The best views and food, and especially a great location if you're staying at the hotel

Last weekend, I visited Makoto with a group of friends. The appetizers were delicious, but my entree left me thoroughly disappointed. I ordered the lamp chops, which were presented beautifully. I requested medium-rare, but when I cut into the first piece, it was well done, and the second was the same. The third piece was slightly better, but I called the manager to complain. He assured me that they would replace it and make it perfect. By the time my new meal arrived, my friends had already finished theirs. I cut into the first piece, and it was again well done. The next two pieces were just okay, but I decided to eat them. They promised to replace the well-done piece, but when I tried the lamb, it was not even that great. It had an unusual texture and tasted terrible. I've had a lot of lamb in my life, and this was by far one of the worst I've ever had. To make amends, they gave us three small pieces of Mochi cut in half. Makoto, please do better. read more

This is a restaurant in Grant Hyatt, and I was anticipating a really nice dining experience... First of all, I called in for an early reservation (5:30 pm!) here well in advance, so I thought it wouldn't be difficult to snag a decent table...but nope! We ended up sitting in this super-narrow space in the middle of the restaurant by the kitchen AND the restroom. Well, anyone that knows me know that I am claustrophobic, and can't stand being in a tight space like this. We could hear every word said by the couple sitting right next to us...almost close enough to touch us!! It was awful...and I wanted to leave before even sitting down! ANYWAY, I decided to grit my teeth and endure the uncomfortable dining. I started with a very strong drink...this Whisky cocktail (forgot the name), which was ridiculously expensive ($24?), but luckily, very good! We ordered several items to share....Rock Shrimp appetizer, Wagyu Fried Rice, Chicken Ramen Noodle Soup and this fancy appetizer (forgot the name). Rock Shrimp appetizer and the Wagyu Fried Rice were both solid. However, the Chicken Ramen Noodle Soup was utterly tasteless...I could barely down half of it, even with chili sauce added to it. Tasted like really bad Pho (and I'm not even a fan of Pho). The dessert was very good, and I really enjoyed trying the pink Spagetti textured cream. The presentation was very awkward though. Why the brown tray...when this modern white dish (if you call it that?) was cool on its own?? Speaking of presentation, all the dishes were quite sloppy. Everything looked as if they were just slopped unto the dish without a care in the world...and just not fitting for the price points. Needless to say, it was a very disappointing experience for me. The seating itself ruined half of the experience...then the really bland ramen (more like Pho?!?) just seemed to cap it as the worst meal I've had in Vail and Breckenridge. Even the fancy dessert couldn't save it...as it struck me as a bit awkward-tacky? Tight, awkward seating...Limited options on the menu...Poor presentation...and way overpriced! Definitely will not be returning here. read more

See all

We came in 2/14 to celebrate valentines. Had a lovely meal. Restaurant seemed pretty empty when we came in for our late lunch 3pm. We enjoyed several dishes. Not pictured: dynamite hand roll, braised beef yaki noodles, and spicy edamame. To drink we both decided on the Muraski Margarita. Delicious!!! But very small amount once the ice is removed. read more

See all

So let's start with the good. Decent service, vibes are great for a romantic date or an outing with friends. The drinks are great as well. Now the not so good. The waygu stone dish was alright. I feel like a nicely done ribeye would've been better. The yellowtail sushi was good. The braised beef yaki noodles were very underwhelming. They were too salty and the texture was so grainy. The wagyu beef fried rice was a bit too soft/ mushy for my liking. The amount of seaweed within the rice was overwhelming the taste of the other ingredients. I wouldn't come here again...it's good to try once but honestly the food is not worth spending money on. read more

Makoto Vail - Sushi Bars Near Me - Vail, Colorado

Get the shishito peppers and a sushi roll or two (I recommend the yellowtail), you won't be disappointed.

To put it simply, Makoto Vail delivers in both flavor and experience. We visited on a Sunday night in September. The restaurant was not busy and we were seated for our reservation immediately. The decor was impressive, including the large wooden light fixtures hanging from the ceiling. I also enjoyed that you can see the chefs at work from most seats in the restaurant. We had the truffle salmon, the rainbow roll, the beef yakisoba noodles, and the death star for dessert. I am not exaggerating when I say that all were excellent. The raw truffle salmon had excellent flavor and seasoning. I'm not normally a beef person, but the beef in the yakisoba noodles was truly delectable. And of course the death-star is a fun combination of flavor and entertainment (the staff light it on fire upon delivery). Our server, Hiro, was knowledgeable and attentive. Overall, the service was excellent. Overall, I would say that Makoto Vail is worth the elevated price. That says a lot coming from me, because I am often skeptical of expensive restaurants and find they do not meet expectations for the prices they charge. However, I felt like this experience was worth every penny. read more

See all

The service was prompt and always fun food experience sitting at the sushi bar. You can't really see anyone making sushi, but certainly an active seat. The ambiance is upbeat and vibrant. I would share that the noise level in this area was quite high - just to know if you're having a business meal or want a quiet romantic setting. The food was so timely from the kitchen and sushi was fresh and flavorful! If you like a smoky / slightly spicy cocktail- then consider the Dansu $19. Enjoy and Like my review if it helps you ! read more

See all

Amazing all around - food, ambience, and service. My wife and I celebrated our anniversary here and it did not disappoint. Certainly pricey, even for Vail, and out of our norm, but well worth it. The chicken dumplings were unlike anything I've ever tasted, but still grounded in traditional and appropriate Asian flavors. The edamame was perfectly steamed with the correct salt. And the steak...WOW. I chose the 10 ounce strip and it's one of the best pieces of beef I've had in a long time. We routinely eat prime Western beef and have a very high bar, which this far surpassed. read more

Makoto Vail - 10 oz NY Strip - Sushi Bars Near Me - Vail, Colorado

See all

I was excited to see Makoto make an appearance in Vail CO! A smaller menu than Miami, but the dishes that we ordered were spot on! Great new space located in Grand Hyatt, with friendly, knowledgable staff, even a few familiar faces read more

Makoto Vail - Sushi Bars Near Me - Vail, Colorado

See all

This place has some of the best sushi rolls I've ever had. I love that they also offered the option of ponzu sauce, which I found to be less overpowering than soy sauce. This allowed you to really taste the flavors of each roll. The service was excellent, and the food was phenomenal--probably one of the best places I've had sushi. Every ingredient tasted so fresh that I didn't need to dip every roll in soy sauce or ponzu. We ordered the shrimp tempura uramaki, which was probably the best shrimp tempura roll I've ever had--so crispy! The spicy yellowtail uramaki, rainbow uramaki, and negi toro hosomaki were also delicious. For dessert, the Flaming Death Star was phenomenal. Not only did they light it on fire, but the unique flavors complemented each other perfectly! The ambiance was fabulous for a date night. We went during the walk-in timeframe, but be sure to make a reservation if you plan to visit for dinner read more

See all

Wow, can't recommend this place enough!! When you come here expect to pay a pretty penny for quality food. Starting off the best appetizer we had was the hamachi crispy rice... I could eat 5 plates of these!! The hamachi was so buttery it melted in my mouth. The braised beef noodles were also phenomenal. The nigiri and sashimi was incredibly fresh. read more

See all

Ruins all other sushi for the rest of the year! Service was impeccable. A beautiful, bustling setting.

The best sushi in VAIL. Finally tried Makoto and wow, the service, the atmosphere, and mostly the food~simply, but not so simple~~~incredible. Our new spot for Japanese cuisine. Thank You for a wonderful evening!! read more

See all

This place was delicious, great sushi in Vail and it was easy to go with a group of nine folks to share everything. We split a bunch of apps, got crispy tuna rice, fried rice, noodles, and ended with a bunch of maki rolls! Fun and fancy atmosphere and was the perfect post skiing dinner. read more

See all

My wife took me here for my birthday. I was pretty excited because I'd never been and love to try new things and new restaurants. I wouldn't say that it ruined my birthday, but our experience was pretty poor. Now, I understand that the valley is short staffed during the mud season, but it was not busy (a Wednesday night). We were seated on the patio overlooking the river. So far so good. Our waiter said he'd be right with us, so that's fine. After I ordered my cocktail from him, it took at least 20 minutes to get it. We had to ask another staff member to find our waiter at least 3 times. Each time he came, but no apologies. We ordered and all of our food came out at once. Both of our appetizers, our a la carte sushi and our sampler all could barely fit on our table and then our waiter disappeared again. We had to ask other staff to take plates off our table because it was so full. I found all the food to be mediocre. The sashimi wasn't very flavorful, the crispy Brussels sprouts were not crispy at all. We also ordered the tuna crunch rice dish and that was crunchy, but the tuna was more of a pate. Not what we were expecting, but it did look nice. That dish was just okay. For my birthday dinner, I ordered the $80 sashimi sampler and it came on a tray that took nearly a quarter of our table. See above about not taking empty plates away. My wife also asked for a hot tea and that never came. When we were done, we had to ask another server to find our waiter again after waiting about 10 minutes. He came and bussed our table and brought dessert menus. We declined dessert, but did ask for the manager. Pretty quickly the manager came and we talked to him about all the mis-steps. The manager was very apologetic and ended up making it up to us. All of the other staff that we dealt with were just fine. It was just our waiter and the fact that the food was just meh. We were told that they hoped we would come back at some point. I'm not sure that will happen, but it might. My friends rave about this place but it was not a pleasant experience for us unfortunately. It seems from some of the other reviews that the service is either hit or really really miss. It seems we got the latter. read more

See all

This restaurant was delicious. We ordered the yucky noodle, which was probably the best thing we ate there and the best yakisoba noodle I've had. We also ordered the sushi chefs sampler which came with 12 pieces and a monkey roll very fresh. Very good quality great variety of fish. We also had the Wagyu hot stone, where you cook your own meat. We were celebrating an anniversary and the restaurant congratulated us. They helped make it special! For dessert, we had the ice cream with miso caramel, which was also a light yummy end into the meal. The ambulances the restaurant is nice, the place is wooden, good view. Our waiter was wonderful. They were fast bringing the food out when we're ready for the next course they kept the table clean. Overall a fantastic meal I'm confused by some of these reviews. read more

See all

Ate here for dinner with my family and had a wonderful experience. Staff were friendly and helpful. Ambiance was really nice. The food was really good. I ordered the Chirashi bowl and was one of the best ones Ive had. Husband ordered veggie roll, avocado roll, brussel sprouts and salad - all were also really good. My son had the chicken ramen which he also loved. Will definitely come back when we're in the area. read more

Makoto Vail - Chirashi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Vail, Colorado

See all

had to ask 3 times for eel sauce, by the time it came the shrimp tempura is cold... waiter never checks in on you if u need anything. soda refills are not free. rock shrimp was the worst ive had. they forgot to bring out the tuna crispy rice then charged us twice for it, then had to ask to remove it. a mess. ive had waayy better spicy tuna crispy rice. $250 for dinner & only the miso soup was delicious :/ . Uchi in Denver is extremely tastier & way more worth the price. read more

Makoto Vail - Sushi Bars Near Me - Vail, Colorado

Such a disappointment. I ate here last month and it was an unfortunate experience all around. The only positive is that the space itself is beautiful. After that, it was all downhill. The food was meh and the service was a confusing, haphazard mess. I won't be making that mistake again. read more

If you're looking for a good sushi spot in Vail, look no further! We ordered the Rock Shrimp & Spicy tuna Crispy Rice as a starter and can't stop thinking about how incredible both those starters were. For rolls we ordered the Spicy Yellow Tail, Spicy Tuna, and a Rainbow roll. All of the rolls were so flavorful, delicate, and delicious. Our server knew the menu inside and out and we loved his recommendations. We sat in the "outside" area, but it's really just a covered area with floor-to-ceiling windows that lookout to beautiful Vail. Highly recommend sitting in the "outside" area, but the inside of the restaurant is also so aesthetically pleasing. I can't wait to come back! read more

See all

Amazing food, beautiful ambiance, and absolutely wonderful service! Our waiter was incredibly helpful and kind, which made the experience even better. The menu was extensive, and the sushi was top-quality -- they even had fresh fish flown in from Japan! A definite must-visit when you're in Vail. We can't wait to come back! read more

Very few options for a vegan. Even menu items which would appear to be vegan, like brussels sprouts with Szechuan sauce, miso soup, or cauliflower with a tofu-based sauce are not, and no variations were offered by the server. The vegan maki rolls were extremely limited and nothing special, just cucumber, avocado, and some pickled vegetables - indeed, less variety than I have seen at most Japanese restaurants. read more

Avoid, anywhere else will be better. The manager of the restaurant is the biggest problem owners in the Hyatt residences should be granted access to food at all times. The bartender was willing to place my to-go order, but then the manager came from behind and spoke to him in Spanish, telling him do not grant my order. Time for new management don't waste your time eating here. read more

One of the best & most memorable dining experiences of our life. The location is absolutely breathtaking, the service is second to none, and the food is absolutely incredible in every way. Rodrigo and his team provide an experience that rivals that of Michelin-starred restaurants, right in the heart of the rocky mountains. We went for a sake tasting experience with dinner afterwards, and the staff's knowledge and passion for what they do is incredible. The sakes they stock are exquisite, and they know how to perfectly pair them. The sushi & sashimi are perfection, perfect quality fish that simply melts in your mouth with every bite. The wagyu beef on hot stone was incredible. And, I'd highly recommend the 'flaming death star' dessert which involves flaming liquor poured on top of a chocolate orb that then melts to reveal its delicious insides... I don't want to spoil the experience :) It's perfection, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a perfect dining experience that will surprise and delight them every step of the way! This place is a real gem. read more

Food and service was incredible. Great contribution to the area. The Wagyu hot stone and chicken dumplings are a must!

This is probably now my favorite spot in vail. The ambiance was cozy and intimate. Our server Hiroto was attentive. The food was amazing. Really good sized portions and prices that matched the portions. The chicken ramen was delicious as was the fried rice. My favorite though was the waygu beef hot stone. INCREDIBLE. We also had the flaming Death Star dessert which was lots of fun. read more

Makoto Vail - Flaming Death Star dessert was - Sushi Bars Near Me - Vail, Colorado

See all

Seriously - Makoto is the BEST restaurant in Vail!!! The outdoor seating was picturesque (Beautiful Aspen Trees as a backdrop!) Wagyu beef on a hot stone was just the beginning of our epicurean adventure with dynamite handrolls and the best sushi I've ever had. My gratitude to the entire team, especially the wonderful managers who checked on us and made us feel like royalty. My husband and I can't wait to be back!! read more

See all

Makoto was great...definitely recommend. More chill ambiance than Matsuhisa, breezy open-air porch, and so nice to get away from crowded village via the free resort shuttle. Had a nice bottle of nigori unfiltered sake, enjoyed searing wagyu beef on the hot stone, fresh simple sushi... read more

See all

Excellent Sashimi! The BRAISED BEEF YAKI NOODLES is the bomb! Wonderful service at the Bar! Beautiful decor and a fabulous view too! read more

Makoto Vail - BRAISED BEEF YAKI NOODLES - Sushi Bars Near Me - Vail, Colorado

We had an amazing dinner with my family. Everything was fantastic. Hiro did a terrific job.

I wish to give a 3.5 star here but can't so am settling for a 3 star. Overall, there were a lot of goods and a few misses. Some of the misses in my opinion are not ok given that this is at a Grand Hyatt that charges a pretty penny for the privilege of staying here. Let's start with the goods. The service was fantastic. Honestly, I kept wondering why can't all hotels in North America provide such good service. I could not argue with myself at leaving a generous tip (something I have of late started to reconsidered and implemented or rather not for just the 'expectation' of a tip by default). Our server kept checking in on us to make sure everything was good. There was a young gentleman (I believe he has a bright future in the restaurant industry as while he was young, he had the well intentioned conversation and the way he would deliver the meals describing what they are. Sadly, didn't get his name but I think he will do really well), our water glasses were kept filled all the time (and we do drink a lot of water). Overall, we were taken care of with a lot of genuine care. My wife ordered a non alcoholic passion fruit mocktail. She LOVED it (I did not as that's the one note I can't take; sour). We got the roasted brussel sprouts with this amazing dip (spicy Asian dip that was made in house). Well charred; soft enough to bite yet perfectly al dente. The spicy edamame took me by surprise. I typically am the kind of person who prefers to let the traditional things just be. In Japan, (I'm sure it's changed now due to the tourism effect), you would never get these fancy edamame. It has always been simple and mostly with just a bit of salt. This spicy edamame was actually very very good. It came in this saucy gravy if you will that had the right amount of spice to it but also had these small pieces of garlic that brought out so many different flavors. Amazing. My wife ordered the veggie and garden uramaki. The garden uramaki (I believe this one is with the pickled vegetables) was OUTSTANDING. The other veggie one was pretty average. I ordered the unagi sashimi which was HEAVENLY. Beautifully grilled to perfection, soft, juicy and just full of flavor. Now to the misses; The garden uramaki while delicious was not built properly. Both of us tried to hold it with the chop sticks but it kept falling and opening up. A well done sushi roll would never do that. I ordered the sakura pork tonkatsu for my main meal. Honestly, nothing special about it. It started out really beautifully cooked from one end and as I made my way past the middle, the meat was clearly slightly overcooked and chewy. Point of this? This tonkastu was not cooked well. The biggest miss was honestly the saddest. This will sound so funny but I kind of am a Hyatt and a Japanese food sucker. I almost feel I am personally vested in these two so I really expect perfection. To better understand the rest of the review, I have to point out that their menu online is NOT updated to their most current menu on site. This in my opinion is VERY important and cannot be missed due to the caliber of the space. (One of the two rolls my wife had above is not on their online menu while what you will see below is the opposite) I saw this whiskey on their menu which I REALLY was looking forward to try. MARS FUYU CHESTNUT FINISH. When I placed the order with our server (who by the way was super nice and as I mentioned took great care of us) went to the 'boss' to see if he could help. Since she referred to him as the 'boss', I'm assuming he was the manager. Great service and very honest and bright. Thing is, he came and said they actually don't have that whiskey. You know where I'm going with this. This is a whiskey guys; you can't not have your drinks up to date. A LOT of money is made on this. I cannot fault the manager for this though as he's not in charge of keeping the menus up to date (only because this establishment is within a hotel premise). What he recommended though (this I was shocked and kind of wonder if he was fully aware of what I wanted to try) over 3 times the price of what I wanted to try. I wasn't going to spend over 3 times for a 1.5 ouncer so I decided to request another one. Guess what? They were out. This in my opinion (again, this is perhaps not the manager's fault but whoever does the purchasing and maintaining) is unacceptable at a place of this caliber. Again, he apologized and brought 2 options. So I ended up trying the Nikka Miyagikyo single malt peated. Honestly, I LOVED this whiskey so in all, it did work out. I tried a new whiskey that I want to now add to my collection. That said though, I cannot leave the establishment off the hook for some of these big misses and hence the 3.5 star review. But do try it out as you will LOVE how they treat you. read more

Makoto Vail - The brussel sprouts with a fantastic sauce and the Kodai no Hana mocktail - Sushi Bars Near Me - Vail, Colorado

Good quality sushi. Nice atmosphere. Prices a bit inflated. Service a but below average.

The shrimp and crispy tuna were both great appetizers! The service was great too & the outdoor seating was very nice. The highlight was the crispy tuna, definitely get it!! read more

Makoto Vail - Sushi Bars Near Me - Vail, Colorado

See all

Is there a 6th Star option? I had the pleasure of dining at Makoto during our stay in Vail, and to say it was one of the best meals I've ever had, would be a huge understatement. We were fortunate enough to have outdoor seating with the amazing view of the base of the mountain and river beneath, which set the tone for our wonderful meal. The crispy tuna is a must for a starter...absolutely delicious. We treated ourselves to the wagyu beef with a beautiful table presentation and an amazing tower of some of the freshest sashimi I've ever had. I have to say, what took our meal to the next level was the service. Our servers were attentive and engaging and made us feel so welcomed. The restaurant manager also popped in to make sure we were having a great time. I can't say enough great things about our experience at Makoto, other than we cannot wait to go back when we we're in Vail! read more

See all

Everything was oversauced and a bit salty which is a shame if you're dealing with some nicer fish and wagyu. When you don't even need to add your soy sauce and feel each piece is a bit overly saturated with soy sauce that isn't good (not sure if I've been to sushi restaurant where every nigiri piece already has soy sauce?). The shishito peppers was probably the best and the dynamite roll was alright. Then you feel like you have to finish it all bc you're already paying a good bit. read more

Just average is my basic review of the food. Tried several sushi maki rolls and they were okay. My friends had the same take. For the price I expected something better than average. Also my wife is gluten free and they had basically nothing on the menu for her. In this day and age I found that surprising. She ended up having steamed rice and they also recommended "chicken." The "chicken" was about 3/4 cup of steamed chicken! Not even salted! I laughed when I saw it. When I got the bill I saw they charged $7.00 for it. I get the place is touted as a high end joint but seriously?! Bottom line I wouldn't go back, but you probably figured I'd say that by now. But hey the view was good so that's worth a star. Otherwise this would have been a 2 star experience. read more

Horrible servers. Would not recommend it to anyone especially visitors because I don't think they are a true presentation of Vail residents.

Best sushi and ramen hands down in Vail. Thank you for being accommodating and kid-friendly. Wagyu beef was delish. Loved the little patio overlooking the river. We will for sure be back! read more

Dined at Makoto from beginning to end, and it was a beautiful experience. Although we had reservation issues, Rodrigo took care of everything--what an amazing guy in every possible way! I was outside when he resolved it all so seamlessly. Coming from Japan and living in LA, I was blown away by the incredible food. Eddy, our waiter, was hilarious and kept us entertained throughout the evening. The drinks were phenomenal, making the entire night unforgettable. Because of his outstanding hospitality, I would highly recommend Makoto to others and will definitely be dining there again soon. read more