (that consists of only pictures) and selecting the number and name of the corresponding item on a separate sheet. Lastly, quick shout-out in terms of service--you can tell they're really trying to make a good impression on customers as a new restaurant in the area, and the staff are fantastic, especially with kids. I hope they keep up the great service, because I know that's what is making the difference for some patrons in the area. Not everyone I know is as satisfied with the sushi as I am, but they cannot deny that the servers are always pleasant & friendly, no matter what time of day you go in or who serves your table / prepares your pick-up. read more

Not sure how I feel about this place yet... just moved into the area and ordered delivery twice. While the sashimi was very fresh.. the delivery itself took forever!! First time I waited an hour and a half and the second time I waited for 2 hours and 15 minutes!! I had to call them and was told something happened in the kitchen. Maybe they can call their clients and give them a heads up instead of making them wait for food. What made it worst was my child was very hungry and was freaking out :( read more

The sushi here was really good and filled me an my boyfriend for a not outragious price. Id say best sushi in Calgary! Id recomend it to everyone and the service was very good. read more

Great sushi! Service with a smile, modern décor, clean, open kitchen. Loved my first experience there and will be going back as a regular.

Reasonable price and good portions of food. The ramen is on special once you order around 8pm. It always tasted really good. My all time favorite is the grilled squid. read more

Super tasty, great prices and they offer complimentary samples of sushi. My new go to sushi place !