Noka

From the moment we stepped into Noka, we knew we were in for something special. The atmosphere alone was electric — a perfect balance of modern luxury and cozy intimacy. The lighting, music, and decor created an elevated vibe that instantly set the tone for a memorable night out. The food? Simply top-notch. Every bite we had was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully plated. From the signature rolls to the appetizers and hot dishes, you could tell there was real care and creativity behind the menu. The fish was buttery and fresh, the rice perfectly seasoned, and the flavor combinations on point without being overcomplicated. And let’s talk drinks — next level. The cocktails weren’t just well-made; they were an experience on their own. Crafted with precision and flair, they complemented the dishes perfectly and added that extra spark to the night. My wife and I were genuinely impressed from start to finish. Noka isn’t just a sushi spot — it’s a full sensory experience. The kind of place that makes you feel like you discovered something major and can’t wait to come back. We’ll definitely be returning soon. If you’re in KC and looking for an unforgettable night out, Noka is it.

We shared California Crunch and Shrimp Tempura and they were served promptly and fresh. We finished with their version of Crème brûlée - excellent. Avery was our server and she was pleasant and very helpful, and the GM Jacob was spot on, ensuring all patrons were enjoying the experience. We'll definitely be back next time we're down from DSM.

Wow! What a wonderful experience. The atmosphere alone is incredible. Truly. Service was very good. Not excellent but very good. Our waitress was present and attentive but not demanding. Food: lettuce wraps were flavor and texture. Rice cakes so good California crunch roll: really really delicious but typical. I highly recommend yamaimo roll. It was so worth the visit alone. It was my favorite. But all of those were SO good. We will be back soon.

Incredible and unique food. Ambiance like nothing else in KC. SUCH a cool place! Great for an intimate dinner or fancy celebration with friends. Definitely upscale. The owner/chef came over to chat with us and was so nice.

Maybe KC's first Michelin star? Probably too soon to say, but this is a dining experience like nothing else local. Every single item was perfection, and purposeful, and delicious. Beautiful atmosphere, and excellent service too. The owner makes a point to visit every table and he seems like a really great guy (and certainly a stellar chef and restauranteur). My favorite thing was probably the chicken wings. Nothing pedestrian about them. I also loved the yuzu sake.

Food was amazing, service could have been better - we had to ask to order our entrees and for our check after waiting for awhile. I would come back though cuz the food is that good! Dirty martini, wagyu nigiri, rice cakes, and filet were divine. Frites were good too.

Everything tastes amazing!!!!!!!!. But all the rolls fell apart when I picked them up. (I'm Asian and pro at chopsticks) need to roll them better. The calamari isn't crispy at all but it taste amazing so still good. But besides that, 10/10. Will definitely come back soon! Still going to give this 10/10 🩷

JUST WOW. My husband and I walked in thinking we were going to a different restaurant (hahaha) and we stayed for obvious reasons. The restaurant is gorgeous, moody perfection. The lighting and decor is on another level. We tried a tiny bit of everything... the Nightmarket Chicken Wings were some of the best wings I have ever had. The CRUNCH is everything. Meat, fish, veggies... everything cooked so well. I enjoyed the experience of the Japanese Whisky Flight and the dirty martini (with wasabi blue cheese stuffed olives!) was delicious.

Noka is definitely becoming a staple for my boyfriend and I when it comes to date night! The service, the food, and the atmosphere are always amazing whenever we visit. As customers, we truly appreciate the consistent great hospitality, the high-quality/well-prepared meals with beautiful presentation every time, and the clean and welcoming atmosphere. Noka truly is such an experience for us! For date night we ordered multiple items such as: Truffle Tuna, Crab Apple Roll, California Apple roll, Dry Aged Salmon, Night Market Chicken Wings, and Matcha Crème Brûlée! Truffle Tuna: This roll features togarashi spiced tuna, chinese black truffle, flying fish roe. The spiced tuna gave off a nice smoked flavor that added a nice pairing with the flying fish roe on top! Crab Apple roll: This roll features soft shell crab, green apple, cilantro, vietnamese nuoc châm. The crab was fresh and the sauce paired with it was sweet and spicy! California Crunch: This roll features a flavorful chipotle crab mix paired with avocado and cucumber. This time, we chose to skip the quinoa crunch, as we found it a bit overpowering on our previous visit. We enjoyed the roll even more without it, allowing the other ingredients to shine. Dry Aged Salmon: Served simply as a delicate but nicely sized slice of salmon over rice finished with a burst of bright flavor from the lemon top. It was fresh and simply just melted in your mouth! Night Market Chicken Wings: This was easily one of our favorites of the evening! We did get the wings to go due to how stuffed we were but they were outstanding featuring a uniquely light yet fluffy breading infused with bold flavors! They were perfectly balanced with sweet and spicy notes complemented with a hint of spice! Matcha Crème Brûlée: Was The rich, green tea custard was topped with house-spun sugar, torched tableside added just an elegant touch. The custard took us by surprise and was so exceptional, that we ordered a second one! If Noka made matcha, I imagine it would taste just like this crème brûlée and would undoubtedly be a top seller. Thank you Noka for yet another amazing experience!

The food was not great. And um, customer service was terrible. And when I googled this restaurant, I did not expect the high fanciness of the restaurant.

I'm a Travel Nurse from Louisiana. Noka is my first restaurant to visit while on assignment. The vibe of this restaurant was beautiful! Loved the decor and the atmosphere! Wishing the bathroom had more lighting because I would've spent half my time taking gorgeous selfies! The service was great as well all the staff were hospitable and the food was bought out in a timely fashion. Started off with the UBE cocktail, which was basically a margarita nice and refreshing. Now let's get to the food! I'm a Louisiana girl so when I saw the alligator roll on the menu I just had to order! My only critique would be for them to use less hot sauce it really overpowered the roll and made the alligator hard to taste so I was let down a bit. The shrimp tempura was good but that's hard to really mess up anyway. The calamari was delicious! The Wagyu burger was perfect and juicy! I was open to trying the night market wings though the sweetness with the brown sugar was off putting didn't really like that at all lol. Lastly the cheesecake we ordered had the cutest little topping of cotton candy! I give this place a solid 4/5 stars Perfect for a girls night to eat & yap, very intimate for a date night with your partner!

Wonderful food and exceptional service. Our table had both gnocchi, dishes, as well as salads and the meat and cheese platter for an appetizer. Nice location to take family and friends or even I'm out of town Guest.

Some hits and misses at my first time at Noka. Overall the interior and aesthetic is 10/10. It's a cozy modern vibe without being too cold. Service was pretty lackluster. We were served waters then we sat for about 10 minutes with no server coming over. Finally the owner/head chef came over and introduced himself. Great guy - walked us through the menu and his favorites. I appreciate his foresight to check on guests and notice when people aren't being serviced. Based on some of his recommendations and what sounded good to us we went with the scallop nigiri, shrimp toast, ribeye, miso black cod, Brussel sprouts, and the crab Campanelle. The scallop nigiri exceeded my expectations as I don't usually like scallop... However, they did torch it a little too much. It was also torched on the rice, which I thought was unnecessary. Next we got the shrimp toast. I've had this at other restaurants before and it was delicious... This one just tasted of straight up oil. It was disappointing. I think they need to work on this one a little bit. Then we got the brussels sprouts. These have potential but they definitely needed salt... The flavor was kind of one note and but I will say they were charred to perfection. So at this point, we were kind of feeling like most of these things were misses.... Until we got to the entrées, the ribeye and the miso black cod were outstanding... It also came out with the crab dish, which was basically like mac & cheese. But the best kind you've ever had. It was almost giving Kraft but Michelin star lol. Overall it balanced out middle of the road for us because it was pretty pricey for everything. However I would definitely come back for the entrees cause those shined.

Very cute hidden gem, Its Japanese inspired, all the liquor is from Japan. Which made it more interesting for me. The drinks were amazing! Warring they do switch up the menu so if someone recommends something from here act fast! I came here for the salmon and it was no longer available. Bummer I know :( However the cod,wings and fried rice made up for it all! Highly recommend coming here . The staff was top tier with their hospitality, from the moment I walked in.

I finally made it to NOKA, and I'm wondering why I waited so long! This place is truly next level. NOKA serves contemporary Japanese cuisine, offering an amazing ambiance that immerses you in the experience from the moment you walk in. Whether you're enjoying an intimate evening near the bar or sitting at the chef's counter for a front-row view of the live fire kitchen, there's something for everyone here. The food? Absolutely phenomenal. The drinks? Perfectly crafted. The attention to detail and the exceptional service? Unmatched. If you're in Kansas City, do yourself a favor and check out this fine dining gem. It's the perfect date spot and has officially earned a spot on my list of favorites! My absolute favorite dish was the scallops that is a MUST!!!

Yelpers were on point again. This spot in Midtown is all the things : swanky, urban, cool, sexy and delicious. Popped in with a friend on a Friday during happy hour. Great bar specials. Gf and vegetarian options. Will definitely be back. I want to try everything on the menu. Tip: reservations are must. Noka has reverse happy hour.

Incredibly cool ambiance and decor. Even the bathrooms were uniquely decorated. Good service and delicious food, I only give it a 4/5 because we felt that we were pushed to over order the amount of food we needed. It was suggested by 2 servers to order one item from every category which would have been 7+ plates, each costing $13-$30. The food and drinks we did order were well crafted and tasty. We split all dishes and really enjoyed the shitake dumplings and scallops & noodles entree.

Everything about this restaurant blew us away. The sleek and modern interior made me feel like I was at a retreat. The food was creative and beautifully plated, and the cocktails were well-crafted and spirit-forward. We sat at the bar and got to meet Seth, the most incredible bartender we've encountered. He was knowledgeable, personable, and fully engaged. The Sakura and Lychee cocktails were both pleasant and refreshing. The Hamachi Sashimi was fantastically presented on a slab of rock. I wished I could order another round because it was just that delicious. The rice cakes were fried to perfection, and topped with savory chunks of salmon and tuna--so good! I originally wanted to order the duck, but they ran out, so I ordered the short rib instead. It was also superb. Good cut of meat, well-seasoned, and the mashed potatoes were so light and fluffy.

We were at Noka with a large group and enjoyed sampling many of the appetizers and entrees. We loved all 3 Sushi rolls and i particularly enjoyed the California Crunch and the Sushi Donut. Of the Nigiri both the scallop and the tuna were amazing. I am a huge fan of the Miso Cod and the Kung Pao Brussels Sprouts as well. I was happy we split some desserts since I could not have held back from devouring an entire Togarashi Spiced Brownie. The decor is so unique and lovely. The service was incredible and we were served seamlessly with friendly and helpful servers. If fish is not for you there are incredible chicken and steak entrees and well as favs like chicken wings and a delicious take on a burger. I LOVE Noka.

Noka is easily one of the best meals I had thus far in 2025. Everything about my experience at Noka was top tier. We did a chef's counter seating which was fun to see the chef and kitchen making magic happen. We ordered the Salt and pepper calamari, the fried wings (the seasoning was delicious), the yellowtail sashimi, the apple crab roll, the ribeye, and the miso sea bass- every. single. dish was phenomenal. And the decor!' The clay pots and earth tones bring a sophisticated simplicity to the space. 10 out of 10 recommend.

The atmosphere was amazing! I loved the decor and the lighting. The service was wonderful. They made the extra effort to make me feel special on my birthday and gave us dessert. The food was okay, I was expecting more sushi options. The presentation of the food was beautiful but nothing really wowed me taste wise except for the brownie. For more photos and videos, check out my Instagram: @zeroforkzgiven.

Service was fast and amazing! Not a huge menu but lots of different and interesting items. I had the Miso Cod, it was sweet and firm. The surprise was the bok choy. I am not a huge fan, but it was sweet and crisp. Loved it. The real star was the scallops. There were only three, but they were perfect bring yet sweet. The wheat noodles they were with had a great broth and couldn't get enough of the homemade sweetness. Definitely a repeat!

Noka has the best atmosphere in the city. A must try for date night! If you haven't ever tried dry aged fish, they are doing it right here! Also, best martini in KC!!!

Undoubtedly one of KC's best restaurants. Noka had been on our radar for a little while and I wish we had gone even sooner. In short, everything we tried was great and there is clearly a high standard for the quality of the food and drinks here. Love the atmosphere as well. As for the drinks, we were both in the mood for mocktails and we both loved them! We both especially enjoyed the Coconut Water. The Shrimp Tempura was possibly the best sushi roll I've ever had. I loved the Tofu Tempura as well. I could go on and on but I really don't think you can go wrong here. We found so much on the menu to come back for. Also the service was fantastic and shoutout to our server Phoenix!

Obsessed with Noka's interior - especially at night. For food, highly recommend the miso cod and trying one of the sashimi options wasn't as big of a fan of their sushi, but it's def still good.

If you have a larger party and want to get a reservation at this place, I'd recommend booking at least one week in advance! My sister and I were able to get seats at the bar and immediately loved the ambience when walking in. I can see the appeal of hosting a birthday dinner with friends here etc. the service was excellent, our waiter was extremely attentive and offered us input on what we should get / what was most popular. The bathrooms were spectacular and definitely unique. We ordered a wide array of food but overall were not impressed with what we got. Seemed like they tried to do something different with each order but somehow missed the mark. Out of what we got, the wagyu nigiri, tuna sushi roll and hamachi were our favorites. I'm glad I went once to see what the hype was about, but don't think I would return unless they change up their menu.

The service was friendly and fast!! The vibes of the restaurant were immaculate too! Also the brownie I had here for dessert for restaurant week quite literally changed my life I never thought I would say that about a brownie LOL The restaurant is only getting four stars from me because the food did hurt my stomach after I left but it was still so good and worth it

Incredible from start to finish. We had multiple courses, all spread out perfectly. The Lychee martini was amazing. The crab pasta dish was fantastic!!! The tuna truffle roll was chefs kiss. We tried so many plates tonight and nothing dissapointed. The chef/owner was incredibly thoughtful and I see exactly why this business is so successful. I wish this restaurant so many years of success!!!! I've been to many KC restaurants and this is top tier.

I cannot find one negative thing to say about Noka. In a city with numerous dining options, it can be challenging to stand out but Noka does just that. Located in the Martini corner area of downtown, Noka is rustic yet elegant and lively but cozy. I'm not sure how they manage to achieve this but it could have something to do with the energetic staff and group seating (long community tables). The bar area looks inviting as well. Our group of five was celebrating a birthday and had a blast. There is a corkage fee if you bring your own wine. We ordered the California crunch roll, mushroom roll, Tartare lettuce wraps, General Tso chicken skewers, Tofu tempura, Miso cod, XO fried rice, Filipino salmon, Kung Pao brussels sprouts, and Togarashi spiced brownie. Yes, we ordered a lot but many of the rolls and starters are shareable sizes. Everything is a flavor bomb with an interesting spin on the original preparation you may be expecting. The standouts, in my opinion, were the lettuce wraps, tofu, and salmon. That tofu is still in my thoughts, as it was just special in every way! To top it off the chef and owner, Amante, visited our table and brought the birthday girl a martini treat! You have got to add this restaurant to your wish list!

Everything was perfect! Drinks food and ambience all wonderful. Cannot wait to come back

Omg, such amazing flavors and LOVE the space, such an amazing esthetic...love how the wait staff made us feel so special and welcomed in a random week day, even at the communal table style of seating we had..loved the mock tails and watching the chefs at work was a treat.. will definitely be back..Mac and cheese was delicious!!

Noka is a *pho-nomenal* spot right near downtown that you'll *soy* want to visit again and again. This Asian-inspired restaurant will have you coming back for more. We dove into some sushi and the kung pao Brussels sprouts that were so amazing, I'm still dreaming about them. We even got a little *edamame-crazy* with the edamame toast--sourdough topped with goat cheese and edamame. It was *un-brie-lievable*! The place itself is lovely, the staff is super friendly, and they offer a happy hour during the week, so the prices are *shrimp-ly* unbeatable!

Shoutout to Mya for making our first visit unforgettable. She was attentive & friendly. After we paid, we decided to sit around a little longer. She constantly came by to check up on us. A very great server! Definitely will be back to see Mya. The restaurant is beautiful. I really like the ambiance and vibe. I felt like I was in another country instead of Kansas City. The only downside is that it is really dark. You will need a candle or phone flashlight to read the menu. The food is delicious. Complex and flavorful. The peppercorn fried chicken is my favorite. Perfectly fried with interesting mixed of spices. The duck is also my favorite. Beautiful presentation and perfectly cooked. Their version of macaroni and cheese is a must try. The dish brought out to us in error, and they complimented it. I am happy we got to try it. The only thing I did not like was the brussel sprout. Not sure if they made it quickly because they forgot we had order this side dish. But it was very saucy and salty. It is not a great dish to compliment our entree. I needed a bowl of rice or a piece of bread to tone down the saltiness. It was also on the house after we expressed that we did not like the dish. Highly recommend. 10/10

Amazing restaurant, ambiance was perfect, Seth at the bar was a perfect host and needs to be taken to Japan! Food was amazing great flavors throughout each dish with perfect textures giving tantalizing bites!

Gave Noka a try during restaurant week. Each course was unreal. The hidden gem is the mushroom rice entree... Came on a busier night, so service was a bit slower, but the food made up for it.

Went out with my girlies for a bday, we shared like 5 courses! first off they have the BEST espresso martini i've ever had!! we got two different rolls the california roll was good but could do without the crunch it kinda ruined the texture and taste and the shrimps tempura roll was also good but barely had any shrimp in it haha. the fried rice was amazing!! really loved the sweet potato jewels they did an amazing job with those flavors. service was good. really loved the ambiance!!

Wednesday price fix five course menu is unbeatable. Really nice wine list and good service.

IM OBSESSED!! 10/10 would recommend to anyone!!!! I went with one of my friends for her birthday and they delivered amazing service to make her feel loved!! A happy birthday sign was at the table, the manager check on us multiple times and gave us complementary glasses of wine AND a dessert!! Everything we ordered was DELICIOUS and the atmosphere was like no other in KC. This gives big city vibes in the perfect neighborhood. Thank Noka for a wonderful experience!!

This is very hard for me to write, because the food was good, the ambiance was there, the service was great, but for the hype and the reputation, I don't think this place was over 4 stars. If 3.5 was an available Yelp amount, that's what this review would be. To start, we went during Restaurant Week, which is a hard week to rate in the first place. The place was completely packed, and so our server apologized right away about how that would impact our service. I think I'll have to go a second time to really get an idea, which is partially why this review is delayed from when we went. There was a special $5 sushi addition which we had to take advantage of. For appetizers, we had the Lawrence tofu and the night market wings. The wings were alright, though I think the description made it sound as though it would be spicier than it was. The tofu was an absolute star. Could be a main. We got the tuna truffle roll and the sweet potato roll. Of the two, the sweet potato roll was the obvious winner. This was an instance where there's just no need for truffle on everything, though I do appreciate the real truffles. For the main, we got the duck and the filet and shared some Brussels sprouts. The Brussels sprouts were so good. I'll have to adopt the use of garlic peanuts when I make them at home. The filet was tasty, season wise, but it was a bit chewy, despite the correct temperature. It might have been a lower quality cut of filet. The duck was both under and over cooked. I eat a lot of duck but this was not good. The fat was not rendered while the breast meat was tough and over cooked. I don't think I would order duck from Noka again. The desserts and drinks saved the show. Neither of us are drinkers but we had some really nice mock tails. One was finished with sesame oil and and the other was tart with yuzu. The creme brulee was perfectly sweet and was excellent to end this meal. The brownie with ice cream was nice and fudgey while the ice cream was custard like in creaminess. Noka has great ambiance for a date or special outing, though it's fully a communal seat setting, so if you're trying to get intimate, you might not be able to. It's concept is a little strange though, think humble Asian dishes from the home, but at "just got a raise" prices. It would be less weird if there was even one staff member that was Asian, but that didn't seem to be the case.

The place was so beautiful the people was just a beautiful my food was good. Had a nice time. It was my daughter 30th birthday dinner . The SERVICE WAS WONDERFUL . I love good Service. The DRINKS WAS GOOD. Vibe in the place was so good I just want to get up and Dance the music was great

We visited Noka for the first time for my birthday. Make sure to make a reservation, they were busy. I love the ambiance and atmosphere. Our waitress was great, she took the time to explain how many plates we would need for our table and answered any questions about the menu we had. The night market wings have to be some of the best wings I've ever had. I could've eaten two orders of those. We will definitely be going back.

I went here for a business dinner with 2 local attorneys I know, neither of whom had been to this restaurant before. Neither had I but the menu and design won me over! All three of us really enjoyed everything we tried and it was both lively and quiet (quiet enough) at the same time. So, we had no trouble having a conversation through dinner. And I can't wait to go back later this year when I return to KC.

Come for the ambiance and the XO fried rice and that's about it. Most of the food was decent to hard pass. All the fish dishes we had were fishy. Not sure why - maybe Weds is the day they order fresh fish, but Tuesday was a let down. Their cocktails read great on the menu, but were cloyingly off. Their servers all seemed a bit edgy or unhappy - not sure if it was the heat (it gets hot in there!) or something else. Probably won't be back here unfortunately.

Delecious! The Japanese inspired menu features small, medium, or entree sized portions. It's a warm environment with large tables ( community style ) where others are nearby and an open kitchen and counter seating looking into the kitchen and a separate bar and seating area. Creative and unique drink menu with a Sans - Alcohol ( NA ) section as well. Amante is the Chef-Owner and is actively circulating through the kitchen and restaurant. If you love food, just let your server pick your selections and you'll be perfect! There is a parking lot northwest, adjacent to the restaurant with access from 31st Street

This restaurant is sexy, but I was all alone at the bar, so I just watched sports and looked at everyone else play kissie face. I started off with the Crab Apple Roll, which was super delicious and made with real crab. The green apple and cilantro really mixed well together. I then followed that with the Miso Cod, which was really marinated because it was bursting with savory and salty miso broth. I'll definitely be back!

This gem just opened in the spring and it already has all the hype around it... and you can believe it! The food There didn't seem to be a thing on the menu we wouldn't have tried. Trust your waiter/waitress on recommendations and get enough to try a good selection. Our stand outs were the A5 Ribeye and the scallops - absolutely phenomenal. The service This crew knows there stuff. From the drinks to food they have their menus locked in for suggestions. The team was QUICK we never had a moment when our space was empty - the team was always running food our way. VIBES It is all about the details. From the moment you walk in those wood double doors you are no longer in KC. I have been to a couple community seating restaurants prior, but this is the first one that has maintained an elevated dining experience and high class vibes.

Tried Noka out on a busy Friday evening, and overall was a satisfying dinner. Currently they are offering 50% off food from opening to 6:30 PM on Friday's, so that was a surprising bonus. Overall food was quite tasty. Their Autumn drink menu was diverse and was hard to choose just one because they all looked good. Started with hamachi sashimi appetizer which was fresh with subtle hint of shiso oil that wasn't too overpowering, as well as fried tofu, which was my personal favorite. For our mains we split the miso cod, XO fried rice and the sweet potato side. Sweet potatoes were exceptional with umami butter and can never go wrong with the shavings of Christopher Elbow Chocolate (trust me it works). For the dessert we had the creme brûlée, which gets style points for toasting the topping of cotton candy table side. Service was slow and had to ask several times for a few dishes, but we were understanding that it was a busy Friday night, and our waiter comped us appropriately. Aesthetically, restaurant is beautiful but the communal tables are a little tight, so come prepared to get comfy with the stranger sitting next to you. Would definitely come back, but first restaurant needs to work out some service logistics and timing of courses.

Noka was one of Kansas City's most anticipated restaurant openings this year, located on Martini Corner. Noka means "farmer" in Japanese in honor of the Chef & owner Amante Domingo's late father. From sight to smell, I definitely felt like I was in the Chef's modern, earthy world. Raw materials from his fathers farm were used in the restaurant's design to exhibit a wabi-sabi aesthetic, meaning perfectly imperfect. As you explore the internationally inspired small plates, you may recognize that charcoal, live fire taste from the chef's other beloved concept: the Russell. Bring a friend who's going to encourage you to order outside of your comfort zone for this spot. All of our cocktails were delicious in flavor, however we did not taste (or feel) the alcohol. I had the sake and melon. My friend had vodka #2, sake and one other cocktail which had kombucha. We shared five small plates between the two of us. We left full and satisfied. We agreed we did not need the last plate, and would've rathered saved room for dessert instead. The plates we shared were: Tartare - not our favorite dish and my friend usually loves tartare. Poke Rice Cakes - both of our favorite dish, we would order again. XO Shrimp Fried Rice - delish, it's fried rice, what's not to love? Tuna Tataki - we enjoyed this, I would order again. Elbow's Sweet Jewels - I think my friend liked this, but it wasn't my favorite - even though it had Christopher Elbow bitter chocolate atop sweet potato wedges. We would skip this one next time. The service was friendly and attentive. I felt very comfortable and taken care of. Being a party of two, our plates were coursed one by one. Small groups seemed to be served several plates at a time. For me? Next time, I'll be dining at the chef's counter and peeping into the open kitchen concept. Unless I am with a group in which case we'll hope for a corner of the communal dining tables.

My friend text me the most amazing food menu a few weeks ago, and I knew right away, the next time I made plans to go out for dinner, this would be my choice. Especially since the dinner menu is half-priced after 9pm. Gotta love a good deal! I will start by saying, the person that owns this spot also owns The Russell, so I knew I was in for a phenomenal dining experience. I didn't know much about the setup of the restaurant, so I was very surprised when I walked in to see two very large tables for community seating. Not my favorite, but it didn't take away from the experience! The food is brought to the table one plate at a time, or all together, if requested. The octopus tostada was pretty good, but I was in no way prepared for how spicy the jalapeño vinaigrette was, it has a kick to it baby! The schezwan wings were airy, crispy with a sweet and spicy dry rub. I will order two plates of them next time around! My last dish was Elbow' Sweet Jewels. It's reminiscent of dessert with the sweet taste from the potatoes and bitter chocolate. It was a perfect finish to my dining experience. Also worth noting, the Vodka #2, oh my booze! I noticed there was a limit of 2, and after one, I kinda got the reason why. Between the layout of the restaurant, the seating arrangement and the menu, this was such a fun and unique experience. I don't know that there's another place like this in Kansas City, so this is definitely a standout for the town. Must try!

I've been patiently waiting for this restaurant to open in my neighborhood, and I can tell you that it is one of the best new places in KC that I've been able to try! The ambiance is very minimal with grays, browns, and rocks/stone accents, but it is really calming and the staff are amazing! SO let's get to the food. Basically, I could live in there. The food was all so good--I went with my partner and they suggested 4-6 plates for two people. They are shareable, but if you really wanted to, you could get them for individuals, just order accordingly. We sat at the chef's counter, and I'm so glad we did--we were able to talk with Mark about each of the plates (it also wasn't busy when we got there on a Wednesday evening, so that helped), and he made sure that we were able to enjoy all the flavors that they packed into the dishes. Mark told us that they're planning to change menus every season, and that they work with local providers and seasonal produce to come up with their menu. I loved getting to hear about the collaborative group they've got in the kitchen and in the restaurant--and Mark really made us feel at home and answered all my (probably dumb) questions! We got a selection of things. Definitely recommend the Asparagus! The mushroom bowl was good--my partner enjoyed it (I'm not a mushroom lover!). We got the tempura tofu which came with this bok choy and a sauce underneath that was awesome. The chicken wings were super crispy (I'll save the secret of the breading and seasoning for Mark to tell you!) and delicious. Pork belly--let's just say that my partner and I were fighting for all the bites! So glad this restaurant has opened for all of us to experience it! Looking forward to going back again soon and trying all the things we didn't get the first time. Noka is definitely on my list of places to come back to asap!

Pics don't do it justice prob just go in, shoutout our waitress phoenix! Tuna / scallop nigiri was great, crunch + popcorn hamachi also good, sushi taco surprisingly good and miso god was great!

This was an amazing dining experience. I am so excited that a restaurant like this exists in Kansas City. We sat at the chef's counter, and received the most amazing service. All of the wood in the restaurant is repurposed from an old barn that was owned by the chef's late father. The dishes we ate were creative and delicious. If you haven't been here I highly recommend it. We will definitely be going back.

TL;DR: Noka has stellar ambiance and some great fusion dishes. I was excited to see a restaurant like this finally come into KC, and the concept is a welcome addition to the fine dining scene. That said, Noka is definitely not the authentic, modern Japanese restaurant that I hoped it was based off the press coverage. If you like Japanese food enough to pay $16 for edamame, I'd encourage you to use that money on gas to Overland Park, where you can find KC Craft Ramen, a restaurant that highlights more of the sweet, savory, spicy, and subtle that there is to Japanese cooking. The Japanese chefs will serve you equally fancy edamame (try it with the truffle oil!) at a third of the price and ramen noodles made onsite using a ramen machine shipped from Japan. It's the only place that reminds me of the ramen from Tokyo. You could also try Sushi Uni, which makes the best sushi in the KC area, or for something equally as upscale as Noka, you could try the Asian-inspired options at The Antler Room. Now, to Noka. We'll start with the highlights. The Japanese options make up less than half of the menu (the rest is Chinese), but I was impressed by them. I loved the smokiness of the Hamachi Sashimi and the sour and citrusy notes on the Tuna Tataki. I was surprised by how well the popcorn paired with the Hamachi Sashimi, and these dishes were the highlight of the night. Next, yakitori. Yakitori is a dish where meat skewers are cooked over a traditional Japanese grill. In Japan, the end result is beautifully smoky and draws out all the flavors from the meat. In comparison, this yakitori was much more heavily sauced, making it both too salty and too sweet. The Shrimp XO Fried Rice was similar. XO Fried Rice should be seafoody, savory, and slightly crispy, but this fried rice was flat and salty. The Crispy Beef Tongue, while super tender, also fell flat and relied almost exclusively on the hot mustard for flavor. Overall, I was hoping for a lot from Noka, and some of the bites lived up to those expectations, but the high prices, small portions, and varying quality would likely make me recommend skipping this one for now.

Lobster bisque and everything we had was amazing. Waitstaff, including the owner, were kind, thoughtful and genuine. 5 stars without a doubt.

Excellent on all levels. One of our favorite KC spots without a doubt. Amante is a genius. He and his staff excel at delivering an A+ dining experience. Best Japanese whisky selection too!

NOKA! What a fun and unique experience. I LOVE the stone/rustic feel inside and there's something very unique and compelling about the family-style seating. We really didn't know what to expect when we came in for a visit, but we were not left disappointed. We quickly learned that this is a shareable place. So we ordered all kinds of things so that we could get a well-rounded bite throughout the evening. Wine was inexpensive for a bottle of white so that was a great pairing for us! Their menu does change, but at the time of our visit we ordered the mushrooms, the edamame toast, brussel sprouts and I want to say we either got the octopus or the tuna, but I'm drawing a blank. In any case, it was all delicious and surprisingly filling! I can't wait to go back here and try new offerings. Maybe sitting up at the chef's bar is next on the list!!

TL:DR - 5 * food, 4 * service My honey decided to surprise me with dinner to Noka tonight for Valentine's Day, and to say I was excited was an understatement. It's been on my list since they opened so this was a long time coming. We had reservations for 7 pm and we were seated promptly at one of the communal tables. Kind of wish we'd been sat at one of the 2 tops but the communal environment was fine. Since it was Valentine's Day, people kept to themselves. We did notice it was a little empty for Valentine's Day, but this was the day of the chiefs parade and I assume some folks decided to stay home, after all that happened. And again, communal tables aren't ideal for a date. I did end up knocking off a star for the start of our meal. No one came to give us water or take our order for at least 10 mins. At that point the manager, I assume, asked if we'd been helped and she grabbed our waitress. Not sure what happened there but my BF and I were both disappointed by the service at such a high end establishment. After that, service greatly improved but it did start our very special dinner on the wrong foot, Once we put in our drink orders and a Yamaimo order, the pace really picked up. I got the soju and my honey got a whisky #2. We both enjoyed our drinks. Neither of us likes nori and were dismayed to discover that the yamaimo was a norimaki. However, maybe because of the mix of flavors, or because of the treatment of the nori, the ocean-y funk that we both dislike so much was extremely subtle. It was kind of a shock for us both that we enjoyed the dish after the initial impression and we were relieved we hadn't ordered a dish we didn't want to eat. We ultimately ordered the mushroom roll, edamame toast, Japanese carbonara (a v-day special), XO shrimp fried rice, and sweet potato jewels, finishing with a togarashi brownie. Everything we had was very good but my highlights of the night were the edamame toast, the fried rice and the brownie. The toast was just everything you could want in a few bites of food. An interesting mix of ingredients that I could never have imagined. The fried rice was such an elevated version of fried rice and the pickled Asian pear made it taste incredibly complex. The brownie was such a different flavor combination, and the togarashi made for almost a spicy Mexican chocolate vibe, and the brownie alone was incredible. I don't really know how to describe the brownie. So different and really delicious. Weakest dish for me was the mushroom roll, it was perfectly fine but not nearly as interesting as everything else. The carbonara was another surprise on the menu as it had a BUNCH of roe on it, another thing my bf and I don't really like. But, like the yamaimo, the balance of flavors and the use of ingredients made the roe a very approachable addition. The sweet potato's were also good, but I think I was expecting them to taste more interesting than they did but I can't complain because they tasted great. Ultimately we really enjoyed the experience and agreed we would both be happy to come back. But again, the first impression with the server started the evening on a low note, but she definitely made up for it. So if you are looking for an interesting and sexy meal, check out Noka!