We went to Hokkaido Ramen House Friday night thinking we were just grabbing a bowl of noodles. What…read morewe found was a really nice surprise -- and then we apparently forgot how to stop ordering food. The restaurant is very cool inside, spotless, and has a great atmosphere. They were moderately busy, but service was still very fast. Our server was sweet, funny, witty, kind and attentive. She really added to the experience. We started with the gyoza, which were fresh, hot and delicious. I ordered the Tom Yum Ramen, loaded with seafood and a ton of flavor. Kim had the Spicy Beef Ramen with the giant bone-in beef rib. That thing is a monster of a bowl and was packed with flavor. Kim tried the apple sake and liked it so much that we stopped afterward and bought a bottle. I had a Tsingtao beer and then decided I apparently hadn't ordered enough food, so I added the tuna sashimi. It was incredibly fresh and delicious, especially with the fresh ginger and greens. We definitely spent more than we intended, but mostly because we kept wanting to try more things. Hokkaido is only about half a mile from our house, which may turn out to be dangerous. Great food, fast service, fun atmosphere and one of those places that surprised us in the best way. We'll definitely be back.

If you're looking for authentic, flavorful ramen, Hokkaido is absolutely worth the visit. This was…read moreonly our second ramen spot, but it has officially become the standard we'll compare every other ramen restaurant against. We started with the dumplings, and they were outstanding--crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and packed with flavor. They were the perfect way to start the meal. I ordered the Spicy Beef Ramen, and all I can say is... wow. The broth was rich, bold, and full of depth without overpowering the dish. The beef was incredibly tender, practically falling apart with every bite, and every ingredient came together perfectly. My wife ordered the Miso Ramen and couldn't stop talking about how flavorful and comforting it was. Every spoonful tasted fresh and thoughtfully prepared. The atmosphere was another highlight. The restaurant has a beautiful, open layout with warm lighting, Japanese-inspired décor, and a welcoming vibe that makes you want to stay and enjoy your meal. It feels modern while still being cozy. To top it all off, the service was phenomenal. Our server was attentive, friendly, and made sure we had everything we needed without ever feeling intrusive. Hokkaido delivered on every level--food, atmosphere, and service. We'll definitely be back, and if you're in the Ankeny area and craving ramen, this is a place you need to experience. Highly recommended.

Love how Sakura Sushi has remained consistent in quality and service! They keep it quality, yet…read moreaffordable. This time I was able to be in town for their Monday Specials 'All you can eat rolls for $7.99' in house. Their list is pretty comprehensive, and I ordered some extras as my favorites too. Also, I love their new decorating. It's bright yet private and comfy, great ambiance for a relaxed affair.

My dad and I have been going to this place since we moved to Des Moines back in 2019 (more or…read moreless). We love it here! The staff are so sweet and so is the owner! They remodeled their restaurant not too long ago, and it looks so clean and beautiful in there. The food is amazing as well!! My dad always gets the Mouth Watering roll, he always loves it! The Crab Rangoons are a must try as well! Those are always so good!! (Some photos I've taken from previous trips)

We were looking for a ramen place and this place popped up while we were running errands in the…read morearea on Saturday night. It was hoppin! We waited less than 10 mins. Everyone was hustling! The restaurant was decorated beautifully with a cherry blossom tree, a gigantic tv with underwater reef video. They had a large bar that you could sit and eat at. All the other tables were weather tables and chairs or bench seating. They have a huge menu full of sushi, sashimi, noodles, rice, and of course ramen! We ordered pineapple fried rice that was served in a plate that looked like pineapple, seafood ramen, the LA roll and a whole bunch of sashimi that was served in a sea turtle bowl on crushed ice. We will definitely be going again!

Image a crunchy decorative tower in a tasty scaffolding of shrimp, sweet potatoes, broccoli and an…read moreonion ring all golden brown served as Shrimp Tempura -- adding a steaming bowl of Chicken Katsu Ramen all from Hana on Mills Civic in WDm -- simply delicious. Lyla -- my wait staffer -- was very polite, attentive and monitored my table to insure everything was to my satisfaction. The soft background music, minimalist mod decor and soft lighting added a zen vibe to a relaxing food explosion of flavors.

Toyo Ramen in Ankeny serves the kind of food that briefly alters your coordinates…read more Start with the Osaka-style takoyaki: soft, blisteringly hot orbs of octopus dressed with okonomi sauce, Japanese mayo, seaweed and bonito flakes twitching in the rising heat. You know they're molten inside. You eat one anyway. This is not wisdom. It is appetite. Then comes the Hakata tonkotsu. The broth has spent twelve hours surrendering every last bit of flavor from pork bones. It arrives rich, silky and unapologetically porky, carrying thin noodles, tender chashu, ajitama, wood ear mushrooms, bamboo shoots and a dark ribbon of black garlic oil. Everything earns its place. Nothing feels decorative. You begin politely with chopsticks and a spoon, maintaining the fragile illusion that you possess dignity. But the broth keeps pulling you back. Eventually, the spoon becomes an unnecessary obstacle. You lift the bowl with both hands and drink straight from it, as nature and the kitchen intended. For a few minutes, Ankeny disappears. There is only pork, garlic, noodles and the quiet satisfaction that comes from finding something this deeply comforting in a place you weren't necessarily expecting it. Toyo Ramen is warm, honest and serious about the food without being precious about it. It doesn't need gimmicks or theatrics. The broth has already done the work. My only disappointment came when I tried to buy a Toyo T-shirt and they didn't have my size. Petty? Absolutely. But after a bowl that good, you want the merchandise. A convert always wants a relic.

Good spot for a quick lunch. $30 for ramen, chicken karaage, and a drink is pretty steep…read more The chicken karaage was underwhelming, there wasn't a lot of flavor. It was ok but I wouldn't get it again The ramen itself had a decently flavorful broth and the noodles weren't bad. Probably wouldn't be back because Hokkaido Ramen isn't too far away, but if you're in the area and need a quick bite then this could go on your "maybe" list

We had the BEST experience at Masao! The food was incredible and the quality of the fish was…read moreabsolutely top notch. We loved how unique the menu is, offering both amazing sushi and a French-inspired menu. We sat at the bar and had a 10/10 experience. The owner and staff truly made our night! We were celebrating our 1-year anniversary, and Nick, the owner, surprised us with a bottle of champagne and even took care of one of our dishes. Such a thoughtful gesture! Amazing food, incredible service, and such a special atmosphere. We will definitely be back!

I'm gonna likely get hate for this and maybe I'm jaded because based on the reviews I had higher…read moreexpectations of this place but it was a bit underwhelming. I generally like a place that has a different menu on the daily based on what they have sourced seasonally etc however this days menu wasn't that exciting. The quality of the fish was good. I had the yellowfin nigiri but $12 for one piece was steep. I also had the prosciutto wrapped mushroom stuffed squash blossoms but the prosciutto was too heavy for how delicate the blossoms are and it caused it to be overly salty. I had walked in planning to order additional dishes but my disappointment told me to be done. The service was average. One sushi chef was nice. The other I could overhear speaking to guests which looked like they were getting omakase and it was possible he knew them because I could hear him speaking of his personal life and casually using curse words. The restaurant itself was clean, had nice decor but rather loud. Maybe I'll try again next time I'm in town for work.

The Thai food was fresh, lots of chicken in my noodle dish. My son ordered Lo Mein with steak.read more

Ariyan is on the former Oh Sushi location in the Beaverdale area…read more Oh Sushi had an all you can eat (ayce) sushi option that I used to get about once every couple of months. After they bought the business and before rebranding to Ariyan they did away with the all you can eat sushi option. Understandable, but it's one of the things that made Oh Sushi as popular as it was. Though the variety of options was less that Izumi or other buffets who offer ayce sushi in the metro... The quality of the sushi at Oh Sushi was above and beyond. This elimination really disappointed me at the time as well as others. That being said I knew that eventually I would get to Ariyan. My daughter and I stopped in this past Saturday for lunch. Parking is available in two nearby lots and on the street. Seating is all low top tables and chairs with a bench along the South wall. The decor is the same for the most part. Tasteful and modern yet traditional. The host station is now in the Southwest corner v. the Southeast corner (closest to the door). I'm not sure why they made that change... It seems a little awkward for the host station to be that far away from the door. It also eliminated one of my favorite tables to sit at... The menu is extensive with a wide selection of sushi and rolls. They also have some typical Chinese and Thai options available. I was happy to see two of my favorite rolls still on the menu. We ordered: 1x Anger Management roll 1x Black Panther roll 1x Orange chicken (spice level 3 with white rice) 1x Miso soup (came free with our order...one of the specials) 2x Waters Service was good. The young lady serving us was attentive and seemed nice. The specials were a little hard to follow... At the time we were there they were running 15% off of select items and a free side. I'm still not sure what we ordered to get the free side... Lol I tried a piece of my daughter's orange chicken. I liked it. The sauce had good flavor. The breading was starting to fall off and I think she would have preferred it a little more crispy. The heat level for a 3 was appropriate. The base flavors of my two rolls were the same as they used to be. Same components and sauces, but there was a weird grit to both rolls. It was hard for me to pin down what exactly it was. I'm still not sure if it was just a different rice or something else... Despite the difference in texture they were both good. But not the same... I shouldn't have expected them to be. While I was overall happy with my experience at Ariyan I'm not sure it's enough to make me drive over to Beaverdale anymore. I can get similar menu options at any of the Wasabis, Cool Basil, or Mandarin closer to where I live in the metro. I realize this review is somewhat jaded since I'm comparing it to the former business model... A place I held close to my heart. I almost wish Ariyan had changed it up 100% and not tried to carry over pieces of the Oh Sushi menu and experience, but not all of it. I would still encourage you to try Ariyan out! Especially if you are close to the Beaverdale area...! It might end up being your favorite new spot for sushi and Asian cuisine! https://www.facebook.com/ariyandsm/

Got to update my review. Still my fav sushi place. Love the staff & owners. Great vibe aside of the…read morefront desk gal. Definitely continue to recommend.

We tried Sakari Sushi Lounge's food truck at Asian Fest in downtown Des Moines on 5/23 after riding…read moreour bikes down from Ankeny. The atmosphere downtown was great, and the truck setup was pretty typical for an event like this -- lines, walk-up ordering, and festival-style service. The Bang Bang Shrimp was excellent -- easily a 10/10. The pork egg rolls were good too, probably a 7/10. Unfortunately, the wings were the letdown. They were really dry and chewy, maybe a 3/10, and that left us disappointed. After a long bike ride, food was a must. Getting back in line to complain was not. I am sure food truck service during a busy festival is not easy, but the wings just missed the mark for us. I would absolutely try the Bang Bang Shrimp again, but I would probably skip the wings next time. We may just need to eat at the restaurant and give them a fair shot there. I have heard nothing but great things!

Stopped by Pho Shobu solo to give it a try. The atmosphere was clean, welcoming, and comfortable…read more Shoutout to Izzy for the outstanding customer service--friendly, attentive, and professional throughout the visit. The egg rolls were the star of the meal: hot, fresh, crispy, and packed with flavor. Easily my favorite item. I ordered the Brisket Pho, and while it looked great, it was just okay for me. Having eaten pho across California, Alaska, Nevada, Arizona, and Texas, I usually look for a clean, rich broth with a slight sweetness. This broth didn't quite deliver that flavor profile, and the brisket was a little tougher and chewier than I expected. My total came to $40.03. Was it the best pho I've had? No. Was it the worst? Not even close. The atmosphere and service were excellent, and the egg rolls alone are worth ordering. I'd come back to try other items on the menu. If you're in the area, give Pho Shobu a try and see what you think for yourself.

Food was only so-so and EXPENSIVE! We should have known something was up when the place was nearly…read moreempty on a Friday night.