I went there twice for sushi and hibachi. This restaurant is ran by bunch of Chinese people, not Japanese or Korean! the sushi were not fresh. I assume most Minnesotan doesn't know what is fresh sushi! They recognize the freshness of the sushi by looking at the price tag. The sushi is absolutely garbage. The food they served in Hibachi is not different than the one you get from chinese take-out which is much much cheaper!
(1)
Linh N.
I went to this place 'cause it was within walking distance from my hotel. I have to admit that I've always ordered take-out as I don't like to eat in restaurants by myself--bars are the worse but that's another story. I have to admit that you cannot ever go wrong with Japanese rice. The grain is soft and moist. But other than that... the food here was pretty decent although I've had better. I always get the same thing--steak hibachi. I do love the different dipping sauces they serve you with your hibachi plate. I've figured out the perfect combination for it when eating my food--dip all my meats in each of the sauces! It's not a bad place to eat and the sushi is pretty good so you can't really go wrong here. Just don't have any really high expectations.
(3)
Adam G.
Agree with the other comments on the (lack of) service. Food was decent but won't be back.
(2)
Grant N.
This was a great night out with friends. Fun atmosphere and really good food. Filet mignon and shrimp was a great combo. The sake is OK, if you like rice liquor. Entertaining presentation at the Hibachi. Overall a really great time.
(4)
Jessica S.
Great place! My husband and I go there every few months or so and love it. If you like a performance with your tastey food, this is the place to go. Not only is it fun, but they shoot Sake in your mouth! Great for birthdays, because you get another fun performance plus a dessert. We are going on Valentine's day, as a matter of fact!
(5)
Amy S.
We arrived around 6pm on a Thursday night. Got here right before they started filling up, so we only had a brief 5 minute wait to be seated. The kids liked it right way because there's a little fish tank for them to look at. We came for the hibachi, so it was a fairly easy decision in perusing the men. I would have liked to have tried the sushi, but hibachi and sushi seemed like way too much food. As it stood, the hibachi came with a chicken mushroom broth, which was pretty lackluster. Next up was a house salad. It was so saturated in some sort of thousand island dressing that I just picked at it. The hibachi cook then prepared fried rice, noodles, stir fried veggies and filet mignon, shrimp and scallops. The show was pretty neat to watch. The kids certainly enjoyed it. Our cook was pretty friendly and not overly showy. We were seated with strangers that also had kids, so our table was pretty tame. Some of the other diners there were in big groups, celebrating birthdays. We were there also for a birthday, but not that we let on. They put out the lights, turn on a disco ball, give you a large mask to wear, and play a birthday song with a drum. Pretty cheesy, but funny. The rest of meal was decent, but nothing spectacular. For the price, I wasn't overly wowed. The kiddo's certainly enjoyed it. We'd probably visit again, but only with the kids. They also have some gongs outside the front doors that the kiddo's banged on for a bit.
(3)
Dim S.
Hostess and manager need some customer service lessons. My friend and I stood directly in front of them for about five minutes without any acknowledgement of our presence, while they finished up their conversation. Other than that, the food and service was ok.
(2)
Mark L.
The fish was fresh! The rolls were simple and Japanese in style.
(3)
Kent M.
All very good here tonight having bottle of Reisling, sushi, shrimp/scallops main course. Great service and 100 ft from my hotel. Just right everything.
(4)
Javier D.
Rushed. The wait staff was really bad I'm sad to say. Worst of all, everyone wanted to go early so they made me pay my bill ten minutes before closing and I'm serious that as I walked out early they shut off the lights and all bolted. It was the worst experience! Don't go. It was insulting and embarrassing
(1)
Tasha T.
We went here because it was right across from our hotel, Marriott Springhill Suites, and well, we're from Hawaii and absolutely love sushi! During certain hours (I believe it was 11-2p and after 8p on Friday and other days), most of their food is 30-50% off. We rushed over at 1:45p on a Friday. The sushi was authentic and so ono (delicious in Hawaiian)! We absolutely loved their Minnesota role (tempura and cream cheese), tempura roll, and spicy tuna rolls. I also ordered vegetable tempura and miso soup! I highly recommend their food if you're looking for authentic Japanese in the Midwest (which is hard to find!). Service in the restaurant was pretty good too. However, because we ordered about 10 min. before they were closing for lunch and ate there for a good 15-20 min., by the time we asked for to-go boxes, they didn't give us any chopsticks or eating utensils in our to-go bag. Other than that, we enjoyed our foodie experience at Osaka!
(4)
IE B.
4.5 out of 5 - was very pleased with my meal tonight. Was better than many other higher prices sushi restaurants in the area. Was in town on business and wanted something close and could not be more happy with the food quality and service tonight.
(4)
Marc J.
Not the place for sushi. Took 10 minutes once we were seated for a server to come by the table. Ordered chirashi. The fish was still partially frozen. $23 for very little fish. 4 of he prices were mock crab.
(2)
Chris M.
I don't know what everyone is complaining about. I had a great experience from the moment I walked in the door until I walked out. I was promptly seated by very friendly and attentive staff, had great Sake, appetizer, and a great Scallop dinner. Perhaps they saw the previous reviews and so what if they did. They had an issue or two, fixed them and now good things all around. Yum!
(4)
Amanda L.
Unfortunately I need to rate this Osaka location 1 star and am surprised to see the 3 star rating on this page. It was a Saturday night and the place was empty ... typically not a good sign. We sat down and it took about 10 min for the waiter to take our drink order. We then ordered about 15 pieces of nigiri, 2 rolls, and negimaki don buri. The morsels of meat on top of the nigiri were tiny to the point of offensive, the 'yellowtail' we had ordered was definitely not yellowtail, and the waiter had forgotten our eel order. We had to ask the waiter numerous times for refills, as well as ask him numerous times if the negimaki would be out soon as it was one of our party's main meals. After half an hour wait time, and after everyone had finished their food ... the negimaki arrived. Except, it was the appetizer and not the don buri meal. This was one of the most unprofessional restaurant displays I've experienced recently. Maybe we were unlucky enough to receive a bad waiter, but I think the empty restaurant answers for itself. Unfortunately I won't be eating at this location and most likely other Osaka's in the cities. I find it surprising this restaurant has received a 3 star review and believe those who rate it higher are doing a disservice to the community. I urge you not to eat here. For the sake of decent Japanese food.
(1)
LB L.
Reservations are recommended- even on a Monday night. We didn't have reservations and ended up waiting quite a while, but on the plus side, they staff really did try to make it up to us - they even threw in some cake as a thank you. The food is always fantastic- as is the show. These are well trained professionals who make a point to get to know the crowd and always cook things up to perfection. Tonight was perfect too. This is a great place to celebrate regularly or even go on a date night. It's lively and everyone has a good time.
(4)
Birgen H.
Ruh roh, I might be switching from Benihana to Osaka from now on... 5 stars for excellent service! (And the food has been great as well) I am a low-carb eater so hibachi can be stressful for me, but not here! EVERY time I ask for *no rice but extra veggies* at Benihana it holds up the whole table's orders as the waiter runs around frantically asking if I can do that and how much extra to charge me (sometimes $2, sometimes $4? Not cool) but not before staring at me like I'm crazy and asking me a few more times ".... Wait... So NO rice...? None?" Yes. No rice. It's embarrassing and frustrating for me at Benihana, but every time I have asked this at Osaka? "Sure!"... Not even a hesitation, AND no extra charge! they will never understand how much that means to me; They are totally willing to meet your dietary needs in any way they can. A+ On top of that the food has been excellent every time. A few weeks ago we got the Lovers Dinner For Two: fillet mignon, lobster, scallops, and shrimp... All were cooked to perfection! We will definitely be making Osaka a monthly thing.
(5)
Cole R.
Osaka is a great place to eat. The service has always been great, the food is always great. While many think it's only good for hibachi, it's a surprising good and affordable for lunch during the week, where sushi rolls are often marked down by 40-50%. The fish is always fresh, the sushi is always fresh. If you are in the mood for fresh hibachi or sushi this place is your spot. Not terribly high pricing either.
(5)
Timothy B.
Typical Hibachi flare as you get at any restaurant of this type. Food tasted good, prepared as requested. Dipping sauces put favors above average. Sushi rolls are average. Service was inferior. Server would disappear for a long time. Empty appetizer plates sat stacked up for a long time. Very little room to eat already so this made it even more difficult. Would go back again on the right occasion.
(3)
Matt G.
I'm always entertained by Hibachi restaurants. Watching your food getting made right in front of you always beats sitting around and waiting for it to come out of the kitchen. (Plus you can make sure they don't spit in it haha) Not that you have much time to wait since they are always parading plenty of food out to you. They start with soup and salad, add fried rice, and finally get to your main course. The soup was very bland and didn't really have much flavor to it. The salad was ok but the dressing wasn't my favorite. The fried rice and the main courses however are delicious. You can't go wrong with anything on the Hibachi menu. I had the chicken and shrimp, they had great flavor and were cooked perfectly. The chef always puts on a great show so sit back, relax and always ask for more saki!
(4)
Sam W.
3.5 stars for food, 0 stars for service. I went in with my parents on a mildly busy night, and right off the bat the server had to clarify our drink orders several times in a row. She wasn't writing anything down, and had apparently never heard of "sprite" before in addition to cocktails from their own drink menu. Our salad and miso soup came out quickly enough - nothing special, but not bad either. The sashimi we ordered was quite decent, but the tamago was not only off-tasting but quite obviously still half frozen. Hopefully the main course (more sushi and sashimi) would be better. We waited close to an hour for our main dinner, 20 minutes of which were spent staring directly at it as it just freaking sat there on top of the sushi bar, less than 15 feet away. Our server would alternate between completely vanishing from the restaurant and appearing for eight seconds to walk around the room, look at and walk right past our dinner, and disappear once more without checking up on or serving anyone. Our food was finally brought to us by a completely different server (who was already quite busy with what seemed like literally every other table), and she apologized for how long it took. If it had happened any later, I would have got up and grabbed it myself. The sashimi and the spicy salmon rolls were surprisingly good despite how long they had sat out, and probably would have been excellent fresh - the salmon and yellowtail especially. We had to wait another eternity for the check to come, which was brought by the original server with absolutely zero apology or acknowledgment of the molasses-on-a-glacier wait times we endured. It was only the fourth time she had come to the table at all in over an hour and a half. After we paid, I discreetly tried to find a manager, but couldn't - was this a ship without a rudder? The food's good enough, but the service is literally the worst I have ever experienced at any restaurant in the twin cities, bar none. Drive a bit further down to the Bloomington location if you're that desperate for sushi in the SW suburbs. Only reason I gave 2 stars instead of 1 is for the poor other server who was trying her best to run an entire damn front-of-house all by herself.
(2)
Marty S.
I have been here multiple times. The hibachi chef is fun and the food is great! It is slow there most of the time, I hope this place sticks around!
(4)
Jeff K.
So if you've had Hibachi anywhere, you've had it everywhere. Let's be real, we are in Minnesota, not Tokyo. On the other hand, one of the downfalls to living in MN is the lack of passable, fresh sushi. The sushi bar and service at Osaka in Eden Prairie is definitely on par with some of the best you'll find in the Twin Cities. Sure it lacks the flames and colored foils and other non edible decoration, but the quality of the food served is fantastic. They make their rice in small batches as needed, so no cold stale sushi rice in this joint. The fish is exceptional, with no off putting smells or flavors. The experience when actually eating, is pleasant and relaxing. Best part? With daily specials of 20-50% off sushi prices during the day, it makes sushi for lunch an extremely value forward option. All in all, I would say that as a quality lunch option, it's worth a try. Who knows, you may even run into a pro football player or two!
(4)
Ngoc N.
I really was unimpressed by this place. I ordered sushi and it all looked worst than the sushi you get from a grocery store. I ordered a few of the spicy rolls, including the Spicy Girl roll and they all looked the same. They globbed on spicy whatever (it looked like a thick paste that comes out of a tube) onto seaweed wrap with a little bit of undercooked rice. There wasn't enough rice on the seaweed wrap to even cover the seaweed...I think i saw more green than white. Really? Who skimps on rice? The spicy girl roll was essentially the same thing, but there was also a big glob of something right on top. It had no flavor. It was all one color. Just yuck. BTW -- I uploaded a couple picks for your viewing pleasure. The only decently thing is that we ordered side orders of the Hibachi steak, which was surprisingly tender. We also go a side order of fried rice and the rice was so uncooked it was crunchy in my mouth. Next time I crave Japanese food or just some sushi, I'm going to drive myself somewhere further. Proves me wrong for wanting convenience. On a side note -- why is all ethnic food in the EP area so bad??!?
(2)
Colleen N.
Sushi is always good. We had the rainbow roll, spider roll, California, no. 9 roll and were all delicious. The MN roll was a bit odd but we took a chance on it. My kids love the noodles especially with the shrimp sauce. Reservations are a must for hibachi. The chefs do a great job of entertaining. The Happy Birthday song has gotten stuck in my head though.
(4)
Ed G.
Decent Japanese fare. Service was good and efficient. Actually better than I expected from a restaurant surrounded by hotels. Those tend to be so-so due to having a somewhat captive audience. I had one of their dinner box meals, which has a little bit of everything. Miso soup was above average. No problem getting a table either. There weren't that many diners.
(3)
Sung L.
Despite having a reservation, my family had to wait 25 minutes before being seated. Fried rice was hard/dry, steak and seafood were under seasoned, and overall experience was disappointing.
(2)
Jonathan E.
I feel like I always have to start my reviews of Japanese restaurants with the disclaimer that Ive lived in Japan and traveled their extensively. I dont mean to be harsh, but Im just always so disappointed in these so-called "hibachi" places (that term is used very loosely). Pretty much everything about Osaka is typical of that type of restaurant from the decor to the presentation of the food. With the exception of maybe Ichiban in downtown Minneapolis, the vast majority of these places are the same in my opinion. The food isnt "bad," but it's certainly not good either. I sampled a few different kinds of sushi which were nothing special, a shrimp dish which was more art than it was delicious food, and a basic yaki-soba dish. The noodles were ok, but again, nothing fantastic. For the prices you pay at teppan-yaki/hibachi/Japanese steak houses, you should have high expectation, at least, with the quality of food and ingredients. Pros: Private parking lot, spacious dining area Cons: Average food, below average sushi, expensive
(2)
Carol B.
Disappointed . We thought they had fairly generous sushi portions and were of decent quality. The accompanying standard green salad with ginger dressing was passable but the miso soup was a waste -flavorless . Don't bother with the gyoza or spring rolls either which had no discernible flavor. The real turnoff however was the overall uncleanliness.-the dirty bathroom with no bathroom trash can in the stall and the resulting mess, there was water all over the floor from an apparent leak. Service was affable but not engaging.
(2)
Mary V.
We love Osaka and have been going there regularly and enthusiastically since it opened in Eden Prairie. Their sushi is always excellent, and their service, while sometimes slow, is usually good. However, on our last trip there, we noticed that the sushi was noticably smaller for the same price. In other words, sushi that used to be too big for one mouthful is a quick bite now. Not so happy about that.
(4)
Sandra S.
Everything was delicious. The portions are typically Japanese, small! However the service was excellent the food was to die for. I will be back soon.
(4)
Angie O.
I came here with a group of co-workers and we sat on the hibachi side, some of us ordered sushi and some ordered hibachi. There is nothing extraordinary about Osaka, the food and service is good. The decor is nice, and the bathrooms are clean. It's a great place to bring a group as there is something for everyone. I have to agree with the reviewer who mentioned the birthday song - it's really awful, and you couldn't pay me to put one of those masks on my head.
(3)
Michael C.
This place is pretty standard for a hibachi style Japanese grill. Its not quite as nice as the other big games in town but its also priced better and food is comparable. Look for coupons online or in the valpak for a good amount off your check.
(4)
Mollee F.
When you have several hours to spend on dinner, you can't have more fun than at a hibachi restaurant. We like Osaka because it's close to home. I love the filet mignon hibachi. Steak cooked in butter is a-maz-ing. The soba noodles and vegetables are so flavorful. You won't leave with an ounce of space left in your stomach. While I'm entertained watching people try to catch food with their mouths, I don't care to have food flung at mine - especially shrimp. If they have to do it, I'd prefer they stuck to a neutral chicken or zucchini. We've generally had good service on our visits. On our last trip, we had a toddler along and our server was so attentive to her - even bringing her a balloon animal at one point. We also scored a free dessert (I'm sure in part to the cuteness of said toddler). Love the disco ball and the song that plays when someone is celebrating a birthday. The paper mache heads are ridiculous, but make for great embarrassing pictures. A word of note - be very clear when calling for a weekend reservation that you want a hibachi table. One time, we had a reservation for a group of six on a Saturday night and they were too busy to seat us in the hibachi section. We got stuck in the front of the house and I can tell you without the "show," Osaka is far less fun.
(4)
Ian H.
I recommend giving Osaka a try during happy hour. The place was clean, the sushi was good and the deals were nice. I came on a business trip and stayed at the hotel next door. It's definitely become my staple dinner when I don't feel like leaving the hotel for very long. The tempura banana dessert is a must-try at least once!
(4)
Lisa J.
This place is probably known best for its Hibachi. My husband and I had to end up just doing sushi. It was sushi that you could get anywhere, but we did like the BMW roll the best. We went there on a Tuesday night at 6 and had to wait if we wanted Hibachi??!! Wow, who would have thought to make reservations on a Tuesday? Word for the wise, make reservations first no matter WHAT day it is. Most annoying thing in that restaurant is the obnoxious birthday song they sing to patrons. Thanks a lot Osaka, now I have that stupid song in my head the rest of our date!
(3)
Mary B.
Although the food was very good (I was excited to see it in my area since Benihana is so far away), I have to say that I will not return due to the downright horrible treatment of their customers. My first visit was a couple of months ago with my husband for dinner. The do some tricks throughout the dinner show but at one point the chef took the salt and pepper shaker and threw salt and pepper in my face! Maybe he through that he was throwing it lower but he is lucky that it did not go in my eyes. The waitress taking our orders also picked up her cell phone in the middle of taking orders. My second experience (and last) was with a group of coworkers to celebrate a birthday. We went for lunch and we were the only group there. Once the chef completed cooking our food and had it on our plates, I poured a little bit of their seafood sauce on my food. The chef asked if I wanted more sauce and I said no. He asked again and again I said no. He then took a whole ladle full of sauce and poured it all over my food. My coworkers were absolutely stunned at this as was I. I did not want to totally ruin their experience by complaining and I certainly did not have time to wait for a replacement for the food since we were already running very late for our lunch break and there were no other tables that were cooking. My food had started off as very tasty and then ended up being disgusting after swimming in a pool of sauce. Plus I found two black hairs in my rice. It is really hard to believe that a restaurant could exercise such a lack of judgement in how the conduct business with their customers and I can't say that I have heard of such ill treatment before (and it's not an inexpensive place!). I want to warn everyone of what they may encounter if they choose to try Osaka.
(1)
Amanda R.
I liked the location of this restaraunt. It's in a very nice neighborhood, the staff was friendly and helpful. I always enjoy hibachi restaraunts. The chef cooking the food was fun and funny. He made us laugh and entertained us quite well. He even threw me a couple extra shrimp on my plate which I thought was a nice gesture! I've been here three times and it was great and fast service each time. I've gone in during lunchtime and there was always seating. They also have regular seating for the people not interested in hibachi which I found to be unique compared to the other hibachi places I've been. Great lunch! Thank you Osaka!
(4)
Michael K.
I have never been to the hibachi side and have only ordered sushi here. The sushi is ok. They have one really good roll, that has black pepper seared tuna on top, other than that it is just average sushi. Service is mixed. Visits vary from rarely seeing the waitstaff to having them interrupt often to ask if everything is ok. I would not make a special trip here, but when traveling to the area I would stop by again.
(3)
Tanya K.
The food reminds me of a Chinese buffet. I ordered the lunch chicken hibachi. I got soup with two pieces of mushroom and four scallions. Meh. Then for the entree j got chicken tossed in some brown sauce which was ultimately tasteless and noodles tossed in the same thing. It irks me when restaurants use the same sauce for both the protein and carbs. It's lazy. The fried rice is okay. But if an Asian place screwed up fried rice, then they shouldn't be in the restaurant business in the first place. Now they had the two dipping sauces. The mayo-based sauce (yumi yumi sauce)I would bet was made with miracle whip. Ick. It tasted "fat free" and disgusting. That's the stuff that I normally love to drench everything with. I definitely won't be coming back here. The menu isn't creative and tastes cheap.
(1)
Chris B.
First time here and I loved it! We had reservations for this Saturday night and were immediately seated. There were no other patrons waiting, so it looks like reservations may not always be necessary. Decor is OK, nothing special. The front area seems more dimly lit, but the back area with the hibachi grills is much brighter lighting. We ordered the Spicy Girl and Yum Yum sushi rolls for appetizers--awesome sushi. We then had hibachi. The hibachi here is a lot better than Benihanna's in St. Louis Park. The hibachi chef was very friendly and overall the customer service was very good. I was a bit weary of the customer service going in after reading other reviews of this restaurant, but I was pleasantly surprised. Our daughters (twins 12 years old) also loved it. The hibachi was quite good and you get a very large portion of food. I could not eat all the fried rice. The filet mignon was delicious. Prices were reasonable. I had two dirty martinis and I thoroughly enjoyed those. If there was a negative, it would be that the place can get a bit loud and raucous....it seems the hibachi chefs enjoy a ritual of saki "squirts" with their customers. A few other tables were doing this and it looked like a lot of fun. Alas, we had the girls along, but many of the other patrons were getting in the act. Overall I enjoyed myself on a Saturday night in the southwest suburbs of Minneapolis.
(4)
Courtney C.
I visited here for the first time this last Sunday around 6pm... no wait for a table and the food was really great! The cooks put on an entertaining enough show but we were just there to chat and it was quiet enough for that. The fried rice was delicious and the bill wasn't too steep.. I would definitely return. If you go on your bday they play a really obnoxious song and make the birthday person wear a creep mask... I would recommend you keep that a secret if you visit on your birthday because no one wants to hear that crap.
(4)
Josh E.
Osaka was the destination for a birthday lunch the other day. I'll straight up say I'm not a huge fan of Hibachi places. Having some dude loudly smacking metal on metal, and juggling sharp objects in my face, for about 20 minutes, while each portion of your meal sits in various states of un-warmness, isn't my idea of an enjoyable dining experience but, hey, different strokes and all that... Either way, the food is fine... if a bit cold by the time it's all on your plate. I ordered the steak with fried rice and it was all A-OK. Our hibachi dude was appropriately "entertaining." It was a lightly attended lunch hour, so we got plenty of attention from the staff. The decor is unremarkable... standard garish colors and vinyl covered seats. I won't make a point to return, but will if someone else were to want to go.
(3)
Terrae W.
We had a reservation for 5 for 7:30 pm on a Saturday night. We arrived on time and were not seated at a table until 8:30 pm. During that time we couldn't even get a drink at the bar - the bartenders were busy with others and ignored our group at the end of the bar. The hostess had no idea of who was waiting or when their original reservations were. At one point she asked us, the customers, who she should seat first. When we finally did get seated, the waiter was friendly but clearly overworked. It took forever to get our drinks. It also took forever for the Hibachi chef to arrive to our table. At that time, they decided to reshuffle the tables and moved people from our table to another and others from the other to ours - this, of course, took even more time. By the time the chef started cooking, we were starving! The performance was pretty lack luster honestly and with how long we waited it would have had to be spectacular to raise our spirits. The good thing was the prices were not too bad for Hibachi.
(2)
Thomas D.
There are basically x3 sushi places in the southwest suburbs: 1. Origami - Great sushi, good service, expensive prices 2. Osaka - Good sushi, ok service, good prices 3. Kabuki - ok sushi, ok service, good prices I enjoy Osaka, and I would actually give it 3.5 stars. I have been there a dozen times and always left satisfied. Osaka is nice because their sushi is always good, they make a decent martini (3 out of 5 stars), you can always get in and their prices are very decent. Yes, their service leaves something to be desired because like Kikugawa in St Anthony. But, if you are looking for good value on the dollar for good sushi this is a place to go.
(3)
James K.
My dad and I were staying at a hotel nearby and randomly wandered over to this restaurant for dinner. It turned out that it was their second night in business, so they weren't very busy. The front area has standard table service and a fairly large sushi bar (with a cool glass-backed waterfall behind the chef). In the back there are Benihana-style tables. We sat in the front area, where we could hear, but not see, the chef "performing" in the back. It sounded like his "audience" was having fun, and we would occasionally see big flashes of flame through the glass waterfall, which was kinda neat. Service was just OK--the waitress was friendly but a bit inexperienced. When we asked her questions about items on the menu, she just picked up the menu and slowly read us the descriptions from the menu. She also rushed us a little bit, which was amusing given that there were maybe five parties in the entire place. I had "hibachi steak and shrimp" which was basically grilled cubed steak and medium-sized shrimp with a side of wok-friend vegetables and some rather un-Japanese sauces and noodles(they looked and tasted like chow mein--I'm 99.9999% certain this place is run by Chinese, and about 80% sure that they are from Hong Kong). It was filling and tasty, if not particularly exciting. The only real negative thing with my meal was the rice, which was dry, less like it was undercooked than as if it had been cooked and left to sit for too long (yech). Dad had tempura shrimp and vegetables that looked really good and he reported no problems with them. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and the prices seemed a tad high to me, which leads me to believe they are probably quite high for Minnesota (I think my dad's tempura was $18 and my steak and shrimp was $23). I probably wouldn't go out of my way to eat at Osaka again, but if I were staying nearby and needed a break from standard Minnesotan fare, I would probably wander in to see how it was doing. [Addendum, from the kitschy TV ad on the website, I take it they are a spin-off of a restaurant by the same name in Apple Valley: yelp.com/biz/iLeqcGH87cK…
I can only speak to the Sushi bar, where if you sit in front of the chef he will whip up super tasty sushi goodness that's totally narf-able. My co workers are regulars so maybe that's why they got fantastic treatment-but the chef seemed innovative and fun and lunch- aside, from being hard to talk to everyone, seated in a bar, was delicious.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Albert W.
I went there twice for sushi and hibachi. This restaurant is ran by bunch of Chinese people, not Japanese or Korean! the sushi were not fresh. I assume most Minnesotan doesn't know what is fresh sushi! They recognize the freshness of the sushi by looking at the price tag. The sushi is absolutely garbage. The food they served in Hibachi is not different than the one you get from chinese take-out which is much much cheaper!
(1)Linh N.
I went to this place 'cause it was within walking distance from my hotel. I have to admit that I've always ordered take-out as I don't like to eat in restaurants by myself--bars are the worse but that's another story. I have to admit that you cannot ever go wrong with Japanese rice. The grain is soft and moist. But other than that... the food here was pretty decent although I've had better. I always get the same thing--steak hibachi. I do love the different dipping sauces they serve you with your hibachi plate. I've figured out the perfect combination for it when eating my food--dip all my meats in each of the sauces! It's not a bad place to eat and the sushi is pretty good so you can't really go wrong here. Just don't have any really high expectations.
(3)Adam G.
Agree with the other comments on the (lack of) service. Food was decent but won't be back.
(2)Grant N.
This was a great night out with friends. Fun atmosphere and really good food. Filet mignon and shrimp was a great combo. The sake is OK, if you like rice liquor. Entertaining presentation at the Hibachi. Overall a really great time.
(4)Jessica S.
Great place! My husband and I go there every few months or so and love it. If you like a performance with your tastey food, this is the place to go. Not only is it fun, but they shoot Sake in your mouth! Great for birthdays, because you get another fun performance plus a dessert. We are going on Valentine's day, as a matter of fact!
(5)Amy S.
We arrived around 6pm on a Thursday night. Got here right before they started filling up, so we only had a brief 5 minute wait to be seated. The kids liked it right way because there's a little fish tank for them to look at. We came for the hibachi, so it was a fairly easy decision in perusing the men. I would have liked to have tried the sushi, but hibachi and sushi seemed like way too much food. As it stood, the hibachi came with a chicken mushroom broth, which was pretty lackluster. Next up was a house salad. It was so saturated in some sort of thousand island dressing that I just picked at it. The hibachi cook then prepared fried rice, noodles, stir fried veggies and filet mignon, shrimp and scallops. The show was pretty neat to watch. The kids certainly enjoyed it. Our cook was pretty friendly and not overly showy. We were seated with strangers that also had kids, so our table was pretty tame. Some of the other diners there were in big groups, celebrating birthdays. We were there also for a birthday, but not that we let on. They put out the lights, turn on a disco ball, give you a large mask to wear, and play a birthday song with a drum. Pretty cheesy, but funny. The rest of meal was decent, but nothing spectacular. For the price, I wasn't overly wowed. The kiddo's certainly enjoyed it. We'd probably visit again, but only with the kids. They also have some gongs outside the front doors that the kiddo's banged on for a bit.
(3)Dim S.
Hostess and manager need some customer service lessons. My friend and I stood directly in front of them for about five minutes without any acknowledgement of our presence, while they finished up their conversation. Other than that, the food and service was ok.
(2)Mark L.
The fish was fresh! The rolls were simple and Japanese in style.
(3)Kent M.
All very good here tonight having bottle of Reisling, sushi, shrimp/scallops main course. Great service and 100 ft from my hotel. Just right everything.
(4)Javier D.
Rushed. The wait staff was really bad I'm sad to say. Worst of all, everyone wanted to go early so they made me pay my bill ten minutes before closing and I'm serious that as I walked out early they shut off the lights and all bolted. It was the worst experience! Don't go. It was insulting and embarrassing
(1)Tasha T.
We went here because it was right across from our hotel, Marriott Springhill Suites, and well, we're from Hawaii and absolutely love sushi! During certain hours (I believe it was 11-2p and after 8p on Friday and other days), most of their food is 30-50% off. We rushed over at 1:45p on a Friday. The sushi was authentic and so ono (delicious in Hawaiian)! We absolutely loved their Minnesota role (tempura and cream cheese), tempura roll, and spicy tuna rolls. I also ordered vegetable tempura and miso soup! I highly recommend their food if you're looking for authentic Japanese in the Midwest (which is hard to find!). Service in the restaurant was pretty good too. However, because we ordered about 10 min. before they were closing for lunch and ate there for a good 15-20 min., by the time we asked for to-go boxes, they didn't give us any chopsticks or eating utensils in our to-go bag. Other than that, we enjoyed our foodie experience at Osaka!
(4)IE B.
4.5 out of 5 - was very pleased with my meal tonight. Was better than many other higher prices sushi restaurants in the area. Was in town on business and wanted something close and could not be more happy with the food quality and service tonight.
(4)Marc J.
Not the place for sushi. Took 10 minutes once we were seated for a server to come by the table. Ordered chirashi. The fish was still partially frozen. $23 for very little fish. 4 of he prices were mock crab.
(2)Chris M.
I don't know what everyone is complaining about. I had a great experience from the moment I walked in the door until I walked out. I was promptly seated by very friendly and attentive staff, had great Sake, appetizer, and a great Scallop dinner. Perhaps they saw the previous reviews and so what if they did. They had an issue or two, fixed them and now good things all around. Yum!
(4)Amanda L.
Unfortunately I need to rate this Osaka location 1 star and am surprised to see the 3 star rating on this page. It was a Saturday night and the place was empty ... typically not a good sign. We sat down and it took about 10 min for the waiter to take our drink order. We then ordered about 15 pieces of nigiri, 2 rolls, and negimaki don buri. The morsels of meat on top of the nigiri were tiny to the point of offensive, the 'yellowtail' we had ordered was definitely not yellowtail, and the waiter had forgotten our eel order. We had to ask the waiter numerous times for refills, as well as ask him numerous times if the negimaki would be out soon as it was one of our party's main meals. After half an hour wait time, and after everyone had finished their food ... the negimaki arrived. Except, it was the appetizer and not the don buri meal. This was one of the most unprofessional restaurant displays I've experienced recently. Maybe we were unlucky enough to receive a bad waiter, but I think the empty restaurant answers for itself. Unfortunately I won't be eating at this location and most likely other Osaka's in the cities. I find it surprising this restaurant has received a 3 star review and believe those who rate it higher are doing a disservice to the community. I urge you not to eat here. For the sake of decent Japanese food.
(1)LB L.
Reservations are recommended- even on a Monday night. We didn't have reservations and ended up waiting quite a while, but on the plus side, they staff really did try to make it up to us - they even threw in some cake as a thank you. The food is always fantastic- as is the show. These are well trained professionals who make a point to get to know the crowd and always cook things up to perfection. Tonight was perfect too. This is a great place to celebrate regularly or even go on a date night. It's lively and everyone has a good time.
(4)Birgen H.
Ruh roh, I might be switching from Benihana to Osaka from now on... 5 stars for excellent service! (And the food has been great as well) I am a low-carb eater so hibachi can be stressful for me, but not here! EVERY time I ask for *no rice but extra veggies* at Benihana it holds up the whole table's orders as the waiter runs around frantically asking if I can do that and how much extra to charge me (sometimes $2, sometimes $4? Not cool) but not before staring at me like I'm crazy and asking me a few more times ".... Wait... So NO rice...? None?" Yes. No rice. It's embarrassing and frustrating for me at Benihana, but every time I have asked this at Osaka? "Sure!"... Not even a hesitation, AND no extra charge! they will never understand how much that means to me; They are totally willing to meet your dietary needs in any way they can. A+ On top of that the food has been excellent every time. A few weeks ago we got the Lovers Dinner For Two: fillet mignon, lobster, scallops, and shrimp... All were cooked to perfection! We will definitely be making Osaka a monthly thing.
(5)Cole R.
Osaka is a great place to eat. The service has always been great, the food is always great. While many think it's only good for hibachi, it's a surprising good and affordable for lunch during the week, where sushi rolls are often marked down by 40-50%. The fish is always fresh, the sushi is always fresh. If you are in the mood for fresh hibachi or sushi this place is your spot. Not terribly high pricing either.
(5)Timothy B.
Typical Hibachi flare as you get at any restaurant of this type. Food tasted good, prepared as requested. Dipping sauces put favors above average. Sushi rolls are average. Service was inferior. Server would disappear for a long time. Empty appetizer plates sat stacked up for a long time. Very little room to eat already so this made it even more difficult. Would go back again on the right occasion.
(3)Matt G.
I'm always entertained by Hibachi restaurants. Watching your food getting made right in front of you always beats sitting around and waiting for it to come out of the kitchen. (Plus you can make sure they don't spit in it haha) Not that you have much time to wait since they are always parading plenty of food out to you. They start with soup and salad, add fried rice, and finally get to your main course. The soup was very bland and didn't really have much flavor to it. The salad was ok but the dressing wasn't my favorite. The fried rice and the main courses however are delicious. You can't go wrong with anything on the Hibachi menu. I had the chicken and shrimp, they had great flavor and were cooked perfectly. The chef always puts on a great show so sit back, relax and always ask for more saki!
(4)Sam W.
3.5 stars for food, 0 stars for service. I went in with my parents on a mildly busy night, and right off the bat the server had to clarify our drink orders several times in a row. She wasn't writing anything down, and had apparently never heard of "sprite" before in addition to cocktails from their own drink menu. Our salad and miso soup came out quickly enough - nothing special, but not bad either. The sashimi we ordered was quite decent, but the tamago was not only off-tasting but quite obviously still half frozen. Hopefully the main course (more sushi and sashimi) would be better. We waited close to an hour for our main dinner, 20 minutes of which were spent staring directly at it as it just freaking sat there on top of the sushi bar, less than 15 feet away. Our server would alternate between completely vanishing from the restaurant and appearing for eight seconds to walk around the room, look at and walk right past our dinner, and disappear once more without checking up on or serving anyone. Our food was finally brought to us by a completely different server (who was already quite busy with what seemed like literally every other table), and she apologized for how long it took. If it had happened any later, I would have got up and grabbed it myself. The sashimi and the spicy salmon rolls were surprisingly good despite how long they had sat out, and probably would have been excellent fresh - the salmon and yellowtail especially. We had to wait another eternity for the check to come, which was brought by the original server with absolutely zero apology or acknowledgment of the molasses-on-a-glacier wait times we endured. It was only the fourth time she had come to the table at all in over an hour and a half. After we paid, I discreetly tried to find a manager, but couldn't - was this a ship without a rudder? The food's good enough, but the service is literally the worst I have ever experienced at any restaurant in the twin cities, bar none. Drive a bit further down to the Bloomington location if you're that desperate for sushi in the SW suburbs. Only reason I gave 2 stars instead of 1 is for the poor other server who was trying her best to run an entire damn front-of-house all by herself.
(2)Marty S.
I have been here multiple times. The hibachi chef is fun and the food is great! It is slow there most of the time, I hope this place sticks around!
(4)Jeff K.
So if you've had Hibachi anywhere, you've had it everywhere. Let's be real, we are in Minnesota, not Tokyo. On the other hand, one of the downfalls to living in MN is the lack of passable, fresh sushi. The sushi bar and service at Osaka in Eden Prairie is definitely on par with some of the best you'll find in the Twin Cities. Sure it lacks the flames and colored foils and other non edible decoration, but the quality of the food served is fantastic. They make their rice in small batches as needed, so no cold stale sushi rice in this joint. The fish is exceptional, with no off putting smells or flavors. The experience when actually eating, is pleasant and relaxing. Best part? With daily specials of 20-50% off sushi prices during the day, it makes sushi for lunch an extremely value forward option. All in all, I would say that as a quality lunch option, it's worth a try. Who knows, you may even run into a pro football player or two!
(4)Ngoc N.
I really was unimpressed by this place. I ordered sushi and it all looked worst than the sushi you get from a grocery store. I ordered a few of the spicy rolls, including the Spicy Girl roll and they all looked the same. They globbed on spicy whatever (it looked like a thick paste that comes out of a tube) onto seaweed wrap with a little bit of undercooked rice. There wasn't enough rice on the seaweed wrap to even cover the seaweed...I think i saw more green than white. Really? Who skimps on rice? The spicy girl roll was essentially the same thing, but there was also a big glob of something right on top. It had no flavor. It was all one color. Just yuck. BTW -- I uploaded a couple picks for your viewing pleasure. The only decently thing is that we ordered side orders of the Hibachi steak, which was surprisingly tender. We also go a side order of fried rice and the rice was so uncooked it was crunchy in my mouth. Next time I crave Japanese food or just some sushi, I'm going to drive myself somewhere further. Proves me wrong for wanting convenience. On a side note -- why is all ethnic food in the EP area so bad??!?
(2)Colleen N.
Sushi is always good. We had the rainbow roll, spider roll, California, no. 9 roll and were all delicious. The MN roll was a bit odd but we took a chance on it. My kids love the noodles especially with the shrimp sauce. Reservations are a must for hibachi. The chefs do a great job of entertaining. The Happy Birthday song has gotten stuck in my head though.
(4)Ed G.
Decent Japanese fare. Service was good and efficient. Actually better than I expected from a restaurant surrounded by hotels. Those tend to be so-so due to having a somewhat captive audience. I had one of their dinner box meals, which has a little bit of everything. Miso soup was above average. No problem getting a table either. There weren't that many diners.
(3)Sung L.
Despite having a reservation, my family had to wait 25 minutes before being seated. Fried rice was hard/dry, steak and seafood were under seasoned, and overall experience was disappointing.
(2)Jonathan E.
I feel like I always have to start my reviews of Japanese restaurants with the disclaimer that Ive lived in Japan and traveled their extensively. I dont mean to be harsh, but Im just always so disappointed in these so-called "hibachi" places (that term is used very loosely). Pretty much everything about Osaka is typical of that type of restaurant from the decor to the presentation of the food. With the exception of maybe Ichiban in downtown Minneapolis, the vast majority of these places are the same in my opinion. The food isnt "bad," but it's certainly not good either. I sampled a few different kinds of sushi which were nothing special, a shrimp dish which was more art than it was delicious food, and a basic yaki-soba dish. The noodles were ok, but again, nothing fantastic. For the prices you pay at teppan-yaki/hibachi/Japanese steak houses, you should have high expectation, at least, with the quality of food and ingredients. Pros: Private parking lot, spacious dining area Cons: Average food, below average sushi, expensive
(2)Carol B.
Disappointed . We thought they had fairly generous sushi portions and were of decent quality. The accompanying standard green salad with ginger dressing was passable but the miso soup was a waste -flavorless . Don't bother with the gyoza or spring rolls either which had no discernible flavor. The real turnoff however was the overall uncleanliness.-the dirty bathroom with no bathroom trash can in the stall and the resulting mess, there was water all over the floor from an apparent leak. Service was affable but not engaging.
(2)Mary V.
We love Osaka and have been going there regularly and enthusiastically since it opened in Eden Prairie. Their sushi is always excellent, and their service, while sometimes slow, is usually good. However, on our last trip there, we noticed that the sushi was noticably smaller for the same price. In other words, sushi that used to be too big for one mouthful is a quick bite now. Not so happy about that.
(4)Sandra S.
Everything was delicious. The portions are typically Japanese, small! However the service was excellent the food was to die for. I will be back soon.
(4)Angie O.
I came here with a group of co-workers and we sat on the hibachi side, some of us ordered sushi and some ordered hibachi. There is nothing extraordinary about Osaka, the food and service is good. The decor is nice, and the bathrooms are clean. It's a great place to bring a group as there is something for everyone. I have to agree with the reviewer who mentioned the birthday song - it's really awful, and you couldn't pay me to put one of those masks on my head.
(3)Michael C.
This place is pretty standard for a hibachi style Japanese grill. Its not quite as nice as the other big games in town but its also priced better and food is comparable. Look for coupons online or in the valpak for a good amount off your check.
(4)Mollee F.
When you have several hours to spend on dinner, you can't have more fun than at a hibachi restaurant. We like Osaka because it's close to home. I love the filet mignon hibachi. Steak cooked in butter is a-maz-ing. The soba noodles and vegetables are so flavorful. You won't leave with an ounce of space left in your stomach. While I'm entertained watching people try to catch food with their mouths, I don't care to have food flung at mine - especially shrimp. If they have to do it, I'd prefer they stuck to a neutral chicken or zucchini. We've generally had good service on our visits. On our last trip, we had a toddler along and our server was so attentive to her - even bringing her a balloon animal at one point. We also scored a free dessert (I'm sure in part to the cuteness of said toddler). Love the disco ball and the song that plays when someone is celebrating a birthday. The paper mache heads are ridiculous, but make for great embarrassing pictures. A word of note - be very clear when calling for a weekend reservation that you want a hibachi table. One time, we had a reservation for a group of six on a Saturday night and they were too busy to seat us in the hibachi section. We got stuck in the front of the house and I can tell you without the "show," Osaka is far less fun.
(4)Ian H.
I recommend giving Osaka a try during happy hour. The place was clean, the sushi was good and the deals were nice. I came on a business trip and stayed at the hotel next door. It's definitely become my staple dinner when I don't feel like leaving the hotel for very long. The tempura banana dessert is a must-try at least once!
(4)Lisa J.
This place is probably known best for its Hibachi. My husband and I had to end up just doing sushi. It was sushi that you could get anywhere, but we did like the BMW roll the best. We went there on a Tuesday night at 6 and had to wait if we wanted Hibachi??!! Wow, who would have thought to make reservations on a Tuesday? Word for the wise, make reservations first no matter WHAT day it is. Most annoying thing in that restaurant is the obnoxious birthday song they sing to patrons. Thanks a lot Osaka, now I have that stupid song in my head the rest of our date!
(3)Mary B.
Although the food was very good (I was excited to see it in my area since Benihana is so far away), I have to say that I will not return due to the downright horrible treatment of their customers. My first visit was a couple of months ago with my husband for dinner. The do some tricks throughout the dinner show but at one point the chef took the salt and pepper shaker and threw salt and pepper in my face! Maybe he through that he was throwing it lower but he is lucky that it did not go in my eyes. The waitress taking our orders also picked up her cell phone in the middle of taking orders. My second experience (and last) was with a group of coworkers to celebrate a birthday. We went for lunch and we were the only group there. Once the chef completed cooking our food and had it on our plates, I poured a little bit of their seafood sauce on my food. The chef asked if I wanted more sauce and I said no. He asked again and again I said no. He then took a whole ladle full of sauce and poured it all over my food. My coworkers were absolutely stunned at this as was I. I did not want to totally ruin their experience by complaining and I certainly did not have time to wait for a replacement for the food since we were already running very late for our lunch break and there were no other tables that were cooking. My food had started off as very tasty and then ended up being disgusting after swimming in a pool of sauce. Plus I found two black hairs in my rice. It is really hard to believe that a restaurant could exercise such a lack of judgement in how the conduct business with their customers and I can't say that I have heard of such ill treatment before (and it's not an inexpensive place!). I want to warn everyone of what they may encounter if they choose to try Osaka.
(1)Amanda R.
I liked the location of this restaraunt. It's in a very nice neighborhood, the staff was friendly and helpful. I always enjoy hibachi restaraunts. The chef cooking the food was fun and funny. He made us laugh and entertained us quite well. He even threw me a couple extra shrimp on my plate which I thought was a nice gesture! I've been here three times and it was great and fast service each time. I've gone in during lunchtime and there was always seating. They also have regular seating for the people not interested in hibachi which I found to be unique compared to the other hibachi places I've been. Great lunch! Thank you Osaka!
(4)Michael K.
I have never been to the hibachi side and have only ordered sushi here. The sushi is ok. They have one really good roll, that has black pepper seared tuna on top, other than that it is just average sushi. Service is mixed. Visits vary from rarely seeing the waitstaff to having them interrupt often to ask if everything is ok. I would not make a special trip here, but when traveling to the area I would stop by again.
(3)Tanya K.
The food reminds me of a Chinese buffet. I ordered the lunch chicken hibachi. I got soup with two pieces of mushroom and four scallions. Meh. Then for the entree j got chicken tossed in some brown sauce which was ultimately tasteless and noodles tossed in the same thing. It irks me when restaurants use the same sauce for both the protein and carbs. It's lazy. The fried rice is okay. But if an Asian place screwed up fried rice, then they shouldn't be in the restaurant business in the first place. Now they had the two dipping sauces. The mayo-based sauce (yumi yumi sauce)I would bet was made with miracle whip. Ick. It tasted "fat free" and disgusting. That's the stuff that I normally love to drench everything with. I definitely won't be coming back here. The menu isn't creative and tastes cheap.
(1)Chris B.
First time here and I loved it! We had reservations for this Saturday night and were immediately seated. There were no other patrons waiting, so it looks like reservations may not always be necessary. Decor is OK, nothing special. The front area seems more dimly lit, but the back area with the hibachi grills is much brighter lighting. We ordered the Spicy Girl and Yum Yum sushi rolls for appetizers--awesome sushi. We then had hibachi. The hibachi here is a lot better than Benihanna's in St. Louis Park. The hibachi chef was very friendly and overall the customer service was very good. I was a bit weary of the customer service going in after reading other reviews of this restaurant, but I was pleasantly surprised. Our daughters (twins 12 years old) also loved it. The hibachi was quite good and you get a very large portion of food. I could not eat all the fried rice. The filet mignon was delicious. Prices were reasonable. I had two dirty martinis and I thoroughly enjoyed those. If there was a negative, it would be that the place can get a bit loud and raucous....it seems the hibachi chefs enjoy a ritual of saki "squirts" with their customers. A few other tables were doing this and it looked like a lot of fun. Alas, we had the girls along, but many of the other patrons were getting in the act. Overall I enjoyed myself on a Saturday night in the southwest suburbs of Minneapolis.
(4)Courtney C.
I visited here for the first time this last Sunday around 6pm... no wait for a table and the food was really great! The cooks put on an entertaining enough show but we were just there to chat and it was quiet enough for that. The fried rice was delicious and the bill wasn't too steep.. I would definitely return. If you go on your bday they play a really obnoxious song and make the birthday person wear a creep mask... I would recommend you keep that a secret if you visit on your birthday because no one wants to hear that crap.
(4)Josh E.
Osaka was the destination for a birthday lunch the other day. I'll straight up say I'm not a huge fan of Hibachi places. Having some dude loudly smacking metal on metal, and juggling sharp objects in my face, for about 20 minutes, while each portion of your meal sits in various states of un-warmness, isn't my idea of an enjoyable dining experience but, hey, different strokes and all that... Either way, the food is fine... if a bit cold by the time it's all on your plate. I ordered the steak with fried rice and it was all A-OK. Our hibachi dude was appropriately "entertaining." It was a lightly attended lunch hour, so we got plenty of attention from the staff. The decor is unremarkable... standard garish colors and vinyl covered seats. I won't make a point to return, but will if someone else were to want to go.
(3)Terrae W.
We had a reservation for 5 for 7:30 pm on a Saturday night. We arrived on time and were not seated at a table until 8:30 pm. During that time we couldn't even get a drink at the bar - the bartenders were busy with others and ignored our group at the end of the bar. The hostess had no idea of who was waiting or when their original reservations were. At one point she asked us, the customers, who she should seat first. When we finally did get seated, the waiter was friendly but clearly overworked. It took forever to get our drinks. It also took forever for the Hibachi chef to arrive to our table. At that time, they decided to reshuffle the tables and moved people from our table to another and others from the other to ours - this, of course, took even more time. By the time the chef started cooking, we were starving! The performance was pretty lack luster honestly and with how long we waited it would have had to be spectacular to raise our spirits. The good thing was the prices were not too bad for Hibachi.
(2)Thomas D.
There are basically x3 sushi places in the southwest suburbs: 1. Origami - Great sushi, good service, expensive prices 2. Osaka - Good sushi, ok service, good prices 3. Kabuki - ok sushi, ok service, good prices I enjoy Osaka, and I would actually give it 3.5 stars. I have been there a dozen times and always left satisfied. Osaka is nice because their sushi is always good, they make a decent martini (3 out of 5 stars), you can always get in and their prices are very decent. Yes, their service leaves something to be desired because like Kikugawa in St Anthony. But, if you are looking for good value on the dollar for good sushi this is a place to go.
(3)James K.
My dad and I were staying at a hotel nearby and randomly wandered over to this restaurant for dinner. It turned out that it was their second night in business, so they weren't very busy. The front area has standard table service and a fairly large sushi bar (with a cool glass-backed waterfall behind the chef). In the back there are Benihana-style tables. We sat in the front area, where we could hear, but not see, the chef "performing" in the back. It sounded like his "audience" was having fun, and we would occasionally see big flashes of flame through the glass waterfall, which was kinda neat. Service was just OK--the waitress was friendly but a bit inexperienced. When we asked her questions about items on the menu, she just picked up the menu and slowly read us the descriptions from the menu. She also rushed us a little bit, which was amusing given that there were maybe five parties in the entire place. I had "hibachi steak and shrimp" which was basically grilled cubed steak and medium-sized shrimp with a side of wok-friend vegetables and some rather un-Japanese sauces and noodles(they looked and tasted like chow mein--I'm 99.9999% certain this place is run by Chinese, and about 80% sure that they are from Hong Kong). It was filling and tasty, if not particularly exciting. The only real negative thing with my meal was the rice, which was dry, less like it was undercooked than as if it had been cooked and left to sit for too long (yech). Dad had tempura shrimp and vegetables that looked really good and he reported no problems with them. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and the prices seemed a tad high to me, which leads me to believe they are probably quite high for Minnesota (I think my dad's tempura was $18 and my steak and shrimp was $23). I probably wouldn't go out of my way to eat at Osaka again, but if I were staying nearby and needed a break from standard Minnesotan fare, I would probably wander in to see how it was doing. [Addendum, from the kitschy TV ad on the website, I take it they are a spin-off of a restaurant by the same name in Apple Valley: yelp.com/biz/iLeqcGH87cK…
(3)Richard F.
I have eaten here probably 6 or 7 times, a few of those times have been take out. Let me start out by saying the sushi is GOOD, if it wasn't I wouldn't have eaten there that many times ;-)...To be honest the service isn't the best. I have had a variety of different servers, all of which seem to be somewhat rude and didn't check back very often. I have stuck to take out from here the last few times mostly due to the service inside the restaurant. I really wish the service would be better, because the food is actually pretty good. The décor is pretty cool and well kept. The hibachi experience was alright. It was towards the end of the night so the guy was probably somewhat tired, but he wasn't rude or anything. The ONLY reason it got 3 stars is because of the food, otherwise it would have gotten 2 due to the service. The Apple Valley location I would definitely recommend!
(3)Wendy M.
I can only speak to the Sushi bar, where if you sit in front of the chef he will whip up super tasty sushi goodness that's totally narf-able. My co workers are regulars so maybe that's why they got fantastic treatment-but the chef seemed innovative and fun and lunch- aside, from being hard to talk to everyone, seated in a bar, was delicious.
(4)