I didn't have a terrible experience at Raku, and truthfully, I only sampled 2 standard rolls and one specialty roll. Yet, I don't feel compelled to return. In fact, I forgot I even went there until I wrote a review about somewhere else I went in the 50th & France neighborhood. Service was slow on Sunday at lunchtime, even though there was only one other table in use while we were there. The rolls were decent. We tried the playboy roll as well as your standard spicy tuna. It wasn't bad; I have just had more memorable and mouth watering sushi experiences elsewhere in the city. Those who loved it--tell me what you had so I know what to order if I ever return.
(2)
Kristi C.
Quick and efficient service. I tried something a bit different, not really sushi but beautiful on the plate and pleasing to the palate. Lost Tuna - greens with a citrus dressing, wrapped with seared tuna, topped with thinly sliced jalapeno & tobiko and a sauce that had just the right amount of heat.
(4)
Bruce M.
What happened to Raku? We have been here before and enjoyed it. Last night service was slow and unhelpful. We had questions about the menu and instead of explaining the items the waiter asked if he should come back later when we were ready. Maybe this is the management's fault for not having enough waiters on a Friday night. More unsatisfying was the overcooked scallops on eggplant (normally good) and the overcooked Sea Bass with Udon Noodles (a great fish usually). I am not sure if I will take a chance here again. We were with good friends and enjoyed out time together but I wish I could have a do-over on picking the restaurant.
(2)
Mike S.
Looking for a new place for sushi nearby, Yelp told me that a place called Raku had opened at 50th and France and had somehow eluded my new-restaurant radar. Well, I'm in the dark no longer. Raku dazzle you from the outside (I'm looking at you Thom Pham) - it's a pretty unassuming spot nestled among the salons and high-end shops of 50th and France, with a simple black awning alerting the neighborhood of it's existence. On the inside they've done a beautiful job with the decor - it's upscale but approachable, romantic but good for groups as well. There is a bar, but it only seats about 4-5 people. Overall, it's a cozy little joint. We are pretty basic when it comes to ordering sushi, so don't look to me for recommendations about lots of fancy specialty rolls. We ordered edamame to start, which was good, and then we followed that up with a round of Nigiri - salmon, tuna, shrimp and yellowtail. It was all very fresh and delicious - we had to do a second round of the tuna. Then we ordered the snow thrill roll, which combines tuna, salmon and yellowtail with avocado and it's rolled in crush flakes and served with eel sauce. Wow, what an amazing combination of flavors... I highly recommend that one. Like most sushi restaurants, beer isn't a big focus of their menu, so I had to settle for a couple of Kirins, and I was okay with that. My wife stuck to water, so I don't have much info to share on the wine and cocktail front. A better beer list and a bigger bar might have been the tipping point that would've scored Raku that fifth star. As far as service goes, it was attentive but not pushy and our server was very friendly. No complaints. If you're in the area or just want to try a new place for great sushi, stop by Raku and give them a try. I know I'll be going back in the not-too-distant future. Cheers, --
(4)
David H.
I wish you could review the service and food separately, as that would alter the 2 star rating. This was our first visit to Raku and it was a mixed experience. We arrived on a Saturday evening around 7pm and were certainly not surprised to see it was pretty crazy busy. We were the first to walk up to the hostess stand and saw a girl on the phone facing away from us, who we assume was taking some type of order or reservation....no problem yet. Once she got off the phone, she walked right by us without saying a word and then multiple servers walked by without saying anything either.....we had her and another couple people walk by and only say excuse me. After about 5 min or so, we were finally greeted by the hostess and shown to the one and only open table. We watched the whole hostess wait play out for numerous individuals after us, as we were seated right near the door. I'm going to shorten the service experience by simply saying that they were super busy and that they should have had the restaurant better staffed on a Saturday (maybe they had peeps out sick, not sure). I understand being busy, but I don't forgive not acknowledging people waiting with at least a "hello, we'll be with you a moment". On to better things though! We both ordered wine/Sake, which were just fine, in fact the Sake that I had was absolutely fantastic, and their selection was great!! We tried the Fillet Tataki and an Oyster Shooter for an appetizer, both were great and presented well. We decided that Sushi & rolls were the best option for our entrees and that didn't disappoint either, as the rolls were quite creative and something different from the sea of standard roll options. We agreed that it would be best to return on an evening other than a weekend and see if the experience was a bit better.
(2)
Kimberly T.
Thanks to both Yelp & Groupon who continue to expand my horizons in the local food seen. I bought a Groupon a few weeks ago for Raku & was excited to try it out. Word to the wise, call for a reservation, do not book on Open Table. They don't want to give you dining points & let you use a Groupon or something. IDK, whatever. Moving on to the food. Everything we had was delicious. The seaweed salad was standard & good, the pork goyza was fantastic & the harumaki were delicious spring rolls that came with an even better sweet chili sauce. The standout of the evening was the Captain Crunch roll; shrimp tempura, crab, avocado & cucumber with crispy tempura flakes outside. Absolutely yum. I'd come back since the food, service & ambiance were all wonderful. They're opening a second location next to Little Szechuan at the West End - can't wait.
(4)
Jada M.
My actual rating would've been 3 1/2 but since they have such great service I gave them the benefit of the doubt and went with 4. This is a really hip, fun Japanese restaurant in the 50th and France area. They have a very large menu consisting of mostly sushi, they have a large selection of rolls, sashimi and sushi. They also have a great drink and Saki menu. Their sushi is medium good, it's no Origami but good and they have great service and a great atmosphere, give it a try in Edina!
(4)
Manuela K.
This is my favorite Japanese restaurant. I have enjoyed my dish every time I have been here. My favorite is the teriyaki chicken. The sauce on it is amazing and you get a very big amount of moist chicken with this meal. The fried rice dishes are tasty but don't feel like a very extravagant meal. You can have fried rice anywhere so I recommend trying something different. I don't like sushi so I can't comment about that. The desserts are very different and interesting but good. They are worth a try at least once. Tempura green tea ice cream is one dessert I enjoyed. The service has been pretty good each time I have been there. This is a good place to go to for fresh and authentic Japanese food. They have been releasing many groupon and livingsocial deals also. It can be a little expensive without a deal/coupon so that is the only downside but you are paying for the quality of the food which is really good. They also offer a happy hour during the week. The atmosphere is calm and pleasant. The location is on 50th & France making it a nice upscale area. There a parking garage very close so that makes parking simple and also free!
(5)
Tammy V.
Oh my I am in love with this place!! We went here on a whim and were totally impressed! I have had some good sushi in Minnesota but nothing outstanding until now!! The Futo Maki is a flavor explosion in your mouth!!! We orderd a second plate because it was sooooo good! We also had the 3939 and Pad Thai it was also amazing!!! We will visit this place often !!!
(5)
Vince C.
Full disclosure: Asian here. Reviewing Asian restaurant again. Also note: I came here with a bunch of my 30-ish year old friends. First night out without kids in a long long time. So, expectations were possibly a little higher than normal. First off: I found this place solely by typing in "Bar" and "Edina" into Yelp to see what I would get. One of our buddies is leaving town and works nearby, so we wanted to get him a goodbye dinner and mojito. And I'm glad I did it. The overall experience was a perfectly nice night and if it ended a little early for my preference, that's not a fault of the establishment. So, thanks Yelp! But I took away two stars. Why so harsh? Allow me to start by explaining what I ordered. I started with a Henricks martini (I love martini's with sushi -- It's kinda my thing), and ordered a Marine Sashimi platter. When I finished it, I ordered a Captain Crunch roll (tempura flakes outside a shrimp, crab, and cucumber, and avocado roll). Okay, now you know what I was working with. The martini came out acceptable, although I'm not sure the bartender shook it up with any ice. It was room temperature. Whatever. Not enough to take away a star. The presentation of the sashimi dish was pretty cool. Assorted fish laid out over a bed of shredded daikon and, in the middle of the bed, an inverted martini glass with a blue light emanating from it. The martini glass made a platform that held a few pieces of yellowtail and some caviar on top to finish the presentation. Very nice. Okay. Time to start being mean. Not one, but two separate pieces of fish that I ordered here had scales on them. Honest to god scales. I've NEVER had scales on my sashimi and here, two pieces from two separate fish weren't cleaned enough. Horrifying. Am I over-reacting? I don't think so. I didn't die. I didn't pick up Mad-Fish disease, but eating a meal that specializes in being completely raw, you like to know that the food you're eating has been safely and correctly cleaned and prepared. So yeah. One star gone. Might've been two, but just one so far. Then, the rice that came with the meal was not sushi rice. Or, if it was, it wasn't correct. The rice was jasmine. Some short-grained stickier version of jasmine - but still jasmine. Jasmine rice is flavorful and goes very well with curry or something like it. It does NOT go well with raw fish where you actually want to taste the fish. I might be seen as a little picky here - but remember Asian person here. Rice is very important. You can't screw it up. And they did. The Captain Crunch roll was fine. No complaints. I was a little too full to immediately grab a dessert, but if my friends were willing to sit around for a bit, I might have tried the mochi ice cream. One last tidbit. The restaurant advertises itself as Modern Japanese Fusion. I have no idea who the bartender, chef, or sushi chef were at this restaurant, and I only ate the sashimi and roll, but I'm not sure what was modern or fusion about it - maybe the plastic ice cube with a battery-powered light made it modern. In either case, it did NOT feel modern. I didn't see or feel or taste any fusion. And ... it didn't feel very Japanese. It felt, in fact, like a Chinese person TRYING to run a Japanese restaurant, and charging all of the super high prices that a Japanese restaurant charges -- but being unwilling to do the job correctly like cleaning the fish or serving the appropriate rice. Maybe it's my Asian sensitivity coming out, but that's what my intuition was telling me. And that's the feeling that I left with. And I'm pretty sure I'm right.
(3)
Sandy F.
We have gone three times now and we really don't think we'll be back because the service is SOOOO SLOW!!! We started with edamame. We noticed that everyone around us was given warm, damp washcloths to clean their hands with before eating. Very civilized, yet we never got one. And you eat edamame with your hands. We ordered a yam tempura roll, a Sun Kiss roll, and a Captain Crunch roll. Normally when you order three rolls, you get them together. We wanted to start with the yam roll and end on a sweet note, the sun kiss roll. But after 25 minutes, we finally got the sun kiss roll. We asked about the other two and she said they were coming right up. We could see the bar and there sat our yam roll. Getting cold. Another ten minutes and the crunch roll was finally up so she brought both over. The yam roll was a C-. The other two were very good, but every time we go we get such slow and erratic service that we just don't want to go anymore. Maybe for take-out, if I need an hour to waste!
(1)
Joe N.
Great Food, Great Service. Recent blogger/reviewers have lambasted Raku in Edina for aweful service. I've only been to Raku 3 or 4 times over the past few years, and never had terrible service. Last night the service was outstanding. Heidi did a terrific job - attentive and knowledgable. Food came when it was supposed to come, and it was delicious. The Playboy Roll is still our favorite roll. Not only are the flames fun, but most importantly the roll itself is a big hit to both lovers and nonlovers of sushi. I opted for the Crazy Chicken and it was delicious (I don't usually order chicken). My wife had the tilapia, and although I thought maybe it was a bit overcooked, it had great flavor and not nearly as dry as it may have appeqared when first presented. Another of our dining companions had a California roll that she thought was among the best she's ever had, and the other had a bowl of the signature soups -- it was ENORMOUS, and she said it was very, very good. So I don't know what's going on with the service, but on a Thursday night in November, service was terrific. And the Pineapple mojito was outstanding!
(4)
Mia T.
The ambiance is cozy and good presentation is pretty. Food is like other Japanese restaurants. The 1 entree we tried was good. Service is good.
(3)
Rob L.
My family took our 9-year-old daughter to Raku to celebrate winning a piano contest. None of us were disappointed. My son and daughter loved the 'Japanese pop' - which was strawberry and came in a very unusual bottle. They were delighted. Our family only ordered special rolls - and they were special. Each roll had it's own flavor. We ordered two rounds and everything was eaten. When we left, our whole family was enthusiastic about the experience and we were glad we went.
(4)
Kimlinh B.
This place desperately needs customers. Every time I've walked past it's been totally dead. Then I tried it out on a random weeknight, and we were one of 3 tables. Walking past Raku, I wasn't even sure they were open at first. The desperate vibe is a total killjoy. And that's unfortunate because this is a lovely restaurant, great location, and the sushi rolls are imaginative, beautiful and delicious. The prices are a little high. Cheaper sushi can easily be found elsewhere. All the waitstaff were very friendly and helpful, but our waiter's B.O. was an unequivocal turnoff. Raku definitely has potential, but I wonder if they're going to survive long enough to live up to it.
(3)
Wayne A.
The food was excellent, very tasty, the waiter was great , attentive. We had to wait 20 minutes to receive the check after we asked for it. I also asked the hostess, nothing, asked the Manager but he was too busy to talk, when he finally returned I told him we were leaving if you want to be paid bring the bill. No apologies. There was 4 or 5 couples waiting for a table and there were many tables besides ours waiting for their bills. So if you want to risk it, the food is good, but ask for your bill when you order.
(1)
S And B D.
Last night my husband and I decided to go to Raku for our 2nd time. I purchased a Groupon a while back which was nice to have but REALLY how sad I am that Raku needed a Groupon to get people to come in. We had the very best Special Roll, Art of Maki and the Amazing Chilean Sea Bass Yuzu Miso. The flavors were fantastic and presentation beautiful. The service was very good as well. We think the sushi was really as good as some of the sushi we have had in NYC. I think the problem may be the location. Raku needs to be in a more funky urban neighborhood, not Edina. I wonder if the Cafe 28 site is available? Anyway really wonderful cuisine. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Annette N.
This is my second time having a business lunch at Raku. Same experience as the first time...the food is fantastic..but the service could be SO much better. You could almost say it is an attitude they have...but I think just lack polish or the will to impress. I asked our server again today to make some suggestions...and once again got the response...it is all in the menu. Humm...I as embarrassed that we had brought a guest. Nice quiet place for business lunch, just wish the service could be a bit better. crab salad, seafood soup, miso soup, play boy all very good.
(3)
Paul D.
I ate there for my first time on 3/23. DELICIOUS! I think I found my Saturday eating spot when I'm in town.
(5)
o l.
I'm writing this review solely based on their lobster bisque soup, since it's the only thing I had here. As good as their sushi might be based on other reviews, save your $10 and avoid the lobster bisque, especially if you really like the soup in general. This must be the fusion part of seriously overcooking the lobster meat to the point that it tastes worse than an overcooked rubber ring of calamari, I honestly didn't think it was possible to do that to a lobster. I'd actually consider returning here to try the sushi, but for now, I stand by my rating, especially for the price of the soup.
(2)
Kate N.
Guys, there is a sushi happy hour here that is the best I've ever seen. M-th, 3-5pm you can get a LARGE variety of sushi rolls (6 pieces per roll) for $3-6. I often have about 24 pieces of sushi and pay $12-$15 total. The sushi is fantastic and the combinations are inspiring (chicken tempura roll is one of my favorites - and this place does tempura unlike I've ever seen anywhere, it's not a flat batter, it's...flaky and popcorny). Sadly, this place is often empty, and I don't want to see it close anytime soon. It's the best sushi and the best sushi deal I can find in minneapolis!
(5)
Paul T.
It may not be as trendy as Seven or Crave, but I rate the sushi here better than any other place I have tried in Minneapolis so far. The best bargain is the lunch special 2 rolls with soup or salad for $9, or 3 rolls for $12. I have introduced my co-workers there and have been there with my wife and friends at least 15 times. My favorites are the crunchy salmon and the spicy tuna. The playboy is a great show, but the lunch menu value is why I go back at least weekly.
(5)
Jim T.
We were here celebrating my daughter's grades in her Japanese class. The food was great, and they brought out a special dessert to celebrate for free, which was nice. Expensive, but a nice treat.
(5)
David W.
Over priced, slow service and the food wasn't that good.
(2)
Ryan V.
Slow service ...very disappointed ....food was not fresh
(1)
Frank L.
Service was slow, the food was rather disappointing. Scallops were incredibly overcooked - almost as tough as steak. The steak that others ordered was plain and boring. Nobody had sushi at the table and it seems that many people like the sushi here. I wouldn't recommend this restaurant unless you like overcooked food.
(1)
Cait B.
4 stars for a sushi establishment that had rolls my newbie to sushi husband enjoyed. "The playboy roll" was a must order. Okay, it may be a little silly since it comes out on fire...but trust me-it is amazing. I also really liked the vegetable yaki soba and it was just as good as when I had it in Japan. The mixed tempura plate is huge so you may want to skip it if there is only 2 of you. We were struggling to finish it! This place has a very LA vibe and is a great date spot. A great place for sushi gurus and the roll people. Yes, roll people-you know who you are :) Even the nigiri sushi had amazing fresh sashimi on top. mmmmm....yako soba...drool...I want more....now
(4)
Steven K.
This has got to be the best lunch deal in Edina! My wife and I had a very enjoyable dinner at Raku earlier this year. The service was a little spotty, so my first review was favorable but not a rave. But we liked the lunch menu, so agreed to give it another try. After today's visit, I moved Raku into the 5-star, 'rave' category. My wife had the bento box - $10. It started with a cup of soup and a small salad. When the box arrived, we had to ask - "This is only $10?" Our server assured us it was. OK, so we're not big eaters. If the bento isn't big enough to satisfy you for $10, the regular lunch menu will stuff you for $16. Choice of soup or salad, appetizer (like a sushi roll), and entree. For me, I went for the sushi lunch special. I got three rolls for $12. Our server was great. He was attentive but didn't hover. He had helpful suggestions. He was friendly. The only thing puzzling about the whole experience was the overall lack of other diners. Fellow Yelpers. Don't let this gem whither on the vine. Eat at Raku!
(5)
Steve M.
Can't stand Chinese food in Japanese restaurant! Come on guys: Osaka, Wasabi, Raku...etc. Just because you guys have a sushi bar some funky rolls, doesn't mean you are a Japanese restaurant!!!! I tried the Yaki Udon and it is clearly Shanghai style stir-fry PEOPLE. Just stop serving me Chinese food in Japanese restaurant.
(1)
Clint C.
***Very Limited Experience*** Went in while fiance was shopping next door. Had some sake at the bar. Bartender was very cool and professional. Sake was great. Would go back and do the same thing. BTW, Edina - SO annoying that you won't allow drink specials. All it does is reinforce your snobby image, but maybe that's what you want. Tip- Park in the lunds parking lot.
(4)
Vince V.
Service was great and the fish was fresh. So, what else can you ask for? Well - sushi rice would be one. They used Jasmine rice for their sushi which is something I'd never experienced in a restaurant, and probably something I never want to experience again. It was overpowering, lacked the texture and bite that your traditionally prepped rice would have. The cocktails were good and at least our waiter was willing to recommend them to us - our waiter also noticed us speaking in Japanese the entire time and had the chef come out and say hello which was pretty cool. Never really expect something like that in Edina but it was a welcome change. Overall, service was great, drinks were good, food was just okay. More expensive than it's probably worth, but probably pretty standard for the 50th & France area.
(3)
Randy K.
We have been there for both lunch and dinner. The food and service are both great. Lots of interesting and tasty sushi rolls. Lunch is a tremendous bargain. Probably the best sushi and Japanese restaurant in the Twin Cities. Also, free parking right behind the restaurant. They are also very kid friendly.
(5)
Laurie L.
This restaurant replaced a children's clothing store, so when it opened I was naturally curious. It is a small place but interestingly designed with both a sushi bar and a full-service drink bar. Booths line the floor to ceiling windows that look out on Edina's downtown area at 50th and France. The Edina theater--now an art-film house--is a couple doors down on the same side of the street, which makes a visit to Raku and an afternoon movie an excellent pairing. Raku has special pricings for lunch, including my personal favorite, the bento box, a lunch served in a sectioned, square box (with options for what fills the sections). I had enjoyed lunch there the several times I went with various friends, always at my suggestion,and had never had to battle any crowds. Because of that, both service and food were excellent. For this reason, I was pleased when I saw they were offering a Groupon and snapped one up. Once again, I went during lunchtime only to be told that the lunch specials could not be applied to the Groupon. This was not stated on the Groupon, but one does not like fighting with people who will be bringing one food. Really, we were the only customers in there at the time, so you would have thought that they would be pleased not to look deserted to the foot traffic passing their large windows. The food we ordered quickly ate up the value of the Groupon and--at the unabashed urging of the wiley waiter--soared way beyond what this reviewer considers a reasonable sum to spend on lunch. Fortunately, everything we had was delicious. My companion claimed to be particularly fond of raw seafood, so we shared several raw rolls that I would not have ordered on my own. They were beyond delicious. I do recommend Raku. Go for lunch. Do not plan to use a Groupon, though. You will not save any $ by doing that. They have a happy hour weekdays that offers deals on certain rolls, I have not been for that, but imagine that it would be good. Again, forget buying a Raku Groupon. This is not a place that feels good about people using them!
(4)
Saif K.
Outstanding food, superb customer service. My glass of water with a nice slice of lemon never even reached half full, it was continually filled promptly. I had the filet mignon toban yaki, black pearl roll, seaweed salad, harumaki, and red bean ice cream for dessert. My taste buds and appetite were in heaven. The restroom had a pretty gnarly sink. The atmosphere was nice and quiet. Overall, I had a phenomenal experience and will definitely be back!!!!
(5)
Nicole S.
Came here for lunch one day. They have unique sushi rolls that taste great. Ambience is quiet and calm. Service was good (the restaurant was also empty). Prices were a little high.
(4)
Josh And Sara G.
Great Lobster Bisque and sushi rolls. We had the Playboy roll and the Snow Thrill roll. Both were absolutely delicious. Close to the best sushi we have ever had!!
(4)
Sarah S.
The sushi was delicious. The space was very beautiful. Our server was very friendly, but a little slow. Prices seemed a bit high, maybe to match the neighborhood. We had a nice dinner and would go back.
(4)
Brian V.
Went back again had the alaska roll, raw salmon, fried oyster roll, they both were phenomenal! Also had the Futo Maki again along with saki. I will be a regular here!
(5)
G H.
I echo other reviewers that this place is an undiscovered gem in Twin Cities dining for Japanese food. I'll preface my review by saying that I have had dismal experience with food available on 50th & France and did not have high expectations on going to Raku. Anyone remember Tejas, and don't even get me started on the crap-tastic Salut. I'm not a picky eater, but I do like my food to actually taste good. I'll take ambrosia in a hole-in-the-wall any day over lard on-a-stick in hallowed halls. My sister and I went in around 3 pm on a Sunday and the place was....empty. The wait staff were sitting around with not much to do, but did immediately rush over and seat us when we entered. I ordered the marine sushi plate and my sister ordered the salmon salmon entree and spicy scallop roll. The sushi rice could have used a little more rice wine vinegar; it was missing the acidic kick that would have pumped up the flavor of the fish. Other than that, the fish was fresh and completely edible. My sister absolutely loved her salmon salmon dish. It had a side of spicy avocado salsa that would be worthy of being a stand-alone appetizer, but it provided a great heat balance to the sweetness of the crab meat and eel sauce on the salmon. The service was great, our waters refilled and plates cleared promptly. However, it was a bit of overkill as our waitress tended to hover near our table during our entire time there. Of course they didn't have anyone else to wait on so I get that we were providing them something to do. As we were finishing up, a mother and her teenage son walked in to eat, but other than our two tables there was no other customer traffic in the entire 45 minutes we were there. If I lived closer to Raku, I'd probably make it my go to place for Japanese dining, but alas I live too far away to frequent this spot. Unfortunately this place is decorated and offers food that is more Uptown than buggy-pusher-town and suffers from being located in an area that appreciates the ho-hum-ness of mediocre faux-French and Italian fare. Hopefully there are enough adventurous eaters to keep this place open in Edina.
(4)
Nick S.
Meh. Fish was fresh, which gets you to 3 stars. The rest was so rough around the edges that it distracted from the great fish. Started with the Kanpachi appetizer. Was a italian-japanese fusion sort of thing that completely overpowered the relatively mild flavor of a young hamachi. Perhaps they could try a fish with stronger flavor like bonito or something fishier like mackeral next time. The second issue I have with the place is the rice. I've eaten sushi in hundreds of sushi restaurants here in the US and in Japan in my life and I can honestly say I've never been served nigiri sushi on jasmine rice (or a close relative to jasmine anyhow). The nutty-floral flavor of jasmine completely sours the experience of crisp clean tasting fish. Ick. Give me jasmine in my thai and indian food - just not in my sushi thank you. Got chicken teriyaki for the kids. Pretty bland. But, to end on a positive note, the fish was all stellar and fresh. There's potential there... but I'll stick with Origami for now
(3)
Tingting S.
Love it!This is the best SUSHI I have never tried in Twin City with it's great location,fresh fish and imaginative sushi rolls! My English is poor, so I'm so sorry I can not offer more details for this lovely restraurant. Anyway,I will absolutely go back.
(5)
Michelle K.
Usually I like to try a place a few times before jumping into the 5 star rating, but had an outstanding sushi night there Friday night - 5 stars well earned. We did keep our selections on the simpler side - weren't really in the mood for fancy big rolls. Sashimi - Our server was very excited over the quality of the salmon - I believe she said the fish was very pretty, or maybe happy, when it arrived that day. She was right - buttery, great texture, clean flavor. We tried that, some hamachi, and something called medium fatty tuna as sashimi. All top quality - although strangely, I did not like the tuna. Nothing wrong with the fish quality - my husband liked it. Salmon skin rolls - best we've had in a really long time. Spicy scallop rolls - big chunks of raw scallop, with a good spicy mayo placed next to the scallop (not all mixed together). Not the "egg salad" consistency it usually is at other places. And, since the salmon was so good that night, a simple salmon/avocado roll. Wow, yummy. And, to top it all off, two different saki flights that were excellent. I've gotten sick of the same old saki selection at other places - Raku had new, flavorful selections that paired well with the sushi. Our server said the staff regularly samples different sakis with the food and change up the flights to new and wonderful pairings, so I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Cristi J.
Great little sushi joint in Edina. Great atmosphere and service. Rock shrimp tempura ap was terrific. Sushi was also tasty. Will definitely return for more!
(4)
Stacy G.
You may not have 5 star service... but you will for sure have 5 star food. Amazing sushi. Try the tuna dumplings, they will change your life.
(5)
Kate D.
We ordered the Shumai(steamed shrimp dumpling) it tasted a bit bland. We ordered the marine sashimi platter, it came with 18 pieces. We also ordered the Sun Kiss roll and the Snow Thrill roll. The fish was fresh as well as the mango and avocado on the rolls. The chef did a great job preparing and presenting the rolls. The place was really slow, there was hardly any other customers around on a sunday evening. The server did a good job waiting on us, almost too good. She was hovering near the table trying to hurry our order. She would stand at the wall right across from us watching us eat...a bit nerve racking, no pressure to eat delicately with my chop sticks! One negative was we asked for an additional bowl of rice, they charged us 1.50 for the second bowl. I had no idea a cup of rice was so expensive, it's the raw fish and octopus they should be up charging, not the rice...seriously. Overall it was a good dining experience, A little more expensive, but I hate to be cheap with suchi!
(4)
Steve U.
first off, the sushi is pretty damn good. second, the sushi's pretty damn good. i was pleasantly surprised by the addition of a japanese restaurant to the 50th and france area. it struck me as potentially to ethnic for the white bread of edina. but it looks like they've accommodated the needs of the locals with a range of tempura and fried offerings. quite savvy of them. they have a surprisingly good sake flight offering that gives you a little smattering of the sake dryness/sweetness range and leave you smacking your lips for more of that chunky stuff. if you get the playboy roll there's fire and seriously, what's better than fire at dinner/drinks? the actual sushi is well done though in my humble opinion they co uld use a little more wasabi as the binder in the rice pad for the fish. the crowd's pretty mch what you would expect from the 50th and France locale with well preserved white ladies lounging at the bar and lots of tommy bahama shirts. don't let that stop you from checking the place out. odds are you'll like it.
(4)
Robert H.
Undiscovered gem. Accompanied my wife and daughter to Raku for a casual lunch. Daughter lived ten years in Kobe, Japan. I thought the value was terrific and the "set" meal was a bargain. Our daughter thought the sushi was the best she's had since returning from Japan. Something that totally escapes us ... the place was near empty. It is an Edina treasure they will surely lose if more "discoveries" are not made. Everything from the wait staff to the seafood was first rate and clean, clean, clean. We loved it. If dinner is as good as lunch, I'd go for any occasion, either come-as-you are or a bit dressed up. Very pleased visitors
(4)
P X.
After hearing over and over again how cool the 50th and France area is, I decided that I had to head over and explore over the long July 4th weekend. Luckily for me, and my hungry belly, Raku was open and I was able to get a table immediately. After reviewing the menu (which has a decent selection for sushi and non-sushi eaters), I ordered up some seaweed salad and a roll. Both of these were really yummy. The only downside of the restaurant is that there were probably 4 different waitresses serving my table at one time, so they all kept getting confused about who should take my order, if I had ordered, etc-but, this wasn't a deal breaker and I will be back again.
(4)
L. S.
Great sushi is worth it, even if it is a tad overpriced and the service is a bit slow. I think this place will figure it out, though.
(4)
Austin W.
The sushi was excellent. You really can't get it any better in this town, thus the 5 stars. This was based off one meal.
(5)
Sean G.
while making a reservation, my wife and I both noticed the place reeked of turned fish. we won't be keeping our reservation.
(1)
Lauren H.
Wow! I was actually pleasantly surprised by this sushi place! I lived nearby for close to a year before eating here for the first time, but I'm glad I'm in the know now! Don't let the Edina address distress - they are very reasonably priced for good quality sushi. I love the seats right by the windows on 50th, if you can, score one of these as they make for great people watching. The service has always been friendly and attentive, but not too pushy or annoying. We always get miso soup to start, and I appreciate the amount of tofu and seaweed in the nice miso-based broth, just the right amount of everything. If you want something warm both the edamame and gyoza are great. The gyoza are nice and crispy on the pan-fried side and still nice and tender on the other sides. Now, I've never gotten anything but sushi here, but I've seen plates of some of the other dishes go by and they look great too! My favorite sushi rolls are the tempura sweet potato, the spicy tuna, and the tuna avocado. All well-executed, flavorful, and good quality of raw fish. My favorite roll however, would be the winter roll. It's crunchy, a bit spicy, and full of delicious fish. Yes, you can judge me for liking a roll covered in tempura flakes, I don't care, it's THAT good. We usually do a mix of smaller rolls (and therefore cheaper, usually in the 5-7 dollar range) and a couple of nice big rolls (which are around 14-16 dollars.) They also do a happy hour during the week from 3-5 (which is kinda difficult to get to) and from 9-10. Half off that delicious winter roll? Yesssss!
(4)
Jennifer K.
Tis is some for the most fresh sushi you can have in the cities, the salmon is amazing. But do NOT get take out. It is horrible. I went there and they said it would only be 20 min until it was ready and it took over and hour for them. I sat there for 40 min without rm saying sorry
(3)
Bruce L.
It is about time that this area got a nice sushi and this place has it all. They serve traditional Japanese dishes with French, Italian and other Asian influences. we started with splitting a Green salad with a wonderful ginger dressing then moved onto some rolls. Our server recommended a few rolls and they were the same rolls that we were interested in and they were the Captain Crunch with shrimp tempura, crab, avocado and cucumber with tempura flakes and the Snow Thrill with tuna, salmon, yellowtail and avocado inside and tempura flakes and spicy mayo and eel sauce drizzled on top. Both rolls had similarities but a little different and both were served very artistic on the plate. We also had some unagi, tuna and salmon nigiri that were nice, fresh and cool. This was my second time here and both adventures were very satisfying. I will be back. Snow thrill and captain crunch
(4)
Andrew C.
Rolls and sashimi were fresh and good quality. There's plenty of much cheaper places in the metro though with just as good or better sushi and plating (Aji Hopkins for one) . Won't likely go out of my way to go here. Yumi's in excelsior has similar high prices but better plating, location, and service.
(3)
Liuyin S.
I had THE most amazing time here... and I'm not quite sure where to begin. The service was over the top fantastic, the food was an explosion of flavors, and, not to be bias, but the company was cream de la cream. But let's back up. Take a breath. That was a mental note for myself... not you, unless you're feeling asthmatic already. Then um, I feel sorry for you. Why Raku? We knew we wanted sushi and I wanted to try something new. I've already been to Ichiban, Sushi Tango, Wasabi, Origami, Seven, Nami, Tiger Sushi, Fuji Ya, Crave, blah, blah, blah. You name it, I've probably been there. But Raku... this was new, and unheard of! First off, on 50th and France in Edina? Sounds classy and just my type of joint. And, only 11 reviews on Yelp so far? Tempting... very tempting. I figured they must be new or something! Turns out, new-ish is right, about a year. The atmosphere was indeed classy, posh and modern with white booths and smooth pebbled tabletops. Our waiter was Josh, and I knew right away he was going to be great. I mean, anyone who looks like they just came right off of some reality food network show in his all-black, tidy, professional attire with vest, had to be awesome. He was very friendly, professional, and *clearly* knew the kitchen and the bar well. Josh got to know us a little, asked us a few key questions (do we like mackerel, are we open to try new things, how's our comfort level with spiciness, etc) and told us that if we were okay with it, he would do what he loves and whip us up something special, delicious and within budget. Sounds intriguing, so we went with it. And good choice it was - we got dishes that weren't even offered on the menu! See the pictures, but here's what we got - in order of my preferences: - Lost Tuna: 6 silver dollar sized pieces of ahi tuna, cut thin. Seared with black pepper wrapped around mixed greens kissed with plus sauce, and a touch of sesame oil. Each bite topped with hoison fresh jalapeno, masago caviar, and wasabi sauce. - Tropical Roll: eel, rice, seaweed, lobster salad, mango, apple, wrapped in avocado with spicy mayo and eel sauce. - Fresh slices of Yellow Tail with Jalepeno and cherry tomatoes - Agi, spanish mackerel with ponzu: came deep fried and raw. Very authentic - takes a true "Asian" to eat an entire fish - mmhm crispy bones. Paired with all that was a bottle of Hou Hou Shu Sparkling Sake. Champagne-y, sparkling cider-y, sweet and savory. An 180ML bottle imported from Japan will run you $15, but delightful it was! I seriously might need to import a case of this now... To do what we did, you have to be ready for whatever and be comfortable with ambiguity, but aren't all culinary experiences supposed to be a riveting adventure? Josh picked just the right amount of food for us with an array of tastes and textures; though, we never did make it to dessert. Next time. Now, go make a reservation on opentable.com . And ask for Josh. You won't regret it, even if you do order off the menu. :-P
(5)
Scott C.
Sushi in MN - a first for me. This place has a great lay-out. Upscale. Very nicely done tables/chairs. Probably one of the nicest japanese/sushi restaurants I have ever eaten at. Impressive. Our waiter was outstanding. Well-spoken and had great recommendations. Attentive. One of those folks that adds to the experience rather than taking away from it. Playboy roll was a hit. All the standards were strong. Rolls were well-made. Fish not as varied or as fresh as I am used to on the coasts - wonder if that's just the standard for MN area or we hit this place on a bad night. Either way, still a great time.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Garage Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Micki C.
I didn't have a terrible experience at Raku, and truthfully, I only sampled 2 standard rolls and one specialty roll. Yet, I don't feel compelled to return. In fact, I forgot I even went there until I wrote a review about somewhere else I went in the 50th & France neighborhood. Service was slow on Sunday at lunchtime, even though there was only one other table in use while we were there. The rolls were decent. We tried the playboy roll as well as your standard spicy tuna. It wasn't bad; I have just had more memorable and mouth watering sushi experiences elsewhere in the city. Those who loved it--tell me what you had so I know what to order if I ever return.
(2)Kristi C.
Quick and efficient service. I tried something a bit different, not really sushi but beautiful on the plate and pleasing to the palate. Lost Tuna - greens with a citrus dressing, wrapped with seared tuna, topped with thinly sliced jalapeno & tobiko and a sauce that had just the right amount of heat.
(4)Bruce M.
What happened to Raku? We have been here before and enjoyed it. Last night service was slow and unhelpful. We had questions about the menu and instead of explaining the items the waiter asked if he should come back later when we were ready. Maybe this is the management's fault for not having enough waiters on a Friday night. More unsatisfying was the overcooked scallops on eggplant (normally good) and the overcooked Sea Bass with Udon Noodles (a great fish usually). I am not sure if I will take a chance here again. We were with good friends and enjoyed out time together but I wish I could have a do-over on picking the restaurant.
(2)Mike S.
Looking for a new place for sushi nearby, Yelp told me that a place called Raku had opened at 50th and France and had somehow eluded my new-restaurant radar. Well, I'm in the dark no longer. Raku dazzle you from the outside (I'm looking at you Thom Pham) - it's a pretty unassuming spot nestled among the salons and high-end shops of 50th and France, with a simple black awning alerting the neighborhood of it's existence. On the inside they've done a beautiful job with the decor - it's upscale but approachable, romantic but good for groups as well. There is a bar, but it only seats about 4-5 people. Overall, it's a cozy little joint. We are pretty basic when it comes to ordering sushi, so don't look to me for recommendations about lots of fancy specialty rolls. We ordered edamame to start, which was good, and then we followed that up with a round of Nigiri - salmon, tuna, shrimp and yellowtail. It was all very fresh and delicious - we had to do a second round of the tuna. Then we ordered the snow thrill roll, which combines tuna, salmon and yellowtail with avocado and it's rolled in crush flakes and served with eel sauce. Wow, what an amazing combination of flavors... I highly recommend that one. Like most sushi restaurants, beer isn't a big focus of their menu, so I had to settle for a couple of Kirins, and I was okay with that. My wife stuck to water, so I don't have much info to share on the wine and cocktail front. A better beer list and a bigger bar might have been the tipping point that would've scored Raku that fifth star. As far as service goes, it was attentive but not pushy and our server was very friendly. No complaints. If you're in the area or just want to try a new place for great sushi, stop by Raku and give them a try. I know I'll be going back in the not-too-distant future. Cheers, --
(4)David H.
I wish you could review the service and food separately, as that would alter the 2 star rating. This was our first visit to Raku and it was a mixed experience. We arrived on a Saturday evening around 7pm and were certainly not surprised to see it was pretty crazy busy. We were the first to walk up to the hostess stand and saw a girl on the phone facing away from us, who we assume was taking some type of order or reservation....no problem yet. Once she got off the phone, she walked right by us without saying a word and then multiple servers walked by without saying anything either.....we had her and another couple people walk by and only say excuse me. After about 5 min or so, we were finally greeted by the hostess and shown to the one and only open table. We watched the whole hostess wait play out for numerous individuals after us, as we were seated right near the door. I'm going to shorten the service experience by simply saying that they were super busy and that they should have had the restaurant better staffed on a Saturday (maybe they had peeps out sick, not sure). I understand being busy, but I don't forgive not acknowledging people waiting with at least a "hello, we'll be with you a moment". On to better things though! We both ordered wine/Sake, which were just fine, in fact the Sake that I had was absolutely fantastic, and their selection was great!! We tried the Fillet Tataki and an Oyster Shooter for an appetizer, both were great and presented well. We decided that Sushi & rolls were the best option for our entrees and that didn't disappoint either, as the rolls were quite creative and something different from the sea of standard roll options. We agreed that it would be best to return on an evening other than a weekend and see if the experience was a bit better.
(2)Kimberly T.
Thanks to both Yelp & Groupon who continue to expand my horizons in the local food seen. I bought a Groupon a few weeks ago for Raku & was excited to try it out. Word to the wise, call for a reservation, do not book on Open Table. They don't want to give you dining points & let you use a Groupon or something. IDK, whatever. Moving on to the food. Everything we had was delicious. The seaweed salad was standard & good, the pork goyza was fantastic & the harumaki were delicious spring rolls that came with an even better sweet chili sauce. The standout of the evening was the Captain Crunch roll; shrimp tempura, crab, avocado & cucumber with crispy tempura flakes outside. Absolutely yum. I'd come back since the food, service & ambiance were all wonderful. They're opening a second location next to Little Szechuan at the West End - can't wait.
(4)Jada M.
My actual rating would've been 3 1/2 but since they have such great service I gave them the benefit of the doubt and went with 4. This is a really hip, fun Japanese restaurant in the 50th and France area. They have a very large menu consisting of mostly sushi, they have a large selection of rolls, sashimi and sushi. They also have a great drink and Saki menu. Their sushi is medium good, it's no Origami but good and they have great service and a great atmosphere, give it a try in Edina!
(4)Manuela K.
This is my favorite Japanese restaurant. I have enjoyed my dish every time I have been here. My favorite is the teriyaki chicken. The sauce on it is amazing and you get a very big amount of moist chicken with this meal. The fried rice dishes are tasty but don't feel like a very extravagant meal. You can have fried rice anywhere so I recommend trying something different. I don't like sushi so I can't comment about that. The desserts are very different and interesting but good. They are worth a try at least once. Tempura green tea ice cream is one dessert I enjoyed. The service has been pretty good each time I have been there. This is a good place to go to for fresh and authentic Japanese food. They have been releasing many groupon and livingsocial deals also. It can be a little expensive without a deal/coupon so that is the only downside but you are paying for the quality of the food which is really good. They also offer a happy hour during the week. The atmosphere is calm and pleasant. The location is on 50th & France making it a nice upscale area. There a parking garage very close so that makes parking simple and also free!
(5)Tammy V.
Oh my I am in love with this place!! We went here on a whim and were totally impressed! I have had some good sushi in Minnesota but nothing outstanding until now!! The Futo Maki is a flavor explosion in your mouth!!! We orderd a second plate because it was sooooo good! We also had the 3939 and Pad Thai it was also amazing!!! We will visit this place often !!!
(5)Vince C.
Full disclosure: Asian here. Reviewing Asian restaurant again. Also note: I came here with a bunch of my 30-ish year old friends. First night out without kids in a long long time. So, expectations were possibly a little higher than normal. First off: I found this place solely by typing in "Bar" and "Edina" into Yelp to see what I would get. One of our buddies is leaving town and works nearby, so we wanted to get him a goodbye dinner and mojito. And I'm glad I did it. The overall experience was a perfectly nice night and if it ended a little early for my preference, that's not a fault of the establishment. So, thanks Yelp! But I took away two stars. Why so harsh? Allow me to start by explaining what I ordered. I started with a Henricks martini (I love martini's with sushi -- It's kinda my thing), and ordered a Marine Sashimi platter. When I finished it, I ordered a Captain Crunch roll (tempura flakes outside a shrimp, crab, and cucumber, and avocado roll). Okay, now you know what I was working with. The martini came out acceptable, although I'm not sure the bartender shook it up with any ice. It was room temperature. Whatever. Not enough to take away a star. The presentation of the sashimi dish was pretty cool. Assorted fish laid out over a bed of shredded daikon and, in the middle of the bed, an inverted martini glass with a blue light emanating from it. The martini glass made a platform that held a few pieces of yellowtail and some caviar on top to finish the presentation. Very nice. Okay. Time to start being mean. Not one, but two separate pieces of fish that I ordered here had scales on them. Honest to god scales. I've NEVER had scales on my sashimi and here, two pieces from two separate fish weren't cleaned enough. Horrifying. Am I over-reacting? I don't think so. I didn't die. I didn't pick up Mad-Fish disease, but eating a meal that specializes in being completely raw, you like to know that the food you're eating has been safely and correctly cleaned and prepared. So yeah. One star gone. Might've been two, but just one so far. Then, the rice that came with the meal was not sushi rice. Or, if it was, it wasn't correct. The rice was jasmine. Some short-grained stickier version of jasmine - but still jasmine. Jasmine rice is flavorful and goes very well with curry or something like it. It does NOT go well with raw fish where you actually want to taste the fish. I might be seen as a little picky here - but remember Asian person here. Rice is very important. You can't screw it up. And they did. The Captain Crunch roll was fine. No complaints. I was a little too full to immediately grab a dessert, but if my friends were willing to sit around for a bit, I might have tried the mochi ice cream. One last tidbit. The restaurant advertises itself as Modern Japanese Fusion. I have no idea who the bartender, chef, or sushi chef were at this restaurant, and I only ate the sashimi and roll, but I'm not sure what was modern or fusion about it - maybe the plastic ice cube with a battery-powered light made it modern. In either case, it did NOT feel modern. I didn't see or feel or taste any fusion. And ... it didn't feel very Japanese. It felt, in fact, like a Chinese person TRYING to run a Japanese restaurant, and charging all of the super high prices that a Japanese restaurant charges -- but being unwilling to do the job correctly like cleaning the fish or serving the appropriate rice. Maybe it's my Asian sensitivity coming out, but that's what my intuition was telling me. And that's the feeling that I left with. And I'm pretty sure I'm right.
(3)Sandy F.
We have gone three times now and we really don't think we'll be back because the service is SOOOO SLOW!!! We started with edamame. We noticed that everyone around us was given warm, damp washcloths to clean their hands with before eating. Very civilized, yet we never got one. And you eat edamame with your hands. We ordered a yam tempura roll, a Sun Kiss roll, and a Captain Crunch roll. Normally when you order three rolls, you get them together. We wanted to start with the yam roll and end on a sweet note, the sun kiss roll. But after 25 minutes, we finally got the sun kiss roll. We asked about the other two and she said they were coming right up. We could see the bar and there sat our yam roll. Getting cold. Another ten minutes and the crunch roll was finally up so she brought both over. The yam roll was a C-. The other two were very good, but every time we go we get such slow and erratic service that we just don't want to go anymore. Maybe for take-out, if I need an hour to waste!
(1)Joe N.
Great Food, Great Service. Recent blogger/reviewers have lambasted Raku in Edina for aweful service. I've only been to Raku 3 or 4 times over the past few years, and never had terrible service. Last night the service was outstanding. Heidi did a terrific job - attentive and knowledgable. Food came when it was supposed to come, and it was delicious. The Playboy Roll is still our favorite roll. Not only are the flames fun, but most importantly the roll itself is a big hit to both lovers and nonlovers of sushi. I opted for the Crazy Chicken and it was delicious (I don't usually order chicken). My wife had the tilapia, and although I thought maybe it was a bit overcooked, it had great flavor and not nearly as dry as it may have appeqared when first presented. Another of our dining companions had a California roll that she thought was among the best she's ever had, and the other had a bowl of the signature soups -- it was ENORMOUS, and she said it was very, very good. So I don't know what's going on with the service, but on a Thursday night in November, service was terrific. And the Pineapple mojito was outstanding!
(4)Mia T.
The ambiance is cozy and good presentation is pretty. Food is like other Japanese restaurants. The 1 entree we tried was good. Service is good.
(3)Rob L.
My family took our 9-year-old daughter to Raku to celebrate winning a piano contest. None of us were disappointed. My son and daughter loved the 'Japanese pop' - which was strawberry and came in a very unusual bottle. They were delighted. Our family only ordered special rolls - and they were special. Each roll had it's own flavor. We ordered two rounds and everything was eaten. When we left, our whole family was enthusiastic about the experience and we were glad we went.
(4)Kimlinh B.
This place desperately needs customers. Every time I've walked past it's been totally dead. Then I tried it out on a random weeknight, and we were one of 3 tables. Walking past Raku, I wasn't even sure they were open at first. The desperate vibe is a total killjoy. And that's unfortunate because this is a lovely restaurant, great location, and the sushi rolls are imaginative, beautiful and delicious. The prices are a little high. Cheaper sushi can easily be found elsewhere. All the waitstaff were very friendly and helpful, but our waiter's B.O. was an unequivocal turnoff. Raku definitely has potential, but I wonder if they're going to survive long enough to live up to it.
(3)Wayne A.
The food was excellent, very tasty, the waiter was great , attentive. We had to wait 20 minutes to receive the check after we asked for it. I also asked the hostess, nothing, asked the Manager but he was too busy to talk, when he finally returned I told him we were leaving if you want to be paid bring the bill. No apologies. There was 4 or 5 couples waiting for a table and there were many tables besides ours waiting for their bills. So if you want to risk it, the food is good, but ask for your bill when you order.
(1)S And B D.
Last night my husband and I decided to go to Raku for our 2nd time. I purchased a Groupon a while back which was nice to have but REALLY how sad I am that Raku needed a Groupon to get people to come in. We had the very best Special Roll, Art of Maki and the Amazing Chilean Sea Bass Yuzu Miso. The flavors were fantastic and presentation beautiful. The service was very good as well. We think the sushi was really as good as some of the sushi we have had in NYC. I think the problem may be the location. Raku needs to be in a more funky urban neighborhood, not Edina. I wonder if the Cafe 28 site is available? Anyway really wonderful cuisine. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Annette N.
This is my second time having a business lunch at Raku. Same experience as the first time...the food is fantastic..but the service could be SO much better. You could almost say it is an attitude they have...but I think just lack polish or the will to impress. I asked our server again today to make some suggestions...and once again got the response...it is all in the menu. Humm...I as embarrassed that we had brought a guest. Nice quiet place for business lunch, just wish the service could be a bit better. crab salad, seafood soup, miso soup, play boy all very good.
(3)Paul D.
I ate there for my first time on 3/23. DELICIOUS! I think I found my Saturday eating spot when I'm in town.
(5)o l.
I'm writing this review solely based on their lobster bisque soup, since it's the only thing I had here. As good as their sushi might be based on other reviews, save your $10 and avoid the lobster bisque, especially if you really like the soup in general. This must be the fusion part of seriously overcooking the lobster meat to the point that it tastes worse than an overcooked rubber ring of calamari, I honestly didn't think it was possible to do that to a lobster. I'd actually consider returning here to try the sushi, but for now, I stand by my rating, especially for the price of the soup.
(2)Kate N.
Guys, there is a sushi happy hour here that is the best I've ever seen. M-th, 3-5pm you can get a LARGE variety of sushi rolls (6 pieces per roll) for $3-6. I often have about 24 pieces of sushi and pay $12-$15 total. The sushi is fantastic and the combinations are inspiring (chicken tempura roll is one of my favorites - and this place does tempura unlike I've ever seen anywhere, it's not a flat batter, it's...flaky and popcorny). Sadly, this place is often empty, and I don't want to see it close anytime soon. It's the best sushi and the best sushi deal I can find in minneapolis!
(5)Paul T.
It may not be as trendy as Seven or Crave, but I rate the sushi here better than any other place I have tried in Minneapolis so far. The best bargain is the lunch special 2 rolls with soup or salad for $9, or 3 rolls for $12. I have introduced my co-workers there and have been there with my wife and friends at least 15 times. My favorites are the crunchy salmon and the spicy tuna. The playboy is a great show, but the lunch menu value is why I go back at least weekly.
(5)Jim T.
We were here celebrating my daughter's grades in her Japanese class. The food was great, and they brought out a special dessert to celebrate for free, which was nice. Expensive, but a nice treat.
(5)David W.
Over priced, slow service and the food wasn't that good.
(2)Ryan V.
Slow service ...very disappointed ....food was not fresh
(1)Frank L.
Service was slow, the food was rather disappointing. Scallops were incredibly overcooked - almost as tough as steak. The steak that others ordered was plain and boring. Nobody had sushi at the table and it seems that many people like the sushi here. I wouldn't recommend this restaurant unless you like overcooked food.
(1)Cait B.
4 stars for a sushi establishment that had rolls my newbie to sushi husband enjoyed. "The playboy roll" was a must order. Okay, it may be a little silly since it comes out on fire...but trust me-it is amazing. I also really liked the vegetable yaki soba and it was just as good as when I had it in Japan. The mixed tempura plate is huge so you may want to skip it if there is only 2 of you. We were struggling to finish it! This place has a very LA vibe and is a great date spot. A great place for sushi gurus and the roll people. Yes, roll people-you know who you are :) Even the nigiri sushi had amazing fresh sashimi on top. mmmmm....yako soba...drool...I want more....now
(4)Steven K.
This has got to be the best lunch deal in Edina! My wife and I had a very enjoyable dinner at Raku earlier this year. The service was a little spotty, so my first review was favorable but not a rave. But we liked the lunch menu, so agreed to give it another try. After today's visit, I moved Raku into the 5-star, 'rave' category. My wife had the bento box - $10. It started with a cup of soup and a small salad. When the box arrived, we had to ask - "This is only $10?" Our server assured us it was. OK, so we're not big eaters. If the bento isn't big enough to satisfy you for $10, the regular lunch menu will stuff you for $16. Choice of soup or salad, appetizer (like a sushi roll), and entree. For me, I went for the sushi lunch special. I got three rolls for $12. Our server was great. He was attentive but didn't hover. He had helpful suggestions. He was friendly. The only thing puzzling about the whole experience was the overall lack of other diners. Fellow Yelpers. Don't let this gem whither on the vine. Eat at Raku!
(5)Steve M.
Can't stand Chinese food in Japanese restaurant! Come on guys: Osaka, Wasabi, Raku...etc. Just because you guys have a sushi bar some funky rolls, doesn't mean you are a Japanese restaurant!!!! I tried the Yaki Udon and it is clearly Shanghai style stir-fry PEOPLE. Just stop serving me Chinese food in Japanese restaurant.
(1)Clint C.
***Very Limited Experience*** Went in while fiance was shopping next door. Had some sake at the bar. Bartender was very cool and professional. Sake was great. Would go back and do the same thing. BTW, Edina - SO annoying that you won't allow drink specials. All it does is reinforce your snobby image, but maybe that's what you want. Tip- Park in the lunds parking lot.
(4)Vince V.
Service was great and the fish was fresh. So, what else can you ask for? Well - sushi rice would be one. They used Jasmine rice for their sushi which is something I'd never experienced in a restaurant, and probably something I never want to experience again. It was overpowering, lacked the texture and bite that your traditionally prepped rice would have. The cocktails were good and at least our waiter was willing to recommend them to us - our waiter also noticed us speaking in Japanese the entire time and had the chef come out and say hello which was pretty cool. Never really expect something like that in Edina but it was a welcome change. Overall, service was great, drinks were good, food was just okay. More expensive than it's probably worth, but probably pretty standard for the 50th & France area.
(3)Randy K.
We have been there for both lunch and dinner. The food and service are both great. Lots of interesting and tasty sushi rolls. Lunch is a tremendous bargain. Probably the best sushi and Japanese restaurant in the Twin Cities. Also, free parking right behind the restaurant. They are also very kid friendly.
(5)Laurie L.
This restaurant replaced a children's clothing store, so when it opened I was naturally curious. It is a small place but interestingly designed with both a sushi bar and a full-service drink bar. Booths line the floor to ceiling windows that look out on Edina's downtown area at 50th and France. The Edina theater--now an art-film house--is a couple doors down on the same side of the street, which makes a visit to Raku and an afternoon movie an excellent pairing. Raku has special pricings for lunch, including my personal favorite, the bento box, a lunch served in a sectioned, square box (with options for what fills the sections). I had enjoyed lunch there the several times I went with various friends, always at my suggestion,and had never had to battle any crowds. Because of that, both service and food were excellent. For this reason, I was pleased when I saw they were offering a Groupon and snapped one up. Once again, I went during lunchtime only to be told that the lunch specials could not be applied to the Groupon. This was not stated on the Groupon, but one does not like fighting with people who will be bringing one food. Really, we were the only customers in there at the time, so you would have thought that they would be pleased not to look deserted to the foot traffic passing their large windows. The food we ordered quickly ate up the value of the Groupon and--at the unabashed urging of the wiley waiter--soared way beyond what this reviewer considers a reasonable sum to spend on lunch. Fortunately, everything we had was delicious. My companion claimed to be particularly fond of raw seafood, so we shared several raw rolls that I would not have ordered on my own. They were beyond delicious. I do recommend Raku. Go for lunch. Do not plan to use a Groupon, though. You will not save any $ by doing that. They have a happy hour weekdays that offers deals on certain rolls, I have not been for that, but imagine that it would be good. Again, forget buying a Raku Groupon. This is not a place that feels good about people using them!
(4)Saif K.
Outstanding food, superb customer service. My glass of water with a nice slice of lemon never even reached half full, it was continually filled promptly. I had the filet mignon toban yaki, black pearl roll, seaweed salad, harumaki, and red bean ice cream for dessert. My taste buds and appetite were in heaven. The restroom had a pretty gnarly sink. The atmosphere was nice and quiet. Overall, I had a phenomenal experience and will definitely be back!!!!
(5)Nicole S.
Came here for lunch one day. They have unique sushi rolls that taste great. Ambience is quiet and calm. Service was good (the restaurant was also empty). Prices were a little high.
(4)Josh And Sara G.
Great Lobster Bisque and sushi rolls. We had the Playboy roll and the Snow Thrill roll. Both were absolutely delicious. Close to the best sushi we have ever had!!
(4)Sarah S.
The sushi was delicious. The space was very beautiful. Our server was very friendly, but a little slow. Prices seemed a bit high, maybe to match the neighborhood. We had a nice dinner and would go back.
(4)Brian V.
Went back again had the alaska roll, raw salmon, fried oyster roll, they both were phenomenal! Also had the Futo Maki again along with saki. I will be a regular here!
(5)G H.
I echo other reviewers that this place is an undiscovered gem in Twin Cities dining for Japanese food. I'll preface my review by saying that I have had dismal experience with food available on 50th & France and did not have high expectations on going to Raku. Anyone remember Tejas, and don't even get me started on the crap-tastic Salut. I'm not a picky eater, but I do like my food to actually taste good. I'll take ambrosia in a hole-in-the-wall any day over lard on-a-stick in hallowed halls. My sister and I went in around 3 pm on a Sunday and the place was....empty. The wait staff were sitting around with not much to do, but did immediately rush over and seat us when we entered. I ordered the marine sushi plate and my sister ordered the salmon salmon entree and spicy scallop roll. The sushi rice could have used a little more rice wine vinegar; it was missing the acidic kick that would have pumped up the flavor of the fish. Other than that, the fish was fresh and completely edible. My sister absolutely loved her salmon salmon dish. It had a side of spicy avocado salsa that would be worthy of being a stand-alone appetizer, but it provided a great heat balance to the sweetness of the crab meat and eel sauce on the salmon. The service was great, our waters refilled and plates cleared promptly. However, it was a bit of overkill as our waitress tended to hover near our table during our entire time there. Of course they didn't have anyone else to wait on so I get that we were providing them something to do. As we were finishing up, a mother and her teenage son walked in to eat, but other than our two tables there was no other customer traffic in the entire 45 minutes we were there. If I lived closer to Raku, I'd probably make it my go to place for Japanese dining, but alas I live too far away to frequent this spot. Unfortunately this place is decorated and offers food that is more Uptown than buggy-pusher-town and suffers from being located in an area that appreciates the ho-hum-ness of mediocre faux-French and Italian fare. Hopefully there are enough adventurous eaters to keep this place open in Edina.
(4)Nick S.
Meh. Fish was fresh, which gets you to 3 stars. The rest was so rough around the edges that it distracted from the great fish. Started with the Kanpachi appetizer. Was a italian-japanese fusion sort of thing that completely overpowered the relatively mild flavor of a young hamachi. Perhaps they could try a fish with stronger flavor like bonito or something fishier like mackeral next time. The second issue I have with the place is the rice. I've eaten sushi in hundreds of sushi restaurants here in the US and in Japan in my life and I can honestly say I've never been served nigiri sushi on jasmine rice (or a close relative to jasmine anyhow). The nutty-floral flavor of jasmine completely sours the experience of crisp clean tasting fish. Ick. Give me jasmine in my thai and indian food - just not in my sushi thank you. Got chicken teriyaki for the kids. Pretty bland. But, to end on a positive note, the fish was all stellar and fresh. There's potential there... but I'll stick with Origami for now
(3)Tingting S.
Love it!This is the best SUSHI I have never tried in Twin City with it's great location,fresh fish and imaginative sushi rolls! My English is poor, so I'm so sorry I can not offer more details for this lovely restraurant. Anyway,I will absolutely go back.
(5)Michelle K.
Usually I like to try a place a few times before jumping into the 5 star rating, but had an outstanding sushi night there Friday night - 5 stars well earned. We did keep our selections on the simpler side - weren't really in the mood for fancy big rolls. Sashimi - Our server was very excited over the quality of the salmon - I believe she said the fish was very pretty, or maybe happy, when it arrived that day. She was right - buttery, great texture, clean flavor. We tried that, some hamachi, and something called medium fatty tuna as sashimi. All top quality - although strangely, I did not like the tuna. Nothing wrong with the fish quality - my husband liked it. Salmon skin rolls - best we've had in a really long time. Spicy scallop rolls - big chunks of raw scallop, with a good spicy mayo placed next to the scallop (not all mixed together). Not the "egg salad" consistency it usually is at other places. And, since the salmon was so good that night, a simple salmon/avocado roll. Wow, yummy. And, to top it all off, two different saki flights that were excellent. I've gotten sick of the same old saki selection at other places - Raku had new, flavorful selections that paired well with the sushi. Our server said the staff regularly samples different sakis with the food and change up the flights to new and wonderful pairings, so I can't wait to go back!
(5)Cristi J.
Great little sushi joint in Edina. Great atmosphere and service. Rock shrimp tempura ap was terrific. Sushi was also tasty. Will definitely return for more!
(4)Stacy G.
You may not have 5 star service... but you will for sure have 5 star food. Amazing sushi. Try the tuna dumplings, they will change your life.
(5)Kate D.
We ordered the Shumai(steamed shrimp dumpling) it tasted a bit bland. We ordered the marine sashimi platter, it came with 18 pieces. We also ordered the Sun Kiss roll and the Snow Thrill roll. The fish was fresh as well as the mango and avocado on the rolls. The chef did a great job preparing and presenting the rolls. The place was really slow, there was hardly any other customers around on a sunday evening. The server did a good job waiting on us, almost too good. She was hovering near the table trying to hurry our order. She would stand at the wall right across from us watching us eat...a bit nerve racking, no pressure to eat delicately with my chop sticks! One negative was we asked for an additional bowl of rice, they charged us 1.50 for the second bowl. I had no idea a cup of rice was so expensive, it's the raw fish and octopus they should be up charging, not the rice...seriously. Overall it was a good dining experience, A little more expensive, but I hate to be cheap with suchi!
(4)Steve U.
first off, the sushi is pretty damn good. second, the sushi's pretty damn good. i was pleasantly surprised by the addition of a japanese restaurant to the 50th and france area. it struck me as potentially to ethnic for the white bread of edina. but it looks like they've accommodated the needs of the locals with a range of tempura and fried offerings. quite savvy of them. they have a surprisingly good sake flight offering that gives you a little smattering of the sake dryness/sweetness range and leave you smacking your lips for more of that chunky stuff. if you get the playboy roll there's fire and seriously, what's better than fire at dinner/drinks? the actual sushi is well done though in my humble opinion they co uld use a little more wasabi as the binder in the rice pad for the fish. the crowd's pretty mch what you would expect from the 50th and France locale with well preserved white ladies lounging at the bar and lots of tommy bahama shirts. don't let that stop you from checking the place out. odds are you'll like it.
(4)Robert H.
Undiscovered gem. Accompanied my wife and daughter to Raku for a casual lunch. Daughter lived ten years in Kobe, Japan. I thought the value was terrific and the "set" meal was a bargain. Our daughter thought the sushi was the best she's had since returning from Japan. Something that totally escapes us ... the place was near empty. It is an Edina treasure they will surely lose if more "discoveries" are not made. Everything from the wait staff to the seafood was first rate and clean, clean, clean. We loved it. If dinner is as good as lunch, I'd go for any occasion, either come-as-you are or a bit dressed up. Very pleased visitors
(4)P X.
After hearing over and over again how cool the 50th and France area is, I decided that I had to head over and explore over the long July 4th weekend. Luckily for me, and my hungry belly, Raku was open and I was able to get a table immediately. After reviewing the menu (which has a decent selection for sushi and non-sushi eaters), I ordered up some seaweed salad and a roll. Both of these were really yummy. The only downside of the restaurant is that there were probably 4 different waitresses serving my table at one time, so they all kept getting confused about who should take my order, if I had ordered, etc-but, this wasn't a deal breaker and I will be back again.
(4)L. S.
Great sushi is worth it, even if it is a tad overpriced and the service is a bit slow. I think this place will figure it out, though.
(4)Austin W.
The sushi was excellent. You really can't get it any better in this town, thus the 5 stars. This was based off one meal.
(5)Sean G.
while making a reservation, my wife and I both noticed the place reeked of turned fish. we won't be keeping our reservation.
(1)Lauren H.
Wow! I was actually pleasantly surprised by this sushi place! I lived nearby for close to a year before eating here for the first time, but I'm glad I'm in the know now! Don't let the Edina address distress - they are very reasonably priced for good quality sushi. I love the seats right by the windows on 50th, if you can, score one of these as they make for great people watching. The service has always been friendly and attentive, but not too pushy or annoying. We always get miso soup to start, and I appreciate the amount of tofu and seaweed in the nice miso-based broth, just the right amount of everything. If you want something warm both the edamame and gyoza are great. The gyoza are nice and crispy on the pan-fried side and still nice and tender on the other sides. Now, I've never gotten anything but sushi here, but I've seen plates of some of the other dishes go by and they look great too! My favorite sushi rolls are the tempura sweet potato, the spicy tuna, and the tuna avocado. All well-executed, flavorful, and good quality of raw fish. My favorite roll however, would be the winter roll. It's crunchy, a bit spicy, and full of delicious fish. Yes, you can judge me for liking a roll covered in tempura flakes, I don't care, it's THAT good. We usually do a mix of smaller rolls (and therefore cheaper, usually in the 5-7 dollar range) and a couple of nice big rolls (which are around 14-16 dollars.) They also do a happy hour during the week from 3-5 (which is kinda difficult to get to) and from 9-10. Half off that delicious winter roll? Yesssss!
(4)Jennifer K.
Tis is some for the most fresh sushi you can have in the cities, the salmon is amazing. But do NOT get take out. It is horrible. I went there and they said it would only be 20 min until it was ready and it took over and hour for them. I sat there for 40 min without rm saying sorry
(3)Bruce L.
It is about time that this area got a nice sushi and this place has it all. They serve traditional Japanese dishes with French, Italian and other Asian influences. we started with splitting a Green salad with a wonderful ginger dressing then moved onto some rolls. Our server recommended a few rolls and they were the same rolls that we were interested in and they were the Captain Crunch with shrimp tempura, crab, avocado and cucumber with tempura flakes and the Snow Thrill with tuna, salmon, yellowtail and avocado inside and tempura flakes and spicy mayo and eel sauce drizzled on top. Both rolls had similarities but a little different and both were served very artistic on the plate. We also had some unagi, tuna and salmon nigiri that were nice, fresh and cool. This was my second time here and both adventures were very satisfying. I will be back. Snow thrill and captain crunch
(4)Andrew C.
Rolls and sashimi were fresh and good quality. There's plenty of much cheaper places in the metro though with just as good or better sushi and plating (Aji Hopkins for one) . Won't likely go out of my way to go here. Yumi's in excelsior has similar high prices but better plating, location, and service.
(3)Liuyin S.
I had THE most amazing time here... and I'm not quite sure where to begin. The service was over the top fantastic, the food was an explosion of flavors, and, not to be bias, but the company was cream de la cream. But let's back up. Take a breath. That was a mental note for myself... not you, unless you're feeling asthmatic already. Then um, I feel sorry for you. Why Raku? We knew we wanted sushi and I wanted to try something new. I've already been to Ichiban, Sushi Tango, Wasabi, Origami, Seven, Nami, Tiger Sushi, Fuji Ya, Crave, blah, blah, blah. You name it, I've probably been there. But Raku... this was new, and unheard of! First off, on 50th and France in Edina? Sounds classy and just my type of joint. And, only 11 reviews on Yelp so far? Tempting... very tempting. I figured they must be new or something! Turns out, new-ish is right, about a year. The atmosphere was indeed classy, posh and modern with white booths and smooth pebbled tabletops. Our waiter was Josh, and I knew right away he was going to be great. I mean, anyone who looks like they just came right off of some reality food network show in his all-black, tidy, professional attire with vest, had to be awesome. He was very friendly, professional, and *clearly* knew the kitchen and the bar well. Josh got to know us a little, asked us a few key questions (do we like mackerel, are we open to try new things, how's our comfort level with spiciness, etc) and told us that if we were okay with it, he would do what he loves and whip us up something special, delicious and within budget. Sounds intriguing, so we went with it. And good choice it was - we got dishes that weren't even offered on the menu! See the pictures, but here's what we got - in order of my preferences: - Lost Tuna: 6 silver dollar sized pieces of ahi tuna, cut thin. Seared with black pepper wrapped around mixed greens kissed with plus sauce, and a touch of sesame oil. Each bite topped with hoison fresh jalapeno, masago caviar, and wasabi sauce. - Tropical Roll: eel, rice, seaweed, lobster salad, mango, apple, wrapped in avocado with spicy mayo and eel sauce. - Fresh slices of Yellow Tail with Jalepeno and cherry tomatoes - Agi, spanish mackerel with ponzu: came deep fried and raw. Very authentic - takes a true "Asian" to eat an entire fish - mmhm crispy bones. Paired with all that was a bottle of Hou Hou Shu Sparkling Sake. Champagne-y, sparkling cider-y, sweet and savory. An 180ML bottle imported from Japan will run you $15, but delightful it was! I seriously might need to import a case of this now... To do what we did, you have to be ready for whatever and be comfortable with ambiguity, but aren't all culinary experiences supposed to be a riveting adventure? Josh picked just the right amount of food for us with an array of tastes and textures; though, we never did make it to dessert. Next time. Now, go make a reservation on opentable.com . And ask for Josh. You won't regret it, even if you do order off the menu. :-P
(5)Scott C.
Sushi in MN - a first for me. This place has a great lay-out. Upscale. Very nicely done tables/chairs. Probably one of the nicest japanese/sushi restaurants I have ever eaten at. Impressive. Our waiter was outstanding. Well-spoken and had great recommendations. Attentive. One of those folks that adds to the experience rather than taking away from it. Playboy roll was a hit. All the standards were strong. Rolls were well-made. Fish not as varied or as fresh as I am used to on the coasts - wonder if that's just the standard for MN area or we hit this place on a bad night. Either way, still a great time.
(4)