Des Moines, IA — Taki Japanese Steakhouse

Taki Japanese Steakhouse 2677 86th Street West Des Moines, IA

(515) 331-3030 website map

Sushipilgrim is from Iowa, not exactly the sushi capitol of the world. I have met many people who never eat sushi more than 50 miles from the ocean. Having been in the restaurant business and knowing how fish is distributed I don't think that is a reaonable position anymore. With air shipping, fresh seafood may be had anywhere in the country.

My good friend Chuck suggested Taki after consulting with one of his friends, a local sushi lover. I was in Des Moines on business and several of the guys at the client site also reccomended Taki. As its name implies Taki is a Teppanaki and sushi place. It is located in a relatively upscale section of the Des Moines area.

We visited Taki on a Wednesday night and the place was packed. Both the Teppanaki and Sushi sections were nearly full when we went at 6pm. Wednesday night they have Martini and sushi specials with the sushi from a limited menu. The prices were very reasonable on the regular menu and especially on the special menu.

I was dissapointed with the atmosphere at Taki. We sat at the sushi bar but the sushi chefs barely acknowleged us. Even though we were right there, a waitress took the little paper menus on which we had made our selections. The sushi chefs never asked if we wanted more or how things were going.

As for the sushi, I really expected more. After all the reccomensations, I expected better quality. I ordered a Philadelphia Roll and a Tuna and Avocado Roll. The fish in both rolls was almost slimy and seemed to be lukewarm. The consistency of the rolls was pretty spotty. The rice was very thin in some parts and thick in others. Overall Nigiri was fine and the sushi rice had good consistency but the Mirugai was not as firm as I usually experience.

I have conflicting views of how to rate Taki. I am struggling between giving Taki two or three ricebowls. Everyone I've spoken to in Des Moines rates it very high. I don't even think it is a prejudice on my part against land-locked sushi bars. Two of my favorites are located in Detroit and Denver and I gave a 4 ricebowl rating to a restaurant in Columbus, OH.

As much as I have a soft spot for a home state restaurant — I want to be honest in my reviews. I will visit Taki again and give them another chance. As I look at the other restaurants that I have rated at three ricebowls, really good sushi places like Hama Sushi in Herndon, VA or Taigun in Broomfield, CO — I have to be honest, Taki is not in their league. Taki may well be the best sushi restaurant in Des Moines, but it still rates only two ricebowls.

Taki: 2 rice bowls