17 Best Japanese Restaurants in Kansas City

“Fresh sushi in the Midwest?! Yes! The staff were so friendly and helpful. The food was some of the best I’ve had. Favorites were the spicy tuna roll and the blue crab roll. Also - the right hand side of the menu was tasty. We literally tried almost everything on that side and each bite was delicious.“

“Pretty damn good - unassuming, clean, good food, and a great banana tempura ice cream. Can't believe I've never had that before.

Warning: even the mild ramen soup is really spicy for those that can't handle spice.“

“Not super familiar with the world of ramen, but this place was a good lil’ introduction! Murals inside and outside gave it some fun character. Most of the tables would accommodate parties of 1-4. The pork tonkatsu was spicy and delicious, left no crumbs, and hope to return to try out more of the menu!

As a few patrons mentioned there were some weird quirks. Examples: There is no self serve station for condiments, cutlery, etc. It recommends BYOD or offers a small selection. You can easily miss the entrance to their parking lot and have to round the block. The front door was locked even though the establishment was open, etc.“

“Maybe KC's first Michelin star? Probably too soon to say, but this is a dining experience like nothing else local. Every single item was perfection, and purposeful, and delicious. Beautiful atmosphere, and excellent service too. The owner makes a point to visit every table and he seems like a really great guy (and certainly a stellar chef and restauranteur). My favorite thing was probably the chicken wings. Nothing pedestrian about them. I also loved the yuzu sake.“

“Amazing!! A lot of sushi restaurants have gone down hill in the past couple years and while I get why, rising prices making it hard for restaurants to stay afloat, it doesn’t make for good sushi. The quality of the fish is often not great and the amount served compared to the rice makes it seem like a total waste of money. I hadn’t been to Friends in a couple years, moved further a way and kind of forgot about it but this is my second time in the past couple weeks and it’s sooo good. Fish quality a 5, fish quantity a 5 and service a 5. Definitely my go to sushi place now ❤️“

“Excellent food and service“

“Thoroughly enjoyed our sushi/hibachi dinner!“

“The sushi rolls are too notch and the crab Rangoon and edamame apps are tasty! Great service and atmosphere! Dulce’ is a great and attentive server!!“

“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!“

“The fish is fresh and every roll I’ve tried is delicious! Kong will hook you up with a fantastic plate of sushi.

The service is fantastic! Even when busy (which of course this place is, it’s delicious) the service is attentive and gracious. And if you need sake suggestions, Tina is your girl. She is a joy and can help you navigate the menu with your specific taste preferences.“

“Great food and service! Delicious every time!“

“I can’t say I have ever had a bad experience at Mr. Le’s. I honestly never liked any other sushi or pho from another place. Love the atmosphere and always feel so welcome walking in But ever since they have had new ownership I’ve been disappointed. Hours have been cut and now they stop orders 30min before close?“

“Love this place BUT hate the televisions! Can you PLEASE update your TV’s, watching sports is impossible! Would love to have great food and enjoy a game.“

“This restaurant was always good with food or sushi. It was sitting around the chef so best to go with others and not alone at this establishment. The food is good, as is the service. Is a traditional Japanese menu which they grill at your table. It is pricey so plan accordingly.“

“The hibachi was very very good. I went with the chicken with fried rice and was not disappointed at all. It was a lot of food too, easily had a meal the next day. I also had the volcano roll which was equally excellent. I will be back!!

Vegetarian options: There were several options

Dietary restrictions: Several gluten free and vegan options

Parking: It's directly next door to Happy Rock so you can go eat and then buy a bong“

“They make the best Kung Pao Chicken. It is always good with just the right amount of spice.“

“I wish they would thank their customers and not just our nice corporations But i do enjoy eating all the great food“