Community Ranking
Built from 1 local’s ranking · consensus is forming · updated 4 months ago
Top 5s
1 listMattFounder@biznut1.Sado2.iNDO3.Nobu'sMatt's Top 5
Editor’s picks
Sourced from the local food press. As seen in St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Ian Froeb), Sauce Magazine, and St. Louis Magazine. Updated September 2026.
Sado · The Hill
Nick Bognar puts Japanese cooking at the center of this Hill dining room. Sashimi and nigiri anchor the meal, while a custardy chawanmushi and a focused sake list reward a longer visit.
Menya Rui · Lindenwood Park
The kitchen makes its own noodles and works in brothless styles such as tsukemen and mazemen. Tantanmen layers ground pork, aromatic chile oil, and sesame paste over chewy noodles.
Nobu's · Delmar Loop
This small Delmar Loop sushi bar centers on an omakase experience shaped by founder Noboru Kidera. With just 18 seats, a booking suits the prix fixe meal.
iNDO · Botanical Heights
Indo brings Thai and Japanese cooking together in a small Botanical Heights dining room. Sushi shares the menu with short-rib curry, pot-sticker dumplings, and chili-oil shrimp over creamy polenta.
Robata Maplewood Dine-in/take out (Han Lao) · Maplewood
Ramen is a draw at this Maplewood room. The tonkotsu broth is milky-rich, and its miso version has a salty depth. Japanese small plates give the table more to explore beyond a bowl.
What’s your #1 Japanese in St. Louis?
Rank your top five and see where your taste lands next to the locals.