Kyatchi

Went on a weekday night so atmosphere was less busy. Service was fantastic, server was very knowledgeable and the Uni and Sushi had unparalleled freshness for a sushi restaurant in the Midwest. Ramen was okay, IMO a little heavy on the beef bouillon vs umami flavours I had become accustomed to, and it was still extremely filling nonetheless. Would definitely go frequently to try the other menu items as the first visit knocked our expectations out of the park.

We got there when they opened at 4pm on a Tuesday. It was mellow and the perfect time to enjoy their happy hour menu. We got a 6pc roll on the happy hour menu with scallop and yuzu, very subtle and satisfying flavor. The Suntory Toki drink was like a effervescent light beer, not something I’d order again. However, the junmai ginjo was the perfect refreshment to pair with the karaage. Lastly, we ordered the Tarasando; enjoyable if you’re in the mood for a hot dog styled fish sandwich. In the past I’ve ordered the curry and it’s one of my favorite things I’ve ordered! Next time we’re in minneapolis I’m sure we’ll be back to try more :) Side note: service was great!

First of all- the pressed salmon sushi was out of this world! A friend of mine has been RAVING about the pressed sushi for the past 2 years, so my expectations were high. It totally exceeded my expectations- zesty, buttery, and the perfect balance of textures. We also ordered barley tea, gyoza, a red snapper roll, and a yellow tail roll. The yellow tail roll was exceptional. The red snapper was good, but the flavor wasn’t my favorite (personal preference). The gyoza was delightful too. The barley tea was a great addition to the meal and was the perfect warming element on a chilly night. We were satisfied by the amount of food we ordered, but I would recommend ordering a couple of additional rolls if you’re really trying to be pleasantly full after the meal. Overall, great experience. We will be returning soon- probably for happy hour!

The food was excellent at Kyatchi. It’s just that I spent so many years in Japan, and the price I pay for the same type of food here seems so high. But that’s probably not fair at all to Kyatchi and other local Japanese restaurants so I kept five stars for this review. The food is authentic and the menu choices are rather unique, like Age-bitashi Donburi, which is something my mother used to cook. Yakisoba dog was great too which is typically served without a hotdog in Japan, along with traditional potato salad made with Japanese mayo and chopped up cucumber, also something my mother used to make. Hitachino beer is hard to find here, but they had two kinds. I had a glass of Yuzu lager which I highly recommend. We had a great time and we will be coming back.

If you're looking for a Japanese restaurant in South Minneapolis, you might want to check out this place. While there's no Japanese chef or server on-site, the restaurant offers a beautiful Japanese-themed décor and a menu of delicious Japanese cuisine that has earned it multiple awards, including Best Sushi Award by City Pages and by Mpls St. Paul Magazine. Interestingly, it has also won the award for Best Hot Dog by Star Tribune and People Magazine. During our visit, I ordered one of my favorites, the "Chef Sashimi Platter," which consisted of colorful and beautifully presented salmon (sake), scallops (hotate), sea bass (Suzuki), Pacific yellowtail (Hamachi), and albacore tuna (bincho). Each piece was well-prepared and incredibly fresh, as promised. While the restaurant didn't have the popular Udo noodle soup, the ramen noodle soup was still quite good. The restaurant is located in a small business district on Nicollet Ave S, and our waitress Kathleen, dressed in a Girl Scout-like uniform, was very friendly and provided excellent service throughout our meal. One of the most interesting aspects of this restaurant was that when the bill came, there was no place for a tip. We were told that the general tip was already built into the charges, but additional tips are always welcome. This was an interesting and unique touch. I highly recommend giving it a try!