The Tastiest Japanese in Minneapolis

Zen Fusion Hibachi & Lounge

★★★☆☆ 2.6 (41)

"I'm giving two stars rather than one because our hibachi cook, Fred, was nice and did a good job. Prior to arrival I was wondering why the reviews are so low...then we went and I understand.Three of my friends and I ordered "bowl" drinks (so four bowl drinks total). It took about 20 minutes to receive them and when they came, the server said there were only two bowl glasses (in the whole restaurant) so two people had to share their drink from a water pitcher rather than reviving what they actually ordered. This would have been fine, BUT FOR THE FACT that one fish bowl is 44oz. That means two fish bowls are 88 oz. The water pitcher we received was 60 oz if you're not counting the ice. Thus, we were cheated out of approximately 25 oz of what we purchased because the restaurant over promises and can't deliver. The biggest problem is, these drinks cost more than a meal. If you only have two glasses in the entire restaurant, take the drink off the menu.Initially, we called the bartender over to explain the issue. She had a piss poor attitude and said, "There's nothing I can do...I measured two of these drinks into that pitcher." Etc. Very dismissive attitude and was of no assistance.We called over a different manager who ended up bringing over a drink that was approximately 20oz to make up for the loss. This manager agreed that two punch bowls could not fit in the pitcher we were given, especially with ice.Overall, I wouldn't ever spend my money here again and wouldn't recommend that you do either. It's not about the drink itself. It's about the piss poor attitude.0/5 experience actually. And for $70 per person, I might add."

TOMO Hibachi & Sushi

★★★★☆ 4.2 (45) • $$

"They never disappoint! Very friendly staff, atmosphere is quaint and peaceful. Service is quick and most of all consistent. Can always count on them to not shortcut on quality."

Joy Garden

★★★★☆ 3.7 (87) • $$

"Came in for dinner with friends who are local and love this place. The menu was extensive and I was scared a bit that it offered too much and therefore would be mediocre. Wrong!!! We had a huge feast: egg rolls, crab rangoons, 3 sushi rolls and each ordered an entree. Everything was fantastic and we shared it family style. Our food started arriving less than 10 minutes after we ordered. The service was attentive and pleasant.I only had two sad thoughts... 1) no soup is included when you buy an entree, 2) egg rolls are purchased individually. Both made it feel like I had to pay an upcharge for what is standard pretty much everywhere."

Soya Sushi & Grill

★★★★☆ 4.3 (69) • $$

"The food here is amazing, always made fresh and is hot every time. I used to work next door and would get food here and the staff was great and they have a decent amount of food to choose from to not get sick of the same thing."

Jenpachi Japanese Steak House

★★★★☆ 3.6 (59) • $$

"Very pleasantly surprised. Went for a friends birthday dinner and the owner was so great - she took pictures for us and helped serve a birthday cake for him herself. Our chef was probably the highlight. He was funny and interactive, which is a big part of the experience. The food was good too - typical hibachi. Drinks were delicious though! Some higher priced than others but the raspberry pina colada was delicious - some ice chunks though made it a little hard to drink. Overall, for Rochester, not a bad place and I'll probably come back."

Kyoto Sushi

★★★☆☆ 2.9 (196) • $$

"Kyoto is the best AYCE sushi in town! Our waitress was attentive, making sure our waters were filled, our empty plates were cleared, and each round of orders came out quickly. Everything we had was delicious but some of my favorites were the sexy girl roll, the #9 roll, and the salmon nigiri - I don't know what I was expecting from the spicy salmon nigiri, but it was just the salmon with a drizzle of spicy mayo! We got a side of the spicy Mayo so I didn't really need them already spicy, but it was still delicious. The hand rolls were a great addition to the meal as well, a great ratio of rice and fish The ultimate reason to go to Kyoto for AYCE is the sashimi!! We got a lot of pieces and everything (especially the salmon) was incredible- perfectly fatty and just delicious.We finished the night with a little green tea ice cream - one of my favorites!"

Kinzo Udon

★★★★☆ 4.3 (22)

"Kinzo Udon fills a niche of fast, well-priced, yet quality food that's disappearing fast. There's a high degree of customization available, starting with choosing one of six broths. Of the four I've tasted, the beef broth with white pepper is my favorite. It's very rich with a flavor deep enough that you want to drink down every bit once your noodles are gone. From there you can add scallions (do), tempura flakes (don't, unless you want your bowl to quickly feel like mushy cereal), and a range of meat and egg options. If udon isn't your thing, they've got a couple rice bowls too.Service is quick and friendly, done cafeteria style with self-serve tempura sides to add once you've received your main dish. The environment is nice too, highly recognizable as a former Punch Pizza.Kinzo Udon is still in its first month, so there are a couple growing pains. The biggest thing that needs attention is temperature regulation. While I haven't received a cold bowl in my two visits, I wouldn't have minded if they were hotter. Same goes for the tempura. Also, the ordering system should be clarified. They hype up their paper ordering sheet online and throughout the store, but then you actually order via an electronic kiosk. No big deal, but a bit confusing at first.All in all though this place is a welcome addition to the UMN food scene, and I'm excited to see them grow!"

Billy Sushi

★★★★★ 4.5 (22)

"We visited Billy Sushi on a Thursday evening with some family. We were seated quickly and our server appeared nearly immediately with menus and water. The restaurant was packed and the the atmosphere was unique. The music gave club vibes and it seemed like more of a trendy scene than a food-oriented restaurant. It wasn't quite what I was expecting.We all started with different drinks - a glass of Chenin Blanc, a mezcal cocktail, a glass of sake, and a mocktail. The drinks were very good - I was really impressed with the Chenin Blanc. We ordered an edamame appetizer to share which was pretty standard. To start off our dinner, we ordered four otoro nigiri. It was pricey but delicious. No wasabi was added to the rice in the nigiri and they didn't put any soy sauce over the top, which made it more bland than other nigiri I've had at high-end sushi restaurants. For dinner we ordered five hand rolls for four of us to share. We ordered the BAD + boujee, the crunch roll, the 2/14, the blue wave, and the George Clooney. Favorites varied by person, but I personally liked the BAD + bounce the most. The fatty tuna on top was so rich and the cilantro added an interesting flavor I haven't had with sushi before. The general consensus, however, was that we could get sushi of a similar quality at other restaurants.Overall, the service here was fantastic and the food was fine. The atmosphere is trendy and a little weird for a sushi restaurant. And be warned that the prices are very high - you can definitely get similar quality sushi at other restaurants for about half the price. For four of us to eat, we paid over $300. We were all glad we tried it, but not sure if I'd go back!"

Tokidoki Burger

★★★★☆ 4.4 (24)

"Friend discovered this place so thought we try it out. Was a little disappointed that the entree menu is not available until 5pm and their brunch menu only goes to 2pm. We all got some sort of burger since that was the only main dish plus a couple appetizers to try. Here you can order at the counter or order at your table via QR code. It's a self service restaurant. Our server brought us our water and food but they do have a self-serve soda fountain (it looks like in the back). They also have condiments and utensils by the soda fountain as well.Nacho- chips tasted homemade, crispy and crunchy. Def a fan of this type of chips. For $8.50 we can't complain much but maybe a little more generous on the meat? Poutine- flavorful. As you get to the bottom it's soggy of course due to gravy so don't let it sit too long. Fiancé for the teriyaki burger with sauce on the side. The presentation of this burger is not the best. The choice of iceberg lettuce doesn't make it look that good as you can see. Looks like a homemade burger. Taste wise? It's ok? Tonkatsu Sando- have to say not the best tonkatsu I've had but it wasn't bad. I could say it's ok. Not a WOW factor for me to come back and get it again. Definitely plan to come back for the dinner or bunch menu though. Although, I did really enjoyed the appetizers. Would definitely get again as well."

Tsunami Japanese Cuisine

★★★★★ 4.6 (28) • $$

"This is our new favorite Japanese restaurant in town! Great vibe, amazing food. A+ on everything, including service. Was super surprised and elated to see that they had spam musubi on the menu :)"

Sakura Sushi and Steak House

★★★★☆ 4.2 (61) • $$

"This place is really good. We decided to come here because we haven't had restaurant sushi in a long time. We normally just make our own. We were very surprised at the quality they had here. It now has became one of my favorite restaurants in Buffalo Minnesota. We will for sure be back to do it again but this time without kids."

Billy Sushi

★★★★☆ 4 (340) • $$$

"Billy Sushi never disapoints! Always such a good vibe and great food. The servers are very friendly and the sushi comes out very quickly. The sushi recipes are innovative and delicious and very unique compared to other sushi restaurants. Make reservations, especially if you plan on coming at prime times or be prepared to wait quite a long time. The restaurant is always full, so don't expect to be able to linger at your table for a very long time. It's in downtown and that area is always busy, so plan in time to find parking!"

Shogun Sushi and Hibachi

★★★★☆ 3.8 (208) • $$

"Really good food. I ordered so much. We came for my friends birthday so it was quite a few of us. The staff were so awesome and patient with us since most of the girls had never been. The show was awesome and he engaged with all of us and wasn't rushing to get done which was nice. I got a chicken tempura roll, the hara maki, and the hibachi chicken which came with the miso soup and the salad. I love this place and would 10/10 come again."

Rose Garden Asian Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (71) • $$

"I am spending the weekend at home as my SO is deer hunting. I wanted some Asian food and decided to try somewhere new. I used Door Dash for delivery and ordered the Hot and Sour soup which was absolutely delicious I would have again. I also ordered shrimp curry very fresh huge shrimp flavor was good I have leftovers and would spice it up a little. It came with rice and chow mein noodles packaged well with a piece of cardboard on the bottom of the bag nothing spilled. I will be back"

Sakura Sushi & Hibachi Grill

★★★★★ 4.5 (22)

"Sooooo fresh. Amazing selection of specialty rolls plus the usual suspects. They do not have a beer/wine/liquor license yet so they give you endless bottles of water. (Appently they don't have a dishwasher either so everything is served on paper plates or in to go containers.)We have tried a number of rolls. All have been amazing and again the fish is so fresh. Soft shell crab was fried in panko and very tasty. Calamari was meh. We haven't eaten hibachi but every sushi toll was great. Favorite so far the Sashimi Magic Roll. Sooo good. Ocean Roll, Tornado Roll Aldo amazing. They have a huge listing of specialty rolls. Tiny little place but huge menu! They also do boba tea and have a large selection of Boba tea too."

Yuan's Buffet

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (50) • $

"Honestly I don't think I've ever been to a Chinese buffet and the floor isn't sticky. This is a first. This place is just so clean. They're always cleaning the tables, booths, chairs and floors when they have down time it makes it a pleasant experience especially during times like this. Food selection for hot food is 2 buffet stations along with the make your own hibachi dish a sushi station and a cold buffet section with salad and fruits. Pretty standard stuff, nothing too crazy but everything they do is really good. And they make their food according to how busy they are. If they know they don't have as many people they make smaller portions so they don't waste and if it runs low they just make more so stuff is always fresh. This is for sure one of the better Chinese buffets I've been to and you can't beat the price either!"

Tokyo 23 Buffet

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (239) • $$

"It was really good. The place was clean but the employees didn't help or refill our drinks at all. Crab legs were nice and it was worth the money. I would definitely go back!"

Tokyo Japanese Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.1 (61) • $$

"More than competent place for rolls. Prices are reasonable and freshness is evident, likely because of the proximity to the twin cities.Hot sake is on the small side but it's also only five bucks. Order a couple and enjoy both hot or get a large and maybe it cools off at the table. Rolls were typical. Full of lots of stuff and topped with lots of stuff so that nothing is really distinguishable. I knew it when I ordered and they definitely exceeded my expectations. So much so that I decided to add a Salmon hand roll at the end. Fish was delicious and center-stage."

Ootori Sushi

★★★★☆ 4.1 (101) • $$

"What a wonderful variety of sushi options. Great for the vegan as well. Tried both their cooked roll and regular rolls, both of which were delicious. Service was top notch and frequently checked in to make sure everything was up to taste."

Teppanyaki Grill & Supreme Buffet

★★★☆☆ 2.6 (274) • $$

"The buffet is much better than Super moon. Fresher food, rotated quicker. Also, more variety! The Sushi bar is pretty good, and the desert table also is great. I love coming here, just wish there were more locations."

Osaka Seafood Steakhouse

★★★★☆ 3.7 (172) • $$

"I love that we have a good sushi & hibachi spot here in the suburbs. It's big, spacious, clean & nicely decorated. Brought my parents here for dinner & they loved it & they are picky people I must say. The server we had was so kind as well & I loved that she had a great sense of humor to reciprocate because my dad loves to kid around with people from time to time lol. Pictured: 007 roll & Lisa Lisa crunch roll - 5 stars.We also ordered hamachi Kama & the tofu w a side of eel sauce. Which were light choices & yummy."

JK's Table

★★★★★ 4.6 (149) • $

"I have been here twice now, once during the lunch rush and once in the late afternoon. If you have flexibility in the afternoon, definitely recommend that. Everything I had was super yummy, the first time was a sashimi special with salad, rice, and miso soup. The second time I got a sushi roll, half size udon combo. During the lunch rush there are a ton of people waiting for their orders and various levels of patience, but I felt like the staff was understanding and working hard to get things ready quickly. Servers are friendly and helpful. Ambience is casual but pleasant and simple. It actually makes me nostalgic for a neighborhood Japanese cafe in my area growing up. A water dispenser and cups in the back if you don't want a separate drink, but I love pairing my meal with mugicha. It's easy to bus your own table. Prices are pretty reasonable and there are a variety of combos. Can't wait to come back...probably in the afternoon."

Kyatchi

★★★★☆ 4.1 (308) • $$

"Love Kyatchi. Came here for my birthday and got my favorite-the tonkatsu. Quick service and good vibes. FYI you can't tip on your card so bring cash, or you might be able to Venmo your server."

UMI Sushi & Hibachi

★★★★☆ 3.7 (76)

"The expresso martini is always a 10/10. For food they had an end of the summer special which included 1 appetizer and 3 sushi rolls for $40.I ordered for appetizers and onion soup and Sautéed with chili paste and garlic . If you're a lover of spice this edamame would be 1st pick. For my rolls I order a angry bird which had shrimp tempura, spicy kani, cucumber, topped with seared salmon, masago, green onion, eel sauce, spicy mayo, Crunch roll Included shrimp tempura, cucumber, kaiware (Daikon Sprout), topped with crunch, nori, masago, eel sauce, spicy mayo., TRIPLE THREAT roll it included spicy salmon, spicy yellowtail, topped with spicy tuna, crunch, spicy mayo This roll was one of my favorite it was so deliciously crunchy I went back twice lol. Service was fast and the ambiance is always great would recommend this place for sushi in blaine!"

Ginza Sushi and Grill Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.5 (85) • $$

"Delicious food and great people! You need to try the vegetable fried rice! We also loved the volcano and fire cracker roll"

China Express

★★★★☆ 3.6 (29) • $$

"This is our main place to order Chinese, I only wish it didn't have that "hurry up and buy" vibe. Service is also kind of rough when my husband has picked up. No warm tones at all. Online ordering is a plus.If ordering a bunch make sure to get the family combo meal which is cheaper than ordering all separately.Food ordered:Egg rolls- I like these versus the thin egg roll wraps. These are good! Chicken wings- meh- Mainly batter, not a lot of meat.Egg Foo Young- good, but greasy and thick gravyPad- Thai okay.House fried rice is good with nice size chunks of pork, chicken and shrimp.All the food is good, but very, very greasy."

Yumi Sushi Bar

★★★★☆ 4 (110)

"This is a really great option for some more unique sushi rolls in the Twin Cities. It is definitely a bit more on the pricey side if you opt for the specialty rolls, but we did really enjoy all of them!"

Sakura Express

★★★★☆ 3.8 (42) • $$

"Just moved to St. Michael recently and noticed this placed tucked hidden away in a strip mall. Was very pleasantly surprised, ordered the sesame chicken with fried rice for take out, it was VERY good, hot, fresh & delicious! Look forward to my next take out order! This place is a hidden gem, THANK YOU!"

Poke Wave

★★★★☆ 4.1 (17) • $$

"Saw this new place as I was driving nearby and decided to check it out.When I entered the place, I was greeted by a staff member side asked what I would like. I skimmed the menu and decided to try the surf and turf rice bowl to go. The gal mentioned they are having a opening special bogo. She asked if I'd like another same bowl or another and I say site why not. I was in a quick lunch run and brought it back to the office. The surf and turf bowl consists of Chicken, Shrimp, Crab, Edamame, Pineapple, Red cabbage, Corn,Garlic Shoyu, Avocado, Yum yum Sauce,Mango, Onion Crisp, Wonton Chips, and Sesame SeedsAll items tasted fresh and yummy. I believe the sauce had a slight hot spice to it, but not much. Will be back to try other items though."

Bagu Sushi & Thai

★★★★☆ 3.6 (223) • $$

"I've eaten in a couple times, and gotten take out over a dozen times. It's always quite good. I've never eaten out back, try it out.Red Curry - very goodMadsamun Curry - very good, not greatGreen Curry - excellentCashew Chicken, has MSGStir Fried Pad Ped - goodUNA-JU eel - okWASABI SHUMAI shrimp dumplings - goodCream Cheese Wontons - excellentPork Egg roll, goodAngry Tuna - yummyGYOZA dumplings - very goodShrimp Tempura - very goodEdamame - okSoft shelled crab - very goodMango salad - good"

Mizu Japanese

★★★★☆ 3.9 (112) • $$$$

"Excellent sushi - 5 stars!I had a great experience at Mizu. The sushi was very good. They also have various soups, bowls, a few desserts, specialty cocktails, beer, and a couple varieties of teas. The customer service was first class from beginning to end.The restaurant itself is beautiful. It has a clean, spacious, angular, open vibe to it...lots of light gray colors with wood accents. You get the idea. I could just as well have been sitting at LoLo or Crave. It's the latest look for trendy restaurants. But I like it.Mizu is a bit on the expensive side. I spent 73 bucks for 1 specialty cocktail, 1 hot tea, 2 sushi rolls, and last but not least, one mochi ice cream ball. So with the automatic tip for the whole staff (and my voluntary tip for the server), my modest dinner set me back 100 bucks.On the subject of money, this is one of those new trendy places that charges you an automatic 20% gratuity to support a "living wage" for the entire staff of front line workers. I have mixed feelings about this. Personally, I'd rather pay a higher amount for the food without separating out a woke mandatory fee which lets them take care of the workers with a "living wage". Please, knock off the virtue signaling and just charge me more for the food, and management can figure out staff wages versus other expenses and the owner's profit. That's how every other business on the planet works. Oh, well. I'm not in charge...so fee it is at Mizu. I paid the 20% fee plus I voluntarily added another 25 dollar tip for my server. So...I guess...in the end...I ended up paying 36 bucks for gratuities.Overall, a great first visit.Thumbs up!-Maxx"

Dragon Pearl Authentic Asian Food

★★★★☆ 3.9 (78) • $$

"Update - 4 stars!I have to bump Dragon Pearl up to 4 stars. The last time I was here was during the pandemic. Our experience was pathetic. In fact, at the time, I swore I'd never go back again. And my friend said he was very disappointed.Fast forward to 2024... My Wisconsin friend talked me into going back and giving them another chance. Things have improved dramatically since the pandemic! The food was good, the service was excellent, and the prices are very reasonable. I like the fact that they combine traditional style Chinese dishes with an extensive selection of Sushi and Sashimi.Thumbs up!-Maxx"

Sakana Sushi & Asian Bistro

★★★★☆ 3.7 (237) • $$

"I went here with my mom for senior day and was overall quite impressed. We were seated quickly and our waitress was friendly and fast. The prices were a bit steep for the quality of the rolls in comparison to other restaurants nearby but overall the food was season 12 and had lots of good flavor. The restaurant from the outside may seem a bit daunting, but the interior is very clean and light. Overall, I would recommend this restaurant but just be worried. The prices are a bit higher than others"

Miyabi

★★★★☆ 3.6 (113) • $$

"Everytime I've visited, i've always loved this place. It's super cute, love the environment, and they have indoor and outside seating. The food has always been hot, fresh, AND fast! The wait staff is always so kind and polite and very attentive when you need anything, they don't leave you hanging ever. I think it's awesome for a date night or even a girls night with it not being super tiny. Kinda shocked that whenever i've stopped in it's never too busy seeing i've never had a poor experience here. It's definitely a spot to try with having food business hours too!"

Kyoto Sushi

★★★★☆ 3.5 (150) • $$

"Parking is great. The service was outstanding today - best service we've ever had there. We ordered a variety of rolls and they were delicious. It's a great place to go and share a variety of sushi with a group of people. My older son even got a birthday cheesecake and ice cream with a candle."