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. :-)

I was really excited to try Masao, but left feeling underwhelmed and disappointed. The atmosphere and service was very delightful, don’t get me wrong, but I just was not impressed with the dishes: - I struggled to finish lemon drop martini mocktail because the lemon grass flavor was stronger than the rest - OKONOMIYAKI (Cooked Cabbage|Pork Belly|Fish Flakes|Susho Sauce) was overpowered with cabbage, I don’t believe any of my friends caught any pork belly. - The wagyu, scallops, and yellow tail were delicious. It was definitely the star of the show. Beautiful plating and amazing flavor. - King Salmon was topped with miso vinegar. The cut of the salmon was delicious, but I thought the vinegar was a little much. - J.PABLO was our specialty roll and it was decent but nothing remarkable. - It is amazing that Des Moines has a restaurant like this and I love its location. I just might wait a few months before trying it again.

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.

Atmosphere was East Village fun despite the awful draft every time someone came in the front door. The service was excellent however they need more servers, two people for the entire restaurant caused less attention than I prefer. Server was very knowledgeable and accommodating. Food was meh. I’ve eaten sushi all over the world, grew up on fresh fish in Alaska. The 30$ Turbot was tough and chewy with no flavor, the Shrimp tasted the same. 50$ for two bites that did nothing for me. My roll was average. So we switched to the French portion of the menu , mussels were excellent but cold, no bowl given for our shells. The halibut dish the sever explained as being like a fish shepherds pie was so smoked you couldn’t taste anything but the smoke. They kindly took it off our bill but burping up smoke for the next 12 hours solidly made me never want to return to Maseo again. I wanted to love the restaurant but I was sorely disappointed.

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!

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!

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.

Masao was a wonderful experience. We sat at the bar and we entertained all night. The food was delicious and unique. It is a great addition to the East Village. It is going to be our go-to place for all our special nights in the future.

If you are a sushi aficionado, there is simply no place in Iowa like Masao. I've tried high-end sushi coast to coast and never had anything quite like this. Imagine having a private, master chef thoughtfully and carefully prepare fresh cuts of delicate fish based on the preferences of your particular palate, replete with handmade sauces that bring out the subtlest flavors. Eating at the bar in Masao is the closest most sushi lovers will ever get to that. The service is friendly and the atmosphere upscale but inviting. Prices are high but easily justified by the attention to sourcing (constant fish deliveries, and real japanese wasabi root for nigiri), meticulous preparation, pride in presentation, and cleanliness. The menu also changes frequently, with relatively uncommon items sourced and presented in limited quantities. Think bluenose, barracuda, and seared wagyu nigiri. It is no exaggeration to say that the Volcano roll - which did not sound particularly special or inventive - was one of the best dishes I have ever had at any restaurant. It is extremely rich and satisfying. Can't wait to visit again.

For those that like different culinary experiences, Masao is the place! A Euro-Asian fusion restaurant, where French and Japanese leads to an interesting evening of some familiar favorites with a twist and some exciting new tastes. Located at the foot of the Iowa Capitol building in the East Village district of downtown, Maseo is now approaching at six months in business. Across of casual and sophisticated, the restaurant is light, open , and has a modern vibe with a hint of fine dining with table linens. Metered Street parking and nearby parking garages are available, but street parking can be a challenge during busy weekends and peak hours so plan accordingly. Open for dinner service only, check their website for operating details. We had a reservation, which is highly recommended, for a Thursday evening, and the restaurant was at near-full capacity for the duration of our visit. We were pleasantly greeted and quickly seated. The dining room area includes counter seating. Two finely trained chefs, utilize their respective expertise in Japanese fish/sushi and traditional French dishes. The menu is eclectic, and our dinner consisted of a delicious French onion soup, a fantastic mushroom dish that resembled a sea coral, some of the finest quality sashimi, and familiar maki rolls, to one of our favorites that was a poblano Maki roll with crab. There was an interesting fusion volcano roll that involved a hint of French mushroom topping that was really great. The restaurant offers a full bar, house cocktails, and mocktails, that will please any pallet. We enjoyed a nonfiltered sake with a beautiful presentation. Our server was friendly and attentive, and probably one of the things that we enjoyed. The most was that they acted as a team backing one another up as they went by and checked on each other's tables. This is a wonderful restaurant with a wonderful concept. I would recommend bringing a sweater or light jacket as the dining room was a little cool, particularly towards the door in the front of the restaurant. Might be because we were out on one of the first days of snow of the season! Check out this fun, classy, and interesting restaurant for a memorable dining experience.

Masao is an inventive Japanese restaurant in Des Moines. Apparently it has recently reopened with a new sushi chef who trained under the one who was in this spot prior. There were some interesting things on the menu like lavender eggs. For me, nothing was spectacular that I tried except for the cherry soda lol! I know this spot has great reviews and I don't mean to bring it down by my rating, however I was not overly impressed. The sushi was solid, and the other items were ... inventive. This wasn't a favorite spot of mine but I would try it again.

Typically have a rez but walked in and the staff was amazing! Made room for us on a friday night and the drinks, food and service was amazing!

While on a business trip to Des Moines Iowa we found ourselves at a small quaint establishment looking for local spots to wet our whistle and taste some great local food. It was then someone suggested sushi with the caveat of "it needed to be close to our hotel" which was the AC Marriott downtown (see my review of this hotel in my reviews). As we walked in we were not prepared for fine dining service, we were looking for one of those places that were people go without much of a 2nd thought. We were seated close by to a window by Gavin who immediately treated us like we were regulars at the local pub right after winning a state championship. Gavin repeatedly stopped by to ask us if there was anything we needed and promptly filled our glasses with water in what seemed like every sip. Whole to some this may be a bit overbearing we found it to be exceptional service. We haven't even spoken about the food yet!! When it came time to order, Gavin knew the menu like he wrote it himself. After letting me know they were out of the clams he suggested the Lavender Eggs... upon reading on the menu what was in it, I was hesitant to make a decision but when in Rome... within a few minutes my eggs appeared. The French style scrambled eggs were buttery smooth and the creme fresh paired so smoothly with it like a jazz band at speak easy. The eggs were topped with caviar which contrasted brilliantly with the sourness of the cream fresh in an amazing layering of familiar flavors. The sushi we ordered also arrived which was also intricately complex in its flavors yet fresh and delicious. After diner, the sushi shed Nick stopped by the table to chat which was a welcome departure from what you would normally get down at the Applebees. Clearly this places sets a bar that few can reach. Try it, love it, rinse and repeat.

The food here is absolutely amazing and love the fusion of Japanese and French food. You cannot find anything else like this in DSM. This is not your typical Japanese or French restaurant. The ingredients and thought into each dish was impressive. Contrasting and complementing tastes and textures really highlight each dish. Adding extra feedback because I know the chefs were asking for thoughts while we sat at the bar: Pieces of sushi was slightly thinner and smaller than I had experienced in other cities. I wished the truffle in the tuna carpaccios was fresh instead of jarred. Foie gras was out of this world, no changes in that! All rolls were done amazing, the rice to fish ratio was perfect and the sushi rice was made well. The duck yakitori could have been executed better. Felt it was a bit overcooked. Service was ok. It got a little more busy on the Tuesday and I felt like they should have had more than one server. She didn't seem to know too much about the menu, finished plates were not picked before the next course so we had to move things around on our own. She was busy to get her attention to order another drink. But wanting to come back again to try new items!

I was shocked to discover Masao opened 3 days ago! The Service was incredible and the food is fantastic! We were one of the first tables ( at 515 ) to arrive. Gavin and the other staff were welcoming and fun. We arrived a few minutes before our friends and I ordered 3 small plates and a bottle of cava for the table. It's always fun to see what the staff pick, and we weren't disappointed! Lavender Eggs, topped with cavier! The Veggie tart! I wouldn't have ordered it, so Glad they picked it! The third ware clams, which were perfect. The other two exceptional small plates were the Okonomi Jaki ( cabbage casserole ) & Duck Yakitori. The menu front page featurrs small plates, the back page has sushi and rolls. My favorite sushi ( i like the rice ( 2 pieces ), also available as just sashimi ( 3 pieces ) ) was the tomago ( egg ), Eel, and Octopus and our favorite Roll is the STT followed by the Alaska Roll and Spider Roll. Thier Beverage program is top notch with delicious cocktails and a sleek wine and beer list ( not a huge selection, but everything on it matches the food menu ). The decor is fine dining. White table clothes set the tone. The food is prepared in two places. If you like watching the sushi chef, there are 8 bar stools. As you're ordering, different things take different time, so a dash of patience is needed.

This place is mind blowing. The attention to detail, skill, ambiance, and service were all top notch. If you're looking for the best sushi (and seafood in general) in Des Moines, this is it. We were greeted by our waitress Stass and truly made us feel celebrated as we were dining here post-wedding. She really enjoyed talking about their menu (which changes every day) and gave great recommendations. She was very in sync with the restaurant operations. Sushi chef/owner Nick was a pleasure to dine with. We sat at the sushi bar for our reservation and he took care of our sashimi and maki orders. The fish was also fresh orders and the other ingredients are either very carefully sourced or hand crafted in house. As he was working orders, he shared his experience and training, and his passion for his craft really showed. We asked about one of the seasonings they used on their Barracuda, and it was remnants of an order of Kelp, but tasted rich and toasted. He also put together some type of strawberry puree and Red Snapper, which at first glance I didn't understand, but trying it I was very pleasantly surprised! Chef Phil prepared our French order of scallops. Not only did the ingredients show their quality, but the preparation and presentation were spot on. He came out to congratulate us and although he said he was "a little rusty", he held down the fort. All in all, it was a phenomenal experience. If you're celebrating something, craving seafood, or just want an experience that appeals to your senses, this is the spot to be at.

YO ELITE YELPERS! CHECK THIS PLACE OUT RIGHT AWAY! 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.

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!

Incredible experience. The best sushi I've ever had and the duck yakitori was an explosion of fatty goodness. We were late to our reservation due to an accident clogging our route to the restaurant but the service was very accommodating and understanding. The music and vibe was perfect for good conversation with friends. Cannot recommend enough. Don't let the simplicity of the menu descriptions fool you, everything here is packed with flavor and eloquently presented.

Stumbled upon this place looking to treat myself to a celebratory meal. Totally BLOWN AWAY. Diego the sushi chef and I recognized each other from another sushi place that he worked at previously and struck up a conversation while sitting at the sushi bar. The pride and enthusiasm he shows in his craft is apparent. Followed his recommendations and I got to try something he called Butterfish Nigiri maybe Blue nose? (Not totally sure since I was so excited) which I hadn't had before. Came with real wasabi root and the best ginger I have ever tasted. BOMB! Also had a Tuna Lemon roll. It was perfectly balanced with many flavors and took me on a pleasant journey. Rich, lemony, sweet, with some mellow spicy heat that lingered towards the end of the bite. The kind of thing that you want to wolf down but have to slow down so it lasts as long as possible. Nick the owner was trained by Chef Mike who was the proprietor of Miaby9. Super nice guy who also takes pride in his work. I could sense his pride when talking about the house made sauces and the techniques he used to create them. I only tried Japanese cuisine during this visit but excited to come back and try some of the French cuisine as I could tell that every person working here is passionate about the food. It is great to have such a high quality, unique place with a down to earth staff here in the metro.

We stumbled in on this place and it was beyond amazing! The wait staff were very nice and really made us feel welcome and the food was so delicious, like you wish you ordered more delicious. You will not be disappointed! A must try.

My favorite country to visit is Japan and I feel that this menu embodied the joy of Japanese cuisine. Food was excellent, I am not a huge raw fish person but this fish was not fishy at all and high quality. The ambiance is also good. We will be back.

The food and ambiance was excellent. Our server, Catelyn, was helpful, attentive and kind. Love the fact that they change the menu frequently. Everything thing was fresh and presented beautifully.

Absolutely blown away by the entire experience at Masao!! Being a couple foodies from a serious food town (Portland, OR), we are accustomed to top-notch meals, but this was - for both of us - a top 5 meal of our lifetimes!! Sashimi salad and scallops were otherworldly, as was the espresso crème brûlée and all of the wine and wine pairings!! Phenomenal!!

Exceptionally fresh fish that was complimented by the passionate preparation, and to boot, beyond amazing French food! The seafood was fresher than most high-end sushi joints in major coastal cities (think Nobu). This is a passion project from a couple of local boys that could be executive chefs at Michelin star restaurants anywhere! I will be back to dive deeper into the French food, if I can say no to the sushi at that moment. Not that I have to choose, except for based on my stomach's capacity, based on the offering sizes (tapas-esque) which allows for one experience both. Go - you won't regret it!

Great food, great service, love the East Village! The four of us had a couple small plates including the Tomato Trio and Three Way Mushrooms. Both very good. Then we moved to the sushi and had the Blue California, Spider, Spicy Tuna and Volcano. All excellent, but the Spicy Tuna is one we get everywhere we go and this is clearly the best we've ever had. Good wine, reasonable price (for 2025). Give it a try!