W-Tao is a great place to eat before an event at the Des Moines Civic Center! Only a city block away! 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. read more

W-Tao Sushi - Salmon Avocado Roll, Shrimp Tempura Roll, Philadelphia Roll, Spicy Tuna Roll - Japanese Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Stopped by this place for a quick bite before attending a show at the Civic Center. We walked in the place was quiet inside, but there were 3 people at the sushi bar and we waited and no one greeted us for several minutes before I spoke up and asked if they were open. A lady swung around from the bar and said "oh I didn't see you." Turns out she was the hostess. Food was ok, a bit pricey in my option. We ordered very basic rolls California and shrimp tempura rolls those were $6 and $9. I was with my teen daughter and she only like California rolls. So it was fine. I've had better sushi ironically in Ankeny. For a quick bite this was fine- but I wasn't overwhelmed by it. Service was ok. Food came out fast but was well paced with the appetizer we ordered first. However our server wasn't overly friendly and seemed like she didn't want to be there at all. read more

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For the Midwest this is a great sushi place!! Service was excellent and prices are fair for sure! Nice atmosphere and the rolls are large and delicious! The spicy edamame was excellent and the crab Rangoon was a great appetizer! Definitely a must hit in downtown Des Moines. read more

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This place is a regular staple in my week. Working downtown, it's conveniently located, reasonably priced, the staff is great, the restaurant is cold (which is kind of what you want if you're resting sushi) and they'll do a carryout order for you ... although, again it's authentic Sushi: Naigiri & Sashimi so you probably don't want to carry it far if it's hot outside. Can't say much about the rolls. They have them, but I don't really eat rolls so it's hard to comment, but the food is fresh and well-prepped. Highly recommend checking it out if you're downtown. read more

The salmon don was amazing, The service was amazing, and the decor was super cute. I can't wait to eat here again.

Late Saturday lunch, only a couple of tables were occupied, so service was very fast. Tempura appetizer was good, shumai was room temperature, maybe it was already sitting out? The rolls were delicious, we liked the crazy roll better than the Italian stallion. Both rolls were larger in size than I'm used to. read more

W-Tao Sushi - Tempura ice cream - Japanese Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Great drinks and outstanding service. They always treat us well here. Recommend sitting at the bar for a wonderful experience. read more

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I was craving some sushi and wanted to try this place since I see it all of the time. I went in on a Thursday, early evening and no one else was there yet. The mood inside was nice, it was a little dark but since I sat by the window I was able to get additional light. The server was great, she was very attentive and ensured I always had water in my glass. The food was delivered to my table within 10 minutes. I tried a starter and two sushi rolls, all were delicious. They do have a happy hour special that includes sushi rolls! Definitely check them out if you're in the area. 5/5 read more

W-Tao Sushi - Italian Stallion Roll and King Crab Crunch Roll - Japanese Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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This was the solice and nourishment I needed while traveling solo for a conference. I was staying nearby at the Savery (highly recommend), and wandered into W-Tao after leaving a foodie hotspot nearby that was just way to loud for me that night. If plans don't work out, I feel like you can't really go wrong with fancy sushi. (Well, you can go wrong with sushi, but that's a review for another time). I could tell this was gonna be quality sushi, and W-Tao left me pleasantly pleased with the quality of food, the service, and the ambiance was busy but cheery, calm and inviting. The employees were extremely attentive. If it wasn't your server filling your glass, someone else was. The team worked together very well to keep service flowing. I noticed a lot of young diners. Possibly college-age, young professionals. I felt right at home and even had a little conversation with my neighbors about their awesome pickings. A check in on Yelp rewarded me with free edamame! I also ordered a couple of rolls. They were huge! Irish Temple Roll ($17) - tuna, salmon, white tuna, snow crab, asparagus & cilantro wrapped in soy nori w. avocado, jalapeño, tobiko, scallion, crunch & sweet spicy sauce. The Irish roll was literally amazing. I LOVE cilantro and to be able to enjoy white tuna, crab, avocado, cilantro, all these things all together. Yum. The avocado was so smooth, the jalapeno added a little heat. I took some off. Surf and Turf Roll ($17.60) - spicy tuna, salmon tempura, cream cheese, lettuce & asparagus wrapped in soy nori w. seared sichimi NY Strip, deep-fried potato , scallion, tobiko, unagi sauce & spicy miso sauce. This was a pretty good roll. I am typically not one to get two speciality rolls but the NY strip and potatoes were speaking to this Midwesterners heart. I'll admit, the chunky, rare, cold beef on top of the pieces was tough to chew through but it was delicious. I loved the fried potato. A very unique roll. After packing away my leftovers, I also ordered a small dish of green tea ice cream. This was something I enjoyed in Lincoln at a haunt that's long closed so I decided to treat myself. It's a wonderful as I remember. Highly recommend W-Tao! read more

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Oh my goodness, loved the sushi dishes here! Great customer service, stunning decor, and fresh sushi! The prices aren't cheap, but neither is fresh fish and vegetables sliced with precision. read more

I had the avocado salad, yellowtail, sashimi, pink lady the food was amazing services great, and for dessert need to try the green tea crème brûlée definitely recommended read more

Had few things, and reasons to find this place 3 stars instead of 5. The place is cold, they have space heaters but still had to keep coat on. Spicy edamame portion seemed small. Not a fan of the seaweed salad having lettuce underneath it. I liked them them having 3-4 vegan/vegetarian sushi options on the menu. I gave the restaurant 3 out of five, I'll go again if I'm nearby but not making a trip read more

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One of the best sushi places I've tried downtown! Their specialty rolls are very filling (I felt pretty satisfied after a miso soup + the entire roll) and tastes pretty fresh. The service was very nice and speedy too. I definitely recommend it if you're in a sushi mood! read more

W-Tao Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

The best place downtown for sushi. The food is great. The service is wonderful. The servers will help you out in any way they can. The ambience is great specially at night. read more

Service was quick and attentive, vibe was great and fun. Food was outstanding as well. Although it's a little pricey, my girlfriend and I really enjoyed celebrating our anniversary here. read more

W-Tao Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Not sure about all the reviews with 4-5 stars. Here in town on business trip, and based on reviews thought I'd give this place a try. All I have to say is fingers crossed I don't get sick. My stomach feels queasy after eating here. The fish was NOT cold, kinda on the warmer side and way overpriced for the quality. If I were you I'd look for other options. To the owner-- I'm sorry but this was not quality sushi whatsoever. I tried! read more

The service was great and the sushi was especially good! I didn't know what to expect from sushi in Iowa, but it was at least as good as any sushi I've had in a "sushi state " I especially loved that they had salmon roe, which isn't always available. And it was wonderful! read more

Place is cozy. Parking was a lil bit of a problem. Service was great, crew were friendly and attentive. Food was amazing and good value for money. Bonsai tree is a must try. read more

W-Tao Sushi - Bonsai Tree - Japanese Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Found this Christmas Eve when we were looking for some place to get dinner. Got some apps and a couple of rolls. Will definitely be back. Great flavors and service. read more

The rolls were amazing. I had the Snow White roll to start and a Miracle Roll for my main. Amazing flavors. It was hard to chose just a few. On business and so better would be with a group so you can try a bunch. A real find. Also had the spicy edamame and wish I could have had more of those - definitely get if you go. read more

W-Tao Sushi - Miracle Roll - Japanese Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

I got delivery and it came really quickly, which was great! However, the fish was definitely not the freshest. I mean I shouldn't have super high hopes for winter time, middle of the country sushi. It was good. But not great. read more

I was not very impressed with W-Tao. I walked in a little before 8, and stood very awkwardly around waiting to be seated. Servers saw us walk in but said nothing. We were seated and brought water 6 minutes later. Our server didn't introduce herself or say anything. She came back later and asked what we wanted to order. We weren't in the mood for sushi so we tried their ramen and yakisoba noodle dishes. Both were bland. The shrimp tempura appetizer was disappointing, over fried and dried out. I sure hope the sushi is better because the rest of the stuff was below average. I had high hopes after seeing majority of great reviews. Service was poor and food followed that. read more

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Didn't realize til I got here that I had been before. Hostess, not to friendly. Waiter, wonderful. Seafood rangoons, delicious. Italian Stallion roll, very watery:( read more

W-Tao Sushi - Italian Stallion roll. - Japanese Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

WASABI TAO BENTO BOX SPECIALS (W/ SOUP, GREEN SALAD, CALIFORNIA ROLL, SHRIMP SHUMAI & STEAMED WHITE RICE) I got the shrimp tempura bento box. The shrimp and all the vegetables that were fried had a nice crispy coating, nothing was over or undercooked, but they were very bland and was greasy. The shumai was fried, which gave it a nice crunch. The sauce, salad, and california roll was standard to any sushi restaurant. read more

W-Tao Sushi - WASABI TAO BENTO BOX SPECIALS - Japanese Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Still one of my favourite places to get sushi downtown. Early evening on a Friday evening.Right after they opened I walked in and was seated immediately. We were there in time for happy hour. Great drink deals and sushi house rolls. YELP: check in for your free edamame. We had a couple drinks, the Des Moines Love was really tasty with fresh pineapple and cucumber. Our rolls were perfect and our waiter was on the ball and very kind. I suggest stopping here before a down town event as it is right across from Capital Square and the Civic center is not even a block away. Great food and great service. I will be back. read more

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Everything was good, service was great, food was great, prices were reasonable. Not sure what else to say.

Placed a carry out order after a long day. Got a bunch of items from them. It was all fantastic and ready within 10 minutes. I will go back here. I am sure the other items are great. read more

Got seated quick. Food was decent, service was quick and lunch prices and portions were good.

Wow! Stayed at Marriott nearby and went here for dinner on a Monday evening. The rolls here were fresh, HUGE and flavorful. Best not to over-order ( like we did ) but rather add a roll if still hungry. read more

Best sushi in Des Moines. So good and fresh. Always love eating here. The service is always great at as well. It is small, but very cozy.

We were looking for a place for dinner. Found Wasabi Tao on Yelp. I can see why this is one of the premier sushi spot in town. The rolls are good size and the bowl is filled with fresh fish. If you check in, you can get a spicy or regular edamamae (peas) Overall: Will return when I'm in the area read more

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Good customer service and decent ambiance, but the food is not good. The fish is not fresh. Tastes like frozen farm raised fish thawed out and slapped into rolls. I was very disappointed after seeing all the great reviews, because I left hungry. read more

Very Nice Vibe in this Restaurant; decorated vivaciously, great downtown location, employee's stiring, and an awesome budda. Dining room is intimate will all seating surrounding the sushi bar soo the goodness was radiating out amongst all the patrons. Service was steady and courteous soo we had food and drinks before quoting Confucius, First came the Miso Eggplant...skipping the popular edamame that everyone else ordered was a true move, delicious hot perfectly seasoned asian eggplant on a bed of greens...Next came the sushi, prepared with care the ingredients fresh and rice still tempered...we go safe of course and they didn't even bat an eye. The Greenpeace roll was nice, no dolphins even came close to its ingredients; tempura sweet potato, mango, cucumber, asparagus, and avicado, sounds like mush but it held together nicely and went right into my extra heavy wasabi and soy bath. All the other rolls were easily eatable but the star was my eel, a little pricy but was one of the best i've had soo smokeriffic and a solid piece of seafood...had to get two more for dessert. Speaking of dessert We tried the green tea creme' brulee'... Its green tea essence was true ~ next time we'll try the tempera icecream as I imagine an old mexican staple with a twist. Nice Vibes all the way with this great downtown gem; treasure and the best priced sushi around, keep this in mind for a great date night treat for smiles and buddakan bellies!! read more

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Disgusting! Japanese food was so gross, I was not able to swallow it. Fish was not fresh at all. Drinks were sooo bad... The worst old fashioned ever.. tasted like water. Added stars for Thai food. read more

Absolutely phenomenal! We're here overnight and walked from our hotel to W-Tao.....and if I said that I would travel the three hours back to Des Moines JUST to eat here again, I wouldn't be lying! Service was fast and efficient. Food was excellent - everything, literally, was designed to perfection. And the price was surprisingly affordable. Would give it more stars if I could! read more

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Still the best sushi restaurant in Des Moines. Ive been to places on 10th and Mulberry, Ingersoll and E. Grand but the Tao is the best for rolls and sashimi. The fish is just fresher here--don't ask me how they do it, they just do. Very reasonably priced wine and beer, too. I always get sashimi, either with rolls or just sashimi and I'm always happy. Chilled fish with wasabi, lemon and ginger on the side in a beautiful presentation. That's all I need. Atmosphere is always secondary to food quality, to me, maybe because I'm old and married. read more

W-Tao Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Just *chefs kiss* for an amazing price. Order the edememe (don't know how to spell it)

Best happy hour in town. For a while they had $2 beers for happy hour. The sushi is good and fresh.

This is one of the best, if not the best sushi in DSM. The actual restaurant space itself has seen better days - it seems super cluttery and doesn't give the impression of being all that clean, but the food never disappoints. I tried red snapper sushi here for the first time and it was so great! All of the sashimi is fresh and delicious. If you need to prove it to yourself...eat at Blue Sushi on Court Ave. one night and then come over here the next. It's like night and day difference in sushi quality and taste!!!! read more

It's alright. I think if I were just coming on my own for a quick bite it'd be fine, but for anything else it's very average. The fish doesn't feel or look all that fresh and just doesn't have that texture that makes fresh sushi so delicious. The dining room looks like it's been what it is since maybe the 00's or 90's? It's not bad, but it's not good either. Really feels like it's more about the foot traffic than it is about the quality. The server was attentive and friendly, but even then there's only so much that he can to do improve things. I'll also mention that I couldn't tell if it was my food, but something had an odor I associate with not fresh fish, so that was something: not overpowering, pretty mild, but enough to take away from your enjoyment of the food. I also think it's odd to offer people a sashimi dinner and then not even also offer either a salad or miso soup, but that happens sometimes: what can you do? Overall, they're nice people, but it doesn't feel like there's a lot of care going into what's going on. read more