It isn't often that our days off lineup for a regular date night together, so we always look for…read moresomething special. With time running out on a Sunday evening, we knew we wanted sushi and Akebono was still open so we decided might as well give it a shot. This was quite possibly the best dining experience I've ever had the opportunity to enjoy. Our server Nick picked up on the date night vibes immediately and knew exactly what to do. Curating the entire meal for us, every single bite he brought to our table was everything we wanted and more, from the tempura shiso leaf hamachi serrano to the torched tuna nigiri as the final bite. One of a kind conversation and etiquette through the entire service, exceptional food produces by the chefs, and the corner table on the patio made for a date night we won't soon forget. Get yourself into Akebono if you need yourself a roll or a bowl that will stick with you for a lifetime.

Great service and nice ambiance. If you are in the area I would give a try. Good for group or…read moredate setting with full bar and plenty of seating.

Food tasted good. I would recommend this place and come here again. Service was a bit slow but…read moremaybe that's just how long it takes to make sushi. Ambiance was appropriate.

W-Tao is a great place to eat before an event at the Des Moines Civic Center! Only a city block…read moreaway! The miso soup was nice and hot (but only had two pieces of tofu lol). The spicy edamame had a little kick but nothing too crazy. The sushi was very fresh and everything we ordered was really good. The waiter seemed to be new bc he seemed nervous but the overall service was pleasant. The vibe was chill, the temperature was perfect on a sub-zero freezing day, and the lights were the right 'dim' amount. I recommend this restaurant and I definitely will be eating there again.

Unbelievable experience!!! Ramen exceeded expectations and the service was exemplary. Mary is…read morefabulous and her kindness and attention to detail and service made our time at Hokkaido fantastic!! Thank you Mary, we will be back!!!

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.

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.

Amazing food! Service was awesome! The hibachi and sushi were my favorite. Cocktail drinks were…read moregreat and reasonable.

Good overall AYCE sushi. They do not seem strict about waste, but if you ask them to not include…read moreitems you won't eat (for me it was less rice) they can accommodate. The sashimi was mixed in quality, some pieces seemed drier than others in a serving. There are a lot of options on the menu though. Teriyaki dishes,calimari,takoyaki, hibachi, etc... For what I expected of AYCE sushi the quality is on the mark. Not unexpectedly great, but also not a bad value. The interior seems pretty sharp. Darker interior with some neon. I would recommend this location, I like AYCE, for selection and flexibility. This matches what I would want.

Wonderful time. We had a fantastic group of "stranger" we sat with. The chef was entertaining and…read moremade a delicious meal. Shrimp and scallops were perfectly cooked. Service was fantastic. The whole evening was a great date night.

The best scallops, steak and fried rice around town always a great family experienceread more

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.

I have been to Blue several times…read more The lion king is one of the best sushi offerings at Blue. We usually order the tuna tower, and since it was a slow afternoon it's understandable that the rice may be older or not as fresh, but it's still a great dish to order. We also ordered the ceviche (not pictured) but recommend it too! The service is always friendly and attentive and the ambiance is always nice.

Happy Hour Paradise Usually dead in the place…read moreBring them to MN This is a chain that I would definitely like to see in the Twin Cities. It is pretty much Happy Hour most of the time. All day Sunday. Generally make it here every time that I get to town. If you had told me how much time I would have spent in Des Moines twenty years ago, I would have said you are nuts. Rolls range from $6.50 to $10.75 on HH. Had the Cali Roll and Crunchy L.A. tonight. Both great. No cucumber on either. Nothing ruins a good piece of sushi like Cucumber. Glass of Chard for $6.50. Leaving pleasantly full and looking forward to my next visit.

I had passed by this place many times, thought I would give it a try, was not disappointed !…read moreFood was a little pricey, but I had the scallop dish. It was tasty and filling and that's all I can really ask for. The staff was very friendly and helpful when I asked about the sauces. I would definitely try it again !

It might look good but don't let it fool you. Yum yum sauce? It's literally ranch. Teriyaki sauce…read moreis also terrible with little flavor. They also did forget one of our teriyaki sauces to begin with too. The Jalapeño Crab Rangoon Roll was good but it did look like it was slop shoved in a box.