Wakame Sushi & Asian Bistro

Such a great spot in a beautiful part of Minneapolis. Their sushi is fresh and they also offer lots of other tasty options if sushi is not your thing. They have great happy hour, and it turns out they also offer the happy hour specials during lunch. I heard someone else ordering a lunch sushi combo as well, but I didn't come across it on the menu myself. The veggie fried rice is delicious and the veggies are cooked perfectly. I love the crunch of the sprouts. The sushi is always good and I'm glad they are willing to modify to add or remove ingredients. The ambience is peaceful and minimal, and when the weather is nice the patio is a great place to sit. Can't wait to come back again!

Came here for lunch on a dreary Monday with the specter or hope (depending on your view) of a pending solar eclipse. Yet it was lively inside with business folks at lunch. Excellent prices with "happy hour" prices all day. (Maybe because it's Monday?). Would have paid more in home state of California so it was a pleasant surprise. My friend and I shared a delicious crunchy roll, some sushi selections and an appetizer of crunchy rice that was a "customers' favorite" (but maybe not at my table...!). Presentation was beautiful.

The service was so quick. The server (I didn't catch his name) was very attentive to us. Drinks never fell under half. The sushi was the best I've ever had. Tasted amazing! I dream of the spicy tuna. The rice was delicious. Not too much rice, well wrapped and not too fishy.

One of my favs!! Great location close to the water and they have an awesome lunch special!! Bento boxes or roll combos! I've enjoyed everything I've gotten here

Finally got here (been meaning to for YEARS). I made a reservation by phone (no online way to submit a reservation request), for 2 people at 6pm. When we got to the restaurant (5:58pm) we were told they didn't have a table for us. They confirmed they had the reservation and had space at the sushi bar. I had assumed a reservation meant a table. Only then did they take my number to text me when a table was ready. Not a great start. Table was ready very quickly and our waitperson turned the experience around quickly. Beverages were well balanced, I had the Shanghai Buck and it had some of the best pineapple flavor I've had in a cocktail in a while. We ordered one of the sushi combos and the quality was quite good. I do wish they had identified what we were eating in the nigiri and the sashimi: I was able to ID some varieties of tuna and the mackerel but didn't know the others and would have very much liked to. Overall a positive experience and would dine again.

Everybody loves Wakame. This place is beyond popular and for good reason! The happy hour is a complete steal with ultra low cost rolls, appetizers and wine. There truly is something for everyone here. The service is incredible, and it is apparent that the whole team works together to create an enjoyable experience for each patron: quick table service, tons of guys working behind the sushi bar, water fillers, plate clearers, multiple hosts, owner/manager on-site and involved mos I recently brought a friend here, that preciously didn't like sushi, and she was completely blown away by the quality and taste of the rolls. I'm glad I've converted yet another friend to love sushi! Pro tip: the best thing on the menu is the soft spring rolls with the peanut sauce. I'm maintaining my 4/5 rating because it is usually hard to get a table here, no reservations are taken for small parties, so it's hard to make plans to eat here. A few times this has thrown off my night as the wait has been 90 mins. Although the sushi is good, it isn't top tier -- with the alternative of multiple other places in town having TOP tier (but also more costly).

I really enjoyed my experience at Wakame! My friend and I had reservations on a Wednesday and were seated right away. We ate at the bar, but it was a decent amount of space for just us. Happy hour ended at 6 so we ordered a few rolls to split, and had some wine! We even squeezed in an espresso martini right before it ended. The rolls were very good! The server was great! Very attentive and friendly. It was pretty packed and not the most spacious restaurant but I enjoyed it!

Fantastic sushi house! Selection was outstanding and definitely pick the chefs choice options. They also have a great bar selection.

I got the boat and it was everything I could've wanted in a sushi spot. There's a fantastic drink menu as well- plenty of options. The service was quick and friendly. The music was unexpected but pleasant, gives the ambiance of modern American vibe. Overall, great time. I will return once I get over this food coma.

The best sushi happy hour in the Twin Cities! Some happy hours have delicious sushi, but it's expensive. Others have affordable sushi, but it lacks in quality. Wakame is the best of both worlds. Recently went on a Monday evening with a group of friends. I called ahead for a reservation. We had to wait a bit upon arrival as things seems a little chaotic. Parking can also take a bit to find. Our server Tina was wonderful! The food was great. And it was all very affordable for the amount we got.

I was looking for a fun birthday dinner spot and there were tons of great reviews of this place. I have to say it did not disappoint. The atmosphere is awesome either with tons of different seating options. I did make a reservation at the suggestion or the reviews. They don't take reservations before 6pm. The restaurant was packed when we got there at 6:15pm but we were seated right away. They have a huge menu with sushi and non sushi items. They also have a fun drinks list. I got the Moscow mule and it was really good. As for food, there were so many options it was hard to pick. We got the rolls pictured below and they were all really good. Our favorites were the spicy yellow tail, crazy lobster roll and the Wakame roll. The spicy tuna roll is one of my all time favorites and it didn't disappoint. Someone in my party mentioned it was my birthday and they brought out a free slice of cheesecake. (I forgot to take a picture) The cheesecake was awesome. Not too heavy. Overall, highly highly recommend checking it out.

I live right by this place so I have started to frequent it more often especially for lunch time. They had a great lunch special where you can get 2-3 rolls and a salad or soup for a great price. I have often time ordered that. HOWEVER this last week I stopped in and learned that you can get their happy hour food menu all day (till 6) monday-friday. Their drink HH is still 3-6. This was such a treat! Most of the time when I dine alone I sit in the bar and the service is fantastic! Over the lunch time it is not too loud so if you wanted to have a working lunch you likely could. I have yet to sit outside on the patio, but I always think about it when I drive by. I have been a big fan of their Monkey Roll which is their most popular roll and such a treat! It is fried which is probably why its a crowd favorite. Additionally I always get spicy salmon and the salmon avocado rolls. Both of which are fantastic. I have often times had edamame which is perfect! Recently I tried their gyoza and fresh spring rolls (the not fried ones) and they were both delicious!

Wakame is definitely one of my favorite places for sushi in the Twin Cities! The raw fish taste fresh and the rolls have been a consistent generous size. Their non sushi dishes are also pretty good- making it nice for groups that may have friends who are a fan of sushi or raw. They also have a happy hour everyday from 3pm-6pm. Service was been friendly every time. Plenty of parking in the lot out front or next to Whole Foods next door. A bit pricey but worth it for me!

So full! Sushi was great as usual. The service was good. Wakame is my go to spot for sushi so I always have high expectations.

Wakame eats every time - their service, quality of food, the ambiance AND music, chefs kiss with no miss. Extra bonus for their happy hour 3-6pm or after 9:30, that is the best way to Wakame and I hope it never changes!

My favorite sushi in Minnesota! This is always go to when I need a sushi fix and it never gets old. Last night I took a friend to HH dinner. The place gets packed fast so I would recommend making a reservation. The staff was friendly and I loved that they suggested an app cause the sushi was going to take over 30 mins and we were starving!!! The vibe of Wakame is always enjoyable! It's not too loud so you can enjoy conversation. I do wish the waiting area before seating was more available but we had a short wait so it wasn't horrible. Some of me favorite rolls include: Crazy Monkey Roll Crunch Roll Jeremy Roll Hot & Spicy Girl Roll Wakame Roll

Delicious food and great service! More pricy than an all you can eat spot, but the food quality is top notch. Can be a little slow if they're really busy.

Food A+ Price A+ Service B Ambiance B+ Recently moved to MSP and this is now the go-to sushi place. Before the twin cities I lived in NYC and Southern California, have eaten lots of good sushi--this place is up there. My wife from SoCal said that the Uptown roll we got was some of her all time fav! Can't beat the prices, not dirt cheap but it's sushi.. all the rolls are $20 or less (2023) and that's well priced as far as I'm concerned. (The happy hour menu is also very competitively priced!) It is easy to spend much more money on much worse food. Our server (Josh I think?) was very good. He wasn't always around (the place was packed) but anytime we needed something he was quick to get it done. He also made sure we got the happy hour prices even though we came very close to the end and weren't aware of the deal! The water lady (don't know her name) was frustratingly inattentive and neglected to get us some eel sauce which she said she would get. Not the end of the world, but worthy of note. Ambiance is fairly classy and very busy. Meh for families as everything seems to be near the bar, Good for dates, and great for friends.

Update ... after more than 2 weeks anyone is yet to contact me. I reached out via email, Facebook and now here. I wonder what has happened to this place that no one cares about customer service.

Wakame is always a reliable and yummy spot for dinner out with the girls. They have something for everyone, decent prices, and both indoor and outdoor seating. I haven't been for happy hour yet but I've heard great things!

Wakame is 100% my favorite restaurant for sushi rolls and fresh spring rolls! Their soft spring rolls are perfect because the outside is, well just as the name says, soft. The fillings are a generous portion of ground pork and shrimp that is so flavorful on its own, but is tied together deliciously with a greens mixture of lettuce and what I believe to be mint. The dipping sauces are also a wonderful compliment, one being a peanut dipping sauce that cuts the saltiness of the pork really well! Tonight I ordered the Hot & Spicy Girl Roll which I recommend if you're looking for a lighter fresh, spicy sushi roll. It had tuna, yellowtail and salmon and had more of a kick to it than I expected. Skip adding wasabi to this one if you're already sensitive to spice. Other times when I show up hungrier I get the crazy monkey roll and OMGoodness its a meal in itself! It's quite heavy from what I remember (salmon, cream cheese and avocado all deep fried together into a sushi roll) but it is so yummy :) This is one of my favorite places to frequent as it is right across the street from Bde Maka Ska Park, two doors down from a Ben & Jerrys and has plenty of parking dedicated to shopping/dining. Try doing dinner on the outdoor patio around sunset, its the ultimate date night experience.

Delicious! They have a lot of options to choose from. Waitress was very friendly. You got to try their crunchy roll!

One of my go-to happy hour and sushi spots near Uptown. The food is reasonably priced and the menu has tons of great options, even for kids. Make a reservation if you can, it can get crowded. The patio is a great vibe as well.

Wakame has been a place I have been going too for many years. Every time I met friends on the lake, a trip to Opitz, or some sailing. I seemed to always end my trips here. The sushi and curry are top notch and they will even spice it up to your liking if you ask. I never once have left feeling unsatisfied or hungry. Their Portions even for lunch are nice sized and not overly expensive. The service is spot on and they are knowledgeable and attentive to you throughout your dining experience and without adding a service fee. The ambiance (especially in the summer on the patio) is lovely and nice. It feels comfortable eating in this place.

I am newly discovering my taste for sushi. Stopped by here in a beautiful Saturday afternoon. Got to sit on the patio which was really nice. Started off with some Spring Rolls. They were crunchy and pretty delicious. Could have been hotter but the flavor was there. For sushi, I got the crunchy roll, B.M.W and the Jeremy. All tasted great. The best part of the experience was the service. The waiter had good banter and that made the experience a 5 star one. Highly recommend this spot if you are in the area

My family and I have been going here for years. It was one of my favorite restaurants, incredible atmosphere, fast service and good wait staff. The owner George is very jovial,welcoming and usually there at night Unfortunately I won't be back again due to how I was callously treated today. I came Sunday afternoon. There were four people waiting to be checked in. No sign of a host. I waited outside for 10 minutes until the host came. That never happened before. I walked in and got myself checked in with my name and number. At this point another family was waiting outside so we made space for them to check in and went on a walk awaiting our call. The call never came. I returned and saw that multiple parties that came after us received prompt service. Once again a host was not present. Then the manager who said her name was Elisabeth came. I explained the issue and was immediately met with a haughty and scornful rebuttal.Instead of resolving it or taking accountability. She tells me it's because my name was not input properly during the check in. The hosts just put the letter A. I said that is not my fault and she turned unprofessional and nasty making my entire party visibly uncomfortable, it was incredibly disheartening. With dismissiveness she interrupted me and said," well if you won't let me explain." And walked off without another word. Leaving me standing there embarrassed for another 3-5 minutes as she would stomped by periodically huffing and puffing.. All I wanted was a table or a good faith apology. Instead I got an extremely unprofessional behavior that turned off my appetite. I told her that I no longer need a table and that she should treat her customers better. She replied that she was busy bussing tables. I understand being busy. That's why there is a system implemented. However if you make a mistake and begin to treat customers as if they are the ones at fault it can only lead to a bad taste in one's mouth; the last thing you want at a restaurant In the future I would hope that they might refrain from lashing out at customers and walking away from them. To reiterate, the manager was foul, rude, and bad for business.

This sushi place is honestly my favorite of all time. If im craving sushi, this is the place i go to to satisfy my cravings. They have a happy hour going on for reduced priced menu items. Their service is really pleasant. Alot of food options, from sushi rolls to different appetizers, soups and noodles for some comfort food. Again love love this place. The restaurant it's self is group intimate and vibey. If you go in the summer time you can sit outside with torches and lights around you which make a really cozy experience. Perfect for dates!

Yum yum yum! Wakame is a staple for friend get-togethers or a happy hour. The crab cream cheese wontons are a must (duh) and I loved all of the sushi rolls our group ordered - the crunch roll, the tootsie roll, and the naked girl roll. It was my first time trying a roll with lobster but I think it's my new favorite! The restaurant is usually a little louder with the background music and a full dining room most of the time. Due to wakame's popularity and prime location in West Maka Ska, I would definitely recommend getting a reservation ahead of time if you can.

Best sushi in Minnesota! It's consistent every single time. Great service! Highly recommend

Probably the best sushi in the cities and a St Louis Park staple. This place is almost always packed and as such, there's a wait. Tonight was probably the worst in terms of wait I've seen, as having a reservation for 6pm, being sat at 6:10-6:15 and receiving the pictured plate at 7:25-7:30 was a bit much. The server was extremely attentive, friendly and apologetic which helped, it obviously wasn't her fault but wow the sushi bar was behind. If you've never been, the patio is solid and always packed, drinks tasty, and sushi pretty solid. Rolls average $16-20 and signature cocktails as of this time are $11. 3.5 - true rating. FYI reservations are only for inside seating, not outside.

We stopped in on a Friday evening for sushi and even though there was no wait for a table, we were informers that the sushi was taking a long time so we should order asap. We started with the volcano drink. It's for two and is served lit on fire, which was fun. Then we had a variety of vegetarian and meat based rolls. The service was quite slow, but the sushi was fresh and well prepared. The prices were also pretty standard. Overall a fairly good experience.

I want to rate this so much higher but the service is always a killer here. Amazing happy hour if you come early and the place gets crazy busy as the night progresses. We came for HH with a group and got seated immediately. HH apps were awesome and you can order discounted speciality sushi rolls! The apps came out super quick but as the place got busier things really slowed down. We ordered food and it took quite awhile and came out in really random order. Fried rice entrees came first and then miso soups, then rolls (one which was incorrect), and then an order of wings came last after we had to check what was taking so long. We started ordering two drinks at a time because they would take so long for each order you'd be sitting waiting for ages. Our server was great and she was trying but the place was clearly understaffed. Overall the food is quality, place is fun and big menu to choose from, however, the service/kitchen is very very slow. Just don't come starving or be prepared to wait!

Just moved to Minnesota and was looking for a good sushi place with rolls similar to what I like. I had numerous people recommend Wakame. My bf and I walked in and were immediately greeted and sat down. We went during lunch time and it was happy hour so they give you this paper and pencil to mark what items you want. We ordered the crab cheese wontons (crab Rangoon), the sweet potato roll, uptown roll, and crazy lobster roll. Our server was very attentive and informative. I would recommend and go back. The crab cheese wontons and sweet potato roll were on happy hour.

Met at Wakame for a retirement party. Happy hour prices were fantastic. House cab was good and at a great price during HH. We shared a couple spicy sushi options an apps. Everything is easily shareable. Everything was fresh and very good. They have a ton of indoor seating, however they have a great outdoor seating space. Service was excellent!

Great place to have quality sushi with reasonable price. Owner is super friendly and attentive. Waitstaff are very timely. Definitely make sure you get there early for happy hour, otherwise it's going to be quite a wait. Owner has another Japanese BBQ place nearby, Gyu Kaku. Give it a try!

Sushi is good! We go frequently. Happy hour pricing is a great deal. #Service is hit or miss. It's difficult to even get your order in and we've observed on a few occasions people getting up to find a server. Once your order is in that's typically the end of your service. Bar to table orders can frequently take a really really long time, don't count on a second drink. We love the sushi and go at least 1x per month but yikes there is a consistency with bad service.

This place was so packed when we visited. But I heard it was worth the wait. I definitely enjoyed my food and would return. We started off with Edemame. Of the Crazy monkey roll, Hot & Spicy Girl roll, BMW roll, and Sushame I loved the BMW and the Crazy Monkey. The side of fried rice was tasty. My only issue was with flies around the sushi area and them trying to attack my food but I fanned them away as much as possible. I was able to ward them off a little but it was annoying. Out of curiosity, I asked a staff member why weren't traps around to catch them and the response was management didnt think traps woukd look good. It seemed like the staff have been trying yo get traps and I agree with them. I would recall my experience differently if I saw less flies.

We love Wakame! This is a great happy hour spot - they offer really really great happy hour prices, definitely something you should go out of your way to have in Minneapolis during happy hour! Crab ragoons are a must! We tried the soft spring rolls today and loved them (and they were so cheap on happy hour!) I drank a touch of spice Maritini - so yummy. I am a spicy margarita fanatic, and this was right up my alley. Spicy and yummy. My boyfriend had a glass of house Chardonnay - not too dry. He enjoyed it a lot. We ordered the BMW roll, Jeremy roll, and the tuna avacado roll. Loved all of them, so yummy and so satisfying. The Jeremy roll had so much flavor, would highly recommend! The avocado tuna roll was simple but was a great pallet cleanser. Overall fun date night - will definitely be back!

So excited that their happy hour special is finally back! This used to be my spot all the time, so I was happy to return to its glory! Now there are definitely higher quality sushi establishments in the Cities, but this spot has some of the best value in town! The interior isn't anything special, but there is a nice patio if you're looking to enjoy the summer sun. It's also located right next to Bde Maka Ska, so you could pair the two for lovely date night! Service was great, but we were there at 3pm on a Sunday, so it wasn't a busy time. The happy hour is the best in the Cities! They give you a sheet of paper with items that are discounted up to half off! We started with the wontons and gyoza. The wontons are lovely because they have some crab flavor and green onions in addition to the standard cream cheese! We got the Tootsie, Hot and Spicy, Philadelphia, and Spicy Tuna rolls! We loved each of them and they came fairly quickly! I wouldn't say this spot is completely back to its pre-pamdemic glory, but it's on its way! Go for happy hour, get there early, and enjoy some SOOSH! :)

If you're gonna come here, definitely go for lunch! They have great lunch specials and it won't be as busy! Granted it was still busy when we went, but we didn't have to wait. Not my favorite sushi spot in the Twin Cities, but it definitely gets the job done, especially for the lunch prices. I got the sushi lunch ($13.95) which came with soup, salad, a california roll, and 5 pieces of sushi. The day we came, the fish wasn't the freshest and they forgot to give me my salad :( But the hot & spicy girl roll ($14.95) made up for it. That roll was FIRE, so so good! Would I come back? Hmm probably just for the lunch specials. If I was thinking of good sushi in Minneapolis, this is what I would picture. But that's just because I am spoiled with California sushi. Definitely check this place out if you're looking to hit your sushi cravings in the cities though!

The atmosphere is great, comfortable and what I expect for the price. It's my special occasion place but also my go to for splurging a little. Service and food are wonderful.

If I could give half stars this would be a 3.5 - mostly because of the amount of time it took for our food to come out. Thankfully the patio is super cute, drinks came out fast and were fun and delicious, and I was catching up with friends - otherwise it would have been a lot more annoying at how slow the food was. The sushi itself was pretty good too, I've definitely had better but this will do for Minnesota! I would go back but only in the summer to be able to sit on their patio!

We came for happy hour the day before Christmas and although it was busy, the service was fast and accurate!! Everything was an amazing price and tasted so good.

The food is divine. I can't speak to the service as this was taken it but it was ready when stated. Excellent sushi!!!

Service was slow on a Wednesday night. Had a reservation and still needed to wait 20 mins for a table, mind you with no place to wait but outside in the cold. Food was okay but took FOREVER!! 50 mins for them to have some sushi rolls ready. Much better sushi restaurants around. Used to come here often, never again. Overpriced for nothing special.

I am from San Francisco and moving to MN so I wanted to check out the best sushi spots. This place was recommended by a few locals and friends but I also saw the good reviews online. Unfortunately it was underwhelming. This place is more of a fusion and they have a lot going on in the menu. I was hoping to find a more authentic type of sushi place. I ordered a chirashi (chrisashizushi I believe is what they call it on the menu), and a roll. The service was a bit slow even for a weekday close to opening. The waitress got our order wrong (that's not why I rated it 2 stars, but it was weird). The chirashi had random amounts of each fish. There were 3 salmon but 1 hamachi. It's like they just threw on whatever fish they had leftover. I was not impressed and the fish didn't really taste fresh. The roll was ok. It tasted like something you could get at the supermarket and was on the smaller side. I'll have to keep searching for another good spot

My mom and I came here tonight, me for the third time, my mom for the first. We were excited to spend time together and get some tasty food, but unfortunately ended up deciding never to return. We had the same bartender I had before. The first time I was there, she wasn't welcoming at all and made it seem like serving me was an inconvenience. I figured she may have had an off day, and I didn't really mind. After being in the service industry for 15 years - 5 of them bartending myself - it takes a lot to get under my skin, as I know it can be a challenging role (and we all have bad days!). But here I am, writing a Yelp review lol... My mom (a super likable, retired public school teacher who worked a second job as a server to put food on the table for my family as I was growing up) and I ordered a few appetizers and a beer each to start, and everything came out in a good (normal) time frame. As we were eating the apps, which were ok, we put an order for a sushi roll, which was what I was most looking forward to. After 20 minutes, we asked if the order was put in. I've spaced on putting orders in before, and kitchens I've worked with have been backed up, so I just wanted to check in about it to make sure. The bartender said it was put in and didn't offer any other words. She seemed to avoid eye contact after that. Since my mom had somewhere to be, as the minutes crept by we started thinking more and more that we should cancel the order and just take off. We ultimately waited another 15 minutes, then she came over and asked my mom if she wanted another drink. At that time I asked her to take the roll off our tab, because it was taking too long, and we had to be somewhere. She then muttered under her breath that it was "taking this long for everyone" and proceeded to take it off my tab and run my card again. I know a sushi bar bottleneck isn't her fault, but as bartender, she's the point person for communication with her customers. If she would have given a heads up that the sushi would have taken a while when we ordered, and/or apologized at any point for the wait, and/or comped us a beer - and/or seemed to care *at all* about the experience of my mom and I - I would have brushed it off. But here I am, feeling compelled - and justified - to write a bad Yelp review... I gave two stars instead of one because the barback was hospitable, attentive and our kitchen-made food wasn't bad (and it wasn't great). If you're going to come here, expect to wait a while for sushi, even if the bartender doesn't say as much. Thankfully, having a bad customer experience at a sushi restaurant is pretty inconsequential on the list of possible issues to experience in life. And I'm also thankful there are a lot of other options for sushi in the area...

Drive 17 minutes out here hoping to enjoy a savory meal of Chicken Katsu. I ordered online and showed up to pick up my order. The service was fine. After paying $20 for my meal I drive home to eat. when I opened the box there was piece of Katsu Chicken with jasmine rice. The bowl was mostly lettuce by the way. I saw a side of sauce which was red but I decided to try it before putting it on my dish. It turns out that instead of giving me tonkatsu sauce (the essence of the dish) they gave me Ketchup. So essentially I paid $20 for a tiny chicken breast some rice and ketchup. If I wanted to eat off of the kids menu somewhere I'd have gone to a gas station diner. Very very displeased. Wouldn't be surprised if I ever go here again.

Decent restaurant in the uptown neighborhood. We went on a Saturday and were a large group of 7. The wait for the sushi was about an hour which seemed a little much for what we got. There are better sushi places in town. The drinks were not great. The spicy beef was very good the crab wontons and the edamame were decent. The Pad Kee Mow with chicken was average. Overall not a bad place but not somewhere I am going to be running back to.

Wakame has happy hour again! This is so exciting because if you like sushi you're probably ordering quite a bit of it and who doesn't like to save some money? Happy hour includes not only sushi but appetizers as well. For appetizers we ordered crab and cream cheese wontons, fresh spring rolls and edamame. For the sushi rolls We ordered the Jeremy roll, the hot and spicy girl, the crunch roll and a tuna and avocado roll. The rolls were so flavorful and fresh! Service was prompt and friendly. There is outside seating but the wait for that can be long since us Minnesotans are excited for the new warm weather.