Diners' Choice: Japanese restaurants in Denver / Colorado

OpenTable

Updated March 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Japanese cuisine in Denver / Colorado? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Matsuhisa Denver

4.9

4.9 (2840)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Cherry Creek

About the restaurant

Featuring Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s signature new-style Japanese cuisine, Matsuhisa Denver anchors the ground floor of the Steele Creek luxury apartment building in Cherry Creek, Denver’s premier shopping, restaurant, and entertainment district. Our 7,800 square foot dining room is open for dinner service from 5pm nightly. Takeout available nightly from 5-9pm.

Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s world-famous cuisine draws influence from his classical training in Tokyo and his life abroad in Peru, Argentina, and around the world, showcasing signature dishes such as Yellowtail Sashimi with Jalapeño, Black Cod Miso and Whitefish Tiradito.

Top review

Nicholas

Dined on Mar 10, 2025

Great service and delicious food. The wait staff was attentive and incredibly helpful curating a wonderful culinary experience.

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4.9

4.9 (1613)

$50 and over

Japanese

Platt Park

About the restaurant

For over 37 years, Sushi Den has been regarded as one of the premiere sushi and Japanese restaurants in the United States. Located in the historic Old South Pearl St. neighborhood in the heart of Denver, CO, the restaurant delivers consistently excellent cuisine made from the finest ingredients from around the world.

Master Chef Toshi Kizaki, the visionary behind Sushi Den, continually raises the bar & sets the standard for the restaurant’s high quality cuisine. Youngest brother, Koichi, lives in southern Japan where he makes daily trips to the fish market to purchase fish for the restaurant. The fish is dry iced and reaches the restaurant within 24 hours. Sushi Den’s mission is to maintain one of the nation’s top sushi restaurants through fresh ingredients, innovative, healthy dishes and exceptional service.

We utilize available seating at both Izakaya Den, our sister restaurant next door, and Sushi Den for all reservations through the Sushi Den portal on

Top review

Maria

Dined on Mar 11, 2025

Always an incredible experience. Best sushi in town!

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4.9

4.9 (254)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Carbondale

About the restaurant

Thank you for visiting Kenichi Izakaya Carbondale. An Izakaya is a type of informal Japanese pub. At sake breweries during the late 18th century, people in Japan began using sake kegs as stools, and snacks were served. This small plate menu was designed to encourage sharing amongst friends and family. Food is prepared in multiple kitchens and arrives as it is ready to ensure freshness. We make most of our menu in-house, from scratch, and use locally sourced ingredients whenever possible.

If no reservations are available, please note that we do have walk in apcae at our bar and sushi bar. We hope to see you!

Top review

amanda

Dined 5 days ago

Food, service, everything was just so amazing. Our server Forrest was so knowledgeable about saki and helped us pick some unique options. We dined in on Friday night and periodically over the weekend my partner and I would randomly turn to each other and say, "Remember how delicious Izakaya was?" We miss those fresh flavors already. Highly recommend the lobster bao buns and seared salmon. We can't wait to come back for another date night!

Kawa Ni - Denver

4.9

4.9 (365)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Whittier

About the restaurant

izakaya
(居酒屋)
Japanese Pub

A type of Japanese drinking establishment which also serves food to accompany the drinks. They are casual places for after-work drinking. "Izakaya" entered the English language by 1987. It is a compound word consisting of "i" (to stay) and "sakaya" (sake shop), indicating that izakaya originated from sake shops that allowed customers to sit on the premises and drink.

The basics...
…Order a drink.
Explore the menu.
Ask as many questions as you want.
Almost everything on the menu can be shared.

Kanpai!

Top review

LoniVIP

Dined 2 days ago

This was a lovely birthday dinner experience for my husband!

Matsuhisa Vail

4.9

4.9 (1433)

$50 and over

Japanese

Vail

About the restaurant

If your desired reservation time is not available online, please call the restaurant at 970-476-6628 and press option 1 between 3:30 and 9:30 p.m. MST. Walk-in and waitlist options are available in person beginning at 4:45 p.m. daily. We do not utilize the Open Table "Notify Me" feature.

Featuring Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s signature new-style Japanese cuisine, Matsuhisa Vail is located in the Solaris Plaza in the heart of Vail Village. Our dining room is open from 5pm nightly. Takeout available nightly from 5-9 pm.

Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s fusion cuisine draws influence from his classical training in Tokyo and his life abroad in Peru, Argentina, and around the world, showcasing signature dishes such as Yellowtail Sashimi with Jalapeño, Black Cod Miso and White fish Tiradito.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 4 days ago

The most delicious meal we had in vail!

Kenichi Aspen

4.9

4.9 (953)

$50 and over

Japanese

Aspen

About the restaurant

There is another Kenichi nearby in Snowmass, so ensure you are booking at the correct restaurant!

Kenichi is Aspen's premier contemporary Asian restaurant that features world-class sushi. We are known for our delightful sushi bar, bustling dining room, and hip bar scene.

If no reservations are available this evening, there is plenty of space for walk-in dining at our bar, sushi bar, and lounge area. Enjoy dinner with us at our fun and lively locally-owned restaurant.

Experience Kenichi’s Private Dining! Join us with your friends and family in the Tatami Room. Reservations last for 2 hours and can accommodate up to 12 people. Please note that a $250 deposit is required for Tatami Room bookings. (48-hour cancelation policy)

Top review

LisaVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Our server Zack was great. Friendly and funny, made dinner a pleasure.

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Experience

Kenichi Aspen - Large Table: Main Dining Room

Experience

Kenichi Aspen - The Mango High Top Table: Bar Area

Experience

Kenichi's Private Dining - Tatami Room - $2,000

Izakaya Den

4.8

4.8 (1995)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Platt Park

About the restaurant

Izakaya Den is Denver’s popular Japanese gastropub, modeled after the lively after hours establishments found throughout Japan. The restaurant is located on South Pearl Street and is the second restaurant of the Kizaki brothers, founders and owners of Sushi Den.

The menu is arranged in a tapas style, serving traditional Japanese small plates along with dishes infused with international flavors and textures. The more traditional Japanese offerings include sashimi and nigiri, sourced from daily fish shipments from around the globe, along with dumplings and noodle dishes. The global cuisine experiments with a bevy of different flavors including unique items such as Grilled Panzanella Salad (jumbo lump crab, toasted focaccia, local goat cheese, pistachios, plum wine vinaigrette), Kobe Beef Sliders (seared foie gras, pomme frittes). A gluten-free menu is also available along with a popular weekday happy hour from 5 to 6:30 pm.

Top review

Bill

Dined 6 days ago

Great experience! Always a treat! Quality food and service!

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Experience

[SOLD OUT] Aburi x Sushi Den: A Culinary Dinner

Banzai Sushi - Denver

4.8

4.8 (395)

$30 and under

Japanese

Virginia Vale

About the restaurant

Limited seating available on Opentable, please call restaurant at 303-329-3366 for reservation availability.

An oasis of Japan in the heart of Denver, Colorado.
Banzai Sushi features the highest level of Japanese
cuisine crafted with a creative touch.
We're the home of "100 Rolls". Select from 100 sushi combinations ranging from the usual to the outrageous. There is a sushi roll here for
every taste. Or choose from our innovative lunch and dinner menus featuring fully cooked selections of fish, chicken or beef. All prepared in the time honored cooking traditions of Japan.

Top review

DennisVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Great food, service, excellent neighborhood go to for sushi.

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ - Denver, CO | Union Station

4.8

4.8 (490)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Downtown / LoDo

About the restaurant

Founded in Tokyo in 1996, Gyu-Kaku has become the world’s #1 Japanese BBQ brand! Thanks to our devoted fans we have reached over 700 locations worldwide. Each day, hundreds of thousands of people gather around the table-top smokeless grill, a centerpiece of our dining concept, enjoying selections of premium meats, just off the grill, and other freshly prepared foods from our kitchens, inspiring laughter, conversation, and a magical dining experience.

Our authentic yakiniku (grilled barbeque) dining experience crowns you the chef. Share a variety of delicious appetizers and premium cooked meats over a flaming grill, paired with Japanese sake, frosty cold beers, or other alcoholic and non-alcoholic options of your choice. We're the perfect spot to enjoy time with friends and family, organize an office party, or to spend quality time with your significant other!

Before you go, don't forget to taste our best-seller Harami Skirt Steak or Prime Kalbi Short Rib among other must-try dishes!

Top review

LukaVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Employees were very friendly and our server, Eric was very knowledgeable and excellent! We had a great dinner before heading to the theater. We will definitely come back for a dinner with friends.

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Experience

Prix-Fixe BBQ Courses for Everyone: Starting at...

Ototo

4.9

4.9 (367)

$30 and under

Japanese

Platt Park

About the restaurant

OTOTO’s intimate dining room serves Japanese robata-style tapas, sashimi, grilled whole fish, rich Ramen offerings and noodles. The kitchen includes a robota grill, raw bar featuring a catch of the day and Ramen and noodle station.

Top review

Jill

Dined on Mar 9, 2025

We love the atmosphere and food at Ototo! The service, small plates, sushi, and drinks are excellent.

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