50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Des Moines

“Pleasantly surprised by the teriyaki chicken. The food was delicious in a generous amount.

Ate in the restaurant and the food was brought out to me. Aside from a dark interior (it was already a gloomy day), the food was enjoyable.“

“I’m visiting from Spokane where the food is trash. We were driving around late at night and it’s really cool you can find places that aren't regular fast food chains and teriyaki open past 8. The portion size is huge! Two of us shared a yakisoba bowl and we still have left overs. I like that it comes with rice and noodles. The younger man working was extremely pleasant and polite and the boba was good as well.“

“Excelente service thank you 🙏“

“Fantastic sushi and people. Casual, kind and some of the best service and fish around.“

“My favorite sushi restaurant hands down. Been coming here for years and it never disappoints. Well worth the drive to get there.“

“Finally visited the new location! Their udon is so good! The owner remembers me from the original Kirkland location 5 years ago!“

“We went to visit Sumo Japanese restaurant for the first time after church service. The food and the service were great. I highly recommend this restaurant and the robots service was a great touch.“

“I’ve been to a lot of ramen spots in Japan and Washington, ordered the spicy tonkotsu from here, it has a small kick, nice and creamy broth, and a generous portion of noodles. Made my top 3 ramen spots in Washington. Cute and decorative little spot it was also really nice that it wasn’t so loud in there. Definitely recommend trying this place out if you’re in the area.“

“We have been there a couple of times. Everything has been excellent. Prices are comparable to other sushi restaurants in the area. Our only complaint is the tea is a bit week. Still deserves 5 stars.“

“I’m staying at the hotel just across the street, and I couldn’t resist stopping by this gem! Let me tell you, it was an absolute thrill! I ordered the Chicken & Katsu along with a side of egg rolls, and wow, did it blow me away!

The chicken was cooked to absolute perfection! Instead of drowning in teriyaki sauce, it had this fantastic coating that gave it an incredible sweet teriyaki flavor while keeping it moist and packed with that delicious wok taste.

And the katsu? Oh my goodness! It was breaded to perfection, delivering that legendary Katsu crunch in every single bite! The in-house-made Katsu sauce added just the right touch of sweetness, making it an unbeatable combination.

As for the egg rolls, they were pure bliss! Crispy, crunchy, and bursting with flavor, they absolutely hit the spot!

I can’t recommend this place enough! You have to check it out!“

“Friendly service, food is great, plenty of selections; Korean, Chinese, and Japanese foods in one place. I had the spider roll and the Mongolian Beef. I didn’t order the combos on purpose but who knew the Japanese food and Chinese food complimented each other very well. Talking about a great service, my wife order the sesame balls for a dessert. 2 of 5 were a bit under cooked somehow. We broke them a part but didn’t eat them. One other staffs walked by and asked if we didn’t like. My wife told her those 2 seemed like they are not full cooked so we didn’t want to eat them but we are okayed. She then insisted that she asked the chef to make a fresh batch of 5 for us. This time they were perfectly cooked. I was impressed with her and felt very appreciative. I recommend this place if you like delicious food and something quick.“

“Great spot! We always get quick service and leave happy. There is a lot of variety in the dishes offered, something to please everyone (including kids!). Chicken karaage is a favorite, and we love the drinks too. Will be back again and again!“

“I think the ownership has changed recently and honestly, the food tastes even better now! The chicken is perfectly grilled, the teriyaki sauce is richer and more flavorful, and the portions are still huge. Everything feels fresher and more balanced than before. The new team seems to be doing an amazing job. Definitely my favorite teriyaki spot around! 🍱🔥“

“I wish the teriyaki sauce was thicker and there was more of a char on the chicken but I can't really fault them for that being their style and because the chicken was very moist and tasty. Very reasonably priced, especially the specials. The staff was friendly. The place was clean and had a good, peaceful atmosphere.“

“This is my favorite restaurant for sushi!
It’s clean, fresh, beautiful presentation. At this point, I’ve probably brought 15 different friends or family members and they all love it too!
The chirashi bowl is my favorite. I appreciate the warm towels, soup and fried shrimp they bring before the main dish.
If you’re getting rolls, the Aji roll is the best. It’s got a good mix of fish, buttery salmon, tuna, crab etc and fresh elements like avocado.
The Japanese ceviche and fried avocado are also amazing!“

“I only order the regular teriyaki chicken. It's consistently moist with a decent char. There's a good amount of chicken and sauce. It's a good value especially since it comes with a soda. Friendly service. Check 'em out.“

“The best teriyaki in town and the customer service is amazing“

“Delicious and friendly. I ordered the spicy chicken teriyaki and it was delicious. The staff were very kind and brought me cutlery and hot sauce. The restaurant is clean and modern with plenty of seating. If you come at lunch time, there will be many people picking up food or eating inside - it's popular for a reason. I would happily come here again.“

“If you're looking for an amazing dining experience, Sushi Kaunta is the place you're looking for! The quality and freshness is top notch. You will not be disappointed. You don't just get served and eat Sushi, its a whole experience that you truly need to try. Reservations are needed and trust me, its totally worth the wait. Happy dining!!!“

“I’ve been coming here for a while now and it never misses. The food is consistently fresh, portions are generous, and the flavor is exactly what you want when you’re craving solid teriyaki. The chicken is always tender, the sauce is on point—not too sweet, not overpowering—and everything tastes like it was made with care. You can tell they don’t rush the food.

What really keeps me coming back is the consistency. No matter when I order, it’s always good, hot, and filling. It’s one of those spots you can rely on when you want something satisfying without overthinking it. Easily one of my go-to teriyaki places.“

“Truly excellent teriyaki.

Had friends in town who can’t eat gluten, and they wanted whatever I considered Seattles signature dish so I had to find them teriyaki. Called Himitsu and they kindly explained my options (all the teriyaki is gluten free, the fried rice CAN be if you specifically order it gluten free). When I picked up the food they were kind and friendly with a big smile.

The food itself was fantastic. Fried rice was excellent, and the teriyaki is of the less saucy variety. While the chicken didn’t have a lot of sauce it was well marinated and seasoned so it was very juicy and flavorful. Our favorite was the beef. It was thin, tender, and no unpleasant gristle to be found.

Our friends loved it and we now have an option we’d happily recommend to anyone, whether they can have gluten or not!“

“my son told me to try the tonkatsu ... and he was absolutely tastier and juicier right👍👍“

“Asian Table in Kent is a tasty find! The sushi roll was fresh, with perfect rice and zesty flavors. Teriyaki chicken was juicy, charred just right. Staff’s friendly, making you feel at home. Quirky paper lanterns give it a cozy glow. Only gripe? Portions could be bigger. A solid spot for sushi and Asian bites!“

“Variety of rolls to choose from. We ordered Godzilla roll & Super Dragon roll. Both tasted great and affordably priced too. Very friendly staffs with cozy atmosphere. Highly recommended.“

“experience. my niece, who was in town for a layover. Ordered for pickup, and food was on time plus the server was kind. Absolutely delicious 😋 😍 😊. Best chicken teriyaki and noodles ever! Grilled to perfection and great portion. Salad super fresh. Thank you for the experience.“

“This place is truly a hole in the wall, but don’t let that fool you—the food was absolutely delicious and tasted incredibly fresh. We’re so glad we decided to give it a try because it ended up being a great find. You honestly can’t beat the prices for the quality and portion sizes. Definitely worth stopping by if you’re looking for great food without the hype.“

“Okay, hear me out. I’m very generous on my stars. For teriyaki, I will vote Buxx as the best teriyaki in Seattle, greater Seattle. Many reasons it deserves the 5. It’s like they already know what you’re going to order, because the food comes out so fast no matter how long the wait is. They run a tight crew, I assume. Because it’s been the same people running the place for the 20 years I’ve come here. The prices are great, there are many specials you can choose from if you’re craving for salty & sweet, they have a katsu/teriyaki special. For me, I always get the chicken super combo, for $21, you get the chicken teriyaki, salad & rice, potstickers and an egg roll. The people who run the business are the sweetest people , I think the husband and wife switch off on shifts because they’re always open.“

“I got the curry nikutama regular, 1 shrimp tempura, and the spicy fireball paste. Total was $20 which is a bit insane IMO for a fast casual place, but it did taste good. Wouldn't come here all the time but it's good and reliable, just a little expensive

Fireball paste is not too spicy, I added 75% of it and that was perfect for me“

“Thank you so much Chopstick Teriyaki for making my day :)

I ordered over the phone for orange chicken. I asked if it tasted like oranges and she said no, but she through in an orange LOL! I had a good laugh and a bright day, thank you“

“Delicious Ramen and dim sum“

“I have been a customer for over 35 years. Never ever have I experienced a better Sushi restaurant. I adore the owners. Fresh amazing food.“

“Amazing customer service and they give you so much food! Literally, 2 meals easily fed my family of 4. The quality is top notch! Highly recommend. Definitely our family go to for teriyaki. Owner really cares about the customers and workers.“

“Cool concept, great execution and flavors.“

“Good food and good staff. Thoroughly enjoyed our experience. Will be back!“

“delicious and big burgers, the fried were bomb“

“Anyone rating this place less than 5 stars has some serious mental condition. I’ve eaten here hundreds of times. I used to work next door and I’d eat here almost every day. THE BEST teriyaki you will ever find. I moved out of state and this place is one of the things I miss most about Washington.“

“If you live in Renton or in northern Kent, this Teriyaki shop is amazing. The food is worth every penny, which isn't pricey at all. By the way, one of the only teriyaki shops that gives you a different kind of Salad dressing, and not the same thousand island type of dressing.“

“I tried Musashi for the first time and it was alright! I got a chirashi bowl which ran to $20 after taxes. It was a pretty small bowl but it was decent. It wasn’t the best chirashi bowl I’ve ever had nor would I come back here for it. It was nice to try a new restaurant but it wasn’t anything too crazy or extraordinary. There are about only 4 tables inside so it’s definitely not like a “dine-in” restaurant. The majority of their orders are to-go’s. It was a bit difficult to locate the restaurant as it’s clumped with the apartments.“

“The food here is very standard teriyaki chicken, the chicken was a little dry and tasted like it had been sitting out for a bit which I assume it had since it came out immediately. The rice was a bit clumpy and the salad was very standard. Overall for the price it was a very standard Seattle teriyaki with a good price of $13. I like that they had sauce bottles available for dine it.“

“Wow, this is GOOD sushi! So fresh and flavorful. We took advantage of the 3 roll bundle special and I was so impressed by the options, value, and taste. We did takeout and the lady who helped over the phone was super nice. I’m already looking forward to my next visit!“

“I first visited Ono Teriyaki in 1996 while working nearby for a while I got lunch there at least 3 days a week. It's always been good food and good customer service at a good price. It's no wonder that after 3 decades they are still there.“

“Loved their Spicy Teriyaki Chicken. It was actually spicy...“

“Shari is the best !!!! I love her service she made me feel welcomed and had a big smile . I was comfortable and. Tipped her very well. If anyone need a raise is for her compassion at work !!! Let’s Go SHARI !!!!“

“Fantastic sushi, amazing service and very cute atmosphere. Will be back with friends. Also special shut out to the nicest waiter ever who gave me a loot of extra ginger because I mentioned how much i love it. Also The sushi rolls I had were absolutely delicious.“

“Hands down the best Teriyaki in Des Moines. The Wonton soup is so good and has a perfect broth base. The Teriyaki, sweet and sour, and gyoza is our go to's.

They are very generous with sauce and portions are big.

Tim and family are the most welcoming and friendly people too. Wish I could give more than 5 stars“

“Oh my gosh, they make the BEST Mongolian beef ever. I have my husband order that & the rice noodles on the side, so delicious. I always have hubby get 2 orders so I can have for the next few days lol updated post because the last few time going they have forgetting our salads & rice noodles in the side. I was told last time they would give it to us next purchase did they no instead they forgot again with this new order“

“Good Teriyaki, pretty simple and straight forward. I feel like it’s hard to mess up teriyaki but you never know. It came with a little side salad. Teriyaki chicken, Teriyaki beef and shrimp combo they were both good. Surprised that the shrimp came on a screwer with pineapples but it was good. Only a few pieces tho. Kinda worth it depends if you really like shrimp. Overall pretty decent place. Nothing to rave about but also nothing to complain about.

Vegetarian options: Not very many vegetarian plates.“

“Everyone loves their karaage chicken...huge servings! They also have the best Tom Kha...the flavor is spot on! Pad See Ew, drunken noodles, etc are all wonderful. Portions are large & prices are reasonable. But, biggest reason I keep returning is their terrific staff...just the nicest people!“

“Fantastic food at good prices!! Great service! When the machine didn’t like, an employee offered to help, was polite, and even gave me potstickers on the house. Amazing experience. I think the only thing is the employees spirit. A smile can go a long way 🙃“

“Food good service ok. music sucks. The loud obnoxious music swearing and carrying on about sex didn't seem to bother the two other customers in there. Not sure you would want to bring small kids inside. Food was actually good. The service was not the friendliest but ok for a Saturday night last night.“