Diners' Choice: Japanese restaurants in Denver / Colorado

OpenTable

Updated September 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Japanese cuisine in Denver / Colorado? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Gyu-Kaku - Denver, CO

4.8

4.8 (441)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Downtown / LoDo

About the restaurant

Founded in Tokyo in 1996, Gyu-Kaku has become the world’s #1 Japanese BBQ brand! Thanks to our devoted fans we have reached over 700 locations worldwide. Each day, hundreds of thousands of people gather around the table-top smokeless grill, a centerpiece of our dining concept, enjoying selections of premium meats, just off the grill, and other freshly prepared foods from our kitchens, inspiring laughter, conversation, and a magical dining experience.

Our authentic yakiniku (grilled barbeque) dining experience crowns you the chef. Share a variety of delicious appetizers and premium cooked meats over a flaming grill, paired with Japanese sake, frosty cold beers, or other alcoholic and non-alcoholic options of your choice. We're the perfect spot to enjoy time with friends and family, organize an office party, or to spend quality time with your significant other!

Before you go, don't forget to taste our best-seller Harami Skirt Steak or Prime Kalbi Short Rib among other must-try dishes!

Top review

Subreen

Dined 3 days ago

Had a great experience food was amazing, and Seth was awesome!!!

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Experience

Prix-Fixe Yakiniku Courses for Everyone!

Matsuhisa Denver

4.9

4.9 (2664)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Cherry Creek

About the restaurant

Featuring Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s signature new-style Japanese cuisine, Matsuhisa Denver anchors the ground floor of the Steele Creek luxury apartment building in Cherry Creek, Denver’s premier shopping, restaurant, and entertainment district. Our 7,800 square foot dining room is open for dinner service from 5pm nightly. Takeout available nightly from 5-9pm.

Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s world-famous cuisine draws influence from his classical training in Tokyo and his life abroad in Peru, Argentina, and around the world, showcasing signature dishes such as Yellowtail Sashimi with Jalapeño, Black Cod Miso and Whitefish Tiradito.

Top review

Scott

Dined on Aug 28, 2024

Fantastic Japanese restaurant. Very impressed for Denver and will be going often.

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4.9

4.9 (1346)

$50 and over

Japanese

Vail

About the restaurant

For patio seating or if your desired reservation time is not available online, please call the restaurant at 970-476-6628 and press option 1 between 3:30 and 9:30 p.m. MST.

Featuring Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s signature new-style Japanese cuisine, Matsuhisa Vail is located in the Solaris Plaza in the heart of Vail Village. Our dining room is open from 5pm nightly. Takeout available nightly from 5-9 pm.

Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s fusion cuisine draws influence from his classical training in Tokyo and his life abroad in Peru, Argentina, and around the world, showcasing signature dishes such as Yellowtail Sashimi with Jalapeño, Black Cod Miso and White fish Tiradito.

Top review

Allexvip

Dined 1 day ago

Got the omakase- it was phenomenal. Service was excellent too

Kawa Ni - Denver

4.9

4.9 (219)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Whittier

About the restaurant

izakaya
(居酒屋)
Japanese Pub

A type of Japanese drinking establishment which also serves food to accompany the drinks. They are casual places for after-work drinking. "Izakaya" entered the English language by 1987. It is a compound word consisting of "i" (to stay) and "sakaya" (sake shop), indicating that izakaya originated from sake shops that allowed customers to sit on the premises and drink.

The basics...
…Order a drink.
Explore the menu.
Ask as many questions as you want.
Almost everything on the menu can be shared.

Kanpai!

Top review

Erica

Dined 4 days ago

3rd visit - gets better every time. Staff is attentive and knowledgeable. Favs are the tofu pockets, kimchi udon, hand rolls, and mushroom dashi.

Izakaya Den

4.8

4.8 (1845)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Platt Park

About the restaurant

Izakaya Den is Denver’s popular Japanese gastropub, modeled after the lively after hours establishments found throughout Japan. The restaurant is located on South Pearl Street and is the second restaurant of the Kizaki brothers, founders and owners of Sushi Den.

The menu is arranged in a tapas style, serving traditional Japanese small plates along with dishes infused with international flavors and textures. The more traditional Japanese offerings include sashimi and nigiri, sourced from daily fish shipments from around the globe, along with dumplings and noodle dishes. The global cuisine experiments with a bevy of different flavors including unique items such as Grilled Panzanella Salad (jumbo lump crab, toasted focaccia, local goat cheese, pistachios, plum wine vinaigrette), Kobe Beef Sliders (seared foie gras, pomme frittes). A gluten-free menu is also available along with a popular weekday happy hour from 5 to 6:30 pm.

Top review

Sunitavip

Dined 1 day ago

Shane was excellent. Gave us great suggestions and was so attentive to us despite how busy the restaurant was!

Sushi Den

4.8

4.8 (1376)

$50 and over

Japanese

Platt Park

About the restaurant

For over 37 years, Sushi Den has been regarded as one of the premiere sushi and Japanese restaurants in the United States. Located in the historic Old South Pearl St. neighborhood in the heart of Denver, CO, the restaurant delivers consistently excellent cuisine made from the finest ingredients from around the world.

Master Chef Toshi Kizaki, the visionary behind Sushi Den, continually raises the bar & sets the standard for the restaurant’s high quality cuisine. Youngest brother, Koichi, lives in southern Japan where he makes daily trips to the fish market to purchase fish for the restaurant. The fish is dry iced and reaches the restaurant within 24 hours. Sushi Den’s mission is to maintain one of the nation’s top sushi restaurants through fresh ingredients, innovative, healthy dishes and exceptional service.

We utilize available seating at both Izakaya Den, our sister restaurant next door, and Sushi Den for all reservations through the Sushi Den portal on

Top review

Jen

Dined 1 day ago

Food and service were excellent as always! Christina was knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive. It had been 15 years since I’d dined here since I live in ATL now. Great to be back!

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4.8

4.8 (233)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Carbondale

About the restaurant

Thank you for visiting Kenichi Izakaya Carbondale. An Izakaya is a type of informal Japanese pub. At sake breweries during the late 18th century, people in Japan began using sake kegs as stools, and snacks were served. This small plate menu was designed to encourage sharing amongst friends and family. Food is prepared in multiple kitchens and arrives as it is ready to ensure freshness. We make most of our menu in-house, from scratch, and use locally sourced ingredients whenever possible.

If no reservations are available, please note that we do have walk in apcae at our bar and sushi bar. We hope to see you!

Top review

Brentvip

Dined on Aug 24, 2024

Great food and service, fun staff! Amazing chef specials 🥂

KUMOYA

4.7

4.7 (213)

$31 to $50

Japanese

LoHi

About the restaurant

KUMOYA, is a Japanese Kitchen and Sushi Restaurant, the passion project of renowned sushi chef Corey Baker in collaboration with Max Mackissock, located in the heart of LoHi. We specialize in traditional sushi and innovative izakaya-style dishes with a modern Japanese twist. Our kappo-style dining concept allows guests to curate their own culinary adventure. Chefs Corey Baker and Max Mackissock draw inspiration from Kaiseki cuisine, celebrating the seasons and micro-seasons inherent in sushi and Japanese cooking, resulting in a dynamic, ever-evolving menu.

AT KUMOYA, we prioritize technique, vibrant hospitality, and the use of exceptional ingredients—from the Japanese fish markets of Toyosu and Fukuoka to the finest Japanese and Colorado produce. Join us at Kumoya, where each dish tells a story, and every meal is a journey.

Top review

Jessi

Dined 5 days ago

The staff was very good at describing the different menu items. The fish is flown in daily and taste so fresh. They also do dry aged raw fish, which I have never had before. It was a wonderful experience. The staff was friendly as well as knowledgeable.

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Experience

Sake Dinner with Chef Corey Baker

Mizu Izakaya and Sushi

4.7

4.7 (736)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Highlands

About the restaurant

2017 Top of the Town, "Best Japanese Restaurant in Denver"
Dipped in the Japanese arts and architecture, the Mizu Izakaya and Sushi restaurant offers an authentic experience of Japanese culture. The restaurant offers contemporary Japanese dining and a comfortable, young and hip atmosphere. The food is served hot and its assortment of dishes are popular among the locals and are nicely complimented by innovative drinks.

Mizu Izakaya and Sushi restaurant, despite being a Sushi place, has a diverse menu and it offers a variety of Japanese dishes. Some of the dishes include King Mushroom Carpaccio, Grilled Whole Squid, Grilled Lamb Chop and Brussels Sprouts. These are some of the favorite dishes for diners at the Mizu Izakaya and Sushi, a place that diners prefer for the quality of their food.

For parties of 6 or more, please call us at 720-372-7100 for a reservation!

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 7 days ago

Mizu is the best Japanese restaurant in Denver! The staff is very friendly and talented with great knowledge of sake, wine and the full menu.

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Popular dish

Miso Ramen

Gyu-Kaku - Denver, CO | Cherry Creek

4.8

4.8 (146)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Cherry Creek

About the restaurant

Top review

Daniel

Dined on Aug 25, 2024

Great food and service! Had a great dinner with some friends and super accommodating for people who are gluten free. Our server Monique was phenomenal as well! Definitely recommend this place!

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Experience

Prix-Fixe Yakiniku Courses for Everyone!

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