50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Des Moines

“I mean wow. Just wow. I ordered the spicy chicken breast and broccoli plate that comes with onions and carrots sautéed in. Can I just say how picky I am when it comes to Asian food or any food in general. My adopted mother is Chinese and cooked us original asian dishes our entire childhood she was an amazing cook. Anything she put her hands on came out like a 5 star Michelin restraint. Authentic too. I can't see her or speak to her anymore. When I smelled this dish the memories came flooding back. and then I dug in.... The seasoning is beyond anything I've had in teriyaki shops before. . The composition was beautiful. The taste brought me back to my childhood. Its been along time since I've tasted something this amazing. I will say I was blown away by this plate. I'd give it another star if I could.“

“First time trying this place and it was pretty good! Service was quick and food was tasty. It’s a to go spot only but they are quick to serve. We got the Happy Combo 2 and it was delicious, love the fact that it had so many meat choices serve on top of noodles and a big size of white rice. It was perfect serving amount for me and my family. Price was normal as most teriyaki places I been too. I would definitely return again and try the other food they have to offer.“

“One of the many great Des Moines restaurants, if you haven’t been, you need too. Great hospitality and amazing food. Definitely a must!“

“Excelente service thank you 🙏“

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

“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'm at the hotel across the street. I was originally going to walk over to the mall area and the Olive Garden, but I saw the sign for teriyaki and thought it would be good to support a small business.

I walked in through the mini mart. The man behind the counter asked if I was looking for teriyaki after I looked a little lost. He pointed me to the other side of the shop and met me over there.

I wish I'd thought to ask his name. He was very nice and personable. I told him I'd be in town for a couple days and was looking for a good spot. I asked what's good on the menu. He pointed out a few things, but I settled on the spicy orange chicken.

When I checked out, I thought it might be a tad pricey, but I also recognize the importance of helping a small business. While I waited for my order, I went back to the mini mart side and got a ginger ale and some gum. The same gentleman rang me up there.

Then, back next door, I looked at my phone for a minute or two, and he came back to thank me for my patience. While thoughtful, I was not put out at all, I had only placed the order a few minutes before, and it really didn't seem like much of a wait.

My food came out in short order, he bagged it up and put all the things I'd need (utensils, napkins, soy sauce) inside before I asked. He left me with a smile, and I walked across the street to my hotel to eat.

Bringing it up to my room, I saw that it was a lot of food. Honestly, I SHOULD have only eaten half and saved the rest for the next day. But I didn't.

The orange chicken was perfect. Just delicious. The rice was just right. Honestly, I can't think of a thing that would make it better.

Highly recommend for both the food and the service.“

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

“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.“

“My Husband and i eat here nearly once every week. The owner Yoko is inviting and friendly. The food is very delicious! Itadakimasu!~ Many thanks for the wonderful meals, Always worth it! My favorites: + Pan Fried gyoza; delicious,crispy, perfect. + My husband orders the Miso soup, It's the most flavorful miso we have tried. + My husband loves the curry ramen, I always enjoy sipping some of the broth too! very flavorful and warming. (I think they used to be called I <3 Curry! So this fusion is wonderful!) + Okonomiyaki; beautiful and delicious. +Tonkatsu Curry is very delicious! i order this the most +Curry pork fried rice special over the summer is very delicious! I always ask if they'll still make it for me.(and am very grateful when they do!)“

“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.“

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

“I come to this place often for lunch. Sometimes they are quite busy, and it’s easy to see why: great food and reasonable prices. I particularly like the chicken salad, but the chicken katsu is also a favorite, as is the fried rice and sweet and sour chicken from the Chinese menu.“

“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.“

“Amazingly generous place. Great service regardless of dine in or take out. They took care of our order to go and blessed us with miso soup that we didn't order. Very giving restaurant. Recommend them highly. I've never had a bad meal from them. Golden Gate is one of my favorites.“

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

“I've ordered once in the past when this place first opened and never went back because the quality of the food. I decided to give this place another try and I'm glad that I did. I assume it's new owners now or they've changed the way they make their food. This place is fire! I ordered take out a few times in the past couple weeks. Portions are huge and the quality of the food is excellent. Customer service is top notch too. This is my go to spot for teriyaki.“

“We had shrimp Teriyaki and chicken and beef combo Teriyaki.
Both very good, the shrimp was slightly over cooked which is not bad but my preference is for it to be less dry like. The beef/chicken combo was very good, the chicken very tender with the just right amount of char giving it a very nice flavor. The beef was extra tender and tasty as well. I would come back to this place as service was good, service with a smile. The food came within a reasonable amount of time, not a long wait. Tables were nice and clean, no film residue which is pleasant to find. Nice neighborhood establishment.“

“It's been nearly 20 years since I had last eaten at Soho Teriyaki, and I was worried that I was misremembering how great it was. I ate there today and it is still hands-down my very favorite teriyaki place of all-time!!! Thank you for the awesome food and memories.“

“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.“

“Great people that work here, they remember me and that makes me feel important. The food is great and they have good music going on a rotating schedule.
Another trip today and of course the food was great. The owner greets everyone that walks in with a smile and asks how you are doing.“

“I have been a huge fan of your all for about 10 years. Recently tried your dinner special and was disappointed. It wasn't made known that I would get 1/2 the normal amount of chicken. I may be ignorant but I figured shrimp tempura meant a sushi roll. Still love you all but damn dude, I was still hungry after this meal“

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

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

“I have never had teriyaki like this before, most teriyaki places have sauce all over the meat, sure, but the meat will STILL be dry. NOT HERE - the chicken is the most moist I have ever had at a teriyaki place, it isn't dripping in sauce, it just has a perfect layer for flavor. I 100% recommend this place to get your teriyaki, go ahead an ask for a side of sauce, but you'll barely even need it. ?“

“I stumbled upon this restaurant by chance while passing by. It offers a typical teriyaki menu, along with Korean dishes, some Japanese options (like sushi and tempura), and even jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles). The area is an industrial zone, so workers from nearby factories frequently drop in. Perhaps because of this, the restaurant opens early at 10 AM and closes early (3PM) as well.

It seemed like the owners, a husband and wife, were the only ones working (I couldn't see the kitchen). The owner’s wife took orders and served in the dining area. I arrived around 10:40 AM, a bit early for lunch, but there were already two tables with customers, and more people started coming in shortly after.

I ordered four dishes, including Korean and teriyaki options. Typically, teriyaki places don’t serve Korean side dishes (banchan), but since I ordered Korean food, they brought out banchan. The owner’s wife apologized for the limited variety of side dishes and generously brought out extra.

As I tasted the side dishes, they had a comforting, homemade quality, like a warm meal prepared at home. The flavors were neither too salty nor too bland, with a clean taste that didn’t rely on artificial seasonings. The dishes—spicy pork bulgogi, seafood soft tofu stew, stone pot bibimbap, and Mongolian beef—reminded me of my mom's cooking, which I loved. While the food didn’t have the commercialized taste of popular chain restaurants, it felt like it was made with care and attention, just like a meal prepared at home.

This restaurant pleasantly exceeded my expectations.

- Service: Following the typical teriyaki joint setup, you place and pay for your order at the counter before taking a seat. The staff then brings your meal to your table. A nice touch is the complimentary bottled water that accompanies your meal.

- Price: Considering the generous portions and delightful taste, the pricing is quite reasonable. While I haven't compared it to other eateries in the vicinity, the value for money here stands out.

- Food: The dishes shine with a home-cooked quality, free from overpowering artificial flavors. Each bite feels wholesome, capturing the essence of genuine, heartfelt cooking.

- Ambiance: The setting is straightforward and functional, characteristic of fast-food-style teriyaki spots. It's not fancy, but it serves its purpose well.

- Parking: There's ample parking available, though spaces can fill up quickly. Nevertheless, finding a spot wasn't an issue, and it's free of charge.

In summary, this restaurant offers a delightful blend of authentic flavors and efficient service, making it a noteworthy spot for anyone craving quality teriyaki and more.“

“I read the reviews. As a black business owner I experienced no discrimination. I actually got really great service. Also the food was awesome and a large portion of meat and rice. It wasn’t filled with a lot of filler like broccoli or cabbage.

This is a great restaurant. I recommend this place time and time again.“

“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.“

“Absolutely amazing, hands down the best sushi we have had. This is a one man operation and honestly, I don’t know how he does it. All of the fish is flown in from all over the world and is the absolute best top notch quality. Follow his IG to see when reservations drop. You’ll have to book a couple weeks out but it’s worth the wait! You’ll preorder your food while making a reservation as well.

Other notes: pretty easy to find street parking in this area of Kent, we’ve never had an issue. Enter right at your reservation time, no earlier. It’s an intimate space best for couples and small groups.“

“I ordered the Sushi Deluxe, and it was hands down the best sushi I’ve had in a long time! The nigiri was incredibly fresh and beautifully prepared, and the chef’s choice roll was flavorful. Everything was perfectly balanced and presented with care. The quality definitely exceeded my expectations for the price. Highly recommend this spot if you’re craving quality sushi. I’ll definitely be coming back!“

“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“

“Beautiful new sushi restaurant at The Landing.
Presentation is awesome for quality sashimi and sushi!
They have another location that is much smaller in Newcastle.
The menu is large with lots of cooked items as well! Looking forward to trying more of the menu.“

“Absolutely delicious teriyaki! We had the chicken teriyaki and a boba tea. Our server graciously asked if we could enjoy gyoza that comes with the teriyaki before bringing it out.
Cute, fun atmosphere and delicious food!
We’ll definitely be back.“

“Great spot for tasty Indo-Chinese food! The Szechuan chaap was absolutely delicious, and the portion was very filling for the price. The vegetable samosas with mint chutney were also excellent. There are lots of vegetarian options too. The staff was friendly, and the place was very clean. It's a casual, low-key restaurant offering good value.“

“We just flew into SeaTac from Texas. We decided we wanted some Asian food and I looked for a spot that was on the way to our AirBnB. Saw this one and the reviews were a bit mixed, but overall it looked good and had a decent overall rating. Service was quick, the food was hot, the kids loved it (major win), and the egg rolls might be some of the best I’ve ever had! The restaurant leaves a bit to be desired as far as ambiance and atmosphere, but we all very much enjoyed our food (chicken teriyaki, sweet and sour chicken, chicken katsu, and egg rolls).“

“Shiva provided the best service I’ve ever had at a sushi restaurant. Michael came in to relieve him and made sure we were fully satiated with our meals. Both Shiva and Michael gave us a great conversation and delicious food. Some of the best presented sushi as well. I’ll definitely be back. I would give this a 10⭐️if I could.“

“I'm pretty picky about teriyaki these days but this place is EXCEPTIONALLY good. The staff member Rianna was super friendly and helpful and had amazing recommendations. The food is great. The katsu, teriyaki and fried rice are literally mouth watering and FRESH. This is our new go to spot and can't wait to try more!“

“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!“

“Pho was decent. The woman at the counter initially hung up on me because she couldn’t understand me. Why? No clue. I had to call back where she had a customer speak to me on the phone, answer my question, and place my order. Got there and everything was fine. I might try it again but haven’t fully decided yet.“

“chat ts is awesome my dude. The girl at the front very friendly and the food is obviously good. Very friendly towards customers. I always get my UTENSILS because I ASK for them. ☺️
I don’t mind paying 50 cents for the sauces, it’s not a lot of money unless you’re broke. I enjoy the atmosphere whenever i’m in there, very calm and enjoyable. Definitely recommend this place ☺️“

“I love this teriyaki place. It is by far the best around and I’ve been to plenty of teriyaki restaurants. The food is always good and consistent. Same goes for the service. It’s very quick and the owner is great. My favorite thing is the teriyaki sauce which is made in house according to the owner. Will definitely be coming back for more delicious teriyaki.“

“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.“

“delicious and big burgers, the fried were bomb“

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

“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.“

“You all know that good, quality, CONSISTENT teriyaki spots aren't easy to come by, and when I moved to Burien it took me weeks to find this place but I knew when I had it the first time it would be my #1 go to moving forward, and it has served me well for so many years.

Everything I've ever tried is amazing and so tasty. Big portions, nice staff. Most weeks I get the house special fried rice and there is SO much food and protein in that to-go container that I can eat it for 3-4 days for lunch at work. Their teriyaki sauce is that special thick sweet one that is so hard to find. Sad I'll be relocating east for a couple years, no teriyaki spot will replace it.“

“Excellent food here.Kung pao chicken was fried perfectly and a great combination of sweet and spicy. Just like my Chinese mother in law makes.Chicken teriyaki has a grilled taste and was also excellent.Portions are large.Extra teriyaki sauce at the table, so you can add extra sauce and flavor.The egg roll was massive and delicious.The kids meal is also an excellent value and delicious.“

“Ordered takeout from here last week, and haven’t stopped thinking about it since. Salmon nigiri is always my favorite, and theirs is fresh and delicious, great fish to rice ratio, large pieces of salmon, and very reasonably priced! Everything I ordered was delicious. It was packaged well. And they had my order ready quickly. Will definitely be back!“

“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 !!!!“

“I haven’t been here since probably 2 years and I went yesterday and got a ‘moms plate’ which is essentially a family meal and I was pleasantly surprised with the amount of goodies you get with it for only 50$ (3 large plates of entrees with fried rice and lots of side dishes&soup) it’s supposed to feed 4 but it definitely can feed more than that. And my favorite sweet and sour chicken has gotten much better since the last time I’ve gone, they must’ve started using better chicken as it was a lot fresher and not dry. Owners are extremely kind and I’m always greeted with a big smile, certified auburn classic and I’ll be coming back more often!!“