Masao

Our evening at Masao wasn't just a delicious dinner; it was a delightful experience on all levels. The ambience is welcoming and relaxed, the decor minimalistic but friendly - and depending on who's running the radio in the back you might get some chill tunes or you might get Zeppelin...but it all fits together beautifully. The menu is creative, and while they have some "ride or die" options that stick around, the rest of the menu changes up frequently based on the high-quality, fresh deliciouses they source and what's available at the time. The knowledgeable staff are friendly and engaging, and it shines through in the food they create and the outstanding service they provide. If you get a chance, I highly recommend enjoying your meal at the sushi bar--it's fun to see everybody in action, in their element, doing what they love--and what they're damn good at. Masao is the kind of place that would fit right in with some of the more upscale neighborhood restaurants here in southern Florida, but it works SO well in Des Moines. It's a whole vibe of the best kind, and it's now one of our all-time favorite restaurants. We look forward to returning as soon as we can the next time we're in town. Highly recommend: Three-way Mushrooms Tuna Lemon Roll (!!) If they're available: Toro Cracker is a MUST Parsnip & Ginger soup Finish with the crêpes Mocktail: Lemon Drop Martini Have dinner there, go home happy. Come back ASAP. Wash, rinse, repeat. :-)

Masao: East Village’s Posh Playground for the Brave Palate Walking into Masao feels less like “just another dinner” and more like stepping into a fusion experiment where France and Japan decided to stop texting and finally move in together. The ambience is clean, minimalist, and elegant — subtle lighting, thoughtful details, and a space that whispers “classy” without trying too hard. Even the bathrooms got the memo: spotless, stylish, and more bougie than you’d expect (you know a restaurant cares when the bathroom makes you nod in approval). The menu is bold and playful, changing daily, so you’re not here for comfort food — you’re here to taste things you probably haven’t tried before. Bring an open palate, because Masao isn’t pandering to the usual Midwest safe-zone. The food highlights: Vegetable Tempura ($10): Beautifully plated broccoli rabe tempura, but yeah — a little oily, like it lingered too long in the fryer. The dipping sauce saved the day. Lavender Eggs ($18): French-style scrambled, soft as a cloud, kissed with lavender and topped with caviar. Half breakfast, half fine art. Scallops ($28): Seared just right, resting on lemon beurre blanc with sautéed leeks. A bit salty solo, but mix it all together and it hits balance. Salmon Sashimi:,($25) Clean, fresh, and plated so elegantly it almost felt rude to eat it. Karaage Chicken ($25): The absolute rockstar. Soy and sesame marinated, fried golden, paired with Okinawa purple potato chips, and finished with a cheeky beet gel nail polish swipe on the plate. Crispy, juicy, and somehow luxurious. Fried chicken, but make it fashion. The service takes Masao from “great” to “unforgettable.” The waiter knew every dish like they wrote the cookbook, offering non-alcoholic pairings that actually felt intentional. Then the chef himself came out, chatted like an old friend, and — plot twist — poured Hennessy VSOP shots into gold-rimmed glasses. That’s not dinner, that’s membership into the Masao inner circle. And credit where it’s due — the owners are genuinely great people. They care about the community, support local, and it shows in how they treat their guests. Final word: Masao is a must-visit for anyone who loves food with a side of adventure. Not every dish will be your thing, and that’s the point. Come with an open mind, a hungry stomach, and maybe a friend who appreciates fine plating and a good shot of Henny. This is East Village showing off, and it’s worth every bite.

Checked out the new Masao restaurant in the East Village tonight, easily a new top favorite in the Des Moines Metro! These are just a few of the plates we ordered, but everything was fresh and delicious with top notch service and a fun dining experience.👏🏻 🍣 Our favorite roll of the evening was the Tuna Lemon (not pictured) and our favorite appetizer were the Scallops. Masao has been open for about two weeks now, a must try for sushi lovers and those who love supporting local! The staff were so nice. We went for a birthday dinner and they went above and beyond to make it special!

Absolutely blown away by Masao. A friend and I lucked out and snagged two seats at the sushi bar on Saturday night after forgetting to make a reservation—pro tip: make a reservation, because this place fills up fast. Now I know exactly why. Hands down, this was the best sushi I’ve ever had in my life—and I’ve had plenty from San Francisco to New York. The quality here? Next level. Every bite was impossibly fresh, artfully presented, and bursting with flavor. As a vegan, I tried two of their mushroom-based rolls, and they were mind-blowingly good. My friend, who paired her white wine with a tuna roll, kept saying it was the best she’d ever had. So whether you're plant-based or not, you're in for something special. Shout out to our server Maggie, who was a total delight, and to Nick, the owner, who personally presented our dishes and made the experience feel even more intimate and memorable. Masao is a true gem—and who would’ve guessed it would be right here in Des Moines? Can’t wait to go back. Next time, I’ll be sure to book ahead.

Amazing service, drinks and atmosphere but some of the dishes were a tad disappointing. The Tuna Sashimi and Volcano Maki were the best dishes we ordered and we did enjoy the other sushi rolls. We thought the Duck Yakitori had good flavor but was chewy and needed a knife. The clam’s and scallops fell a little short for us. The sauce the clams came in was really yummy but you couldn’t really taste it with the clams and could’ve used a few slices of bread to be able to soak it up. The scallops had a really good sear and flavors were good but for the price, I expected more than two small pieces. I would go back but only for the sushi side of the menu and the white wine!

I don’t even know where to begin with Masao. The vibe is incredibly warm, stylish, and full of energy when you step inside. The food? Outstanding. Honestly, it’s at the level where a Michelin star wouldn’t be out of place. The sushi was some of the best I’ve ever had, with each piece perfectly prepared. My favorite item was the Sanam fish, which was absolutely unforgettable. The crème brûlée was one of a kind, a perfect ending to the meal. I was also impressed by the thoughtful selection of non-alcoholic beverages crafted to be refreshing and healthy. Something I’ve never seen done this well on a menu before. Masao is exactly what Des Moines needed and had been missing. It’s a destination spot that raises the city’s dining scene to another level. I can’t wait to go back and try even more from the menu. Highly recommended.

Masao in Des Moines blew me away. Caitlin was such an awesome server—super attentive and friendly—and Nick, the owner, made the night extra special by sneaking me a few extra sushi pieces to try (and wow, they were delicious). The food here isn’t your typical sushi spot at all—it’s next level. The French tapas were spot on, and everything I tried was amazing: the Ayu and Isaki sushi, clams in lemongrass broth, peach soup, and the fruit and goat cheese tart to finish. On top of that, the space is beautiful with a clean, minimalist vibe. Definitely one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in a long time. Check them out before the secret’s out and everyone’s fighting for a table!

Masao. OG Miyabi 9 fans, run don’t walk. Best place in Des Moines to open in the last year. Nick (owner and chef) is sourcing the highest quality of ingredients and the attention to detail is unparalleled. From the fishing boats the seafood is coming from or the markets, fresh grated wasabi, homemade octopus sauce. He has meticulously curated the menu to a level of care that seems obsessive. Hamachi and toro knots were to die for. This place is a true representation of sushi at the highest level and sticking to sashimi and nigiri will reward you. Nick is behind the sushi bar crafting and the passion bleeds out of him and what he’s doing, and the team around him isn’t anything short of it. The staff is very attentive and inside is beautiful. This will soon be one of the hardest places to get into in Des Moines, and the standard for sushi in Iowa. Plus if you’re a call of duty fan don’t forget to ask Nick about his ray gun torch.