Tako Sushi and Ramen: Never again
We used to think very highly of Tako Sushi & Ramen at 480 Parkland Dr. in Halifax. Our family ordered from them regularly for years, partly because of dietary restrictions within our household, and because their take-out service was usually reliable.
Unfortunately, our most recent orders have been increasingly very disappointing
Most recently, we placed a very large order for an adult birthday gathering. For myself, as usual, I ordered the seafood noodles — a dish I had enjoyed many times in the past. Years ago, this meal was loaded with seafood and genuinely excellent.
What arrived this time was shocking: a partially filled container of thick, sticky noodles clumped together in a sweet tan-coloured sauce. As this was quickly discarded, I found that the seafood content, carefully searched for. consisted literally of two tiny, tasteless scallop pieces and two small shrimp — literally all of it could have fit on a single dinner fork.
In previous years, this same dish contained thin noodles (not extra thick ones that looked like nightcrawlers), generous portions of shrimp, calamari, and other seafood. The decline in quality and quantity is impossible to ignore.
Even the orders for plain white rice were hugely disappointing — dense, sticky, and packed together almost like glue. Nothing about the texture seemed fresh or normal. As for the sushi, it was anything but fresh. Much too ‘mushy’ avocado rolls, etc.
In summary, Tako Sushi & Ramen has raised prices, pushed tipping on take-out orders via their hand-held mobile payment machine, and dramatically reduced portion quality and quantity.
Removing nearly all of the seafood while serving low-quality noodles in sugary brown sauce doesn’t just feel and taste cheap — it also feels very insulting to longtime customers who supported this business regularly -ever since their original opening.
After likely 200 orders over the years, my family has decided we won’t be returning. I'm pleased to know that Halifax’s growth has resulted in better quality offerings for sushi, seafood noodles, rice, etc. This conveniently includes better sushi restaurant options right here in the Rockingham/ Wedgewood/ Clayton Park W area.