03/13/08

Great service, staff treats everyone like regulars, great sushi

by Yiddle

Kabuki is absolutely one of my favorite places. I've been going there for about 7 years now, and right from the start they treated us like regulars. The staff is always friendly and quickly meet everyone at the door. We usually sit at the sushi bar, usually on one of the corners. My son has loved the place since he was four years old, and they always make him feel as though they are glad to see him, as opposed to other places who assume kids can't behave. Kids are indeed welcome and treated well by the staff here. After just a few visits, they knew us by name when we walked in the door and also knew what our drink orders were without asking, and they always remembered that my son likes green tea ice cream for dessert. The sushi is always delicious. Our favorites are the spider roll and the unagi, and the tuna and yellowtail are always yummy and fresh. Kabuki celebrates its regulars by covering the walls of the sushi bar area with their photos. They also have private tea rooms which are great for birthday dinners and business lunches. They also have great happy hour specials on sushi, appetizers and drinks. Bottom line, this place is a hidden gem.

• Pros: Super friendly staff, great sushi, great service
• Cons: A little bit hidden if you've never been there before

01/25/08

NOT good

by mcspat

I have no idea how this place stays in business. The positive reviews are written by the owner, STAY AWAY. Better yet, eat there and post a review.

• Pros: Give me a minute..... Hmmm.... Still thinking..... Nope there are none
• Cons: Everything that counts

11/28/07

Dirty restaurant, mediocre food, high prices

by bobberdobber

My wife and I dined at Kabuki with friends recently and it was awful. We ate in one of their tatami rooms and my first impression was that the room hadn't been cleaned in years. The carpet was filthy and there were old, dried food stains on the walls. It was, in short, disgusting. We started with sushi, soup and salad. The salad consisted of a lump of lettuce with an overly sweet, non-Japanese tasting dressing poured on top. At these prices, would it be so hard to serve a proper sunomono? The "soup" was chicken stock with mushrooms and some tiny, mushy pieces of cellophane noodle at the bottom of the bowl. I suspect they serve this, rather than misoshiru, because they can let it sit unattended all day long. Inexcusable and awful.

The sushi was average to below average. The quality of the fish was OK, but the rice was warm and mushy, the wasabi overdone, and the preparation amateurish and sloppy. I've eaten at a dozen cheap American robos (kaiten-zushi) that were far better.

Next up were the entrees. I had the Shrimp Tempura. As is the standard in bad Japanese restaurants, the cooking oil obviously wasn't hot enough, the batter not cold enough and the result was doughy and greasy. My wife had the Salmon Teriyaki. I tasted a bite and it seemed fine. The salmon was fresh and slightly flaky. Nothing to write home about, but not bad either.

Beer selection was standard, sake selection was the small. We ordered sake at some point in the meal and it was served HOT. So hot, in fact, that the tokkuri was too hot to touch and the sake was completely ruined. Our waitress should known that it was ruined and not served it, but she served it anyway.

I seriously doubt there is a single Japanese cook working in this kitchen, and there certainly is no one who deserves to call himself a chef. I'm giving Kabuki two stars instead of one because our waitress was friendly, quick and professional. Everything else about the place is substandard.

• Pros: Excellent service
• Cons: Below average food, filthy restaurant, high prices

11/01/07

Great Sushi - Always

by dgatzby1

This is simply one of the best Sushi places in the USA folks. I have been going there for over 20 years, and will return until Kal and Herosi retire. When I say it is one of the best in the USA, I can because I travel extensively and always try to find the sushi places all over the US. Yes, I have been to the best places in NYC and Hawaii so don't think I am a looser and look for out of the way places. Keep your eyes open at this place, you may even recognize a famous person or two! The sushi is always good, the portions are great, the Owner and Chefs are great people. The place is not brand new, but that is what gives a place some character. Enough about the old write-ups telling people it is dirty. Myself and friends have NEVER had a problem with eating there ever.

• Pros: Easy and close parking, friendly staff and Owner works at the place
• Cons: No windows, same as all Japanese grills - challenge to clear the air sometimes

This serene, suburban Japanese restaurant is a hidden find for outstanding teriyaki.

by Contributor

In Short
White-collar workers on their lunch break choose from stools at the sushi bar, pillows in one of the many private tea rooms, or seats at the little tables around the quiet dining room. Families and friends who want some excitement in the evening belly up to the teppanyaki grills to be entertained by knife-wielding chefs. Shrimp tempura and broiled scallops are popular lead-ins to sashimi, sushi rolls and salmon and chicken teriyaki dishes.

06/16/06

Insulting Food, Even more Insulting price

by everhungry

One of the worst dining experiences I've ever had. Upon entry, noticed that the entire place was filthy and run down looking. ceiling tiles, floor, everything is grungy. They sat us at a table that was still in the process of being cleared. The cook dropped an entire egg, shell and all into the fried rice then proceeded to dig the shells out. I'd like to add that he did not remove them all because the rice was quite crunchy. The hibachi chicken was bland as was the vegetables. I thought this would be a 30 dollar dinner for my wife and I until the 55 dollar check arrived. My advice, avoid this cheap, poor knock off of Benihana and go for the real thing. Your paying the same price as you would for Benihana, get the real deal.

04/26/06

Kabuki - Dissapointing to say the least

by jrockinmn

After arriving we were sat right away then we were abruptly moved to another table. The floors through-out the restaurant were filthy. There were food particles everywhere. The filter air ventilation in this restaurant is extremely poor as well. Our order was mistaken after verifying it several times. Our appetizers were giving to another party at our table and we had to get up and ask for our white rice, which was ordered at the beginning. The ceiling tiles are covered with filth and dirt, very disgusting. Take a look above you next time your there. After speaking to manager 2 days later, I was very disappointed when he didnt offer to make it right, Or to see how he could get us to come back. I am always willing to give someone a second chance.

04/06/06

Yumm!

by sundaze11

I have only been to Kabuki on Friday or Saturday nights, when the restaurant was extremely busy. That being said- the service is horrible! I've been there three times, and each time, I have stood waiting by the doorway without any kind of acknowledgement from the staff. However, the sushi is pretty impressive. It has officially surpassed Sakura as my favorite sushi place. The unagi is always good, and I have always felt the fish is as fresh as it can be here in MN. Prices are decent- comparable to every other sushi place I have tried. Overall, despite the horrible, slow services I would recommend this place...in fact, maybe I will try it on a weeknight.

• Pros: Sushi menu!
• Cons: service

10/28/05

Review over time

by batset

I have been going to Kabuki for 6 years now, I am a 3-4 time aweek patron. I think that Kabuki is one of the best experiences that I have had any where in the US, that is why I go back every week. Now let's face it, of couse there is going to be off days for people, we are all living lives that are stressful. I don't think that you can write a review of a restaurant after just one visit. Just like good sushi takes time so should you. Kudos to Kabuki, Hiroshi & Eric are the best sushi chefs around.

05/21/05

Experienced sushi chef willing to experiment

by jacksonsathome

A neighborhood sushi place where the chefs have worked there forever. Constantly experimenting and very friendly with descriptive advice. For example they served raw sabe with a torch-flamed version infused with ginger recently. Monk fish liver is exceptional.