RAKU is described as a small, cozy Japanese spot where diners enjoy authentic, well priced dishes such as Tonkotsu ramen, Yakisoba, Katsudon, pork katsu curry, takoyaki, and karaage don. Reviews praise the pork and chicken for a crispy exterior and moist interior, and the curry sauce is highlighted as rich and comforting, with portions generous and prices fair. Service is described as warm and attentive, with friendly staff and a welcoming ambience that many feel suits the place, and the music is noted as fitting the vibe. Some comments note a recent price increase on pork katsu that disappointed loyal customers, and a few critiques mention fatty portions, ordinary rice or sauce in some dishes, or dishes arriving cold. Overall, the consensus is that the food is delicious and affordable, prompting many to say they would return to RAKU.
I had pork katsu curry & takoyaki. They were authentic, very tasty & reasonably priced. I'll definitely go back & try other things. I did a takeout so I don't know about dining experience.
Jan 9, 2026
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We eat a lot of asian food but this place really stood out - especially the curry sauce was amazing. We also really thought the music fit the place really well. The food was served very fast & the price was very fair. Honestly nothing negative to say!
It was my first time trying Raku & I must say, it's definitely not the last.
Well priced, portions are perfect, quality is amazing, & the staff are soo friendly; let's not forget about the ambience inside, very cozy.
Another thing i loved about it is the simple menu. & even though i was hesitant about choosing the side, a staff member was kind enough to get me an extra to test out (without me asking) & it was such a nice gesture.
11/10, highly recommended
I used to love this place. But they just raised their porc katsu by 2 dollars. That is ridiculous. 17$ for a slice of porc (cheapest meat out there) & a ball of rice makes no sense. 15$ for as the perfect price because it is less than a shawarma plate but just enough to keep you going back. A shame they are getting greedy when they are nowhere close to being able to justify that price increase. You just lost 3 very loyal customers. The word will be spreading.
TL:DR. its freezing inside, there are only 2 tables with very uncomfortable chairs & there are random junk stacked up against the walls. The food to price ratio is ok though. We went yesterday, when it was -7 outside, thinking it would be warm inside, we entered to what seems like a ghost kitchen. It was freezing, if you don't have an arc'teryx or a canada goose, don't even bother dining in. You will freeze to death. Nobody was there to greet us, the employee came out gingerly & when we asked him questions, he spoke as soft as grass in the wind. Very difficult to understand. We sat down, tried to order one of their 3 noodles, he said they don't have the ingredient for 2 of them. It was 5:45pm, how can you not have ingredients when dinner service is starting. In the end, we took a donburi for 12$, a yakiudon for 18$ & a karage chicken for 9$. It took them over 20 minutes to serve us & we were the only other 2 patrons in the place. The flip side is that at least it was freshly made. Donburi was worth the 12$, nice large porc katsu on it, the yakiudon however, didn't feel like it had an extra 6$ worth of food on it. The karage was nothing special, a bit soft, not crispy enough but the dipping sauce was nice. However the temperature indoors really turned our dining experience into a survival training. Our food instantly became cold & I was 2 minutes away from having a frostbite on my toes. If you order them on uber eats, they are a decent option, but don't bother going there in person. The place needs lots of work. Oh, & before I forget, ain't no way 15% of 22$% is 3.85$. that's some shady ass way of ripping off people at the end.
Jan 10, 2025
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Cozy spot to enjoy some great Japanese food. Price are cheap but really good quality & big portions, big fan of their tonkatsu. I tried delivery but wanted to try in person & happy to have done so! If you're in the area is worth a try.
Love the chicken katsu. So delicious! Not pricey at all. Regular small place. No vibe. Support local restaurants! It's the kind of place you go to after school or work to eat.
I paid extra for the karaage curry, as well as a tuna & mayo onigiri & a Ramune bottle. The karaage curry cost me 18 CAD before tax, & what I got was incredibly disappointing for what I paid. The chicken was slightly flavorful, but it was neither crispy nor very juicy. The rice felt pasty, & the curry was under-seasoned. It looked like what I would toss up in the kitchen if I just cooked rice imperfectly, added a bit of under-seasoned store-bought curry & called it a day. The tuna & mayo onigiri was decent, which is why I am giving 2 stars instead of 1. This is not worth the money at all, I can spend even less & get higher-quality chicken, rice & veggies. As for the Ramune, it's Ramune. Maybe I ordered delivery late, but the quality for the price is not acceptable.
