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.

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

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.

Hana Sushi was overall a good experience. As a vegetarian, I was happy to see several sushi roll…read moreoptions available. We ordered the veggie sushi combo, veggie maki roll, peanut avocado roll, and shiitake mushroom roll. The veggie sushi combo came with a salad, but it wasn't brought out with our meal and we had to ask for it. The veggie maki roll was essentially fried rolls, which were solid and satisfying. The vegetarian sushi combo had a beautiful presentation, and it included some veggie sashimi, which was unique and not something I see very often. The peanut avocado and shiitake mushroom rolls were fantastic and definitely the highlights. The ambiance was good, the food was solid but not extraordinary, and the service was mid. Overall, a decent spot with good vegetarian options.

Got the Kiss Kiss specialty roll, which I'd get again, very tasty. And the chicken katsu ramen with…read morethe spicy tonku broth base. The ramen bowls here are massive, and I'd recommend splitting it between two people like we did or plan on taking part of it to-go with you because of its larger portion size. Will have to come back again earlier in the day to try one of their lunch specials!

This is great, super good and fresh sushi…read more I recommend the all u can eat and bring a friend or family, you will get enough and can try what ever you want. You can always order more but so don't do a lot right away or else you might have to pay for extra which is standard. Great place to eat

A few people told us to try this sushi place in Clive and it was nice! We got there early and the…read morerestaurant filled up pretty quickly on a Friday afternoon. They offer their regular menu or an all you can eat option. We did their regular menu and it was nice overall. Restaurant is causal but leaves space for classier dining. On to the food: we started with the shumai and vegetable tempura. Shumai was cooked perfectly but the tempura lacked seasoning. It was still crunchy. Sushi was very fresh but served on trays with fake plastic flowers. The fake flowers are unnecessary when the sushi presents so beautifully by itself. We also tried their hibachi noodles with special sauce and it was good. Big portion of just noodles though - it does not have veggies. Tried two cocktails: lychee martini and a cosmo. Both really good but that lychee martini was something special. Deep flavors without being too sweet and overly boozy. Now the service. Keep in mind that it was not busy when we arrived. Our server did not check in as often as he probably should have. First drink sat empty on our table for a while before he finally came back around to see if we wanted anything else. He had difficulty speaking and understanding English which may have been a factor. Not the kindest person but he wasn't rude (if that makes sense). All of the other staff were polite and very helpful. Overall okay but considering all of the other great sushi restaurants in Des Moines, we will probably pass on coming here again.

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.

Food doesn't have flavor! Waited 45 mins for disappointment. Had the shrimp and filet. Don't…read morerecommend either, very disappointed!

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)

Came here on a business trip with my colleague and or first meal after touched down. The restaurant…read moreis big with ample parking. We were the only two customers on a Monday 5:30 and we needed help with the menu as everything looks foreign to us. Server was nice to explain and we got what we wanted. Tasty noodle soup!

I really love their fermentedtea leaf salad. It's so unique and refreshing. Tonight I got the…read moreeggplant curry. At first bite I was disappointed thinking it was a little greasy not that special but... when mixed with steamed rice some kind of magic happens! The rice cuts through the grease and the curry tastes so rich... eggplant is fibrous and filling so it ended up being enough for 2 meals. My mother ordered the tomato salad which was bland. But the vegetable soup was clean and healthy and light. My son had some chicken coconut noodle soup and liked it. It was a big portion enough for 2 bowls at least maybe 3. My husband got pork belly and potato curry. He seemed very filled and satisfied. It was rich and hearty.

I give 5-sushi rolls to Wasabi-Chi (you like what I did there?!) I order from this restaurant at…read moreleast once a week, and it is consistently delicious every time. I also dine-in occasionally and I love their cocktails and neon lights... especially during happy hour! Although the restaurant is never busy, this is not an indicator of the quality of food or drinks served. I think it's just in a bad location. More people should try this hidden gem of a place. The sushi is top-grade and it's a perfect place for a date night! (... with the most beautiful sunsets.)

It was really weird going in here as I was a big fan of the original Irina's that used to occupy…read morethis space... And a big fan of Wasabi Chi...which Wasabi Urbandale effectively replaced. Staff was friendly as is usual with most of the Wasabi locations. I feel like a recognized a couple people from Wasabi Chi. We were greeted right away as we walked in. I went with a friend and my daughter, We ordered a few rolls, drinks, and dumplings. Everything was good as far as the food and the service, but I felt out of place as I found myself reminiscing about the businesses Wasabi Urbandale has taken the place of... The many meals I'd had at the horseshoe bar in Irina's...which is now gone. The special moments shared with friends at Wasabi Chi in my past. I got the feeling of being in any other Wasabi here. It's almost a cookie cutter of Ankeny, Johnston, Waukee... Not that there is anything wrong with that. Wasabi offers consistently good food and service at all it's locations. I just found myself missing an emotional connection that I wanted to feel this time.

Love Taki... Not quite as much as I love Ohana's...but that might be more sentimental than…read moreanything! Taki is a standard Japanese Steakhouse. Like Tokyo in Ankeny they offer teppanyaki style dining with a tableside show at the grill... Or standard dining at a table where you can order the same items off a menu that are offered grillside. Taki is in a strip of businesses so parking isn't an issue. It's got a large lot. We were greeted immediately as we walked in and seated in a booth at the front of the restaurant. We were just hungry and didn't need the show. It was a little chilly inside, but that's Iowa weather and they has just opened the doors for dinner. In hindsight it might have been warmer by a grill. Lol Our server was fantastic. Personable and attentive. Along with fountain drinks we both ordered the New York strip & shrimp, fried rice, soup, salad (ginger dressing), and vegetables off the teppanyaki menu. One medium and one medium rare. The food was excellent as always! Make sure you try their yum yum sauce...! We left full and smiling... Another great visit to Taki!

Tried Taki for the first time and had a good time!…read more We went on a Saturday evening and it was busy, so we had some wait time before our chef arrived. Our hibachi chef was hilarious, engaging, and kept us entertained the entire time! He definitely made our experience more enjoyable. As for the food, the vegetables and shrimp were good and flavorful. However, the fried rice wasn't my favorite. The texture was a bit gummy. The grill area is a little small and very tight! The chairs feel packed in to fit everyone around the table. A little more space would be nice. On the bright side, there was plenty of parking!

The food was outstanding. We had a little bit of everything. The one problem was not enough room…read moreto enjoy it all. Sadly, we will have to return again to try the things we didn't get to try? Staff did an excellent job. Danielle took care of our group of five. She was on top of our service needs. Great with sharing recommendations.

If you love seafood then go to the Waterfront off University in WDM for a delicious walleye or…read morefried oyster poboy New Orlean style. The seasoning on the seafood gumbo will perk you up. The fried oysters are rich, crispy and deliciously good with a few fine bones that bypassed the skillful hand of the sous chef. Nathan -- the wait staffer -- was very attentive and alert to my table which made the meal more enjoyable. The pleasant atmosphere was suitable for all types of gatherings whether solo, business, groups or casual diners who just wanted to relax at the booth or bar to just "chill" in a friendly crowd pleasing atmosphere.