Morimoto Napa

Japanese restaurant · Napa

Morimoto Napa

Japanese restaurant · Napa

610 Main St, Napa, CA 94559

Highlights

Morimoto Napa serves inventive, high-end Japanese fare and cocktails in a sleek riverside space, mixing artful presentation with vibrant, urban vibes.

610 Main St, Napa, CA 94559 Get directions

morimotonapa.com

$100+ · Menu

Reserve

@infatuation

The 18 Best Restaurants In Napa 2024

"Morimoto is a long-standing restaurant that scratches any itch for high-quality Japanese food, with an over-the-top Vegas-style presentation that includes tuna sashimi made to look like rosebuds served on a bed of crushed ice. The vast dining room feels like Napa’s version of TAO and gets just as loud as the nightclub when packed. You can easily rack up a sky-high dinner tab with rounds of lychee martinis and the omakase on a night out with friends, or keep it more subtle (and affordable) by heading in for lunch. The rock shrimp tempura and hamachi tacos are practically mandatory, but there are plenty of non-seafood options sprinkled in as well, like wagyu and duck confit fried rice. " - christina julian, jasmine alexandra

https://www.theinfatuation.com/napa/guides/best-restaurants-napa

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@infatuation

Morimoto Review - Downtown - Napa - The Infatuation

https://www.theinfatuation.com/napa/reviews/morimoto-napa

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@goop

"Masaharu Morimoto is best known as the original Iron Chef, though his restaurants are actually even better than the TV hype. The vibe here is more urban than you'd find at other restaurants in the valley since it's right downtown in Napa. Meanwhile, the Asian food is also a nice way to break up the local California cuisine."

The Napa Valley Guide

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@eater

The 10 Best Bites at Napa’s BottleRock Festival - Eater SF

"How do you make a burger better? Fry it. Morimoto’s Menchi Katsu Burger has long been a BottleRock staple that can’t be missed year after year. Topped with a combination Asian slaw, tarter, and barbecue sauces (plus a side of housemade kimchee), there’s a literal world of flavor in every bite." - Jess Lander

https://sf.eater.com/2019/5/28/18643243/bottlerock-food-music-best-vendors-napa-2019

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@kevin

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J.C. Lochan

Google

Coming here for dinner was a great idea. The restaurant itself is quite spacious, clean, and the atmosphere is inviting. Every dish I had here was great, and they kept on getting better as the night went on. The drinks here are good as well, and they don't skimp on the alcohol. I'd say that the prices do match what you get in quality and taste. Service was great, and they took care of any requests very quickly. This is a great upscale Japanese restaurant by the Napa River that I'd recommend to anyone visiting. Overall, if you're looking for some Japanese cuisine and are in Napa Valley, Morimoto is the place to go.

Praneet Raj

Google

Morimoto Napa is a true culinary gem in the heart of wine country. The moment you walk in, you’re greeted with elegant décor and a serene ambiance. The service is impeccable—attentive without being intrusive. The food is simply outstanding. Every dish, from the fresh sashimi to the perfectly cooked black cod, is a work of art. The omakase menu offers a stunning variety of flavors and textures. The sake selection is impressive and pairs beautifully with the cuisine. This is more than just a meal—it’s an experience. Morimoto Napa absolutely deserves five stars for its excellence in every detail.

Rebecca C

Google

I had the absolute pleasure of dining at Morimoto Napa, and I can confidently say it was one of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had. From the moment we arrived, the service was nothing short of impeccable. The staff were not only professional but also warm and genuinely welcoming, making us feel like VIPs from start to finish. They were knowledgeable about the menu, offering great recommendations and ensuring that we had everything we needed throughout our meal. The food was simply divine. Each dish was a work of art, bursting with flavor and expertly prepared. From the freshest sushi to the creative fusion dishes, every bite was a delightful surprise. The presentation of each course was stunning, showing the attention to detail that Morimoto is known for. It was clear that the chefs take great pride in their craft, and it truly paid off in the quality of the food. As for the drinks, they were flowing all night long, and the cocktails were expertly crafted. Whether you’re a fan of classic drinks or looking to try something new, their bar menu has something for everyone. The mixologists are top-notch, and each drink was as delicious as the last. Overall, my experience at Morimoto Napa was exceptional in every way. From the outstanding service to the incredible food and drinks, I couldn’t recommend it more highly. If you’re in the area, do yourself a favor and dine here—you won’t regret it. Five stars all the way!

Google

We were here last week for our late wedding Anniversary celebration and I am a BIG dan of Mr. Morimoto. We ordered Ala Carte, and they were all amazing! The service is above beyond and it is of course five stars! Thank you all for an amazing experience!

narae kim

Google

I usually prefer raw oysters, but I really enjoyed the grilled ones here. Overall, everything was fresh—the meat dishes were delicious, and the ramen was great too. I heard they offer free corkage during weekday happy hours, so next time I’ll bring a bottle of wine!

Morgan Powell

Google

Some of the best sushi I’ve had. We booked reservations based on a recommendation from someone who had visited Napa in the past and it did not disappoint. Everything was scrumptious! Among the more notable rolls, we loved the Soft Shell Crab roll (we don’t get soft shells in Charleston until later in the spring) and the eel was some of the freshest I’ve eaten. Our only wish was that we could have tried more - this place will not disappoint!

Guomin Wu

Google

Since it’s a fine dining restaurant, I expect the food to be great. But the food is a bit better than average. We ordered 14 day age ribeye steak, it is just ok. We also ordered the sushi combo. We had better sushi. The soft shell crab roll is good. Overall the food is just ok. The service and the atmosphere are good.

Fair reviews Based on my Experiences

Google

1 Star for our arrival and host experience. The only issue we had was being told our party of 4 adults and 1 child could only be accommodated outside. Although there were 2 heat lamps, this really dampened the experience. This was my inaugural dining experience at Morimoto Napa, but our dining companions have already made it their go-to spot for special occasions. Their enthusiasm was evident, and now I understand why – the exceptional service, impeccable attention to detail, and outstanding cuisine have clearly earned MN a loyal following. Morimoto Napa exceeded our expectations, delivering a truly exceptional fine dining experience. Every aspect of our meal was impeccable. 5 Stars for Outstanding Service. Our server, Oman, was phenomenal, providing attentive and knowledgeable service throughout the evening. The food runners deserve special recognition for their impeccable presentation skills, earning an A++. The server assistant worked seamlessly with Oman, ensuring a flawless dining experience. 5 Stars for Impeccable Table Maintenance. The table maintenance was perfect, with every detail meticulously attended to. 5 Stars for Overall Experience. Marimoto Napa has set a new standard for fine dining excellence. We can't wait to return and experience it again. 5/5 stars! Overall a Culinary Perfection. Needless to say, our meals were truly spectacular! Each dish was expertly prepared, presenting a harmonious balance of flavors and textures that delighted our palates.

Jennifer H.

Yelp

We hadn't been to Morimoto in years, but decided to have dinner here the night after our wedding while on our mini-moon in Napa. We loved the ambiance here! Right on the water, spacious seating, and beautiful decor/interior. The food was also delicious!! We ordered a lot mainly because it was so hard to choose. The hamachi tacos were our favorite appetizer along with the spicy edamame. They really give you a lot of edamame, so much so that it lasted us our entire meal and took quite a lot of time to finish. The appetizer we could have done without was the wagyu beef carpaccio. It was definitely a different preparation than we have had before, but the slices of wagyu were actually a little too thick for our preference and it had too much sauce which drowned out the flavor of the wagyu. For rolls, we ordered the soft shell crab roll, spicy salmon roll, and spicy tuna roll. All were amazing, similar to others that we've had at upscale sushi restaurants. For sushi we ordered uni sushi, ikura sushi, and scallop sushi. And for sashimi we ordered o toro. Omg there is nothing better than high quality sushi and sashimi. The uni and toro were our favorite! And surprisingly our favorite dish of the night was the carrot cake for dessert. Wow. Just wow. It was unlike any carrot cake we have had before. Super thin layers of carrot cake, the frosting is not too sweet, and the ginger ice cream on the side just takes it to another level. The only reason we rated Morimoto 4 and not 5 stars was because of the service. We had indicated on Open Table that we had just been married the day before and were celebrating on our mini-moon in Napa. The host who checked us in congratulated us and clearly knew we were celebrating, but I guess the message never made it to our server. She was not interested in talking to us at all, didn't ask how our night was going, if we were celebrating, or anything. I had thought we might get a celebratory dessert like we experienced at every other restaurant we went to on our mini-moon (wouldn't even mind paying for it, but like a candle or something would have been nice) , but it just was not a celebratory experience here and maybe they just don't do that.

Hyesoo C.

Yelp

The ambiance of the restaurant is really nice with a lot of window seating and view of the Napa River. The service was also great with attentive staff. We ordered the ramen and some of the ingredients were still cold. We ordered the sake flight as well, which was fun but would probably opt for individual drinks next time.

Lynna D.

Yelp

We have never had a bad meal at Morimoto (anywhere). Morimoto Napa is our usual go-to place when we are in Napa for a special occasion. This time we shared the omakase tasting menu and ordered a couple of other dishes. The hardest part about sharing a tasting menu is that you have to split everything into twos and you always wish for more. But if you are a light eater like my wife and I, sharing this menu is more than enough. We were both full after the multi-course dinner. The service is always spectacular and the restaurant is so well decorated and inviting.

Nina C.

Yelp

First off, idk how this place is below a 4 star on Yelp. We had an amazing experience from start to finish! The decor, art, and layout were so nice and welcoming. The server was on top of it as well as her colleagues stopping by to help clear plates and refill out waters, it was just an excellent service. My friend and I shared everything and all of it was 5/5! The two clay pot bowls we got, the food runner mixed one of them for us so the fish wouldn't be compromised and the squeeze bottles of sauces was a nice touch. Sushi rolls were so fresh and I could've eaten more, you get some of the crispy rice that settled on the bottle of the bowl YUM! Everything had great flavors, textures and I can't wait to come back!

Chenda N.

Yelp

Esthetically, the restaurant is beautiful! I can't say the same for the food. It's as if they put all the effort into the presentation to make up for the lackluster food. Beautiful bar, entrance and dining area. The duck confit ried rice tasted like it was previously frozen then thawed out-rice was hard (basmati grain) and had no flavor what so ever. The turf sets (seafood and poultry) had no distinct flavor and was all basted in teriyaki sauce. Drinks were not great, nothing screamed signature, craft, or authentic. Not sure how the food is Morimoto approved I'd prefer going to a teriyaki joint at the local Plaza and pay $11.99 vs $100+ for what we got. Shameful and disappointing.

Faith S.

Yelp

THE BEST JAPANESE FINE DINING EXPERIENCE! With meticulous attention to detail in the dishes, decor, and dining rooms, Morimoto Napa is serving an immersive experience! Located on the riverfront in downtown Napa. Indoor dining & riverfront patio seating both yield gorgeous views all around. The architecture pays homage to traditional Japanese natural elements. The dishes are a work of art, each elaborately plated to highlight the color, texture, & flavor of the fresh high-quality ingredients. Sushi, Steak, Sake, and SUPERB service! WE LOVE THAT MORIMOTO NAPA HAS IT ALL! It might take you a few trips to eat the whole menu, but you can do it! My favorite appetizers: Toro Tartare , Wagyu Beef Carpaccio , & Crab & Cheese Croquette's Entrees: Braised Black Cod and Surf & Turf Sushi: uni nigiri & the chef's beautiful sushi / sashimi combination Steak: Ribeye & Japanese A5 Miyazaki Wagyu Sides: Duck Confit Fried Rice Dessert: Dark Chocolate Sphere -HIGHLY RECOMMEND, very tasty and very cool! They flambé the sphere table-side allowing the chocolate to melt over the ice cream! A great finisher after a phenomenal experience! I appreciate the staffs knowledge and pride in their craft & service! Thank you Morimoto Napa for always taking care of us!

Gio W.

Yelp

Fantastic sushi! My party also loves starting with the tuna tacos, duck fried rice and sticky ribs. Definitely worth the stop anytime you're in Napa and craving delicious Japanese cuisine.

Imelda R.

Yelp

Excellent food preparation and presentation. It's a new menu so that always nice to try wonderful additions. Sukiyaki ( hot appetizer ) came with Waugh beef. That alone is a treat by itself. Unagi bowl was enjoyable; with some added sushi wrappers you can easily it it like its own roll. Dessert was fun with the mango sorbet, rice pudding layers and hint of crackle as you eat through it. Adrian was an excellent and always very good at explaining the food as it came out. Staff was always on it as they brought the meals to the table. The restaurant is lively and even though busy the staff are very efficient and all seem to work real well with each other.

Tina R.

Yelp

My friend and I came here today for their restaurant week lunch special. $60 for a 4-course meal. It includes salad, miso soup, pork gyozas, 3 pc tuna sushi, and 2 pc Nigeri (1 Hamachi and 1 salmon), a choice of entree with rice bowl (in my case gyudon), and sorbet for dNigeria. We also ordered their tuna tacos! Those were the highlight of my meal. The sushi was my 2nd favorite. They flavored the rice very well and added a touch of the wasabi on the nigiri. Everything was of high quality and expected of a very fancy restaurant. Great service and food!

Jay Y.

Yelp

You go for the presentation not for the food Basically summed up Morimoto Napa. The food itself looked nice, and the inside was nice, but the taste was a miss. Duck confit rice - rice was hard and according to the waitress its supposed to be like that. Not great Halibut - I was asked at the table how my entree was, and my response was: it's a halibut. It was cooked well but aside from a bit of sauce on the top was just a fish, nothing amazing. Unagi bowl - very cool concept with the DIY handrolls and little sauce bottles but tasted like the unagi you could buy at the supermarket + some rice and drenched in sauce. Cool presentation though Hamachi tacos - they were alright, nothing to write home about Sticky ribs - probably the best thing we ordered, fall off the bone tender and reminded me of BBQ ribs

Kailyn W.

Yelp

I stopped by Morimoto when I was in Napa to get a drink and an appetizer. Once I heard a little about this restaurant, I was very excited to visit Chef Morimoto's restaurant. Upon walking in, the interior had upscale, trendy and modern vibes to it. I decided to sit at the bar and the service was attentive and very helpful. I was stuck between two drinks, so the server said he would make me the drink I was leaning more towards and, if I didn't like it, he would make me the other one :) I ordered the hamachi tartare for an appetizer, which came with little sauces on the side and caviar atop the hamachi. The presentation of the dish was very pretty and it tasted pretty good as well. Can't wait to come back with my partner one day for dinner!

Jesse V.

Yelp

Morimoto Napa is an upscaled and popular Japanese restaurant that creates cuisines and drinks of the highest quality. They are located in a high traffic area so it is difficult to find street parking, but there is a parking garage 1.5 blocks away. The stunning traditional and modern Japanese decor embodies the whole restaurant. Morimoto is a very popular spot, especially in the evenings, so reservations are recommended. The hosts and servers were very nice, but the annoying part was waiting 20 mins to get seated even though I had reservations. Servers were so busy that it took a 30+ mins for my food and drinks to come out. But thats the price you pay, for going to a very popular restaurant. In terms of food, the duck confit fried rice was very rich and flavorful 9/10, the duck fat French fries was good and cooked to perfection, but didn't taste special 8/10, the angry chicken was nice and flavorful but a lil overcooked on the white meat of the chicken 8/10, the spicy tuna roll and tempera roll came with 6 pieces and was good, but nothing special compared to other sushi places. 7/10 My favorite part was tasting the higher grade of sushi (uni and chu-toro) which came as 1 piece of sushi each, but the flavors were so delicious and great 10/10. Lastly, I got the dark chocolate sphere which was aesthetically pleasing and delicious 10/10, and sorbet trio was refreshing and good 9/10. I highly recommend you checking this place out.

Ivory M.

Yelp

Having lived in Tokyo, finding good Japanese food in America can be a challenge, BUT thank God for Morimoto! I've been a fan since iron chef and I'm thrilled that my first time visiting far exceeded my expectations. Everything was fresh, cooked well & delicious! We had the gyozas, ribs, shishitos, katsudon, burger + desserts. While I wouldn't personally order a burger at a Japanese restaurant, my friends burger was pretty average. The gyozas could've been cooked a tad longer. The ribs were tender & juicy and reheat well. The shishitos had great seasoning. But the star of the show was the katsudon! Delicious, great cook on the pork so that the breading is still crisp while sitting on rice with sauce & the depth of flavor was unbelievable! The dessert was also really great. I'm not huge on sweets so the gelato was the perfect finish.

James H.

Yelp

Iron Chef Morimoto restaurant in Napa is one of the best places in Napa for sushi and sashimi. The ambience is comfortable and when the weather is nice, the outside dining is great with a nice view of the river. We've been here several times and every time we've had excellent service the staff, know exactly what kind of wine to recommend. The sticker ribs is always recommended. Some of our favorite dishes include the Duck meatballs #ramen, chasu bop, chefs #sushi combo and oh-toro and Chi-toro which should be called OMG #Toro! For desert, chilled #cheesecake soufflé and fiery salty caramel chocolate tart with chocolate sorbet, vanilla whipped cream, bacardi rum served on fire! The desserts are fantastic but you need to save room for it. I would say the Ramen is great probably not the best in the area, but the broth is fantastic. Totally worth it!

Alexander G.

Yelp

Very nice decor, pleasant service. That's about all that is above ***. The rest is average or below. Very limited menu, prices are unreasonably high for the taste of food as it was - food is very average, nothing really bad, but absolutely nothing special. Chicken was flavorless, and basmati rice was hard. WIne/drink list is again average, nothing really original, and the current price point one would expect something better than average. Disappointing.

Corey S.

Yelp

We have been to Morimoto many times and is always delicious. The staff across the board is the best and the food is delicious. Location on the river is great as well as the inside of the restaurant. It is a bit on the pricey side but fresh and well prepared

Robert K.

Yelp

Morimoto Napa offers a delightful fusion of traditional Japanese flavors with contemporary twists. The Hamachi Tacos are a must-try, blending fresh yellowtail with zesty accompaniments. The ambiance is modern and inviting, making it suitable for both special occasions and casual dining. While the prices are on the higher side, the quality of the dishes and the overall experience justify the expense.

Sophia N.

Yelp

The Iron Chef has let me down. I was originally really excited to order the omikase set menu for my husband's birthday. I really wanted to like it, but the duck and wagyu were overcooked. It was a crying shame. The beef tartare was good, but I couldn't even tell how the quality of seafood was in some cases because it was drowning in sauces. The service was nice, but wasn't as attentive as one would hope for such an expensive menu. We didn't get a very thorough explanation for our sake flight either. Although everything was beautifully plated, I am sad to say that it was just that: beautifully plated mediocre food.

Karen C.

Yelp

I really wanted to like Morimoto Napa as I enjoyed eating at their Wailea, Maui location but I was a bit disappointed. I sat at the bar since I was by myself. The bartender that was there when I arrived was very busy and was not very attentive to me. I did finally order and he was not really helpful in helping me decide what to order. I did have a nice local Sauvignon Blanc to drink. I started with the rock shrimp tempura: spicy gochujang sauce, wasabi aioli. This was very good and filling. A very large portion that would be good for sharing. I was so full from this, I barely at any of my entree. For my entree, I had the tonkatsu: panko crusted pork loin, cabbage, katsu sauce. This was the disappointing part. The pork was boring and really had no strong flavor. Also it was big and thick and very hard to eat with chopsticks. Since the pieces were big, it was hard to dip them in the sauce with the chopsticks. My appetizer plates were never taken away after my entree arrived until a 2nd bartender showed up and was more attentive to me. The bar helped did get me a to-go box. But no one asked if I wanted dessert or another glass of wine. Just not the best experience at what is supposed to be a great restaurant.

Tracy B.

Yelp

Excellent food, service and location!! Went here for lunch during a trip to the area. I met a friend who loves this place but it was my first time. Definitely one of the best meals I've ever had in my life!! It's pricey but incredible. Hamachi taco app is delicious as well as hot app eel aburi with rice. All sushi was the freshest I've ever had.

Hani G.

Yelp

A big restaurant with an outdoor patio. We booked our table ahead. Our waitress was super nice and helpful. We tried the omakase. The tartare dishes were absolutely delicious. The Entree dish was kind of disappointing.

Christina B.

Yelp

We came here for a birthday dinner, and it was a wonderful experience! This was located downtown with a charming view of the Napa river. This is a very large restaurant with stunning ambiance and sleek modern decors. Our waiter was wonderful and attentive, helping us through the large menu. For appetizers, we ordered some steak slices in a sweet vinaigrette, quite delicious! We also ordered a large platter of nigiri and the duck fat fries. The nigiris were just okay, a little bit more on the fishy side. I've had tried them at their other locations and this one doesn't seem as fresh. Dessert was a must, of course the flaming chocolate ball was on our list. The dessert was simply a very fun experience that helped close our night!

Teresa B.

Yelp

We loved our first visit to Morimoto Napa! -Tofu miso soup: It's a generous portion that's enough to share. It's delicious and the creamy tofu at the bottom reminds me of the Filipino dessert, taho. -You MUST order the toro tartare. It's a raw tuna cake topped with little crispies and caviar. It comes with wasabi, sour cream and nori paste for sauce and a tiny piece of fruit that tastes like the pink Starburst as a palate cleanser. Honestly, this appetizer alone makes it worth a trip. -I tried the premium sake flight, which was tasty and enough to share. My favorite was the milky snow maiden. -My husband got the turf set, which comes with seven pieces of different meat and two pieces of corn on the cob. Very delicious. -I got the soft shell crab sushi roll, spicy yellowtail sushi roll and the tobiko nigiri. I liked them all, but the yellowtail was my favorite. Tip: Sit at the sushi counter if you can. It's fun to see the chefs at work.

Jared D.

Yelp

Amazing experience here. Beautiful inside with high ceilings and a vibrant energy. Service was prompt and helpful. More classy inside. The outside (where we sat), was beautiful and along the water. The food was all amazing. I started with the clam/muscle miso soup that was amazing. Clams and muscles were plump and juicy, the broth had a great seafood flavor. Our main courses were well done, but I think the best was the Kobe sashimi and clam/muscle miso soup. That being said the main course of ginger scallion halibut and Kobe was great. The Uni nigiri was fresh. The tuna handroll was good but I think overshadowed by the other items ordered. We ended the night with oat milk sherbet with syrup drizzle given for our anniversary. Can't wait to come back whenever I come to Napa.

Matt T.

Yelp

Childhood Hero Destroyed Chef Masaharu Morimoto was my childhood hero. When my family first got Food Network on local cable, Iron Chef was one of the first shows I got to watch and inspired my love for cooking today. Tonight however fell so far short that I'm almost less mad at Bobby Flay for standing on his cutting board. (Almost). My wife and I both got the Omakase meaning to "entrust" (makaseru). What they did well: Ōtoro was phenomenal. Better than local Ōtoro but not as good as it is in Japan. Wagyu tartare excellent quality, texture and taste. What didn't go well: A5 Wagyu cooked to well done. Japan would sentence you for death for doing this. Fish steamed in sake until it was so firm I couldn't break it by pressing it with my hashi. Overall for over $300 I should've just ordered ridiculous amounts of Ōtoro. Deeply saddened that Iron Chef Japan's name is no longer what it once meant to me.

Gazelle G.

Yelp

First time here and ordered surf and turn! Really good. My bf loves his salmon. The dessert was pretty but very sweets. And we were going to take a video because it look so cool but the guy perform it so quick. We missed it when he just about to light a fire to the chocolate lol oh well. Overall, service was great. Ambience is good.

Jade J.

Yelp

This is a big restaurant, so it does get really busy and loud but it has a nice, modern ambiance so it's great to come for many different occasions. I think we would give this restaurant a better rating if the service wasn't as bad because honestly, the food was pretty good. In general, my boyfriend and I really had a hard time getting a hold of and/or even locating our server lol. On top of this, the order in which our food and drinks came out was so odd as we got a couple of plates before our cocktails and then there were just awkward pauses in between dishes. Nonetheless, every dish we got was very tasty and the sushi quality was solid. Personal Recs: * Dry Aged Salmon! We had never heard of this type of cooking style for salmon before and it was so worth trying because the fish literally melted in our mouths. * Chef's Combo ($55) - we ordered the smallest chef's combo option to share and I think any of the chef's combo is totally worth ordering if you want to try an array of sushi and rolls. Our other plates included: Negitoro Maki, Tuna Tacos, Cauliflower Trio, and Duck Confit Fried Rice Bonus - as it was my birthday dinner, they gave a cute little maple sorbet dessert on the house.

Maria S.

Yelp

I haven't been to Morimoto Napa for years, maybe over a decade. So imagine my surprise when I see the Iron Chef himself walking around the dining room. He was in town to revamp the menu and I was lucky enough to be there for its premiere. I will admit, it was taking a long time for dishes to come to the table that night, but knowing that they had so many new items I was fine with the wait. It was so busy and loud in the dining room that we did have to almost yell across the table so I appreciated seeing the place start to clear out and get a little quieter. We enjoyed the aburi 4 nigiri which was torched table side. The tonkatsu reminded me of one I had in Honolulu which was amazing. I loved how they grinded the sesame seeds for the tonkatsu sauce for us as well. We were already full after having that and their braised black cod, and almost cancelled the unagi clay pot rice when our server asked if we were ready for it, but he convinced us that we would regret it if we didn't try it because of how amazing it is, and he was right. They served the clay pot rice two ways, and it was absolutely perfect. The ochasake was the best part as I love the addition of tea to the rice. So much umami in one bite. I'm so glad we had the opportunity to try the new menu with Morimoto present. I hope to try some of his other dishes next time we visit Napa.

Tanya M.

Yelp

Came here for Mother's Day with my daughter is also a mom. It was our first time here and we all enjoyed the experience and food. The server we had she was so awesome and had good recommendations along with tending to our table. Seating area was so beautiful and open. We were close to the outdoor patio so it was nice being able to look out. This is what we had ordered Drink: Casual encounter (so yummy that I had to have 2 glasses) Appetizers: duck confit fried rice Waygu gyoza and rock shrimp tempura Entrees Surf & Turf, Braised cod with a side of brussel sprouts, chef choice rolls shrimp tempura roll and duck fat fries. We all shared our food family style and we all liked everything that came to the table. I am so glad to have gotten the opportunity to try this place out and look forward to coming in the future to try out more of the menu and drinks.

Jennifer C.

Yelp

Overall, I'd say our experience was slightly disappointing. Ambiance was okay - it was definitely louder in the place than expected and it was hard to have conversations with the person sitting across the table from me, but servers were attentive. Food wise I was also a bit disappointed but this might be because I had high expectations going in. I had morimoto's sticky ribs at Disney Spring in Orlando and it was LIFE. CHANGING. As in...I dreamed about having them again for years. The ribs here were more sour and less fried so biting into the rib was less satisfying. If I'd never had the Orlando ones I might have loved these but because we were comparing them to what we had before it just didn't hit the mark. Seafood tobanyaki and braised black cod were both solid options with great flavor that I'd feel comfortable recommending. Ishiyaki buri bop came strongly recommended by our waiter but I think they put too much of the sauce when they cooked it table side and it was salty and unbalanced. Overall, it was fine but not worth a trip back for me.

Hai L.

Yelp

Came here on a weekday evening. The restaurant was not too packed, although there is a lot of dining space. The food was good, but the service here was ridiculously slow. It took over 15 minutes just to be acknowledged by a server. ***updated review 2/24/24 Visited here with my guest on a Saturday evening and had a reservation made. Came about 10 minutes early and had a table ready before our 6PM reservation time. The restaurant was pretty busy during our arrival and throughout the rest of the evening. For a busy evening, the staff were pretty attentive and were constantly assisting customers. Got to try some different options compared to my last visit including their sticky ribs, duck confit fried rice, chashu pork ramen, and whitefish carpaccio. Everything here was delicious although the broth in the ramen was a little too salty. Overall, I would come back again because I still want to try their sushi next time.

Desiree F.

Yelp

This is one of my favorite restaurants - I am a regular. They have such fresh sushi and never fail to meet expectations with their sushi. I also enjoy their cold appetizers as they tend to be so flavorful. I like the service as well by my favorite server Amir who makes you feel like you're family there. I gave one star off for the dessert. We were sold on the mango gelato, rice pudding excited for the pop rocks in it. Instead it was very heavy on the rice, hardly any mango flavor and no pop rocks. Yes no pop rocks in it. The reason why we ordered it. I can confidently say I will never get dessert there again after having such a non tasty experience with their dessert. But again their sushi is very good.

Mika C.

Yelp

WOW WHAT AN EXPERIENCE! Everything was absolutely delicious and I felt that the dishes were unique and intricately crafted. The Rock Shrimp Tempura and Toro Tartare were great appetizers. For nigiri, the sake/salmon and uni/sea urchin were beyond amazing!!!! Melted in my mouth. The salmon really had me tearing up in the club. Service was phenomenal. For a Saturday night, it was pretty busy but was still intimate enough to have quality experience.

Anthony C.

Yelp

I was really looking forward to coming to this restaurant, with all the four star reviews... getting straight to the point, the food was just, at best, average. The ribeye steak I ordered for $95, was surprisingly tough and not worth the money. I could've gotten a better cut of steak from Raley's ... the multicourse meal my table mates ordered was a disaster. The food came out late and somewhat disorganized. The chicken course was filled with fat and soggy rice. The dish had to be returned to the kitchen because it was inedible. The manager was very accommodating and offered to replace the dishes. My table mates accepted the replacement food, but wanted it for "take out". Needless to say, this was a very disappointing experience, given the high expectations we had for this highly rated restaurant. I take no delight in saying, this restaurant is, overpriced and overrated...

John T.

Yelp

3.5 stars for me. Food is pricey for what you get. Service was excellent. Location is cool downtown Napa on the river. Outdoor seating available. Will give them another try.

Elisa G.

Yelp

We enjoyed our waiter who was very nice but the food is extremely disappointing and more like a strip mall sushi place. Hot oil sashimi was OK. Nothing to write home about I would not recommend. The Hokkaido scallops tasted like bay scallops. Definitely the most disappointing experience of our Napa trip :(

Delilah L.

Yelp

Appropriate price for the size of the gyudon and the brussel sprouts. Taste just mediocre. Our waitress was so sweet, but almost never around. I enjoy the indoor ambiance better than outside. The gyudon $38. Coke $6.5. That's very pricy for a small non refilable soda bottle.

Michelle F.

Yelp

I really enjoyed my meal here. I loved the strip loin. It was definitely a different flavor steak but oh so good. I also ordered the garlic mushrooms as a side. Very, very fresh and delicious, but you definitely have to love garlic AND mushrooms. Both offer intense flavor. They had a nice wine menu but I was not drinking that day. I had eaten sushi here a different day and it was very fresh. But I did not find the sushi very creative The dessert was probably the best I have had anywhere. I mean, really amazing. Not overly sweet. They did a little show with the outer chocolate. The chocolate is very high quality. This restaurant is a must do in Napa whether you are an Asian food fan or not. It is just a memorable experience and there are many other choices. I love Asian food and steak and pretty much everything else on their menu.

Cassandra C.

Yelp

Beautiful restaurant! We made a reservation for a party of 2 and were seated outside. It was a cool April day but sunny. Gorgeous views! Service was great and sushi was fresh and delicious. Would recommend.

Kassandra P.

Yelp

We have heard so many things about this place and we're excited to try it. It definitely did not live up to the hype. I felt like it was overrated. We had reservations for 7:00pm on a Friday so of course it was busy but the place was big enough to allow you to feel comfortable. It was a little noisy but hey what can you expect on a Friday night in downtown Napa. The vibes were good, the staff was awesome, especially our server (can't remember her name) but the food was just decent. The sushi was way overpriced and did not taste special. Everything else was decent but I'd rather pay high prices elsewhere for more flavorful food.

Vicky S.

Yelp

So we went in without reservations but the place was empty so no big deal. The waitress who took our order was very very good. She gets 5 stars. The food however was a MAJOR letdown. The sushi was so big that one cdnt' hold with the chopsticks. The steak, the fish were very below average. Food gets a 2 star. The lady cleaning the table was not the best. Took half the dirty dishes and wd leave half behind. Not the best service. 1 star. For this kinda meal the price is WAY OVERPRICED. Not gonna go there again. The only thing that was worth discussing was their dessert. The chocolate dessert was very very good and good presentation. Loved that!!! What was worst was that the after effects of the food wasn't the best. Very uncomfortable night. If I had that kinda feeling after eating out of a food truck that's different but in a fancy restaurant with such high prices, unacceptable.

Mark F.

Yelp

My family and I had an amazing time and dinner here. The food is sublime, the ambience is lively and fun. We tried two sake flights so we could taste 8 different sakes then landed on a consensus bottle to buy. The sticky ribs are to die for. Top 10 meals ever. We will definitely be going back.

Kalila W.

Yelp

Had a very good dining experience here, from service to food. I was relieved because I'm a fan of chef Morimoto from the original Iron Chef days - sometimes the celeb chef places arent worth the hype. This one was worth its weight. Our waiter was very engaging, entertaining. I really appreciate when service goes above the basics and he really did without being 'too much'. I never had shrimp tempura with wasabi sauce and now I'm a huge fan. The ishiyaki A5 miyazaki wagyu was really good- the best wagyu steak i have had because it wasn't TOO fatty. This was a cook-it-yourself deal which i always find fun. My friends enjoyed the short rib and oxtail as main plates and were very happy with the dishes. I wouldnt hesitate to recommend Morimoto as a must stop Asian restaurant in the area.

Teri J.

Yelp

Definitely was a bucket list place to visit and I'm quite disappointed with the experience. Firstly, the ambiance is inviting and reels you in for sure. The service, mainly regarding Jonathan and serving wine, was outstanding. He was probably the best part of our experience. Now to the food, which I had a high expectation of, but unfortunately was subpar, at best. The sushi options were very basic and didn't have any depth of flavor and honestly felt like our local sushi spot was much better. There was also zero specialty rolls of any sort. The "duck fat" fries tasted like regular fries with some salt; nothing special or memorable. The edamame was what you expect from a frozen pack, heated in the microwave with salt; like the fries, meh and unremarkable in any way. For this being an iron chef owned restaurant, I expected a lot more in regard to options, flavor, and overall experience. We apologized to the others that accompanied us for dinner because we had hyped this place up so much and couldn't accept the price we paid for the mediocre food we were served. If this is on your must visit list, rethink it.

April S.

Yelp

First impressions was very nice with interior Food plating wasn't different than any other sushi place Food was too expensive compare to price they charge. I didn't understand why this restaurant was Michelin star guide restaurant

Victor W.

Yelp

Rock shrimp tempura (4/5) - excellent texture. They could do sauce on side so it wasn't soggy Aburi sushi (4/5) - tasty with the blow torch finish Kushiyaki (3/5) - interesting but wouldn't get it again Bbq oysters (2/5) too much breading relative to oyster Ishiyaki buri bop (4.5/5) - very tasty and excellent presentation Morimoto delivered overall here with some unique dishes in a beautiful ambiance Tonkatsu (4/5) - juicy and thick cut with perfect crunch

Michelle M.

Yelp

Finally can check this one off the list! We visited end of March 2024 for my friend's birthday lunch, adults only (leave the kids at home! But I will say we did see a few kids dining here with their families). It was a rainy cold Saturday and it was eerily kind of slow for a weekend in Napa. Parking is easy, either in the garage across the street or street parking. Decor and ambiance inside is definitely upscale. Our server was incredibly friendly and welcoming. The only thing I wish he did was recommend more hot dishes for our party of 6. We ordered 2 hot appetizers: sticky ribs and the oysters, both which were sooo good! And for our main course we ordered 2 large sushi platters. The quality of the fish was good but honestly I have felt like I've had better sushi elsewhere. The nigiris were heavy on rice too, so we were stuffed as we chipped away at the platters. They say a good sushi spot is actually distinguished by the quality of its sushi rice, and perhaps this is what made it not as special? We had the audacity to order dessert, which was artistically presented. But with all the nearby pastry spots (ahem! Bouchon!), I think next time I would skip dessert and just opt for that instead. I had the white lily cocktail which was sweet and refreshing, but it's hard for me to justify almost $20 a cocktail nowadays. Overall, a good meal it was but I wished we tried more hot dishes.

Ana V.

Yelp

Excellent service, wonderful ambiance, and delicious, trusted dishes from Masahara Morimoto. We came in on Thursday night and decided to make it special. I recommend the hot oil beef carpaccio - delicious. My iced coffee and the sushi we ordered really hit the spot. If you're feeling special, go here and enjoy a wonderful time.

Luis C.

Yelp

Fiancée and I came in for our 5 year anniversary tonight as this place caught our eye through the pictures and reviews we saw here on yelp. We entered and immediately the restaurant looked spectacular. Seems like it's one of the bigger and nicer restaurants in DT Napa. We started with the sticky ribs (the best part of our dinner) and then proceeded with sushi rolls of our own (great sushi but no more than 5 pcs per roll) and the buri bop entree which consisted of yellowtail tuna with rice, egg yolk and a nice soy/herb sauce poured over. They cook the tuna table side, searing it on one side while leaving the other side raw which leaves you with two textures in one bite (definitely recommend). Only complaint I had was that I had mentioned our anniversary on the phone when I made the reservation and our server never acknowledged or said anything. Made it feel like a regular dinner night. We also never got our servers name which enhances the experience when they introduce themselves. I wouldn't knock a whole star off for this as stuff like this happens and it was a really busy night but it def made our night feel not as special. Other wise service by all staff collectively was fantastic and ambiance was great. Food was absolutely incredible. The menu offers many other items such as steaks/ salads/ and countless sushi/sashimi choices.

@infatuation

J.C. Lochan

Google

Praneet Raj

Google

Rebecca C

Google

narae kim

Google

Morgan Powell

Google

Guomin Wu

Google

Fair reviews Based on my Experiences

Google

Jennifer H.

Yelp

Hyesoo C.

Yelp

Lynna D.

Yelp

Nina C.

Yelp

Chenda N.

Yelp

Faith S.

Yelp

Gio W.

Yelp

Fantastic sushi! My party also loves starting with the tuna tacos, duck fried rice and sticky ribs. Definitely worth the stop anytime you're in Napa and craving delicious Japanese cuisine.

Imelda R.

Yelp

Tina R.

Yelp

Jay Y.

Yelp

Kailyn W.

Yelp

Jesse V.

Yelp

Ivory M.

Yelp

James H.

Yelp

Alexander G.

Yelp

Corey S.

Yelp

Robert K.

Yelp

Sophia N.

Yelp

Karen C.

Yelp

Tracy B.

Yelp

Hani G.

Yelp

Christina B.

Yelp

Teresa B.

Yelp

Jared D.

Yelp

Matt T.

Yelp

Gazelle G.

Yelp

Jade J.

Yelp

Maria S.

Yelp

Tanya M.

Yelp

Jennifer C.

Yelp

Hai L.

Yelp

Desiree F.

Yelp

Mika C.

Yelp

Anthony C.

Yelp

John T.

Yelp

3.5 stars for me. Food is pricey for what you get. Service was excellent. Location is cool downtown Napa on the river. Outdoor seating available. Will give them another try.

Elisa G.

Yelp

Delilah L.

Yelp

Michelle F.

Yelp

Cassandra C.

Yelp

Kassandra P.

Yelp

Vicky S.

Yelp

Mark F.

Yelp

Kalila W.

Yelp

Teri J.

Yelp

April S.

Yelp

Victor W.

Yelp

Michelle M.

Yelp

Ana V.

Yelp

Luis C.

Yelp

Morimoto Napa

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Morimoto Review - Downtown - Napa - The Infatuation

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The 18 Best Restaurants In Napa 2024

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