Best sushi spot in IC. Get the kobe and volcano roll. Love their Crab cakes as well. They are not filled with bread. Looks like it could use a change in decor; don't think anything has changed since they opened. Could maybe use a real deep clean, but over all good experience
(4)
Brandon C.
Had some nigiri, had some specialty rolls, had some gyoza. All of it was good but not GREAT. Nothing to make it a must stop whenever I am in Iowa City. Had Bell's Two Hearted on tap though, so that was pretty sweet. Service was great. Prices reasonable. But the rolls are just as good as in the QC where I am from.
(4)
Mark G.
I brought a well traveled coworker and self proclaimed sushi buff and he thought this was one of the best places he has had. I thought this place was great but it's nice to hear a few others who have eaten at other premier places to give such praise to a local joint. For me, the sushi is very fresh and the nice touches they add to them are nice for that extra flavor that makes the special. Their signature rolls are very good and worth a try if you want something different. Whatever your preference is for sushi they will surely impress you. Oh and although not a highlight for most, but there miso soup is amazing here! I gotta order two since it is so good. The pho on the menu is just aright, I would stick to their strong suit here if you decide to come. They have a very nice atmosphere as well high quality entrees in addition to their awesome sushi. Overall solid place to grab dinner or lunch.
(5)
Rachel L.
We ordered take-out on a Saturday night. Our order was ready for pickup on time but I was surprised to see that the place was not busy at all. The indoor atmosphere is great and sidewalk seating is in a perfect spot of downtown Iowa City. Lots of sushi restaurants in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota are worlds better than anything I've found in the Iowa City area so far, so it's hard to use the region as an excuse for average sushi. That being said Takanami is my favorite sushi option in the Iowa City area, but it could still definitely be better.
(4)
Mary F.
The quality of food here is what you would expect for a sushi place in Iowa. It's average compared to other sushi places around the country--which means it's okay sushi for Iowa. I have been here quite a few times for sushi and lunch bento boxes. While I love my sushi, I would rather get a bento box if I'm here for lunch. The sushi is decent, but the lunch bento box is a better value overall. However, there are frequent happy hours for sushi, which makes sushi cheaper by a few bucks. The service here is also fairly average, and wait time is average as well. Overall, I would usually go to Formosa over Takanami since Formosa offers more variety as far as sushi goes.
(3)
Stephenie L.
This place deserves the 5 stars! It was too bad there weren't any open tables outside because it was a gorgeous day. However, getting to eat inside was also nice because there was just one other couple so it was nice to sit back and relax in peace. Pretty decent sized restaurant with plenty of seating. We got a spicy tuna roll, eel and avocado and 2 pieces of octopus sashimi. Everything was delicious! The eel was amazing. All was washed down with a Lucky Buddha. The service was great! Incredibly friendly and even kind of funny.
(5)
Mary D.
This used to be my go to place for sushi in Iowa City but in recent years it has gone way down in quality and in cleanliness. The food and service is just okay and the ambiance is sub par. It has an overwhelming grease smell when you walk in, that sticks on your clothes all day. Things are starting to look a little shabby and there is dirt accumulating in corners and in the bathroom. The last time I was in I ordered the kobe roll, dynamite roll and a few of the standard rolls. The food took awhile to get to us and was nothing remarkable. I have had better sushi and paired with the overall experience of dining here, I wouldn't recommend it or come back.
(2)
Tomantha K.
The first sushi spot that I visited in Iowa City. We went during happy hour and found their deals to be great! The cocktails were inventive (even had group drinks which were my fav thing back in NY) and delicious as I am a sucker for a well-made martini. The sushi itself was really good and it was refreshing to see that cream cheese was not an ingredient in every roll (I personally don't know when cream cheese became a staple in sushi...). We chose from their special roll deals and were not disappointed. The service was attentive and friendly and we will definitely visit again!
(4)
Daniel C.
Great hibachi and very fresh fish. The Las Vegas roll is amazing. Bar tender made a great old fashioned. Definitely coming back!
(5)
Andrew L.
While the food is generally pretty good the atmosphere leaves much to be desired. The whole place needs a serious cleaning as every surface feels sticky. I won't venture back until I've heard it's been cleaned.
(2)
Mary L.
A bit pricey, but certainly delicious! We got a couple of sushi rolls and a bowl of pho, and enjoyed both.
(4)
Julianne D.
Dee-lish (sorry for the Rachel Ray-ism)! Inventive rolls are served alongside classic pieces of sushi/sashimi. Plenty of vegetarian options, too. They will customize any roll if you don't want/like/can't eat a particular ingredient. Always friendly and knowledgeable waitstaff. They do have American meals (meat and potatoes/pasta) on the menu for those friends with you who need/want that sort of thing. One comment: their signature (special? I can't remember what they call them--the rolls at the very bottom of the menu) are HUGE. I ordered two once and couldn't finish my plate, even while sharing with friends.
(5)
Michael L.
Great sushi in Iowa CIty.
(4)
Jordan U.
So I'm not sure why Takanami didn't get better write ups...I had a great experience. Visited this weekend with an old friend and got right in. Slight mixup between our servers as to who was going to handle our table but otherwise I have nothing negative to say. We started with a spicy tuna and a yellowtail roll, which were really fresh, well rolled and creatively presented. Interesting beer selection included a surprising Matilda that paired well with the sushi. We both had the seared tuna for our entree and again it was fresh, cooked perfectly and served with a creative presentation. Sauces didn't thrill me but they weren't served on the tuna so it didn't take away from the main dish. Our waitress was really friendly and attentive but didn't rush us which was great because we had a lot of catching up to do. A little pricey but a bit of gem if you are looking for something a little different from the traditional college fare in IC. A side note...it's not all sushi and fish. They actually had some other interesting items in the menu that were worth checking out and I would go back for.
(4)
Alex O.
Loved the Miso soup, decent sushi (not as good as the sushi where I live in Florida but it is Iowa lol). Fast and friendly service...Pretty chill place. Would definitely come back when I'm in town.
(4)
Sarah G.
Oh, Iowa. I love you, but you are a sushi desert. Fresh, fresh, fresh fish is what makes great sushi. When it's great, it doesn't need a lot of gunk on it, or to be wrapped in a roll with a bunch of other things, or even need soy and wasabi. It just melts in your mouth like butter and doesn't even taste like fish. In Chicago, sushi-grade fish is flown into the Waukegan airport almost daily and all the best sushi restaurants restock their supplies that frequently. Poor Iowa, where the demand for sushi doesn't bring in the fresh fish that makes eating sushi worthwhile. I wonder how often Takanami receives fresh fish, and on what day. I want to go there that day. And then maybe I'll revise my rating.
(2)
Megan K.
My favorite place for sushi in Iowa City. From my experience, they have the freshest fish. I love all the rolls and could not pick a favorite. The sashimi is very good too. Try the pork gyoza - they come with dried cranberries which may sound odd but it makes them the best gyoza I've ever had. If you like bloody Marys, they have a Japanese version of one that is excellent. My only minor complaint is that their fruity drinks are pretty artificial tasting.
(4)
Tyler C.
Pretty disappointing, the shrimp I had were not fresh and clearly not properly cleaned. I don't appreciate chewing on gritty shrimp, especially when it's some of the most expensive in town. The two stars are for good wait staff and a really great atmosphere.
(2)
Jennifer T.
Admittedly I've only been once, but I thought the sushi was pretty bad. This is even after adjusting my expectations for Iowa. But the ventilation was bad and the entire place smells greasy.
(1)
Anthony S.
It has been a few years since I have eaten and so was looking forward to some good sushi. We ordered the Fire Dragon and the Volcano rolls and started off with the dumpling appetizers. The dumplings came out very quickly and I was surprised to see they were deep fat fried. Four came to an order and they were all well over cooked on the verge of being burned. The description had the dumplings on a red wine cranberries with candied walnuts and meat jus(per the menu). It sounded good but really had zero flavor. It was very hard to eat and get any additional flavor from the cranberry/walnut sauce. I would not order that again. When the rolls came out they looked essentially the same. That may have been my fault as my eating partner said they sounded very similar on the menu. The rolls were decent size and overall tasted ok. My issue was the amount of sauce that was used to prepare the rolls. It was a spicy mayo blend and was just caked over the rolls. That flavor overrode all other ingredients in the roll. Finally it was rather pricey. Two rolls, an appetizer and two beers for $55. Definitely better sushi places around.
(2)
Troy S.
According to 2 articles in Forbes Magazine, from 2009 -2012 there was no Kobe beef allowed in the U.S.. And from March 2013 to November, only 17 carcasses were imported. The Kobe Beef on Takanami's menu has not been Kobe. And if it recently is, they would have a certificate to prove it. Kobe retails for $200/lb in Japan. It is highly suspect that Takanami's burger or $27 steak is Kobe. I would ask them to produce the certificate. Very disappointing.
(1)
Stephan Y.
I came here for lunch...heres my story. The parking was rather ok, but it seemed like there could be trouble for people. I ordered the KOBE BURGER lunch package. It included a house salad (very very decent size), the kobe burger (2 patties!), another side cucumber salad, miso soup, and 2 pieces of house special sushi...and I believe that one order was $14. WOW...what a deal right? Im a big eater, and after all of that, food coma had hit, so the portion to dollar was VERY VERY GOOD. The food was also very good, the dressing was good, the miso soup was very light but tasty, and the kobe burger was excellent. One can definitely taste the Japanese Infusioned food. I also hear that this place is a very popular spots for students to come. Very clean area, very nice waiters and servers. Very great overall. UNTIL THEN!! ^-^
(5)
Doug W.
OK sushi. Might be good if you have never had truly great sushi in an urban or coastal city, but there was way too many sauces and gunk on my rolls to really get a feel for the freshness of the fish. The nigiri was also just OK, arrived slightly warmer than room temp for some reason which grossed me out a little. The sake list is super-basic, doesn't really have any of the authentic varieties you might expect at such a 'nice' place. Also, the dining room and fish tank look incredibly worn/old. Needs a paint job! OK if you are an undergrad who wants to play dress-up for a date, though.
(3)
Lucy S.
Love the Tokyo roll and the volcano roll. Spicy white tuna maki is also good. The Kirin, however, is flat, so get the Sapporo in the can. Takanami is NOT the best sushi in town, but I do think it is the best place in downtown Iowa City besides Atlas to have a boozy dinner.
(3)
Kay S.
Really loved it. Being from LA, I'm always skeptical of Iowa sushi places, but I had a very good experience here. I had a few of their sushi rolls, including the delicious Kobe Beef Roll, and they were all quite tasty! As I peruse through the other reviews of this place, I can see that people find it on the pricy side. This is true-- I do think the prices may be a little exorbitant for the area. But (!) these prices are still a portion of what you would pay in SoCal for the same food, so while I may feel the prices to be a bit expensive, I don't at all find them outrageous enough not to go for a good night out. The food is great. I should point out, too, that I did not have the bad customer service experience that other reviews have tediously described. Quite the opposite, actually-- we sat on the patio on a beautiful day and had great food brought to us by a young but articulate and fast waiter. It blows my mind, too, that this place has decent reviews while the most terrible restaurant in all of Iowa City (cough, Atlas, cough) has high reviews. Blows my mind.
(5)
Sarah B.
The sushi is consistently good. Fresh tasting and plenty of options. Can get busy, but seating is usually to be had at the sushi bar. A little pricey for a place like Iowa (prices are consistent with Chicago), but perhaps its to cover the shipping to the middle of nowhere. Other than sushi, though, can't recommend the rest of the menu.
(3)
Carolyn S.
Takanami is ok if you are feeling a sushi craving and happen to be right downtown. The atmosphere is a little rundown and the fish tanks could use a bit of a revamp. The sushi itself was fine, but nothing special. The vegetarian rolls were not great, but the fish was decent and the unusual Kobe sushi roll was surprisingly good (but for the price I would probably not order the Kobe again.) To its credit, I have heard that the fusion dinner entrees are very good. If I end up going back I will try one of these main dishes and hope for the best.
(2)
Bobby B.
Fantastic meal and atmosphere. I utterly despise seafood but the ahai tuna filet and kobe roll were absolutely delicious.
(5)
Anna H.
Pricy but worth it. The kobe beef is melt in your mouth good and the sake menu is awesome.
(3)
Nathan F.
I wish there was a way to give negative stars. This place got my business two times to many. First we were greeted by some sour little blonde hostess that has no idea what customer service is all about. She looks mad about having to be there and was very dismissive. This was the second attempt to get sushi there and this was the second time that we had a hair in the food. I am not sure what is going on, but it will be the last time I ever step foot in that door. As for people that say this is the best sushi in Iowa, that just means that they have never had good sushi.
(1)
Cory C.
This is the best sushi in Iowa!! I love the selection and presentation. Maybe that's why every time I go here I overspend like crazy. It's not your typical sushi place, they do doll it up with tempura, wasabi, and soy reduction sauce but that's the way I like it and it usually looks so good It even causes non sushi lovers to take a bite. They also have a great selection of saki.
(5)
Bernard F.
I've only been there once , and want to go back again and again , unfortunatly I live out of state. A guest and I were only going in for a light meal as I had to get going. We were there for three hours. Ive lived in 6 states , in 8 cities, and this place had the best sushi ! yes , thats right , in Iowa City , they had the best sushi , and we ate a lot of it. Go Figure ! I'd have never guessed it. I grew up in I.C. and its great to see a place like Takanami. be able to make it , year after year. I can't speak for the bar drinks as I don't drink , but all else was way , way better , than most Iowa , Il standards. ( yes even biaggi's in Davenport)
(4)
Melissa T.
I've only been to Takanami once for lunch. I got one of the bento boxes, and it was definitely a good sized portion, but it's pretty expensive for lunch. I enjoyed the variety in the box, but the sushi was actually pretty unimpressive. The rice was hard and there wasn't much fish. Overall, I was disappointed, especially because it got mostly good reviews. I would give it another try though.
(3)
Sean P.
A little disappointed on my initial visit to Takanami. It was a very elegant restaurant and I liked the atmosphere, but the main dishes were a little sub-par. Rumor has it though that the Kobe beef is a "must-try," but for the price, I can imagine you'd get a better bang for your buck elsewhere. The sushi was good and fresh, but otherwise, the place was underwhelming relative to price and expectations. And you should trust me, I'm like the Ebert AND Roeper of Iowa City living.
(2)
Chaos M.
Probably the best Sushi in town. But the serving time is a little long.
(4)
Austin B.
Came here for lunch yesterday. Had heard about the bento box lunches and had assumed you would overpay and be underfed. While $11-12 is a little on the high side for lunch in my opinion, I was pleasantly surprised at how big it was. Not to say my main criterion is quantity, but that's usually my complaint with Japanese-ish food. I had the beef tenderloin and it was pretty good, the soup was good, the salad was good, and the sushi was good. The cooked cucumbers weren't my favorite thing ever but still pretty good. You may be disappointed in the amount of sushi as you only get about 3 pieces, but if you really wanted sushi that bad you'd just order it right?
(4)
Cam T.
I've had nothing but delicious food at this place every time I go. The atmosphere is lively but can also feel romantic if you're with the right person. The cocktails are extra good, too. Yum. You might even go by for lunch, when you can get bento box yumminess at a reasonable price. This is not an inexpensive place to eat, but perfect for a special occasion or fun night out.
(4)
Wendy D.
While I've dined here for dinner many times, my review specifically centers on their bento boxes available at lunch. For between $9-$14 they are fantastic. I think it is a really great value for lunch. The presentation is different (at least from other Japanese places I've been to) as instead of a single, compartmentalized box, your lunch comes on a slab of wood with individual dishes for each item. Their bento box includes the entree, of which there are six or seven to choose from. I'm partial to the salmon, prepared to order (I prefer rare), which is served with caramelized pearl onions, roasted cauliflower, and a raspberry sauce. Beyond the protein, each box is served with miso soup, a nice mixed green salad with a lovely house dressing, tasty sticky rice, a chef's choice roll (California or something similar), and a otsumami (a side dish). Their ostumami seems to rotate between a fancy mashed potato and my favorite part: a house pasta salad. I'm not even a pasta salad fan, but whatever the house sauce is on this, I like it so much, I will actually call ahead and find out if it is on the menu before I go, so as to not be disappointed upon arrival. I usual add a piece or two of nigiri to my order (I'm partial to the unagi) and it is always fresh and flavorful.
(5)
Franklin W.
We were there for dinner on our first hot and muggy summer night in Iowa City, because of a conference. The entrees on the menu look complicated to me. That's why we stick with simple sushi dishes, and they're delicious! A nice surprise in Iowa City!
(4)
Ben C.
While I was not previously a fan of this establishment, I've recently been very satisfied with the service and meals I've received. Their new push in terms of knowledgable staff and social media efforts have made it fun to eat there. I recommend it!
(4)
Annie W.
i was very surprised that iowa city had a sushi place. having lived in champaign, i've learned that the midwest and seafood -- or the midwest and sushi -- is just a bad combination on wheels. but i tried this place nonetheless. good miso soup (bumped up one star)! ordinary eel rolls with very little avocado and wasabi that wouldn't clear my sinuses if i ate it like soup. okay seaweed salad. attractive presentation on the tuna, an A for color, but a B for flavor. it just looked a lot better than it tasted. maybe it's not the restaurant's fault -- fresh tends to win, and where i am in CT, we're blessed with wonderfully fresh seafood, so i'm biased. but still. the tuna, the portions were nicely big, but the fish tasted like a barely-seasoned sesame wrap of a bland hunk. the daikon radish had more flavor. the carrot shavings weren't as fresh as i'd like, and did nothing for me other than color and dietary roughage. good sushi rice -- then again, that's what rice makers are for. prices were extraordinarily high. three stars for being edible and iowa city, and hey, i'm all for a healthy meal. four stars if the flavors went anywhere, and if there were a reason to remember to return. if you want excellent japanese fusion, miya's in new haven -- wow. yes, you'll spend about $50 each, but it's worth every penny. and the menu's over a hundred pages. :)
(3)
Kim G.
Specialty rolls were great tasting and of large portion. Sushi was different than my experience in a positive way. Kamakaze was my favorite. Wide variety of original choices. Well worth the stop!
(5)
Jeff Y.
I was a bit hesitant to spend money on sushi considering how much I feel the need to be on a budget but man was this place worth it. We sat down at the sushi bar and were greeted with prompt service. The only mistake with the server was that she didn't know how to pronounce the name of one of their signature drinks. My friend recommended this place for their Kobe sushi roll and I ordered something spicy tuna roll of their specialty roll section.I can see why she loves the place so much, the kobe roll was divine and prompted me to order their special roll of the night which was kobe beef, and i believe crab or eel and the whole thing was tempura style (the whole roll not just the meet) and was even better than the first one. It was pricy, but not anything different than most nicer sushi restaurants and their rolls were huge. For my part i ordered a martini, two rolls, and had three Ngiri and my total bill was 33 dollars. I can honestly say it was worth every dollar for the sushi. The martini was ok and my friends brazillian drink that tasted kind of like a less salty margarita were just ok and we probably wouldn't order them again.
(4)
Jim U.
Takanmi used to be a great spot when I went to Iowa. However, a few trips back to the area for work have been disapointing. Under new ownership Takanmi has taken a different direction. Although Takanami was never traditional Japaense food, the quality of the fish used to be much better, and it was still possible to find traditional Japanese dishes such as a house salad with miso dressing. This is no longer the case. With obviously a new and cheaper fish supplier the quality and variety of fish has gone down hill. Additionally, the new entree dishes are overly complex & poorly executed. Going back to basics would be a step in the right direction.
(2)
Alan R.
My brother booked Takanami for post grad lunch for the family. I have enjoyed sashimi for a few years, but only tried sushi for the first time two weeks ago. Takanami's was very good and also spicy. I ordered the volcano roll. We also ordered an appetizer of crab cakes and goat cheese ravioli for my son. Both were excellent. A great place for students to take parents that are not impressed easily. Takanami could just as easily be in any big Midwestern city. But beware of the big city prices for the entrees.
(4)
Brad C.
In its presupposition that simply by combining Japanese flavor profiles to french sauces/American protein you can be considered trendy and worthy of the $30 entree, Takanami is no different than any number of culinary disasters that have sprung up in New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles. Whether you take this similarity to be a compliment or insult says a lot about your expectations for a good restaurant experience. But this kind of place (count Formosa among it), and the kind of errors it makes, drives me crazy. LEARN HOW TO COOK FIRST BEFORE YOU START THROWING MISOS AND CHIPOTLES AROUND. The last time I ate dinner here, the main dish I had was lamb chops in a blueberry sauce--fine, a classic gamey/sweet pairing. But then underneath: pea risotto...and underneath that: kale. HUH? I admire the guy's creativity, but it takes a rare bird to pull off the twenty-things-on-plate trick--and even then, Matt from Lincoln Cafe, the best practictioner of it, doesn't get it right all the time. This place needs to scale back and cook its food to the right temperature first--what are you doing with foams if you can't cook meat right? And what is this restaurant doing charging more than Motley Cow? If you can't execute the way MC does, don't charge more than they do. One star to dinner--though it appears they changed the menu recently, so it may not stand forever--but the bento box lunches are three star worthy: it's a decent bargain, plentiful, and pretty tasty. Here, they simplify and offer nice, clean flavors that are even vaguely healthy. By the way, the sushi here is fine, no better or worse than any other place in town--this is no hotspot for fish, anyway. But you could do worse, I suppose.
(2)
Max S.
Best sushi place in iowa and reasonable prices. Nice atmosphere. Try the takanami dynamite roll it's absolutely amazing.
(4)
Sarah S.
Favorite sushi in Iowa City. There is a great outdoor seating area for when it is nice out. The prices during happy hour are very reasonable as well. The staff is always friendly and helpful.
(4)
Josh F.
This place is awsome. The prices are cheaper than any big city but the fish is just as good. I tried several pieces of sushi and sushi rolls, and all if them were fresh and satifying. They were also expertly rolled. The miso is excellent as well. I travel all the time and eat sushi all over the country, an I'd have to say it's my favorite midlevel sushi spot so far.
(5)
Kellee F.
A little overrated, but the kobe beef platter is ridiculous and is worth every one of those 65 dollars.
(3)
Jennifer T.
Their dinner menu is delicious, although it can be a bit pricey. The lunch menu is much more affordable, but certainly no less tasty. Their bento boxes hold much more food than other locations' bento boxes. The atmosphere is great and the giant fish tank is gorgeous.
(4)
Ty A.
awesome food can get pricey at times and the service is mediocre. Thats the only reason for the 4 stars instead of 5.
(4)
Sweet P.
The best Japanese fusion restaurant in the entire state of Iowa. The quality of their sushi can be compared to the best sushi restaurant in San Francisco. The main chef used to work in the best restaurant in Chicago. If you ever have to be in Iowa city on business trip, you should definitely come here. You will be surprised because you will think you are in a restaurant in New York or San Francisco. The entrees are super delicious. The duck and pork meat are bought from Japan weekly. Some of rare vegetables are also shipped from Japan. For the rest, they buy it from the local farmers. Sushi lovers do not underestimate Takanami's sushi. They can satisfy your picky taste. While you're enjoying the fresh sushi, you will wonder if you are really in Iowa city. The service is incredible. Everyone is nice and friendly. I wish they open one in San Francisco. Sigh....
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Accepts Bitcoin : No Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Michael C.
Best sushi spot in IC. Get the kobe and volcano roll. Love their Crab cakes as well. They are not filled with bread. Looks like it could use a change in decor; don't think anything has changed since they opened. Could maybe use a real deep clean, but over all good experience
(4)Brandon C.
Had some nigiri, had some specialty rolls, had some gyoza. All of it was good but not GREAT. Nothing to make it a must stop whenever I am in Iowa City. Had Bell's Two Hearted on tap though, so that was pretty sweet. Service was great. Prices reasonable. But the rolls are just as good as in the QC where I am from.
(4)Mark G.
I brought a well traveled coworker and self proclaimed sushi buff and he thought this was one of the best places he has had. I thought this place was great but it's nice to hear a few others who have eaten at other premier places to give such praise to a local joint. For me, the sushi is very fresh and the nice touches they add to them are nice for that extra flavor that makes the special. Their signature rolls are very good and worth a try if you want something different. Whatever your preference is for sushi they will surely impress you. Oh and although not a highlight for most, but there miso soup is amazing here! I gotta order two since it is so good. The pho on the menu is just aright, I would stick to their strong suit here if you decide to come. They have a very nice atmosphere as well high quality entrees in addition to their awesome sushi. Overall solid place to grab dinner or lunch.
(5)Rachel L.
We ordered take-out on a Saturday night. Our order was ready for pickup on time but I was surprised to see that the place was not busy at all. The indoor atmosphere is great and sidewalk seating is in a perfect spot of downtown Iowa City. Lots of sushi restaurants in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota are worlds better than anything I've found in the Iowa City area so far, so it's hard to use the region as an excuse for average sushi. That being said Takanami is my favorite sushi option in the Iowa City area, but it could still definitely be better.
(4)Mary F.
The quality of food here is what you would expect for a sushi place in Iowa. It's average compared to other sushi places around the country--which means it's okay sushi for Iowa. I have been here quite a few times for sushi and lunch bento boxes. While I love my sushi, I would rather get a bento box if I'm here for lunch. The sushi is decent, but the lunch bento box is a better value overall. However, there are frequent happy hours for sushi, which makes sushi cheaper by a few bucks. The service here is also fairly average, and wait time is average as well. Overall, I would usually go to Formosa over Takanami since Formosa offers more variety as far as sushi goes.
(3)Stephenie L.
This place deserves the 5 stars! It was too bad there weren't any open tables outside because it was a gorgeous day. However, getting to eat inside was also nice because there was just one other couple so it was nice to sit back and relax in peace. Pretty decent sized restaurant with plenty of seating. We got a spicy tuna roll, eel and avocado and 2 pieces of octopus sashimi. Everything was delicious! The eel was amazing. All was washed down with a Lucky Buddha. The service was great! Incredibly friendly and even kind of funny.
(5)Mary D.
This used to be my go to place for sushi in Iowa City but in recent years it has gone way down in quality and in cleanliness. The food and service is just okay and the ambiance is sub par. It has an overwhelming grease smell when you walk in, that sticks on your clothes all day. Things are starting to look a little shabby and there is dirt accumulating in corners and in the bathroom. The last time I was in I ordered the kobe roll, dynamite roll and a few of the standard rolls. The food took awhile to get to us and was nothing remarkable. I have had better sushi and paired with the overall experience of dining here, I wouldn't recommend it or come back.
(2)Tomantha K.
The first sushi spot that I visited in Iowa City. We went during happy hour and found their deals to be great! The cocktails were inventive (even had group drinks which were my fav thing back in NY) and delicious as I am a sucker for a well-made martini. The sushi itself was really good and it was refreshing to see that cream cheese was not an ingredient in every roll (I personally don't know when cream cheese became a staple in sushi...). We chose from their special roll deals and were not disappointed. The service was attentive and friendly and we will definitely visit again!
(4)Daniel C.
Great hibachi and very fresh fish. The Las Vegas roll is amazing. Bar tender made a great old fashioned. Definitely coming back!
(5)Andrew L.
While the food is generally pretty good the atmosphere leaves much to be desired. The whole place needs a serious cleaning as every surface feels sticky. I won't venture back until I've heard it's been cleaned.
(2)Mary L.
A bit pricey, but certainly delicious! We got a couple of sushi rolls and a bowl of pho, and enjoyed both.
(4)Julianne D.
Dee-lish (sorry for the Rachel Ray-ism)! Inventive rolls are served alongside classic pieces of sushi/sashimi. Plenty of vegetarian options, too. They will customize any roll if you don't want/like/can't eat a particular ingredient. Always friendly and knowledgeable waitstaff. They do have American meals (meat and potatoes/pasta) on the menu for those friends with you who need/want that sort of thing. One comment: their signature (special? I can't remember what they call them--the rolls at the very bottom of the menu) are HUGE. I ordered two once and couldn't finish my plate, even while sharing with friends.
(5)Michael L.
Great sushi in Iowa CIty.
(4)Jordan U.
So I'm not sure why Takanami didn't get better write ups...I had a great experience. Visited this weekend with an old friend and got right in. Slight mixup between our servers as to who was going to handle our table but otherwise I have nothing negative to say. We started with a spicy tuna and a yellowtail roll, which were really fresh, well rolled and creatively presented. Interesting beer selection included a surprising Matilda that paired well with the sushi. We both had the seared tuna for our entree and again it was fresh, cooked perfectly and served with a creative presentation. Sauces didn't thrill me but they weren't served on the tuna so it didn't take away from the main dish. Our waitress was really friendly and attentive but didn't rush us which was great because we had a lot of catching up to do. A little pricey but a bit of gem if you are looking for something a little different from the traditional college fare in IC. A side note...it's not all sushi and fish. They actually had some other interesting items in the menu that were worth checking out and I would go back for.
(4)Alex O.
Loved the Miso soup, decent sushi (not as good as the sushi where I live in Florida but it is Iowa lol). Fast and friendly service...Pretty chill place. Would definitely come back when I'm in town.
(4)Sarah G.
Oh, Iowa. I love you, but you are a sushi desert. Fresh, fresh, fresh fish is what makes great sushi. When it's great, it doesn't need a lot of gunk on it, or to be wrapped in a roll with a bunch of other things, or even need soy and wasabi. It just melts in your mouth like butter and doesn't even taste like fish. In Chicago, sushi-grade fish is flown into the Waukegan airport almost daily and all the best sushi restaurants restock their supplies that frequently. Poor Iowa, where the demand for sushi doesn't bring in the fresh fish that makes eating sushi worthwhile. I wonder how often Takanami receives fresh fish, and on what day. I want to go there that day. And then maybe I'll revise my rating.
(2)Megan K.
My favorite place for sushi in Iowa City. From my experience, they have the freshest fish. I love all the rolls and could not pick a favorite. The sashimi is very good too. Try the pork gyoza - they come with dried cranberries which may sound odd but it makes them the best gyoza I've ever had. If you like bloody Marys, they have a Japanese version of one that is excellent. My only minor complaint is that their fruity drinks are pretty artificial tasting.
(4)Tyler C.
Pretty disappointing, the shrimp I had were not fresh and clearly not properly cleaned. I don't appreciate chewing on gritty shrimp, especially when it's some of the most expensive in town. The two stars are for good wait staff and a really great atmosphere.
(2)Jennifer T.
Admittedly I've only been once, but I thought the sushi was pretty bad. This is even after adjusting my expectations for Iowa. But the ventilation was bad and the entire place smells greasy.
(1)Anthony S.
It has been a few years since I have eaten and so was looking forward to some good sushi. We ordered the Fire Dragon and the Volcano rolls and started off with the dumpling appetizers. The dumplings came out very quickly and I was surprised to see they were deep fat fried. Four came to an order and they were all well over cooked on the verge of being burned. The description had the dumplings on a red wine cranberries with candied walnuts and meat jus(per the menu). It sounded good but really had zero flavor. It was very hard to eat and get any additional flavor from the cranberry/walnut sauce. I would not order that again. When the rolls came out they looked essentially the same. That may have been my fault as my eating partner said they sounded very similar on the menu. The rolls were decent size and overall tasted ok. My issue was the amount of sauce that was used to prepare the rolls. It was a spicy mayo blend and was just caked over the rolls. That flavor overrode all other ingredients in the roll. Finally it was rather pricey. Two rolls, an appetizer and two beers for $55. Definitely better sushi places around.
(2)Troy S.
According to 2 articles in Forbes Magazine, from 2009 -2012 there was no Kobe beef allowed in the U.S.. And from March 2013 to November, only 17 carcasses were imported. The Kobe Beef on Takanami's menu has not been Kobe. And if it recently is, they would have a certificate to prove it. Kobe retails for $200/lb in Japan. It is highly suspect that Takanami's burger or $27 steak is Kobe. I would ask them to produce the certificate. Very disappointing.
(1)Stephan Y.
I came here for lunch...heres my story. The parking was rather ok, but it seemed like there could be trouble for people. I ordered the KOBE BURGER lunch package. It included a house salad (very very decent size), the kobe burger (2 patties!), another side cucumber salad, miso soup, and 2 pieces of house special sushi...and I believe that one order was $14. WOW...what a deal right? Im a big eater, and after all of that, food coma had hit, so the portion to dollar was VERY VERY GOOD. The food was also very good, the dressing was good, the miso soup was very light but tasty, and the kobe burger was excellent. One can definitely taste the Japanese Infusioned food. I also hear that this place is a very popular spots for students to come. Very clean area, very nice waiters and servers. Very great overall. UNTIL THEN!! ^-^
(5)Doug W.
OK sushi. Might be good if you have never had truly great sushi in an urban or coastal city, but there was way too many sauces and gunk on my rolls to really get a feel for the freshness of the fish. The nigiri was also just OK, arrived slightly warmer than room temp for some reason which grossed me out a little. The sake list is super-basic, doesn't really have any of the authentic varieties you might expect at such a 'nice' place. Also, the dining room and fish tank look incredibly worn/old. Needs a paint job! OK if you are an undergrad who wants to play dress-up for a date, though.
(3)Lucy S.
Love the Tokyo roll and the volcano roll. Spicy white tuna maki is also good. The Kirin, however, is flat, so get the Sapporo in the can. Takanami is NOT the best sushi in town, but I do think it is the best place in downtown Iowa City besides Atlas to have a boozy dinner.
(3)Kay S.
Really loved it. Being from LA, I'm always skeptical of Iowa sushi places, but I had a very good experience here. I had a few of their sushi rolls, including the delicious Kobe Beef Roll, and they were all quite tasty! As I peruse through the other reviews of this place, I can see that people find it on the pricy side. This is true-- I do think the prices may be a little exorbitant for the area. But (!) these prices are still a portion of what you would pay in SoCal for the same food, so while I may feel the prices to be a bit expensive, I don't at all find them outrageous enough not to go for a good night out. The food is great. I should point out, too, that I did not have the bad customer service experience that other reviews have tediously described. Quite the opposite, actually-- we sat on the patio on a beautiful day and had great food brought to us by a young but articulate and fast waiter. It blows my mind, too, that this place has decent reviews while the most terrible restaurant in all of Iowa City (cough, Atlas, cough) has high reviews. Blows my mind.
(5)Sarah B.
The sushi is consistently good. Fresh tasting and plenty of options. Can get busy, but seating is usually to be had at the sushi bar. A little pricey for a place like Iowa (prices are consistent with Chicago), but perhaps its to cover the shipping to the middle of nowhere. Other than sushi, though, can't recommend the rest of the menu.
(3)Carolyn S.
Takanami is ok if you are feeling a sushi craving and happen to be right downtown. The atmosphere is a little rundown and the fish tanks could use a bit of a revamp. The sushi itself was fine, but nothing special. The vegetarian rolls were not great, but the fish was decent and the unusual Kobe sushi roll was surprisingly good (but for the price I would probably not order the Kobe again.) To its credit, I have heard that the fusion dinner entrees are very good. If I end up going back I will try one of these main dishes and hope for the best.
(2)Bobby B.
Fantastic meal and atmosphere. I utterly despise seafood but the ahai tuna filet and kobe roll were absolutely delicious.
(5)Anna H.
Pricy but worth it. The kobe beef is melt in your mouth good and the sake menu is awesome.
(3)Nathan F.
I wish there was a way to give negative stars. This place got my business two times to many. First we were greeted by some sour little blonde hostess that has no idea what customer service is all about. She looks mad about having to be there and was very dismissive. This was the second attempt to get sushi there and this was the second time that we had a hair in the food. I am not sure what is going on, but it will be the last time I ever step foot in that door. As for people that say this is the best sushi in Iowa, that just means that they have never had good sushi.
(1)Cory C.
This is the best sushi in Iowa!! I love the selection and presentation. Maybe that's why every time I go here I overspend like crazy. It's not your typical sushi place, they do doll it up with tempura, wasabi, and soy reduction sauce but that's the way I like it and it usually looks so good It even causes non sushi lovers to take a bite. They also have a great selection of saki.
(5)Bernard F.
I've only been there once , and want to go back again and again , unfortunatly I live out of state. A guest and I were only going in for a light meal as I had to get going. We were there for three hours. Ive lived in 6 states , in 8 cities, and this place had the best sushi ! yes , thats right , in Iowa City , they had the best sushi , and we ate a lot of it. Go Figure ! I'd have never guessed it. I grew up in I.C. and its great to see a place like Takanami. be able to make it , year after year. I can't speak for the bar drinks as I don't drink , but all else was way , way better , than most Iowa , Il standards. ( yes even biaggi's in Davenport)
(4)Melissa T.
I've only been to Takanami once for lunch. I got one of the bento boxes, and it was definitely a good sized portion, but it's pretty expensive for lunch. I enjoyed the variety in the box, but the sushi was actually pretty unimpressive. The rice was hard and there wasn't much fish. Overall, I was disappointed, especially because it got mostly good reviews. I would give it another try though.
(3)Sean P.
A little disappointed on my initial visit to Takanami. It was a very elegant restaurant and I liked the atmosphere, but the main dishes were a little sub-par. Rumor has it though that the Kobe beef is a "must-try," but for the price, I can imagine you'd get a better bang for your buck elsewhere. The sushi was good and fresh, but otherwise, the place was underwhelming relative to price and expectations. And you should trust me, I'm like the Ebert AND Roeper of Iowa City living.
(2)Chaos M.
Probably the best Sushi in town. But the serving time is a little long.
(4)Austin B.
Came here for lunch yesterday. Had heard about the bento box lunches and had assumed you would overpay and be underfed. While $11-12 is a little on the high side for lunch in my opinion, I was pleasantly surprised at how big it was. Not to say my main criterion is quantity, but that's usually my complaint with Japanese-ish food. I had the beef tenderloin and it was pretty good, the soup was good, the salad was good, and the sushi was good. The cooked cucumbers weren't my favorite thing ever but still pretty good. You may be disappointed in the amount of sushi as you only get about 3 pieces, but if you really wanted sushi that bad you'd just order it right?
(4)Cam T.
I've had nothing but delicious food at this place every time I go. The atmosphere is lively but can also feel romantic if you're with the right person. The cocktails are extra good, too. Yum. You might even go by for lunch, when you can get bento box yumminess at a reasonable price. This is not an inexpensive place to eat, but perfect for a special occasion or fun night out.
(4)Wendy D.
While I've dined here for dinner many times, my review specifically centers on their bento boxes available at lunch. For between $9-$14 they are fantastic. I think it is a really great value for lunch. The presentation is different (at least from other Japanese places I've been to) as instead of a single, compartmentalized box, your lunch comes on a slab of wood with individual dishes for each item. Their bento box includes the entree, of which there are six or seven to choose from. I'm partial to the salmon, prepared to order (I prefer rare), which is served with caramelized pearl onions, roasted cauliflower, and a raspberry sauce. Beyond the protein, each box is served with miso soup, a nice mixed green salad with a lovely house dressing, tasty sticky rice, a chef's choice roll (California or something similar), and a otsumami (a side dish). Their ostumami seems to rotate between a fancy mashed potato and my favorite part: a house pasta salad. I'm not even a pasta salad fan, but whatever the house sauce is on this, I like it so much, I will actually call ahead and find out if it is on the menu before I go, so as to not be disappointed upon arrival. I usual add a piece or two of nigiri to my order (I'm partial to the unagi) and it is always fresh and flavorful.
(5)Franklin W.
We were there for dinner on our first hot and muggy summer night in Iowa City, because of a conference. The entrees on the menu look complicated to me. That's why we stick with simple sushi dishes, and they're delicious! A nice surprise in Iowa City!
(4)Ben C.
While I was not previously a fan of this establishment, I've recently been very satisfied with the service and meals I've received. Their new push in terms of knowledgable staff and social media efforts have made it fun to eat there. I recommend it!
(4)Annie W.
i was very surprised that iowa city had a sushi place. having lived in champaign, i've learned that the midwest and seafood -- or the midwest and sushi -- is just a bad combination on wheels. but i tried this place nonetheless. good miso soup (bumped up one star)! ordinary eel rolls with very little avocado and wasabi that wouldn't clear my sinuses if i ate it like soup. okay seaweed salad. attractive presentation on the tuna, an A for color, but a B for flavor. it just looked a lot better than it tasted. maybe it's not the restaurant's fault -- fresh tends to win, and where i am in CT, we're blessed with wonderfully fresh seafood, so i'm biased. but still. the tuna, the portions were nicely big, but the fish tasted like a barely-seasoned sesame wrap of a bland hunk. the daikon radish had more flavor. the carrot shavings weren't as fresh as i'd like, and did nothing for me other than color and dietary roughage. good sushi rice -- then again, that's what rice makers are for. prices were extraordinarily high. three stars for being edible and iowa city, and hey, i'm all for a healthy meal. four stars if the flavors went anywhere, and if there were a reason to remember to return. if you want excellent japanese fusion, miya's in new haven -- wow. yes, you'll spend about $50 each, but it's worth every penny. and the menu's over a hundred pages. :)
(3)Kim G.
Specialty rolls were great tasting and of large portion. Sushi was different than my experience in a positive way. Kamakaze was my favorite. Wide variety of original choices. Well worth the stop!
(5)Jeff Y.
I was a bit hesitant to spend money on sushi considering how much I feel the need to be on a budget but man was this place worth it. We sat down at the sushi bar and were greeted with prompt service. The only mistake with the server was that she didn't know how to pronounce the name of one of their signature drinks. My friend recommended this place for their Kobe sushi roll and I ordered something spicy tuna roll of their specialty roll section.I can see why she loves the place so much, the kobe roll was divine and prompted me to order their special roll of the night which was kobe beef, and i believe crab or eel and the whole thing was tempura style (the whole roll not just the meet) and was even better than the first one. It was pricy, but not anything different than most nicer sushi restaurants and their rolls were huge. For my part i ordered a martini, two rolls, and had three Ngiri and my total bill was 33 dollars. I can honestly say it was worth every dollar for the sushi. The martini was ok and my friends brazillian drink that tasted kind of like a less salty margarita were just ok and we probably wouldn't order them again.
(4)Jim U.
Takanmi used to be a great spot when I went to Iowa. However, a few trips back to the area for work have been disapointing. Under new ownership Takanmi has taken a different direction. Although Takanami was never traditional Japaense food, the quality of the fish used to be much better, and it was still possible to find traditional Japanese dishes such as a house salad with miso dressing. This is no longer the case. With obviously a new and cheaper fish supplier the quality and variety of fish has gone down hill. Additionally, the new entree dishes are overly complex & poorly executed. Going back to basics would be a step in the right direction.
(2)Alan R.
My brother booked Takanami for post grad lunch for the family. I have enjoyed sashimi for a few years, but only tried sushi for the first time two weeks ago. Takanami's was very good and also spicy. I ordered the volcano roll. We also ordered an appetizer of crab cakes and goat cheese ravioli for my son. Both were excellent. A great place for students to take parents that are not impressed easily. Takanami could just as easily be in any big Midwestern city. But beware of the big city prices for the entrees.
(4)Brad C.
In its presupposition that simply by combining Japanese flavor profiles to french sauces/American protein you can be considered trendy and worthy of the $30 entree, Takanami is no different than any number of culinary disasters that have sprung up in New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles. Whether you take this similarity to be a compliment or insult says a lot about your expectations for a good restaurant experience. But this kind of place (count Formosa among it), and the kind of errors it makes, drives me crazy. LEARN HOW TO COOK FIRST BEFORE YOU START THROWING MISOS AND CHIPOTLES AROUND. The last time I ate dinner here, the main dish I had was lamb chops in a blueberry sauce--fine, a classic gamey/sweet pairing. But then underneath: pea risotto...and underneath that: kale. HUH? I admire the guy's creativity, but it takes a rare bird to pull off the twenty-things-on-plate trick--and even then, Matt from Lincoln Cafe, the best practictioner of it, doesn't get it right all the time. This place needs to scale back and cook its food to the right temperature first--what are you doing with foams if you can't cook meat right? And what is this restaurant doing charging more than Motley Cow? If you can't execute the way MC does, don't charge more than they do. One star to dinner--though it appears they changed the menu recently, so it may not stand forever--but the bento box lunches are three star worthy: it's a decent bargain, plentiful, and pretty tasty. Here, they simplify and offer nice, clean flavors that are even vaguely healthy. By the way, the sushi here is fine, no better or worse than any other place in town--this is no hotspot for fish, anyway. But you could do worse, I suppose.
(2)Max S.
Best sushi place in iowa and reasonable prices. Nice atmosphere. Try the takanami dynamite roll it's absolutely amazing.
(4)Sarah S.
Favorite sushi in Iowa City. There is a great outdoor seating area for when it is nice out. The prices during happy hour are very reasonable as well. The staff is always friendly and helpful.
(4)Josh F.
This place is awsome. The prices are cheaper than any big city but the fish is just as good. I tried several pieces of sushi and sushi rolls, and all if them were fresh and satifying. They were also expertly rolled. The miso is excellent as well. I travel all the time and eat sushi all over the country, an I'd have to say it's my favorite midlevel sushi spot so far.
(5)Kellee F.
A little overrated, but the kobe beef platter is ridiculous and is worth every one of those 65 dollars.
(3)Jennifer T.
Their dinner menu is delicious, although it can be a bit pricey. The lunch menu is much more affordable, but certainly no less tasty. Their bento boxes hold much more food than other locations' bento boxes. The atmosphere is great and the giant fish tank is gorgeous.
(4)Ty A.
awesome food can get pricey at times and the service is mediocre. Thats the only reason for the 4 stars instead of 5.
(4)Sweet P.
The best Japanese fusion restaurant in the entire state of Iowa. The quality of their sushi can be compared to the best sushi restaurant in San Francisco. The main chef used to work in the best restaurant in Chicago. If you ever have to be in Iowa city on business trip, you should definitely come here. You will be surprised because you will think you are in a restaurant in New York or San Francisco. The entrees are super delicious. The duck and pork meat are bought from Japan weekly. Some of rare vegetables are also shipped from Japan. For the rest, they buy it from the local farmers. Sushi lovers do not underestimate Takanami's sushi. They can satisfy your picky taste. While you're enjoying the fresh sushi, you will wonder if you are really in Iowa city. The service is incredible. Everyone is nice and friendly. I wish they open one in San Francisco. Sigh....
(5)Gigi W.
some of the best steak and sushi around.
(5)