I don't know how this restaurant can be considered "upscale" or "high end" if they allow dogs inside!! All the host were petting the dogs before they sat us. Very unsanitary and has to be against health code regulations. read more

Great food! Little on the pricey side, we went during restaurant week and prices are reduced at the time on select menu items

Huge disappointment. Izanami has really been talked up by locals and friends to us when visiting, but those who spoke so highly never have been to Japan nor had a true omakase experience. I grew up in japan, but have also had really wonderful omakase experiences in California, and expected something on par with my past positive US experiences. In short, our meal, without exaggeration, took 2.5 hours. It was painstakingly slow service. Portion sizes were extremely stingy - in fact, it seemed as if we were paying for two persons' omakase and receiving just one. See attached photo of dessert. I am accustomed to omakase portions, which tend to be small due to the sheer amount of courses, yet these are definitely even smaller (like, half the size) than any omakase i have ever had. It is extremely atypical to include two persons' food on shared plates in omakase - in fact, I have never seen that. Sure, perhaps we would have been okay with paying $110 per person for kids' portions if the food had been worth that, yet there was little finesse to the quality and cookery of the food. The tempura was too dense, not airy, the shrimp was over cooked. Noodles were on the bland side, and raw onion was used in multiple instances, overpowering the ingredients in and of themselves, eg the hamachi or the tuna tartare were both overpowered with raw red onion, not traditionally applied in Japanese cuisine. Lastly, my partner was told we were getting wagyu beef, and I informed the waiter that I did not eat meat - the waiter said he would find a way to compensate me or i could give my portion to my partner. Instead, my partner and i both received kushiyaki vegetables - grilled eggplant and mushrooms, and fried zucchini and avocado. Really just dishes on the regular menu that were worth ten dollars and not comparable to the caliber nor the price of wagyu nor the hefty price we paid. We were not given an apology or explanation. Perhaps we should have been more assertive. read more

izanami - Dessert for two looks more like one person's serving - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

5 stars for Kaz. Each time I visit Izanami, he delights me. For years now. Izanami is not a sushi bar, it's a family style tasting/sharing experience. There is a new chef and the food is phenomenal. Sesame noodles, hamachi, are stand-outs. I will drive back up this trip to Ten Thousand Waves, not for the excellent massages and soakings, but for the food! read more

A wonderful girlfriend's brunch in the outdoor pavilion rewarded us with superb, timely service, a wonderful menu that satisfied each spoiled gal, and a beautiful day in a gorgeous landscape. Thank You. read more

We stayed at Ten Thousand Waves and therefor ended up eating here a lot haha. The food was good, although I was hoping for more nigiri/sashimi/raw options. We did have the two sashimi options offered during our stay, which were delicious. For starters we has the burrata/beet salad, the carpaccio, and izanami trio. All were delicious. For entrees we got the bento box which while good was wildly overpriced for the like 2oz of meat included. Hot stone bibimbop, the burger and pichi pichi tori. The chicken was definitely the winner, though everything was good, it was just getting a bit rich by this point. We also did the chefs tasting menu, which was good, but also rich with fried oysters and the short ribs. They had two soups while we were there, both super good, an eggplant and butternut squash. I found it interesting, dare I say southwestern? That Tajin was on everything haha. The staff was very friendly and took great care of us. read more

Such a fun and unexpected place - we loved our time at the spa and the restaurant after. Best items on the menu: wagyu beef ishiyaki - the miyazaki A5 (japan) - don't bother with the Nebraska beef, apple kimchi salad, pork belly tacos, grilled avocado and the mushrooms!! All unique and delicious. read more

I love the food and ambience at Izanami. It is always a treat to eat here. The staff are wonderful. Can't wait to go back! Thank you!

If you ever feel like experiencing a Japanese version of passive - aggressive disorder, Izanami is it. Our experience started when the restaurant opened at 5pm with the hostess, Anri. She tried to seat us at a large, community style table when someone in our party asked if we could sit in a less central and potentially busy area. Clearly displeased, she showed us by putting our party in a tight booth where the light bulb was burned out. It was so dark at our table, no one could read the menu. After using cell phones to figure out what to drink, we asked our waiter for assistance and if we could be re-seated in the still empty dining room. The staff scrambled to find candles, none worked, then they brought flashlights. We explained to our waiter, that we'd really like to be able to see the menu and our food. Finally we were seated again across the room, this time very begrudgingly by the front end hostess.. Izanami advertises itself as not the "usual" and that is right in a number of area. Our first impression and interaction with Anri was certainly not usual or expected. Most times a good waiter can overcome the shortcomings of others and Angelo tried. He was a wealth of knowledge about the food and preparation. He had answers for all the questions and offered articulate explanations of the food or cooking technique. He was also attentive and helpful, sensing the groups displeasure with the snarky hostess. The food was good - all small plates. The fried brussels sprouts with pork belly were crisp and tasty. The gyoza (dumpling) was house made and bursting with flavor. The Wagyu beef skewers with mushrooms was tender, and juicy cooked perfectly. The mixed vegetable tempura was light and crispy with a flavorful dipping sauce. The bacon wrapped enoci mushrooms were tough and very chewy - don't order. The beers are from Japan - all are expensive and a small 8-9 oz. pour. Overall, it was an interesting evening. I would not go back any time soon. The front of the restaurant staff need some retraining on customer service. So to sum it up. Front of the restaurant = 0, Wait Staff = 5 , Food = 3 , Drinks = 2, Ambience = 2 read more

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Hands down one of the best food experiences in recent memory. I took my elderly parents and teenager, and we all loved the food and atmosphere. And the service was impeccable. A true delight. Izanami is Japanese tapas, so be prepared to share with others, and order throughout the meal. The sushi was easily in the top three of places I've tried in the States. What stood out most was all of the sushi, the Wagyu cheeseburger and fries for the teenager, the beef combo we cooked on a hot rock at the table, and the desserts. We weren't as much of a fan of the shrimp tempura but it was still great; just not quite as great as the rest of the meal. Go: you won't regret it! read more

Great place to eat unique and localized ingredients to prepare Japanese inspired cuisine. I've read an review claiming staff use "moshi-moshi" upon answering the phone. Moshi is a shortened version of "moushiage kudasai", which is ridiculously polite. The reason to shorten the words saying twice is to cut the time as phone companies used to charge by the minutes. So, by shortening the proper word is even more polite. Also, 100% all professionals in Japan use "moshi-moshi" upon answering the phone. I don't know where that claim came from, but I am certain not from a person who understands Japanese culture. read more

Incredible restaurant with exceptional staff. We opted to sit outside because of the pandemic and the wait staff moved all of the heaters to our table. We were the only ones outside and they went above and beyond making sure that we had the best experience possible. Our meals were perfectly cooked--each dish surprising us with complex and expertly-crafted flavors. The lamb chops should be winning awards--not only was the chop perfect but the addition of grilled squash and a pickled fennel took the dish to another level. I can't wait to come back! read more

izanami - Lamb Chop - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

We were in Santa Fe for a few days and were able to try some of the best restaurants in town. Since we were not able to make a reservation for a large group at the last minutes, we had to split up into several reservations at different times. However, upon arrival, the restaurant had able to seat us together in the same area. The foods and choice of sakes were very good. The services are very friendly and knowledgeable about the foods and drinks. The restaurant is situated on the hill with Japanese architecture. Highly recommended. read more

We love this restaurant! We make sure we come here every time we are in Santa Fe(1-2 times a year) we also love Boca, but this is our favorite! The waygu that you cook on a 500 degree river stone is out favorite! read more

My family and I have been coming here for years. the food is exquisite and, until the other night, we have always had a good experience with the service. However, our waiter was so rude I feel compelled to comment. First, when I worried that my elderly mother did not intend to order a whole bottle of sake and asked the price, he said, "it's too late" and kept pouring. Then, my daughter's food was not ready until everyone else was finished. If we asked about it, he said, in increasingly condescending and nasty tones, that "things come out when they are ready". I don't know who he thought we were, but we had set aside our last night of the trip for a special meal there before returning to NY, where we have plenty of experience with fine dining. We appreciate that things take varying times to prepare, but when a plate of mushrooms takes 45 minutes longer than anything else and a customer is hungry, you apologize and even think about comping them. You don't act like a dick and scold your customers for asking. read more

The food was very good and the flights were a great way to try many sakes. The only reason I didn't give it a five star is for the service. Having spent over $250 for two there is a certain level of attentiveness I'd expect, especially after being one for many years. That was a bit disappointing so not sure I'd have high expectations next time. read more

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Unusual and elegant tasty offerings that surprise and delight in a tastefully exotic environment.

Second time visiting Thousand Waves and we both had a high hope for Izanami restaurant. Ordered Shabu Shabu, Chirashi and sashimi. Chirashi and sashimi was OK, only 2 kinds of fish were used, no fish eggs, no tamago, no eel, this is not really chirashi at all. (but at least fish quality was ok.) Chisrashi rice was cooked properly but I don't think they used sushi rice. Chirashi and sashimi - 3 star Shabu shabu was a big disappointment They brought 2 kind of broth - but both soy sauce base, very salty and no flavor. This is NOT Japanese shabu shabu, but more like Chinese style hot pot. They must have changed the chef.... Shabu Shabu - one star I am kinda perplexed... so many good reviews here, but what we had was really horrible. I am wondering if they serve different quality dishes to restaurant guest and hotel guest... They brought the food to our room and I had to cook myself. read more

I'm honestly pretty perplexed why I keep getting referred to eat here. By people I trust! It was our first choice/outing once we were able to after Covid and set a very good tone and comfort level for eating out again. When I called to make the same day reservation (within 3 hours), they asked us to wear a mask in the restaurant until we got to our table, and asked that we wear it anytime we left the table (to the bathroom) and any interaction with our server. Totally fine and completely reasonable. Honestly three star food; four because of the people and ambiance. We were lucky to sit outside that had a better view of the mountains. And they took such good precaution in all of this. But the food.........I can only explain away as "Santa Fe." So the sashimi...on the lower rank of fresh that I've had. I could definitely rank an AYCE sushi place higher than this place. The sashimi special of the day was good, not because the fish was good, but because they dressed it up (some jalapeños and bell pepper were involved). The chirashi, which didn't get the dress up treatment, was sad. I finished it (because nothing burns finishing your plate into your soul like an Asian dad who never worked out his problems) but would not recommend. I got the ramen because the menu bragged about the stock being a 24 hour process and I was excited, then severely let down. Truth, I am not a ramen person. There are other soup noodles I like more. Ramen has to be very good for it to register as good for me. This one was missing umami man. I don't know how it could be with the whole 24hr process......but alas. You can get more broth depth from miso you buy at the supermarket mixed with water which is just so....wrong. I sadly could not finish my ramen... read more

My family was celebrating a special Birthday for one of my grandsons...and he chose Izunami for his special day. We have been there many times...even during the 'era' of COVID! Izunami has been extraordinary during the past 2 1/2 years, so I felt comfortable eating indoors. The staff was apprised of our Birthday celebration, and from the time we arrived (late, even!) To the the final thank you's...we felt completely cared for, well fed with their extraordinary food(!) --and the celebratory 'cakes' arrived with a flourish that made my grandson sooo happy he had chosen this restaurant for this special year! As always the food was exemplary, and the staff was 'generous' with their attention to detail. Thank you to everyone this past Sunday evening for a wonderful evening of food and fun! read more

We come here usually when we have some out of town visitor. We love the chef specials.

It's so hard to find a good upscale restaurant which is dog friendly. We found it! Beautiful location and covered, heated "patio" which allows dogs. Service and food was wonderful. We went for lunch and they have a full menu of Asian delights. We will be back. read more

Wonderful place to eat whether or not your staying at Ten Thousand Waves. Wonderful Japanese cuisine. Varied seating. You can eat at the sushi bar or be seated at a more private table. We had wagyu beef that we cooked on a stone at our table. Beautiful sake tastings. Its like Japanese Tapas, the dishes are meant to be shared. Our server was very knowledgable about the cuisine, the teas and the various kinds of sake. Well done Izanami. read more

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Amazing, out of this world experience at the spa. Went here for dinner after and ordered omakase for $79 per person. Here's what we had: Beet salad with goat cheese, pine nuts, arugula, and balsamic vinaigrette. Tasty but not Japanese style. Grilled avocado with soy sauce in the center, wasabi, and chili flakes with a lemon. It was interesting. 4 piece Nigiri - tuna, salmon, hamachi, and mackerel. Very tasty. Brussel sprouts with dry pork belly pieces, pecans, jalapeños, and Parmesan cheese? Huh? White fish in a cream sauce with potatoes, Swiss chard, and cremini mushrooms. It was fine, a bit heavy. Didn't stay for dessert after it took too long to get. That was it. $79. Each. Grilled avocado was almost insulting. Friendly staff but disappointed in the chef's choice menu. read more

This place is on *point*. The menu is a la carte unless you order the chef special/tasting menu. The chef special comes out in 5 courses and they vary depending on the day. The last time I went, it included an Ahi tuna tar-tar that was potently flavorful. Keep in mind the tasting menu is the only way to get any seafood, but it's also $69 per person and everyone at your table must participate. The a la carte menu has a wagyu beef and mushroom burger that is made to reduce the amount of meat needed for the patty. It is served with a chile relleno on top of it. I did feel the relleno was a bit much when the patty is supposed to be the center piece of the meal, but it's very tasty. Also, can't go wrong with the view and ambiance in the place. We had an incredibly friendly server too. He showed us the way they grind their traditional wasabi (which was also fantastic) and he seemed so excited to show us. read more

Izanami was a delicious combo of flavors. The sake flight let us try various sakes and then got a carafe after. Pork belly tacos and lamb were our favorite. And the bathrooms have bidets, which is quite unique read more

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It's a crime that a place this good can get such a low rating on here. Looking through the low reviews it appears to be a mix of neckbeards, weeboos, and aznpriders that mark this place down completely undeservedly. I lived in Japan for seven years and can say without a doubt that this place rocks! Izanami delivers a wonderful meal that made me reminiscent of my time at ryokan in the Japanese countryside. Their sake selection is immaculate and tasted very fresh (sake can skunk pretty easily). They really topped off our stay here. Thank you so much! read more

izanami - Starter of marinated seaweed and shiitake mushrooms. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

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If you come here hungry for dinner, you will want to get a burger. I wish that our waitress would have been a bit more forthcoming with the portion sizes, after having asked her if the sashimi, pickles, lamb chops, and wagyu hot stone would be enough food; she shrugged and said I could always order more if it wasn't. True enough, but had I known in advance, my dining partner and I may have had time to make the hot springs after dinner. Dinner took a little over two hours. (I'll be honest, I came here not expecting to pay as much as I did; the "$$" on the app here is a bit misleading. Although after seeing only older people here, I probably should have known, haha. I think part of it is how small the plates really are - it's like mini tapas. I did not know the portion sizes coming in, which probably led me to feeling a bit let down.) Upon being seated, we were asked if we wanted sparkling or still water, free of charge. I love me some sparkling water, so we went with that. It's somewhat important to note that you only get one pitcher of that, and then it goes back to still water (which makes sense, but still humorous to me). The quality of the meat was fantastic. The Japanese wagyu slivers were the best beef I've ever had in my life. The Nebraska wagyu didn't hold a candle to it. (I could tell I received real wagyu because of the price and the portion, haha.) The lamb was very high quality, but the crust that was advertised was nearly nonexistent. $28~ for two smaller lollipops. I would skip that next time. The tuna sashimi was good, but very thin for the price (I think six small slices was like $18). Would skip that next time. The pickle plate was tasty, and I enjoyed their rendition of red cabbage kimchi and the daikon pickles. After eating all that, I was indeed still very hungry. Although, coming in after hiking and setting up camp a few miles away likely amplified that. I then ordered the umami burger (and a beer), which was outstanding. We shared a dessert (one with macadamia meringue?), which was gluten free (score for my GF dining partner), and it was truly decadent. The waitress made good recommendations for sake flights, and we both enjoyed those quite a bit. I believe we got the natural unpasteurized and fresh and fragrant ones. One unpasteurized sake tasted like soap. The rest were very good. The waitress was also very understanding of my dining partner's many food allergies, and made sure we knew which items she could order. Overall, I think if I come back to finally get to the hot baths, I'll either come for lunch or just get the burger and some nice pickles. I'll treasure the one-time Japanese wagyu beef sliver experience, haha. read more

I was fortunate to have time for lunch at Izanmi before heading to my spa treatment at Ten Thousand Waves. Not only did the lunch menu appeal to me, but it was very reasonably priced as well. I started with a sake flight, which was delicious! It came with 3 very generous portions, and the particular flight that I choose, the 'rich and bold", was $13. For my lunch I selected the bento box lunch special that included wagyu beef, a salad, a creamy fennel soup, mushrooms and rice stuffed tofu pockets. Each element of the box was tasty and it is fun to have such a nice variety to nosh on. The service was friendly and prompt, the setting had a lovely Japanese theme, and the location is gorgeous, tucked up on the side of the mountain. I will be back! read more

izanami - The "rich and bold" sake flight - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

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Wonderful birthday dinner after some spa time in 10 Thousand Waves, sake flights were amazing. Learned a lot about sake from in house sake expert and wait staff. I can't think of a better way to end the day. Views from window, lovely. And I love the bidets!!! read more

izanami - Sake flight, yum - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

After reading the Yelp reviews I admit I was nervous to try this place. Growing up outside of NYC and living in Los Angeles before moving to New Mexico, I have been missing and craving quality Asian and Asian-inspired food. However, my roommate and I were doing a spa night at Ten Thousand Waves, and wanted a convenient yet exciting place to have dinner afterwards so we decided to give izanami a try. It was hands down one of the best dinners either of us has had in Santa Fe, and our experience here made our spa night all the more special. We ended up ordering 8 plates total, a sake flight, and two desserts. As with all restaurants, some dishes appealed to our palates more than others, but every single dish was prepared with so much attention to detail, and with an incredible depth of flavor. Our favorites were the sesame soba noodle salad, the roasted shishito peppers, kurobuta pork belly tacos (my roommate's favorite), kakiage, the ceviche special, and our desserts: the yuzu dacquoise and the coconut tapioca pudding. The coconut tapioca pudding was one of the most delicious desserts I have ever had. The service was also incredible. I am vegan, and our server made sure to mark each vegan or vegan-friendly (with modification) item on the menu--and there are a lot of options! When each dish was brought out, the waiters checked in with us to make sure we were enjoying our meal. Everyone we interacted with was so friendly and warm. We never felt like we were waiting around or unattended to. In total, our meal took two hours, but given the amount of plates we ordered it was expected (and welcomed to have such a relaxing dinner experience). The restaurant itself is beautiful. We opted to sit in the tatami room (floor seating, but with pillows and chair backs) which was a fun and relaxing experience. The patio outside also looked like a beautiful place to enjoy a meal. Overall, I cannot stress enough how wonderful this restaurant is, and how undeserving it is of the more negative reviews on here. I highly recommend you give this place a try and make your own judgement. We will certainly be coming back, and bringing our friends. read more

The menu was a bit confusing. One side of the menu says small plates, while some items under this list were small plates, others were regular entree size. We had to ask how large each portion was. The food was very good, but the service was lackluster. We had a great experience at the spa, and the property is peaceful and well designed. read more

Such a relaxing and beautiful setting. Servers were knowledgeable and kind. Definitely recommend banbanji salad, such fresh, refreshing flavors. The wagyu short ribs were divine! We also ordered the roasted Japanese mushrooms and pork belly tacos. Recommend them all! read more

Everything was amazing and the grounds are beautiful! Great atmosphere, great staff and such good food. read more

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You will not find a better Japanese restaurant in New Mexico! Great location on top of the mountain with an amazing view. Parking can be hard but it is well worth it. The food was very exquisite! Make sure to book a reservation. read more

After eating here twice...I thought about moving to Santa Fe so I could be closer to Izanami! We love the concept of this place and when you eat on the balcony you might think you're in Japan! The last time we were there our waiter was a Sake Sommelier. Knowing there is a rich tradition in Sake and recognizing this place has the most extensive Sake list I have ever seen...I defaulted to his suggestions. After trying several different Sakes with my meal I couldn't resist, and had to ask. I asked him what Sake should I try that I may never see anywhere else but here. To my surprise he brought out 3! I've had Omakase style sushi before...but I'm hooked on Sake this way! *Omakase: The word means "I will leave it to you." It's a fine tradition that gives the chef creative freedom and the customer a memorable dining experience. read more

Peaceful, beautiful location. Menu variety was very good and well executed. Friendly, attentive staff help to create a welcoming environment. Chef's House Chile recipe alone will keep me coming back for a long time. Edit: I realized I should add something important: not just wheelchair accessible, wheelchair friendly. Truly a comfortable experience, and that's worth noting. read more

Make sure you ask for Alex. Waiter extraordinaire! They have too many sakes to list. (Plus a flight) We had an umami burger with house made pickles and fries. They easily accommodated gluten free! The shishito peppers are wonderful. Make sure you try the grilled avocado! read more

izanami - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

The bibimbap was DELICIOUS. Seriously some of the best food I've had in a long time. The restaurant and entire surrounding area is very unique, my family and I walked around for an hour before our reservation and plan on going back to the hot springs sometime soon. read more

Beautiful location and setting. I had a birthday dinner here, we came around 5:30 before it was too crowded. You should definitely get a reservation. I believe they do take walk ins. They have an extensive sake menu and a tapas style dinner menu, with lots of entrees as well for single servings. The wait staff was great, they were very keen on clearing our plates from the table as fast possible. Also the restrooms are fantastic, you've got to see it for yourself. Chefs kiss. read more