ThreeBestRated.com
BEST RATED KANSAS CITY, MO JAPANESE RESTAURANTS

3 Best Japanese Restaurants in Kansas City, MO

Expert-recommended Top 3 Japanese Restaurants in Kansas City, Missouri. All of our japanese restaurants actually face a rigorous 50-Point Inspection, which includes customer reviews, history, complaints, ratings, satisfaction, trust, cost and general excellence. You deserve only the best!

Sama Zama - Kansas City, MO Japanese Restaurants - Food Image
Sama Zama - Kansas City, MO Japanese Restaurants - Restaurant Exterior Image
Sama Zama - Kansas City, MO Japanese Restaurants - collage image(highlights)
Best Japanese Restaurants in Kansas City MO - Sama Zama video
11+ YEARS ON TBR
CALL EMAIL

SAMA ZAMA

(4.9 Score)
3906 Central Street,
Kansas City, MO 64111 Directions

Since 2012

Specialities:

✓Fried Takoyaki ✓Shumai Age ✓Potato Croquette ✓Yaki Udon ✓Vegetarian Ramen ✓Ramen With Pork Topping ✓Chicken Ramen ✓Tonkotsu Chicken Ramen ✓Miso Chicken Ramen ✓Rice Ball ✓Steamed White Rice ✓Teriyaki Don ✓Fried Chicken Curry ✓Pork Katsu Curry ✓Veggie Rice Ball ✓Salmon Rice Ball ✓Veggie Korokke Curry ✓Plain Fried Rice ✓Veggie Fried Rice ✓Chicken Fried Rice ✓Combination Fried Rice ✓Shrimp Fried Rice ✓Cha-shu Pork Fried Rice

" Sama Zama offers izakaya-style Japanese plates with wine, sake, and exotic sodas. The restaurant serves casual dining in an intimate, modern setting reminiscent of Tokyo's dining scene. They serve lunch and dinner every day and have a full bar. Many of their tiny, thoughtful dishes are inspired by family recipes and the creations of owner Erika Koike. Sama Zama specializes in authentic Japanese comfort food, and their simple dishes are ideal for sharing with family and friends. They make their udon noodles fresh in-house, just as thick as you want them. Sama Zama offers delicious happy-hour bites.

2026 Highlights: Sama Zama provides clear indicators for both vegetarian and vegan diners, featuring customizable miso tofu ramen and entirely plant-based broth options."

Reviews | Play Video | Write a Review

Menu:

Noodles
Yaki Udon $15.00
Vegetarian Ramen $17.00
Ramen | Pork Topping $17.00
Chicken Ramen $17.00
Tonkotsu Chicken Ramen $17.00
Miso Chicken Ramen $17.00
Rice
Rice Ball | Onigiri $11.00
Steamed White Rice $6.00
Teriyaki Don $17.00
Fried Chicken Curry $20.00
Pork Katsu Curry $20.00
Veggie Rice Ball $11.00
Bento Box | Carry Out Only
Tori Kara Age Bento $20.00
Tonkatsu Bento | Pork Cutlet $20.00
Chashu Ribs Bento $20.00
Veggie Korokke Bento $20.00
Appetizers
Steamed Soy Beans | Edamame $9.00
Chicken Salad $16.00
Fried Marinated Chicken | Tori Kara Age $14.00
Tofu & Edamame | Age Goro Goro $15.00
Potstickers | Gyoza $11.00
Miso Soup $7.00
Seaweed Salad | Wakame Salad $10.00
Fried Takoyaki $10.00
Shumai Age $8.00
Potato Croquette | Potato Korokke $11.00

Contact:

(816) 756-3600

Tue-Fri: 11am - 3pm|5pm - 9pm
Sat: 11:30am - 3pm|5pm - 9pm
Sun: 11:30am - 3pm|5pm - 8pm
Mon: Closed

TBR® Inspection Report:

Noka - Kansas City, MO Japanese Restaurants - Food Image
Noka - Kansas City, MO Japanese Restaurants - Restaurant Exterior Image
Noka - Kansas City, MO Japanese Restaurants - collage image(highlights)
Best Japanese Restaurants in Kansas City MO - Noka video

NOKA

(4.9 Score)
334 East 31st Street,
Kansas City, MO 64108 Directions

Since 2023

Specialities:

✓California Crunch ✓Scallop ✓Bincho Aguachile ✓Miso Cod or Salmon ✓Wild Scallop Pasta ✓Lamb Chops ✓Wagyu Burger ✓Kona Rubbed Filet ✓Curried Tofu Bisque ✓Ssamjang Chicken ✓California Crunch ✓Yamaimo ✓Crab Apple Roll ✓Truffle Tuna ✓Mushroom ✓Shrimp Tempura

“ 2026 Highlights: Noka is a Modern Japanese farmhouse-style restaurant located in the heart of Midtown. The restaurant serves Japanese and Asian-inspired dishes, including sushi, sashimi, nigiri, seafood, small plates, and grilled dishes. Their menu includes a mix of traditional Japanese food and dishes influenced by other Asian cooking styles. Founded by Chef and Owner Amante Domingo, the restaurant is an elegant "ode to fresh and seasonal ingredients". Noka features an exceptional, deep selection of curated sakes alongside creative cocktails.”

Reviews | Play Video | Write a Review

Menu:

California Crunch: $15
Yamaimo: $13
Crab Apple Hand Roll: $15
Truffle Tuna: $15
Mushroom: $13

Discount:

Tuesday: Happy Hour All Day with Half-Off Small Plates, Sushi, Cocktails and More, Dine-In Only

Thursday: Half-Off Sushi Including Sushi Rolls, Sashimi and Nigiri, Dine-In Only

View Coupon

Contact:

(816) 766-4441

Tue-Thu: 4pm-10pm
Fri-Sat: 4pm-11pm
Sun: 5pm-10pm
Mon: Closed

TBR® Inspection Report:

Kokoro Maki House - Kansas City, MO Japanese Restaurants - Food Image
Kokoro Maki House - Kansas City, MO Japanese Restaurants - Restaurant Exterior Image
Kokoro Maki House - Kansas City, MO Japanese Restaurants - collage image(highlights)
8+ YEARS ON TBR

KOKORO MAKI HOUSE

(4.8 Score)
340 West 75th,
Kansas City, MO 64114 Directions

Since 2006

Specialities:

✓Chicken Teriyaki ✓Beef Teriyaki ✓Tofu Teriyaki ✓Chicken Katsu ✓Pork Cutlet ✓Unagi Donburi ✓Shrimp Tempura ✓Yaki Udon ✓Yaki Soba ✓Ramen ✓Udon Soup ✓Vegetable Fried Rice ✓Chicken Fried Rice ✓Tuna ✓Crab ✓Salmon ✓Yellowtail ✓Red Snapper ✓Eel ✓Shrimp ✓Vegetable Tempura ✓Vegetable ✓Avocado ✓Asparagus ✓Cucumber ✓Banana Tempura ✓Fantasy ✓Caterpillar ✓Dragon ✓Alaskan Roll ✓New York ✓Sex and the City ✓Hot Mama ✓Yum Yum ✓Boston Roll ✓Kokoro Maki ✓Waldo’s Volcano

" Kokoro Maki House is a Japanese/Korean restaurant that serves great sushi, Japanese, and Korean dishes. The restaurant serves large meals at reasonable prices. Their exceptionally talented sushi chef creates an inventive sushi menu with a spectacular presentation. All dishes at KC Sushi are made with fresh ingredients and prepared in such a way that high-quality flavors and nutrition are preserved. They have a great selection of drinks, including both American and Japanese sake and beer. You can come here for a special lunch or delicious Korean and Japanese dinners at night. You can also order your favorite food for carryout. Kokoro Maki House serves tasty happy-hour food, with happy hour running from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM.

2026 Highlights: Kokoro Maki House offers free refills on fountain sodas and provides plenty of accessible parking right outside."

Reviews   |   Write a Review

Menu:

Noodles & Tempura
Yaki Udon $14.95
Ramen - Miso $14.95
Ramen - Shoyu $14.95
Ramen - Tonkotsu $15.95
Udon Soup $14.95
Bento Box Dinner Specials
Chicken Teriyaki $21.99
Spicy Pork $21.99
Bulgogi $21.99
Beef Teriyaki $21.99
Chicken Katsu $22.99
Pork Cutlet $22.99
Sushi Box $26.99
Lunch Specials
Spicy Pork $17.95
Chicken Teriyaki $17.95
Beef Teriyaki $17.95
Bulgogi $17.95
Sushi Box $18.45
Ramen & Cali Roll $17.95
APPETIZERS
Calamari $8.25
Vegetable Tempura $8.95
Steamed Rice $4.00
Sushi Rice $4.50
Shrimp Tempura $8.95
Crab Rangoon $6.25

Discount:

Happy Hour: 4:30pm-6pm, Appetizers and Any Rolls $1 Off for Dine-In Guests

View Coupon

Contact:

(816) 363-0678

Mon-Fri: 11am - 2:30pm|4:30pm - 9pm
Sat: 12pm - 2:30pm|4:30pm - 9pm
Sun: Closed

TBR® Inspection Report:

Video

Write a Review for Kokoro Maki House

Our Review Process:

  • All reviews matter:We publish both positive and negative reviews to provide a balanced perspective.
  • No censorship: Businesses cannot pay to remove or modify negative reviews.
  • Verification process: All reviews are checked for authenticity and compliance with our community guidelines before publication.
  • Fair representation: We display reviews of all ratings (1–5 stars) to help users make informed decisions.
  • Independence: We are not affiliated with the businesses we review and receive no compensation for favorable ratings.

Your honest opinion helps others make better choices. Whether your experience was excellent, average, or disappointing, we want to hear from you. For more details, check Community Review Guidelines.

Contact Business

SAMA ZAMA REVIEWS

This place is great. That ramen is everything you want! Hot pot! Rice balls! Everything is worth the experience. If I were them I would increase prices to cover to-go containers rather than place a note on the table. Or be able to demonstrate compost efforts for waste. I would put the bring your own NA drink notification on the website. I would like to see more green/recycling efforts if patrons are forced to buy bottle/can/glass beverages. Design and experience were truly great. Adventurous kiddos loved it.

We found Sama Zama when looking for a quick bite. We wound up with a truly enjoyable meal of fresh food that was cooked well, served fast, and was absolutely delicious. This is the most authentic Japanese restaurant I’ve found in KCMO, and I will be back. Everything here was clean, orderly, simple and executed perfectly. They also have a nice selection of sodas and other drinks.

The edamame was delicious. Best fried chicken curry I've ever had! I got a second curry to go. Will definitely come back again, I can't recommend this place enough.

These reviews are provided for information purposes and to help you make informed decisions.

To share your experience, click here or send it to reviews@threebestrated.com.

We will display both positive and negative reviews. All submitted reviews are published after verification for authenticity and compliance with our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Community Review Guidelines.

NOKA REVIEWS

Had a great experience at Noka. The atmosphere is beautiful and the restaurant is really nicely decorated—it sets the tone for a great night out. We started with the California Crunch rolls as an appetizer, which were really good. For our main courses, we had the Miso Cod and the Wagyu burger. The burger was amazing and definitely the standout of the meal. For drinks, we ordered mocktails that were a lemon drop–style version, and they were refreshing and well made. We finished with cheesecake for dessert, which was the perfect ending. We didn’t have a reservation, but the wait was only about 20–25 minutes before we were seated. Definitely a place I’d visit again.

Wow what an amazing experience! Some of the best sushi I’ve ever had. My husband was very impressed with his wagyu burger. They had both a gluten and dairy free menu for me and I had lots of options with my dietary restrictions!! We can’t wait to come back.

Lauren was such a fantastic server! She was very attentive, kind, and asked the kitchen on several occasions about modifications for dietary restrictions. The Lychee cocktail was delicious! Really enjoyed the entrees and sashimi dishes we ordered. Would recommend the banana/marshmallow desert. Amazing.

KOKORO MAKI HOUSE REVIEWS

I have gone here a couple times with my family, and the food, service, and environment is always top notch ! Lanterns offer mood lighting, and dark wooden tables and chairs are very cozy ! The service is friendly, attentive, and the food is delicious and high quality. Their new ramen bowls taste fresh, are creamy, have the perfect amount of meat, and have the tastiest egg. Their maki house and dragon rolls are to die for, I always enjoy this place.

Excellent spot for sushi right off Wornall! I loved the Kokoro maki roll, volcano roll, and the hot mama roll. The crab Rangoon was awesome too. I can’t recommend this place enough and being super close to it this will definitely be a go to in the future.

Came here for the first time with some friends. I definitely will be coming back! Delicious, well prepared, and great presentation. Best of all, reasonably priced. They have happy hour, $1 off ALL sushi. I recommend looking at the menu online before arriving since they have a variety of dishes & you order at the cash register.

TBR® Inspection Score Report

SAMA ZAMA Total Inspection Points: 118/120
Business Hours: 9
Contact Info: 9
Acknowledgments: 10
Menu Images: 10
Complete Info: 10
Exact Services: 10
Legitimate Ratings: 10
Location Proximity: 10
Online Order: 10
Pricing: 10
Reviews Accuracy of : 10
Video: 10

TBR® Inspection Score Report

NOKA Total Inspection Points: 117/120
Business Hours: 9
Complete Info: 9
Contact Info: 9
Acknowledgments: 10
Menu Images: 10
Exact Services: 10
Legitimate Ratings: 10
Location Proximity: 10
Online Order: 10
Pricing: 10
Reviews Accuracy of : 10
Video: 10

TBR® Inspection Score Report

KOKORO MAKI HOUSE Total Inspection Points: 115/120
Acknowledgments: 9
Business Hours: 9
Complete Info: 9
Contact Info: 9
Social Media: 9
Menu Images: 10
Exact Services: 10
Legitimate Ratings: 10
Location Proximity: 10
Pricing: 10
Real Discounts: 10
Reviews Accuracy of : 10