3 Best Japanese Restaurants in Minneapolis, MN

“Moto-I is a buzzy outfit offering Japanese noodles & small plates, plus a rooftop patio & on-site sake brewery. The restaurant is located in the neighborhood of Lyn-Lake. Moto-i is Minneapolis' only craft sake brewery and the first sake brewpub outside Japan. The decor is very modern, and the space feels intimate and cozy, perfect for a night out with friends or a date night. It is a fantastic local company to support because it actively works to give back and strengthen the community. Moto-i is an Izakaya that serves house-made steamed buns, straight-style noodles from Tokyo, and rotating seasonal specials that are perfectly paired with their sake. The customers can make all reservations for dining on their rooftop patio. They enjoy serving delicious Japanese food to their customers and brewing sake on-site. They have certain dishes that you can request made to be vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free. They have a television in the restaurant with a full bar facility. They host groups & parties for customer events.”

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“Zen Box Izakaya is an industrial-style restaurant serving various Japanese comfort foods such as ramen, sashimi, and stir-fry. They are a small Izakaya-style restaurant with a small menu and many drink options. The Zen Box Izakaya has some cool wall decorations and hanging lights. Chef John Ng is the executive chef and co-owner of Zen Box Izakaya. For the foreseeable future, they intend to focus on the take-out-only program, with picnic-style tables on their patio for visitors to enjoy their take-out meals. Zen Box Izakaya is excited to bring back the spirit of Izakaya hospitality and welcome you into their dining room with their enthusiastic Irrashaimase. The restaurant also allows extra time and effort to reopen its dining room to protect its co-workers and guests with the best interests and thoughtful execution. The bar offers a variety of Japanese Beer, Japanese Whiskey, Sake, and Japanese-style Cocktails. There is plenty of street parking around the restaurant. They have a private dining facility and serve vegan dishes.”

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“Kyatchi is a contemporary eatery that serves traditional & creative sushi, Japanese small plates & mains. The restaurant was founded in 1993 to supply the freshest and broadest variety of seafood from around the globe and offer it to customers locally who understand and appreciate uncompromising quality. Kyatchi restaurant serves beer, wine, sake, and shochu and has a wide collection of Japanese whiskey and many specialty cocktails. Their strict environment and constant customer-centered practices support fisheries and farming partners' choice and careful processing of entire fish. All kinds of seafood are picked according to the criteria of the Monterey Bay Seafood Watch. They provide plates of sustainable foods, emphasizing sustainable fish and seafood both in traditional Japanese and modern American styles. They are wheelchair accessible and accept credit card payments.”

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