20 Best Japanese Restaurants in Kansas City

“This place hands down. has the best of the best and the freshest food. #1 in kcmo kata nori for me is a number 1 pick..“

“I’ll be honest—I was a little nervous going into Akoya Omakase. I had never done any kind of Omakase experience before, and just looking at the menu was honestly a little intimidating. I wasn’t sure what to expect or if it would be something I would enjoy.

After experiencing it, I can confidently say: **if you like sushi, you will LOVE this place.**

But what really stood out to me was that this isn’t just a meal—it’s a dining experience. In my opinion, **Akoya Omakase is one of the best dining experiences in Kansas City**, especially if you do the **Chef’s Table**. Being able to watch everything come together and experience the food the way the chef intended made it something I won’t forget.

And if you go, **ask for Jay**. He was incredible. He made the entire experience feel comfortable and welcoming, especially for someone like me who had never done Omakase before. He explained things, answered questions, and made the experience feel approachable rather than intimidating.

I went in not really knowing what to expect and left already thinking about when I could come back.

**If you love sushi, go. If you love unique dining experiences, definitely go. And if you do, make sure you sit at the Chef’s Table and ask for Jay. You won’t regret it.**“

“Anjin is a fantastic chef-driven dining experience. Sitting at the chef’s counter made the meal feel intimate and personal, and the service from Drew and Rachel was exceptional. They were incredibly knowledgeable and made some great recommendations throughout the evening.

The rotating menu keeps things interesting, with each dish showcasing seasonal ingredients and thoughtful preparation. The skewers were excellent, as was the seasonal salad and the Corn & Crab Okonomiyaki seafood dish with egg yolk — everything was layered with flavor and beautifully executed.

The sake selection is equally impressive, with plenty of interesting options to complement the food.

And definitely save room for the soft serve. It’s an unexpected but perfect finish to the meal.

One of the more memorable meals I’ve had in Kansas City. Highly recommend sitting at the chef’s counter.“

“I’ve driven past this place for years, and decided to get dinner here on a whim. I got the bulgogi bento box which was fantastic. The bulgogi had great flavor, as well as everything that came with it. We decided to get a fried cheesecake…dude, it was so good. Get the fried cheesecake.“

“I’ve been here about a dozen times and I get the same thing every time, the Shanghai udon, and it is my new comfort food. It is so, so good. The sauce on it is absolutely divine. I want to try more menu items but the udon is so good I keep coming back to it“

“Noka was beyond wonderful! I’ve never had a dining experience that was so unique, surprising, and delicious.

Our server, Lauren, was top-notch: attentive to every need, full of great recommendations, and wonderfully warm and engaging.
Head chef Megan was just as lovely—so friendly and welcoming, and incredibly talented. Every dish we tried was fantastic. The manager checked in with us to ensure that we were having a good experience.

The chicken wings were a delicious surprise—an unexpectedly refined take on a familiar favorite. The mushrooms in the fried rice were to die for, and the sushi rolls were amazing. We can’t say enough good things about the food.

The atmosphere made the evening even more special, with pottery, exposed wood, great music, and even a bathroom that felt like an experience of its own. I wanted to move in. We can’t wait to come back! Thank you.“

“Hands down my favorite tonkatsu ramen in KC. The made from scratch broth is absolutely delicious. Never disappoints. My husband and son say it’s as good as the best ramen they’ve eaten in Japan. It’s that kind broth I especially crave when feeling under the weather. The seating is small but always very clean and parking is easy as they have their own lot.“

“We were glad to find Koji and his family again in this wonderful little restaurant! The food was exceptional . Koji and Miguel picked what we were served and we were not disappointed. Was like being at Nara only better . It's a great family owned restaurant. We felt like we were in our own kitchen being served by these wonderful people!“

“It was amazing food was hot and fresh. Very flavorful. I rarely write reviews but this place was outstanding in the taste department and service was great as well !! 10/10 would recommend go there and try that yummi roll and definitely gotta get some gyroza aka those potstickersssss !!!❤❤❤“

“Thoroughly enjoyed our sushi/hibachi dinner!“

“Wow!!! I stopped into Teriyaki Madness for the first time tonight and it was incredible! The food was amazing—fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. Every bite was packed with bold teriyaki flavor. The service was fast and friendly, and the portions were generous. This place is definitely a new favorite! Can’t wait to come back!“

“I love this place. Without a doubt, my favorite sushi place. I've been to Japan twice, LA and Seattle for extended work travel but yet this place is my favorite. I love simple classic sushi/nigiri and this place does a great job of that. This place has good hibachi and specialty rolls as well.“

“Best sushi I have found in all of KC, went to some recommended spots that were expensive, tiny portions, lack flavor and rice that was mush, always end up back at Me. Le's, I would eat here more but they take time off between lunch and dinner and my mid shift job has lunch at 2pm.“

“Great food and service! Delicious every time!“

“Fantastic food. Very fresh. We went for an early dinner and there was no wait. Robot cat is super cute. I cant wait to go back“

“I’ve been coming here for years and it’s constantly been my favorite Asian food based buffet. It’s nothing fancy but always tasty, always clean and I’ve always had great service!“

“First time here, good quality foods and large portions for fairly low dollars. We will return.“

“This was our 1st time coming here after driving past it countless times. The reviews all were so positive. My wife and I shared the chicken, shrimp and steak (small charge if you share) and it was fun to have the food cooked in front of you. We also did the crab Rangoon appetizer which was pretty decent maybe a touch overcooked. I also ordered 2 sushi rolls and they were amazing and fresh. They give you a list of sushi with a pencil and you check off the ones you want. Quality of food was top notch and we were so full after our meal was done. This is a great place to have a date night with your significant other or for an outing with the family. We will be back“

“All time favorite habachi grill hands down? I have tried different ones in the surrounding area and nothing compares to this place. Service is awesome every time. Never a let down. Highly recommend it you haven't ate here yet.. PS.. best yum yum sauce as well nothing compares to it🤤🤤“